Headlines: 21-30 April 2025

Tuesday, 29 April 2025

International Geneva: Humanitarian funding cuts — the most vulnerable hit hardest (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Trump says 'nothing will stop me' at rally to celebrate 100 days in office (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

— The 45th and 47th president falsely accused the previous administration of engineering massive border invasion and allowing gangs, cartels and terrorists to infiltrate communities. "Democrats have vowed mass invasion and mass migration," he said. "We are delivering mass deportation."

FULL TRANSCRIPT: Trump's exclusive 100 days broadcast interview with ABC News (LINK).

10 key numbers that sum up Trump's first 100 days (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

1. Executive orders: 142. Trump issued his 100th order in late March, surpassing Roosevelt's record of 99 in 100 days./li>
2. Biden orders reversed: over 100.
3. Bills signed into law: 5. He broke George W. Bush's record low of seven in 2001
4. Lawsuits: Over 200.
5. Approval rating: 42%.
6. Pardons: 39, plus hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants.
7. Federal layoffs: Tens of thousands.
8. Immigration: 7,180 March border crossings.
9. Tariffs: average effective rate of 28%.
10. Inflation: 2.4% in March.

UPS to cut 20,000 jobs, close 70 facilities as it reduces amount of Amazon shipments it handles (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Largest U.S. fast-food restaurant chain Subway closes 100s of locations: and others suffering, including burger chain Jack in the Box (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

The US government has a new policy for terminating international students' legal status (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

— In a court filing Monday, it shared the new policy: a document issued over the weekend with guidance on a range of reasons students' status can be canceled, including the revocation of the visas they used to enter the U.S.

FoxNews: DOGE, Treasury discover $334M in improper payment requests due to foul codes (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

FoxNews: DOGE terminates billions in contracts, including $361K for 'gender non-conforming, non-binary' BIPOC farmers (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Ukraine journalist who died in Russian captivity was tortured and had her organs removed, possibly to hide further traces of torture, joint media report says (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Harvard head apologises as scathing reports on campus prejudice released. BBC: The university pledges to review its policies, though the proposals appear to fall short of White House demands (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Canada Election Results: After Liberals' victory, Mark Carney says old relationship with US 'is over' (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre loses seat he held since 2004 — (LINK)

WRS, Switzerland's only 24/7 English-language radio station, risks closure at end of 2025 unless new ownership is found (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Amazon squashes reports that it'll display tariff costs after the White House called it a 'hostile' act (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

— The White House criticized Amazon's reported plan to show how much tariffs are raising prices. The move would be "a hostile and political act," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. But a spokesman said it "was never under consideration" for Amazon's main website.

EU's top court rules Malta's 'golden passport' scheme to be illegal (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Spain's power supply is almost fully restored after one of Europe's most severe blackouts (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Monday, 28 April 2025

President Vladimir Putin announces a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine conflict on 8-11 May, tying it to celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day over Nazi Germany. (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

Canada's Liberals win election overshadowed by Trump's threats (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

68 African migrants killed in US strike on Saada, northwest Yemen, Houthis say (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

— Central Command announced its forces had hit more than 800 targets since President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of the air campaign against the Houthis on 15 March. It said the strikes had "killed hundreds of Houthi fighters and numerous Houthi leaders", including senior officials overseeing missile and drone programmes. Houthi-run authorities have said the strikes have killed dozens of civilians, but they have reported few casualties among the group's members.

The Vatican announced Monday that the conclave to elect Pope Francis's successor will begin on May 7, as the Church enters the final preparatory phase for choosing its 267th pope. (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

ECB favoritism has gone from bad to worse, staff say (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

DOGE targets US foreign aid agency created under first Trump administration: The Development Finance Corporation is viewed as key to countering China (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

Suspect in Vancouver ramming attack during Filipino festival on 26 April charged with eight counts of murder: Investigators ruled out terrorism and said suspect, 30, had a history of mental health issues. 11 killed. (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

100 Palestinians killed in weekend of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza: victims include 22 members of one family (LINK) — ground.news: 149 media reports (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

University of Zurich researchers conduct unauthorized AI experiment on Reddit: The covert study used AI-generated bots to influence opinions on r/changemyview, sparking ethical complaints and calls to withhold publication (LINK) — ground.news: 12 media reports (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

Gold falls 0.8% as easing US-China tensions curb safe-haven demand (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

Trump says Columbus Day will now just be Columbus Day, no longer also Indigenous Peoples Day (since 2021): "I'm bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes" (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Trump broke with presidential tradition to snub Biden for Pope Francis's funeral: did not allow his predecessor to tag along on Air Force One (LINK) — 29 April 2025.

