The Latest: Harvard heads to court in $2.6B lawsuit against Trump administration
If U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs decides in the university's favor, the ruling would reverse a series of funding freezes that later became outright cuts as the administration escalated its fight with the nation's oldest and wealthiest university. Such a ruling, if it stands, would revive Harvard's sprawling scientific and medical research operation and hundreds of projects.
Harvard's lawsuit accuses the administration of waging a retaliation campaign against the university after it rejected a series of demands in an April 11 letter from a federal antisemitism task force.
Here's the latest:
However, even with the nation's largest endowment at $53 billion, the university has warned it can't absorb the full cost of the federal cuts.
Federal agencies say grants can be scrapped if they no longer align with government policies
In court filings, Harvard has said the government 'fails to explain how the termination of funding for research to treat cancer, support veterans, and improve national security addresses antisemitism.'
The Trump administration denies the cuts were made in retaliation, saying the grants were under review even before the April demand letter was sent. It argues the government has wide discretion to cancel contracts for policy reasons.
Hearing begins in Harvard's lawsuit over funding cuts
A lawyer for Harvard opened the hearing by saying the Trump administration violated the university's First Amendment rights by cutting more than $2.6 billion in federal funding.
Steven Lehotsky said the government conditioned research grants on Harvard, 'ceding control' to the government over what is appropriate for students and faculty to say.
US envoy doubles down on support for Syria's government and criticizes Israel's intervention
A U.S. envoy doubled down on Washington's support for Syria's new government, saying Monday there is 'no Plan B' to working with it to unite the country still reeling from years of civil war and wracked by new sectarian violence.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, Tom Barrack also criticized Israel's recent intervention in Syria, calling it poorly timed and saying it complicated efforts to stabilize the region.
Barrack is ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, with a short-term mandate in Lebanon. He spoke in Beirut following more than a week of clashes in Syria's southern province of Sweida between militias of the Druze religious minority and Sunni Muslim Bedouin tribes.
Tom Barrack, who is ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria and also has a short-term mandate in Lebanon, told The Associated Press that Israel's intervention in the latest round of conflict in Syria had further complicated matters. (AP Video shot by Fadi Tawil; Production by Abby Sewell)
Syrian government forces intervened, ostensibly to restore order, but ended up siding with the Bedouins before withdrawing under a ceasefire agreement with Druze factions. Hundreds have been killed in the fighting, and some government fighters allegedly shot dead Druze civilians and burned and looted homes.
Neighboring Israel intervened last week on behalf of the Druze, who are seen as a loyal minority within Israel and often serve in its military. Israel launched dozens of strikes on convoys of government forces in Sweida and struck the Ministry of Defense headquarters in central Damascus.
Over the weekend, Barrack announced a ceasefire between Syria and Israel. Syrian government forces have redeployed in Sweida to halt renewed clashes between the Druze and Bedouins, and civilians from both sides were set to be evacuated Monday.
▶ Read more about the U.S. support for Syria's new government
Trump threatens to hold up stadium deal if Washington Commanders don't switch back to Redskins
Trump is threatening to hold up a new stadium deal for Washington's NFL team if it does not restore its old name of the Redskins, which was considered offensive to Native Americans.
Trump also said Sunday that he wants Cleveland's baseball team to revert to its former name, the Indians, saying there was a 'big clamoring for this' as well.
The Washington Commanders and Cleveland Guardians have had their current names since the 2022 seasons, and both have said they have no plans to change them back. Trump said the Washington football team would be 'much more valuable' if it restored its old name. His latest interest in changing the name reflects his broader effort to roll back changes that followed a national debate on cultural sensitivity and racial justice.
The Commanders and the District of Columbia government announced a deal earlier this year to build a new home for the football team at the site of the old RFK Stadium, the place the franchise called home for more than three decades.
▶ Read more about Trump's attempt to strongarm the NFL team
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Why that super-sized shampoo bottle isn't so super-sized after all: We've all long suspected that we're being hoodwinked - so are ANY actually filled to the top? SARAH RAINEY investigates...
