Latest news with #FreeFreePalestine
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Indian-origin Congressman's 4-word reply to Bill Ackman's Harvard rant
Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman who studied at Harvard blamed the university for its indirect influence over incidents like the Capital Jewish Museum killing last week -- in a long post on X where he slammed the university for turning into a hub of antisemitism. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The X post came as Harvard has locked horns with the Donald Trump administration without complying the administration's demands. President Donald Trump announced that Harvard will not be able to enroll international students unless it provides the administration with a record of global students involved in protests, crime or violence in the past five years. Harvard went to court against the administration and got a temporary stay on the administration's order. "This past week's brutal executions of a Christian and a Jewish staffer of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C. by a man who shouted 'Free Free Palestine' after finishing off his victims as they attempted to crawl away are but a recent stark and egregious example of the consequences of the same intonated calls for violence against Jews by Harvard students and faculty who have encamped on Harvard Yard and barged into classrooms bullhorns in hand," Bill Ackman wrote. "Harvard has been on notice for nearly 18 months by the Congress that its failure to address antisemitism threatened the University's federal funding. The University now appears to be shocked – despite the many previous warnings made by the Trump administration – that its Federal funding has been paused, that future Federal grants will not be considered, and that its refusal to provide requested documentation about its foreign students has led to the cancellation of Harvard's Student and Exchange Visa Program certification," Ackman wrote. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now US Congressman who had already criticized Trump's move against Harvard challenged Bill Ackman and sought the evidence in support of the allegations that he raised. The Indian-orogon Congressman earlier challenged tech figures including Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, David Sacks, Chamath Palihapitiya, Vinod Khosla, and Reid Hoffman to defend the ban, stating that it cannot be justified on merit. "Anyone from Silicon Valley willing to speak out against the Trump @JDVance ban on current and future international students at Harvard? I know @elonmusk, @DavidSacks, @pmarca, @chamath, @vkhosla, @reidhoffman that there is not a single tech leader who can defend this on the merits." As Ackman wrote in his post that Harvard should comply with the record requests from the administration, as there is credible evidence that certain foreign students at Harvard have received funding from foreign actors, Ro Khanna asked for the evidence.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
5 things to know for May 22: Embassy shooting, Budget cuts, Trump-Ramaphosa meeting, Qatar jet, Police reform
Should the Department of Government Efficiency be required to release public records under the Freedom of Information Act, or can it keep such files hidden due to executive privilege? That's the question the Trump administration wants the Supreme Court to decide. What is known is that in the past four months, DOGE has fired more than 120,000 federal workers, slashed agency budgets, accessed sensitive computer systems and cut billions in research grants, prompting a wave of federal lawsuits. Here's what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day. Two Israeli Embassy staff members were shot and killed while standing outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC, last night. Authorities say the suspected gunman was observed pacing back and forth outside the museum before opening fire on a group of people. He then entered the building and waited to be detained. Police said the 30-year-old man showed officers where to find the weapon and chanted 'Free Free Palestine' while in custody. The victims, Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim, were a young couple who soon planned to get engaged, according to Israel's ambassador to the US. 'I am devastated by the scenes in Washington D.C.,' Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement on X. 'This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy.' The House voted early this morning to pass President Donald Trump's sweeping tax and spending cuts package, a major victory for the president and Speaker Mike Johnson after GOP leaders won over key holdouts. The legislation still faces major challenges ahead. It will next go to the Senate, where Republicans in the chamber have signaled they plan to make their own changes to it. Although all of the details about the massive legislative package have not yet been released, it does include: Nearly $1 trillion in cuts from Medicaid and food stamps Work requirements for Medicaid starting at the end of 2026 Raising the debt ceiling by $4 trillion Spending $150 billion on defense programs Limiting judges' power to hold the Trump administration in contempt Phasing out Biden-era energy tax credits sooner than planned Increasing the state and local tax deduction Making trillions of dollars of income tax breaks permanent Allocating $45 billion to build new immigration detention facilities Allowing certain taxpayers to deduct income from tips on tax returns The Congressional Budget Office said the bill will increase the budget deficit by $3.8 trillion between 2026-2034. Fans of President Trump's reality TV show 'The Apprentice' will likely not be surprised by how he's been treating world leaders in televised Oval Office meetings. In a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump and his staffers berated him for not wearing a suit and for not thanking Trump enough for the money the US has given to the war effort. When Trump met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he went on a tirade about defending Canada militarily and then told the press to leave before Carney could respond. In his latest Oval Office event this week, Trump ambushed South African President Cyril Ramaphosa — who once served as Nelson Mandela's chief negotiator during talks to end White minority rule — with false claims about White South African farmers being victims of genocide. For his part, Ramaphosa pushed back gently whenever he could, but he didn't raise his voice or show anger, displaying his decades of negotiation experience. