Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, dismissed US threats on Friday, stating that such warnings “will get them nowhere” in dealing with Tehran. His remarks came in a live televised speech marking Nowruz, the Persian New Year, following US President Donald Trump’s recent comments about possible military action against Iran. Khamenei warned that any hostile move against Iran would be met with a “hard slap,” emphasizing that pressure tactics would not succeed. His statement comes after reports that Trump had sent a letter to Khamenei on March 7, urging Iran to negotiate its nuclear program while also issuing a veiled…
Author: Raja Zahid Khanzada
Trump administration officials accuse Georgetown University fellow Badar Khan Suri of being a mouthpiece for Hamas propaganda and having close ties to a suspected or known terrorist. However, his defenders argue that Khan Suri is an accomplished scholar whose research focuses on peacebuilding in the Middle East. Khan Suri’s attorney argues his client is being targeted in part because his wife is a Palestinian American. The research fellow’s nighttime arrest and detention this week marks yet another controversial immigration enforcement action by the Trump administration at one of the preeminent universities in the United States. Khan Suri’s legal team is…
In an escalating campaign against elite universities, the University of California system and Princeton this week joined more than a dozen top schools, including Harvard, Duke, and Stanford, in announcing hiring freezes. Johns Hopkins University reported laying off over 2,000 employees after losing more than $800 million in funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), amidst White House efforts to reduce wasteful spending and downsize the federal government. These drastic moves come as dozens of colleges and universities face federal investigations for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students during pro-Palestinian demonstrations that disrupted campuses nationwide last spring over…
A federal judge has halted the deportation of Jeanette Vizguerra, an activist recognized by Time Magazine as one of the “Most Influential People,” following her controversial arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Vizguerra, 53, was detained outside her workplace at a Target store in Colorado, triggering widespread condemnation from advocates and politicians. She gained international attention in 2017 when she sought sanctuary in a Denver church to avoid deportation, becoming a prominent voice in the immigration reform movement. Judge Nina Wang issued an injunction, preventing Vizguerra’s deportation while her case proceeds through the legal system. The 10th US Circuit…
A Cornell University graduate student, known for his prominent voice in pro-Palestinian protests, has been ordered to appear before Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This order follows his request for a judge to preemptively block the government from deporting him. Momodou Taal, a doctoral candidate in Africana Studies and a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and The Gambia, believes the government is preparing to remove him as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to target what they termed anti-Semitic speech on college campuses. In an email sent to Taal’s attorneys early Friday, a Justice Department lawyer invited Taal and…
Columbia University has announced a series of new policies in the wake of President Trump’s revocation of $400 million in federal funding due to campus protests. These changes include a review of admissions policies, streamlining harassment reporting, tightening rules concerning protest locations, prohibiting masks at protests, hiring 36 additional campus police officers with new arrest powers, and granting the provost’s office greater authority to handle disciplinary actions against students involved in protests. The university is also reassessing its curriculum, beginning with courses related to the Middle East. The previous academic year saw widespread campus unrest, featuring pro-Palestinian protests and encampments,…
Anitta is no longer participating in Coachella. The 31-year-old Brazilian superstar has pulled out of the music festival citing “unexpected personal reasons.” She was among the star-studded lineup revealed for the California music extravaganza, with performances scheduled for April 12 and 19. However, the “Envolver” hitmaker took to her official X, formerly Twitter, account to announce her withdrawal. “I was really looking forward to being at Coachella this year, but due to unexpected personal reasons, I won’t be able to perform,” she wrote. The “Mi Amor” singer continued, “I’m truly grateful to the festival for the invitation, their understanding, and…
Meghan Markle has provided another glimpse into her lifestyle brand, “As Ever.” On Thursday, the Duchess of Sussex shared a tempting image of a berry cake on the official Instagram handle of “As Ever.” In the caption, Meghan wrote, “A berry sweet treat indeed.” The photo showed the Duchess gracefully drizzling syrup over a cake adorned with fresh strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries. Previously, Meghan celebrated the first day of spring by sharing a photo of her daughter, Princess Lilibet, on her personal Instagram. The photo featured Lilibet’s hands holding a basket of strawberries from the family’s Montecito garden. “Cheers to…
Selena Gomez recently opened up about why she’s in no hurry to plan her wedding with fiancé Benny Blanco. On Friday, March 21, the couple appeared on the “Today” show, where they discussed their collaborative album, “I Said I Love You First,” and explained their relaxed approach to wedding planning. Host Craig Melvin asked, “So now that the album’s done, do we move on to wedding planning now?” to which the 32-year-old actress and singer replied, “No.” Gomez explained their current work commitments, saying, “I’m actually shooting season 5 of ‘Only Murders’ right now. You know, he has to do…
J-Hope has returned to the music scene with his catchy new track, “Mona Lisa,” where he reveals his preferences in “girls.” Within hours of the BTS member’s single release, it surpassed the million-view milestone. BigHit, the band’s agency, described the track, “Through ‘Mona Lisa,’ J-Hope sings about how the beauty that attracts others lies not in our appearance but within ourselves.” Furthermore, the song is described as “a hip-hop/R&B love song and a tribute to celebrating one’s unique beauty.” While this is not the first time fans have heard “Mona Lisa,” J-Hope had already debuted the live version of the…
