Category: Education

App offers low-stimulation, play-based educational games that enable families around the world to raise digitally literate children in their heritage or second language

MALTA, June 9: Parlini Land, a multilingual educational app that enables children to learn up to 11 different languages, has launched on the Apple App Store and Google Play. Created for children ages three to eight, Parlini Land offers a library of quality, play-based educational games that feature fun, low-stimulation screen time. Activities on the app include number tracing, spelling, colour and shape recognition, matching, counting, flashcards, puzzles, and more. Parlini Land gives families around the world the ability to raise digitally literate children in their heritage or second language.

“The impetus for creating Parlini Land started when I became a mother,” explained Francesca Borg Bellanti, Parlini Land’s founder. “I noticed a gap that millions of families face but rarely talk about: the internet is overwhelmingly in English. For families who speak another language, whether it’s Arabic, Hindi, Irish, Polish, or Greek, it can be incredibly hard to find screen time that is genuinely engaging, age-appropriate, safe, and educational in their language. That’s the problem we’re solving with Parlini Land.”

Parlini Land is teacher-approved. The app supports language learning in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Greek, Irish, Hindi, Arabic, Swedish, and Polish. The immersive user experience features real human voices (not AI) in the child’s chosen language. The experience is calm and designed for low stimulation. It’s engaging, not addictive.

Borg Bellanti added, “Parlini Land is for bilingual families, perhaps in diaspora communities, who where parents want to keep a heritage language alive at home. We enable parents to introduce a new language naturally through play. The alternative is to surrender to English being the language of childhood, which is the risk parents face when every game, cartoon, and app a child interacts with is in English.”

Students of Narayana Educational Institutions have once again delivered an exceptional performance in the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (KCET) 2026, securing 27 ranks within the Top 100 across key streams and earning top ranks across multiple disciplines, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to academic excellence.

Among the standout achievements, Narayana students secured the State 7th, 34th, 48th, 53rd, 69th, 77th, and 96th ranks in Pharmacy; the 35th, 48th, 74th, 87th, 92nd, 93rd, and 100th ranks in Engineering; the 72nd rank in Veterinary Science; and the 21st, 37th, 41st, 46th, 50th, 90th, and 91st ranks in Nursing.

Further highlighting the institution’s strong performance, Narayana students secured 27 ranks within the Top 100 across key streams, including 7 ranks each in Pharmacy, Engineering, and Nursing, 3 ranks in Naturopathy & Yoga, 2 ranks in D.Pharmacy, and 1 rank in Veterinary Science.

These remarkable achievements reflect Narayana’s strong academic ecosystem, expert faculty guidance, personalised mentoring, and structured preparation that consistently empowers students to excel in competitive examinations.

On this occasion, Dr. P. Sindhura Narayana, Director, Narayana Educational Institutions, congratulated the students, parents, and faculty, stating: “The outstanding KCET 2026 results are a testament to the dedication and perseverance of our students, the unwavering support of their parents, and the commitment of our academic teams. At Narayana, we believe that every student’s dream deserves the right guidance and support. Through conceptual clarity, structured academic planning, personalised mentoring, continuous assessments, and technology-driven learning through platforms such as nLearn, we help students stay focused on their goals and perform to their fullest potential. We are delighted to see our students continue to excel in highly competitive examinations and turn their academic dreams into reality because, at Narayana, your dreams are our dreams.”

The institution’s impressive performance in KCET 2026 further reinforces Narayana’s reputation as one of Karnataka’s most trusted educational institutions for students aspiring to pursue careers in Engineering, Pharmacy, Healthcare, and Allied Sciences.

Researchers summarize the recent developments and future research directions toward the broader implementationof terahertz biophotonics

Biophotonicsrefers to the development and application of light-based technologies to study biological systems.The application of terahertz (THz) frequency range in biophotonics is considered a promising avenue for advancing biological research. However, several challenges still limit practical adoption, although recent developments show strong potential. In a new study, researchers present a comprehensive review of recent advancements and emerging applications of THz biophotonics, highlighting promising areas and future research directions that can expand its adoption.

Biophotonics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the development and application of light-based technologies to study, monitor, and treat biological systems. The ability to directly image cells and molecules has led to many fundamental discoveries in the past century. More recently, the terahertz (THz) region of the electromagnetic spectrum has attracted growing interest as a promising frontier for advancing biological research.

