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Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Harvard urges US judge to unblock $2.5 billion in federal research funds, says national security, public health research in peril
Harvard University on Monday asked a federal judge to immediately rule the Trump administration 's $2.5 billion research funding freeze unlawful, arguing the decision was politically motivated, legally baseless, and threatens vital national and scientific interests. In a detailed court filing to the U.S. District Court in Boston, the university sought summary judgment—asking the court to decide without a full trial—on its lawsuit filed in April. Harvard accuses the administration of violating its constitutional right to free speech and breaching federal law. 'The government's rush to freeze and terminate billions of dollars in current and future federal funding to Harvard for critical research lacks the basic requisites of reasoned decisionmaking,' the university's lawyers said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tại sao ngày càng nhiều người cao tuổi chọn cấy ghép răng giá phải chăng? Cấy ghép răng | Quảng cáo tìm kiếm Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Over 950 projects affected across fields Since 14 April, Harvard said it has received 957 orders instructing it to halt federal funding across its research departments. These projects include medical, defence and fundamental science initiatives. Among the terminated grants were: Live Events $88 million for paediatric HIV/AIDS research $12 million to help the Defence Department track emerging biological threats $10 million to tackle antibiotic-resistant infections $8 million for astrophysics research into dark energy $7 million for breast cancer prevention in at-risk women John Shaw, Harvard's vice provost for research, warned the freeze would destroy ongoing studies and severely disrupt operations. In a sworn court statement, he wrote: 'Sensitive equipment would sit idle and degrade. Perishable samples would spoil. Live specimens would be euthanised … Many labs rely on continuous processes, so interruptions would render years of work useless.' He added, 'Harvard cannot cover the funding gap itself' despite its endowment, underlining the scale of dependence on these federal funds. National security concerns ignored One of the affected grants—worth $12 million—was part of a Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) programme designed to improve U.S. readiness against biological threats. 'Harvard is currently the top performing team on the … programme,' a DARPA official wrote, as cited in Harvard's court documents. 'Inadequate knowledge of the biological threat landscape poses grave and immediate harm to national security.' Despite these warnings, the Defence Department terminated the contract in mid-May. Harvard's filing states that 'nothing in the Government's administrative record indicates that the Secretary of Defence yielded to the contracting official's plea.' Retaliation for political resistance, Harvard claims The university alleges that the funding block was orchestrated from the White House after it refused to comply with a set of undisclosed demands. The filing also includes internal Trump administration documents, which, according to Harvard, show the terminations were directed centrally and executed through multiple federal agencies using identical language. 'In its haste to cancel Harvard's funding, the White House demanded that agencies terminate funding, leaving them with no time or freedom to explain their decisions, consider important aspects of the problem and alternatives, or account for the pivotal reliance interests tossed aside by Harvard's blacklisting,' the filing stated. Harvard further argues that no proper investigation was conducted into claims of antisemitism before the funding was withdrawn. The court papers say: 'The Government rushed to terminate Harvard's funding not because it concluded after careful assessment that federal financial support for certain programmes … suborned antisemitism, but because the White House demanded across-the-board terminations … solely to inflict maximum punishment.' President Donald Trump has publicly criticised elite institutions like Harvard, accusing them of being 'woke' and fostering antisemitism. His administration launched multiple investigations into the university—ranging from alleged sex and gender discrimination, to foreign ties, and its treatment of Jewish students after pro-Palestinian campus protests. Harvard claims these actions amount to a coordinated attack on academic independence and free inquiry. 'The government fails to acknowledge, let alone engage with, the dozens of steps Harvard has taken and committed to take to address antisemitism and bias,' the university's lawyers wrote. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs has set 21 July as the date for oral arguments. Harvard is asking her to rule swiftly, without trial, and reverse the freeze. If successful, the decision would restore the frozen funds and potentially set a precedent for how far the federal government can go in policing the politics of higher education. 'This is not just about Harvard,' a university spokesperson previously stated. 'It's about protecting the freedom of all academic institutions to pursue knowledge without political interference.'
