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Harvard University filed a federal lawsuit on Monday challenging the Trump administration’s proposed $2.2 bn in funding cuts, calling the move an unlawful overreach, according to BBC.

The lawsuit follows escalating tensions after Harvard rejected demands from the Trump administration aimed at curbing diversity programs and addressing anti-Semitism.

The administration’s demands included government-approved audits of Harvard’s curriculum, admissions, and hiring practices. Harvard President Alan M. Garber warned the consequences of the government’s actions would be “severe and long-lasting,” criticizing the intrusion into academic independence, BBC reported.

In addition to freezing federal funds, the Trump administration also threatened the university’s tax-exempt status and its ability to enroll international students.

The Trump administration plans to cut $1bn in Harvard research funding amid an ongoing clash over the university's handling of pro-Palestinian protests, the “Wall Street Journal” reports.

This follows earlier sanctions over alleged failures to address campus antisemitism, Reuters reported.

Harvard recently rejected White House demands for monitoring of school policy, forcing the administration to halt $2.3 bn in cash and threaten Harvard's tax-exempt status. Officials were stunned when Harvard made private negotiation demands public, according to Reuters.

Since January, Trump has targeted elite universities over protest responses, accusing them of tolerating antisemitism.

Pope Francis has died at the age of 88 at his residence in Casa Santa Marta, the Vatican announced on Monday. His death marks the end of a papacy defined by humility, reform, and a strong focus on compassion and inclusion within the Catholic Church, BBC reported.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell described him as a man who dedicated his entire life to the service of God and the Church. World leaders have paid tribute to the late pontiff. French President Emmanuel Macron called him “a man of humility,” while Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte praised him as a role model for Catholics and non-Catholics alike, according to BBC.

Remarkably, Pope Francis made a final public appearance just a day before his death, addressing thousands in St. Peter’s Square with an Easter greeting. Elected in 2013, he was the first pope from the Americas and the first Jesuit to hold the office.

Nepal has released its first-ever national estimate of the snow leopard population, placing the figure at 397 individuals with a mean density of 1.56 leopards per 100 square kilometers. The comprehensive assessment was led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation (DoFSC), with collaboration from conservation institutions and researchers, including WWF Nepal.

“This national estimate is a historic step in Nepal’s conservation journey,” said Ram Chandra Kandel, director-general of DNPWC. “It not only provides a clearer picture of the snow leopard population but also strengthens our strategy for long-term conservation.”

The data, gathered between 2015 and 2024, utilized advanced techniques such as camera trapping and genetic analysis of scat samples. The assessment followed the PAWS (Population Assessment of the World’s Snow Leopards) methodology developed under the Global Snow Leopard & Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP).

Badri Raj Dhungana, director-general of DoFSC, emphasized that a significant portion of snow leopard habitat lies outside protected areas. “This highlights the need for stronger community-based conservation, improved habitat connectivity and mitigation of human-wildlife conflict,” he said.

Ghana Shyam Gurung, country representative of WWF Nepal, hailed the estimate as a critical milestone. “This baseline will guide future interventions and ensure resources are directed where they’re most needed,” he said, underlining the importance of local partnerships in the face of climate change and infrastructure expansion.

The study compiled data from seven key snow leopard regions, reflecting Nepal’s leadership in high-altitude biodiversity conservation. It also places the country alongside Mongolia, Bhutan and India, which have completed similar assessments in recent years. Despite being found across 12 countries in Asia, snow leopards remain one of the least-studied big cats. A 2021 WWF report found that only 23 percent of their global range has been systematically studied, with less than three percent yielding data on population abundance.