By The Associated Press

In the morning of April 29, 1975, a massive evacuation exercise began in Saigon, which ended almost 24 hours later. About 6,500 people had been airlifted by the end of the exercise, including nearly 900 Americans. Hours later, on April 30, Saigon fell, and with it came the end of the Vietnam War.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

FILE- U.S. Navy personnel aboard the USS Blue Ridge push a helicopter into the sea off the coast of Vietnam in order to make room for more evacuation flights from Saigon, Tuesday, April 29, 1975. The helicopter had carried Vietnamese fleeing Saigon as North Vietnamese forces closed in on the capital. (AP Photo/jt, File)
FILE- Last Viet evacuees by boat from Saigon water front in Saigon as PRG troops closing in on April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/Matt Franjola, File)
FILE- A weeping South Vietnamese mother and her three children are shown on the deck of this amphibious command ship being plucked out of Saigon by U.S. Marine helicopters in Vietnam, April 29, 1975. (AP Photo/J.T. Wolkerstorfer, File)
FILE- U.S. Marines disembark from a CH-53 “Jolly Green Giant” to restore order and restrain crowds at the gates of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon during the final evacuation on April 29, 1975. (AP Photo/Frances Starner, File)
FILE- A Provisional Revolutionary Government (PRG) tank enters the gates of the Presidential Palace in Saigon on May 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Frances Starner, File)
FILE – In this April 30, 1975 file photo, South Vietnamese civilians try to scale the walls of the U.S. embassy in Saigon in an attempt to get aboard evacuation flights. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich, File)
FILE- A U.S. Marine helicopter takes off from helipad on top of the American Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/Phu, File)
FILE – In this Monday, April 28, 1975 file photo, South Vietnamese troops and western TV newsmen run for cover as a North Vietnamese mortar round explodes on Newport Bridge on the outskirts of Saigon. (AP Photo/Hoanh, File)
FILE- Refugees fleeing the advance of communist forces pour into Saigon April 28, 1975, arriving in jammed vehicles and on foot from rural districts north of the capital. (AP Photo/H. Hung, File)
FILE- South Vietnamese troops and civilians retreat along Route 15 east of Saigon on Monday, April 28, 1975 past barbed wire they had erected to protect the area. But now they are fleeing the advancing communists. (AP Photo/Matt Franjola, File)
In this April 29, 1975 file photo, mobs of Vietnamese people scale the wall of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, Vietnam, trying to get to the helicopter pickup zone, just before the end of the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Neal Ulevich, file)
FILE – In this Sunday, April 27, 1975 file photo, a cross from a church in Saigon stands against the dawn sky after a rocket attack and ensuing fire. (AP Photo/Matt Franjola, File)
FILE- Victorious North Vietnamese troops ride a tank down Rue Catinat in Saigon while South Vietnamese civilians look on, April 30, 1975, as the capital of South Vietnam fell to communist forces, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy, File)
FILE- U.S. Marines hit the deck of the USS Blue Ridge to dodge flying metal from a South Vietnamese helicopter that crashed on the deck of the ship, April 29, 1975. One pilot had dropped his helicopter on the blade of another that had just landed, and chunks of metal ripped through the air. The top helicopter, with its load of women and children, nearly toppled into the sea, but they were rescued and there were no injuries. (AP Photo/J.T. Wolkerstorfer, File)
File- Victorious North Vietnamese troops aboard a tank take a position outside Independence Palace in Saigon, April 30, 1975, the day the South Vietnamese government surrendered, ending the Vietnam War. Communist flags fly from the palace and the tank. (AP Photo/Yves Billy, File)
FILE- The last three staffers in The Associated Press’ Saigon bureau, reporters Matt Franjola, left, Peter Arnett, rear, and George Esper, second from right, are joined by two North Vietnamese soldiers and a member of the Viet Cong on the day the government of South Vietnam surrendered, April 30, 1975. One of the soldiers is showing Esper the route of his final advance into the city. (AP Photo/Sarah Errington, File)
FILE- As victorious North Vietnamese troops ride past on a tank, defeated South Vietnamese troops discard their uniforms in Saigon, April 30, 1975, the day the South Vietnamese capital fell to communist forces, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy, File)
File- A U.S. Marine helicopter lifts off from the landing pad atop the U.S. Embassy during the evacuation of Saigon Wednesday, April 30, 1975. (AP Photo/Phu, File)
FILE- A communist fighter carrying a rocket-propelled grenade passes comrades on the steps of the National Assembly (Parliament) building in Saigon on April 30, 1975, as South Vietnam surrendered to North Vietnam, ending the Vietnam War. (AP Photo/Yves Billy, File)
FILE- Tank of the PRG is driven through Saigon’s Tong Nhut Street on May 1, 1975. (AP Photo/Frances Starner, File)
Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975 (page 1 of 3). (AP Photo/Corporate Archives)
Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975 (page 2 of 3). (AP Photo/Corporate Archives)
Associated Press wirecopy story by Peter Arnett and George Esper on the fall of Saigon, April 29, 1975 (page 3 of 3). (AP Photo/Corporate Archives)

