Latest news with #Fordham
Los Angeles Times
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: Trump's battle with Harvard marks ‘a defining moment for America'
To the editor: I just spent a year and four months making a film at Harvard, the third film I've made there in the past seven years. I worked closely with faculty and undergraduates, including international students, on two of those projects. The accusations against Harvard by President Trump via Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are complete nonsense ('Trump administration bars Harvard from enrolling foreign students,' May 22). Never in my life have I had the good fortune to be immersed in such a welcoming, stimulating place of scholarship and resources for learning about every subject one can imagine. It's obvious that Trump is throwing every weapon in his arsenal at Harvard for one reason only: Harvard defied his strong-arm attempt to tell the university whom to admit, whom to hire and what to teach. If Harvard succeeds in retaining its intellectual freedom, Trump will be revealed as an emperor with no clothes. He put himself in a position where he can't back down. He's made all-out war his only option. This is a defining moment for America. 'Let this serve as a warning to all universities and academic institutions across the country,' Noem belligerently threatened. If Trump succeeds in crushing Harvard, all other American institutions of learning, science and humanities will be at risk. Harvard has a unique reservoir of legal and financial resources, but it can't withstand the power of the United States government alone. All universities must unite in defying Trump's absurd, malevolent demands. Peter Coonradt, Redlands .. To the editor: Trump is clearly hostile to elite private universities, but his antipathy toward Harvard stands out. It seems the motivation is to destroy Harvard. Why? Perhaps the president, known for holding grudges and wanting revenge, has a reason specific to Harvard. We know he attended Fordham, then transferred to Penn, an Ivy League school. What we don't know is where else he applied, only to be rejected, 60 years ago. Harvard? Richard Merel, Hermosa Beach .. To the editor: Trump and Noem couldn't care less about the safety of Jewish students. They care deeply about dissent. We are on a very slippery slope. Patrick Mauer, Pasadena .. To the editor: As a former U.S. foreign student in Asia and a Fulbrighter in Canada, I'd hate to see other nations reciprocate in kind. T.D. Proffitt, Santa Ana
NDTV
23-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
What UK Judge Said On Denying Nirav Modi Bail For 10th Time
London: Dismissing the 10th bail plea of Nirav Modi after considering that the fugitive diamond trader would 'abscond' if released, the London High Court judge has said UK courts have "twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant." Stating that his risk of absconding is high, Justice Michael Fordham at the Royal Courts of Justice dismissed the bail plea. "And I repeat, after careful evaluation, UK courts have twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant," Justice Fordham said while rejecting Nirav Modi's bail plea on May 15. The 54-year-old fugitive has filed the bail application after his extradition to India was allowed by a UK Court earlier. His bail application was opposed by the Indian agencies before the High Court. It was his 10th bail petition since his detention in the United Kingdom in 2019. Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the over Rs 13,800 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank, was declared a fugitive economic offender by India in December 2019. The UK High Court said that Nirav Modi is wanted for trial in India for matters of 'very great seriousness and substance' relating to allegations of economic crime, in which he is said to have been the principal perpetrator. The High Court noted that the allegation is that, as the lead perpetrator, Nirav Modi (acting in conjunction with others) fraudulently induced the PNB to issue documents which allowed money to be withdrawn from foreign banks. The central points put forward on the applicant's behalf in the earlier extradition proceedings were, that there was a good and lawful explanation for the transfer of the monies to the relevant entities who received those monies; rather than any denial that the monies were in fact transferred, the court noted in the order of May 15. The amounts alleged to have been transferred, induced by the fraud, come to an aggregate amount of 1,015.35 million US dollars, Justice Fordham said. The Courts, in the context of the Applicant's extradition, have on two occasions assessed the underlying evidence being relied on against the bail applicant. On each occasion, the court has been satisfied that there is a "prima facie case", Fordham said. The court also considered the destruction of a mobile phone in 2018 and interference with witnesses. "Part of what is alleged is that he was criminally responsible for actions in which witnesses were interfered with and evidence was destroyed," the court noted. The judge further noted, "Also said to have been destroyed was evidence on a computer server in Dubai in February 2018. All of that would have taken place at the time when the applicant was here in the UK." Earlier this week, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also issued a press release confirming the court's decision. "Fresh Bail Petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi was rejected by the High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division, London. The bail arguments were strongly opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service advocate who was ably assisted by a strong CBI team consisting of investigating and law officers who travelled to London for this purpose." The statement added: "Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could successfully defend the arguments which resulted in rejection of the bail. Nirav Deepak Modi is in UK prison since 19th March 2019. It may be recalled that Neerav Modi is a fugitive economic offender who is wanted for Trial in India in a Bank fraud case of CBI for defrauding Punjab National Bank for Rs. 6498.20 crore." The CBI further stated: "This is his 10th bail petition since his detention in UK which was successfully defended by CBI through Crown Prosecution Service, London." British authorities arrested Modi in March 2019, and the UK High Court has already approved his extradition to India. The ED registered the PMLA case against him and his uncle Mehul Choksi in 2018, with multiple assets seized during investigations. His attempts to block extradition have repeatedly failed, including a plea to the UK Supreme Court in December 2022.