Euronews
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
US to scale back Africa footprint and demands better 'burden sharing'
The United States is recalibrating its military position across Africa, moving away from its traditional emphasis on good governance and tackling the root causes of insurgency. Instead, it is urging its regional partners to become more self-reliant in managing their own security challenges. The change in approach was evident during African Lion, the largest annual joint military exercise on the continent. "We need to be able to get our partners to the level of independent operations," said General Michael Langley, the top US commander in Africa, speaking to the Associated Press at the conclusion of the four-week drill. "There needs to be some burden sharing," he added. "We have our set priorities now – protecting the homeland." The exercise brought together troops from over 40 nations for combined air, land and sea operations, including drone flights, close-quarters combat simulations and precision rocket launches in the desert. Washington's new focus is on building military capacity rather than nation-building. Langley said the Defence Department under President Donald Trump has prioritised a "leaner, more lethal force," one that may even involve trimming the US military footprint in regions like Africa. This pivot comes amid mounting competition with global powers. China has launched large-scale training efforts for African militaries, while Russian mercenaries have consolidated influence in North, West and Central Africa, positioning themselves as key security partners. In previous years, Langley had championed what he termed a "whole of government" approach, insisting that force alone was insufficient to stabilise fragile states. Last year, he pointed to integrated efforts in Ivory Coast — combining security and development — as a success story. But such examples remain rare. "I've seen progression, and I've seen regression," Langley said, who is due to step down later this year. While the US shifts its posture, insurgencies continue to expand. A senior US defence official, speaking anonymously, said Africa is now viewed as the "epicentre" for both al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State (IS), with growing regional affiliates and IS command reportedly relocated to the continent. Despite rarely being a top Pentagon priority, the US has deployed some 6,500 personnel across Africa and invested hundreds of millions of dollars in security assistance. In several regions, US forces face direct competition from Russian and Chinese influence, while in others, jihadist threats still necessitate direct US involvement. In 2024, the Sahel region accounted for more than half of global terrorism-related deaths, according to the Institute for Economics and Peace. Somalia alone represented 6%, making it the deadliest African country for terrorism outside the Sahel. Although the US has ramped up airstrikes against al-Shabaab and IS targets in Somalia under the Trump administration, Langley conceded that the Somali military remains far from capable of ensuring long-term stability. "The Somali National Army is trying to find their way," he said. "There are some things they still need on the battlefield to be very effective." According to Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst at Control Risks, even before Western withdrawal, many regional armies lacked the resources and capacity to confront the scale of insurgent threats. "Many of them do not have strong air forces and are not able to monitor the movement of militants, especially in areas where roads are very difficult to traverse," she said.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trump gets a flying palace. Keating was doomed to a jalopy in the sky
The 707 was Australia's VIP jetliner, but it had seen better days. The little fleet of 707s came from the late 1950s/early '60s era when rock 'n' roll and V8 hot rods ruled and noise pollution wasn't a problem. By the time Keating was PM, the RAAF had to beg permission to land the 707 at many international airports because its two old engines made such a racket, even after they were fitted with exhaust baffles. In 1992, when Keating made an official visit to Tokyo, the Japanese politely explained its international airport, Narita, wasn't suitable. They directed the RAAF to land at Tokyo's domestic airport, which presumably had vintage spanner sets for elderly airframes if the plane broke down. It was humiliating for a prime minister like Keating, whom cartoonists cruelly drew as the modern embodiment of the extravagantly self-absorbed Sun King, France's Louis XIV. I had by then spent happy years flying around the world in the old 707s as part of the press gallery pack. We called it the Zoo Plane. Wine of fine vintage and high jinks of great silliness flowed freely in the media cabin down the back. Until Keating became PM, Bob Hawke smoked cigars and played poker in his suite at the front. It was a most agreeable way to travel the world. But then, in mid-1993, not long after Keating unexpectedly won the federal election against John Hewson, word floated my way through Canberra's rarefied air that the triumphant PM was on the lookout for a new VIP plane. Two, in fact. Quiet conversations confirmed Keating's desire for more-fitting VIP airborne transport, but that his department was on a collision course with the Defence Department, which was worried about the cost. The two planes being considered were Boeing 757s. They weren't flown by any airline in Australia, but they were big and modern and desirable. And expensive. When my story was published in The Sydney Morning Herald, all hell broke loose. The public went into a mild uproar, Keating's Labor colleagues went weak at the knees, and I, as the messenger, got a number of shouty phone calls from offices not too far from the prime minister's own parliamentary suite. Even Keating suddenly found himself unwilling to test the generosity of voters, many of whom were still recovering from what he had called, only three years previously, 'the recession we had to have'. The story killed the planned purchase of new VIP planes stone dead. Keating was still flying around in the ancient 707s three years later when he lost the prime ministership to John Howard. I was not allowed to forget it. Every time I stepped aboard the 707 for a trip overseas, I was reminded by Keating's staff that if the plane fell out of the sky, I was to blame for writing 'that bloody story'. Loading Press gallery colleagues, unhappy at being scooped, took up the sledging with glee. And