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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
US visa curbs on Chinese students may backfire on the administration's decision
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads One night in 1978, President Jimmy Carter got a phone call at 3 a.m. from a top adviser who was visiting China "Deng Xiaoping insisted I call you now, to see if you would permit 5,000 Chinese students to come to American universities," said the official, Frank Press."Tell him to send 100,000," Carter Christmas time that year, the first group of 52 Chinese students had arrived in the United States , just ahead of the formal establishment of US-China diplomatic relations on New Year's Day. A month later, Deng, then China's top leader, made a historic visit to America during which he watched John Denver sing "Take Me Home, Country Roads" and was photographed wearing a cowboy almost hard to believe how little contact there had been between the United States and modern China before that. Sinologist John K. Fairbank wrote in 1971: "Since 1950 Washington has officially sent more men to the moon than it has to China." The visits by Deng, and more important, by those first Chinese students, began a new chapter that would fundamentally change China -- and the world. The United States gained access to a vast market and talent pool, while China found a model and a partner for transforming its that chapter has closed, after the Trump administration announced that it would begin "aggressively" revoking the visas of Chinese students the millions of Chinese who have studied in the United States, myself included, it is a sobering and disheartening development. It marks a turning point that America, long a beacon of openness and opportunity, would start shutting its doors to Chinese who aspire for a good education and a future in a society that values freedom and human curbing people-to-people exchanges, President Donald Trump is taking a decisive step toward decoupling from China. To treat Chinese students and professionals in science and technology broadly not as contributors, but as potential security risks, reflects a foreign policy driven more by insecurity and retreat than by the self-assurance of a global to the new policy in China, reflected in the US Embassy 's social media accounts, was mixed. Some commenters thanked the United States for "sending China's brightest minds back." Others drew historical parallels, comparing the Trump administration's isolationist turn to China's Ming and Qing dynasties -- once global powers that declined after turning inward and were ultimately defeated in foreign invasions. One commenter remarked that the policy's narrow-mindedness would "make America small again."The shift also comes at a time when many young Chinese, disillusioned by political repression and economic stagnation under Xi Jinping's leadership, are trying to flee the country to seek freedom and opportunities."Xi is pushing many of the best and the brightest to leave China," said Thomas E. Kellogg, executive director of Georgetown's Center for Asian Law and a leading scholar of legal reform in China. "The US should be taking advantage of this historic brain drain, not shutting the door to many talented Chinese young people."The number of Chinese students in the United States dropped to about 277,000 in the 2023-24 academic year, a 25% decline from its peak four years earlier, according to government data. Students from China remained the second-largest group of international students, after those from India. In fact, applications for post-graduation temporary employment permits rose by 12% in 2023-24 over the prior year, signaling more interest in working in the United States despite the new visa policy will leave many of these students with little choice but to leave, or at the least reconsider their future in the United States.I interviewed a doctoral candidate in computer science at a top US university, a young man from China who first dreamed of studying in America at 17, when he began to question Chinese government propaganda. He arrived eight years ago and never seriously considering returning. But now, facing the threat of visa revocation, he said he is no longer sure if he can -- or even wants to -- stay."America doesn't feel worth it anymore," he said, asking me not to identify him for fear of retribution from Washington. The immigration process is fraught with anxiety, he said, and the returns no longer seem to justify the stress. He said he was exploring work visa options in Canada, Australia and Western Europe, even though he has a job offer from a big tech company on the West Coast of the United States."The pay might be lower," he said, "but those countries offer more personal freedom."His experience is in stark contrast to that of Dong Jielin, who was among the first Chinese students to come to the United States after the Cultural Revolution. When she arrived at Carnegie Mellon University in 1982 on a U.S. scholarship, she knew little about the country beyond what the Chinese state media had portrayed: a capitalist society in perpetual crisis and a people living in didn't take long for her perception to shift. "The moment I walked into a supermarket, I could see that life here was far from miserable," she told me in an interview. Encounters with Americans quickly dispelled other myths as well. "They were not vicious