India Gazette
22-05-2025
- Business
- India Gazette
"UK courts have twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case": Judge on rejecting Nirav Modi's fresh bail application
London [UK], May 23 (ANI): Dismissing the 10th bail plea of Nirav Modi after considering that the fugitive diamond trader would 'abscond' if released, the London High Court judge has said UK courts have 'twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant.' Stating that his risk of absconding is high, Justice Michael Fordham at the Royal Courts of Justice dismissed the bail plea. 'And I repeat, after careful evaluation, UK courts have twice concluded that there is an evidenced prima facie case against the applicant,' Justice Fordham said while rejecting Nirav Modi's bail plea on May 15. The 54-year-old fugitive has filed the bail application after his extradition to India was allowed by a UK Court earlier. His bail application was opposed by the Indian agencies before the High Court. It was his 10th bail petition since his detention in the United Kingdom in 2019. Nirav Modi, the prime accused in the over Rs 13,800 crore fraud at Punjab National Bank, was declared a fugitive economic offender by India in December 2019. The UK High Court said that Nirav Modi is wanted for trial in India for matters of 'very great seriousness and substance' relating to allegations of economic crime, in which he is said to have been the principal perpetrator. The High Court noted that the allegation is that, as the lead perpetrator, Nirav Modi (acting in conjunction with others) fraudulently induced the PNB to issue documents which allowed money to be withdrawn from foreign banks. The central points put forward on the applicant's behalf in the earlier extradition proceedings were, that there was a good and lawful explanation for the transfer of the monies to the relevant entities who received those monies; rather than any denial that the monies were in fact transferred, the court noted in the order of May 15. The amounts alleged to have been transferred, induced by the fraud, come to an aggregate amount of 1,015.35 million US dollars, Justice Fordham said. The Courts, in the context of the Applicant's extradition, have on two occasions assessed the underlying evidence being relied on against the bail applicant. On each occasion, the court has been satisfied that there is a 'prima facie case', Fordham said. The court also considered the destruction of a mobile phone in 2018 and interference with witnesses. ' Part of what is alleged is that he was criminally responsible for actions in which witnesses were interfered with and evidence was destroyed,' the court noted. The Judge further noted, ' Also said to have been destroyed was evidence on a computer server in Dubai in February 2018. All of that would have taken place at the time when the Applicant was here in the UK.' Earlier this week, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) also issued a press release confirming the court's decision. 'Fresh Bail Petition filed by Nirav Deepak Modi was rejected by the High Court of Justice, King's Bench Division, London. The bail arguments were strongly opposed by the Crown Prosecution Service advocate who was ably assisted by a strong CBI team consisting of investigating and law officers who travelled to London for this purpose.' The statement added: 'Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could successfully defend the arguments which resulted in rejection of the bail. Nirav Deepak Modi is in UK prison since 19th March 2019. It may be recalled that Neerav Modi is a fugitive economic offender who is wanted for Trial in India in a Bank fraud case of CBI for defrauding Punjab National Bank for Rs. 6498.20 crore.' The CBI further stated: 'This is his 10th bail petition since his detention in UK which was successfully defended by CBI through Crown Prosecution Service, London.' British authorities arrested Modi in March 2019, and the UK High Court has already approved his extradition to India. The ED registered the PMLA case against him and his uncle Mehul Choksi in 2018, with multiple assets seized during investigations. His attempts to block extradition have repeatedly failed, including a plea to the UK Supreme Court in December 2022. (ANI)
Washington Post
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Gonzaga hires former Fordham coach Keith Urgo to lead basketball program
