‘Gesture’ before talks: US, Lebanon ask Israel to stop attacks
Devastation in Lebanon (file photo)
The Lebanese government and Donald Trump’s administration have asked Israel to halt its attacks on Hezbollah ahead of direct Israel-Lebanon talks next week, according to sources familiar with the matter.Axios’ sources said the request is not for a formal ceasefire but for a “gesture” that would allow negotiations to begin in a less hostile environment. The move comes as Israeli attacks in Lebanon remain a major point of tension in broader regional diplomacy involving the US and Iran.
US officials said they were supporting the Lebanese request and urged Israel to consider de-escalating tensions. He says that although Lebanon was not formally included under any of the ceasefire frameworks cited by Iran, reducing military activity could help create space for negotiations.However, Israeli officials said there is no ceasefire at the moment. He said Israel was ready to reach a comprehensive agreement with Lebanon but would not negotiate a ceasefire with Hezbollah.According to Axios’ sources, Lebanon has proposed to Israel, through US mediators, to reduce attacks and limit operations to imminent threats, effectively returning to the understanding tied to the November 2024 ceasefire arrangement. It is said that America supports this idea and is pressurizing Israel to accept it. He further claimed that the Israeli side is reviewing the request. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet made a decision, officials have indicated that a brief tactical pause in air strikes has not been ruled out.The development comes ahead of a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors under US auspices in Washington next week, marking the first round of direct talks. Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salaam is also expected to visit Washington for discussions with Foreign Minister Marco Rubio, which could shape the next phase of talks.
Scientists in Australia have discovered a tiny microbe that may reveal the origins of human life. world News
Scientists have discovered an archaea called ‘Asgard’ in the extremely high salinity waters of Australia’s Shark Bay, containing microorganisms that provide a long-standing evolutionary puzzle spanning many centuries – how did simple, single-celled bacteria evolve into such complex multicellular organisms, animals and humans? These unique microorganisms act as an evolutionary link; They carry with them cellular machinery considered unique to complex cells, thus showing us evolutionary transition points in development. The proto-eukaryote, which we now call a ‘living fossil’, represents a specialized early microorganism that could survive and consume other early microorganisms. This led to the formation of the first eukaryotic cell. Without this unique, microscopic ancestor found in the extreme saline basins of Australia, the branch of the evolutionary tree representing humanity would never have evolved.
A microbe found in Australia reveals the mystery of our existence
The identification of Asgard Archaea discovered in Shark Bay microbial mats suggests that these are eukaryotes, or the closest living relatives of eukaryotic organisms in their cells, including humans, according to the study published in Nature. Asgard archaea contain what are called ‘eukaryotic signature proteins’ (ESPs), which provide molecular scaffolding for intracellular architecture. DNA analysis shows that Asgard archaea represent a eukaryotic ancestor, establishing a direct evolutionary lineage between this unicellular organism and modern humans.
How endosymbiosis led to the rise of multicellular life
Research involving Asgard archaea supports the endosymbiotic theory. According to this theory, published in PNAS, endosymbiosis begins with an asgard-like organism ingesting some unrelated bacteria. Instead of digesting these bacteria, the large asgard-like cell and the bacteria existed together as a symbiote. Over a period of millions of years, engulfed bacteria gradually evolved to become what we now refer to as mitochondria – the ‘engines’ of our cells, providing the metabolic boost necessary for evolution to produce multicellular organisms.
How Asgard archaea bridge a two-billion-year gap
The remarkable microbial mats and living stromatolites in Shark Bay may very well be responsible for its World Heritage status and are truly spectacular as they exist in twice as much salt as the open oceans. The ancient environment in which they live resembles the oceans of 2 billion years ago, allowing scientists to see a present-day version of the conditions that gave rise to complex life through the Asgard Archaea that now live in this particular ecological region and are considered the ‘missing link’ because they exhibit evolutionary plasticity.
