Thiam Plans Surprise Return as Leader of Ivory Coast Opposition
The 62-year-old banker stepped down as head of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast this week citing what he called 'judicial harassment' but will stand again in an election on Wednesday, according to a statement issued by the party on Tuesday. Thiam's leadership of the party — and ability to run in October's presidential election — was challenged in court over his dual French citizenship, which he gave up in February.
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Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi's Munich Conference: A historic moment for unity in Iran's opposition
Pahlavi concluded his address to attendees with a message of determination and hope: "Ali Khamenei must know: his regime is crumbling." Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi declared that 'a united opposition' to the Islamic dictatorship of Iran was finally coming together as he convened the largest and most diverse gathering of Iranian opposition forces in Munich on Saturday. The Convention of National Cooperation to Save Iran brought together over 500 attendees representing what Pahlavi called 'the broadest and most diverse coalition of Iranian opposition forces ever assembled.' The Munich convention represented an unprecedented moment of unity among Iranian dissidents not seen in the 46-year rule of the ayatollahs' regime. Attendees spanned the ideological spectrum, from Left to Right, and included monarchists and republicans, as well as individuals from different religious, linguistic, ethnic, and tribal backgrounds. Political organizations, prominent dissidents, entrepreneurs, academics, artists, and athletes all participated in what organizers described as a historic convergence against the Islamic Republic. Attendees and speakers included Tayeb Azmoudeh, Iranian wrestling champion; Mahab Mehrabi, sister of political prisoner Mahmoud Mehrabi; Anshan Khosravi, a leader of the Bakhtiari tribe; economic journalist Moloud Hajizadeh, and political activist Vahid Bahmani. A particularly poignant moment resulted when political prisoners from Greater Tehran Prison sent an audio message announcing their support for the convention and Pahlavi's leadership of a transition to a democratic and secular Iran. Victims of the regime's brutality and family members of those murdered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also shared their stories at the gathering. In his address, Pahlavi painted a striking picture of Iran's current state under the Islamic Republic. 'This regime has driven Iran's water, land, air, skies, lives, and wealth to the edge of destruction,' the prince stated, highlighting Iran's recent environmental issues, including the lack of water. 'Iran's rivers are dry, its soil eroding, its ground sinking, its air polluted, its skies in the hands of foreign forces, its economy in free fall, its people's homes without water or electricity; and their lives held hostage to the sectarian delusions of an anti-Iranian regime and its foolish leader.' The crown prince argued that Iran's very existence was in greater danger than ever before due to the continuation of the Islamic Republic. Pahlavi placed particular blame on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stating, 'The person responsible for this situation is none other than Ali Khamenei. It is he who, step-by-step, brought our homeland to this point.' He characterized the regime as having 'abandoned governance entirely, except for its machinery of repression.' Five-pillar strategy for change Building on agreements reached at the first Munich summit five months earlier, Pahlavi outlined the progress of a five-pillar strategy for regime change: Maximum Pressure on the Islamic Republic: The crown prince noted that the regime was now 'at its most isolated and vulnerable,' facing unprecedented international pressure while unable to provide for the basic needs of the people. Maximum support for the Iranian people: Pahlavi reported increasing readiness from governments, political parties, and public figures to support the Iranian people's struggle, with concrete solutions being actively pursued. Maximum defections from the regime: Significant progress has been made in encouraging defections, with activities targeting both general personnel and high-ranking officials. Pahlavi claimed to have developed deep insights into the regime's internal structures and established communication with elements inside the system. Maximum mobilization and organization: The Munich gathering itself exemplified this pillar, with the number of collaborating groups nearly tripling in just five months under the Munich convergence framework. Developing a Plan for Iran's Future: The Iran Prosperity Project (IPP) has made 'remarkable strides' in developing a vision for rebuilding the country post-regime. Pahlavi also presented a detailed Emergency Transitional Government Plan, proposing two core institutions for the current phase: a temporary executive team and a National Uprising Council, which would serve as a strategic advisory body. He emphasized that the temporary executive team would dissolve once the transition government was formed, while the National Uprising Council would