Oliver Holmes

Exam-related unrest has spread across India, Portugal and Mexico amid suspected paper leaks, cheating, marking failures and intense pressure for academic success in a difficult job market. India experienced the largest crisis after a leaked examination paper affected millions of students, was linked to student suicides and contributed to the education minister’s resignation. Portugal faced protests after a failed attempt to digitize exam marking produced serious errors, while Mexico’s National Autonomous University required about 58,000 applicants to retake an entrance exam after unusually high scores raised cheating concerns. Experts Sarah Eaton and Thomas Lancaster argue that generative AI and other communication technologies have made cheating easier, while poorly designed mass assessments and inadequate educator training have weakened trust. Schools are responding with AI bans, AI-literacy programs and measures such as oral defenses of written work, but the article argues that education systems need more human-centered ways to assess learning.

Financial disclosures show Donald Trump earned more than $2.2bn in 2025, including nearly $1.2bn from crypto ventures boosted by policies he implemented after returning to office. The filings detail extensive stock purchases across hundreds of companies and a global network of business interests that raise concerns about conflicts of interest, particularly a $500m investment from a UAE-linked firm in the Trump family crypto company. Trump also continues to receive pension payments from entertainment industry unions despite serving as president.

Financial disclosures show Donald Trump earned more than $2.2bn in 2025, driven largely by crypto ventures that surpassed his traditional property income and raised conflict-of-interest concerns. Revenue came from new digital token projects, Trump-branded merchandise and international real estate deals involving countries with ongoing negotiations with the US. The Qatari royal family's gift of a new Air Force One added further scrutiny. Critics, including Gavin Newsom, accused Trump of enriching himself while supporters faced losses in crypto markets. The White House denied any conflicts, asserting that all actions served the national interest.

A UN commission of inquiry concluded that Israel has continued committing genocide in Gaza by deliberately targeting Palestinian children, noting that about 30% of those killed by Israeli forces are minors. The findings cite intentional attacks using high‑payload munitions in densely populated areas, collective targeting based on assumptions of association with armed groups, and conditions such as displacement, starvation and blocked aid that severely harm children’s survival and development. The inquiry also reports widespread mistreatment, torture and increased settler violence against Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank. Israel rejected the report, while rights groups and legal scholars are referenced as supporting the assessment of genocidal intent.

A Spanish judge ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial on multiple corruption charges and barred her from leaving the country, prompting strong criticism from the government and police unions. The ruling follows a complaint from far-right-linked group Manos Limpias and includes requirements such as surrendering her passport and reporting to court regularly. Sánchez and the Socialist Party denounced the case as politically motivated, while police unions reacted angrily to the judge’s suggestion that officers might help her flee. The judiciary’s oversight body is considering disciplinary action against the judge. The case adds to a series of investigations involving Sánchez’s family and former allies, including former prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, all of whom deny wrongdoing.

An Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon fatally injured marine conservationist Mona Khalil, renowned for her decades-long work protecting sea turtle nesting sites at her Orange House Project near Tyre. Her assistant was injured but is recovering. Khalil’s conservation efforts, which faced challenges from local opposition and repeated Israeli military actions, earned widespread respect and inspired environmental groups, which issued statements mourning her death and condemning the strike. Her legacy in marine protection and environmental advocacy continues to be celebrated.

The war between the US, Israel and Iran has caused thousands of deaths, extensive destruction across Iran and Lebanon, and significant regional displacement. Global economic fallout includes reduced growth forecasts, rising inflation, severe shocks to businesses, and major disruptions to the oil market following the closure of the strait of Hormuz. Jet fuel prices have doubled, supply chains have been blocked, and millions worldwide face higher living costs. Energy and fertiliser shortages threaten food security, and international bodies warn that tens of millions could fall into poverty. While defence and energy firms profit, governments face long-term economic burdens amid deep uncertainty.