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has accepted a Boeing 747 from Qatar that President Trump plans to use as the next Air Force One. The controversial transfer has sparked a political furor, with both Democrats and Republicans opposing the luxury jet on ethical grounds. While details about its transfer have not yet been released, Trump told reporters on Wednesday that Qatar was 'giving the United States Air Force a jet, okay, and it's a great thing.' Earlier this week, sources said it was the Trump administration that had first approached Qatar about acquiring the Boeing 747. It's also unknown how much it'll cost to strip down the entire aircraft for surveillance and safety checks and then retrofit it to the required security specifications. The Trump administration is moving to dismiss federal oversight agreements with several major US police departments. The agreements, called consent decrees, are used as a monitoring system at police departments where the Justice Department has found a pattern of misconduct. In court filings on Wednesday, the DOJ asked judges in Minnesota and Kentucky to dismiss the consent decrees reached with the police departments in Louisville and Minneapolis. They were approved by a federal judge and enacted following the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor and the police killing of George Floyd. Double-checking the calendarMemorial Day weekend may mark the unofficial start of summer, but the Northeast and parts of the mid-Atlantic will be experiencing a rare May nor'easter. Some areas of New Hampshire and Vermont may even see snow. Rare side effect to be highlighted on vaccine packagingThe FDA is now requiring some Covid-19 vaccines to use expanded warning labels detailing a small risk for myocarditis. The vaccines' old labels already provided a warning about the heart condition. No NFL ban for controversial 'tush push'The nearly unstoppable running play was used to great success by the Philadelphia Eagles last year. Manny Pacquiao: I'm backThe Filipino will come out of retirement this summer to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight championship. In 2019, Pacquiao became the oldest welterweight world champion in history at the age of 40. She knew him whenPeruvian TikToker Luciana Marquez traveled to Rome last year to meet a family friend. They recorded a TikTok video. Now, he's Pope Leo XIV. 10That's how many minutes a Lufthansa flight carrying 205 people went without a pilot last year after the co-pilot fainted while he was alone in the cockpit. 'These staff cuts and the potential budget cuts make the United States more at risk for a tsunami and earthquake, and they will have devastating impacts for coastal populations and the US economy.' — Corina Allen, who, like thousands of other probationary federal employees, was recently fired from her job as a manager at NOAA's National Weather Service Tsunami Program. Check your local forecast here>>> Oh baby, baby! Britney Spears' album, 'Oops! … I Did It Again,' turns 25 this year. To celebrate, Sony Music will release an expanded edition.
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Couple 'about to be engaged' killed by embassy gunman shouting 'Free Palestine'
A man and a woman - both Israeli Embassy staff - have been shot dead in the street of a busy city centre near a Jewish museum. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 9.15pm on Wednesday (2.15am Thursday in UK) in the US capital, reports local media. Police officers have warned members of the public to avoid the area around the Capital Jewish Museum in Penn Quarter, Washington DC, following the incident. Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed a suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting near Capital Jewish Museum that left two dead. Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, IL has been identified as the man who is believed to have shot and killed the two Israeli government employees. Smith said that the suspect 'approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire striking both of our decedents.' After the shooting, Smith said that the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. The suspect chanted 'Free Free Palestine' while in custody, Smith said. Mayor Muriel Bowser reassured the community that 'there is no active threat.' Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, confirmed the two victims were a couple about to be engaged. No further details about the man and woman, such as their names and their ages, have been disclosed by police at this stage A man draped in the Israeli flag, bearing a cross and the name "Jesus" at its center, has been photographed gesturing to police officers as they secure the area outside the Capital Jewish Museum. It comes after Israeli President Isaac Herzog said on X: "I am devastated by the scenes in Washington DC. This is a despicable act of hatred, of antisemitism, which has claimed the lives of two young employees of the Israeli embassy. Our hearts are with the loved ones of those murdered and our immediate prayers are with the injured. I send my full support to the Ambassador and all the embassy staff. We stand with the Jewish community in DC and across the US. America and Israel will stand united in defense of our people and our shared values. Terror and hate will not break us." Donald Trump has sent his condolences to the victims families following the tragic incident that resulted in two Israeli Embassy staff members beeing killed. Before the shooting the suspect was seen pacing back and forth outside the museum ahead of the shooting, officials said. After the shooting, the gunman entered the museum and was detained by event security, telling them he had discarded the weapon, which was recovered by authorities. At a press conference he has now been named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, Illinois. He chanted 'Free free Palestine' while in custody. Rodriguez was not previously known to police prio to this incident. Police say they believe he was the sole shooter and there is no active threat remaining. Pam Bondi described the incident as 'horrible' as she confirmed on X that she is at the scene and is 'praying for the victims'. I am on the scene of the horrible shooting outside the Washington, DC Capital Jewish Museum with @USAttyPirro. Praying for the victims of this violence as we work to learn more. Washington, DC, Mayor Muriel Bowser, reassured the community that 'there is no active threat.' During a news conference Bowser said: " 'I will say up front that there is no active threat in our community.' Bowser went on to share a message of unity: 'We're going to stand together as a community in the coming days and weeks to send the clear message that we will not tolerate antisemitism.' Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed one suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting near Capital Jewish Museum. Elias Rodriguez of Chicago, IL has been identified as the man who shot and killed the two Israeli government employees. Smith said that the suspect 'approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire striking both of our decedents.' After the shooting, Smith said that the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. The suspect chanted 'Free Free Palestine' while in custody, Smith said. The two people shot Wednesday night near the the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC were a 'young couple about to be engaged,' according to Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US. 