Latest news with #student
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
A drink-fuelled party in Saudi Arabia, sex on a balcony and a cover-up that went to the heart of the British Establishment. New documentary re-examines infamous case of nurse Helen Smith and her VERY inconvenient death in the desert
On the morning of May 20, 1979, a young student named Graham Smith received an urgent message to telephone his father. 'I knew there was something wrong because he wouldn't call like that normally,' he reflects.
The Independent
a day ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘I came to the UK to follow my dream career. Now I'm jobless due to Home Office errors'
A Brazilian fine art student has said her 'dreams are on hold' after being left in limbo for seven months due to Home Office visa errors. Júlia Couto, 25, came to the UK five years ago to study at UCL's Slade school of fine art and hoped to stay and work in London on a graduate visa. These visas allow foreign students to stay in the UK for at least two years after they complete their course. But the Home Office refused her application in October last year, saying she had not completed her course at UCL when she had – and told her to leave the country within days. After this error was rectified by the university, Ms Couto applied for a second time but was again rejected in December after officials relied on the end date of her physical residency card rather than her visa. Ms Couto applied for a review but, six months later, has not had a decision. She is now jobless, struggling for money and unable to make any plans for her future, including seeing her family. She told The Independent said: 'It has been a very emotionally difficult period in my life, maybe the hardest point in my life. Applying for a review means waiting and waiting and hearing nothing back. 'I've had to give up on so many dreams and I feel lost in the system. Now I can't work and I can't leave the country. I was going to go and spend Christmas with my family in Brazil but now I can't do that. The plane ticket I had for Christmas I've pushed back to July, but I can't see myself pushing it back for much longer. 'I have gone through all my savings and now I am relying on my parents supporting me.' After graduating last summer, Ms Couto had started an internship at a top London art gallery. 'I really remember thinking my life is in the right place now, I have this amazing job, I just need this visa confirmation so I can finally relax,' she said. Describing how she felt after receiving her initial rejection, Ms Couto told The Independent: 'It was terrifying. My life was going along so well and suddenly it felt like my whole world was crumbling. I felt so along and so hopeless. I just remember crying in Oxford Circus, and the message says you have ten days to leave the country so I was just thinking what do I do now?' She carried on working at the gallery's offices in Mayfair as her visa was valid until the end of November. Her biometric residence permit expired in early October but her online eVisa account showed that she still had her student visa until 26 November 2024. The government has been moving to an electronic visa system, meaning people's physical residency permit cards have expired but their status is now proved electronically. She added: 'My dream is to make work here and exhibit, and work in art galleries. But I have been left completely unable to make any plans, unable to plan any next steps in my career or in my relationship. 'Leaving would mean giving up on many relationships I have built here in London'. Jeremy Corbyn, Ms Couto's local MP for Islington, said: "Júlia has been treated abominably – and has now been left in limbo while officials correct their own mistakes. She faces a wait of up to 12 months for a judicial review decision, and in the meantime, she cannot move forward with her career or even visit her family in Brazil without jeopardising her application. 'Sadly, her case is far from unique. Many of my constituents are left waiting in limbo for years by a department that seems intent on preventing them from living their lives and contributing to society." Vitoria Nabas, Ms Couto's solicitor, said: 'This case highlights a growing concern among international graduates who contribute significantly to the UK's academic and economic landscape and are being failed by systemic inefficiencies and a lack of procedural clarity. 'We urge the Home Office to act swiftly and justly, ensuring that administrative errors do not result in life-altering consequences for compliant and capable individuals who have abided by the law at every step.' Andreea Dumitrache, at rights group the3million, said: "Júlia's story is heartbreaking and unfortunately all too familiar. We stand with Júlia and others like her who are caught in bureaucratic nightmares, denied justice because the system itself is broken."
CTV News
2 days ago
- CTV News
CTV National News: Student lucky to be alive following sword attack at Manitoba high school
A student was seriously injured after a 16-year-old stabbed them multiple times with a sword at a Brandon, Manitoba high school. Alex Karpa reports.
