03 World

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At least six people were injured following a suspected shooting at a middle school in Turkey. The horror unfolded at Ayser Çelik Middle School in Kahramanmaraş in the south on Wednesday, in what is the second shocking school shooting in just two days.

It has been claimed that a lone attacker came to the school with five guns and seven magazines. Journalist Lokman Başçı has said the unidentified attacker entered a classroom at the school and opened fire, According to multiple publications in Turkey, two classrooms were actually targeted by the suspect, who is now reported to have been killed.

After the first reports emerged, emergency crews and ambulances rushed to the scene as chaos gripped the area. Independent Turkish news website T24 reports that upon arriving on scene, Kahramanmaraş Governor Mükerrem Ünlüer said there had been four fatalities and 20 people injured.

According to local news outlet Haber, one of the deceased was a teacher. An attacker is reoprted to have been apprehended, however their identity has not yet been released.

New material may help aluminium batteries last longer, cost less timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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… A research team led by Kavita Pandey of the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), a Department of Science and Technology (DST) institute in Bengaluru, working in collaboration with researchers from Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence in Greater Noida, has developed a new composite material that makes aluminium batteries more stable and longer-lasting.

“Aluminium batteries have attracted attention because aluminium is widely available, inexpensive, and can store more charge per atom than lithium. But there has been a major hurdle: the materials inside these batteries tend to break down quickly. Over repeated charging, they crack or dissolve into the liquid inside the battery, causing it to lose power,” DST pointed out…

The result is a composite that acts like a support structure, holding the battery material together while also helping electricity and ions move more smoothly.This seemingly simple change made a measurable difference. Tests showed that the new material reduced the amount of vanadium dissolving into the battery liquid by more than four times compared to the original material.

As a result, the battery retained more than 73% of its capacity after 100 charge cycles, and around 59% even after 500 cycles. In comparison, conventional versions degrade much faster. In practical terms, that means a battery that lasts longer and performs more reliably…

 

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Hong Kong hosted the AI and robotics fair where humanoid robots boxed and played music as part of InnoEX 2026 and the Hong Kong Electronics Fair (Spring Edition), which ran from 13 to 16 April 2026 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The innovation-and-technology showcase reflects a broader trend of robots expanding into service and public functions. Unitree unveiled four models with advanced capabilities, including navigation assistance and support in emergencies, with some able to operate fire hoses in hazardous settings.

At the exhibition, robots also performed martial arts style routines and mimicked musical instruments, highlighting their versatility across sectors. Developers say these systems are designed for security, rescue and customer service as well as entertainment.

According to organisers, the fair brought together companies and researchers from across Asia, reflecting strong investment in the sector. Firms including AgiBot, EngineAI, UBTECH and Unitree showcased advanced robots, alongside start-ups and international participants, underlining Hong Kong’s role as a regional hub.

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Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) reported that Wednesday’s attacks killed at least 13 people, just one day after a sit-down between Lebanese and Israeli envoys to the United States.

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Tensions between Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni escalated Tuesday after the U.S. president publicly rebuked one of his closest European allies, accusing her of lacking “courage” and failing to support Washington’s efforts against Iran.

In a phone interview with Italian daily newspaper Corriere della Sera, Trump called Meloni “unacceptable” and said he was “shocked” by her stance, according to the outlet’s English-language version.

The dispute with Trump was further fueled by Meloni’s criticism of his recent remarks targeting Pope Leo XIV, which she called “unacceptable,” prompting Trump to respond that “she is the one who is unacceptable.”

In a scathing rebuke of the Vatican’s call for Middle Eastern de-escalation, President Trump took to Truth Social to blast Pope Leo XIV. Labeling the pontiff “WEAK on Crime” and “terrible for Foreign Policy,” Trump warned him to “focus on being a Great Pope, not a Politician.” The post, which quickly went viral, accused the first American pope of “catering to the Radical Left” at the expense of global security.

