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Israel has approved 22 new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, the biggest expansion in decades. Some were unauthorized outposts, now legalized under Israeli law, according to Defence Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

Katz said the move “prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger Israel,” while the Palestinian presidency called it a “dangerous escalation”, BBC reported.

Since 1967, Israel has built around 160 settlements housing 700,000 Jews. Most of the world considers them illegal under international law, which Israel disputes.

US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thompson launched Nepal's first-ever Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Kathmandu on Thursday.

This US government-supported initiative aims to strengthens commercial ties between the United States and Nepal by empowering women to grow their businesses and drive local economic growth.

Addressing the program, Ambassador Thompson called AWE "a movement, not just a program," highlighting the belief that when women are empowered, economies grow, communities flourish, and lasting partnerships take root, reads a statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu.

The three-day residential bootcamp, led by top Nepali business leaders and members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal (AmCham), will provide 30 selected women entrepreneurs with world-class training, mentorship, and resources to scale their ventures.

Powered by the globally recognized "Najafi 100 Million Learners" course, AWE provides participants with practical tools to foster innovation and job creation in their communities., according to the statement.

This program supports American and Nepali businesses by creating new opportunities for trade, collaboration, and growth, strengthening both countries' economies. It creates meaningful economic opportunities for Nepalis to build thriving ventures at home, rather than seek opportunities abroad.

US President Donald Trump has called for a 15 percent cap on foreign students at Harvard University, citing national security concerns and claiming many are influenced by “radical left” elements, according to BBC.

“Harvard must show us their lists,” Trump said, criticizing the current 31 percent international student rate and arguing it limits opportunities for US students.

The Trump administration has urged institutions to end diversity programs and combat antisemitism or face funding cuts. Under tremendous federal pressure, Harvard has had billions of dollars in financing frozen and its student visa eligibility withdrawn, a move that has been temporarily delayed by a federal judge, BBC reported.

Harvard reports that 27 percent of its students are international, primarily in graduate programs.

China successfully launched its Tianwen-2 spacecraft early Wednesday, marking its first mission to collect asteroid samples. The probe lifted off at 1:31 a.m. local time aboard a Long March 3B rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Xinhua reported.

Tianwen-2 is headed to Kamoʻoalewa, a near-Earth asteroid about 10 million miles away. It is expected to arrive by July 2026, collect samples, and return them to Earth in November 2027.

Kamoʻoalewa, a small quasi-satellite of Earth, is estimated to be 40 to 100 meters in size. If successful, China will become the third country to return asteroid samples, after Japan and the US, according to Xinhua.

The mission reflects China’s expanding space program and long-term goal of crewed lunar exploration.