The hidden complexity of simple microbes
Additionally, Asgard archaea have a unique cytoskeleton compared to standard prokaryotic cells; According to the Journal of Molecular Biology, this enables the cell to change its shape and move, and possibly transport materials internally, which was once thought to be associated with complex forms of life. Thus, they provide evidence that the cellular biomechanics that are essential for complex, environment-dependent life forms existed before the appearance of the first animals.
‘With or without Iran, Strait of Hormuz will open’: Donald Trump ahead of peace talks in Pakistan
us President donald trump Islamabad said on Friday (local time) ahead of ceasefire talks with Tehran that the Strait of Hormuz will open “with or without Iran”.Click here for live updates“I wish them all the best… They (Iran) have been defeated militarily, and now we’re going to open the Gulf, with or without them,” Trump told reporters ahead of talks in the Pakistani capital. He was referring to Vice President JD Vance, who is leading the US delegation and is reportedly opposed to military operations against Iran. .“If it doesn’t, we’ll close it one way or another, it’s going well. (Iran’s) navy and air force are gone, along with all the anti-aircraft systems, leaders and the whole place. The Strait of Hormuz will open on its own… we’ll open it soon,” Trump told reporters ahead of talks in the Pakistani capital.Vance is also accompanied by special envoy Steve Witkoff and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. The Iranian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliamentary Speaker MD Ghalibaf.Trump further said that he will not allow Tehran to do this impose transit fee On ships passing through the strait.He said, “No, we will not allow it, this is international waters. If they are doing this, we will not allow it to happen.”Tehran has virtually blocked the Strait of Hormuz – a vital sea corridor between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman – in retaliation for the US-Israeli attacks on February 28, which sparked the current Middle East conflict.About 20% of the world’s crude oil supply passes through the waterway, underscoring its global strategic importance.Meanwhile, Trump said a backup plan would not be needed if ceasefire discussions fail.The Republican commented, “I’ll have to see what happens tomorrow. They (Iran) have been talking for 47 years with other presidents – and we’re not talking much. We don’t need a backup plan. Their military is defeated, they have very few missiles, very little manufacturing capacity. We’ve hit them hard. Our military has done a wonderful job.” The current 14-day ceasefire is already in danger over Israel continuous attacks in lebanon Despite the ceasefire. The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah joined the war after Iran’s then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on the first day of the conflict.Israel says the ceasefire agreement does not include Lebanon.
‘The whole trip was fantastic’: Donald Trump lauds Artemis II crew after historic Moon mission, now sets their sights on Mars
Trump lauds Artemis II crew after historic Moon mission, now eyes Mars
us President donald trump congratulated the team of on Saturday NASAAfter the Artemis II mission’s successful return to Earth, the astronauts were praised and announced that the next phase of American space exploration would be Mars.In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Congratulations to the great and very talented crew of Artemis II. The entire trip was spectacular, the landing was perfect and, as President of the United States, I couldn’t be prouder! I look forward to seeing you all at the White House soon. We’ll do this again and again, next step, Mars! President Donald J. Trump.”The comments came after NASA’s Orion spacecraft carrying four astronauts splashed down early Saturday in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego, California, completing a 10-day lunar flyby mission.The crew—Commander Reed Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen of Canada—had traveled farther from Earth than any humans in history, reaching a record 406,771 kilometers on the far side of the Moon, surpassing Apollo 13’s 1970 record.The mission tested deep space systems including life support, navigation and propulsion, paving the way for a planned crewed Moon landing in 2028. During the trip, the astronauts also captured photographs and observations as they circled around the Moon before beginning their return.The Orion capsule, named Integrity, re-entered Earth’s atmosphere at speeds up to Mach 33 before deploying parachutes for splashdown. A joint NASA-US military recovery team supported by USS John P Murtha retrieved the crew for medical examination.The successful landing is a key step in NASA’s renewed lunar program, with Trump’s comments adding to the political spotlight on the agency’s long-term ambitions to expand human missions beyond the Moon to Mars.
How the BBC recreated a highly controversial 1974 psychology prison experiment to test human obedience
The idea of recreating one of psychology’s most controversial experiments for television should have been impractical from the beginning. When the BBC announced in 2002 that it would run a controlled prison simulation as a documentary series, it was immediately compared to the 1971 Stanford Prison Experiment, a study so widely criticized for its ethics that it is now taught as a warning as well as a discovery. program, title Useset out to revisit the same question of how ordinary people behave when given power over others, but under conditions designed to avoid the failures of the original.