 The THz frequency range is associated with several fundamental biological processes. Although THz radiation is strongly absorbed by water, traditionally viewed as a limitation, this property can enable sensitive characterization of hydration states and water content. Compared to visible light, THz waves can also penetrate certain biological tissues more effectively. However, despite steady advancements, the adoption of THz biophotonicsstill lags behind visible light-based techniques in directly observing cellular and molecular dynamics.This is largely due to several challenges, including relatively low spatial resolution (a consequence of the longer THz wavelengths), high sensitivity to water that complicates measurements, slower imaging speeds, and bulky instrumentation. Fortunately, recent developments suggest strong future potential.

 To highlight these advancements, Associate Professor Kazunori Serita from theGraduate School of Information, Production, and Systems, Waseda University, Japan, together withSpecial-Appointment ProfessorMasayoshi Tonouchi from the Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Japan, presented a comprehensive review summarizing current efforts to address limitations and improve the adoption of THz biophotonics. The study was published in the Journal of Physics PhotonicsonMay 28, 2026.

 “THz biophotonics is a fascinating research area for next-generation biomedical technologies.Currently, THz biomedical applications are restricted to a few niche domains with many technical limitations.Recent developments in emerging THz technologies have greatly increased the potential for overcoming these technical limitations,” says Serita.

In their review, the researchers first outline how THz radiation interacts with biological processes, highlighting key advantages such as sensitivity to molecular fingerprint spectra and the ability to enable non-invasive, non-destructive, and label-free measurements. They also discuss the strong dielectric dispersion and absorption of water. Next, they trace the historical development of key THz technologies, including THztime-domain spectroscopy, the evolution of THzimaging techniques, and the emergence of THz metamaterial biosensors that can be used to probe complex and small biological samples.

A major focus was on fields that show strong potential for early application. For example, THz imaging is gaining attention in skin cancer diagnosis due to its sensitivity to tissue composition and is progressing toward clinical trials. Wound assessment is another field where THz imaging is being increasingly applied. Margin assessment in breast cancer is also a key area where THz technology has high potential for practical clinical application, offering a pathway to simplify current procedures. The review also highlights applications in drug discovery and pharmaceutical analysis.

Beyond these areas, the review identifies emerging directions such as single-cell THz imaging, molecular-scale THz studies, diagnostics for internal organs (including the gastrointestinal and respiratory systems), and THz-based blood analysis. In addition,it highlights future technologies that can enable THz observation of cells and molecules under physiological conditions, including the recently developed “point-terahertzsource” technology by Serita and colleagues.

 “THz measurement technologies can benefit not only medicine, but also a wide range of industries, including drug discovery, food inspection, environmental monitoring, semiconductor evaluation, and biotechnology,” says Serita.

Finally, the researchers presented the main areas for future research, includingidentifying the precise origins of THz contrast in biological samples and improving the understanding of water dynamics to improve reliability.

“Our study provides a roadmap of emerging approaches that could help transform the field of THz biophotonics from proof-of-concept studies to practical biomedical applications,” concludesSerita.

Professor Oramah served as President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank from 2015 to 2025, playing a central role in its evolution into one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions

CAIRO, Egypt, June 5, 2026/ — Following a transformative decade at the helm of Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), Professor Benedict Okey Oramah, GCON, former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), has received a number of distinguished appointments and recognitions reflecting his continuing impact and the broad demand for his expertise across finance, health, and pan-African development.

Members of the Royal African Society unanimously elected Professor Oramah as the Society’s second Patron at an Extraordinary General Meeting. Founded in 1901, the Royal African Society is the United Kingdom’s leading organisation dedicated to building understanding, engagement and partnerships across Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world, convening policymakers, business leaders, academics and civil society through events, research and advocacy. The appointment comes as the Society marks its 125^th anniversary and deepens its focus on Africa’s economic transformation, creative industries, and global partnerships. Arunma Oteh, Chairperson of the Royal African Society, noted that Professor Oramah’s election reflects the Society’s commitment to engaging with leaders who are shaping Africa’s economic future, and that his experience, global perspective, and longstanding commitment to pan-African cooperation will significantly strengthen the organisation’s work and broaden its impact.

