'You've failed Jewish students': Stefanik grills CUNY Chancellor over 'Nazi symbol' and antisemitism
Show more
Show less
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
25 minutes ago
- NDTV
Jews Deboarded From Plane Due To Their Religion? France Begins Probe
Paris: French authorities are trying to establish whether a group of young French citizens were removed from a plane bound for Paris from Spain this week because they are Jewish. The airline, Vueling, has denied the claims. Several dozen French passengers on Wednesday were kicked off a flight leaving the Spanish city of Valencia for Paris, for what Spanish police and the airline described as unruly behavior. France's ministry for Europe and foreign affairs said in a statement on Saturday that the minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, contacted the CEO of Vueling, Carolina Martinoli, to express his deep concern "about the removal of a group of young French Jews from one of the company's flights." Barrot also requested more information to "determine whether these individuals had been discriminated against on the basis of their religion." A similar request has been made to the Spanish ambassador to France. "Ms. Martinoli assured Mr. Barrot that a thorough internal investigation was underway and that its findings would be shared with the French and Spanish authorities," the ministry said. Vueling previously denied reports that the incident, which involved the removal of 44 minors and eight adults from flight V8166, was related to the passengers' religion. Some Israeli news outlets reported that the students were Jewish and that their removal was religiously motivated, a claim that was repeated by an Israeli minister online. Spain's Civil Guard said the minors and adults were French nationals. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the agents involved were not aware of the group's religious affiliation. A Vueling spokesperson said the passengers were removed after the minors repeatedly tampered with the plane's emergency equipment and interrupted the crew's safety demonstration. A Civil Guard spokesperson said the captain of the plane ordered the removal of the minors from the plane at Valencia's Manises Airport after they repeatedly ignored the crew's instructions. On Thursday, the Federation for Jewish Communities of Spain expressed concern about the incident. The group said that Vueling needed to provide documentary evidence of what happened on the plane. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Trump administration pushes penalties in campus antisemitism cases, using Columbia deal as roadmap
The Trump administration is reshaping how US universities are held accountable for campus antisemitism, introducing a new enforcement strategy that combines financial penalties with sweeping institutional reforms. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now At the center of this shift is a $200 million settlement with Columbia University, now being used as a template for similar deals under negotiation with elite schools like Harvard. Unlike past administrations, which typically resolved such civil rights investigations through voluntary, non-punitive measures, the current approach signals a more aggressive federal stance. With billions in research funding frozen across institutions and growing pressure to overhaul policies around admissions, hiring, and campus culture, the higher education sector is facing an unprecedented moment of federal intervention, one that may permanently alter its relationship with Washington. Federal investigations expand beyond Columbia Dozens of universities are under federal investigation over alleged failures to respond to antisemitism on campus. The scrutiny has intensified since the onset of the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the administration focusing on whether institutions created or allowed hostile environments for Jewish students and employees. Top-tier institutions like Harvard, Cornell, and Northwestern are among those being investigated. These cases are no longer being treated as routine civil rights probes. Instead, they are being positioned as opportunities for broader systemic change within American higher education. Columbia's settlement becomes the national model The turning point came with Columbia University's agreement to a $200 million fine and a series of structural commitments aimed at addressing antisemitism and campus governance. This deal restored Columbia's access to previously frozen federal funds but came with far-reaching conditions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Key elements of the Columbia agreement include: Admissions and hiring decisions must be made on a strictly merit-based basis, excluding considerations of race or identity. The university must hire additional Jewish Studies faculty and increase visibility of Jewish cultural programming. Columbia is required to reduce its reliance on international students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. An independent federal monitor will oversee implementation and ensure continued compliance through periodic audits and disclosures. This framework has now become a model for future settlements, with officials pushing for similar terms in negotiations with other universities. Funding freezes escalate pressure on institutions In tandem with these negotiations, the administration has deployed one of its most forceful tools: freezing federal research and development funding. Cornell University is facing a freeze exceeding $1 billion, while Northwestern University has had nearly $790 million in funding halted. Harvard, though still in talks with the administration, risks similar measures if a deal is not reached. These funding cuts threaten not only the universities' research capabilities but also their ability to support graduate students, global collaborations, and federally funded initiatives across disciplines. The financial pressure is designed to accelerate settlements while sending a strong message about the consequences of non-compliance. New norms: Compliance, oversight, and campus culture The shift from advisory resolutions to enforceable, monitored settlements introduces a new paradigm in federal-university relations. The Columbia deal goes beyond addressing specific incidents; it demands transformation of institutional culture and governance. This includes altering how universities approach: Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) frameworks International recruitment strategies Campus free speech, protests, and political expression Universities must now reconcile these mandates with their traditional commitments to academic freedom and inclusive learning environments. Many administrators are also concerned about the growing legal complexity and political sensitivity surrounding campus governance. Impacts for students and faculty These developments will likely have lasting effects on student life and academic operations. Students may encounter changes to admissions criteria, particularly regarding affirmative action and race-based considerations. Faculty recruitment may prioritize specific disciplines, such as Jewish Studies, while international students could face reduced admission quotas in certain programs. Moreover, the role of external monitors and federal auditors on campus could introduce new constraints on academic decision-making, student activism, and institutional autonomy. For both students and educators, the evolving landscape introduces uncertainty around policies, protections, and future planning. A federal roadmap with national implications The Trump administration has made clear that the Columbia settlement is not a one-time solution but rather a roadmap for widespread reform in the US higher education system. As Harvard and other universities enter settlement discussions, the inclusion of monetary fines, mandatory oversight, and structural policy shifts is becoming the new standard. This approach is likely to reshape how universities approach compliance, student rights, and cultural inclusion in the years ahead. At stake is not just funding but also the long-standing balance between institutional independence and government accountability—a balance now being actively redefined on America's campuses. TOI Education is on WhatsApp now. Follow us .
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- New Indian Express
UN gathering to revive Palestinian statehood push amid Israel's brutal Gaza war
UNITED NATIONS: Fired by France's imminent recognition of Palestinian statehood, UN members meet next week to breathe life into the push for a two-state solution as Israel, expected to be absent, presses its war in Gaza. Days before the July 28-30 conference on fostering Israeli and Palestinian states living peacefully side-by-side to be co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would formally recognize the State of Palestine in September. His declaration "will breathe new life into a conference that seemed destined to irrelevance," said Richard Gowan, an analyst at International Crisis Group. "Macron's announcement changes the game. Other participants will be scrabbling to decide if they should also declare an intent to recognize Palestine." According to an AFP database, at least 142 of the 193 UN member states -- including France -- now recognize the Palestinian state proclaimed by the Palestinian leadership in exile in 1988. In 1947, a resolution of the UN General Assembly decided on the partition of Palestine, then under a British mandate, into two independent states -- one Jewish and the other Arab. The following year, the State of Israel was proclaimed, and for several decades, the vast majority of UN member states have supported the idea of a two-state solution: Israeli and Palestinian, living side-by-side peacefully and securely. But after more than 21 months of war in Gaza, the ongoing expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, and senior Israeli officials declaring designs to annex occupied territory, it is feared a Palestinian state could be geographically impossible. The war in Gaza started following a deadly attack by Hamas on Israel, which responded with a large-scale military response that has claimed tens of thousands of Palestinian lives. The New York conference is a response to the crisis, with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and several dozen ministers from around the world expected to attend.