By COLLIN BINKLEY

WASHINGTON (AP) — Harvard University is promising to review its academic offerings and admissions policies in response to a pair of internal reports on antisemitism and anti-Arab prejudice at the Ivy League campus commissioned in the aftermath of last spring’s pro-Palestinian protests.

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Harvard released the reports on Tuesday while the university simultaneously battles the Trump administration over demands to limit campus activism — reforms the government says are necessary to root out campus antisemitism. The administration has frozen $2.2 billion in federal funding and Harvard responded with a lawsuit in a clash that is being watched closely across higher education.

In a campus message, Harvard President Alan Garber said Harvard has made “necessary changes and essential progress” over the last year but promised further action.

“We will redouble our efforts to ensure that the University is a place where ideas are welcomed, entertained and contested in the spirit of seeking truth,” Garber wrote.

Garber convened two panels to study campus antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias last year, with an initial round of recommendations released last June. The final reports total more than 500 pages and include dozens of recommended changes.

Harvard said it will begin implementing at least some of the recommendations, with potential updates to admissions, hiring and discipline systems.

In a list of “actions and commitments,” Harvard said it will review admissions processes to make sure applicants are evaluated based on their ability to “engage constructively with different perspectives, show empathy and participate in civil discourse.”

It pointed to a recently added application question asking students about a time they strongly disagreed with someone. The antisemitism task force called for that kind of questioning, saying Harvard should reject anyone with a history of bias and look unfavorably on “exhibitions of hostility, derision or dismissiveness.”

Still, it appears to fall short of the Trump administration’s demands around admissions, which called on Harvard to end all preferences “based on race, color, national origin, or proxies thereof” and implement “merit-based” policies by August. The Supreme Court has rejected the use of race in college admissions, but many colleges look at factors including students’ family income and geography to bring a diverse class to campus.

Responding to complaints that Harvard’s instruction had become too politicized and anti-Israel, the university said it will work to hold professors to new standards of “excellence.” Deans will make sure faculty promote intellectual openness and refrain from endorsing political positions “that may cause students to feel pressure to demonstrate allegiance,” the university said.

Courses and curriculum will also be reviewed to reflect those standards.

Other changes include required antisemitism training for students and staff, along with expanded academic offerings on Hebrew, Judaic, Arab and Islamic studies. Harvard will put money toward a research project on antisemitism along with a historical overview on Muslims, Arabs and Palestinians at the university.

In his message, Garber said Harvard will accelerate a campus-wide effort to promote viewpoint diversity, though he didn’t elaborate. Viewpoint diversity is among the top concerns of the White House, which demanded that Harvard hire an external auditor to make sure the student body and every academic department represent diverse views.

Harvard is the first university to openly defy the Trump administration as it uses its hold on colleges’ federal funding to press its political agenda.

The administration has argued that universities did not do enough to check antisemitism at campus protests last year. Garber has said Harvard will not bend to the demands, calling it a threat to academic freedom and the autonomy of all universities.

The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

By REBECCA BOONE

A federal judge in California has barred Border Patrol agents from arresting someone suspected of living in the U.S. illegally unless they have a warrant or a reason to believe the person might flee before a warrant can be obtained.

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Tuesday’s ruling from U.S. District Judge Jennifer L. Thurston also says Border Patrol agents can’t stop people without having reasonable suspicion or return them to their countries of origin via “voluntary departure” unless that person is informed of their rights and agrees to leave. The ruling only applies to people within the court’s Eastern District of California, Thurston said, where dozens of people were swept up in January after the Border Patrol launched an immigration enforcement action dubbed “Operation Return to Sender.”

The American Civil Liberties Union sued Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Border Patrol officials on behalf of the labor union United Farm Workers and people who were targeted during the Border Patrol raids.

