French university offers “scientific refugee” spots to US academics; hundreds apply – National & International News – THU 17Apr2025

French university offers “scientific refugee” positions to US-based academics; hundreds apply.

Shooting at FSU campus kills 2, injures 6.

ICJ hears case against UAE for complicity in Sudan genocide.

 

 

Hundreds of academics from top US universities apply to be “scientific refugees” in France

Earlier this year, several European universities and research institutions announced “scientific refugee” programs and invited US-based academics to apply. This was in response to the Trump administration targeting certain fields of research that do not fit with his political agenda. US research institutions and universities have recently been targeted for funding cuts as well as pressure to meet the Trump administration’s ideological demands. 

Aix-Marseille in France announced over 20 fully funded 3-year positions, which would carry through to the end of Trump’s presidential term. In one month, the university received 298 applications, of which 242 were deemed eligible. 

The applicants were from some of the US’ top educational and research institutions, including Johns Hopkins University, Stanford, Yale and Columbia University, as well as researchers from NASA. Most of the eligible applicants were American citizens but there were also dozens of dual nationals as well as several European, Indian and Brazilian nationals

US brain drain?

While these programs are a gesture of solidarity, these European institutions are also capitalizing on the current political climate in the US to attract some of America’s top scientists and academics. 

The US has some of the world’s most prestigious and best-funded educational and research facilities in the world. These institutions have long attracted the greatest minds and the best talent, both from our own shores and from countries all over the world. However, the Trump administration’s imposition of an ideological agenda on academia and science have had a chilling effect. 

The administration’s targeting of foreign students for detention and deportation (often for nothing more than constitutionally-protected speech) will also likely cause many international students to rethink their plans to come and study in the US. 

This is not only an unfortunate development for growing America’s pool of talent, it is also very bad news for universities who depend on their tuition payments. For the most part, foreign students pay full price to attend American universities.

 

Shooting at FSU campus kills 2, injures 6

This afternoon, a gunman opened fire on the Florida State University campus in Tallahassee, killing two people and injuring six who were taken to a local hospital. None of the victims of yet been identified.

The alleged gunman, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, was also taken to hospital after being shot by police. He invoked his right to remain silent.

Ikner is an FSU student and the son of a Leon County sheriff’s deputy. He was also a former member of the sheriff’s office youth advisory council. Authorities say Ikner used his mother’s former service weapon in the shooting. Reports indicate he may also have had a shotgun.

According to CBS, there have been 80 mass shootings in the US so far in 2025, which works out to about five incidents per week. 2024 saw 502 mass shootings, which is just under 10 incidents per week. 

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).

 

ICJ hears case against UAE for complicity in Sudan genocide 

For more than 2 years, a civil war has raged in Sudan between the Sudanese Army (SAF) and a militia called the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The conflict has killed over 150,000 people (by conservative estimates) and displaced millions. Over 25 million Sudanese are also facing famine, making it the world’s largest hunger crisis. Overall, humanitarian organizations have characterized the situation in Sudan as the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. 

While both the SAF and RSF have been accused of war crimes, the RSF has been accused of acts of genocide. Specifically, the RSF has been accused of continual massacres of the Masalit people in western Darfur, as well as the blocking of humanitarian aid and assistance.

UAE “complicity”

Unlike the conflict between Israel and Hamas (in which Israel has also been accused of acts of genocide), Western countries have very little leverage they can use to contain the Sudanese conflict. 

Most of the power rests with regional players including Egypt, which supports the Sudanese Army, and the United Arab Emirates, which is more aligned to the RSF. The UAE has been accused of arming the RSF, though they have denied this accusation. While the UAE is more distant from the conflict than Egypt, it is a major power broker in the region has significant economic and political interests in Sudan.

Hearings at The Hague

The International Court of Justice in the Hague is hearing a case brought by Sudan accusing the UAE of complicity in genocide. Like the case brought against Israel by South Africa in 2024, Sudan is seeking provisional measures from the court to bar the UAE from any further acts that could foster genocide in Sudan. Sudan is also seeking “full reparations” from the UAE for its role in perpetuating the conflict.

Sudan’s acting Justice Minister Muawia Osman told the court last week that the “ongoing genocide would not be possible without the complicity of the UAE, including the shipment of arms to the RSF”. The UAE has been defiant and categorical in its denials of complicity with the RSF. They have accused Sudan of “misusing” the court “as a stage from which to attack the UAE”.

What next?

Despite there being considerable evidence to support Sudan’s assertion that the UAE is arming the RSF, there are potential complications. The UAE does not recognize the authority of the ICJ to settle disputes regarding the UAE’s compliance with the genocide convention. 

This means that even if the court sides with Sudan and orders provisional measures, the UAE is very unlikely to comply, as has been the case when the ICJ imposed provisional measures on Israel. Any action taken by the court will ultimately only serve as a political pressure tool on countries supporting the two warring factions.

Click here for the full story (opens in new tab).