Today's Headlines

On April 30, the United States and Ukraine signed a minerals deal in Washington, ending a two-month delay. The agreement is seen as a new form of commitment by the Trump administration to Kyiv, replacing military aid. Ukraine secured full sovereignty over its rare earths during negotiations. Initially, Trump demanded Ukraine's mineral wealth as compensation for US weapons. Ukraine eventually accepted the deal to attract long-term US investment. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated the agreement demonstrated both sides' commitment to lasting peace and prosperity in Ukraine. Prime Minister Denys Shmygal called the deal good, equal, and beneficial, announcing the establishment of a Reconstruction Investment Fund with Ukraine retaining full control over its natural resources. Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said the deal would finance mineral, oil, and gas projects, as well as related infrastructure.

The Pakistani government stated early Wednesday that India plans to take military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours. Pakistan's Minister of Information and Broadcasting claimed India is using recent shootings in Jammu and Kashmir as a pretext. On April 22, a shooting in the region killed 26 people, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, to which Pakistan responded by halting trade, closing its airspace to India, and expelling Indian diplomats. Pakistani forces shot down an Indian spy drone in Kashmir, with both sides engaging in continuous gunfire. UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke with Pakistan's Prime Minister and India's Foreign Minister, expressing deep concern and offering mediation. US Secretary of State Rubio is set to call the foreign ministers of both countries, urging them to de-escalate tensions.

On October 29, Spain's National Grid announced that over 99% of the country's electricity supply had been restored. Since noon on October 28, a massive blackout hit Spain and Portugal, affecting 60 million people and paralyzing daily life. Spain declared a state of national emergency, with the cause of the blackout still under investigation. Experts say the incident exposed the vulnerability of Europe's energy transition. The EU Commission stated it would learn lessons from the blackout.

King Charles shared a personal message at a Buckingham Palace reception for cancer charities, discussing his own experience as a cancer patient and highlighting the compassion that can illuminate the darkest moments of illness. While not providing an update on his treatment, royal sources indicate positive progress. Diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, he continues to receive successful treatment. After a brief hospital stay in March due to side effects, he was well enough for a state visit to Italy in April. The King praised the 'community of care' supporting cancer patients and quoted the late broadcaster Dame Deborah James, urging hope and resilience.

U.S. and British forces conducted a joint military operation in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting a Houthi military facility responsible for manufacturing drones used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The facility, located about 24 km south of Yemen's capital Sanaa, was identified through intelligence analysis. President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of U.S. strikes in Yemen last month, vowing to continue assaulting Iran-backed Houthi rebels until they cease attacks on Red Sea shipping. The British statement noted the operation was carried out at night to minimize civilian casualties, with their aircraft returning safely. Houthi-controlled media previously reported a U.S. airstrike killed 68 people at a detention center for African migrants in Yemen. Recent U.S. strikes have resulted in dozens of deaths, including 74 in a mid-April attack on an oil terminal, raising concerns from rights advocates about civilian killings.

One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines, the Tokaido Shinkansen, halted operations due to a snake entangled in a power line, causing a power outage. Services between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended around 17:25 local time on Wednesday and resumed at approximately 19:00, according to Central Japan Railway Company. This incident occurred during Japan's busy Golden Week holiday season and as Osaka hosts the World Expo, attracting millions of visitors. The snake incident took place between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, affecting multiple train routes. Passengers gathered at stations and queued at ticket machines. A frequent traveler noted it was his first experience of such a disruption, while another expressed frustration with service issues. This is not the first time a snake has disrupted the shinkansen service, with a similar incident reported in April 2024.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday evening renaming the airport in Volgograd as Stalingrad, in honor of the largest battle of World War Two where the Soviet army defeated Nazi German forces. The decree, published on the Kremlin's website, aims to perpetuate the victory of the Soviet people in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945. The Battle of Stalingrad, renamed Volgograd in 1961, was the bloodiest battle of the war, with the Soviet Red Army inflicting over 1 million casualties to break the German invasion forces in 1942-1943. In a 2023 speech in Volgograd, Putin criticized Germany for arming Ukraine and hinted at readiness to use Russia's entire arsenal, including nuclear weapons.