Have you ever opened a new bottle of shampoo, jar of face cream or tube of suncream only to find it's far from full to the top? You're not alone; tens of thousands of unhappy shoppers have taken to online forums to vent their frustrations about part-empty containers in the beauty world. Toiletries are among the worst offenders, with super-sized packaging often giving customers a misleading impression of just how much they're getting for their money. Some leading brands use opaque bottles or labels, so you can't see what's inside, while others have double-walled sides, large lids or false bases that can make quantities appear bigger than they are. So why do manufacturers put their products in such big containers? And why don't they fill them to the top? 'They use bigger containers so it looks like you're getting more for your money,' says Ariane Young, a celebrity and media make-up artist. 'Ingredients, labour and marketing are more expensive but customers are less willing to shell out on new products every month, so brands are finding ways to cut corners.' There may be a practical reason in some cases. Kyle Frank, a beauty expert, cosmetics formulator and founder of Frank's Remedies, explains that some products need extra 'breathing space' so that the bottles and tubes reach customers intact. 'Product packaging can expand due to temperature changes and rocky movement during transit,' he says. 'Depending on the formulation of the product, this may cause more air to be produced. This is known as thermal expansion.' Such expansion could cause leakage, or make containers burst open, so leaving a little space at the top of the bottle or jar ensures it reaches customers in one piece. So how much product is there in your everyday toiletries and are you being fooled by the size or shape of the packaging it's sold in? We conducted an experiment, comparing the amount of liquid, gel or cream in beauty products (stated on the packaging) against the total volume of the container (in millilitres). We did this by squeezing the product into a glass measuring beaker and filling the empty container with water to see how much it could hold when full. The results will make you think twice on your next visit to the beauty aisle. Unilever and Procter & Gamble, makers of the products we tested, were approached for comment. Garnier Vitamin C Nutri-Glow Body Cream, (£10) Jar holds: 530ml Actually contains: 380ml Difference: 150ml Percentage full: 72 per cent This jar of deliciously-scented body cream looks like a very generous size - enough to last several months. But when I unscrew the lid I'm disappointed to see it's only three-quarters full; the rest is empty space. There's a whopping 150ml difference between the amount of product inside and the total volume capacity of the jar. Simple Gentle Cleansing Shampoo (£3.25) Bottle holds: 460ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 60ml Percentage full: 87 per cent This large white bottle stands out as one of the bigger ones on the shelves, but all is not as it seems. Our experiment shows there would be room inside for another 60ml of product, nearly a fifth more liquid than what is in the bottle. CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser (£12.50) Bottle holds: 285ml Actually contains: 236ml Difference: 49ml Percentage full: 83 per cent There's a large pump inside this bottle of face cleanser, so less room for liquid than you'd expect. But even accounting for that, there's capacity for another 49ml of product - that's 21 per cent more than you actually get. Garnier Ambre Solaire Soothing After Sun (£6.99) Bottle holds: 410ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 10ml Percentage full: 98 per cent This bottle feels pleasingly heavy and, looking inside the cap, I can see the white after sun lotion filled very close to the top. For a large, family-sized bottle, there's impressively little empty space inside - just 10ml. Dove Moisturising Hand Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 300ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 83 per cent The hand pump fills up a whopping sixth of this bottle. But when I tip it out and fill it to the top with water I find there is enough missing for 10 to 15 more hand washes. Nivea Sun Protect Suncream Factor 30 (£6.79) Bottle holds: 205ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent At this time of year, we go through bottles of suncream weekly - so it's important to know what you're getting (and how long it will last) when you stock up. Impressively, this 200ml bottle is almost full to the top; there's space for just 5ml more liquid inside. Sanex Expert Soothing Bath Soak (£3) Bottle holds: 505ml Actually contains: 450ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This big bottle of bath soak feels weighty, so I'm hopeful about the amount of product inside. When I open the cap, it looks like it's almost filled to the brim - but looks can be deceiving. When decanted from the container, you could still fit another 55ml liquid in there. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Intensive Body Lotion (£3.25) Bottle holds: 275ml Actually contains: 275ml Difference: 0ml Percentage full: 100 per cent This thick, luxurious lotion is incredibly hard to get out, and I resort to hitting it on the end like a ketchup bottle. It would be much more user-friendly in a jar. But rest assured; the results show the quantity of product inside fills the bottle right the way to the top. Dove Body Love Self-Tan Lotion (£3.99) Bottle holds: 450ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 50ml Percentage full: 89 per cent This gradual fake tan lotion comes in a tall, sleek bottle, but the beige packaging makes it impossible to see how much is inside. Our experiment showed there's room for another 50ml - or one sixth of the total liquid already in the bottle - in there. Oral B 3D White Luxe Mouthwash (£1.99) Bottle holds: 540ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 40ml Percentage full: 93 per cent When I take the cap off and look inside, this bottle of mouthwash looks remarkably full. But the results show there's room for 40ml more liquid (mostly inside the narrow neck) if it were completely full. Nivea 2 in 1 Cleansing Milk and Refreshing Toner (£4.60) Bottle holds: 198ml Contains: 175ml Difference: 23ml Percentage full: 88 per cent Though it's a small bottle, this feels light in my hands, and the product doesn't feel like it's filling the container. So I'm not surprised to find you could fit 23ml more (or 13 per cent of the quantity of liquid listed on the bottle) inside. Nivea Men Energy Shower Gel (£1.70) Bottle holds: 424ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 24ml Percentage full: 94 per cent It's not only women's products that come in part-full packaging, men's toiletry brands are just as guilty of giving customers less than they bargained for. This luminous blue shower gel comes in a bottle that could hold 24ml more than it does. Herbal Essences Dazzling Shine Shampoo (£1.95) Bottle holds: 455ml Actually contains: 400ml Difference: 55ml Percentage full: 88 per cent This is the tallest, thinnest bottle in the test and, though the packaging is bright green, when I hold it up to the light I can just about see the product inside. There's a clear inch without any liquid in it, and the results show this is equivalent to 55ml shampoo. Head & Shoulders Classic Clean 2 in 1 Shampoo (£2.49) Bottle holds: 268ml Actually contains: 250ml Difference: 18ml Percentage full: 93 per cent There isn't a huge difference between the amount this Head & Shoulders bottle could hold (268ml) and the amount of product that's actually inside (250ml). The spout is quite wide, with a flat cap so it's easy to get almost every bit of shampoo out. Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner XL (£5.89) Bottle holds: 580ml Actually contains: 470ml Difference: 110ml Percentage full: 81 per cent Promising to turn 'parched locks to fabulously refreshed' ones, this bottle is deceptive because it's nowhere near full. Our experiment shows that there is enough room for 110ml more conditioner in here. As the product is thick, it's tricky to get it all out so customers will get even less value for money. Palmolive Naturals Coconut Milk Shower Cream (£1.62) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This super-sized bottle of shower cream looks ideal for a family, but there's less product inside than you would expect. My experiment showed you could fit another 42ml of liquid in there if it was full - enough for 8-10 more showers. Baylis and Harding Goodness Natural Body Wash (£4) Bottle holds: 542ml Actually contains: 500ml Difference: 42ml Percentage full: 92 per cent While lots of body wash products come in clear containers, this one is in an opaque black bottle. At 500ml, it's one of the bigger sizes around and certainly one I'd buy to last the family several weeks. But it's not as full as it appears, there's space for another 42ml. Lynx Africa Body, Face and Hair Wash (£1.49) Bottle holds: 230ml Actually contains: 225ml Difference: 5ml Percentage full: 98 per cent In its distinctive black container, with an opaque red and green label, this body, face and hair wash contains 225ml of product. When full to the top, the bottle - which is squat and wide, with a narrow bit in the middle - could squeeze just 5ml more inside. Bulldog Original Shave Gel (£3.75) Tube holds: 190ml Actually contains: 175ml Difference: 15ml Percentage full: 92 per cent This clear shave gel comes in a squeezy tube, which is white so you can't see how much is inside. There's just 15ml difference between the amount of liquid that could fit inside the tube and what's in there when I buy it - not too bad. Vaseline Healthy Hands and Stronger Nails Hand Cream (£2.85) Bottle holds: 209ml Actually contains: 200ml Difference: 9ml Percentage full: 96 per cent This little bottle of hand cream doesn't have much surplus space inside; you could squeeze just 9ml more inside. It might seem more expensive per millilitre than a big bottle but you're getting more for your money and less empty space.
