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Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Indian-American Congressman criticises Trump administration's freeze on student visa interviews
Live Events Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has criticized the Trump administration 's decision to freeze student visa interviews and consider strict social media screening for international students . He called it a "reckless decision" that could damage the country's economy and national security, as per a report by The Times of also said that shutting international students out is a "strategic blunder" that weakens US global competitiveness. "I strongly oppose the Trump Administration's reckless decision to freeze new student visa interviews and consider sweeping, undefined social media vetting for international students. International students help drive cutting-edge research, fuel our universities, and build the industries of tomorrow," said Krishnamoorthi to TOI."These young people are not only scholars and innovators—they are vital to America's economic strength and national security. By developing the next generation of technologies and the good-paying jobs that come with them, they help ensure the United States remains a global leader," he remarks came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered embassies and consulates to stop scheduling new visa interviews for student applicants. The Trump administration is also considering requiring students to undergo expanded vetting of their social media activity.(Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)In a separate move, Trump suggested that Harvard University should cap the number of foreign students it admits at 15 percent. He claimed that the current figure, around 31 percent, includes students from "very radicalised" regions.(With inputs from TOI)
Time of India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Residents demand more foot over bridges in Vijayawada
1 2 3 Vijayawada: In the absence of foot over bridges (FoBs), citizens crisscrossing roads at the busiest intersections risk their lives, which has become a common sight in the city. Concerned about their safety, residents continue to demand the govt promptly construct sufficient numbers of FoBs, a long-pending demand that remains residents say there is a need for a FoB at nearly every traffic junction, Vijayawada city currently has just one operational FoB opposite the Old Eenadu office on MG Road, situated strategically between Benz Circle and NTR Circle Junctions, two key junctions in the city. "The FoB opposite the Eenadu office serves little purpose as it is mostly used by political parties for displaying flex banners and publicity materials, while intermediate students use it during morning and evening hours. On the other hand, Benz Circle, which is just 200 metres away and where thousands of people jaywalk daily, putting their lives at risk, is bereft of a FoB despite demands from the public to construct one," secretary of taxpayers association in Vijayawada, MV Anjaneyulu, told TOI."Before anything else, Vijayawada, as a city, first requires better footpaths that allow pedestrians to safely walk on the roads. Secondly, the city immediately requires FoBs at crucial junctions such as Benz Circle, Ramavarappadu Ring, Chuttugunta, Besant Road, RTC bus stand area, and Police Control Room junction."While the city earlier had two FoBs, one at the Eenadu office and another at PWD Grounds, the FoB at PWD Grounds was demolished to facilitate the construction of Dr BR Ambedkar Statue at Ambedkar Smriti Vanam Park, developed at the grounds by the previous state govt.A senior Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) official told TOI: "The municipal corporation readied a proposal to construct FoBs at Benz Circle, PCR Junction, Chutti Nagar, and a subway at KR Market area. However, the proposals didn't materialise due to unknown reasons.""I travel daily from Balaji Nagar to Patamata, and I take share autos from Varadhi Junction to Benz Circle Junction to Patamata for commuting daily to my workplace and vice versa. During my commute, I have to cross national highway roads at Varadhi and Benz Circle, making pedestrian safety dubious," says Nagamani, a resident of Balaji Nagar. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Mother's Day wishes , messages , and quotes !
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Bengaluru man gets ‘wings for life' after fall from 12,500ft while skydiving
1 2 Bengaluru: What would you do if you were falling from 12,500ft and your parachute didn't open? Take a breath. Picture the wind roaring past your ears, the earth spinning below. For Austin Prakash , a seasoned skydiver from the city, this wasn't just a nightmare. In 2022, during the jump, something went wrong: A parachute malfunctioned. When he hit the ground, the impact shattered both his legs, changing forward to 2025, eight months after his leg amputation, Austin, now 50, took part in the Wings for Life World Run , a global charity race in Dubai where participants run to support spinal cord injury research, with no set finish line. He walked 2.3km on prosthetics and crutches on Sunday."It took me 39 minutes to complete the trail and find my limit. It took some time to find my pace, and crutches add to the challenge as they require upper body strength and coordination. Eventually, I found the strength. In between, I had to change my prosthetics because of my stump (residual limb after amputation). But it gave me a taste of freedom, a sense of achievement," he the accident, he was a man in motion. As both a strategist and entrepreneur, he was part of a Bengaluru-based electronic trading platform through its early years. Off the clock, he chased speed, adventure, and challenges on racetracks, in the sky, and in life. A resident of JP Nagar, he travelled to Dubai in 2019, but got stuck ever since the Covid-19 pandemic hit. Once the lockdown lifted, he went skydiving and his life came crashing the following two years, he endured as many as eight surgeries, countless hours of rehab, and pain that left no part of him untouched. While initially his legs were resurrected, and life seemed to get better, a serious infection led him to a decision that would change his life. In July 2024, he chose to amputate his leg."I survived. That was the first miracle. It wasn't the fall that defined me. It was everything I did after. For most people, that choice might look like the end of something. After the crash, I didn't want to become someone new. I wanted to stay true to myself. It's not motivation, it's just who I am. The only difference is that I don't have legs. I'm still the same guy," Austin told TOI."It wasn't about how far, it was about showing up. It was about saying, I'm still here. People are desperate to be inspired now. But you can't find it by scrolling. You build it in your circle. You build it quietly, over time... and that's the part that sticks. Not the fall from the sky, but the decision to rise when no one would've blamed you for staying down," he said.
Time of India
06-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Mandal education officer takes five govt school SSC toppers from Anantapur district on their first flight journey
Tirupati: "Most of us are from families below the poverty line, and none of us had even boarded a car before in our lives," said T Madhushree, a govt school student who experienced her first flight journey along with four other girls who passed SSC with flying heart-warming initiative saw five govt school girl students from Beluguppa mandal in Anantapur district take their first flight journey for securing over 550 marks in the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations. The district administration, led by collector Dr V Vinod Kumar, and mandal education officer (MEO) Malla Reddy, made this initiative idea behind this initiative was to motivate girl children to pursue higher education and avoid early marriage, a prevalent issue in the district. By rewarding academic excellence, the administration aimed to inspire other students to strive for better. The five girl students who secured over 550 marks were B Indu (585), Y Eswari (574), T Madhusree (568), C Lavanya (560), and K Archana (556).MEO Malla Reddy had announced before the examinations that girl students who scored 550 or more marks would be taken on a flight journey from Bengaluru to Hyderabad. True to his promise, he accompanied the students on their first-ever flight trip on May 1. During their visit to Hyderabad, they explored major tourist spots such as Charminar and Tank Bund and even travelled in the Metro train for the first time."All the five girl students are from extremely poor families. However, these students displayed their academic excellence in SSC exams. If teachers and headmasters of govt schools come up with innovative measures to drive academic excellence of students, govt school students will outperform others," Malla Reddy told TOI."Malla Reddy sir told us that all students who secure 550 plus scores will get to travel in a flight from Bengaluru to Hyderabad. I have never travelled in a flight and that challenge inspired me to score better in my SSC exams," said Y Eswari, one of the students.T Madhushree, thanked Malla Reddy for inspiring students with the novel initiative. "While many of us were good at our academics, the free flight journey reward definitely inspiring for us to do better. We can now aspire for better educational opportunities in the best of the colleges."
