Russia’s Putin declares unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine from April 20 to 21 in observance of Orthodox Easter. The temporary pause in military operations is intended to allow civilians to mark the religious holiday peacefully. Ukrainian officials, however, remain cautious, questioning the sincerity of the move amid continued conflict and urging genuine efforts toward lasting peace.
Read more at Reuters
Barcelona close in on La Liga title after stunning comeback win over Celta Vigo
On April 19, 2025, Barcelona staged a thrilling 4-3 comeback victory against Celta Vigo in La Liga. After leading 1-0, Barca fell behind 3-1 due to a hat-trick by Borja Iglesias. Substitutes Dani Olmo and Raphinha sparked the turnaround, with Raphinha scoring twice, including a decisive 98th-minute penalty. The win extends Barcelona’s lead to seven points over Real Madrid.
Read more at WION
What is the Insurrection Act, and will Donald Trump invoke it?
The Insurrection Act of 1807 lets the U.S. president deploy military forces within the country during rebellion or unrest. President Trump is reviewing whether to invoke it to address the southern border crisis, allowing troops to support law enforcement. However, top officials, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, advise against using it for now. A decision is expected soon.
Read more at The Economic Times
14-Year-Old “Human Calculator” From Maharashtra Breaks Six Guinness World Records In One Day
Aaryan Shukla, a 14-year-old from Maharashtra, broke six Guinness World Records in a single day by solving complex math problems faster than a calculator. His records include rapid addition, multiplication, and division of large numbers. The feats were achieved in Dubai, earning him the title of “Human Calculator.” He credits his success to daily practice and Sahaja Yoga meditation for improving focus and calmness.
Read more at NDTV
Servin, Ram Baboo take top honours at Indian Open race walk
Servin Singh clinched gold in the men’s 20km event, while Ram Baboo topped the men’s 35km race at the Indian Open Race Walking Competition in Chandigarh. In the 35km race, national record holder Ram Baboo took gold in 2:32:53.50, ahead of Sandeep Kumar and Vijay Vishwakarma. Uttarakhand’s Tushar Panwar topped the U-20 boys 5km event.
Read more at The Hindu
What is the rare brain disease which causes sponge-like holes in the brain?
Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) is a rare brain disorder that causes sponge-like holes in the brain. It happens when abnormal proteins called prions damage brain cells. This leads to memory loss, confusion, and difficulty moving. CJD is very rare but serious, and it usually progresses quickly, often leading to death within a year.
Read more at Firstpost
R Vaishali secures first win at FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Pune
Indian chess player R Vaishali got her first win at the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix in Pune by defeating Mongolia’s Batkhuyag Munguntuul in Round 5. She used a smart and attacking strategy and took advantage of her opponent’s mistake after the 40th move. The game ended in 52 moves. Vaishali now has 2.5 points, the same as Harika Dronavalli and Polina Shuvalova. China’s GM Zhu Jiner continues to lead the tournament with 4 points.
Read more at Firstpost
India’s giant space leap: IAF captain Shubhanshu Shukla to fly to ISS in May
Indian Air Force Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will travel to the International Space Station in May 2025 as part of Axiom Mission 4. This marks India’s return to human spaceflight after 40 years. He’ll join a global crew aboard SpaceX’s Crew Dragon, conducting key experiments, including ISRO-led research on microbes, seeds, and tardigrades in microgravity.
Read more at Firstpost
World’s first humanoid robot half marathon held in China
On April 19, 2025, Beijing hosted the world’s first humanoid robot half-marathon, where 21 bipedal robots ran alongside over 12,000 human participants in the Yizhuang district. The event aimed to showcase advancements in robotics and artificial intelligence.
Read more at Reuters
What are water bears that ISRO may send to space with Axiom-4?
ISRO is set to send tardigrades, also known as water bears, to the International Space Station (ISS) aboard the upcoming Axiom-4 mission. This initiative is part of the Voyager Tardigrades experiment, one of seven Indian-led studies aimed at understanding how life adapts to space conditions .
Read more at Republic World