What stanford The experiment was started to prove, and what went wrong
In August 1971, psychologist Philip Zimbardo and his colleagues constructed a mock prison in the basement of Stanford University. Twenty-four male students, selected from a larger group of volunteers undergoing physical and psychological health, were randomly assigned roles as “protector” or “prisoner”. They were paid $15 per day and told the study would last two weeks.The aim was based on a wide range of research on obedience and authority, building on the work of such as Stanley Milgram. famous obedience experiment Where participants obeyed authority figures by giving alleged electric shocks to others. Zimbardo wanted to test whether behavior could be shaped by the situation alone, whether psychologically stable individuals would adopt the behavior expected of their assigned roles within a system such as a prison.The simulation was built around a carefully designed structure, where prisoners were housed in small cells, identified by numbers rather than names, and subjected to routines that simulated loss of autonomy. Guards worked in shifts and were given broad powers to maintain order, although they were instructed not to use physical violence. Cameras and microphones recorded the entire conversation.The situation worsened within a few days. Shocking evidence emerged that guards were becoming increasingly aggressive and inhumane towards prisoners. The participants showed intense stress, anxiety, emotional breakdown and withdrawal symptoms, and five prisoners had to be released early. Zimbardo himself, who played the role of prison superintendent, became absorbed in the simulation and ignored the abusive behavior of the prison guards until graduate student Christina Maslach objected to the simulated prison conditions and the ethics of continuing the experiment.
This experiment, which lasted for 14 days, was stopped after six days. It later became one of the most cited studies in psychology, often used to support the idea that people conform to roles and situations can dominate individual personality. At the same time, it has been criticized on a number of grounds: lack of ethical safeguards, inadequate informed consent, psychological harm caused to participants, and questions about whether guards were incentivized to behave harshly. This would not be approved under modern standards Established research ethics framework.
Why did the BBC try this again?
Three decades later, psychologists Alex Haslam and Steve Reicher have teamed up with the BBC to produce a new study that will revisit the same basic question under strict scientific and ethical conditions. His aim was not simply to replicate Zimbardo’s findings, but to test them. Fifteen male participants were selected and placed in a purpose-built prison environment inside a television studio in Elstree. Like the original, they are randomly assigned roles as guards or prisoners. The study was to last eight days and was filmed continuously for broadcast.The experiment introduced stringent security measures to avoid failures of origin, operated under independent ethical oversight, allowed participants to withdraw at any time, ensured constant psychological monitoring, and prevented researchers from playing direct authority roles within the system. The objective was more specific than in 1971. Haslam and Reacher wanted to investigate how inequality is maintained or challenged, whether people accept or resist hierarchical roles, and under what circumstances authority stabilizes or collapses.
What really happened inside the BBC study
The results did not follow the trajectory of the Stanford experiment. From the beginning, the Guards struggled to create a cohesive identity. He was reluctant to assert authority and appeared uncomfortable with enforcing discipline. Without a shared sense of purpose or group solidarity, their position became tenuous. Conversely, prisoners began to develop a strong collective identity. Over time, they coordinated their actions, questioned the legitimacy of the guards’ authority, and resisted the imposed hierarchy. This change became more evident as the study progressed.
The BBC prison experiment showed prisoners forming alliances, refusing instructions, staging a prison break and later attempting a self-governing commune.
By the sixth day, the structure had effectively broken down, culminating in a prison break carried out by the participants, which made the guard-prisoner regime impractical. In its place, they attempted to create a self-governing commune based on shared decision-making, but it quickly collapsed amid internal tensions, particularly between those who had previously led the resistance. A smaller group then proposed creating a new regime, consisting of the protectors themselves, this time intending to impose a stricter and more authoritarian structure.At that time, researchers intervened and ended the study early, as emerging dynamics suggested a shift toward a more extreme system that could pose a risk to participants’ well-being.
