Author: News Desk

Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, accusing it of overreach in attempting to control the university’s academic decisions by threatening federal funding. The legal action follows the administration’s move to review nearly $9 billion in federal support after Harvard declined a list of demands, including the appointment of an outside overseer to ensure ‘diverse’ viewpoints in curriculum and policy decisions. Harvard is specifically aiming to stop an immediate freeze on $2.2 billion in grants. Harvard President Alan Garber stated that no government, regardless of political party, should have authority over what private universities teach,…

Wales, England: Wales is testing an innovative augmented reality (AR) therapy app aimed at supporting teenagers dealing with anxiety and school attendance. Developed with the help of Cardiff Youth Service, part of Cardiff Council’s education department, the mobile AR app is designed to reduce social isolation and enhance emotional wellbeing. How this app works? The app, which is being piloted in schools across Cardiff and Swansea, is the result of support sessions with youth in South Wales valleys. It was created by counsellor Angela McMillan, who was inspired by students facing anxiety and school avoidance. The interactive experience allows users…

Rome, Italy: Pope Francis has died at the age of 88, the Vatican has announced on Monday, April 21, 2025. Cardinal Kevin Farrell delivered the official statement, revealing that the pontiff passed away at 7:35 am. Farrell said that, “His entire life was dedicated to the service of the Lord and His Church,” commending his example of gospel values, courage, and compassion, especially toward the poorest and most marginalized. Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires in 1936, Francis became the first South American pope and the 266th Bishop of Rome in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI’s historic resignation. https://youtu.be/YVtjQGWHoE4…

Jaipur, India: Fourteen-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi has etched his name into the history by becoming the youngest player to feature in the Indian Premier League (IPL), making a sensational debut for the Rajasthan Royals during their narrow two-run loss to the Lucknow Super Giants. Opening the batting, Suryavanshi immediately made headlines by launching India international cricketer Shardul Thakur for six off the very first ball he faced. The left-handed prodigy followed up with another six on his third delivery and struck three boundaries during his impressive 34-run knock off just 20 balls. His aggressive stroke play, particularly strong down the ground,…

Kazakhstan: American astronaut Donald Roy Pettit (Don Pettit), NASA’s oldest active astronaut, has returned to Earth on his 70th birthday after completing a 220-day mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Pettit arrived alongside Russian crewmates Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft, which made a parachute-assisted landing in Kazakhstan’s steppe at 06:20 local time (01:20 GMT) on Sunday, 20th of April. According to NASA, the trio orbited the Earth 3,520 times during the mission. This marks Pettit’s fourth spaceflight and brings his total time spent in space to 590 days. While Pettit is now the oldest…

Tunis: A court in Tunisia has sentenced 40 senior politicians, lawyers, and business figures, many in absentia to long prison terms on charges of conspiracy against state security and belonging to a terrorist group. The trial has drawn international concern, with human rights groups describing it as an attempt to suppress political dissent. Among those sentenced are key leaders of the National Salvation Front, the country’s main opposition coalition, including Professor Issam Chebbi and Jawhar Ben Mbarek, who received 18-year sentences. Businessman and activist Kamel Eltaief was handed the harshest penalty, 66 years in prison. Many defendants had fled Tunisia…

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump’s White House has launched a new COVID-19 website, as part of a broader effort to revisit the pandemic’s handling. The website blames the origin of the coronavirus on a laboratory leak in China and delivers pointed criticism at Democratic former President Joe Biden, former top US health official Dr. Anthony Fauci, and the World Health Organization (WHO). The site also expresses opposition to key public health policies implemented during the pandemic, denouncing measures such as social distancing, mask mandates, and lockdowns. Trump, who took office in January, initiated a 12-month process to withdraw the…

Kyiv, Ukraine:  Ukraine’s government has signed a Memorandum of Intent with the United States, outlining potential minerals deal that could pave the way for deeper economic cooperation and post-war reconstruction support. The announcement was made by Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, who described the agreement as a precursor to an Economic Partnership Agreement. The proposed deal would include the creation of an investment fund aimed at rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy. Svyrydenko shared the news with a post on X, accompanied by photos showing her and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent signing the document separately. Svyrydenko wrote that, “We are…

Weymouth, UK: SeaCURE, a groundbreaking pilot project to capture carbon from seawater, has begun operating on England’s south coast. Funded by the UK government, the initiative is part of broader efforts to explore innovative technologies to combat climate change. While reducing greenhouse gas emissions is the priority for scientists, many agree that capturing some of the gases already released is crucial. SeaCURE aims to test the efficiency of removing carbon from seawater, where concentrations are much higher than in the atmosphere. How this works? Located in Weymouth, the facility pulls seawater into the project through a pipe that extends under…

Hong Kong: In response to what it calls ‘unreasonable and bullying’ tariff measures by Washington, Hong Kong Post has suspended its sea mail services for goods bound for the United States and announced plans to halt air mail containing goods starting April 27, 2025. In an official statement, Hong Kong Post warned senders to prepare for ‘exorbitant and unreasonable fees’ when mailing goods to the US and firmly stated that it ‘definitely’ will not collect any such tariffs on behalf of the United States. The suspension affects only parcels containing goods, while regular postal items such as documents, remain unaffected.…