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Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Elaine Loughlin: Trump's ICE attacks on free speech do not stop at US borders
Humiliation is just another minor consequence of Donald Trump's latest chilling move against freedom of speech, which threatens the entire bedrock on which the US was founded. This week I toyed with taking a look back at some of the best years of my life. Thankfully, the demise of Bebo meant I couldn't find a way to log in to see what ultimately would have been an embarrassing stream of blurry pictures, apparently funny comments, and hot takes on the world that would have left me cringing for days. Thoughts are no longer private The years that straddle adolescence and adulthood is a time in which most people are navigating the world, making mistakes, and forming their own opinions, many of which will change as lived experience alters what can be idealistic and naive interpretations. The current generation of third-level students, who have no recollection of Bebo, are now finding that what could have been a fleeting opinion or throwaway remark may have a lasting impact. Under new rules, all applicants for F, M, and J visas to the US will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public'. Running contrary to everything from John Stuart Mill's 'On Liberty' through to the US constitution itself, Donald Trump, 'is denying the space and freedom to allow truth prevail'. Picture: Alex Brandon/AP Irish students looking to spend a summer in America on a J1 visa will be required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on their application form. Applicants must certify that the information in their visa application is true and correct before they sign and submit. Omitting social media information could lead to visa denial and ineligibility for future visas. 'A US visa is a privilege, not a right,' a statement issued by the US embassy read. Threat to first amendment of the US constitution The latest announcement is just part of an ongoing intrusive policy which aims to engender fear, curtail opposing opinion, and ultimately threaten the much-valued first amendment of the US constitution. 'We are watching a major incursion on freedom of expression unthinkable in a Western democracy,' was how Labour leader Ivana Bacik described the changes announced to the student visa system by the US administration this week. Holding up a comical printout of an online meme in the Dáil chamber, Bacik detailed how US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, had detained a young Norwegian tourist at Newark Airport for five hours before he was ultimately sent back to Oslo. Why? He had on his phone the same meme depicting vice president JD Vance as a baby. While Bacik described the incident as 'extraordinary', such examples are becoming more frequent under the Trump administration, which seems hellbent on stifling alternative opinion. John Stuart Mill explained free speech Freedom of expression, especially in the academic sphere, is crucial if we as a species are to evolve and advance. In his 1859 essay, On Liberty, British philosopher John Stuart Mill put forward a comprehensive three-pronged argument as to why opinions, regardless of how incorrect or misaligned they are, should never be silenced. 'In any argument there are only three possibilities. You are either wholly wrong, partially wrong, or wholly correct — and in each case free speech is critical to improving or protecting those positions,' he wrote. 'Only through diversity of opinion is there, in the existing state of human intellect, a chance of fair play to all sides of the truth.' ICE arrests Trump, through a series of measures is denying the space and freedom to allow truth prevail. This began in March when ICE agents began arresting student protestors who had expressed pro-Palestinian views. In one of their many notorious actions, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) held Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident, for three months. Picture: Ted Shaffrey/AP This included the high-profile case of Mahmoud Khalil, a student activist at Columbia University who was returning home from dinner with his eight-month-pregnant wife when he was taken by four ICE agents and forced into an unmarked car. Although Khalil, a lawful permanent resident who was born in Syria, was released after three months in custody on June 20, the administration has indicated that it will appeal this and has cited a provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 in its effort to deport Khalil. The clause allows the secretary of state to remove individuals from the country if they have reason to believe the person's actions or presence undermines foreign policy interests. Since Khalil's arrest, hundreds more students have been detained over their pro-Palestinian campus activism, with often vague allegations tabled against them. In late April, plans to further expand the reasons under which international students can be stripped of their legal status in the US were unveiled. Since then, there have been pauses on visa interviews and a move to 'aggressively' revoke visas for hundreds of thousands of Chinese students. More than 60 third-level institutions, most notably Harvard University, have been threatened with billions of dollars in financial penalties. In refusing to bow to Trump's pressure, Harvard is battling moves to freeze research grants and suspend foreign students from enrolling in the Ivy League college. Under such constraints, a brain drain has begun, with many lecturers and researchers looking to Europe and further abroad for refuge. Beyond academia, the administration has banned news outlets from covering White House events and sought sanctions against attorneys and law firms who do not represent Trump's view of the world. The land of the free and the home of the brave is becoming a place where those brave enough to speak out are suppressed and punished.