It was in Gonzaga's gym that Keith Urgo realized his love of coaching. First as a fifth-grader at the Northwest Washington private school's basketball camp and later while coaching at the camp during high school and college, he learned about the impact a mentor could have. He became set on turning his passion into a profession. A 1997 graduate of Gonzaga and a former player under longtime coach Dick Myers, Urgo got his coaching start at his alma mater in 2004, leading the freshman team. He later moved on to the college ranks and spent nearly two decades at the Division I level. On Tuesday, it was announced that Urgo will be returning to Eye Street — this time as Gonzaga's head basketball coach. He will assume the reins of one of the D.C. area's most prominent high school programs. 'It's a full-circle moment to be the third coach in [50 years] at a place where I transitioned from a boy to a man,' Urgo said. 'It's a surreal moment and I feel incredibly privileged and honored to take the torch. Hopefully I can continue to keep the standard that's been created as high as it is.' Urgo most recently served as Fordham's head coach. He was fired by the Jesuit school in March after three seasons, during which he went 50-49. He replaces Steve Turner, who left Gonzaga in late March for Montverde Academy in Florida. In his 21 years leading Gonzaga, Turner won nearly 500 games and four Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championships as the Eagles ascended to national relevance. Urgo credits Turner for giving him his start in coaching in 2004, Turner's first year as varsity coach. Urgo joined Jay Wright's staff at Villanova as a video coordinator in 2006 before becoming the program's director of basketball operations and eventually an assistant coach prior. He left for Penn State in 2011. After 10 years with the Nittany Lions, he went to Fordham to be Kyle Neptune's associate head coach and was elevated to the top job after Neptune took the Villanova job in 2022. Only days after Urgo was let go by Fordham, Turner announced his move to Florida. 'It's incredible that essentially at the same time, everything happened with me, that the position opened up,' Urgo said. 'I would never have gone back to high school basketball if it wasn't at Gonzaga.' There were over 40 applicants for the position, according to Gonzaga athletic director Terry Kernan. The interview process required numerous Zoom meetings with administrators and a committee of former Gonzaga players and graduates. A day of in-person vetting for finalists was Urgo's first chance in years to explore the campus, with his most recent trips limited to the parking garage and gymnasium. In March, Fordham practiced at Gonzaga ahead of the Atlantic 10 tournament at Capital One Arena. 'Him being a Gonzaga alum, we knew who Keith was. We'd been following him for the last 20 years,' said Kernan, who played for Urgo on Gonzaga's freshman team in 2004. 'He made it evident throughout the process that he is all in for Gonzaga and that he's here for the long haul, and he's super excited about this opportunity.' Urgo needed almost no time to come to a decision once the offer came along. By Tuesday night, he was speaking with his new team and the players' families. Practices will start next week ahead of a busy summer that will include recruiting showcase events, most of which Urgo plans to be on the sidelines for. He'll also be running the school's summer basketball camp — the place where it all began. 'The relationships that I have built with so many from Gonzaga shaped me into kind of who I've become and who I want to be," Urgo said. 'I take immense pride in the front of that jersey — there's nothing like it.'
NBC News
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
'They have no idea': Jimmy Fallon and The Weeknd shock Fordham University grads with surprise performance
Jimmy Fallon and The Weeknd crashed a Fordham University graduation party in New York City on Thursday, surprising this year's graduates with performances of hit songs "Blinding Lights" and "Can't Feel My Face." The students thought they were attending a small party honoring them, the late night host of 'The Tonight Show' said in a video of the surprise. The university reported about 200 students were in attendance. "They have no idea that I'm about to DJ for them," Fallon said. "They also have no idea that The Weeknd is going to perform." Fordham president Tania Tetlow welcomed the soon-to-be-graduates to the celebration, sharing they had a "special guest DJ" coming. Students erupted in cheers as Fallon then entered the room, taking his place behind the DJ setup. "I've never deejayed before in my life," Fallon said. "I should admit that now, I just figured it'd be fun." Fallon fumbled around with the equipment before plugging his phone in and playing The Weekend's popular song "Blinding Lights" as he warmed up the crowd. That's when the doors opened to reveal the Grammy-award winning singer himself, sending students into another bout of cheers and jumping with excitement. "Class of 2025, let's go!" The Weeknd yelled before jumping into his performance. He shared the mic with some students at the front and hit synchronized dance moves with Fordham's mascot Ramses, who Fallon and The Weeknd kept calling "Ramsey." The Weeknd then performed another hit, 'Can't Feel My Face," before the duo left. Students loudly sang along, hands raised in the air. On Friday night's episode of the Tonight Show, The Weeknd said he did not expect the surprise to be "that crazy." "When did you know for a second that it might work?" Fallon asked. "When they started screaming for you, actually," the singer replied, with laughter from the show's audience.