Additionally, in April 2026, Kenyan President H.E. William Ruto appointed Professor Oramah as an independent member of the Governing Council of Kenya’s newly established National Infrastructure Fund (NIF) for a three-year term. The NIF represents a strategic pivot towards investment-led growth, designed to crowd in private capital and reduce Kenya’s dependence on sovereign borrowing. Professor Oramah sits alongside statutory members including the Central Bank of Kenya Governor, Attorney-General, top financial leaders and other experts as one of four independent experts appointed to the council.

Professor Oramah has also been appointed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention as Senior Advisor on Strategic Financing, alongside senior advisors on international cooperation, strategic partnerships and debt swaps. The appointment is intended to support the acceleration of Africa CDC’s Africa Health Security and Sovereignty agenda by strengthening its ability to mobilise capital, shape high-level policy and build strategic partnerships across the continent. It also reflects Professor Oramah’s continued engagement in health sovereignty, an area in which he played a central role in during his tenure at Afreximbank through initiatives including the African Medical Centre of Excellence in Abuja.

These appointments build on recognition that accompanied Professor Oramah’s departure from Afreximbank. Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conferred on him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON), the nation’s second highest national honour, in recognition of his contributions to Africa and to Nigeria, which received over US$52 billion in financing support from the Bank during his tenure. The Woodhall Capital dinner reception hosted at its Lagos headquarters in March 2026, which brought together distinguished figures from finance and industry to celebrate his contributions to African trade and economic development, was one of several such receptions held across the continent in recognition of Professor Oramah’s legacy.

Commenting on his latest appointments and continued engagement, Professor Oramah said: “Africa’s development is a multigenerational endeavour, and those of us who have been privileged to serve in leadership have a responsibility to remain in the arena. Whether through strengthening health financing systems, building the infrastructure that drives inclusive growth, or championing the institutions that tell Africa’s story to the world, the work continues. I am deeply honoured by each of these recognitions, and I remain committed to contributing wherever I can to Africa’s journey towards sovereignty and self-reliance.”

Professor Oramah served as President and Chairman of the African Export-Import Bank from 2015 to 2025, playing a central role in its evolution into one of Africa’s most influential financial institutions. Under his leadership, Afreximbank helped advance several continental initiatives, including the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF), and programmes aimed at strengthening manufacturing and creative industries across African economies. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of both the Fund for Export Development for Africa (FEDA) and the African Medical Centre of Excellence (AMCE).

Understanding the Science Behind Rising Temperatures, Droughts, and Extreme Weather Events

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As weather experts warn of a possible El Niño influence during the upcoming monsoon season, concerns are growing over its potential impact on agriculture, water resources and global temperatures. Though it originates in the Pacific Ocean, El Niño is among the most powerful climate phenomena affecting weather patterns across the world.

What is El Niño?

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate event characterized by the abnormal warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. Occurring every two to seven years, the phenomenon disrupts normal atmospheric circulation and alters weather patterns on a global scale.

The event forms part of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a recurring climate cycle that influences rainfall, temperature and storm activity across continents.

The Science Behind El Niño

Under normal conditions, strong trade winds blow from east to west across the Pacific Ocean. These winds push warm surface waters toward Asia and Australia while allowing cold, nutrient-rich waters to rise along the western coast of South America through a process known as upwelling.

During an El Niño event, these trade winds weaken significantly or even reverse direction. As a result, the vast pool of warm water shifts eastward toward the coasts of Peru and Ecuador. The warmer ocean surface heats the atmosphere above it, triggering major changes in wind patterns and atmospheric circulation.

These changes create a chain reaction across the globe, influencing rainfall distribution, temperatures and storm systems thousands of kilometres away from the Pacific Ocean.

Global Weather Impacts

The effects of El Niño vary from region to region but are often dramatic.

Asia and Australia

Many parts of Asia and Australia experience reduced rainfall during El Niño years. The resulting dry conditions can trigger severe droughts, water shortages, crop losses and an increased risk of wildfires. In India, El Niño is closely monitored because it can weaken the southwest monsoon, the lifeline of the country’s agricultural sector.

North and South America

While Asia often becomes drier, parts of the Americas experience the opposite effect. Heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides frequently affect countries along the eastern Pacific coast. Southern regions of the United States generally witness wetter and stormier winters, while northern areas tend to remain warmer and drier than usual.

Rising Global Temperatures

El Niño releases enormous amounts of stored ocean heat into the atmosphere, often contributing to record-breaking global temperatures. Several of the warmest years in recorded history have coincided with strong El Niño events.

