Federal Judge Orders Restoration of $500 Million in UCLA Funding Amid Government Controversy

A federal judge in San Francisco has mandated the restoration of $500 million in federal grant funding that was previously frozen by the Trump administration for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a preliminary injunction on Monday, pointing to probable violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs procedures for federal funding decisions. The funding freeze initially took place in July when the Trump administration rescinded $584 million in federal research grants. The withdrawal was linked to allegations concerning campus antisemitism, the use of racial criteria in admissions, … Read more

Virtual K-Pop Idols Stand Their Ground: Court Orders Defamation Fine in Landmark Ruling

Seoul, South Korea — A South Korean court has ordered a social media user to compensate a virtual K-pop group, Plave, due to defamatory remarks made online. The user is required to pay 500,000 won, equivalent to about $360, for their derogatory comments against the animated members of the group. Plave, which debuted in 2023, consists of five virtual members who are brought to life through motion-capture technology and are voiced by anonymous performers. The group’s agency filed a civil lawsuit last year after the user posted disparaging remarks about the band on social media. … Read more

Immigration Judge Orders Controversial Deportation of Palestinian Activist Mahmoud Khalil Amid Appeals Battle

A Louisiana immigration judge has ordered the deportation of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist and legal permanent resident of the United States, to either Syria or Algeria. This decision, made by Judge Jamee Comans, was revealed in court filings submitted on Wednesday. Khalil’s deportation stems from allegations that he failed to provide complete information on his green card application. Khalil’s legal team has indicated plans to appeal the ruling. However, they cautioned that the appeal process is likely to be expedient and challenging, with limited chances for success. According to their letter to federal Judge … Read more

Judge Orders Trump Administration to Reinstate Temporary Protected Status, Offering Hope to Thousands of Venezuelans and Haitians

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans and Haitians, as the government failed to update its systems, leaving many TPS holders unable to re-register. This ruling stems from a case that significantly impacts hundreds of thousands of immigrants, who have been left in uncertain circumstances. Judge Edward M. Chen ruled on Friday that the administration’s actions to revoke humanitarian protections from over one million Venezuelans and Haitians were illegal. Despite the judge’s ruling, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website continued to indicate … Read more