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
R Praggnanandhaa becomes new India No. 1, D Gukesh second in latest live rankings
R Praggnanandhaa's title at the UzChess Cup Masters, saw the 19-year-old become the new India No. 1 in the live classical chess rankings. He defeated Uzbek GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov, with Black pieces in the final round to seal the title. R Praggnanandhaa is the new India No. 1 and D Gukesh is second.(Twitter) In the live ratings, Praggnanandhaa is fourth now, with an Elo rating of 2778.3. D Gukesh is fifth with a rating of 1776.6, and Arjun Erigaisi (2775.7) is sixth. Norwegian Magnus Carlsen (2839.2) occupies top spot, followed by American GMs Hikaru Nakamura (2807) and Fabiano Caruana (2784.2). Viswanathan Anand (2743.0) is not in the top-ten, and occupies 13th position in the live rankings, and is India No. 4. Meanwhile, Aravindh Chithambaram (2724.0) is 24th in the live rankings and is India No. 5. Taking to X, Anand hailed the new India No. 1 and wrote, 'Of all his wins this year, this one seemed the least likely with just two rounds to go. However, he defeated Arjun Erigaisi (yesterday) and today in the crucial match defeated Nodirbek Abdussattorov to tie for first place.' 'In an impressive demonstration of character he won his third tiebreak of the year as well. He is deservedly the new number four in the chess world and the highest rated player in India,' he added. Meanwhile, his longtime coach RB Ramesh told The Indian Express, 'Pragg is quite good in attack, but he was playing too solid in 2024. At least that was my impression. We discussed this and talked about being more adventurous, which you can see now.' 'His chess was always quite good. Now he's also been adding new openings and trying a lot more variety of openings in games.' Ramesh also revealed that Vaibhav Suri working as Praggnanandhaa's second has been beneficial. He said, 'Vaibhav has been helping us longer than this year. But we did not want to go public earlier (and reveal his association with Pragg). He has been with us for some time, but only recently he has started accompanying Pragg for tournaments and that has been very helpful.' 'It's good to have someone you know well, who believes in you, travel with you during important tournaments. When you are going through difficult times, it will be easier to believe in ourselves.'
Business Recorder
4 hours ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar defends decision to nominate Trump for Nobel prize
ISLAMABAD: Defending the decision to nominate US President for Nobel Peace Prize, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan still backs its choice and considers Donald J Trump as a 'Man of Peace'. 'The decision rests with the Norwegian committee. We are uncaring to the outcome, having only acknowledged what Donald Trump initiated,' Dar told this during a news conference here at the Foreign Office (FO) on Friday to brief the media about his recent multi-nation foreign tours. The foreign minister clarified that both the government and the establishment recommended US President for the peace prize in a letter signed on June 11. 'We consider Donald Trump the 'Man of Peace' and I myself signed the nomination letter,' he remarked. Pakistan recommends US President for Nobel Peace 'Donald Trump has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in raising the Kashmir issue, as this matter had been sidelined since the former US President Bill Clinton era,' Dar added. He; however, claimed that Trump's willingness to arbitrate to settle Kashmir dispute and assure a peaceful resolution marked a significant shift in global perception. He stated that a tariff accord with the United States is set to be announced on 'win-win' basis. Dar announced that China has principally agreed to Pakistan's proposal to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. In addition, Pakistan and Uzbekistan are set to sign a trilateral railway framework agreement with Afghanistan in the near future for better regional connectivity and economic cooperation. He said that Pakistan and the UAE have signed a protocol during the Pakistan-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting in Abu Dhabi for visa exemption for Pakistan's diplomatic and official passports holders. With regard to economic cooperation, the Emirate leadership has agreed to invest in Pakistan in a manner similar to its previous deposits with the State Bank of Pakistan, Dar said. He disclosed there were positive developments in long-stalled negotiations with Etisalat to settle the issue pending for last 18 years. To a query, Dar said Pakistan continues to plead for improved visa processes for its citizens. Responding to questions, DPM/ FM reiterated that Pakistan did not seek or begged a ceasefire with India but agreed to it in a dignified manner. 'Pakistan is always ready for dialogue— on terrorism, trade, Kashmir, and the Indus Waters Treaty— but only through a composite framework,' he stated. On Israel, he reaffirmed Pakistan's stand, stating there would be no recognition until a two-state solution is realised. Pakistan will assume the presidency of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in July, with peaceful resolution of disputes set to be a central theme, Dar announced. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Straits Times
Son of Norway's crown princess suspected of 3 rapes
