Latest news with #OpenDoors
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Moses Lake to host homelessness forum
May 31—MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake residents will be asked for their ideas on how the city can help address homelessness following the impending closure of the Open Doors sleep center at a community forum beginning at 6:30 p.m. June 2. Moses Lake City Council members voted in April to close the sleep center June 30, when the grant that funded its operation expires. Council members opted not to renew the grant. The sleep center provides overnight accommodation for about 35 people. City officials want to get ideas from residents on what they want the city to do after the sleep center closes. Lynne Lynch, communications and marketing specialist, said attendees will be broken up into groups and asked for their suggestions about a list of different jobs that will be part of the closure and how the city will address homelessness from now on. There are tasks that go along with closing the facility, like restoring the property to its original condition. Different city departments will be responsible for different parts of the response, and city officials are looking for suggestions on how residents want to proceed with that. A resource guide, which lists organizations that provide help to people who need help finding assistance, is posted on the city website. City officials are looking for suggestions to enhance it and provide the widest possible distribution and accessibility. The closure will require changes to city ordinances, and city officials want to know where residents want to go with those. Revisions will be required to the city's laws concerning camping, nuisances and drug activity, among others. City officials are also soliciting ideas on ways to enforce ordinances and communicate the rules as clearly as possible. While the city will no longer provide direct services for unsheltered people, other agencies do, and city officials want suggestions on how the city can, within the available funds, help people connect with those organizations. Participants will have about 30 minutes to discuss their ideas; each group's conclusions and suggestions will be announced once the whole group reassembles. The ideas and suggestions that result will be discussed and considered by city employees working on the plan, which will be submitted to the council in June.
The Star
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
US to start ‘aggressively' revoking visas for Chinese students, Rubio says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the United States will start 'aggressively' revoking visas issued to Chinese students, and will 'enhance scrutiny' of applications from mainland China and Hong Kong. 'Under President [Donald] Trump's leadership, the US State Department will work with the Department of Homeland Security to aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields,' he said in a statement. 'We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong,' the statement added. China has continued to send a substantial number of students into the US, second only to India as the top source of international students, even as students and academics from the country have faced increasing scrutiny by the US government. More than 277,000 Chinese citizens accounted for nearly 25 per cent of all international students in the country, according to last year's Open Doors report, sponsored by the US Department of State. Senator Ashley Moody, the Florida Republican who replaced Rubio in Congress after he was nominated by Trump to helm the State Department, lauded Wednesday's announcement. Moody, who introduced a bill proposing to ban all Chinese students in the US accused American universities of 'importing espionage'. 'The US is no longer in the business of importing espionage,' she said in a post on X. 'Now, it's time for Congress to act and pass my STOP CCP Visas Act. We no longer have a choice: As long as the CCP has laws forcing Chinese students to gather intelligence on their behalf, we cannot grant them student visas.' The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), which bills itself as non-partisan but whose members are Democrats, issued a statement condemning Rubio's announcement. 'The wholesale revocation of student visas based on national origin – and without an investigation – is xenophobic and wrong,' it said. 'Turning these students away – many of whom simply wish to learn in a free and democratic society – is not just shortsighted but a betrayal of our values.' The State Department's move on Wednesday followed a series of actions aimed more broadly at restricting international students to address alleged threats to national security. On Tuesday, Rubio reportedly sent a diplomatic cable to America's embassies and consulates worldwide to stop scheduling student visa interviews as Trump's administration considers more expansive vetting of the social media profiles of applicants. That development came just days after the Department of Homeland Security sought to block Harvard University from enrolling foreign students due to what it described as noncompliance with its request to provide records of their activities on campus. The move was halted by a federal judge on Friday after Harvard sued the administration. In an ironic twist, Rubio's announcement came out just as China's top envoy to the US was striking an optimistic tone about people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, despite intensifying competition and suspicion that has defined the bilateral relationship in recent years. In an event at his embassy on Wednesday evening, Ambassador Xie Feng highlighted his country's push to advance its technological capabilities and lure top talent during an event highlighting the scientific and cultural experiences of American citizens on the mainland. 'It is people-to-people ties that invigorate China-US relations', he said emphatically, adding that the 'future of this relationship ultimately depends on the two peoples.' 'We warmly welcome all American friends to travel in China, shop in China, succeed in China and take part in Chinese modernisation. Come and see the country with your own eyes,' Xie urged his audience. Citing collaborative work to promote folic acid supplements that 'helped millions of newborns' and joint efforts that helped African countries curb the spread of Ebola, Xie insisted that China's 'pursuit of innovation is not to oppose or outcompete anyone, but for better lives for its own people and greater development of humanity'. 'China and the United States each have strengths in science and technology,' he added. 'The right path forward is mutual learning and cooperation for sheer success.' Additional reporting by Bochen Han
