The White House publicly criticised The New York Times for its headline regarding U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen’s meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man deported to El Salvador. Labeling Garcia as a violent MS-13 gang member, the administration disputed the characterization of him as “wrongly deported” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the White House shared an image of the original headline with red annotations and the caption “Fixed it for you, @NYTimes,” asserting Garcia would not be returning to the U.S. This action sparked significant backlash online, with many users deeming the administration’s response as “disgusting”.
US COURT RESTRICTS USE OF OBSCURE DEPORTATION LAW
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily halted the deportation of Venezuelan migrants detained in Texas under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, an obscure wartime law. This decision follows an emergency appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued that the Trump administration was proceeding with deportations without granting due process. The administration targeted alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang, but concerns arose over forced documentation and misinformation provided to Spanish-speaking detainees. Two lower federal courts had declined to block the deportations, prompting the ACLU to seek intervention from the Supreme Court, which has now paused the removals pending further review.
TRUMP REVAMPS COVID WEBSITE WITH ‘LAB LEAK’ PAGE
On April 18, 2025, the Trump administration redirected the official COVID-19 resource site, Covid.gov, to a new page promoting the lab leak theory regarding the virus’s origin. This revamped site criticizes figures like Dr. Anthony Fauci, the World Health Organisation, and former President Joe Biden, alleging misinformation about the pandemic’s origins and management. The update also removes previous public health resources, including vaccine information and testing guidance. While some U.S. intelligence agencies, such as the CIA, have assessed a lab origin as “more likely” with low confidence, the scientific community remains divided, with no definitive evidence supporting the lab leak or natural origin theories.
BANGLADESH ASKS APOLOGY, COMPENSATION FROM PAKISTAN
Bangladesh has formally requested a public apology from Pakistan for the 1971 genocide and seeks $4.3 billion as its share of undivided Pakistan’s wealth. This demand was made during the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two nations since 2010, held in Dhaka. Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin emphasized the importance of resolving historical issues to strengthen bilateral relations. Additionally, Bangladesh raised concerns about the repatriation of stranded Pakistanis. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is expected to visit Bangladesh on April 27-28, potentially addressing these longstanding issues.
FLORIDA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS USE CHEWING GUM TO SURVIVE
On April 17, 2025, a tragic mass shooting occurred near Florida State University’s campus, resulting in two fatalities and five injuries. The alleged shooter, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, reportedly used his stepmother’s former service weapon in the attack. In a desperate bid for safety, students in one classroom chewed gum to stick paper over windows, attempting to obscure visibility and protect themselves. Another student, Madison Askins, recounted pretending to be dead after being shot to avoid further harm. The incident has reignited discussions on campus safety and gun control measures.