What the BBC study found and why it matters
The BBC study was in contrast to the Stanford experiment, finding no evidence that individuals naturally conform to roles of authority or submission. Power does not automatically produce oppression. Instead, behavior depends on group dynamics, particularly whether individuals have identified their role and whether they can form a cohesive group around it. This is consistent with the psychological concept of indivisibilityWhere a person’s sense of personal identity becomes submerged within a group, making them more vulnerable to collective behavior seen in settings such as protests or crowd movements, where normal individuals can sometimes act in more extreme or unnatural ways. The Guard’s failure was not a rejection of authority in principle, but a lack of shared identity. Without unity, their authority remained weak. The prisoners’ ability to challenge the system emerged from the opposite situation: a growing sense of collective identity that allowed them to act together. These findings led Haslam and Reicher to argue that tyranny is not an inevitable consequence of power. It depends on social conditions, especially whether a dominant group can organize itself and whether those under it accept or resist that structure.
The study was later published academic journals and happens often quoted As a direct challenge to the findings of the Stanford experiment. This shifted the focus from individual conformity to group processes, suggesting that leadership, identity, and collective behavior are central to understanding how systems of power operate.
Two experiments, two conclusions
Put together, the two studies describe different mechanisms. A 1971 experiment suggested that roles and situations could lead individuals to extreme behavior even in the absence of prior tendencies. A 2002 study argued that roles alone are not enough, power depends on whether people believe in it, organize around it and accept its legitimacy.Both studies have important limitations and may not fully replicate real-world institutions. A key issue in each is the lack of ecological validity: artificial settings, whether a simulated prison or a controlled behavioral environment, do not capture the complexity, pressure, and unpredictability of real prison life or authority systems. As a result, while they provide insight into behavior in structured situations, their findings are constrained by the environments in which they originated.
Ninja Streaming Break: Ninja takes indefinite streaming break, blames Ark Raiders hackers
Streaming star Tyler “Ninja” Blevins has announced that he is taking an indefinite break from streaming. The decision comes after growing frustration over cheating issues in Ark Raiders. Ninja, once one of the game’s most active and popular streamers, said that the current state of the game has made it difficult for him to continue playing it or creating content around it.The problem mainly comes from hackers and stream snipers who are targeting players, especially high-profile streamers like Ninja. Many players have complained online about unfair gameplay and said that matches are becoming frustrating and difficult to enjoy. Despite multiple responses from Embark Studios, the problem has not been completely fixed, causing even dedicated players to turn away from the game.
Ninja takes a break as Ark Raiders becomes “virtually unplayable” due to hackers
During his April 8 Twitch stream, Ninja clearly explained why he is stepping away. He said, “I’m not going to the Arc, and I’m not playing anything other than League. So if I do get involved, it’ll be League or a sports show. I’m not even kidding… I’m taking a break.” His words showed how serious the situation had become for him.Ninja also shared how much he used to enjoy the game before things got worse. “Ark was bugging me like crazy. It was a blast. And then the cheating and updates… the stream sniping-cheating sent me over the edge. It makes the game literally unplayable,” He added. According to him, hackers made it impossible to compete fairly by using his stream to track his location.Since the beginning of 2026, the phenomenon of cheating in Ark Raiders has become a hot topic among gamers. There are many accounts of players having nearly identical experiences, especially in high-level games. Some content creators and their followers believe that Embark Studios should move faster in implementing an anti-cheating system.Despite the studio’s promise to take action on the matter as well as refund money to those who lost some of their in-game resources due to the hackers, the issue still persists. As a result, players’ confidence and enthusiasm towards the game is continuously falling.In conclusion, it can be said that the incident with the ninja is one of the many issues with the Ark Raiders game. If the issue of cheating is not addressed quickly it could have an impact on the future of the sport.
