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US revokes nearly 1,500 student visas: Who are the targets?

By in News, World News

Since Donald Trump’s second term in office on January 20, 2025, immigration officials have revoked hundreds of students’ visas, with several also being detained.

Many of the targets of the visa revocations and arrests are students who participated in pro-Palestine protests which erupted on campuses across the country in 2024 amid Israel’s brutal war on Gaza. Others are people who have shown support for Gaza on social media or have more indirect ties to Palestine.

The Trump administration alleges that these students spread anti-Semitism and pro-Hamas sentiment on campus – a claim students, lawyers and activists have all rebutted. Many of the most well-known US protests against the Gaza war have involved Jewish activists and organizations.

Others have had visas removed after minor legal infractions – a speeding ticket or other traffic violations, for instance.

What we know about the number of universities they cover, the frequency of visa revocations, and some of the students who have been targeted:

How many students have had their visas revoked?

US Secretary of State March Rubio claimed that the administration had revoked 300 student visas by the end of March.

But the real number is higher – much higher.

Estimates vary. At the higher end is the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s count, according to which more than 4, 700 students have been removed from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement-maintained database known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information Systems (SEVIS).

Yet even more conservative tabulations suggest a figure that is comfortably greater than 1,000. The National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) estimates that as of April 17, there are reports of about 1, 400 students who now face deportation.

1, 489 students had lost their visas as of April 17, according to Inside Higher Ed, a publication with a focus on higher education in the US.

How many universities have been affected?

More than 240 US universities and colleges have had student visas suspended, according to Inside Higher Ed’s count.

Colleges affected include private universities such as Harvard and Stanford, large public colleges and institutions such as Ohio State University and the University of Maryland, as well as some small arts colleges.

What are the options for revoked visas and why?

The Trump administration claims it is trying to stop activists from taking over campuses.

“We won’t be importing activists into the United States,” he said. They’re here to study. They are arriving for class. They’re not here to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine the – our universities”, Rubio said on March 28.

However, many students have reported that they were given no notice of their legal status in the US.

Several among them, like Mahmoud Khalil, Mohsen Mahdawi&nbsp, and Momodou Taal, were active on social media in pro-Palestine protests on campuses.

Others have been denied visas in some cases due to past traffic violations or, in some cases, without any clear justification, according to Mohammad Ali Syed, who leads an immigration practice group in Washington, DC.

“This widespread action has led to legal challenges and raised concerns about due process and the impact on US higher education institutions”, said Syed, who emphasised that international students ought to consult with immigration lawyers promptly to explore legal remedies and protect their rights.

“Students can file lawsuits in federal courts, bringing charges of violating the law and seeking to regain their legal status. For instance, students at Michigan universities have initiated legal actions against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that their F-1 statuses were terminated without sufficient notice or explanation”, he said.

He continued, students may request temporary restraining orders (TROs) in urgent circumstances to avoid being deported and to reinstate their status while legal proceedings are pending. Federal judges in states like Montana have granted such orders to protect students from immediate removal, he said.

According to Syed, “Many universities are actively assisting affected students by providing legal resources, collaborating with federal authorities, and providing academic accommodations.” “For example, George Mason University has engaged with federal officials to understand the rationale behind visa terminations and is exploring legal options to support its international students”.

How do campus visa cancellations impact students?

Hafsa Kanjwal, an associate professor at Lafayette College, a liberal arts college in Pennsylvania, says there is a large amount of fear and uncertainty on college campuses for both students and faculty. People are having to reevaluate their travel plans because of the country’s restrictions on their entry.

“Some students and faculty don’t have a place to ‘ go back ‘ to, given the political turmoil in their respective places of origin”, she told Al Jazeera. “They are in the minority,” according to the statement from some colleges and universities, who are taking more proactive measures. It seems most campuses have not really provided reassurances to international students and faculty to address their concerns, especially around what kinds of accommodations will be made for them to address these changing developments”.

International students are afraid, according to another faculty member, a naturalized citizen at a state college, who wished to remain anonymous in order to avoid any issues that might arise from his speaking freely.