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
Here's how dependent each UC campus is on international students
With tens of thousands of students from other countries studying at University of California campuses, UC officials say they are 'very concerned' about President Donald Trump's targeting of international enrollment, which could put a dent in colleges' budgets, slow research and harm the state economy. On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the Trump administration will 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students.' Also this week, Trump paused new student visa interviews, and he dangled the idea of a 15% cap on international enrollment. About 41,000 international students study at UC's 10 campuses, about 13% of systemwide enrollment. Nearly a third of UC graduate students, 31%, are from another country, while 9% of undergraduates are from outside the U.S. China accounts for the greatest share of international students at UC by far — 43%. 'Our international students and scholars are vital members of our university community and contribute greatly to our research, teaching, patient care and public service mission,' the university said in a statement. Officials at major private universities in California expressed concern as well. At Stanford, where ratios of international students are similar to UC's, President Jonathan Levin said it was 'self-defeating to send away young people with so much potential to contribute to the country.' A spokesperson for Caltech, where international students include 14% of undergraduates and 47% of graduate students, credited 'foreign talent' with helping American innovators develop 'extraordinary new advances,' from AI, to smartphones, personal computing and sequencing the human genome. Trump's actions 'undermine the stability of our country's research, education and innovation enterprise, a system that has ensured U.S. leadership and global competitiveness in the advancement of science, the development of new technologies and the prosperity of our communities,' said Caltech spokesperson Shayna Chabner. The Trump administration's efforts to reduce the presence of international students is part of an 'America first' policy, Rubio said, adding that the restrictions will focus especially on students 'with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' He did not say how the administration would determine which students have connections with the Chinese government or what fields are considered critical. But the crackdown is already causing deep concern among international students and those hoping to study in the U.S. Roughly 1.1 million international students study at U.S. universities — 6.6% of college students, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's ' Study in the States ' webpage. International enrollment increased by a record 7% last year, according to the Open Doors report cited by the department. International students don't qualify for federal student aid, so the vast majority pay full tuition. That's a lucrative source of revenue for many universities, especially UC campuses, where taxpayers and the university help subsidize the tuition of state residents. Nonresidents pay three times the in-state rate. But the research university system says it also depends upon foreign students for a robust exchange of ideas — academic and cultural. 'The University of California is very concerned about the U.S. State Department's action to pause new interview appointments for applicants for student and exchange visas and the direct impact it will have on our international students, scholars and faculty,' UC officials said through a spokesperson. Sharply reducing the flow of international students is Trump's latest attempt to wrest control of American universities, which he and his allies see as centers of liberal bias. Last year's widespread campus protests against the war in Gaza helped to fuel a claim of systemic antisemitism on campuses. His administration is investigating numerous universities, including UC campuses, seeking evidence to bolster that idea. Trump has also unsuccessfully tried to revoke existing student visas. A Bay Area federal judge blocked that effort last week. Trump has aimed much of his ire at Harvard — including by trying to block new international students from enrolling there — after Harvard's President Alan Garber rebuffed his attempt to take over decision-making powers there last month. Harvard sued twice and won a temporary restraining order. On Thursday, a federal judge extended the order. Now Trump has turned the effort to campuses everywhere. At the White House on Wednesday, he said that American students 'can't get in' to universities 'because we have foreign students there' that take their slots, Bloomberg reported. Trump then suggested that international students should be capped at 15%. 'How did he come up with that number?' asked Shaun Harper, a professor at the University of Southern California's Rossier School of Education. As for international students crowding out U.S. students, 'if that were a problem, I certainly would know,' said Harper, a past president of the Association for the Study of Higher Education. 'It's only suddenly a big problem because Donald Trump has declared it so, as part of his larger war on Harvard University.' Citing college enrollment numbers at the U.S. Department of Education's data site, Harper noted that Harvard's enrollment of foreign students sits at 14% of undergraduates, while schools typically enroll a smaller ratio than that, including UC Berkeley's 12%. At Stanford, 16% of undergraduates are international students. John Aubrey Douglass, senior research fellow at UC Berkeley's Center for Studies in Higher Education, called the halt on international students 'shortsighted and vindictive.' 