World’s oldest computer revealed: A YouTuber’s data gives scientists new insight into 2,000 years of computing history
The Antikythera Mechanism has been described as the world’s first analog computer since it was found in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece in 1901, but until now, we don’t know exactly how it was configured inside. The Anticythera Mechanism – a fragmentary chronographic artifact discovered in a Roman shipwreck in 1901, has been called the world’s first analog machine since the day of its discovery. However, its internal dynamics have remained mysterious for the last 2000 years. One of the first major pieces of research with the new method was conducted by scientists at the University of Glasgow using experimental archeology in conjunction with the findings of Chris Budiselic (Clickspring)’s experimentally constructed Antica Tyrrhenia mechanism. The data were incorporated into the full analysis using Bayesian statistics (first developed to detect gravitational waves). The end result of this interdisciplinary research confirmed that this device was constructed and calibrated to track the lunar calendar and can give us a glimpse of how ahead of their time the ancient Greek craftsmen were and how advanced they were at the same point in history compared to today’s modern digital computers.
Chris Budiselic helps scientists solve the mystery of world’s oldest computer
According to the University of Glasgow, YouTuber Chris Budiselic, creator of the YouTube channel ‘Clickspring’, can be credited with initiating a breakthrough that arose from his years of documenting efforts to create a true-to-history replica of the Antikythera Mechanism. This process allowed them to provide researchers Graham Vaughan and Joseph Bayley with important physical data, aiding the use of modern statistical models to analyze ancient pieces of the mechanism. His applied experimental archeology provided researchers with baseline data that traditional observational methods have been unable to obtain for more than 100 years.
How scientists mapped a 2,000-year-old ring
Glasgow researchers used Bayesian analysis to determine that the mechanism’s calendar ring had either 354 or 355 holes, as written in The Horological Journal. This method is a statistical analytical method commonly used to analyze gravitational wave signals in space by removing background noise. Their use of this method along with data provided by ClickSpring Replication showed that the calendar was created to follow the Greek lunar calendar, which had 354 days (hereafter an intercalary day). Therefore, it was not a representation of the solar 365-day calendar.
Why was 2,000-year-old computing ahead of its time?
According to this research, the holes in the ring were arranged with a radius of about 77.1 millimeters with a radial variation of only 0.028 millimeters, which indicates that the ancient Greeks were probably able to apply very sophisticated segmentation machinery or geometric techniques. These results prove that technological advancements were far more advanced than previously thought, and mechanical computing was significantly more advanced than it was 2,000 years ago.
How the ancient Greeks mechanically coded in bronze with this device
Originally discovered in 1901 off the coast of the island of Antikythera, Greece, the device was built around 60–70 BC, and is now considered the earliest remaining example of analog computing in the world. The Antikythera Mechanism functions as an astronomical calculator, mechanically encoding the solar eclipses and epicyclic motions of the five known planets through carefully calibrated gear tooth geometry.
4,430 OPT in Missouri alone; Janitor Service Training: US Senator reveals ‘Visa Abuse’ facts
Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt said OPT students are working in restaurants, janitorial service companies.
Senator Eric Schmidt, who has been speaking out against the optional practical training program that foreign students receive at the end of their courses, just revealed some surprising facts from his state of Missouri as he once again demanded that the practice be ended as it is harming American students. This OPT has provided a legal pathway from colleges to chambers for centuries, and students on F1 visas can easily get their status changed to H-1B once they get on the right track. Missouri Senator Eric Schmidt said that ICE has given him the figure that there are 4430 OPT visas in Missouri alone and many of them are working in jobs they should not be working in. The senator said a local Ethiopian restaurant applied for a STEM OPT employee, another OPT employee works for a janitorial services company. “OPT jobs *must* be directly related to the student’s major field of study. And if you’re a STEM major, you get *3 years of work authorization.* Not only that, OPT holders are exempt from FICA taxes – a >15% tax subsidy for employers. Given this, and given that foreigners using the OPT may be desperate for work, it should be no surprise that the OPT is often Abuse is rampant. I found cases of foreign students working in restaurants, bars and as janitors providing services that have no connection to a student’s field of study,” Schmidt said. “Employers who clearly need, degree-related, high skills include: A local Ethiopian restaurant, which applied for a STEM OPT employee last year (three years long). It’s a highly reviewed restaurant but why does it need a recent graduate STEM major? And why not hire an American?”“Another OPT employee works for a small janitorial services company. This doesn’t seem like a natural fit. OPT often cuts white collar work, but it is also cutting blue collar workers by flooding the market with recent graduates looking for any type of employment.”“Not only that, but a cadre of shady consultants and vigilante NGOs are taking advantage of the OPT, teaching foreign students how to game the system. And some are even using foreign student labor to train the import of more foreign students and workers,” the senator said, citing the example of Vitendo4Africa, which offers classes on green card applications. “The bottom line: OPT is not a student training program. It is a backdoor job program for foreign nationals at the expense of Missouri families and American graduates who are still struggling to find work. USCIS, it’s time to shut it down. Missourians first. Americans first,” the senator wrote.