Many of them – even those who have not staked out political positions publicly – are deleting their social media profiles and are terrified that some small mistake, anything they posted or said, might get them abducted and deported, ruining their education, he said.

I can recall having a green card and playing politics. We understood that as long as we remained within the bounds of the law, we had the right to express our opinions and engage in politics”, he recalled.

He said, “I actively participated in [protests against] both the Afghanistan and Iraq wars and I publicly opposed war on terror initiatives like drone strikes.” “What the Trump administration wants to do is communicate to immigrants and international students that their rights here are in fact privileges and contingent on them staying in line, and more broadly they want to shut down pathways to immigration by targeting green card holders.

They want to discipline universities and make them crack down on liberal and left-leaning content in classrooms, he added, adding that they also see universities and colleges as bastions of liberal and left-wing politics.

Which students and graduates have been affected?

30 yr old Mahmoud Khalil

• Date of arrest: March 8

• Algerian-Palestinian nationality

• University: Columbia graduate

• Holder of a green card legally in the US

• How was he arrested? Mahmoud Khalil, a recent graduate from Columbia University who served as the group’s lead negotiator during the campus protests last year, was taken into custody by ICE agents last month. He was taken from his university-owned New York City apartment while his US citizen wife, Noor Abdalla, who is pregnant, recorded the arrest on her phone. Under the Trump administration, this was the first of its kind to be publicly known student deportation effort.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, Tricia McLaughlin, alleged Khalil” led activities aligned to Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation”, but no evidence for this was provided. Abdalla claimed that the agents conducted the arrest without a warrant. Khalil was transferred to an ICE processing facility in Jena, Louisiana.

Khalil was a permanent resident with a green card at the time of his arrest. When the ICE agents were told that Khalil had a green card, they said this would be revoked.

• Charges: It is unknown whether he has been charged with a crime.

However, Rubio posted the link to a news article about Khalil’s arrest, captioning it:” We will be revoking the visas and/or green cards of Hamas supporters in America so they can be deported. “Khalil’s case has drawn a lot of attention because rights activists accuse the administration of restricting free speech and pro-Palestine activism under the pretext of fighting anti-Semitism,” according to Khalil.

The administration is trying to deport Khalil under a rarely used provision of an immigration law that gives the secretary of state the power to remove any non-citizen whose presence in the US is deemed to have” adverse foreign policy consequences”.

Khalil is being held in Jena, Louisiana’s LaSalle Detention Center.

Rumeysa Ozturk, 30

• March 26 as the date of the arrest

• Nationality: Turkish

• Tufts University as a school

• Legal status in the US: Student visa

• How did she get arrested? Security camera footage shows six individuals in plainclothes taking Ozturk into custody in late March near her apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts. Some of these police officers had their faces partially covered. Ozturk had headed out alone to meet her friends for Iftar, the evening meal to break her Ramadan fast.

• Charges: It is unknown whether she has been charged with a crime.

On March 26, 2024, Ozturk co-wrote an opinion piece for her university’s student news website, the Tufts Daily, with four other students. The authors in this article criticized Sunil Kumar, the institute’s president, for rejecting resolutions that the Tufts Community Union Senate had recommended the university “recognize the genocide of the Palestinians” and “recognized the institution’s president.”

Ozturk’s lawyer, Mahsa Khanbabai, filed a petition in a Boston federal court, arguing that Ozturk had been unlawfully detained. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was given the result of US District Judge Indira Talwani’s request to not move Ozturk out of Massachusetts without giving 48-hour notice.

Despite this, Ozturk was moved to Louisiana within a day, according to her lawyer.

Tricia McLaughlin, a representative for the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), stated in an X-post on March 26 that “DHS + ICE investigations discovered Ozturk engaging in activities in support of Hamas, a foreign terrorist organization that relishes the killing of Americans.” “McLaughlin did not specify what these activities were.

As of April 18, Ozturk is a detainee at the South Louisiana ICE Processing Center on the ICE portal.

