India, April 15 -- Harvard University refused to accept a deal with the Trump administration to tackle perceived antisemitism, saying it will not "negotiate over its independence or its constitutional rights." The US government has threatened to halt almost $9 billion in funding if the university refuses to implement its demands.

The oldest and richest US university is the latest target in a series of actions against campuses at elite universities, which were roiled by pro-Palestinian student protests after the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel. The demands also aim to influence university policies with Trump's political agenda, AP reported.

The Trump administration has demanded broad government and leadership reforms, "merit-base...