The ACLU said border patrol agents spent nearly a week unconstitutionally detaining people who “appeared to be farmworkers or day laborers, regardless of their actual immigration status or individual circumstances.” The detainees were bussed to the border, held without any way to contact family or attorneys, and coerced into signing papers that said they had waived their right to see an immigration judge and voluntarily agreed to leave the country, the ACLU said.

FILE – Border Patrol agents wait for the arrival of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for a visit to the US-Mexico border in Sunland Park, N.M., Feb. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Leighton, FIle)

“The evidence before the Court is that Border Patrol agents under DHS authority engaged in conduct that violated well-established constitutional rights,” Thurston wrote. She said the Border Patrol would have to provide a report showing exactly who is detained or arrested without warrants, and why, every 60 days until the lawsuit is concluded.

Attorneys for the Border Patrol had argued the judge lacked jurisdiction to consider the case, because federal law says that immigration matters can generally only be appealed once an immigration judge has issued a final order. Besides, the government’s attorneys said, the lawsuit is moot because the U.S. Border Patrol has already issued new guidance and training to its agents detailing exactly when people may be stopped or arrested without warrants, and what rights detainees have after their arrest.

But Thurston said the Border Patrol can’t claim the lawsuit is moot simply because it issued a new policy after it was sued. The language in the new policy isn’t strong enough to guard against the illegal stops, Thurston said, and there is no reason to believe that the policy wouldn’t be changed again in the future.

By Holly D. Johnson, Bankrate.com

The hotel industry is competitive, which is part of the reason hotel brands launch loyalty programs to lure in and reward frequent travelers. But there’s another tool hotel brands use to steal business travelers and jet-setters from other brands, and it’s known as a status match.

If you frequently stay with one hotel brand, and you have elite status to show for it, you’re probably busy enjoying hotel benefits like room upgrades, early check-in, late checkout and lounge access. But what happens if you want to change your preferred hotel brand?

Hotel status match programs can help you enjoy elite benefits with other hotel loyalty programs for a limited time, or even in perpetuity if you switch programs.

What is a status match?

Status match is a tool that hotel loyalty programs use to snag frequent travelers from competing hotel chains. Essentially, these programs let elite members from another brand qualify for top-tier perks that they would normally have to earn through paid hotel stays or having a co-branded hotel credit card.

Whereas some status matches are offered automatically to those who sign up, others are offered in the form of a status “challenge.” When the latter applies, customers typically need to complete a specific number of paid stays or reach a specific spending threshold with the new hotel brand in order to qualify.

Which hotels offer status matches?

Here’s a rundown of which hotel brands are offering status matches right now.

Hilton Honors

Hilton Honors members who have not applied for a status match in the past and are a Silver tier or lower can apply for this benefit. Essentially, frequent travelers need to submit proof of elite status with another hotel brand upfront, at which point they’ll be upgraded to Hilton Gold status for 90 days. At that point, guests can do one of the following:

—Stay at least eight nights with Hilton within the 90-day trial period to keep Gold status through March 31, 2027.

—Stay an additional six nights (14 total nights) within the 90-day trial period to upgrade to Diamond status through March 31, 2027.

Also, be aware that several Hilton credit cards provide automatic elite status just for signing up. Some options to consider include:

—Hilton Honors American Express Card (comes with automatic Silver status)

—Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card (comes with automatic Gold status)

—Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card* (comes with automatic Diamond status)

—The Platinum Card® from American Express (comes with automatic Hilton Gold status)

—The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (comes with automatic Hilton Gold status)

Marriott Bonvoy

At the moment, the Marriott Bonvoy program does not have an official status match offer you can apply for. However, the brand has an unpublished status challenge that you can call and request. The details include:

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—Stay eight nights within three months of enrollment to get Marriott Bonvoy Gold status.

—Stay 16 nights within three months of enrollment to get Marriott Bonvoy Platinum status.

If you meet the requirements, you keep the status for the remainder of the current year, plus all of the following membership year. Unlike a status match, you don’t need existing status to apply. Note that only paid stays count, and you can’t request a challenge if you already have elite status with Marriott.

To enroll, call Marriott and request a status challenge. Because this is an “unofficial” offering, be sure to take note of any requirements you get from the representative.