Badar Khan Suri, 42

• March 17 as the date of arrest

• Nationality: Indian

• Georgetown University Institution

• Legal status in the US: Student visa

• How was he arrested? At his northern Virginian home in the evening, he was detained.

• Charges: It is unknown whether he has been charged with a crime.

Department of Homeland Security Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin attributed Suri’s arrest to his” spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting anti-Semitism”. Suri is a senior advisor to Hamas, she wrote on X: “She has close ties to a known or suspected terrorist.

Suri’s wife, Mapheze Saleh, is a US citizen, she confirmed to Al Jazeera. Saleh was the daughter of a senior Hamas adviser, according to a post on X on February 13. Ahmed Yousef, a former adviser to assassinated Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, confirmed to The New York Times that he is Suri’s father-in-law.

Suri’s deportation was halted by Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles of the Eastern District of Virginia Court on March 20.

According to the ICE website, Suri is currently being held in the Prairieland Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas.

Yunseo Chung, age 21,

• Date of arrest: March 5

• South Korean nationality

• Institution: Barnard, a Columbia-affiliated undergraduate college

Permanent resident status in the US:

• How did she get arrested? Chung was one of the many students detained by police because of their anti-Palestine demonstrations.

• Charges: It is unknown whether she has been charged with a crime.

She has sued the Trump administration in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York to avoid being deported. US district judge Naomi Reice Buchwald halted her deportation.

Momodou Taal, 31

• Nationality: Both The Gambia and the United Kingdom are citizens.

• Institution: Was a doctoral candidate in Africana Studies at Cornell University

• Legal status in the US: Student visa

• Charges: It is unknown whether he has been charged with a crime.

He called on Cornell to stop buying weapons from organizations that sell weapons to Israel last year while organizing pro-Palestine demonstrations. Taal was suspended from Cornell twice last year for his participation in protest activities and encampment. Although he hasn’t been detained, he thinks the US government made an attempt to detain him.

Taal told Al Jazeera that he filed a lawsuit on March 8 alongside two other plaintiffs – a doctoral candidate and a Cornell professor who are both US citizens – after Khalil was arrested, against two Trump executive orders, including the one focused on university campuses.

Unidentified law enforcement appeared on X the morning of March 19 the day after a federal judge set a hearing for Taal’s lawsuit. Taal posted a written statement on the statement on the statement on the day. He added that later in the day, Cornell students saw additional law enforcement cars positioned at different spots near his residence, including on campus.

Taal left the United States on March 14 after his visa was voided.

Alireza Doroudi, 32

• March 25, 2025, as the date of arrest

• Nationality: Iranian

University of Alabama: Institution

• Legal status in the US: Student visa

• How was he arrested?  taken into custody from his residence

• Charges: It is unknown whether he has been charged with a crime.

The Department of Homeland Security stated the student visa was revoked and he was then arrested because he” posed significant national security concerns”.

37-year-old Ranjani Srinivasan

• Nationality: Indian

• University: Columbia

• Legal status in the US: Student visa which has been revoked

• Charges: It is unknown whether she has been charged with a crime.

On March 7, unauthorized immigrants knocked on Srinivasan’s university residence hall apartment, which she had resided in since 2021. The individuals said they planned to put Srinivasan through proceedings to remove her from the US, before eventually leaving.

Srinivasan was suspended from Columbia’s student body on March 9.

By March 11, Srinivasan had flown out of New York to Canada on a visitor visa to stay with her family and friends. Srinivasan had left the US, according to her attorneys’ communication to ICE.

Leqaa Kordia, 21

• March 13, 2025, the date of arrest

• Nationality: Palestinian

• Unknown institution

• Legal status in the US: Overstayed a student visa

• Charges: According to the DHS, Kordia had overstayed her student visa because she “did not show up” in class in 2022. In April 2024 she was arrested for her involvement in protests for Gaza at Columbia University.

Xiaotian Liu, 26

• Nationality: Chinese

• University: Dartmouth College, New Hampshire

• Legal status in the US: Student visa which was revoked

• Charges: There are no known charges.

