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What is the classroom for?

Over the last decade, at least in the US, trust in higher education has dropped significantly. A decade ago, surveys showed that 57% Americans had a 'great deal of' or 'quite a lot of' trust in higher education. Now the same number has come down to about 36 per cent. It is likely that the number is going to decline further. Manifestations of this issue are seen not just in the political spheres of the right where institutions of higher education are viewed as places of indoctrination of left wing ideas, but also on the left where questions about the value of an exorbitant price tag of higher education, and issues around accessibility, are being asked regularly. The lack of trust plays out in public conversation and in the polling booth. A year ago, Yale University created a committee of ten faculty members from a variety of academic disciplines to analyse the drivers of the decline in trust, and identify remedial measures. The final report was made public last week. The...
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Russian, Iranian foreign ministers discuss Middle East crisis over phone

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov discussed the Middle East crisis in a phone call with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Monday. The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Araghchi informed Lavrov of Tehran's position regarding the ceasefire with the US and Israel. "Araghchi informed Lavrov of the Islamic Republic’s position regarding ceasefire violations committed by the United States, including an illegal naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and a seizure of an Iranian container ship," it said. 📞 On April 20, FMs Sergey #Lavrov & @araghchi spoke over the phone. Abbas Araghchi informed Sergey Lavrov of Iran’s position regarding the US violations of the ceasefire, including the illegal naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.https://t.co/zT3c21Ywvj pic.twitter.com/r4XmxB0Fq5 — MFA Russia 🇷🇺 (@mfa_russia) April 20, 2026 The Russian side reiterated the need to maintain the ceasefire, which must be observed within the parameters initially agr...
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From HIV to monkeypox

Recently, BBC London broadcasted a documentary showing how hundreds of young children were infected with HIV in a public sector hospital in Punjab. Their undercover video footage showed staff reusing syringes and other lax infection control practices. It is deeply problematic that this outbreak was reported a year ago and the Punjab government had promised to make changes so that it never happens again. The Department of Health responded by doubling down and refusing to accept that this has happened recently, while BBC stands by its claim that the footage is current. In Sindh, more than 100 people - predominantly children - were reported with Mpox (popularly called monkeypox). Around 30 patients were lab-confirmed, with nine deaths. Most cases came from Khairpur in Sindh and could be traced back to some public healthcare facilities. A high fatality Mpox outbreak is perplexing, but once you put the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle together, it becomes clear that the lack of infection control...
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Two arrested as police foiled bid to smuggle Iranian currency worth over Rs2bn

Railway Police Quetta Division on Sunday foiled two major attempts to smuggle Iranian currency within a span of just two days, arresting two suspects and recovering currency worth billions of rupees. According to a statement issued by the Railway Police, officials recovered Iranian currency worth Rs1.70 billion in one case and Rs560 million in another. "Both suspects were arrested on the spot for failing to produce any legal licence or documentation and were later handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) along with the recovered currency," said the statement. It added that in the first operation, carried out during routine checking at Quetta Railway Station, a team led by Inspector/Station House Officer Muhammad Shahbaz searched a passenger travelling on the Jaffar Express. "The suspect, identified as Muhammad Zafar Iqbal was found attempting to smuggle Iranian currency concealed in crates of dates, allegedly destined for Lahore. During the search, currency ...
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Iran reviews proposals as Trump says 'very good talks going on'

Iran said on Saturday that it was reviewing proposals from the United States as President Donald Trump said that "very good" conversations were ongoing between the two countries amid a temporary ceasefire in their hostilities. Iran's Press TV issued a statement on X from the Secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council that Iran was reviewing proposals from the US that were delivered by Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir during his visit to Tehran. It said Iran had not yet given a response to them. 🔺Recently, with the Pakistani army commander in Tehran as mediator, new proposals have been put forward by the Americans. The Islamic Republic of Iran is reviewing them and has not yet responded. — Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 18, 2026 Iran tightened control over the Strait of Hormuz again today, warning mariners that the vital energy route was again closed, but President Donald Trump said Tehran could not blackmail the US by s...
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French soldier killed in attack on UN mission in southern Lebanon, officials say

A French soldier was killed and three others wounded while clearing a road in southern Lebanon ​in an attack that UNIFIL peacekeepers and French officials alleged on Saturday was likely ‌carried out by Hezbollah. UNIFIL said initial assessments indicated the fire came from non-state ​actors, allegedly Hezbollah, and that an investigation had been launched into what it ⁠called "a deliberate attack". “Sergeant Major Florian Montorio of the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment in Montauban was killed this morning in southern Lebanon during an attack against UNIFIL,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in a post on X. Le Sergent-chef Florian Montorio du 17eme régiment du génie parachutiste de Montauban est tombé ce matin au sud-Liban lors d’une attaque contre la FINUL. Trois de ses frères d’armes sont blessés et ont été évacués. La Nation s’incline avec respect… — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 18, 2026 “Everything suggests that Hezbollah is responsible for this attack,” h...
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Barrister Aqeel Malik says US-Iran deal near, calls coming week ‘significant’ for Pakistan

Minister for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik said on Friday the coming week would be “quite significant” for Pakistan, as Islamabad was once again expected to host talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the Middle East war. Pakistan is mediating between the US and Iran after the war began on February 28 and has hosted the highest-level talks between the two sides since they snapped diplomatic ties in 1979. Speaking to a private news channel, Malik said the government had completed preparations for the next round of talks, including preventive security measures. He added that, as in the previous round, foolproof security would be ensured, with even stronger arrangements this time. “Within a few hours or by later tonight, things will start becoming clearer. I will not give a specific date or time, but the coming week appears to be very significant for Pakistan, especially for Islamabad,” he said. Malik added that today's announcement by Iranian Foreign Ministe...
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