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Colombia will euthanize Pablo Escobar’s invasive ‘cocaine hippos’

After attempts at relocation and sterilization have failed, invasive hippos introduced by the infamous drug lord will be culled, the country announced

After two years of failed attempts at relocation and sterilization, Colombia’s government has decided it will euthanize 80 of the at least 169 “cocaine hippos” that were once owned by notorious drug trafficker Pablo Escobar. The decision is triggering divided reactions among scientists and activists.

“Without this action it is impossible to control them,” said Colombia’s environment minister Irene Vélez at a press conference on Monday. Citing estimates that the population could reach at least 500 individuals by 2030, “affecting our ecosystems and native species,” she added that “it is our responsibility to take this action.”

Hungary Turns a New Page warontherocks.com
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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán conceded defeat in a parliamentary election on April 12, ending his 16 years in power, after his Fidesz party lost its majority in parliament. The center-right Tisza party, led by Péter Magyar, won and is projected to have a two-thirds supermajority. Orbán has been a prominent right-wing populist, with close ties to the Trump administration in Washington and warm relations with Moscow.

Magyar campaigned on promises to address corruption, improve the economy, and align more closely with Europe.We asked five experts to assess how the election results will shape Hungary’s role in Europe and its relationships with the European Union, NATO, Russia, the United States, and China.

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An Amazon worker allegedly lay dead in a warehouse for more than an hour as his colleagues were told to carry on with their work, according to a new report. Workers in Amazon’s distribution centre in Troutdale, Oregon, were reportedly discouraged from helping a man dead on the floor in the warehouse, with one employee claiming a manager told them “just turn around and not look. Let’s get back to work”.

An employee, identified under the pseudonym Sam, said he saw a body lying “lifeless” at his workplace but was told by a supervisor to “please get back to work”.

Sam, who is trained in CPR, added that multiple workers wanted to help a woman who ran to the person to perform chest compressions, according to The Western Edge.

An investigation by the outlet alleged Amazon attempted to prevent news of the worker’s death on April 6 from becoming public.

Sam said: “I started sobbing and said, ‘I want to help, please.I know she’s going to get tired and need to be subbed out.”

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Diplomats worked through back channels on Tuesday to arrange a new round of peace talks between the United States and Iran after Washington enacted its blockade of Iranian ports, while Tehran threatened to strike targets across the war-weary region.

US President Donald Trump said a second round of talks could happen “over the next two days,” telling the New York Post the negotiations could be held again in Pakistan’s capital.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres concurred, saying it’s “highly probable” that talks will restart. He cited a meeting he had with Pakistan’s deputy prime minister, Ishaq Dar.

“There is no military solution to this crisis. Peace agreements require persistent engagement and political will. Serious negotiations must resume,” he said.

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On Tuesday’s broadcast of MS NOW’s “The Last Word,” Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) said that the Iranian regime “can, on some level of truth, say, we just took on America and Israel and fought them to a tie, although maybe even more than a tie.” And argued that “anybody in history would know you cannot bomb an adversary into submission.”

Warner said, “Lawrence, we have spent 100,000 sorties against them. We have bombed them. But anybody in history would know you cannot bomb an adversary into submission.”

He added that “in so many ways, 46 days in, America is less strong. And the Iranian regime, which is, by the way, more radical than it was before, can, on some level of truth, say, we just took on America and Israel and fought them to a tie, although maybe even more than a tie. They have ballistic missile capabilities, they have closed the strait, their regime is more radical. And I can just say, as I mentioned earlier, if we were to go after their enriched uranium, it would take 10,000 soldiers guarding a perimeter for days, and then we are going to send our special operators in, and the Iranians could bomb that.”

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The plan, which could see 500,000 people apply, makes Spain an outlier as anti-immigration sentiments fester in Europe.

Spain’s government has approved an amnesty programme that will allow an estimated 500,000 undocumented immigrants to apply for legal status.