— While on the presidential plane, Trump told reporters he was unaware that ex-President Joe Biden, the nation's second Catholic president after John F. Kennedy, and Former First Lady Jill Biden would be attending the service at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican.

Global military spending reaches $2.7 trillion in record 9.4% 2024 increase: largest rise since the Cold War (LINK) — ground.news: 86 media reports (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

— "Over 100 countries around the world raised their military spending in 2024," SIPRI said. With a 17%  hike, European military spending reached beyond the level recorded at the end of the Cold War.

— Russia's military expenditure reached an estimated $149 billion in 2024, a 38% increase from 2023 and double the level in 2015. This represented 7.1% of Russia's GDP and 19% of all government spending. Ukraine's total military expenditure grew by 2.9 per cent to reach $64.7 billion, which amounts to 43% of Russia's spending. At 34% of GDP, Ukraine had the largest military burden of any country in 2024.

— Germany's spending also increased by 28%, reaching $88.5 billion, overtaking India as the fourth largest in the world.

— Israel's military expenditure surged by 65% to $46.5 billion in 2024. SIPRI noted that this represented "the steepest annual increase since the Six-Day War in 1967". However, in contrast, Iran's fell by 10% to $7.9 billion in 2024.

— The world's second-largest spender, China, increased its military budget by 7.0 % to an estimated $314 billion, "marking three decades of consecutive growth".

— Military spending by the U.S., the world's largest spender, rose by 5.7% to reach $997 billion, which was 66 % of total NATO spending and 37% of world military spending in 2024.

North Korea confirms troop deployment to Russia for first time, several media report (LINK) — ground.news: 223 media reports (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

China and Philippines unfurl competing flags on disputed South China Sea sandbars of Sandy Cay, reviving tensions (LINK) — ground.news: 28 media reports (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

Vaccines and boosters work best in the same arm, and we're just learning why (LINK) — 28 April 2025.

Sunday, 27 April 2025

100 Palestinians killed in weekend of Israeli airstrikes on Gaza: victims include 22 members of one family (LINK) — ground.news: 149 media reports (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Iran's president visits those injured in the port explosion on 26 April at the Shahid Rajaei port outside of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran's Hormozgan province that killed at least 40 people and injured 1,000 (LINK) — ground.news: 16 media reports (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Pakistani troops kill 54 militants attempting to sneak into Pakistan from Afghanistan (LINK) — ground.news: 128 media reports (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

The Swiss franc has soared to a decade high against the dollar as investors rush for shelter from the global trade turmoil, sparking bets that the country's central bank will have to lower interest rates to zero or below to curb the currency's rise. (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Trump says Columbus Day will now just be Columbus Day, no longer also Indigenous Peoples Day (since 2021): "I'm bringing Columbus Day back from the ashes" (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

French government wants to remove or merge a third of the agencies and operators of the State with reorganization plan to be presented by the end of the year (LINK) in French — 27 April 2025.

President Trump says he 'will lead the pack' if military strike on Iranian nuclear sites is necessary but says "I think we're going to make a deal with Iran. Nobody else could do that" (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Trump officials defend deportations involving 3 U.S. citizen children: one child has a rare form of metastatic cancer and was deported without medication or the ability to consult with their treating physicians — despite ICE being notified in advance of the child's urgent medical needs. "The children went with their mothers. Those children are U.S. citizens. They can come back into the United States if there's their father or someone here who wants to assume them," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

New York moves to shutter Tesla dealerships in blow to Musk (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

TRUMP token soars 94.6% in nine days as trading volumes surge (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Trump officials defend deportations involving 3 U.S. citizen children: one child has a rare form of metastatic cancer and was deported without medication or the ability to consult with their treating physicians — despite ICE being notified in advance of the child's urgent medical needs. "The children went with their mothers. Those children are U.S. citizens. They can come back into the United States if there's their father or someone here who wants to assume them," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Russian economy meltdown as 'stubbornly high' inflation persists and oil prices plummet (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