'The couple that was gunned down tonight in the name of 'Free Palestine,' was a young couple about to be engaged. A young man purchased a ring this week with the intention of proposing to his girlfriend next week in Jerusalem. They were a beautiful couple,' Leiter said. A spokesman for the Israeli embassy confirmed that two staff members were shot "at close range" while attending the event at the museum. "We have full faith in law enforcement authorities on both the local and federal levels to apprehend the shooter and protect Israel's representatives and Jewish communities throughout the United States," said spokesman Tal Naim Cohen. Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Kash Patel has asked the public to pray for the victims. Kash Patel became the ninth Director of the FBI on February 20, 2025. Prior to being confirmed as the Director of the FBI, Mr. Patel founded The Kash Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that raises money for legal defense matters, education programs, and financial assistance for all Americans, with a special emphasis on active-duty military, veterans, and law enforcement communities. My team and I have been briefed on the shooting tonight in downtown DC outside the Capital Jewish Museum and near our Washington Field Office. While we're working with MPD to respond and learn more, in the immediate, please pray for the victims and their families. We will keep… A large number of emergency service vehicles remain at the scene. In a statement, D.C. police urged members of the public to avoid the vicinity as the investigation continues. The DC Police Department has confirmed a press conference will take place shortly - during which more information about the shooting will be released to the public. Alert: Shooting investigation in the area of 3rd and F Street NW. Avoid the area. Details to come. Multiple sources are suggesting the shooting was terror-related. The Mirror is working to verify this. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has tweeted: "The shooting outside the event at the Jewish Museum in Washington – in which Israeli embassy employees were also injured – is a criminal act of anti-Semitic terrorism. Attacking diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line. "We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act. Israel will continue to act resolutely to protect its citizens and representatives – everywhere in the world."
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Trump sends condolences to families of two people shot in street
A man and a woman have been shot in the street in Washington DC. President Donald Trump has now broken his silence in his first comments on Wednesday night's shooting Donald Trump has sent his condolences to the families of two Israeli Embassy staff members shot in the street in Washington. Emergency services rushed to the scene at around 9.15pm on Wednesday (2.15am Thursday in UK) in the US capital, reports local media. Police officers have warned members of the public to avoid the area around the Capital Jewish Museum in Penn Quarter, Washington DC, following the incident. Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, confirmed a suspect is in custody in connection with the shooting. The suspect has been named as Elias Rodriguez, 30, from Chicago, Illinois. Smith said that the suspect was seen pacing outside the museum before he 'approached a group of four people, produced a handgun and opened fire striking both of our decedents.' After the shooting, Smith said that the suspect then entered the museum and was detained by event security. The suspect chanted 'Free Free Palestine' while in custody, Smith said. Rodriguez was not previously known to police prio to this incident. Police say they believe he was the sole shooter and there is no active threat remaining. Yechiel Leiter, the Israeli ambassador to the US, confirmed the two victims were a couple were due to travel to Jerusalem to get engaged after a ring had been purchased. No further details about the man and woman, such as their names and their ages, have been disclosed by police at this stage. Pamela Smith, chief of the Metropolitan Police Department, said: 'The preliminary investigation indicates that both victims were exiting an event at the Capitol Jewish Museum located in the 500 block of Third Street Northwest when the shooting occurred,' Smith said. 'We believe the shooting was committed by a single suspect who is now in custody. Prior to the shooting, the suspect was observed pacing back and forth outside of the museum.' US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is as the scene, said at a news conference following the shooting which killed two people, that she spoke with President Donald Trump 'multiple times tonight.' President Donald Trump has now broken his silence in his first comments on Wednesday night's shooting. He took to Truth Social to share his condolences to the families of the two Israeli Embassy staff members who were killed near the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. Trump wrote: "These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!" The incident triggered a major police response and sevreal streets in the city rermain closed to the public while police continue to investigate.
Hindustan Times
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Horrible… Hatred': What Donald Trump said on shooting at Israeli embassy
US President Donald Trump on Thursday decried the fatal shooting of two Israeli Embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, calling the incident a 'horrible' act of antisemitic violence and demanding swift action to combat hate in America. 'These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW!' Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. 'Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!' The attack occurred Wednesday night near Third Street and F Street NW, close to Georgetown University Law School and the FBI's Washington field office. The Metropolitan Police Department confirmed that a single suspect is in custody. According to Police Chief Pamela Smith, the suspect reportedly chanted 'Free Free Palestine' while being detained. The victims were identified as members of the Israeli Embassy who had been attending an event hosted by the American Jewish Committee at the museum. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the fatalities during a press briefing Thursday morning. Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon condemned the attack, stating, 'Harming diplomats and the Jewish community is crossing a red line. We are confident that the US authorities will take strong action against those responsible for this criminal act.' The incident has sent shockwaves through the nation's capital, drawing swift and bipartisan condemnation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the shooting 'seems to be another horrific instance of antisemitism which, as we know, is all too rampant in our society.'
