Latest news with #ProPalestinian
The National
a day ago
- Politics
- The National
Trump administration begins 'additional vetting' of Harvard-bound student visa applicants
The State Department on Friday rolled out a pilot programme directing US consulates and embassies to immediately start the "additional vetting" of social media accounts of international Harvard University applicants seeking a visa. In a cable seen by The National, consular officers are told to conduct 'a complete screening of the online presence of any nonimmigrant visa applicant seeking to travel to Harvard University for any purpose". The new policy targets students, professors and employees as well as guest speakers at the elite university located in Massachusetts. According to the document, applicants who only have a limited social media presence or whose accounts are set to private can be considered "evasive", which is grounds for rejection. The document details that the new directive could be expanded and include additional universities. 'This pilot will be expanded over time," the cable said. The new directives come after a separate State Department cable instructed embassies and consulates abroad to pause student visa interviews as it prepares to implement broad social media screening for applicants. It is the latest effort by President Donald Trump 's administration to clamp down on pro-Palestinian protests on university and college campuses amid the Israel-Gaza war. They also accuse academic institutions of promoting liberal ideology. Following the widespread student protests last year, the Trump administration is moving to strong-arm academic institutions to submit to oversight on admissions and hiring. Mr Trump has taken aim at foreign students, accusing many of espousing anti-Semitic beliefs and supporting Hamas. Last week, the Trump administration announced that it would revoke Harvard's ability to enrol international students. The move was blocked, for now, by a judge. The White House also froze billions of dollars in funding and ended tens of millions of dollars in contracts after Harvard refused to enact changes mandated by the Trump administration. Using social media in screening visa applications is not new, but in recent months it has been used to target returning students who took part in anti-war activity. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the administration would " aggressively" revoke visas of Chinese nationals studying in US colleges and universities, particularly those studying in critical fields and those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party.
CNN
2 days ago
- General
- CNN
Harvard grads celebrate while its lawyers eke out another reprieve for international students
For a few hours Thursday, Harvard and its Class of 2025 turned their focus to all graduates had accomplished for a ceremony that also often heralded the prowess of the nation's oldest and wealthiest university amid its ongoing legal showdown with the Trump administration. Under overcast skies, the university's 374th commencement was marked by moments of unbridled joy as students and their families celebrated. Harvard President Alan Garber, who has become the face of the school's historic First Amendment fight, got a minute-long standing ovation from graduates as the event began. Garber welcomed the Class of 2025 'from down the street, across the country and around the world … just as it should be' – a nod to the nearly simultaneous federal court hearing in Boston over the university's ability to enroll international students. As the campus ceremony unfolded, US District Court Judge Allison Burroughs granted Harvard a reprieve, saying she would order the Trump administration to not make any changes to Harvard's student visa program, indefinitely. Here are some additional highlights from Harvard's commencement ceremony: Ahead of the event, an alumni group passed out ' Crimson Courage ' stickers and leaflets to students processing in, and a small group of pro-Palestinian supporters, who did not appear to be students, gathered outside the gates of Harvard Yard. Later, pro-Palestinian banners were unfurled, then quickly removed, from campus buildings. Student speakers subtly acknowledged the Trump administration's moves and how the university has changed during their time at Harvard. One said Harvard's motto of 'Veritas,' or 'Truth,' in part, is worth defending. Senior Thor Reimann told fellow graduates Harvard is 'at the center of a national battle over higher education' and reminded them Harvard has 'led the way through chaos before.' Yurong 'Luanna' Jiang, a graduate from China, used her speech to urge the audience to fight for 'the promise of a connected world' and see the humanity in people they disagree with. Legendary actress Rita Moreno received an honorary Doctorate of Arts and joined Harvard student Carolyn Hao in singing the final note of the ballad, 'Somewhere,' from 'West Side Story,' the musical in which Moreno starred decades ago. The university also awarded NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with an honorary doctorate of laws. In a Wednesday speech on campus, he said: 'When a tyrannical administration tried to bully and threaten Harvard to give up their academic freedom and destroy free speech, (Harvard President) Dr. Alan Garber rejected the illegal and immoral pressures the way Rosa Parks defied the entire weight of systemic racism in 1955.' Dr. Abraham Verghese – the bestselling author, Stanford University professor and infectious disease expert – delivered a powerful commencement address that recognized the 'unprecedented' times facing Harvard. Verghese, an immigrant to the United States from Ethiopia, spoke of how his native country suffered under an autocratic dictator and the lessons he learned from caring for patients early in the AIDS epidemic. 'Part of what makes America great, if I may use that phrase, is that it allows an immigrant like me to blossom,' Verghese said, later adding his patients dying from AIDS taught him 'love trumps all bigotry.'
Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Protesters call for end to Gaza war outside Harvard commencement
NewsFeed Protesters call for end to Gaza war outside Harvard commencement Protesters held a silent vigil outside Harvard University's commencement ceremony, demanding an end to US support for Israel's war on Gaza. The demonstration came amid rising political pressure, as the Trump administration targets pro-Palestinian activism with deportation threats.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
Five arrested in UK for disrupting film starring Israeli actor Gal Gadot
London police on Wednesday arrested five people for trying to disrupt the filming of a movie starring Israeli actress Gal Gadot, a statement said. Gadot, star of Wonder Woman and Fast and Furious is in London to film a new thriller The Runner. She has been criticised by pro-Palestinian groups for expressing her support of Israel since the Gaza war erupted in 2023. Police said officers were deployed to a "filming location" in Westminster "to identify suspects wanted in connection with offences at previous film set protests and to deal with any new offences." The arrests were for blocking an access to a place of work. Police said in a statement posted on social media that two of the arrests were for previous protests and three for action carried out Wednesday. "While we absolutely acknowledge the importance of peaceful protest, we have a duty to intervene where it crosses the line into serious disruption or criminality," said Superintendent Neil Holyoak in the statement. "I hope today's operation shows we will not tolerate the harassment of or unlawful interference with those trying to go about their legitimate professional work in London," the officer added. Pro-Palestinian protesters also disrupted a Hollywood ceremony in March when Gadot's star on the Walk of Fame was unveiled.
Al Arabiya
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Al Arabiya
Five arrested in UK for disrupting film starring Israeli actor Gal Gadot
London police on Wednesday arrested five people for trying to disrupt the filming of a movie starring Israeli actor Gal Gadot, a statement said. Gadot, star of Wonder Woman and Fast and Furious, is in London to film a new thriller, The Runner. She has been criticized by pro-Palestinian groups for expressing her support of Israel since the Gaza war erupted in 2023. Police said officers were deployed to a 'filming location' in Westminster 'to identify suspects wanted in connection with offences at previous film set protests and to deal with any new offences.' The arrests were for blocking access to a place of work. Police said in a statement posted on social media that two of the arrests were for previous protests and three for action carried out Wednesday. 'While we absolutely acknowledge the importance of peaceful protest, we have a duty to intervene where it crosses the line into serious disruption or criminality,' said Superintendent Neil Holyoak in the statement. 'I hope today's operation shows we will not tolerate the harassment of or unlawful interference with those trying to go about their legitimate professional work in London,' the officer added. Pro-Palestinian protesters also disrupted a Hollywood ceremony in March when Gadot's star on the Walk of Fame was unveiled.