— The country's central bank kept its interest rate at 21% on Friday (April 25), pointing to the threat "escalating trade tensions" pose to further raising inflation. At 21%, it is the highest rate since the early 2000s, though the central bank said "current inflationary pressures" continue to decline despite "remaining high", according to Reuters. Russia's central bank forecasts inflation of 7.0 to 8.0% this year and predicts it will return to its 4.0% target in 2026. The Kremlin forecasts economic growth of 2.5% this year but Russia's central bank expects growth of 1% to 2%, with economic activity having slowed in the first three months of this year compared with Q4 in 2024.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar to pay Syria's outstanding World Bank debt of $15 million (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Doctors want you to stop consuming artificial sugar erythritol: could raise the risk of heart attack and stroke (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Scientists raise red flag after making disturbing discovery while studying fish: 'Significant abnormalities' from presence of polystyrene microplastics in one of Asia's most important species of freshwater fish Labeo rohita, or Rohu (LINK) — 27 April 2025.

Saturday, 26 April 2025

Trump and Zelenskyy hold 'very productive' ceasefire talks at Vatican (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

The Vatican overturned protocol to ensure that Volodymyr Zelensky was given a front-row seat at the funeral of Pope Francis, along with Donald Trump and Emmanuel Macron. (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

— Zelensky "was given a spontaneous round of applause as he took his seat in St Peter's Square after briefly meeting Mr Trump for their first talks since their Oval Office bust-up."

Reason Prince William and Trump didn't wear black at Pope's funeral: they are not Roman Catholics? (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Russia detains "Ukrainian special services agent" as suspect in car bomb attack that killed general (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Eight killed, at least 750 people injured after massive explosion in Iranian port of Bandar Abbas in southwest, with the government saying the blast was likely linked to chemicals being stored (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Vancouver police say several people have been killed and multiple others injured after a vehicle drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

ICE, Florida officials arrest over 750 in 4-day operation: acting head of ICE said this was the first-of-its-kind agreement (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

— The operation, dubbed "Operation Tidal Wave" uses ICE's 287(g) authority, which allows for state and local law enforcement agencies to be deputized and to arrest those in the U.S. illegally. State and local agencies allow for ICE to be in jails and on task forces, according to the agency.

President Donald Trump and his allies have raked in nearly $900,000 in trading fees over the past two days from the president's $TRUMP cryptocurrency token, according to Chainalysis, a blockchain data company. The surge came after a Wednesday announcement in which the top 220 holders of the token were promised dinner with the president (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Bitcoin custody: SEC Commissioner calls for crucial allowance for State Trust Companies (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

TRUMP skyrockets another 20% (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Melania Trump's meme coin project sells $5.41 million in $MELANIA tokens in nine days, raising total proceeds to over $18 million (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Swiss National Bank Says No to Bitcoin Reserves (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Switzerland's crypto regulation faces heat as Bitcoin reserve strategy sparks debate (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Tesla and BYD have joined forces to establish sustainable practices that bring about environmental cleanliness by setting aside their traditional industry competition, according to Stella Li, BYD's executive vice president during an interview with the Financial Times. (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

European Commission's case against Malta's golden passport's scheme to be decided next week (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Maltese passports were sold to Russians who were later sanctioned over Ukraine war — Financial Times — (LINK)

— Scheme was introduced in 2014 as Individual Investor Programme, with the ultra-wealthy being able to buy Maltese citizenship for something around the range of €1 million, together with property commitments.

Kennedy Center's LGBTQ+ Pride events canceled (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

White House journalists use annual press dinner to celebrate First Amendment: The stripped-down festivities at the White House Correspondents' Association's annual dinner were a reflection of the somber tone in Washington. There was no president. There was no comedian (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Once bubbly, the White House Correspondents dinner goes flat: The typically festive affair has turned somber and tentative (LINK).