There are also co-branded Marriott credit cards that offer automatic elite status. Consider the following cards if you want to get automatic elite status and earn rewards for your spending:

—Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card* (comes with automatic Silver Elite status)

—Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card* (comes with automatic Silver Elite status)

—Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express® Card (comes with automatic Gold Elite status)

—Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card (comes with automatic Platinum Elite status)

—Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card (comes with automatic Gold Elite status)

—The Platinum Card from American Express (comes with automatic Marriott Gold Elite status)

—The Business Platinum Card from American Express (comes with automatic Marriott Gold Elite status)

World of Hyatt

The World of Hyatt program doesn’t offer a status match program at the moment, and it has not had a public offer for status matches in the past. However, you can get automatic World of Hyatt elite status by signing up for the right World of Hyatt credit card:

—The World of Hyatt Credit Card* (comes with automatic Discoverist status for as long as the account stays open)

—The World of Hyatt Business Credit Card* (comes with automatic Discoverist status for the cardholder and up to five employees)

IHG One Rewards

IHG One Rewards is another hotel brand that is not offering a public status match challenge at the moment. It’s been quite a while since one was available. However, you can still get automatic elite hotel status with an eligible credit card:

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—IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card* (comes with automatic Platinum Elite status)

—IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card* (comes with automatic Silver Elite status)

—IHG One Rewards Premier Business Credit Card* (comes with automatic Platinum Elite status)

Keep in mind: If you have the New United Club℠ Card*, you can enroll for IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status.

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards offers the chance to match your status as of the time of publication. To qualify, you’ll send in proof of your existing hotel elite status with the chance to maintain a corresponding status level if you complete a minimum number of paid stays with the hotel brand within 90 days.

The new status you receive depends on the status you have. For example, Gold Elite status or higher with Marriott Bonvoy translates to Diamond status with Wyndham Rewards.

You can also get automatic Wyndham Rewards elite status with the following rewards credit cards:

—Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card* (comes with automatic Gold status)

—Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card* (comes with automatic Platinum status)

—Wyndham Rewards Earner® Business Card* (comes with automatic Diamond status)

This is one of the easiest status matches to get, so if you have any Wyndham stays coming up, you might want to enroll.

Choice Privileges

Choice Privileges currently offers a status match. You can apply for a status match by submitting proof of elite status with another hotel brand. You’ll email your full name, Choice Privileges member number and proof of status (such as a screenshot that shows your elite hotel status) to Status_Match@choicehotels.com.

Within 30 days, you’ll automatically become an elite member with Choice Privileges. You’ll then be eligible for elite perks like bonus points on paid stays and a welcome gift at eligible properties in the U.S. and Canada.

Details are scant about how the match works, but there are three potential status tiers: Gold, Platinum and Diamond. You’ll likely be matched as closely as possible from your existing elite status.

You can also cut to the chase and get instant elite status with the right credit card:

—Choice Privileges® Mastercard® (comes with automatic Gold Elite status)

—Choice Privileges® Select Mastercard® (comes with automatic Platinum Elite status)

Best Western Rewards

Best Western offers a program called Status Match…No Catch®, which lets you request a status match without much work required on your part.

This program requires you to email StatusMatch@bestwestern.com with your name, contact information, Best Western loyalty number and proof of status in another hotel program.

Best Western says that new elite members will receive status through Dec. 31, 2026.

Should you do a hotel status match?

Using a status match program is a no-brainer if you already have elite status with a particular hotel brand, but you want to try out a new program. After all, most status match programs give you a higher tier of status just for proving your current status, and you may get to enjoy elite status perks for a year or longer.

That said, you can get automatic elite status through a number of top hotel credit cards, which might be even easier. Hotel credit cards even let you earn generous sign-up bonuses and hotel points on all your spending, and many offer a free award night each year (often after your cardmember anniversary). Plus, some of the best travel rewards cards offer hotel status for cardholders.

Mind the timing: It’s best to apply for a status match or challenge shortly before you stay with the new hotel chain. That gives you more time to complete any requirements and enjoy your newly minted status.

The bottom line

Status match programs tend to come and go over time, so you’ll want to frequently check the hotel programs you’re interested in to see which new status match offers have come along. By proving you have elite status and taking steps to have it matched, you can enjoy elite perks and try out a competing hotel brand before fully committing to a new brand.

*Information about the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card from Chase, The World of Hyatt Credit Card, World of Hyatt Business Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Premier Business Card, New United Club℠ Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card, Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card and Wyndham Rewards Earner Business Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

©2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.