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Jane Street Boss Says He Was Duped Into Funding AK-47s for Coup

Jane Street Boss Says He Was Duped Into Funding AK-47s for Coup

Bloomberg7 hours ago

The indictment reads like a cinematic plot: A Harvard Fellow and another activist allegedly wanted to buy AK-47s, Stinger missiles and grenades to topple South Sudan's government. What they lacked was enough cash.
Now, Jane Street co-founder Robert Granieri concedes he put up the money — saying he was duped into funding the alleged coup plot. The admission from the wealthy recluse behind a Wall Street trading powerhouse stems from the US prosecution of Peter Ajak, the Harvard Fellow who was accused last year of scheming to install himself atop the East African nation.

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Report: Harvard and Trump admin circle toward deal amid multiple clashes
Report: Harvard and Trump admin circle toward deal amid multiple clashes

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Report: Harvard and Trump admin circle toward deal amid multiple clashes

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Alums urge Harvard to resist compromise with Trump as reports of deal emerge
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Harvard alumni, through Crimson Courage, whose mission is to stand up for academic freedom, sent an open letter to Harvard administrators on Monday morning calling for the institution to resist caving into the federal government. 'We cannot stand for 'veritas' if we refuse to stand up for truth when the moment demands it or if we dilute our values because it is expedient,' said the community of Harvard alumni. The letter comes after reports that the Trump administration and Harvard were circling toward a deal after months of challenges. President Donald Trump boasted on Friday of a 'mindbogglingly HISTORIC' deal with Harvard University. In April, the Trump administration demanded an overhaul of Harvard's leadership structure, admissions and hiring. If the university didn't comply, it risked losing $9 billion in funding, the federal government said. The actions were taken in the name of antisemitism, as the Trump administration claimed Harvard failed to protect Jewish students, particularly in the wake of the war in Gaza. Harvard rejected the administration's demands and set the stage for a historic showdown, leading to two lawsuits — one of which centered on Harvard's ability to enroll international students. It also led to a series of other funding cuts and cuts to research funding. The university has so far largely prevailed in court in lawsuits against the Trump administration, with a federal judge granting a preliminary injunction on Friday, allowing Harvard University's international students to continue attending school until the legality of the case is decided. Crimson Courage sent the letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, the Harvard Alumni Association and the Deans of all 12 Harvard schools, according to the organization. The organization pointed to President Garber's speech on alumni day on June 6, where he said that no government should 'dictate what we teach, who we admit and hire, and which areas of study of inquiry they can pursue.' The Harvard alumni said that academic freedom 'cannot be negotiated away nor yield to political pressure and coercion.' 'Harvard has benefited from our early embrace of academic freedom as seen in its world-class research as well as its graduates' civic and business leadership across the world. Standing strong is not merely an operational exercise: it is a moral imperative,' Crimson Courage said. 'The world is watching and needs Harvard's leadership and courage now,' the organization said. Crimson Courage said Harvard's status as a global leader in higher education would be 'decimated' if Harvard compromised on its ideals. 'We cannot stand for 'veritas' if we refuse to stand up for truth when the moment demands it or if we dilute our values because it is expedient,' the organization said. In its first lawsuit against the Trump administration, Harvard garnered the support of 12,000 alumni, which emanated from Crimson Courage's organizing. Other individuals and groups also expressed their support through amicus briefs, including two dozen universities, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Council on Education, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression — also known as FIRE — and Columbia Alumni for Academic Freedom. 'We have your back and we trust that you have our backs as well,' Crimson Courage said. These 16 states are supporting the Trump admin in lawsuit with Harvard 'Devastating': 10 Harvard researchers detail 'essential' work set to be cut by Trump Federal judge halts Trump's plans to keep Harvard from enrolling foreign students Harvard researcher's work gives 'hope' for Parkinson's. But the feds cut his funding These US colleges are among the top 100 best global universities, US News says Read the original article on MassLive.

These 16 states are supporting the Trump admin in lawsuit with Harvard
These 16 states are supporting the Trump admin in lawsuit with Harvard

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Sixteen Republican-led states are supporting the Trump administration in a lawsuit between the federal government and Harvard University over cuts to federal funding. 'There are apparently three constant truths in American life: death, taxes and Harvard University's discrimination against Jews,' the states' attorneys general said. The statement of support comes after reports that the Trump administration and Harvard were circling toward a deal after months of challenges. Read more: Alums urge Harvard to resist compromise with Trump as reports of deal emerge In April, the Trump administration demanded an overhaul of Harvard's leadership structure, admissions and hiring. If the university didn't comply, it risked losing $9 billion in funding, the federal government said. The actions were taken in the name of antisemitism, as the Trump administration claimed Harvard failed to protect Jewish students, particularly in the wake of the war in Gaza. Harvard rejected the administration's demands and set the stage for a historic showdown, leading to one lawsuit over the funding cuts and another centered on Harvard's ability to enroll international students. It also led to a series of other funding cuts and cuts to research funding. The university has so far largely prevailed in court in lawsuits against the Trump administration, with a federal judge granting a preliminary injunction on Friday, allowing Harvard University's international students to continue attending school until the legality of the case is decided. The attorneys general argue in the statement of support that the court should side with the Trump administration and allow it to continue with funding cuts because Harvard hasn't contended with issues of antisemitism on campus and is violating federal antidiscrimination law. 'The federal government need not continue to shower benefits on institutions that continue to practice illegal discrimination,' the amicus brief reads. The states included in the amicus brief are: Alaska Arkansas Florida Georgia Indiana Iowa Kansas Louisiana Missouri Montana Nebraska North Dakota Oklahoma South Carolina South Dakota Texas The attorneys general cited the university's published report from its Task Force to Combat Antisemitism as a basis for the hostile encounters Jewish people have faced. 'Harvard could easily enforce its own rules and policies to stop the virulent antisemitism on its campus. Doing so would protect the vital research, education, and more that, according to Harvard itself, relies on federal grants and subsidies. Yet it chooses to place that research and education at risk to instead protect virulent antisemitism,' the attorneys general said. Read more: Over 12,000 Harvard alums lend weight to court battle with Trump in new filing While the 16 states have sided with the federal administration, there has also been immense support for Harvard. Supporting Harvard in its lawsuit are over 12,000 alumni as well as other individuals and groups such as two dozen universities, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Council on Education, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression — also known as FIRE — and Columbia Alumni for Academic Freedom. Alums urge Harvard to resist compromise with Trump as reports of deal emerge 'Devastating': 10 Harvard researchers detail 'essential' work set to be cut by Trump Federal judge halts Trump's plans to keep Harvard from enrolling foreign students Harvard researcher's work gives 'hope' for Parkinson's. But the feds cut his funding These US colleges are among the top 100 best global universities, US News says Read the original article on MassLive.

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