Tests

Exclusive: The Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect overseas students from political repressionThe Australian government has been urged to take stronger action to protect Chinese international students from political repression by authorities on their return after a Chinese student was allegedly sentenced to six years’ imprisonment for joining pro-democracy protests in Australia.The student, who the Guardian has chosen not to name, lost contact with his friends in Sydney after returning to China in December 2024. Continue reading...

Trump appears to have crossed a line with his Christian supporters. Will it come back to bite him in the midterms?Donald Trump’s depiction of himself as Jesus Christ and recent spat with Pope Leo XIV could come back to bite him and the Republican party in the midterm elections, according to experts, with some newly aggrieved Christian groups set to play an outsized role in key races across the US.The president’s Trump-as-the-Messiah Truth Social post sparked immediate criticism among some Christians, including some on the right. Trump, 79, said he thought the AI image of him administering an ethereal light to a stricken man’s head as translucent figures descended from the heavens represented him as a doctor. Continue reading...

• The CDC has suspended dozens of diagnostic tests as part of agency downsizing, disrupting testing capabilities for critical infectious diseases including rabies and mpox. • The testing pause has left pharmacists and state health departments scrambling to identify alternative diagnostic pathways and coordinate emergency responses. • Public health officials and pharmacy professionals have raised alarms about the implications for disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and timely clinical decision-making.

Corruption scandals and a surging opposition have turned the vote into the biggest test yet for the long-serving populist leaderThe drone footage showed a sprawling residence in northern Hungary, complete with manicured gardens, a swimming pool and an underground garage. But it was what came next that captured much of the country’s imagination: zebras darting across the countryside. Continue reading...

Hauliers and farmers block motorways and bring parts of Dublin to a standstill in fourth day of actionMiddle East crisis live – latest updatesProtests over fuel prices have caused chaos in Ireland and spread to Norway in a knock-on effect from the conflict in the Middle East.Hauliers, farmers and other groups blocked motorways and brought parts of Dublin to a standstill on Friday in a fourth consecutive day of action. Continue reading...

• US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire on April 8, 2026, ending 38 days of intense conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran involving major military exchanges. • Iran maintained leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route, while the US pushed Iran to negotiations based on Tehran's 10-point framework against Washington's 15-point demands on nuclear activity and regional influence. • Israel rejected parts of the ceasefire scope and continued operations in Lebanon, prompting Iran to warn of withdrawal if attacks persist, highlighting the truce's precarious nature amid high regional tensions.

Legislative change backed by libertarian president makes it easier to extract metals in frozen parts of the AndesArgentina’s congress has approved a bill promoted by the libertarian president, Javier Milei, that authorises mining in ecologically sensitive areas of glaciers and permafrost, and has outraged environmentalists.The amendment to the so-called glacier law, which was already approved by the senate in February, would make it easier to mine for metals such as copper, lithium and silver in frozen parts of the Andes mountains. Continue reading...

• Arizona State University's Extreme Environments Lab tests semiconductor technologies under harsh conditions mimicking those in low Earth orbit, where temperatures swing from minus 85°F to over 250°F and radiation exposure exceeds 100 times natural Earth levels annually. • The lab supports the Southwest Advanced Prototyping (SWAP) Hub, serving government and industry partners designing technologies for demanding applications including space stations, missile defense systems, and geothermal energy equipment. • This research capability extends to supporting radiation therapy, nuclear energy systems, and advanced scientific tools such as quantum computers, addressing critical reliability challenges for space-based microchips that cannot be serviced for a decade or more.

Insurance company seeking almost £300,000 for protests at UK offices, during which red paint was daubed on buildingsOne of the world’s largest insurance companies is suing six people alleged to have taken part in Palestine Action protests against the company.Allianz is seeking damages of almost £300,000 for protests at its UK offices in October 2024 and March 2025, in what is believed to be the first civil case brought against people accused of involvement in direct action with the protest group. Continue reading...

• North Korea conducted a test of what analysts believe is an intermediate-range ballistic missile on April 6, flying 800 kilometers over the Sea of Japan in a trajectory suggesting potential reach to US Pacific territories. • The test occurred during joint US-South Korean military exercises involving carrier strike groups and advanced fighter aircraft; North Korea condemned the drills as provocative and warned of stronger responses. • US Indo-Pacific Command characterized the test as destabilizing and reaffirmed security commitments to South Korea and Japan; military officials increased surveillance and readiness postures across the region.

Cultural figures sign open letter asking government for clarity on how long landmark collection will remain abroadOne of the world’s most important collections of 20th-century Mexican art, including works by Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, is set to be exported to Spain under an agreement with Banco Santander, sparking outrage among Mexico’s cultural community.Nearly 400 cultural professionals have signed an open letter calling on the Mexican government to offer greater clarity on what the deal means for the masterpieces, particularly the works by Kahlo, which the Mexican state has declared an “artistic monument”. Continue reading...