On April 3, Liu’s college ran a routine check on his legal status and discovered that his student visa had been revoked without notice.

The university informed him that he could not continue earning a doctorate in computer science the following day.

Liu says he has not been charged with any crime and did not take part in any protests.

He brought a lawsuit against the US government and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire, alleging that his visa had been “rejected without any notice and justification.”

On April 9, a federal judge in New Hampshire halted the decision temporarily, saying she would block the Trump administration’s apparent revocation of Liu’s status.

30 year old Mohsen Mahdawi

• Date of arrest: April 14, 2025

• Nationality: Palestinian

• University: Columbia

• Holder of a green card legally in the US

• How was he detained: According to his attorneys, Mohsen Mahdawi was detained on Monday while attending an immigration office interview regarding his citizenship application.

• Charges: It is unknown whether he has been charged with a crime.

Shortly after Mahdawi’s detention, District Judge William Sessions ordered that he must not be taken from the state of Vermont or the US. Along with Khalil, Mahdawi co-founded a Palestinian student organization at Columbia University.

Boss Maresca backs captain James’ Chelsea criticism

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty

Reece James’ criticism of his team-mates is “absolutely” the kind of leadership he expects from the Blues captain, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

James, 25, criticized Chelsea’s “poor performance” in Thursday’s 2-1 defeat by Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.

Although the Blues managed to reach the Europa Conference League semifinals 4-2 on aggregate, James claimed their performance had shown “disrespect” of the competition.

Maresca remarked, “Absolutely, absolutely, yes,” when asked if James displayed his leadership qualities in his remarks. He is one of the captains and is in charge of that.

Because of the initial outcome, we tried to manage the game improperly, I believe he was correct.

He probably is correct in what he said, he said. He sort of leads us into the changing area.

Maresca earlier this year criticized James for his lack of leadership abilities, claiming that he “expected more” from the England right-back in his captaincy.

Maresca continued, “I complained a little bit about how he led me.”

Unwavering support from the Chelsea board

Chelsea made the final four appearances despite being booed off at Stamford Bridge.

On goal difference, the Blues are sixth in the Premier League, trailing only Manchester City, who is fifth.

Maresca claims he still has “unwavering support” from the board and will continue to uphold his principles despite fanfare murmurs in the fanbase.

We are currently playing in the semi-finals of a European competition. So why do we need to “change something” now? Maresca remarked.

“I don’t have any doubts about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and for various reasons,” I believe.

Palmer supported to end the drought for goals.

As the England international failed to score against Legia Warsaw, Cole Palmer’s goal drought reached 15 games.

The 22-year-old scored his final goal against Bournemouth on January 14th, ending 2-2.

Without Palmer and Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, 23, who are both 23 years old, Palmer claims Chelsea can’t finish in the top five this season.

They have already scored goals. They only need to turn a little bit in that particular moment, Palmer said.

In 20 Premier League games, Cole scored 14 goals, so he scored goals. Before the injury, Nicki was the same.

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Louis Tomlinson pictured in passionate kiss with Zara McDermott as ex Sam focuses on work

By in Entertainment News, News

One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has been photographed passionately kissing his new lover Zara McDermott as the pair said their goodbyes following a romantic trip in the United States of America

Zara and Louis’ romance his blossoming(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

Loved-up Louis Tomlinson isn’t holding back on his affection for Zara McDermott as the pair were photographed sharing a passionate kiss as they said goodbye to one another following their trip in the United States.

New photos of the pair bidding farewell to one another in Malibu show their clear chemistry as they kiss and hold hands before Zara, 28, heads to the airport following her romantic trip with the One Direction star, 33. In the photographs, Zara is wearing a blue Rotate Sunday tracksuit top and matching joggers along with a pair of white and green Adidas trainers.