continue as a provisional legislative body until the first elected parliament convened. Crucially, Pahlavi reiterated that he does not seek political office, stating: 'As I have repeatedly stated, I do not seek political office or position. I want to create a space and structure so that those who wish to serve the nation and restore Iran's lost greatness can present themselves and their plans in a democratic process to the people's vote.' The Munich convention took place against the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding Pahlavi's participation in international forums. Earlier this year, he was initially invited to the Munich Security Conference but subsequently disinvited twice, with Pahlavi accusing the German government of influencing the decision. Pahlavi argued on Saturday that recent military confrontations have exposed the regime's weakness, particularly noting that the IRGC 'handed over Iran's skies to a much smaller and less populous country' in an obvious reference to the recent 12-day war between Israel and Iran. He emphasized that 'factionalism and division within the regime's power structure have reached a peak' with senior officials 'conspiring against one another and jockeying through intermediaries to present themselves as Khamenei's successor to foreign and regional powers.' Despite facing increased threats from the regime, Pahlavi concluded his address with a message of determination and hope. 'Ali Khamenei must know: His regime is crumbling. Many of those around him despise him. A large number of IRGC members are looking for a way to jump ship. And the overwhelming majority of the people detest him and his regime.' He also announced plans for a campaign website to serve as 'a central hub to attract talent, register ideas, report events, present programs, organize activists, and collect funding,' signaling the opposition's commitment to sustained, organized resistance. The Munich convention signifies the growing momentum of Iranian opposition politics. Despite many expecting the regime to fall during the June war with Israel, it has taken time for opposition groups to come together and attempt to form a united front. Whether this unity can translate into effective action inside Iran remains to be seen, but Pahlavi's message was clear: 'Our victory is closer than ever. Believe in your power.' The crown prince concluded, 'We are a great nation. We will reclaim Iran. Long live Iran!' Solve the daily Crossword
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2 hours ago
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‘We've Always Been Student-Focused': Alabama Business Dean Kay Palan On Culture, AI & The Future Of The MBA
Alabama's Kay Palan: 'Whatever we do has to be right for the school and able to live beyond me. I don't lead for my own ego. It's about our students, our people, and the mission.' Courtesy photos Before Kay Palan became dean of the University of Alabama's Culverhouse College of Business, she worked in hospital trauma units. Palan was trained as a nurse — her undergraduate degree is in nursing — and she spent her early career caring for patients in high-stakes, high-pressure environments where lives were literally on the line. That background still shapes how she leads. 'I've worked in real crises — people dying and bleeding to death,' Palan says. 'So when we talk about change in higher ed, I can always keep it in perspective. It's hard, but it's not life-or-death. I stay positive. I adapt.' Palan has led Culverhouse and its graduate arm, the Manderson Graduate School of Business, since 2016. In that time, she has overseen record enrollment, rising research productivity, and a steady climb in national rankings — all while maintaining what she calls Alabama's core identity: a deeply personal, student-centered culture. 'We've always been a student-focused institution,' she says. 'We write it into our mission statement — that we'll do things on a personal interaction basis. But how do we maintain that culture with over 10,000 students?' That question, she adds, drives nearly every strategic decision she makes. CULTURE FIRST, STRATEGY ALWAYS Kay Palan: 'I still think it's better to live and learn in person. But we have to be realistic. Online helps us reach people who otherwise wouldn't be able to participate' Under Palan's leadership, Alabama has grown in scale and stature. The University of Alabama hit a record enrollment of over 40,000 students in fall 2024, including more than 6,000 at the graduate level. Culverhouse alone now serves more than 10,000 of them, with around 700 enrolled in graduate business programs. Despite that growth, Palan has worked to preserve a sense of intimacy and purpose. A three-year required professional development curriculum spans the undergraduate experience, helping students build soft skills and career readiness from their first year. 'We want our students to be prepared not just academically, but professionally and interpersonally,' she says. She also sees her role as ensuring the school evolves strategically — and not reactively. 'Whatever we do has to be right for the school and able to live beyond me,' she says. 