Impact on Marine Ecosystems

The warming of Pacific waters also affects marine life. Reduced upwelling limits the supply of nutrients that support phytoplankton, the foundation of the ocean food chain. As food availability declines, fish populations such as salmon, tuna and anchovy can suffer significant losses, affecting fisheries and coastal economies.

Why It Matters for India

For India, the biggest concern is the impact on monsoon rainfall. A weaker monsoon can affect agricultural output, reservoir levels, drinking water supplies and rural livelihoods. Farmers and policymakers closely monitor El Niño forecasts to prepare for potential rainfall deficits and drought conditions.

Looking Ahead

Climate scientists continue to study how global warming may influence the intensity and frequency of El Niño events. While El Niño itself is a natural phenomenon, rising global temperatures could amplify its effects, making extreme weather events more severe and unpredictable.

As meteorological agencies keep a close watch on Pacific Ocean conditions, governments and communities are being urged to strengthen climate resilience, improve water management and enhance disaster preparedness to reduce the risks associated with future El Niño events.

Conclusion

El Niño remains one of the most influential climate drivers on Earth. Its ability to alter rainfall patterns, intensify heatwaves, trigger floods and disrupt ecosystems highlights the interconnected nature of the global climate system. Understanding its causes and impacts is essential for improving preparedness and mitigating risks in an era of increasing climate uncertainty.

Nine students from the University of West Florida participated in The Washington Center’s National Security Seminar, a weeklong event that brings students from around the world to explore current national security challenges. Made possible through UWF Career Development and Community Engagement’s longstanding partnership with The Washington Center, each student received a $2,295 scholarship covering the full cost of the seminar with additional financial support allocated to offset travel and professional expenses. 

“Programs like this allow students to gain experience outside of the classroom while exposing them to new perspectives, valuable networking opportunities and potential career paths they may not have previously considered,” said Jessica Prather, CDCE’s coordinator and liaison. “These experiences help students connect what they are learning in the classroom to real-world challenges and careers. It’s incredibly rewarding to help students access opportunities that broaden their perspectives, build confidence and create professional connections.” 

From May 15-23, students experienced impactful career-building opportunities by engaging directly with national security experts, visiting organizations throughout the city and exploring career pathways in their respective field. The curriculum covered a broad range of critical topics, including U.S. national security strategy, the national security ecosystem, and the role of alliances, partnerships and multilateral institutions as instruments of U.S. power.

“Participating in the Washington Center National Security Seminar exposed me to a completely different lifestyle, from traveling by train and walking long distances to engaging with people that broadened my perspective,” said Zack Gray, a UWF student pursuing a master’s degree in criminal justice. “From visiting the National Guard Museum, being a part of a discussion at the Chinese Embassy and meeting Senator Ashley Moody, I learned that national security is far more complex than it appears and that real change requires active engagement, not bystanders.”

Leading up to the event, the CDCE held campus classroom visits from The Washington Center’s admissions counselor, hosted information sessions and sent Handshake emails promoting the fully funded experience to students, generating strong student interest in the opportunity. These initiatives showcase UWF’s ability to not only connect students to national-level experiences, but also support them through the application process, funding navigation and career preparation.

“Receiving this scholarship was incredibly meaningful,” said Valerie Dogbe, a UWF student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in international studies. “Without this vital financial support, attending the seminar would not have been feasible for me. I am deeply grateful for the university’s investment in my academic and professional growth. The knowledge and exposure I gained have given me an excellent foundation for a future career in international relations and national security.” 

Throughout the year, The Washington Center serves hundreds of universities and colleges from more than 25 countries with both academic seminars and internships. With more than 600 higher education institutions, corporations, government agencies, foundations and employers, The Washington Center is one of the largest and most well-established internship programs in the nation. 

Scrum.org Launches New Self-Paced Professional Scrum Master™ Advanced Fundamentals Training Course. The new course helps Scrum Masters enhance their capabilities and includes an attempt at the PSM II certification

BOSTON – June 3 – Scrum.org, the Home of Scrum, announced that it has added a new self-paced course, Professional Scrum Master Advanced Fundamentals, to its online learning platform. This course for new and experienced Scrum Masters goes beyond the basics, where students explore the unique blend of skills and practices needed to support the Scrum Team and organization. By the end of the course, students will understand what it takes to be a successful Scrum Master and their importance to the entire product delivery process. This course is highly recommended for people preparing to take the globally recognized Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification test and includes an attempt at the test upon completion of the course.