Clearly well rested from her recent trip, Zara is smiling from ear to ear as she makes her way to a black awaiting car parked outside their Air BnB holiday rental she shared with Louis for the trip in Malibu. Clearly comfortable in Louis’ company she went makeup-free for the occasion as her blonde locks tumbled down her back as she sported a pair of glasses with a bold black trip and a pair of small gold hoop earrings.

READ MORE: Smiling Sam Thompson breaks cover after Zara McDermott and Louis Tomlinson debut romance

Zara and Louis are pictured sharing a passionate kiss
Zara and Louis are pictured sharing a passionate kiss(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

She holds hands with Louis as she makes her way to the car before the pair engage in a passionate kiss, which sees Louis tightly holding onto Zara’s designer jumper as they locked lips to say goodbye. Louis wore a navy blue hooded top and a pair of black tracksuit bottoms with a white trim going down the side.

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Louis wore black socks as he stepped onto the driveway to say goodbye to his new belle, who’s romance was ‘soft launched’ while they were in the US together last week. Clearly on cloud nine Louis is seen holding out his hand to Zara, who is walking ahead of him, before she grasps his hand and the pair share a smooch.

Body language expert Judi James gave her verdict on the photos and the couple’s blossoming love, exclusively telling the Mirror: “This is a sweet, intense-looking public kiss and the signals from Louis’s body language suggest feelings of longing and regret as he kisses Zara goodbye in Malibu.

The new lovers have been spending time together in the United States of America
The new lovers have been spending time together in the United States of America(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

“His head is straight as he leans in and he seems to grip her arm tightly as though reluctant to let her go and keen to leave a trace of the strength of his emotions to stay with her. He’s run out in his socks to plant this kiss and his angle of lean and his closed eyes suggests he means it.

“Zara though is showing a slightly cooler response. Her head arches away slightly and instead of tilting her head to make the kiss a little more passionate and sensual she keeps her own head upright. Her response to his almost desperate-looking grasp of her sleeve is to keep her hand with her phone in it held away here.”

The One Direction star is seen holding his hand out to Zara
The One Direction star is seen holding his hand out to Zara(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

The pair, who’s romance was first revealed when they were spotted on a cosy date in Suffolk in March, have been spending time together in the US in recent weeks. They shared matching photos from a Stereophonics concert and Zara ‘soft launched’ their romance on Instagram when she posted a photo of her breakfast, featuring a view of Louis’ tattooed arm in the background of the photo.

Earlier this week, after Zara and Louis were snapped holding hands together in the United States, the Love Island star’s ex-boyfriend Sam Thompson’s best mate Pete Wicks reacted to Zara’s new romance.

Speaking on KISS Breakfast, where he and Olivia Attwood took over from Perri Kiely and Jordan Banjo for the week, Pete said: “I know them, I have a sight connection there and you know, I’m happy, I’m happy for them…

Zara clearly looks on cloud nine
Zara clearly looks on cloud nine(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

“That’s amazing, I’ve seen the pictures they’re walking through a car park, really romantic… I’m really struggling not to say anything but it is good gossip. I might tell you some more off air…”

Meanwhile, back in the UK, Sam was pictured throwing himself into work filming with ITV daytime show, This Morning. The I’m A Celebrity winner, who split from Zara in December, is in Bunny, Nottinghamshire, this morning and is clearly in his element as he takes on presenting duties for the Friday morning stint of the daytime show.

He has been challenged with attempting to break a Guinness World Record on today’s show, as he’s tasked with putting as many bunny ears on people as possible. The attempt is being filmed for the ITV daytime show, hosted by Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond.

While working on the show, Sam posted a photo of himself with the public in Bunny as he gushed: “Back home @thismorning” followed by a red heart emoji.

Zara and Louis hold hands before saying goodbye
Zara and Louis hold hands before saying goodbye(Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

Sam has stayed silent on the news of his ex’s new beau, but has been reported to be dipping his toe in the dating pool himself. In March a source revealed Sam is dating again after accepting the end of his and Zara’s romance “a long time ago”.

A source told the Mirror: “Sam has been making jokes about his life since the break up, and that’s not really something you’d be doing if you were experiencing total heartbreak. Of course they were sad, but they sort of accepted it a long time ago.”