The measure, passed on Tuesday by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s administration, will open the way for applications on April 16. The decree makes Spain an outlier in Europe, as well as many other parts of the world, with anti-immigration sentiments festering.

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(LifeSiteNews) — Two “non-binary“ leftist activists in Germany showed homosexual pornography to 14-year-old students during a school project week, according to a new report.

A high school in Schleife, Saxony, hosted a project week for students in the 9th grade (14 to 15 years of age) from March 16 to 20, during which two left-wing radicals were invited to lead the class.

According to a report by Junge Freiheit that caused political shockwaves in Germany, school Principal Jan Rehor sent “non-binary” activists to the class without any supervision. A girl from the class said, “The principal personally brought these people into the classroom and then left us alone with them.”

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Pope Leo has addressed “the arrogant” in another message about war after Donald Trump called him “weak” and refused to apologise.

The message comes amid a growing back and forth between the Pope and Trump, with the US president attacking the pontiff over his criticism of the Iran war, and the Pope responding that he has “no fear” of the Trump administration.

“God’s heart is torn apart by wars, violence, injustice and lies,” the Pope wrote on X today while on his first papal visit to Algeria. “But our Father’s heart is not with the wicked, the arrogant, or the proud. God’s heart is with the little ones and the humble, and with them He builds up His Kingdom of love and peace day by day. Wherever there is love and service, God is there.”

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ISTANBUL: A student aged about 13 opened fire at random in a Turkish school Wednesday (Apr 15) killing four people and wounding 20, just one day after a shooter wounded 16 people and then killed himself in another school, officials said.

Kahramanmaras province governor Mukerrem Unluer said a teacher and three students were killed in the latest attack. The attacker was also dead.

“A student came to school with guns that we believe belonged to his father in his backpack. He entered two classrooms and opened fire randomly, causing injuries and deaths,” Unluer told reporters.

Four of the wounded were in serious condition and undergoing surgery, he said.

The attacker, an eighth-grade student, was the son of a former police officer, Unluer said, adding that the suspect was carrying five guns and seven magazines.

“We suspect he may have taken his father’s weapons,” the governor said.

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EU lawmakers and countries agreed to double tariffs on foreign steel on Monday, to shield the bloc’s struggling industry from a flood of cheap Chinese exports.

European Union governments and parliament representatives reached a late evening deal to hike levies on steel imports to 50 percent and slash the volume allowed in before tariffs apply by 47 percent.

“The shape and global standing of Europe‘s steel sector are fundamental to our strategic autonomy and industrial strength. We therefore cannot afford to turn a blind eye to global overcapacity reaching critical levels,” commented the EU’s trade chief, Maros Sefcovic.

“Today’s outcome helps bring much-needed stability for our producers to thrive in Europe”.

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The strong warning reitrates that China has an energy agreement with Iran and therefore its ships will not be intercepted.

A spokesperson for the Chinese Defense Ministry said: “Chinese ships continue to move in and out of the waters of the Strait of Hormuz.

“We have trade and energy agreements with Iran, which we will respect and abide by.

“We expect others not to interfere in our affairs.

“Iran controls the Strait of Hormuz, and has opened it to us.”

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Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem urged Lebanon on Monday to cancel a planned meeting with Israel in Washington the following day, reiterating his group’s rejection of direct negotiations with Israel.

“We reject negotiations with the usurping Israeli entity…We call for a historic and heroic stance by cancelling this negotiating meeting,” Qassem, whose Iran-backed group has been at war with Israel since 2 March, said in a televised address.

The Lebanese and Israeli ambassadors to the United States are scheduled to meet in Washington on Tuesday to discuss holding direct negotiations between the two countries.

Lebanese authorities have stressed that Beirut first wants to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hezbollah war, but Israel has dismissed that prospect, saying it prefers instead to focus on formal peace talks with Lebanon itself, with which it has technically been at war for decades.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday that “we want the dismantling of Hezbollah’s weapons and we want a real peace agreement that will last for generations.”