or hostile," she said. "They were warm and kind."Dong went on to earn a doctoral degree in physics, build a career in finance and technology, become a U.S. citizen and raise a US government has good reasons to worry about national security risks from China, including espionage and intellectual property theft. The FBI calls the Chinese government the most prolific sponsor of talent recruitment programs that aim to transfer scientific and technological breakthroughs to also makes sense to block people with ties to China's military industrial it's something else entirely to deny visas to 18-year-old students simply because they are Chinese and hope to pursue a STEM degree in the United officials often say they aim to distinguish between the Chinese Communist Party and the Chinese people. That distinction was emphasized during Trump's first term. It's largely absent policy now targets anyone with ties to the Chinese Communist Party. But the party has nearly 100 million members, about 1 in 7 Chinese. And most children in China grow up as members of the Young Pioneers and Communist Youth League, school-based party organizations. It's just the way of life in a country ruled by a Leninist one commenter put it on the US Embassy's WeChat account, "How could any Chinese not be associated with the Party?"The policy is also very likely to found that Chinese undergraduates at US universities were more predisposed to favor liberal democracy than their peers in China. However, they said, exposure to xenophobic, anti-Chinese comments by Americans significantly decreased their belief that political reforms are desirable for China. Those who experienced discrimination were more likely to reject democratic values in favor of autocratic who have studied abroad also face growing suspicion at home. The government and some employers believe that exposure to Western values makes their fellow Chinese politically Mingzhu, chair of the appliance giant Gree Electric, said recently that her company will never hire a graduate from a foreign university. "There are spies among them," she the Chinese internet, some people compared her to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who announced the visa Jielin, the former student who was among the first to come to the United States, said the experience had a profound impact on her life, giving her the opportunity to explore the frontiers of science and is understandable, she said, that the government is raising screening standards for student visas. "But I believe the vast majority of those who stay in the US will, over time, become loyal American citizens," she said, just like herself.
Glasgow Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
I saw Sophie Ellis-Bextor perform in Glasgow's Armadillo
Can we adopt Sophie Ellis-Bextor and call her our own? The London-born singer brought disco to the Armadillo on Saturday night - and a whole lot of enthusiasm for the city. And flattery about this Scottish city will get you everywhere with Glasgow fans, Sophie. (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) Looking as fabulous as ever, dressed head to toe in sparkles of course, the star opened up proceedings with Relentless Love before amping up the atmosphere with her cover of Cher's 1979 hit Take Me Home. She said - while rhyming off facts about Glasgow with the same ease as a native - 'It's always a pleasure to be here. 'I love Glasgow very much, I do. 'The city has been such a big part of me and my music . 'I remember playing King Tuts, Oran Mor, The Garage, and Kelvingrove. 'It's always a pleasure to come back.' (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Showcasing those iconic velvet smooth vocals on Young Blood, the 46-year-old sounded exceptional while the new track Vertigo, taken from her upcoming album Perimenopop, gave fans a glimpse of what's to come. The party, however, really got started with a disco mix that included a cover of Modjo's Lady (Hear Me Tonight), ABBA's Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!, and of course, the song that launched it all for Sophie, Spiller's Groovejet (If This Ain't Love). What's great about Sophie is her ability to dance on stage like no one is watching. You're instantly drawn to her energy, and it's magnetic. She's geeky, truly knows who she is, and it's incredible to watch. Her voice is so unique, it gives her brand of disco an edge, and let's face it, you know when Sophie is singing. (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo in May 2025. Pic Calum Buchan.) Taking in the admiration from her fans, she asked: 'Shall I just cancel the rest of the tour? What is the point? 'Shall we just move here?' And with a resounding yes from the fans, it was time for that song that was given a new life thanks to a little movie called Saltburn. Murder on the Dancefloor sent the crowd into a complete frenzy, and rightly so, it's an incredible pop anthem. READ NEXT: I saw Anastacia live in Glasgow - and she revealed her Scottish 'addiction' READ NEXT: I saw Kylie Minogue at the Hydro in Glasgow - it was a legendary performance (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) (Image: Sophie Ellis-Bextor plays Glasgow's Armadillo May 2025. Pic by Calum Buchan.) Signing off with a smile, she said: 'Thank you, come see me again sometime,' before an encore of Bittersweet and a surprise appearance on the balcony to sing A Pessimist Is Never Disappointed.
