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A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s decision to revoke over $2.2bn in research grants to Harvard University, calling the move ideologically driven and a violation of the First Amendment. The court found that claims of addressing campus anti-Semitism were a “smokescreen” for targeting the university.

Harvard had refused to comply with demands to change admissions, disciplinary policies, and diversity programs, arguing the measures threatened academic freedom. Critics said the funding cuts were politically motivated rather than a genuine effort to combat discrimination, according to Al Jazeera.

An overcrowded boat carrying more than 100 people capsized on Tuesday in Niger State, Nigeria, after hitting a submerged tree stump on the Kainji Reservoir. The vessel, which set off from Tungan Sule village for a condolence visit, lost contact shortly after departure and was later found capsized, according to Al Jazeera.

Rescue teams have recovered at least 60 bodies, with others still missing. Survivors said the boat was overloaded, a frequent cause of such disasters. Some victims have already been buried, while several remain in critical condition.

Boat accidents are common in Nigeria’s river communities, especially during the rainy season, Al Jazeera reported.

Hamas has urged the United Nations to intervene as Israel’s assault on Gaza intensifies, leaving dozens dead in a single day and entire families buried under rubble. Gaza City has been hit hardest, with residents describing the destruction as “apocalyptic”, Al Jazeera reported.

The humanitarian crisis is deepening. Aid agencies report famine spreading, with more than 360 Palestinians — including 131 children — already dead from hunger. UNICEF warns over 130,000 young children face severe malnutrition, while nearly a million people risk further displacement.

Hamas says it is ready for a ceasefire and prisoner swap, but Israel demands captives’ release and Hamas’s disarmament before any truce.

Global criticism is growing. Spain’s leader has accused Israel of genocide, Scotland is halting funds to arms firms tied to Israel, and the UAE has warned against annexing the West Bank. Utrecht University in the Netherlands has also launched an academic boycott of Israeli institutions, according to Al Jazeera.

A historic Gloria funicular railway car in Lisbon, Portugal, derailed on Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 18 others, several critically, BBC reported.

The Gloria funicular, a landmark link between downtown and Bairro Alto, came off its tracks and struck a building. Officials suspect a loosened cable, but a formal investigation is underway.

Victims include foreign nationals, though identities have not been released.

The Portuguese government declared a national day of mourning, and Lisbon announced three days of mourning as rescue teams worked to recover and aid passengers, according to BBC.

Florida plans to end all vaccine mandates, including those requiring children to be immunised against polio, measles, and other diseases to attend school, BBC reported.

Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo called the mandates “slavery” and pledged to eliminate “every last one,” though no timeline was given. Some rules may require legislative approval, while others could be repealed by the health department.

The move has drawn criticism from doctors and Democratic lawmakers, who warned it could spark a public health crisis. Currently, Florida requires vaccinations for illnesses like chickenpox, hepatitis B, and mumps.

In response, Democratic-led states including California, Oregon, and Washington formed an alliance to uphold vaccine guidance from national medical organizations, according to BBC.

The United Arab Emirates has strongly warned Israel that any move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank would cross a “red line” and jeopardize the Abraham Accords, Firstpost reported.

UAE envoy Lana Nusseibeh said annexation would betray the spirit of the normalization deal and derail hopes for regional integration. She stressed that the Accords were meant to support Palestinian aspirations, not replace a two-state solution.

According to Firstpost, the warning comes after Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed plans to draw up annexation maps, excluding Palestinian cities but cementing Israeli control. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not clarified his stance, the proposal has already stirred backlash across the Gulf and raised fears of a serious diplomatic rift.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia will keep fighting in Ukraine if no peace deal is reached, stressing he will not give up the Donbas region. Speaking in China, he hinted at a possible settlement “if common sense prevails” but dismissed calls for a ceasefire, according to BBC.

Putin praised US President Donald Trump’s efforts to bring him to the table, including a summit in Alaska, yet refused to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy under current terms. Kyiv has urged Trump to impose tougher sanctions and boost defence aid, highlighting Moscow’s refusal to negotiate.

In Kyiv, UK Defence Secretary John Healey vowed more economic pressure on Moscow and pledged £1bn from seized Russian assets for military aid. France is also gathering Ukraine’s allies to push for US-backed security guarantees. Meanwhile, Russian forces have stepped up attacks, launching hundreds of drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities, BBC reported.

A hot mic at a World War II anniversary parade caught Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping discussing organ transplants and the possibility of extending human life. Putin’s translator was overheard speaking about biotechnology enabling continuous organ replacement and even immortality, while Xi noted predictions that people could live up to 150 years this century, according to Reuters.

The exchange came as the leaders walked alongside North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. Neither Moscow nor Beijing has commented. The parade coincided with a summit where Putin and Xi signed over 20 agreements spanning energy, artificial intelligence, and a new gas pipeline. Xi used the occasion to warn that the world faces a choice between “peace or war.”