Throughout this course, students will develop the ability to act and grow as a Scrum Master who enables Scrum Teams to deliver value effectively, demonstrates leadership to enact positive change, and fosters a culture of Professional Scrum, self-management and continuous improvement across the organization. Students will work through real-world scenarios, case studies, and interactive exercises that challenge them to assess and respond to complex situations that Scrum Masters face daily. 

“We are very excited to announce our newest self-paced training course – Professional Scrum Master Advanced Fundamentals,” said Dave West, CEO, Scrum.org. “There are many facets to being a Scrum Master, often facing the balance of leadership, enabling the Product Owner to maximize value, fostering continuous improvement and more. This course enables Scrum Master to learn how to grow these skills and more at their own pace and at a time that suits them. We understand that people learn in many different ways and look forward to building out our online learning platform.”

Professional Scrum Master Advanced Fundamentals is optimized for interactive learning including activities where students take action and make choices, reading, watching videos and quizzes.This course helps students prepare for the Professional Scrum Master II (PSM II) certification test. Students taking the Professional Scrum Master Advanced Fundamentals course will receive a password to take the certification test upon completion of the course.

This course can be purchased together with the Professional Scrum Fundamentals course as part of a bundle. The bundle is ideal for those who want foundational Scrum training prior to taking the Professional Scrum Master Advanced Fundamentals course. The bundle includes attempts at both the PSM I and PSM II certification tests. The bundle is available at the discounted price of $490.

Students can purchase the new course or bundle on the Scrum.org website.

New Delhi, June 2 (BNP): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has officially launched the online portal for Class 12 students to apply for answer sheet verification and re-evaluation, following delays linked to technical upgrades and system improvements.

The portal became operational on June 2, 2026, allowing eligible students who have already accessed scanned copies of their evaluated answer sheets to report discrepancies, seek clarification on marking issues, or request re-evaluation of specific answers. The application process will remain open until midnight on June 6, 2026.

The move comes after concerns were raised over the rollout of CBSE’s new On-Screen Marking system, which reportedly faced technical glitches and delayed the reopening of post-result activities. CBSE is understood to have worked with technical experts to strengthen the system and address operational issues before reopening the portal.

According to board guidelines, students can apply for verification of answer book-related concerns, including issues such as blurred or incomplete scanned pages, by paying a fee of ₹100 per answer book. Re-evaluation of individual questions can be requested at ₹25 per question.

To access the facility, students must log in through the CBSE portal using their Roll Number, School Number, and Admit Card ID. Aadhaar-based verification has been made mandatory for authentication. In cases where a student does not possess an Aadhaar number, details of a parent or guardian may be used, subject to identity matching requirements.

CBSE has clarified that only students who have already downloaded and reviewed their scanned answer sheets are eligible to apply. No offline applications or requests submitted after the deadline will be entertained.

Education experts have advised students to carefully review answer sheets and act within the limited application window to avoid missing the opportunity for corrections or reassessment.

New Delhi, June 1 (BNP): The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the online portal for Class 12 post-result verification of marks and re-evaluation will be activated soon, bringing clarity to students awaiting the application process following board examination results.

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The update comes amid growing concerns among students over delays in the activation of post-result services, which allow candidates to seek verification of marks and request re-evaluation of answer sheets.

Responding to queries raised by students on social media platform X, CBSE confirmed that the verification and re-evaluation portal would go live shortly and stated that a detailed official announcement would follow.

The board had earlier indicated that the portal was expected to open during the final week of May. However, activation was reportedly deferred to ensure a secure, transparent and error-free process for handling post-result applications.

Once operational, the portal will enable eligible students to apply for various post-result services, including verification of marks, access to photocopies of evaluated answer sheets and re-evaluation of specific responses as per prescribed guidelines.

Under the verification process, CBSE examines whether all answers have been evaluated, marks correctly totalled and final scores accurately uploaded. Students dissatisfied with their performance may subsequently apply for re-evaluation, subject to eligibility norms and procedural requirements.

Officials are expected to release detailed instructions regarding application dates, service fees, timelines and submission procedures shortly after the portal is activated.

Meanwhile, students have been advised to regularly monitor official CBSE websites and notifications for updates and keep important credentials, including roll numbers and admit card details, readily available to avoid last-minute inconvenience.

CBSE officials reiterated that students are not required to take any immediate action and should wait for the formal notification before initiating post-result applications.