'We are witnessing an unraveling of a century of a partnership between the federal government and universities and colleges that helped build the world's premier mass higher education system built in part on attracting talent internationally,' he said. In 2017, UC imposed a cap on undergraduate non-state residents, including international students, as it faced a backlash by students and lawmakers who said the university was admitting increasing numbers of nonresidents — who pay full price — at the expense of many Californians. Douglass said this is how the process is supposed to work. 'Let the states decide,' he said. 'And allow independent private schools to make their own enrollment decisions.' On Wednesday, the nonprofit Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration said that international students contributed nearly $44 billion to the U.S. economy last year, and supported over 378,000 jobs. The new crackdown on international students is part of a 'growing climate of fear, volatility, and uncertainty' in the country, the group said in a statement, as it urged the Trump administration to reverse its decision.
Business Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Business Times
President's Challenge 2025 to support 52 organisations, with focus on longer-term funding
[SINGAPORE] The President's Challenge 2025, which was launched on Wednesday (May 28) by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, will support 60 programmes by 52 organisations. Although this is fewer than the 88 programmes supported in 2024, the initiative aims to focus on more significant and longer-term funding for beneficiaries. The refreshed President's Challenge this year received applications from 272 programmes – more than twice the number in 2024. In a doorstop interview with the media, Tharman said: 'The happy problem we face is that we've had a lot more applications for this new President's Challenge. And we could therefore afford to be selective, choose programmes which we felt had the greatest potential, and yet cover a broad ground.' Six selected programmes that have established track records will receive a higher tier of funding of S$715,000 to S$1.25 million over five years. The other 54 programmes will receive funding of S$105,000 to S$300,000 for each programme over three years. One of the six programmes is Riding for the Disabled Association of Singapore's (RDA) equine-assisted activities. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors programme. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up RDA currently runs therapeutic riding sessions for persons with disabilities, as well as the Ground Programme, in which beneficiaries can get involved with activities such as horse care. Gerard Sivalingam, general manager of RDA, said: 'We use horses as a form of therapy… (The beneficiaries) see joy in what they are doing. What we offer them is a hobby and something that's not easily accessible.' He added that the funding from the President's Challenge is vital in keeping the programmes free of charge, especially amid rising costs. Meanwhile, one of the 54 programmes is Playeum's Open Minds, Open Doors initiative, which has been ongoing since 2019. It is a community play programme for children with disabilities. Charlotte Goh, executive director of Playeum, said: '(Open-ended play) enables social and emotional skills and 21st century skills like critical thinking, collaboration, creativity, communication, self-regulation and self-awareness.' As part of the programme, Playeum also runs workshops for parents to learn about children's holistic development and family bonding through play. It has developed manuals that can be used by both parents and educators. Tharman added: 'All the programmes we're supporting aim not just at meeting immediate needs, but uplifting people, by discovering talents and developing their potential.' In addition, the S$250 million SG Gives Matching Grant announced at Budget 2025 will provide dollar-for-dollar matching by the government for all donations to the President's Challenge. New fellowships This year's President Challenge includes new fellowships, which will cover three tracks. The first track, called Civil Action, offers one or two-year sabbaticals to those who have a minimum of five years of work or active volunteering experience. It is supported by Quantedge Foundation, Singapore Management University and Singapore University of Social Sciences. Tharman said: '(This track) is to enable people who are engaged in the social sector – in social work, social services, youth work, and even active volunteers from other professions – the time and opportunity to reflect, do some research, network and develop new ideas for social impact.' The second track, called Springboard, supports individuals who have faced challenges in life and are ready to enter the workforce or become an entrepreneur. The selected fellows can choose between employment and upskilling programmes either for employment or entrepreneurship. Springboard is supported by the Singapore Institute of Management and Temasek. It aims to help individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, ex-offenders, women facing vulnerable circumstances, and more. The third track is ITE Inspire, which recognises alumni from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) who have made strides in their career and can act as role models for the younger generation. ITE Inspire is also supported by Singapore Business Federation Foundation. ITE will shortlist and select up to five awardees. These awardees will organise programmes such as mentoring, learning journeys and industry visits in Singapore and/or overseas, and workshops or fireside chats to benefit the ITE community. More opportunities in arts and sports The President's Challenge has also partnered the National Arts Council (NAC) and Sport Singapore (SportSG) to broaden opportunities for beneficiaries in the arts and sports sectors. The Enabling Sports Fund aims to expand community-initiated disability sports and support early identification of talents among young persons with disabilities. Under the partnership, the President's Challenge will also enhance access to sports for all via SportSG's academies and clubs, as well as more inter-school sports competitions and carnivals. It will also help NAC and SportSG expand their scholarship offerings.
