Latest news with #Israeli-American
Hindustan Times
18 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Jim Ryan resigns: Who is Gregory W Brown, UVA alum behind president's ouster?
University of Virginia President Jim Ryan has resigned amid pressure from the Trump administration, The New York Times reported on Friday. This comes days after the media outlet reported that the administration was pushing UVA to part ways with Ryan while the Justice Department investigates the school for its diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Jim Ryan reportedly resigned under pressure from UVA alum Gregory W Brown(UVA and X) Neither UVA nor Jim Ryan has issued a formal statement yet. Now, reports say that the demand for the executive's resignation came from a university alum - Gregory W Brown, who is a civil rights attorney and works in the Donald Trump administration under Harmeet K. Dhillon. Gregory W Brown, a 1989 UVA undergraduate alumnus, is a civil rights attorney and partner at Brown & Gavalier, a Charlottesville-based law firm. He holds a law degree, though the institution is not known yet. Brown joined the Trump administration's DOJ in 2025, serving under Harmeet K. Dhillon, another UVA Law alum (1993) and Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. Before his DOJ role, Brown represented two UVA students in high-profile lawsuits against the university, both settled out of court. In 2024, he represented Matan Goldstein, an Israeli-American freshman, who alleged antisemitic harassment by UVA officials and pro-Palestinian groups, naming Ryan and others as defendants. He also represented Morgan Bettinger, a 2021 alumna accused of mocking a Black Women Matter protest, facing expulsion until UVA's investigation found insufficient evidence. Meanwhile, the Trump administration, via a February 2025 executive order, mandated universities to dismantle DEI programs, threatening federal funding cuts. UVA's Board of Visitors voted in March 2025 to dissolve its DEI office, but the DOJ, led by Brown and Dhillon, accused Ryan of 'slow-walking' compliance by rebranding programs. According to NYT, Brown personally demanded Ryan's resignation multiple times over the past month, telling UVA officials that the president's removal was a condition to resolve the DOJ's investigation.
Jordan News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Washington Launches Investigation into Leak of "Top Secret" Intelligence Report on Iran Strikes - Jordan News
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that an investigation has been launched into the leak of a preliminary intelligence report prepared by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) regarding the recent American strikes on Iran. اضافة اعلان Speaking to reporters in The Hague, Netherlands, on Wednesday, Hegseth confirmed that the U.S. airstrikes had destroyed Iran's nuclear capability. He described the media coverage of the leaked intelligence report—which he called 'Top Secret'—as 'politically motivated.' 'We've launched an investigation with the FBI into the leak of this report,' Hegseth said. 'It was an internal document, and networks like CNN and others tried to discredit the highly successful President Donald Trump.' He also referred to President Trump's remarks during a press conference, in which Trump stated that the bombs had hit their intended targets precisely and caused the anticipated damage. 'Iran knows this too,' Hegseth added. 'If you want to assess what happened at the Fordow facility,' he said, 'you'll need a big shovel and to dig deep—because Iran's nuclear program has been destroyed.' He again criticized the media for publishing the leaked report. The initial intelligence assessment, obtained and published by CNN, stated that the U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend likely did not destroy the core infrastructure of Iran's nuclear program, but rather set it back by only a few months. On June 13, Israel, backed by the United States, launched a 12-day assault on Iran that targeted military and nuclear sites, civilian infrastructure, and involved the assassination of military leaders and nuclear scientists. Iran responded by striking Israeli military and intelligence targets with ballistic missiles and drones. Following Iran's missile retaliation and the heavy losses inflicted on Israel, the U.S. launched its own airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 22. In response, Iran struck the U.S. Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. On June 24, the U.S. announced a ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran. There remains considerable ambiguity and conflicting narratives regarding the extent and impact of the damage to Iran's nuclear facilities. Tehran has only stated that the sites were "heavily damaged" and insists the Israeli-American offensive failed to achieve its objectives, without offering detailed explanations. Meanwhile, Israel and the U.S. maintain that the Iranian nuclear program has been destroyed or set back for years. (Anadolu Agency)
Jordan News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Jordan News
Wall Street Journal: Disputes Over Leaked Intelligence Report on Iran Deepen Uncertainty About Trump's Claimed Achievements
The Wall Street Journal reported that ongoing controversy surrounding leaked U.S. intelligence about an airstrike on Iranian nuclear facilities has added to the ambiguity surrounding former President Donald Trump's claims of success, particularly regarding whether Iran had transferred its enriched uranium stockpile before the strike. اضافة اعلان In the report authored by Michael Gordon, Dustin Volz, and Lara Seligman, the paper notes that Trump's assertions about crippling and completely destroying Iran's nuclear program contradict leaked intelligence, which suggests the program was only set back by a few months, not years or permanently. However, the CIA later stated that Iran's nuclear program suffered significant damage. The challenge, it said, lies in assessing the full extent of that damage—something only international inspectors on the ground can determine. On Wednesday, Trump doubled down on his criticism of the intelligence leaks, insisting that the U.S. military had severely crippled Iran's nuclear ambitions and dismissing reports that the program was only delayed for a short period. The newspaper noted that this dispute over the extent of damage will likely trouble intelligence analysts and experts for months, as they work to determine the full impact of the U.S. bombing campaign. Although there is substantial evidence of damage from the U.S. deployment of bunker-busting bombs by B-2 stealth bombers on the Natanz and Fordow nuclear facilities last weekend, the actual status of Iran's program remains unclear without access for international inspectors. Charles Duelfer, a former U.N. weapons inspector in Iraq and ex-CIA assessment director, said, 'Damage assessment from afar is always difficult. That's why people prefer having inspectors on the ground.' At the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump stood by his initial claim that the Iranian program had been 'wiped out,' and dismissed the CIA's preliminary findings as inconclusive. A rare Pentagon press conference, announced by Trump on social media, is expected Thursday to address the matter. CIA Director John Ratcliffe issued a statement backing Trump's remarks but provided no additional details, stating only that there is reliable intelligence indicating major destruction resulting from the recent strikes. According to Ratcliffe, 'New intelligence from a historically reliable source indicates that many of Iran's key nuclear facilities were destroyed, and rebuilding them would take years.' However, neither the White House nor the CIA addressed what happened to Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium—whether it was moved prior to the strike. Vice President J.D. Vance hinted in a Sunday interview with ABC News that Iran may still possess quantities of hidden enriched uranium. He stated, 'In the coming weeks, we will work to ensure this fuel is monitored properly. That will be one of the topics discussed with the Iranians.' Before the Israeli-American operation, Iran was believed to have enough fissile material for approximately 10 nuclear weapons. But Vance argued that without operational enrichment facilities, the uranium would be useless to Iran. The Journal cited a source familiar with the leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report, noting that the document clearly states in its opening paragraph that it was a preliminary assessment based on data available within 24 hours of the strike and not coordinated with other intelligence agencies. A full damage assessment could take days or weeks. A DIA official told the paper that the report was 'preliminary and low-confidence—not a final judgment.' Experts and former officials say one of the key challenges in assessing the strike's impact is determining whether Iran retains nuclear capabilities that could support weapons development. There is also uncertainty about the extent of damage to the Fordow uranium enrichment facility. Another unresolved question is whether Iran moved its enriched uranium stockpile before the attack or recovered it afterward. There is also speculation that Iran may have undisclosed centrifuge stockpiles or nuclear equipment at undisclosed sites. If any part of the program survived, experts warn, Tehran may now be more determined than ever to pursue nuclear weapons. Former senior U.S. official Robert Einhorn, who worked on non-proliferation under the Obama administration, stated: 'The destructive effect of the U.S. and Israeli military attacks may have only strengthened Iran's resolve to acquire nuclear weapons and bolstered hardliners supporting militarization.' Einhorn also raised the unresolved question of whether the U.S. and IAEA can be confident that none of Iran's enriched uranium was transferred to secret locations. According to people familiar with the matter, the DIA's initial classified report concluded that the strikes had only delayed Iran's nuclear ambitions by a few months. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed Wednesday that the FBI is investigating the leak of the intelligence report to the media. The Journal concluded that this disagreement reflects Trump's long-standing tensions with parts of the intelligence community. In the past, he rejected consensus findings—such as those concluding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help his campaign. This time, the conflict centers around Trump's skepticism toward a preliminary intelligence assessment of a strike he ordered—something analysts say is difficult to evaluate without further information. Typically, intelligence agencies share early-stage, low-confidence assessments across the intelligence community. These are then vetted by analysts, often including signal intelligence or foreign communications intercepted by the NSA. To strengthen conclusions, DIA analysts are now reviewing surveillance data for any Iranian internal discussions about the extent of the damage. Still, intelligence gathering and drawing a comprehensive picture of the U.S. airstrike's impact is a difficult and slow process. Meanwhile, lawmakers in Congress are demanding intelligence briefings on the Israeli-American attacks, even as the White House considers limiting information sharing in response to the DIA leak. (Agencies)
Nahar Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Hezbollah's Raad says Iran 'regional deterrent force, like it or not'
Hundreds of people rallied outside the Iranian embassy in Beirut Wednesday, responding to a call from Hezbollah to celebrate "the culmination of the struggle and sacrifices" of the Iranian people "who triumphed over the Israeli-American aggression". Ahmed Mohebbi, 42, who was among the crowd, said: "We are very happy about this victory that Iran achieved, despite the hits it took and attacks by America and Israel to prevent it from continuing its nuclear program. "Our steadfastness is a victory," he told AFP. The head of Hezbollah's parliamentary bloc Mohammad Raad said in a speech that Iran is today "a regional deterrent force, like it or not." "It proved this with its steadfastness" and by standing up against "a tyrannical enemy who sought to impose its hegemony on the whole region," he said. Iran has backed Hezbollah since the group's founding in the 1980s, providing it with financial and military support. The group was severely weakened in its latest confrontation with Israel, which killed most of its top leadership and destroyed much of its arsenal.
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Israeli-American rescued after stumbling across remote village while missing in Himalayas for 9 days
An Israeli-American hiker was rescued following a harrowing 9-day disappearance in the Himalayas when he miraculously came across a remote village and was finally able to reach the mainland. Samuel Vengrinovich, who reportedly grew up in California and has family in Florida, moved from Israel to India after 15 years to escape the Israel-Hamas War. He embarked on what was intended to be a two-day journey along Mount Triund on June 9. Advertisement 3 Samuel Vengrinovich was lost in the Himalayas for nine days. GoFundMe Vengrinovich set out on the hike as part of a healing mission to lessen the pain he still felt from Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel that sparked the war, his friend wrote in The Times of Israel. Early one during his trip, he became lost when dense fog rolled into the area. Advertisement He veered far off course and plummeted over the edge of the mountainside. He sustained multiple fractures and survived off of nothing but insects, berries, grass and even his own urine for sustenance. Vengrinovich was stranded in the unfamiliar mountain range with the bulk of his supplies still at his camp. 3 Vengrinovich found his way back into civilization after encountering a remote village. GoFundMe Advertisement He only brought one day's worth of food in his backpack, his sister told JWeekly. All the while, his family in Florida launched a campaign to try and find him in hopes of bringing him home in one piece, according to their GoFundMe. On June 15, Vengrinovich found a village hidden in the depths of the Himalayas. From there, he was able to reach his rescuers and was treated for his many injuries. 3 Vengrinovich initially planned to go on a two-day journey along Mount Triund. GoFundMe Advertisement However, Vengrinovich's lifesaving surgeries weren't covered by insurance, the family said. The GoFundMe, originally intended to help the family hire search teams to look for Vengrinovich, is still active and collecting funds intended to help with his recovery and defer other costs, including a long overdue flight home to Florida.