Singer Louis and Zara's chemistry is palpable
Singer Louis and Zara’s chemistry is palpable (Image: Diggzy/Jesal / BACKGRID)

They added: “He has been going out and having fun again, he’s not dating anyone but he’s been on dates. He’s been around the Chelsea lot and hanging out with Pete [Wicks] a lot. He’s really enjoying himself at the moment but doesn’t want to be tied down.”

Recently, Sam has been linked to Too Hot To Handle star Lucy Syed after the pair were spotted at Chelsea nightclub The Rex Rooms last month. A source has since claimed the pair have been exchanging messages on Instagram since their cosy nightclub appearance. As the claims of his new romance came to light, Sam shared a cryptic post on his Instagram stories, sharing a photo of himself smiling before he gushed: “What a day” followed by a smiling face and red love heart emojis.

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Zara's ex Sam Thompson has been focussing on work
Zara’s ex Sam Thompson has been focussing on work(Image: Jonny McGrady / SWNS)

Sam and Zara first started dating in May 2019, with Sam telling OK! magazine Zara made the first move. Trouble hit paradise for the pair early on as it was revealed Zara cheated on Sam while on The X Factor: Celebrity and the pair split briefly. Zara was seen grovelling in viral Made In Chelsea scenes as she begged for Sam to forgive her – he refused to at first but eventually decided to move past Zara’s cheating and the pair reunited.

Marks and Spencer’s ‘fabulous’ polka dot mini skirt is bang on trend and a summer must-have

By in Entertainment News, News

The Polka Dot Mini A-Line Skirt from M&amp, S is so popular that customers are requesting it in more colors and designs.

We may receive commission from sales of the products or services we write through affiliate links in this article. more information

M&S Collection’s Polka Dot Mini A-Line Skirt is high ‘in demand’(Image: Marks and Spencer)

Our fashion team is ready for polka dots to truly shine in 2025. While Nobody’s Child’s polka dot Felicity dress and others made headlines earlier this year when they launched, Marks and Spencer has been making waves with its polka dot options, including a black and white mini skirt that has only just arrived at Marks and Spencer and has seriously swooned shoppers. They claim it will sell out quickly because of its “lovely quality” and “beautiful” style.

The Polka Dot Mini A-Line Skirt, which costs $ 39.50, has oversized black dots adorning an ivory background and is still available in all available sizes, despite being referred to as a “seller.” The flattering A-line silhouette of the skirt makes it a must-have summer wardrobe item that can be worn on both smart and more casual outings.

Its concealed zip and button-back make it wearable and fashionable, and it works well with sandals, trainers, a graphic tee, and court shoes, as well as a blouse when you mean business.

Read more: Top-rated teeth whitening strips currently 30% off in ‘cheaper than Amazon’ Easter sale

Read more: Sol de Janeiro fans get a free Brazilian Bum Bum cream with ‘incredible’ new summer sprays

A a new addition to the brand’s M&S Collection, the skirt has only received two reviews on the website—but their content prove the skirt is already a hit.

One satisfied customer rated the skirt 5 stars, claiming it to be of high quality, soft crepe skirt. With a kitten heel or flat sandals in the evening, it’s ideal for the day. I went up one size to get a bit longer and lower on the hips. Although it is definitely short, I am 5’10”, and there is a slight A-line. The black halterneck top I tried it with looked fantastic. Highly recommend, and anticipate selling out quickly!

The M&S Collection polka dot mini skirt is still available in sizes 6-22
The M&S Collection polka dot mini skirt is still available in sizes 6-22(Image: Marks and Spencer)
Polka dots are a popular trend for spring and summer 2025
Polka dots are a popular trend for spring and summer 2025(Image: Marks and Spencer)

After one raved, “Thank goodness for all these horrible long/midi skirts and tent-like dresses,” one pleaded, “Please release more of this kind of skirt and perhaps with pockets like previous ones, more colors, but this length.”

