Religion: Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Historic Vatican Ceremony
A Requiem Mass presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re filled St. Peter’s Square with more than 250,000 mourners and over 130 foreign delegations, including presidents, prime ministers, and royalty, on April 26. At its heart lay Pope Francis’s unadorned coffin, bearing only the inscription “Franciscus,” just as he had insisted: “in the earth, simple, without any decoration,” the “New York Times” reports. By choosing the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore for his final resting place — becoming the first pope since Leo XIII (d. 1903) to rest outside the Vatican — Pope Francis cemented a legacy of solidarity with the poor and devotion to Mary that defined his papacy.
Crisis: Massive Explosion at Iranian Port Kills 28, Injures Over 800
A catastrophic explosion ripped through the Shahid Rajaee container yard at Bandar Abbas port on April 26. According to the “BBC,” the blast killed at least 28 people and injured around 800. The shockwave shattered windows miles away and ignited adjacent chemical stores, prompting hospitals across Hormozgan province to brace for mass casualties. “Reuters” reported that chemicals at the port were suspected of fueling the explosion, underscoring recurring safety concerns at the facility. President Masoud Pezeshkian immediately pledged a “no-holds-barred investigation” into the tragedy and declared three days of national mourning, while emergency crews battled lingering fires into the night. As Iran’s busiest maritime gateway, the port’s temporary closure has already disrupted regional shipping lanes, highlighting the high stakes of storing hazardous materials in critical infrastructure hubs.
World Conflict: Gaza Ceasefire Talks Show Limited Progress Amid Renewed Airstrikes
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told “Reuters” on April 27 that recent ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas “have made some progress, but an agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war remains elusive.” The crux of the impasse lies in Hamas’ insistence that Israel halt military operations in Gaza before they release remaining Israeli hostages, while Israel demands their unconditional release. High-level mediators, including Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Mossad Director David Barnea, have held parallel talks in Doha, but both sides have yet to come to a deal. Meanwhile, according to the “Washington Post”, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 51 more Palestinians killed amid continued airstrikes, bringing the death toll to over 52,000. As the conflict enters its 573rd day, international pressure is mounting for a durable ceasefire.
Technology: Scientists Discover “Olo,” a New Color Visible Only Through Laser-Stimulated Vision
Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley (UC Berkeley) announced the discovery of a completely new color, “Olo.” According to “The Guardian,” this color is visible only when laser pulses are fired into the eye. Professor Ren Ng from UC Berkeley explained to the “BBC” that Olo is “more saturated than any colour that you can see in the real world.” The phenomenon is made possible by using a device called “Oz Vision,” which stimulates specific retinal cells in the eye, bypassing the brain’s usual color-processing pathways, as reported by the Smithsonian Magazine. To date, only five people have been able to perceive Olo under controlled laboratory conditions. Scientists believe that this discovery could offer insights for research on colour blindness and other vision disorders, such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Health: Measles Outbreak in Southwest U.S. Amid Rising Vaccine HesitancyOn April 21, the spread of measles in the Southwest U.S. was declared the largest single outbreak since the disease was deemed eliminated in 2000. According to the “New York Times,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 800 measles cases nationwide, but health officials warn that the true number is likely higher. The outbreak, which primarily affected Kansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico, is being attributed to the decline in vaccination rates, along with growing vaccine hesitancy. Kansas Governor Laura Kelly urged residents to get vaccinated, emphasizing the importance of herd immunity and collective responsibility, as reported by KAKE News. The CDC is working with local health departments to contain the spread of the disease, stressing that widespread vaccination remains the most effective defense against further measles outbreaks.