Mint
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Jamal Roberts takes American Idol Season 23 trophy home. Fans say 'now we can finally rest'
Beloved American reality show American Idol recently crowned their season 23 winner - Jamal Roberts. The 27-year-old dad of three competed against Breanna Nix and John Foster, and took home the coveted winner's trophy. Host Ryan Seacrest finally revealed at the end of the night that the American Idol Season 23 winner was Jamal, which meant that John took second place in the competition. Jamal's win left his fans and family ecstatic. For the finale, John performed Toby Keith's Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) and John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads. Jamal performed Teeks' First Time and the Temptations' Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me). Breanna performed Katy Nichole's In Jesus Name (God of Possible) and Miley Cyrus' The Climb. Ever since his win, Jamal's fans and supporters have been expressing their love and happiness on social media. One user wrote, "Good Job, America. You got it right. Congratulations Jamal." Meanwhile another person wrote, 'JAMAL WINS EVIL HAS BEEN DEFEATED NOW I CAN FINALLY REST.' A third user on X wrote, "So happy I don't have to turn this internet upside down. Congratulations Jamal." A fourth person commented, '#AmericanIdol Jamal congrats! I haven't watched in 20 years but finally America got it right. Although Gabby should've been right beside him.' Take a look at some other internet reactions: According to a report from Newsweek last year, the prize package for the winner is pretty sweet. Jamal can expect to pocket around $125,000 upfront, with another $100,000 waiting for him once he's delivered a full album - which becomes a total of $250,000. But that's not all - the American Idol winners also get a record contract with Hollywood Records, which comes with a budget of up to $300,000 to record their album. This sum of money will act essentially as an advance that they'll need to pay back from future earnings. The American Idol finale was a real spectacle, with the top three contestants sharing the stage with an incredible lineup of superstar guests such as Brandon Lake, Goo Goo Dolls, Good Charlotte, and even legends like Jennifer Holliday, Jessica Simpson, and Salt-N-Pepa. And if that wasn't enough, the judges themselves - Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, and Lionel Richie - ditched their judging table for some show-stopping performances of their own.
ITV News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- ITV News
Packed funeral for Rochdale FC legend Joe Thompson who bravely faced cancer three times
Mourners have packed a church for the funeral of Rochdale FC legend Joe Thompson, who died after revealing he had cancer for the third died on 17 April after being diagnosed with Stage Four lymphoma, which had spread to his lungs. At least 400 people were inside St Mark's Church in Worsley, Salford, and about 200 more stood in the grounds to watch the service and highlights from Joe's career on coffin arrived, bearing a display of flowers reading 'Daddy', from his two daughters. It was carried into the church to the sounds of Take Me Home by Jess Glynne. White doves were released from white baskets - the first by Joe's widow Chantelle - followed by a spontaneous round of applause. During the service, Lula, Joe's 12 year old daughter, spoke during the service of their special bond: "It's your time to have the rest you deserve now," she said. "Thank you so much for being my best friend and you always will be for eternity you will be watching over s every single day and I know what a magical place you are in now."Fighting back tears, Chantelle Thompson said he was "soulmate... my rock... and my everything". She added: "I don't know who I am without him." Former team-mate Ryan Lowe said before the service: "You only have to look at the want to celebrate his life in style because he was a brilliant character, fantastic guy, unbelievable person and yeah, he'll be sadly missed. "But, as they'll do, they'll give him a good it's been a sad moment all round."Jim McNulty, the current Rochdale manager, said: "Joe was everything; he was our ultimate team mate and will remain so. Joe stood for all the principles through life and through his fight in life and how he converted his fight to happiness and enjoying the journey."
Scottish Sun
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Harry Kane finally gets his hands on first career trophy as Bayern Munich win Bundesliga in style
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HARRY KANE proved during the week he cannot sing to save his life. But on the day the England captain finally got his hands on some silverware, an occasion he will certainly never forget, Kane gave a reminder that he is half decent at scoring goals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Harry Kane leads the rejoicing as Bayern revel in their latest title glory Credit: Getty 8 The striker makes a small piece of kiss-tory for himself Credit: Reuters 8 Harry Kane fired the opener in a 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach Credit: Reuters Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title six days earlier without kicking a ball as Bayer Leverkusen drew with Freiburg. Kane celebrated with his team-mates in a posh Munich restaurant before murdering 'We Are The Champions', 'Sweet Caroline' and 'Take Me Home, Country Roads'. With beers flowing in the stands from an hour before kick-off, the Bavarian party was well underway in Bayern's penultimate game of the season by the time Kane struck in the 31st minute before former Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise got a late second . After the game, Kane and his team walked back onto the pitch along a red carpet and onto a podium. Kane's frustrations over a trophyless first season at Bayern, the pain of not winning anything with his boyhood team Spurs and devastating two losses in major finals with England were replaced by the joy of finally being a winner. His latest goal also broke yet another record. Kane's header saw him become the first player in German history to score 25 goals or more in his first two Bundesliga seasons. The header was an 81st goal in 90 games since leaving Bayern for Spurs for £104million. Despite receiving criticism in some quarters for not scoring in big games - although he did strike against Inter Milan in the quarter-finals - the 31-year-old has already become the club's main man. 8 Kane is ecstatic after finally picking up major silverware Credit: Reuters BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Equally, it was also a special day for Eric Dier who followed his pal from north London to Bavaria 18 months ago and has also won his first title. The defender is now heading to Monaco after turning down a one-year contract to stay in Germany and he featured in a presentation on the pitch before the game and was given a standing ovation. Harry Kane celebrates with Bayern team-mates after FINALLY winning a trophy Once the game started, Bayern were lethargic and seemed to be paying the price for their boozy celebrations. Yet Kane scored with his first chance and it was very much made in England as the player delivering his 14th assist of the season was Olise. While he plays for France, Olise grew up in London and played for Reading and Palace before making a £50million move last summer. He then delivered a deft finish for his 16th goal in the 90th minute. Certainly for Bayern fans, apart from paying tribute to their new goal hero, this day was all about saying farewell to 35-year-old Thomas Muller who is ending his 25-year association with the club. Bayern were hoping that Muller, 35, would score a 249th goal on what was his 751st appearance. He had a couple of moments but on both occasions his shots were blocked. And in the 83rd minute, Muller - who could end up playing in MLS - left the Allianz pitch for the last time and was given a guard of honour by the subs and coaching staff before a few of the first-team belatedly joined in. 8 Michael Olise sealed Bayern's win the the final minute Credit: Getty 8 Thomas Muller enjoys his send-off in his final Bayern home game, as Kane and Leon Goretzka join in the celebrations Credit: Getty Kane was replaced in injury-time and received a big hug from his manager Vincent Kompany who must be thankful Thomas Tuchel signed the striker a couple of years ago. For ex-Manchester City defender Kompany, this was also an unforgettable occasion. And this was in stark contrast to a year ago today when as manager of Burnley, Kompany suffered a 2-1 loss to Spurs for a 23rd Premier League defeat of the season. If you had told him that 12 months later, he would have been doing a victory lap around the pitch at the Allianz, you have to wonder what the reply would have been. 8 Departing legend Thomas Muller shows all his emotions as he hugs Harry Kane, with Eric Dier applauding in the background Credit: Reuters 8 England skipper Kane saluted fans amid a carnival atmosphere Credit: Getty