Kyodo News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Kyodo News
Rubio says U.S. to "aggressively" revoke visas of Chinese students
By Takuya Karube, KYODO NEWS - 6 hours ago - 10:20 | All, World The United States will "aggressively" revoke visas of Chinese students, including those with ties to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in sensitive fields, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday. In a statement, Rubio also said, "We will also revise visa criteria to enhance scrutiny of all future visa applications from the People's Republic of China and Hong Kong." It is widely known that many children of high-ranking members of the Chinese Communist Party have studied at prominent U.S. universities. Chinese President Xi Jinping's daughter reportedly graduated from Harvard University in 2014, although she studied under a pseudonym. China was the second-largest country of origin for foreign students in the United States in the 2023-2024 school year, following India, which became the leader for the first time since 2009, according to data from Open Doors, a program sponsored by the State Department. There were 277,398 Chinese students in the United States in the year, making up a quarter of the total. The release of Rubio's brief statement came about two weeks after the United States and China took steps to ease trade tensions, which were initially sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of hefty tariffs on Chinese imports. Last week, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Harvard of coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party on its campus. Noem's letter also notified the university of the administration's move to revoke its ability to enroll international students. On Wednesday, Trump said Harvard should limit international enrollment to around 15 percent of admitted students each academic year. Claiming some foreign students are "very radical" and "troublemakers," Trump renewed his pressure on Harvard to provide the government with lists of foreign-born students and their countries of origin. "I think they should have a cap of maybe around 15 have people (who) want to go to Harvard and other schools, (but) they can't get in because we have foreign students there," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I want to make sure that the foreign students are people that can love our country." "Many of those students were troublemakers caused by the radical left lunatics in this country," he added. Harvard enrolled 6,793 international students in the 2024-2025 school year, accounting for 27.2 percent of its total acceptance, according to the university. Among Asian countries, there were about 260 Japanese students and scholars at Harvard, compared with some 2,100 from China, 790 from India, 430 from South Korea and 150 from Singapore, according to its data. On Wednesday, Trump also asserted that it is the United States rather than other countries that invested in Harvard, questioning why top American educational institutions like the Massachusetts-based university need to accept a notable portion of foreign students. Trump, who has frozen some federal funds to Harvard, reiterated that he wants to redirect public money to trade schools across the country to make them the best in the world and teach people skills such as building cars and working with artificial intelligence. Trump's remarks came as part of a broader push by his administration against Harvard, seeking changes to university policies such as those concerning admissions and hiring amid accusations that its academic environment harbors antisemitism while being too liberal. His administration has been tightening screenings for international students, arguing that some applicants could threaten national security. It has slammed Harvard and other high-profile U.S. universities for failing to prevent campus protests targeting Israel over alleged abuses against civilians during its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. For such reasons, the Trump administration paused the scheduling of foreign student visa interviews at all U.S. diplomatic missions on Tuesday, clouding the hopes of many who aspire to study in the United States. Related coverage: Japan calls on colleges to accept students in U.S. after Harvard ban Univ. of Tokyo mulls accepting Harvard foreign students if barred
