A heavy police presence was witnessed near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus in Cambridge after reports of an active shooter along Memorial Drive on Monday afternoon.

According to Cambridge Police, officers responded to reports of gunfire near River Street at around 1:30 p.m. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including Massachusetts State Police, rushed to the scene as videos circulating online showed a man carrying a rifle near moving traffic.

Witnesses claimed dozens of shots were fired during the incident, with some saying the suspect appeared to fire randomly near the roadway before police returned fire.

“A guy holding a rifle… I ran. He just started shooting out of nowhere,” a witness identified as Dennis Rodriguez told local media.

Videos from the scene showed police vehicles blocking roads while ambulances and emergency crews surrounded parts of Memorial Drive. 

Helicopters were also seen hovering over the area during the operation.

Massachusetts State Police later confirmed that troopers were involved in the shooting. 

Authorities said there was no ongoing threat to the public; however, residents were advised to avoid the area as investigations continued.

Governor Maura Healey said she was closely monitoring the situation and thanked first responders for securing the scene.

The identities of those involved and the motive behind the shooting have not yet been officially released.

King Charles and Queen Camilla led a dazzling evening of music and celebration at London’s Royal Albert Hall as they marked 50 years of The King’s Trust. 

“What a night!” royal watchers declared as the King and Queen arrived to a star-studded welcome at the iconic venue, where television favourites Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly greeted the royal couple on the red carpet.

Charles appeared relaxed and cheerful as he joked with the presenting duo, telling them it had been “a long time” since they last met while complimenting them on their youthful looks. 

Ant quickly laughed off the remark, joking that he was wearing “a lot of makeup.”

Inside the venue, the royal couple mingled with an extraordinary guest list featuring Hollywood stars, music legends and British celebrities. 

Among the most talked-about arrivals were George Clooney and Amal Clooney, with Queen Camilla reportedly chatting to Amal about makeup during the glamorous evening.

Beauty mogul Charlotte Tilbury also attended in a shimmering metallic gown, while stars including Benedict Cumberbatch, Gareth Southgate and Idris Elba joined the celebrations.

Rolling Stones legend Ronnie Wood and his wife Sally made a striking entrance in matching sunglasses, while Kate Garraway and singer Rita Ora added to the glamour of the night.

Rita Ora later joined an all-star musical lineup that included Rod Stewart, Craig David, Anne-Marie and Jools Holland.

As Charles and Camilla took their seats in the royal box, Ruby Turner performed the national anthem, prompting the audience to rise before the evening’s entertainment got underway.

The celebration honoured five decades of the King’s Trust, the charity Charles founded in 1976 to support young people facing hardship and disadvantage. 

Since then, the organisation has helped transform millions of lives across the UK and around the world.

• Applicants no longer required to visit HEC offices physically.
• e-Attestation system ensures secure document verification.
• Applications submitted 24/7 via HEC e-services portal.

Higher Education Commission (HEC) Chairman Niaz Ahmad Akhtar on Monday announced a comprehensive upgrade to the Degree Attestation System (DAS), introducing a fully online and paperless mechanism aimed at modernising verification services for students and graduates across Pakistan.

In a post on X, Akhtar said the new system eliminates the need for applicants to physically visit HEC offices or submit original documents, as the entire process has now been digitised to enhance ease and accessibility.

He further explained that the newly introduced “e-Attestation Certificate System” is designed to offer a secure, efficient, and user-friendly experience, with online verification of attested documents and certificates available across all relevant institutions.

According to the commission, the upgraded online DAS will be formally launched and become effective from May 11, with complete details available on its official website.

• Applications can be submitted 24/7 through the online portal www.eservices.hec.gov.pk.
• Candidates apply by creating an account and providing personal and academic details.
• Applicants can upload transcripts online for HEC scrutiny and university-level verification of credentials.
• Payment is made online through the 1-Link payment system.
• An e-attestation certificate is issued for the submitted documents after final review.
• Applicants will receive notifications via SMS and email upon completion of the process.
• The verifiable certificate can also be downloaded directly from the HEC online portal account.

Separately, it emerged in April that the commission was preparing to introduce a fully digital degree attestation system based on a blockchain-enabled platform, allowing students and graduates to submit requests and track their applications.

The higher education regulator had signed an agreement with CMPak and its joint venture partner Wibbow Technologies to develop the platform, which is particularly aimed at facilitating applicants living outside major cities or applying from abroad.