There’s no chance that your underwear will be seen because the skirt has a lining. Keep in mind when getting it because the mini length is about 18 inches in the M&amp, S’s size guide to make sure it fits you the right way.

The skirt, in our opinion, will be popular during the summer months and will make a good summer wardrobe staple with no negative reviews coming in at this time. Because it is made of 100% polyester, the only thing that we notice is a slight inconvenience is the lack of stretch, so check the size chart before buying to ensure the best fit.

Continue reading the article.

If M&amp, S’s polka dot style doesn’t make you smile, mini skirts are a cult favorite for the summer months. The Linen Blend Mini Slip Skirt has a slight slit for ease of movement, and its $ 29.50 Pure Cotton Frayed Seam Mini Skirt has a frayed hemline and seam detail for an interesting look. Its linen makeup is ideal in the heat.

Blue Origin ‘crew’ issues furious responses after space flight with Katy Perry backlash

By in Entertainment News, News

The Celeb stars behind the Blue Origin mission, led by angry Gayle King and Lauren Sanchez, have made a quick move to defend their journey.

It’s been just four days since the New Shepard NS-31 mission on April 14, and the lucky celebrity astronauts are already well aware of criticism aimed against them. The spacegoers hosted a press conference after the flight – and in many cases only made critics angrier with their righteous justification of the trip.

In the special invite-only mission – hosted by Jeff Bezos’ aerospace company Blue Origin – the all-female crew took a rocket to space in a journey lasting only 11 minutes, but thought to have cost millions. Bezos’ partner Lauren Sanchez was the person to fill the limited seats, and opted to bring pop star Katy Perry, CBS News journalist Gayle King, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and civil rights activist Amanda Nguyen for her intergalactic tour.

The highly-publicised celeb trip to the stars naturally incited plenty of criticism, with many people pointing out how the money could be used to help those suffering on solid ground. Speaking after the flight, the celebs blasted any idea that their trip was morally wrong – and said that no one had a right to criticise them unless they’d been to space themselves.

Countless critics have slammed this week’s Blue Origin mission as ‘wasteful’ considering how the money could have been spent on fixing issues down on Earth(Image: BLUE ORIGIN/AFP via Getty Images)

Gayle King – who previously called critics of the journey ‘sexist’ – offered one of the most controversial comments in defence of the trip, asking critics during an interview with Extra: “Have y’all been to space? Have you been to space?

Continue reading the article.

Go to space, or go to Blue Origin, and observe how they behave before returning and saying, “This is a terrible thing. Costs it? Yes. However, one of the things they’re trying to do is that it shouldn’t be that expensive if there are enough people interested.

King reacted in a second blatantly titled, “This is what bothers me, because I’ve certainly read some of the things online – coming from people I know, I like, and I consider friends!”

Lauren Sanchez, Kerianne Flynn, Amanda Nguyen, Katy Perry, Gayle King and Aisha Bowe
The spacegoers of the New Shepard NS-31 mission admitted they were well aware of the backlash against them(Image: Blue Origin)

She later stated, “Your space activities are attempting to improve things here on Earth.” The goal of Blue Origin is to find a way to make our planet cleaner by placing the waste there.

King responded to the official press conference with a similarly passionate defense of the star-studded journey by saying, “I feel anyone that’s criticizing doesn’t really understand what’s happening here.

Sanchez quickly accepted the microphone, who re-entered Bezos’ website despite the cost and exclusivity of doing so. She says, “I get really excited about this because I would love to have them visit Blue Origin.”

Jeff Bezos, Kerianne Flynn, Katy Perry, Lauren Sanchez, Aisha Bowe, Gayle King, Amanda Nguyen, Sarah Knights, director of Blue Origin's astronaut office, and Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp
Celeb astronauts said that people wouldn’t ‘understand’ the flight unless they visited space or Blue Origin themselves – seemingly unaware that most don’t have millions to spare for a ticket(Image: AP)

“See the thousands of employees who put their heart and soul into this vehicle instead of just working here.” Rocket scientists, engineers, and anyone else involved. They are passionate about both their work and their mission. And since it’s such a big deal for them, I simply say, “Truth me, come with me, and I’ll show you what it’s about” whenever I hear comments like that. And it’s incredibly eye-opening.”

