Texas University bans pro-Palestine chants including “From the river to the sea”
San Antonio: The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is under fire after prohibiting pro-Palestine student protesters from using certain phrases, including chants in Arabic. The university’s president has been named as a defendant in a lawsuit filed by pro-Palestinian students, who argue that the ban on the phrase “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” violates their right to free speech.
The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has intervened, reminding the university of its duty to protect students’ expression under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which safeguards free speech. According to FIRE, the university recently restricted student protesters from using the words “Zionism,” “Israel,” the chant “from the river to the sea,” and speaking in Arabic, citing the need to combat anti-Semitism.
The decision has sparked significant backlash, with critics arguing that it infringes on the students' rights to express their political views.
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Himanta resigns as Assam CM, paving way for formation of new govt
Guwahati (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday resigned along with his cabinet colleagues, paving the way for formation of a new government led by the BJP, officials said.
The BJP-led NDA bagged 102 seats in the 126-member assembly. The assembly elections were held in a single phase on April 9, and counting of votes took place on May 4.
"Following the formal notification of the results of #AssamElections2026 and to enable the formation of the new government, Dr @himantabiswa tendered his resignation as Chief Minister along with that of the council of Ministers to Hon'ble Governor Shri @Laxmanacharya54 today at Lok Bhawan," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X.
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The Governor has accepted the resignation, and requested Sarma to continue as the caretaker CM till the new government assumes office, it said.
Later, speaking to reporters outside the Lok Bhawan, Sarma said the oath-taking ceremony is likely to take place after May 11.
“As it was a historic win, we have invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to grace the occasion," he said.
The new Assam chief minister will be selected at a meeting of the BJP legislature party in presence of central observers, Sarma said.
