𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Golden State’s governor has said the scheme is being launched in response to “recent declines in tourism created by Donald Trump’s policies.”

China’s foreign ministry has urged the U.S. to “adopt a responsible attitude on cybersecurity issues and stop its cyberattacks”, after reports police were investigating three people with suspected links to American spy agencies.

Chinese state media foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reported police in the northern city of Harbin were pursuing three operatives linked to the National Security Agency for suspected cyberattacks in China.

China’s Global Times reports that investigations found the three were involved in cyberattacks against information infrastructure during the Asian Winter Games.

The vice president complains on X that the administration’s refusal to do anything about the wrongful deportation of a Maryland father is getting too much media coverage.

This exchange pretty much sums the situation up:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has just issued this statement on behalf of its task force and the row surrounding federal funding for Harvard University:

“Harvard’s statement reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges – that federal investment does not come with the responsibility to uphold civil rights laws.

“The disruption of learning that has plagued campuses in recent years is unacceptable.

“The harassment of Jewish students is intolerable. It is time for elite universities to take the problem seriously and commit to meaningful change if they wish to continue receiving taxpayer support.

“The Joint Task Force to combat anti-Semitism is announcing a freeze on $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60m in multi-year contract value to Harvard University.”

Here’s the president’s first Truth Social post of the day:

He follows that up with the following claim about the US-Mexico border:

Harvard University publicly responded to demands from the Trump administration to overhaul its leadership, governance and student admissions or face losing billions in federal funding.

In a letter from its lawyers – including Robert K. Hur previously appointed by Donald Trump to serve as U.S Attorney for the District of Maryland – the university said it would “not surrender its independence”.

Harvard said it has undertaken “substantial” work to improve its policies and tackle antisemitism to make its campus a “place in which everyone can thrive”, and said it was unfortunate the administration had overlooked those efforts.

“The university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government. Accordingly, Harvard will not accept the government’s terms as an agreement in principle,” the letter said.

Harvard has become the first of six Ivy League schools to formally oppose the Trump administration’s demands. Josh Marcus reports:

After Colombia agreed to sweeping changes in March, at least 60 universities were warned they could soon be the next to potentially lose hundreds of millions or even billions in federal funding if they didn’t fall in line with president Donald Trump’s vision of campus civil rights.

By late March, the administration was making its boldest push yet, threatening to cut off some $9 billion in federal funding to Harvard.

Then, in the last few days, Harvard, the nation’s oldest and richest university, began to push back more forcefully than any of the other five Ivy League schools that have faced administration funding threats.

Former president Barack Obama has condemned the Trump administration’s freezing $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard University as “unlawful” and “ham-handed”.

Earlier, the White House froze more than $2.2 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts for Harvard University after the school refused to comply with a lengthy list of demands including sweeping leadership and admissions reforms.

Obama said on social media that other schools should follow Harvard’s lead.

“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope other institutions follow suit,” he wrote on X.

The French prime minister said Donald Trump’s tariffs have caused a global storm and hit trust across the world.

Francois Bayrou warned it was a moment of truth for France as it attempts to fix its public finances, adding that in his view, Trump had created “a tsunami of destabilization”.

“The fact that this power has gone over to the side of the aggressors is a dramatic turn of events, a warning shot that ruins our fundamental vision of the world,” Bayrou said.

The U.K’s FTSE 100 index has surged this morning following comments from vice president J.D. Vance that there was a “good chance” of a tariff deal with the U.K.

Ahead of lunchtime in U.K trading the stock was up 1 percent, building on Monday’s strong gains to take it to 8,215 points and up 3.8 percent from five days ago.

Earlier, Vance said the Trump administration was “working very hard” with the British government to find a deal.

“The president really loves the United Kingdom. He loved the Queen. He admires and loves the King. It is a very important relationship. And he’s a businessman and has a number of important business relationships in [Britain]. But I think it’s much deeper than that,” he told UnHerd website.

“There’s a real cultural affinity. And, of course, fundamentally, America is an Anglo country. I think there’s a good chance that, yes, we’ll come to a great agreement that’s in the best interest of both countries.”