Keating continued to yearn for a plane more suited to a prime minister of style. In 1995, on a trip to Germany, no sooner had we landed in Bonn than the poor unloved 707 was rolled into a darkened hangar and Keating proceeded to Berlin in a magnificently appointed Airbus lent to him by chancellor Helmut Kohl. Some among the travelling media declared Keating looked green each time he emerged from the Airbus' VIP suite with its gold appointments in the bathroom, its conference room and its super-modern communications. I felt a bit sympathetic. It wasn't unusual for fittings in the ancient 707s to judder loose. I once copped a thump to the head when an internal ceiling panel fell out. Keating was correct. The VIP fleet desperately needed replacements. John Howard eventually got a Boeing Business Jet that was (conveniently) too small to accommodate travelling journalists. The current fleet consists of two Boeing 737s, ordered by Scott Morrison's government and used these days by Anthony Albanese, the governor-general and others. The point, however, was that a prime minister in Australia's political system could not unilaterally choose the style of VIP plane available to him or her. Australia pays for its own perquisites, which are decided by federal departments like Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet, which have rules and budgets. It is unimaginable that an Australian prime minister would consider accepting a jumbo jet-sized bribe from a foreign country. Loading All senators and members of the House of Representatives are required to list their pecuniary interests in a register. The allowable limit for gifts from another government is $750, and from individuals it is $300. A $600 million jet would appear mighty peculiar in any list of pecuniary interests. Anywhere, really, outside Trump's morally warped Washington.
The Age
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Trump gets a flying palace. Keating was doomed to a jalopy in the sky
The 707 was Australia's VIP jetliner, but it had seen better days. The little fleet of 707s came from the late 1950s/early '60s era when rock 'n' roll and V8 hot rods ruled and noise pollution wasn't a problem. By the time Keating was PM, the RAAF had to beg permission to land the 707 at many international airports because its two old engines made such a racket, even after they were fitted with exhaust baffles. In 1992, when Keating made an official visit to Tokyo, the Japanese politely explained its international airport, Narita, wasn't suitable. They directed the RAAF to land at Tokyo's domestic airport, which presumably had vintage spanner sets for elderly airframes if the plane broke down. It was humiliating for a prime minister like Keating, whom cartoonists cruelly drew as the modern embodiment of the extravagantly self-absorbed Sun King, France's Louis XIV. I had by then spent happy years flying around the world in the old 707s as part of the press gallery pack. We called it the Zoo Plane. Wine of fine vintage and high jinks of great silliness flowed freely in the media cabin down the back. Until Keating became PM, Bob Hawke smoked cigars and played poker in his suite at the front. It was a most agreeable way to travel the world. But then, in mid-1993, not long after Keating unexpectedly won the federal election against John Hewson, word floated my way through Canberra's rarefied air that the triumphant PM was on the lookout for a new VIP plane. Two, in fact. Quiet conversations confirmed Keating's desire for more-fitting VIP airborne transport, but that his department was on a collision course with the Defence Department, which was worried about the cost. The two planes being considered were Boeing 757s. They weren't flown by any airline in Australia, but they were big and modern and desirable. And expensive. When my story was published in The Sydney Morning Herald, all hell broke loose. The public went into a mild uproar, Keating's Labor colleagues went weak at the knees, and I, as the messenger, got a number of shouty phone calls from offices not too far from the prime minister's own parliamentary suite. Even Keating suddenly found himself unwilling to test the generosity of voters, many of whom were still recovering from what he had called, only three years previously, 'the recession we had to have'. The story killed the planned purchase of new VIP planes stone dead. Keating was still flying around in the ancient 707s three years later when he lost the prime ministership to John Howard. I was not allowed to forget it. Every time I stepped aboard the 707 for a trip overseas, I was reminded by Keating's staff that if the plane fell out of the sky, I was to blame for writing 'that bloody story'. Loading Press gallery colleagues, unhappy at being scooped, took up the sledging with glee. And Keating continued to yearn for a plane more suited to a prime minister of style. In 1995, on a trip to Germany, no sooner had we landed in Bonn than the poor unloved 707 was rolled into a darkened hangar and Keating proceeded to Berlin in a magnificently appointed Airbus lent to him by chancellor Helmut Kohl. Some among the travelling media declared Keating looked green each time he emerged from the Airbus' VIP suite with its gold appointments in the bathroom, its conference room and its super-modern communications. I felt a bit sympathetic. It wasn't unusual for fittings in the ancient 707s to judder loose. I once copped a thump to the head when an internal ceiling panel fell out. Keating was correct. The VIP fleet desperately needed replacements. John Howard eventually got a Boeing Business Jet that was (conveniently) too small to accommodate travelling journalists. The current fleet consists of two Boeing 737s, ordered by Scott Morrison's government and used these days by Anthony Albanese, the governor-general and others. The point, however, was that a prime minister in Australia's political system could not unilaterally choose the style of VIP plane available to him or her. Australia pays for its own perquisites, which are decided by federal departments like Defence and Prime Minister and Cabinet, which have rules and budgets. It is unimaginable that an Australian prime minister would consider accepting a jumbo jet-sized bribe from a foreign country. Loading All senators and members of the House of Representatives are required to list their pecuniary interests in a register. The allowable limit for gifts from another government is $750, and from individuals it is $300. A $600 million jet would appear mighty peculiar in any list of pecuniary interests. Anywhere, really, outside Trump's morally warped Washington.