Israel and Iran resumed direct attacks despite an April ceasefire, following Israeli strikes on Beirut that Tehran declared a violation of the truce. The conflict began when Donald Trump partnered with the Israeli military to launch a war on Iran in February, triggering regional instability and an economic shock after Iran restricted passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Key ceasefire issues remain unresolved, including maritime access, restrictions on Israeli military actions, Iran’s nuclear programme and sanctions relief. Lebanon remains central to the conflict as Israel continues military operations there and Hezbollah rejects a separate US-brokered truce. Negotiations continue, but tensions threaten broader peace efforts.

A Nepali Sherpa guide, Dawa Sherpa, was found alive near Everest base camp nearly a week after disappearing in the mountain’s death zone, prompting his family to halt funeral rituals already under way. Rescued with frostbite but in stable condition, he was transported to a hospital in Kathmandu. Climbers and Sherpa community leaders described his survival under severe conditions as miraculous. The incident occurred during a record‑busy climbing season marked by hazardous weather, congestion and several fatalities, renewing criticism of overcrowding on the world’s highest peak.

A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius expedition cruise ship resulted in three deaths and several additional cases, prompting Cape Verde to keep the vessel offshore while evacuations and medical assessments continued. WHO experts indicated infections likely began during wildlife excursions, with limited potential human transmission. A British passenger remains in intensive care in Johannesburg, and two crew members face severe respiratory issues. The ship plans to head to the Canary Islands for full investigation and disinfection as Oceanwide Expeditions implements its highest‑level response protocols amid ongoing uncertainty for passengers and crew.

Sri Lankan authorities arrested 22 Buddhist monks after customs officials discovered 110 kilograms of high‑grade cannabis concealed in their luggage upon returning from a trip to Bangkok. The seizure, the largest of its kind at Colombo’s main airport, led to the monks being handed over to police and presented before a magistrate. A 23rd monk accused of organising the trip was also detained. Officials reported that the group attempted to hide several kilograms of the drug within false compartments in their bags. The case follows a similar incident last year involving a British traveller arrested with a large quantity of the same drug.

China and the United States are accelerating their crewed lunar programs, each aiming for a landing before 2030, with China potentially holding an advantage due to long-term planning, consistent funding and rapid technological progress. NASA, working with private contractors such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, faces budget constraints and political shifts, while China’s space agency advances steadily with new probes, landers and crewed-mission hardware. The outcome of the next phase of lunar exploration may hinge on sustained activity rather than who lands first, with broader implications for geopolitical influence, scientific cooperation and rule-setting on the moon.

Iranian forces seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz as US and Iranian blockades deepened, stalling prospects for renewed peace negotiations. Iranian officials said reopening the waterway was impossible due to ceasefire violations by the US and Israel. The escalating standoff has strained global supply chains, causing fuel shortages in Asia and economic pressures in Europe. Attempts at mediation, including planned talks in Pakistan, failed to materialize. The conflict has expanded regionally, with continued Israeli strikes in Lebanon and retaliatory actions by Hezbollah, while thousands of seafarers remain stranded amid the waterway’s closure.

Players in Arc Raiders frequently choose cooperation over combat, forming spontaneous alliances, talking openly through proximity chat and even holding in‑game social gatherings. Developers at Embark Studios were surprised by how often players avoid violence, prompting interest from psychologists and criminologists. Roughly one‑fifth of players never attack others, with many preferring teamwork against the game’s AI enemies, especially large threats such as the Matriarch, which often triggers immediate collective action. The cooperative trend raises design challenges, as teamwork makes difficult encounters easier, but also highlights how players seek connection in a time of widespread loneliness. Executives suggest the game has unintentionally become a space for brief, low‑stakes human interaction that blends tension, collaboration and hope amid its post‑apocalyptic setting.

The United States announced a naval blockade targeting vessels entering or leaving Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz after ceasefire talks collapsed, contradicting Donald Trump’s broader initial threat to block all shipping. The tightened control aims to counter Iran’s effective closure of the strategic waterway, which has triggered a global economic crisis and sharply increased oil prices. Allies offered limited support, and Iran warned that any enforcement attempts would violate the ceasefire. Analysts say the blockade’s effectiveness depends on its execution and Tehran’s response, with potential risks to regional stability and further pressure on global energy markets.