DC police charge undocumented migrant with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem's purse theft from restaurant (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Former British PM Gordon Brown makes criminal complaint against Rupert Murdoch's media empire: claims media executive Will Lewis attempted to incriminate him (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

Friday, 25 April 2025

UNU EHS report recommends 'deep change' theory to address global crises (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— Report identifies five "deep changes" that need to happen. These are premised on the "Theory of Deep Change" (ToDC), a problem-solving approach that digs deeper to reveal the problem's underlying root causes, the structures facilitating it, and the assumptions giving rise to and sustaining such systems.

— e.g. solar geoengineering, or ways to physically reduce sunlight from reaching Earth in order to slow global warming.

1. Rethinking waste and shifting to a circular economy
2. Realigning with nature: learn to coexist with nature instead of controlling natural processes
3. Reconsidering responsibility by transitioning from individualism to collective global accountability
4. Reimagining the future and not shifting the responsibility of dealing with impacts, such as the risk of nuclear waste, to future generations
5. Redefining value by considering alternative metrics for valuing global prosperity instead of wealth or GDP: prioritize well-being and ecology over economic growth.

Report: Interconnected Disaster Risks: Turning Over a New Leaf — (LINK)

WFP runs out of food in Gaza two months after Israel's total blockade (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— The agency says it delivered its final food stocks to kitchens in Gaza on Friday, and the kitchens are expected to deplete their supplies in the coming days.

Houthi rebels have shot down 7 U.S. Reaper drones worth $200 million in recent weeks (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Russian general killed in car bomb near Moscow as Trump envoy meets Putin in Moscow for Ukraine peace talks (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Trump insists China called, and trade deals are weeks away: Time interview on 100 days in office: China denies call, Trump claims he's already made "200 deals" by unilaterally imposing tariffs (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Trump: We're well on our way to Iran deal (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth's chief of staff is ousted at the Pentagon, the fourth top official to be fired or reassigned in the last week amid political turmoil at the Pentagon (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— Joe Kasper, who worked in the first Trump administration, had previously been chief of staff to Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr. Hunter had been convicted of misusing campaign funds and was later pardoned by Trump.

DOGE pillages another federal agency in the dead of night: Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum just handed over the reins to DOGE staffer Tyler Hassen. (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— Daily Kos: Hassen, who had a long career as an oil executive, is now able to issue policy directives, make funding decisions, and transfer funds. He's also in charge of the "consolidation" of technology, communications, financial management, contracting, and human resources—thinly veiled code for "trash the divisions and fire everyone". Hassan is also reviewing every grant over $50,000 with fellow DOGE denizen Matt Luby, who requested access to the department's grant system.

— "Hassen was never confirmed by the Senate, but now he's in charge of a federal agency while still working for DOGE, which isn't an official government entity. It's the very definition of an unelected, unaccountable bureaucrat."

FBI arrests Wisconsin judge for obstruction of ICE agents (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

'It is illegal': Judge furious as 2-year-old U.S. citizen with cancer deported along with two other children and their undocumented mothers (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— The ACLU said that both families were held incommunicado following their arrests, and that ICE agents refused or failed to respond to efforts by attorneys and relatives who were trying to contact them.

Pam Bondi revokes Biden-era DOJ policy against subpoenaing journalists: said she wants to "identify and punish the source of improper leaks." (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

FoxNews: Judge temporarily blocks Trump order ending collective bargaining rights for most federal workers (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Trump backs down in legal fight over cancelling international students' status records (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

ICE is reversing the termination of legal status for international students around the US (LINK).

— The records in a federal student database maintained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement had been terminated in recent weeks. Judges across the U.S. had already issued orders temporarily restoring students' records in dozens of lawsuits challenging the terminations. More than 1,200 students nationwide suddenly lost their legal status or had visas revoked, leaving them at risk for deportation. Many said they had only minor infractions on their record or did not know why they were targeted. Some left the country while others have gone into hiding or stopped going to class.

Traders offloading TRUMP holdings after dinner announcement: the TRUMP memecoin had seen more than $869 million in outflows in the last seven days compared to roughly $96 million in inflows. "It's clear that more people took the opportunity to offload their Trump tokens than new buyers came in." (LINK) — 26 April 2025.