'I don't lead for my own ego. It's about our students, our people, and the mission.' MANDERSON MBA: SMALL, STEM-POWERED, HANDS-ON The Manderson MBA has held strong even as other full-time MBA programs contract. One major reason is Alabama's 'STEM and CREATE Path to the MBA,' a direct pipeline from undergraduate engineering and innovation-focused programs into the graduate business curriculum. These students — many of them engineers — bring technical depth and creative energy into the cohort. 'They come in with this highly structured way of thinking,' Palan says. 'But business is messy. There's uncertainty. So we give them the tools to manage that — and they enrich the classroom with their analytical mindset.' Asked what sets Manderson apart in a competitive MBA market, Palan doesn't hesitate. 'Hands-on, personal experience. You're not going to get that everywhere — especially at this cost. I really believe you don't have to go to a big-name school to get a great education. You'll get that here — and you'll get faculty and staff who know your name.' Manderson's rising visibility supports that claim. The program currently ranks 54th overall and 27th among public MBA programs in U.S. News & World Report. Fortune places it at No. 59 nationally. In Poets&Quants' annual composite ranking, Alabama is 68th in 2025, up from 72nd in 2024. Meanwhile, Culverhouse has improved its standing in research, ranking 90th in North America in the UT Dallas research productivity index. EMBEDDING TECH, EMBRACING FLEXIBILITY Relevance, Palan says, starts with being close to industry — especially when it comes to evolving technologies like AI and analytics. 'Some faculty are already embedding AI directly into their courses,' she notes. 'We offer the content in a lot of ways — whether as a specialization, minor, or certificate. And we keep adjusting, because market demand keeps evolving.' Manderson currently offers graduate certificates in analytics and cybersecurity, and Alabama's business curriculum embeds data and analytics content across undergraduate and graduate programs. Many of these offerings are now online, a strategic move given the school's non-metro location and its desire to reach working professionals. 'I still think it's better to live and learn in person,' Palan says. 'But we have to be realistic. Online helps us reach people who otherwise wouldn't be able to participate.' THE BUSINESS OF BUSINESS SCHOOL Palan is clear-eyed about the shifting landscape of graduate business education. Specialized master's degrees, stackable certificates, and just-in-time learning models are all on the rise — and the traditional MBA no longer holds the monopoly it once did. 'It's a changing landscape. And it's hard, because it takes so long to launch something new,' she says. 'By the time we've done it, the bus might have already left.' Still, she remains calm — and confident — in Alabama's path forward. 'We adapt. That's leadership. That's life,' she says. 'And the mission here is always the same — to do the best we can for our students. That's what matters.' DON'T MISS The post 'We've Always Been Student-Focused': Alabama Business Dean Kay Palan On Culture, AI & The Future Of The MBA appeared first on Poets&Quants. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
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‘Sleepy' Trump, 79, Struggles to Stay Awake as Dr. Oz Rambles On
President Donald Trump looked as though he was on the verge of falling asleep as a key member of his administration helped him launch a new health-tracking system at the White House. In somewhat bemusing scenes, the 79-year-old president's eyes kept drooping as he tried to listen to his own Medicare administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, talk up the initiative—and praise Trump's leadership in making it happen. 'We're going to have remarkable advances in how consumers can use their own records,' the former talk show host told Trump in a room full of tech titans and industry leaders. 'And all this comes back to one fundamental issue, Mr. President, which is leadership,' Oz said. The event, which also featured Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and crypto czar David Sacks, took place the day after Trump returned to Washington from a whirlwind trip to Scotland. Over the past few days, the president has announced a new trade deal with the European Union, held meetings with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and opened a new Trump International Golf Course with his sons Eric and Don Jr. Trump has also faced ongoing questions about Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex trafficker who is now the center of a political firestorm in Washington. But this was not the first time Trump struggled to stay awake—something the president and his MAGA followers regularly criticized 'Sleepy Joe' Biden for doing. Earlier this month, the president at times looked on the verge of falling asleep at an energy and AI summit in Pittsburgh. He was also caught falling asleep several times during his 'hush money' trial in New York last year, where he was ultimately convicted for falsifying business records to cover up a sex scandal with a porn star. Despite his age, Trump and his supporters often boast that he is in excellent health and nothing like Biden, whose last months in office were marked by cognitive decline.