9 News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- 9 News
US Defence Department accepts luxury jet from Qatar
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Man's body found in flooded home in NSW US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has accepted a luxury Boeing 747 jet from Qatar for President Donald Trump to use as Air Force One, the Pentagon said, despite ongoing questions about the ethics and legality of taking the expensive gift from a foreign nation. The Defence Department will "work to ensure proper security measures" on the plane to make it safe for use by the president, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Wednesday (Thursday AEST). He added that the plane was accepted "in accordance with all federal rules and regulations." Trump has defended the gift, which came up during his recent Middle East trip, as a way to save tax dollars. A Boeing 747 with the colour scheme of planes used by the Qatari royal family is seen on Friday, May 2, 2025 at San Antonio International Airport in San Antonio, Texas. (Brandon Lingle/The San Antonio Express-News via AP, File) (AP) "Why should our military, and therefore our taxpayers, be forced to pay hundreds of millions of Dollars when they can get it for FREE," Trump posted on his social media site during the trip. Others, however, have said Trump's acceptance of an aircraft that has been called a "palace in the sky" is a violation of the Constitution's prohibition on foreign gifts. Democrats have been united in outrage, and even some of the Republican president's GOP allies in Congress have expressed concerns. "This unprecedented action is a stain on the office of the presidency and cannot go unanswered," said Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. "Until Americans get transparency on this shady deal, which apparently includes a corrupt plot for Donald Trump to keep the plane at his library after leaving office, I'll continue to hold all Department of Justice political nominees." Schumer has introduced legislation that would prohibit any foreign aircraft from being used as Air Force One and forbid use of taxpayer money to modify or restore the aircraft. But on Wednesday, Republican Senator Roger Marshall objected when Schumer asked for a vote, thus blocking it. He did not offer an explanation for his objection. US President Donald Trump jokes with Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad al Thani as they attend a state dinner at the Lusail Palace on May 14, 2025, in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by) (Getty) Critics also have noted the need to retrofit the plane to meet security requirements, which would be costly and take time. "Far from saving money, this unconstitutional action will not only cost our nation its dignity, but it will force taxpayers to waste over $1 billion in taxpayer dollars to overhaul this particular aircraft when we currently have not one, but two fully operational and fully capable Air Force One aircraft," said Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth. She said during a hearing on Tuesday that it is a "dangerous course of action" for the US to accept the aircraft from the Qatari ruling family. US Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told senators that Hegseth has ordered the service to start planning how to update the jet to meet needed standards and acknowledged that the plane will require "significant" modifications. The US Air Force, in a statement, said it is preparing to award a contract to modify a Boeing 747 aircraft, but that any details are classified. US Senator Tammy Duckworth says American taxpayers will have to fork out more than $1 billion to overhaul the plane. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) (AP) Trump was asked about the move on Wednesday while he was meeting in the Oval Office with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. "They are giving the United States Air Force a jet," Trump said, bristling at being questioned about the gift by a reporter. Trump said it was given "not to me, to the United States Air Force, so they could help us out" and noted that "Boeing's a little bit late, unfortunately." Trump has presented no national security imperative for a swift upgrade rather than waiting for Boeing to finish new Air Force One jets that have been in the works for years. He has tried to tamp down some of the opposition by saying he wouldn't fly around in the aircraft when his term ends. Instead, he said, the plane would be donated to a future presidential library, similar to how the Boeing 707 used by former president Ronald Reagan was decommissioned and put on display as a museum piece. Donald Trump aircraft Qatar defence luxury CONTACT US