U.S. DOJ giving migrants 'no less than 12 hours' to indicate they intend to contest AEA removal (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

ACLU: ICE deports 3 U.S. citizen children held incommunicado: one child with cancer deported without medication and pregnant mother deported as well (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

DOGE slashes disability and aging services (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— The Trump administration is poised to eliminate dozens of federal programmes, including protective services for vulnerable seniors, chronic disease self-management education, resource centers for people who have been paralyzed or lost a limb and one that tries to help older people prevent falls. Even a more modest federal initiative aimed at making polling places more accessible would be eliminated under the proposal.

Ex-Taliban commander pleads guilty in killings of US soldiers and kidnapping of journalists: Haji Najibullah was previously charged in 2020 with kidnapping David Rohde, a former Reuters correspondent. (LINK) — ground.news: 30 media reports (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Virginia Giuffre, who stood up for victims of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, dies by suicide, 41, at her farm in Western Australia (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

— "In the end, the toll of abuse [was] so heavy that it became unbearable for Virginia to handle its weight." — (LINK)

Gabon's constitutional court confirms Oligui Nguema's victory in presidential election (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

World's tallest abandoned skyscraper resumes construction: nearly 600m-tall Goldin Finance 117 in the Chinese port city of Tianjin was paused in 2015 because of financial difficulties. (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Switzerland unveils world's first operational solar railway project near Buttes in the canton of Neuchâtel (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

20 Things not to do in Switzerland (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

World's first 'splashless' urinal keeps the floor clean and your pants pee-free: Scientists at the University of Waterloo, Camada, designed the Nautilus which works for users of almost any height and reduces splashback by 98%. Switching North America over to Nautilus-style urinals could save up to 10 million litres of water per day. (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

10 things French people really eat every day (and it's not what you'd expect) (LINK) — 25 April 2025.

Thursday, 24 April 2025

Top Russian diplomat Lavrov says the Kremlin is "ready to reach a deal" to end Ukraine war (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump says he is 'not happy' with deadly Russian strikes on Kyiv: "Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!" (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— Overnight strikes killed at least eight people and injured 77 more, local officials have said.

Zelensky cuts short South Africa visit after eight people were killed and dozens injured in a Russian overnight attack on Kyiv: says the US can put more pressure on Russia to secure a ceasefire (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Russia launches deadliest strikes on Kyiv since last summer, as Trump accuses Zelensky of harming peace talks (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump signs executive order boosting deep-sea mining industry (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— "The broad order avoids a direct confrontation with the UN-backed International Seabed Authority and seeks essentially to jumpstart the mining of US waters as part of a push to offset China's sweeping control of the critical minerals industry."

Trump executive order makes firing of probationary federal workers easier (LINK) — ground.news: 7 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Rubio eliminates office that oversees climate talks: The Office of Global Change was notified Thursday that it would be shuttered. (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

ICE confirms additional deportations of refugees to Bhutan though not citizens: Nepali Supreme Court allows men to go back to refugee camps. (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump's D.C. prosecutor threatens wikipedia's tax-exempt status, accusing foundation of "allowing foreign actors to manipulate information and spread propaganda to the American public" (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— The letter is unusual, since investigations into charities and their tax-exempt status are typically handled by the IRS.

Gold futures rebound as hopes fade for U.S.-China trade resolution (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Pakistan cancels visas for Indian nationals, suspends trade, closes airspace after Kashmir attack kills 26 (LINK) — ground.news: 17 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump executive order makes firing of probationary federal workers easier (LINK) — ground.news: ?? media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump-appointed National Science Foundation Director resigns "over budget and staff cuts", report (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— "Although [...] Panch didn't give a reason for his sudden departure, orders from the White House to accept a 55% cut to the agency's $9 billion budget next year and fire half its 1700-person staff may have been the final straws in a series of directives Panchanathan felt he could no longer obey."

Brazil ex-President Bolsonaro's health has worsened, says medical note (LINK) — ground.news: 67 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— Former Brazilian leader, 70, has been hospitalised since mid-April, in intensive care recovering from surgery to treat injuries sustained when he was stabbed on the campaign trail seven years ago.