Independent Singapore
3 days ago
- General
- Independent Singapore
'Why does no one give up their seats to me on the train when I'm visibly disabled?' — 21 y/o foreign student visiting Singapore asks
SINGAPORE: A 21-year-old Aussie student, 'visibly disabled' and currently in Singapore on a study tour, shared on social media that no commuter has ever offered her a seat on the MRT. Posting on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Monday (Jun 16), she explained that in addition to using a cane, she also wears a sunflower lanyard (an indication that someone has a disability in her home country). Even so, she said that during her trips on the train, commuters either ignore her or remain too absorbed in their own worlds to notice her discomfort. She also mentioned that commuters in Singapore seem to disregard priority seating. 'I noticed that the seats on the end are supposed to be the accessible ones and even say above them to give the seats up for someone who needs it, but people don't even acknowledge me… I even said quite loudly to my friends when we got on 'Oh I can't stand for very long' and still no one paid attention,' she wrote. She went on to share how difficult it has been standing on a packed train. 'I clearly struggle to stand for very long as I get wobbly, especially on the train. I have to hook my arm fully around the 3 metal prong thing in the middle and lean all my weight onto it just to even keep myself standing up.' In one instance, she recalled almost losing her balance before a seat finally opened up. By then, she was already in tears from the pain, which she tried to hide. 'I don't want to be rude and directly ask someone to move as I feel it's wrong to do so. It's just that I was very close to falling on the floor before a seat was free,' she said. At the end of her post, she asked the locals, 'Just wondering if this is a common occurrence for locals too, or if there's something specific as to why this is happening? Am I supposed to ask? It feels rude to ask, but I genuinely need the seat.' 'I am unsure if maybe they don't see me as being 'disabled enough' because I'm young? Or maybe they don't respect me because I'm foreign? These are very broad assumptions and I do understand that there's probably an entirely different reason but it's just kind of crazy to me because in Australia, people immediately move from the accessible seats when they see a disabled person getting on the bus or train.' 'Different countries have different cultures…' In the thread, many locals encouraged the student to speak up instead of waiting silently and hoping someone would notice. One person said, 'The sad truth is that people will sit when they can, and once they do, they're usually glued to their phones or not paying attention. So yes, it's not really common courtesy here, unlike in some other countries.' They added, 'But Singaporeans are not all mean and unfeeling. If you had asked, most people would've given up their seats if they could. If you asked and no one gave up their seats, then you're in the right to complain.' Another chimed in, 'Just ask? 'May I have the seat? Thanks.' Telling your friends you can't stand long and expecting people to offer the seat is so paggro (passive-aggressive). Nobody knows what the sunflower lanyard is, just like you can't buy things here with AUD… you can request a lanyard at the MRT station office, it's for people with invisible disability.' A third user pointed out, 'Nobody can read your mind. Different countries have different cultures. You can't expect every country to be like Australia.' Despite some of the critical responses, a few users did validate her experience, pointing out that getting a seat on the MRT can be difficult even for the elderly, pregnant individuals, and those with visible or invisible disabilities. One shared, 'I am very heavily pregnant and people still fight me for seats. One young girl even sprinted over to take a seat directly in front of me while I was waiting for the person to get off the train. Welcome to Singapore.' Free lanyards for those who need a seat If you have an invisible medical condition and find it hard to stand during your commute, you can get a 'May I Have a Seat Please?' yellow lanyard or sticker for free at any Passenger Service Centre in MRT stations, bus interchanges, or TransitLink Ticket Offices. Read also: Daughter says her mum and sibling pushed her to give 10% of her salary to her estranged dad, who brought her 'so much trauma' for the sake of filial piety Featured image by freepik (for illustration purposes only)
BreakingNews.ie
7 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
'He's following me': Terrified student granted restraining order against ex
A terrified young student has been granted a three-year restraining order against her ex-boyfriend after alleging he threatened and stalked her around Dublin. The South American woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, applied for the order at Dublin District Court. Advertisement In evidence, she recounted how after their relationship of a couple of years ended a few weeks ago, her ex started following her. The student told the court she was afraid and alleged, "He is saying he will attack me." Asked if he had followed her regularly, she said he had done twice in the previous week, once to work, and after school. Giving evidence with the assistance of an interpreter, the visibly upset student said that he was threatening her, following her to school, to her home, and her job. Advertisement They did not have any children. Her former partner did not attend the scheduled hearing to contest the claims against him. Judge Anthony Halpin accepted the sworn evidence tendered by the woman. He granted the civil restraining order to protect her from the man's activities. Advertisement He stipulated that he must not follow, watch, or beset the applicant or put her in fear or use language that threatened the applicant. He also warned that the man would not communicate with her. Judge Halpin directed gardaí to serve a copy of the order on the man, which is to remain in force for three years. Breaching it can result in the subject of the order being brought to court, jailed for up to a year, and a maximum €4,000 fine. Ireland Former chair of Meath County Council accused of fa... Read More The restraining orders were introduced in the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 as a remedy for people seeking protection. The District Court may issue an order to prevent the respondent from violence or threats, stalking, harassing or approaching the applicant's home, work, or school. It can last up to five years, but may be shorter depending on the presiding judge's assessment. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can contact Women's Aid ( 24-hour freephone helpline at 1800 - 341 900, email helpline@ or Men's Aid Ireland (confidential helpline at 01 - 554 3811, email hello@ for support and information.