H-1B stamping dates have started in India, but don’t travel if you’re in the US, says immigration expert
Immigration lawyer Emily Newman said that even if H-1B stamping slots open up in India, people who are in the US should not take the risk of traveling outside the US.
Amid reports of H-1B visa stamping slots becoming randomly available in India, immigration lawyer Emily Newman said that people who are currently in the US are not advised to book appointments in India as they must now travel out of India. Those who are already in India, stranded for months as all slots were halted due to a major rescheduling of dates in December 2025, should try their best to book a slot and get their passports stamped. But those who are in the US do not need a visa stamp for anything and should not travel outside. Newman said the US government is doing everything it can to stop immigrants from coming to the US, and getting an appointment is the easiest part of the process. There is no guarantee that the slot you booked will not be canceled, nor will your H-1B visa be discreetly canceled while you are out of the country. When thousands of Indians came to India for holidays last December, they were left stranded in their homes. Visa holders generally book a visa appointment upon arrival home, as stamping is now mandatory in visa holders’ home countries. In December, Consulates in India canceled and rescheduled all interviews and postponed them to May, June 2026. Without the stamp, they cannot re-enter the US, so they were forced to stay in India, biding their time. Some companies allowed them to work from India but there is still uncertainty about the future of these H-1B visa holders. There were no new dates available for the last three months, but some slots opened up in the last few weeks, leading to a huge rush for visa holders.
What is H-1B visa stamping? Why is it needed?
A visa stamp is the sticker on your passport that will allow you to enter the US. Its validity for Indians is generally three years. This is not work authorization and is not required for anything inside the US. Form I-797 controls how long you can live and work in the US on an H-1B visa. Your visa stamp may expire while you are in the US, but you can continue to work as long as your I-797 is valid. New stamping is required only for re-entering the country and also for entering the country for the first time.
Canary Islands accident: 1 dead, 27 injured as bus carrying British tourists falls into ravine
A bus carrying British tourists in Spain’s Canary Islands has veered off a mountain road and crashed into a ravine, killing one person and injuring 27 others, authorities said.The accident occurred at about 1.15 pm local time on Friday on the GM-2 highway near San Sebastian de La Gomera on the island of La Gomera.According to officials, the bus lost control at a turn and slid down the slope into a ravine. The vehicle was reportedly taking a group of British tourists on a boat trip.
Casualties and Injuries
Emergency services confirmed that one person died in the accident, while 27 others, including the driver, were injured. Many of these passengers suffered serious injuries, with at least three of them said to be in critical condition.Most of the injured were initially taken to the local hospital in San Sebastián, with some later transferred to facilities on the neighboring island of Tenerife for advanced treatment.
Emergency response and rescue efforts
Rescue teams including fire brigade, police, ambulance and air rescue units rushed to the spot after receiving the alert shortly after 1 pm.Photos released by authorities show the bus lying in a steep ravine below the road, suggesting the impact of the accident was severe.
officials react
Canary Islands President Fernando Clavijo said he was monitoring the situation closely and expressed support for the victims and their families.The British Embassy in Madrid also said it was aware of the incident and stood ready to assist affected citizens.Spanish police have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether factors such as road conditions, driver error or mechanical failure played a role.Serious accidents have been seen on GM-2 road in the past also. Last year, a woman had died and 10 people were injured in an accident on the same route.