Tanzania arrests 2 senior opposition officials ahead of their party leader's treason trial (LINK) — ground.news: 51 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Palestinians create role for a vice president and possible successor to aging leader Abbas (LINK) — ground.news: 54 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Defense chief Pete Hegseth reportedly had unsecured office internet line set up to bypass official security protocols to connect to Signal on personal computer (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

IMF chief urges US to strike trade deals swiftly to limit damage to global economy: "without certainty, businesses do not invest, households prefer to save rather than to spend — and this further weakens prospects for already weakened growth." (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Trump signs executive order boosting deep-sea mining industry (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

— "The broad order avoids a direct confrontation with the UN-backed International Seabed Authority and seeks essentially to jumpstart the mining of US waters as part of a push to offset China's sweeping control of the critical minerals industry."

Namibia's new president announces free university education starting in 2026 (LINK) — ground.news: 18 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Fewer Swiss holidaymakers travel to Trump's US: -34% on year in March, -20% on quarter 1 (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

China to allow overseas investors access to more sectors (LINK) — ground.news: 19 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

World Economic Forum appoints two new members to its Board of Trustees: Muriel Pénicaud and Mark Schneider (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

South Korea says Chinese AI startup DeepSeek transferred user data to China and the U.S. without consent (LINK) — ground.news: 38 media reports (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

A thorium reactor in the middle of the desert has rewritten the rules of nuclear power: move over, uranium. Get out of here, water. Thorium and salt are the new MVPs of nuclear power. (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

From Alps to lake: A wine lover's guide to Lavaux (LINK) — 24 April 2025.

Wednesday, 23 April 2025

Iran agrees to let in team to discuss restoring nuclear monitoring, IAEA boss says (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

Trump signs orders cracking down on diversity and inclusion at US universities: Actions attack funding and accreditation but also seek to increase affordability and retention at Black colleges (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

High-profile Ukraine peace talks collapse after Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff pull out (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

The European Union has fined Apple and Meta a combined €700 million ($797 million) in the first enforcement of its landmark digital competition law. (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

Magnitude 6.2 earthquake shakes Istanbul, injuring over 230 but no immediate reports of serious damage (LINK) — ground.news: 457 media reports (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

84% of the world's coral reefs hit by worst bleaching event on record (LINK) — 23 April 2025 .

Trump is stripping protections from marine protected areas. Why that's a problem for fishing's future: The single greatest threat to the diversity of life in our oceans over the past 50 years, more than climate change or plastic pollution, has been unsustainable fishing practices. (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, accused of manipulating research data to curry governments favour (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

— Anonymous letter accuses Schwab of altering global rankings to favour governments and fostering a toxic workplace culture. According to the Wall Street Journal, the whistleblower letter was sent to the WEF board last week. It claimed that Schwab had altered the methodology behind the Forum's influential Global Competitiveness Report. The former WEF head admitted that some governments had submitted corrections or updates to data, but denied using the data to manipulate rankings.

— The couple also denied misusing properties, stating that they only hosted Forum-related events at Villa Mundi, a house near their residence where several renovations had been made. In his written statement, he also addressed the accusation that he used WEF staff to campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize. "Contrary to what is insinuated here, I have repeatedly asked people who wanted me not to do it," Schwab argued.

— The whistleblower letter mentioned some issues in the WEF's workplace culture under Schwab's leadership. It referenced instances of unchecked sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviour, all previously reported by WSJ.

— The board ultimately voted unanimously to open an independent investigation after consulting with external legal counsel. "He never had a chance to give his side of the story to the board or the audit committee," his spokesman asserted. As a gesture of goodwill, Schwab supposedly forfeited a pension worth five million Swiss francs.

WSJ: The World Economic Forum (WEF) is investigating its founder, Klaus Schwab and his wife on accusations of using WEF funds for personal expenses (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

— Schwab and his wife are accused of using WEF funds for private luxury trips and allegedly using a Geneva property bought by the WEF for their exclusive private use. According to the report, Schwab denies the allegations and has announced he will take legal action against those making the claims.

— The WEF told the news agency Reuters that it takes the allegations seriously, but they haven't been proven yet. The organisation will wait for the investigation's results before making any further comments.

Dominican Republic deports dozens of Haitian pregnant women and children in hospital crackdown (LINK) — 23 April 2025.

Room Mate Hotels adds Geneva to its European luxury hospitality offer with the acquisition of the 104-room Hotel Marmont (LINK) — 23 April 2025.