Marius Borg Hoiby (left) with his mother, Norwegian Crown Princess Mette-Marit, at a party in Oslo on June 16, 2022. PHOTO: EPA-EFE OSLO - The son of Norway's crown princess is suspected of three rapes and nearly two dozen other offences, Norwegian police said on June 27, handing the case to prosecutors to decide whether to press charges. Marius Borg Hoiby, who was born as a result of a relationship before Crown Princess Mette-Marit's marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, has been under investigation since his arrest on Aug 4 last year on suspicion of assaulting his girlfriend. The arrest led to a slew of allegations against the 28-year-old that have shaken the royal family. Police attorney Andreas Kruszweski told reporters the 10-month investigation had been completed. Hoiby was suspected of 'one count of rape with sexual intercourse' and 'two counts of rape without sexual intercourse', Mr Kruszweski said. Hoiby's lawyer Ellen Holager Andenaes told news agency NTB her client rejected the three rape allegations. Hoiby has previously admitted to assault and vandalism in the August 2024 incident. In a public statement 10 days after his arrest, he said he had acted 'under the influence of alcohol and cocaine after an argument', having suffered from 'mental troubles' and struggling 'for a long time with substance abuse'. Behind bars Police said Hoiby was also suspected of four counts of sexually offensive behaviour, one count of abuse in a close relationship, two counts of bodily harm, one count of vandalism, one count of issuing threats, five violations of restraining orders, one count of insulting a police officer, and five traffic offences. 'I cannot elaborate on the number of victims in the case other than to confirm that we are talking about a double-digit number,' Mr Kruszweski said. Hoiby, a tall strapping blond who cultivates a 'bad boy' look with slicked back hair, earrings, rings and tattoos, has been in the eye of a media storm since his arrest. When the rape allegations emerged in November, he spent a week behind bars in custody – unprecedented for a member of Norway's royal family. After his release, he reportedly went to rehab in London. Hoiby is the child of a brief romance between his mother and Morten Borg – who has also been convicted of abuse and drug-related crimes – at a time when the future princess was part of Norway's house music scene, known for its abundance of hash and ecstasy. Bad company Hoiby was propelled into the spotlight at the age of four when his mother married Norway's crown prince, with whom she went on to have two more children. He was raised by the royal couple alongside his step-siblings Princess Ingrid Alexandra and Prince Sverre Magnus, aged 21 and 19. Unlike them, however, he has no official public role. Despite Mette-Marit's attempts to shield him from the public eye, he has made headlines over the years. 'He has been put in a virtually impossible position: one foot in, one foot out. He is not technically part of the royal household but he grew up in it,' said Sigrid Hvidsten, royals commentator at the newspaper Dagbladet. 'He has lived in a grey zone, a kind of gilded cage,' she told AFP in December 2024. A cage that has not stopped him from keeping bad company in recent years. According to media reports, he has hung out with gang members, Hells Angels bikers and members of Oslo's Albanian mafia. In 2023, police contacted him to have a cautionary talk after he was seen moving in the same circles as 'notorious criminals'. Once the assault scandal hit the headlines in August, it emerged that Hoiby had already been arrested in 2017 for using cocaine at a music festival. He has lived a comfortable lifestyle provided for by his mother and stepfather, and has shown little interest in academic studies or work. Several of his ex-girlfriends were among the plaintiffs in cases against him. His excesses have struck a blow to the monarchy, at least temporarily, though it remains popular, in particular King Harald and Crown Prince Haakon. A poll published in December by Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed 45 percent of people questioned said their opinion of the royal household had deteriorated over the past year. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
Call to improve female hygiene, reproductive health
More than 60 male and female students attended an awareness session on female hygiene and reproductive health Thursday at the KIOCA Seminar Hall of PMAS Arid Agriculture University. Organised by the Programme on Development Alternatives (PODA) in collaboration with the District Population Office, the event formed part of the youth-led "Her Health, Her Rights" campaign. Nabeela Aslam of PODA outlined the organisation's work promoting the rights of women, youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups — especially rural women. She previewed PODA's 18th Annual Rural Women Leadership Training Conference and described activities under the three-year "Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality" project, funded by the Norwegian Embassy in Islamabad, which delivers sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) awareness from schools to district-level government departments. Aslam related the case of an eighth-grade girl facing kidney failure after an early marriage and warned of widespread menstrual-hygiene risks — improper pad use, avoidance of bathing and drinking water during periods — that can trigger infections and urinary tract complications.