While King and Sanchez’s solution to the backlash seems to be getting us all spending millions on going to space despite the current economic crisis, Katy Perry is said to be having some regrets behind the scenes. A source said: “Katy doesn’t regret going to space . It was life changing. What she does regret is making a public spectacle out of it.”

Continue reading the article.

The star led the charge in making media-friendly moments out of the trip, including talking off her plans to make space “glam” and “put the ‘a**’ in astronaut,” alongside stealing the show by singing at zero gravity and linking her upcoming tour to the trip, but now wishes she’d kept her head down a little bit more.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, fans made it clear that the celeb crew had missed the mark with their statements after the journey. “Have you been? To space? Lady people can’t afford homes ON EARTH!” one person summarised.

Big summer if Liverpool keep team together – Slot

By in News, Sports News
Images courtesy of Getty
Mandeep Sanghera
journalist for BBC Sport
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Arne Slot argued that Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is still “not done” and that keeping his Liverpool team together would be a “big summer” for the club.

Due to the summer expiration of Alexander Arnold’s contract, the Reds have signed captain Virgil van Dijk and leading scorer Mohamed Salah on new two-year deals.

According to Slot, “It’s already a big summer.” Can we hold on to them now that it was a big thing? ‘.

Let’s see what the rest of the summer will bring, and by holding on for two more days, it’s already a big summer.

“I’ve said it for a year, so we’re happy with the team we have,” I said, which is strange. If we can even keep that team, it would already be a big summer.

Let’s see what the future holds, said head coach Slot when asked about Alexander-Arnold’s situation.

Real Madrid, who have endured a troubling week, are looking for the England defender.

After only about five weeks with an ankle injury, Alexander-Arnold might miss Liverpool’s league game against Leicester City on Sunday.

Slot defended his position that he would not discuss players’ contractual arrangements, but the Dutchman praised the 26-year-old’s character and attitude.

As long as things aren’t finished yet and they aren’t, “we don’t talk about this thing [contracts],” said Slot. “That’s why we don’t talk about his situation in public,” he said.

When asked if he thought Alexander-Arnold saw his potential with the Reds, Slot replied, “Trent is recovering from an injury and trained with us yesterday. He shows his commitment whenever he participates in our activities.

He has already put in a lot of effort to be back, and when he is on the field, he demonstrates to me how great a football player he is and how committed he is to helping us achieve our goals this year.

He has put in a lot of effort throughout the entire season, and he is now recovering.

Everyone who has watched football for the past five, six, or seven years knows that Liverpool is an incredible full-back, has played an incredible full-back for this club, and we’ll see what the future holds for the club.

If Liverpool beat Leicester, which is 13 points clear of the Premier League, and second-placed Arsenal lose to Ipswich earlier on Sunday, leaving them with a 20th title.

In Slot’s first season since replacing Jurgen Klopp, who had only signed forward Federico Chiesa for the 2024-2005 campaign, they appear to be champions.

As long as the members of the team are performing as best as they can together, “I think the core,” Slot said.

Van Dijk is “having a big influence” at Liverpool.

Van Dijk said he had not “worked with a player like him in terms of leadership,” and that he had committed his future to Liverpool after Salah had done so with his Dutch counterpart.

I’m delighted that both have gotten longer. “Virgil has been a great personality and player for us defensively, offensively, and around the dressing room,” Slot said.

I haven’t worked with a player like him in terms of leadership because of the leader he is in and around the training center. He constantly inspires his team, especially the younger ones, and he shows how professional he is in every training session. At this club, he is having a significant impact.

Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Club World Cup, and EFL Cup twice since signing for £75 million from Southampton in January 2018.

When asked how long the 33-year-old Netherlands international might play at the highest level, Slot believes that remaining uninjured will be a factor in that decision.

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