• Millions of people participated in more than 3,100 protests across the United States on March 30, 2026, with significant demonstrations occurring in the capital, Washington DC, and hundreds of other locations. • Protesters denounced what they characterized as authoritarian governance, the administration's immigration stance, climate change denial, isolationist foreign policy, and military involvement in Iran. • The scale and geographic breadth of the demonstrations reflect widespread public opposition to multiple Trump administration policies spanning domestic and international affairs.

• Huge crowds rallied across the U.S. on Saturday for 'No Kings Day' protests against President Donald Trump, expressing fury over his policies amid international tensions. • Demonstrations also spread abroad, including massive marches in France and crowds at NIH headquarters protesting cuts to medical research. • The protests highlight domestic opposition to Trump's leadership, potentially influencing U.S. politics as global conflicts intensify.

• Organizers reported 'No Kings' day protests drew huge crowds in major cities across the United States and internationally on March 28, with demonstrations described as potentially one of the largest in US history. • More than 3,100 protest events took place nationwide, reflecting widespread mobilization against Trump administration policies. • The scale of turnout underscores significant public opposition to current political leadership and Trump's governing agenda.

Anti-authoritarian rallies, taking place in all 50 states plus 16 countries, are expected to be biggest in US historyMillions of Americans are expected to take to the streets on Saturday for the No Kings protests against the Trump administration. More than 3,000 events are planned in all 50 states, plus in 16 countries, according to a coalition of organizers that includes “anti-authoritarian” groups Indivisible and 50501, labor unions and other grassroots organizations.“I would expect March 28 to be the biggest protest in American history,” said Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible. Continue reading...

More than 850 public demonstrations of support held since start of war and at least 1,400 arrests, research revealsIran’s regime has organised more than 850 public demonstrations of support of the government since the beginning of the war and launched a continuing crackdown on unrest that has led to at least 1,400 detentions, research reveals.The high number of pro-regime gatherings and the increasing number of detentions underlines the resilience of the Islamic Republic despite a month-long campaign of intensive airstrikes by the US and Israel, experts said. Continue reading...

• More than 3,000 No Kings protests are scheduled across the United States and worldwide Saturday, with millions expected to participate in what organizers describe as potentially the largest day of protest in U.S. history. • Indivisible organizer Leah Greenberg stated protesters will "stand against illegal war abroad" and "stand against secret police at home," signaling unified opposition to Trump administration policies. • The demonstration represents the third iteration of the nationwide No Kings protest movement, with major protests planned in major cities including St. Louis, according to Democracy Now! reporting.

• Over 3,000 'No Kings' protests are planned across the U.S. and worldwide on March 28, potentially marking the biggest day of protest in U.S. history against the Trump administration. • Organizers like Leah Greenberg of Indivisible state participants are rallying in every state and county to oppose illegal war abroad and secret police at home. • Protests echo the rallying cry 'In America, we have no kings,' building on prior nationwide demonstrations amid geopolitical tensions.

Demonstrations to be held across the US against ICE’s ‘reign of terror’ with flagship event in Minnesota’s Twin CitiesMillions of people are expected to protest the Trump administration at more than 3,000 No Kings events in cities and small towns across the country on Saturday. Ezra Levin, co-founder of Indivisible, one of the groups coordinating No Kings, said he expected it to be “the biggest protest in American history”.This will be the third No Kings protest since Trump was re-elected. A flagship event will be held in Minnesota’s Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St Paul – after residents stood up to the surge of federal immigration agents the Trump administration sent into the region earlier this year. In January, agents killed two residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, who were observing Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities. Continue reading...

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced expanded coverage for advanced lipid panels and inflammatory biomarker testing starting April 1, 2026, for beneficiaries age 50 and older. • The expansion removes prior authorization requirements for up to two tests annually, reflecting new evidence that early cardiovascular risk detection improves outcomes and reduces emergency hospitalizations by 18%. • CMS estimates the policy will affect approximately 28 million Medicare beneficiaries and cost $120 million annually while potentially preventing 8,000 heart attacks and strokes per year.

Michael Randrianirina, who sacked PM and cabinet without explanation, claims measure is to root out corruptionMadagascar’s military president has said new ministers will have to pass lie detector tests to root out corrupt candidates, after he dismissed the prime minister and cabinet without explanation earlier this month.Michael Randrianirina came to power in a coup in October after weeks of youth-led protests under the banner “Gen Z Madagascar”. However, young people were quickly disenchanted by his choice of government officials, which they saw as being part of the old, corrupt elite. Continue reading...

Campaigners have been fighting proposals to build traffic tunnel under the world heritage site since 1994A controversial plan to build a tunnel under the Stonehenge site has been officially cancelled after millions were spent on the doomed project.Campaigners have been fighting proposals to dig a tunnel for cars under the location of the world heritage site since the idea was first proposed in 1994. Continue reading...

NASA crew members practise emergency rescue drills in a 40-foot-deep pool simulating the lunar surface, as part of tests on a new generation of spacesuit, the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit