News from April 22, 2025 at 2 AM

Pope Francis, the spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church for 12 years, has died at the age of 88. His death initiates the centuries-old process of electing a new Pope. The Pope, as the head of the Catholic Church, is a key authority for the world's approximately 1.4 billion Catholics. Francis opted for a simple wooden coffin and scrapped the tradition of public viewing in St Peter's Basilica, becoming the first Pope in over a century to be buried outside the Vatican. The new Pope will be elected by the College of Cardinals, with 138 cardinals currently eligible to vote. The election takes place in strict secrecy within the Sistine Chapel until a new Pope is chosen.

Last month, the Trump administration proposed a 30-day comprehensive ceasefire, which Ukraine agreed to, but Russia countered with a list of conditions. On Saturday, President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral 30-hour Easter truce in Ukraine, ending at midnight Sunday in Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on social media that the Russian army is creating the illusion of a ceasefire while still attempting advances in some areas. The Russian defence ministry claimed its troops strictly adhered to the ceasefire and accused Ukraine of violations. Skeptics believe the short truce is more about maintaining good relations with the Trump White House. Despite ongoing fighting, recent intense international diplomacy, including multiple meetings between Trump's envoy and Putin, and talks in Paris, suggests a potential window for peace.

On April 21, 2025, President Donald Trump sharply criticized Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on social media, calling him a 'major loser' for failing to lower interest rates to boost the economy. Trump urged Powell to cut rates 'pre-emptively,' warning of a potential economic slowdown. The criticism comes as Trump's tariff plans have triggered a stock market sell-off and raised fears of a recession. The S&P 500 fell about 2.4% on the day, having lost roughly 12% of its value since the year's start; the Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 2.5%, down about 10% year-to-date; and the Nasdaq fell over 2.5%, down approximately 18% since January. The dollar index hit its lowest level since 2022, and US government bond yields rose. Trump has previously criticized Powell and discussed firing him. Last week, he publicly called for Powell's termination, sparking controversy.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is accused of texting sensitive military strike plans from his personal phone to his wife, brother, and others. Less than 90 days into his tenure, Hegseth has swiftly reshaped the Pentagon, firing top generals and causing internal turmoil. The White House views this as a conspiracy against Hegseth, but President Donald Trump remains supportive. Trusted advisor Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick were dismissed over leaks. Former Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot described the department as in 'total chaos' and urged Trump to fire Hegseth. Democratic lawmakers are increasingly calling for Hegseth's resignation.

On April 21, Harvard University announced a federal lawsuit against the Trump Administration, alleging that the freezing of billions in federal funds illegally undermined the university's academic independence and violated its constitutional rights. Harvard's president stated that the fund freeze was unlawful and beyond governmental authority. The lawsuit involves multiple agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services. Previously, on April 14, the Trump Administration froze approximately $2.3 billion in grants and $60 million in contracts to Harvard, after the university refused to comply with its anti-Semitism campaign requirements. Additionally, the administration demanded records of Harvard's foreign funding and relationships over the past decade.

US Vice-President JD Vance has arrived in Delhi, India, to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on expediting a bilateral trade deal. Vance is also scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur with his family. The visit comes amid global trade tensions, with Trump imposing steep reciprocal tariffs on several countries. India has already reduced tariffs on some US goods. The bilateral trade between the US and India stands at $190 billion, with India enjoying a $45 billion trade surplus. Vance's tour is seen as a precursor to Trump's expected visit to India later this year.

El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele proposed a prisoner swap with Venezuela on Sunday, offering to exchange 252 Venezuelans deported from the United States and held by his government for an identical number of political prisoners in Venezuela. In a social media post directed at Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Bukele listed several detained family members of high-level opposition figures, journalists, and activists, accusing Maduro of imprisoning them for opposing his electoral fraud. Bukele stated he would instruct El Salvador's foreign ministry to contact the Maduro government. This proposal comes amid international scrutiny over El Salvador's acceptance of deportees from the Trump administration, who are detained in a 'mega-prison' known as the Terrorism Confinement Center. Despite the controversy, Bukele insisted that all detainees are part of an anti-gang operation.

According to the Health Ministry of the Houthi government, US airstrikes on Yemen's capital Sanaa resulted in at least 12 deaths and 30 injuries. The attack targeted a market in the Forwa neighborhood, with preliminary data indicating the death toll has risen to 12, and another 30 people were wounded. Rescue teams continue to search for victims under the rubble, and the number of casualties may rise. Significant damage was inflicted on residential buildings and market outlets in the area. Earlier, the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV channel reported that US aircraft conducted several strikes on various parts of Sanaa and also hit the Saada province in the northwest of the country.

On April 21, 2025, Delta Air Lines flight 1213 was forced to evacuate passengers after an engine caught fire on the tarmac at Orlando International Airport in Florida. Social media videos showed smoke and flames emerging from the right engine, with passengers exiting the aircraft via inflatable emergency slides. The flight, scheduled to depart Orlando for Atlanta, had 282 passengers, 10 flight attendants, and two pilots on board. The airport stated on social media that the Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting team responded promptly, with no reports of injuries. Delta Air Lines apologized for the incident, emphasizing safety as a top priority. The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the matter.

On April 8, 2025, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem had her purse stolen while dining at a restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C. The bag contained approximately $3,000 in cash intended for a family dinner and Easter gifts and activities. It also held Noem's passport, makeup, blank checks, driver's license, keys, and medication. The U.S. Secret Service reviewed surveillance footage showing an unidentified white male wearing a medical mask snatching the bag. Noem, speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll, said the matter is 'not resolved yet.' The Secret Service is still gathering information about the theft.

On April 17, 2025, President Donald Trump met with the CEOs of Walmart, Target, and Home Depot at the White House to discuss the impact of his sweeping tariff plans on their import-dependent business models. Following the meeting, the three companies issued similar statements, describing the meeting as productive and looking forward to continued dialogue. Trump stated that the meeting went very well. Walmart, which sources about two-thirds of its products in the U.S., is in a better position than Target, which relies heavily on overseas manufacturing. The National Retail Federation has warned of the harms tariffs pose to U.S. families, emphasizing that more tariffs mean more anxiety and uncertainty for businesses and consumers.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Uber on Monday, accusing the ride-hailing and delivery company of deceptive billing and cancellation practices related to its subscription service. The FTC claims Uber violated the FTC Act and the Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act by providing misleading information about its Uber One subscription, failing to offer a simple cancellation method, and charging users without their consent. FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson stated the action is to protect American consumers. This marks the first FTC action against a major tech company since President Donald Trump's second term began. An Uber spokesperson expressed disappointment but confidence in the court's ruling. Uber One, costing $9.99 monthly or $96 annually, offers various perks. The FTC alleges Uber's advertising is misleading and the cancellation process is complicated.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) reported on April 20 that a 14-year-old girl was killed by a lion outside the capital Nairobi. The incident took place in a ranch south of Nairobi National Park, witnessed by another teenager who raised the alarm. KWS rangers and response teams quickly mobilized, tracing bloodstains to the Mbagathi River where the girl's body was found with injuries on her lower back. The lion was not sighted at the scene, and traps have been set with teams deployed to search the area. KWS also reported a 54-year-old man was killed by an elephant in Nyeri County on April 18, calling for more investment in human-wildlife conflict mitigation.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon are expected to agree on deepening defense and security ties, including enhanced support for Ukraine, during their meeting on Tuesday, according to Starmer's office. The leaders will observe firsthand the joint training of Ukrainian forces by the armies of both countries in southwest England, with Luxon expected to confirm support for the initiative through the end of the year. During the visit, they will discuss plans to step up defense and security cooperation, instructing ministers to work on a new joint defense partnership. Starmer stated that Britain and New Zealand have stood 'shoulder to shoulder for generations in pursuit of peace and stability.' He expressed pride in their collaborative efforts to support national and economic security, including increased defense spending, joint naval deployments in the Indo-Pacific, and ongoing work to strengthen Ukraine's position against an increasingly aggressive Russia.

South Korea's customs agency said on Monday it has uncovered increased attempts to disguise foreign products, mainly from China, as Korean exports to evade U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. The Korea Customs Service found violations worth 29.5 billion won ($20.81 million) in the first quarter, with 97% destined for the U.S., compared to 34.8 billion won for all of last year, of which 62% were U.S.-bound. Trump, who imposed significant tariffs since taking office in January, including on China from February, has prompted a rise in such disguised exports. Anticipating increased risks, South Korean authorities conducted a preemptive investigation. On Monday, South Korean customs officials met with U.S. officials to discuss joint investigative efforts. South Korean officials noted that foreign companies, particularly from China, might use South Korea as a bypass to avoid tariffs. This month, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on South Korea, later suspended for three months, while U.S. tariffs on China now stand at 145%. The uncovered violations include 3.3 billion won worth of cathode materials for batteries and 19.3 billion won worth of surveillance cameras. The Korea Customs Service has launched a special task force to prevent illegal exports and plans to refer the violations to prosecutors.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated on Saturday that the Palestinian movement Hamas has once again rejected a deal to free some hostages, emphasizing that Israel will not end the war in the Gaza Strip until all kidnapped individuals are returned and Hamas' threat is completely eliminated. Netanyahu, in a national address, said the war will only end once Hamas in Gaza is destroyed, all hostages are returned, and the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to Israel. At the end of the week, Palestinian radicals rejected a proposal that would have released half of the living hostages in Gaza and returned the bodies of several deceased hostages. Netanyahu noted that Hamas demands an end to the war while preserving its power, a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the restoration of Gaza with investments allowing it to rearm and prepare new attacks. Ending the war under these terms of capitulation would signal to all of Israel's enemies that kidnapping Israelis can bring the State of Israel to its knees. On March 18, Israel resumed strikes on the Gaza Strip due to Hamas' refusal to accept the US plan to extend the ceasefire, which expired on March 1. Israel cut off electricity to a desalination plant in the Gaza Strip and blocked entry to trucks carrying humanitarian aid.

On April 21, the US Department of Education announced that it will resume collections on defaulted federal student loans starting May 5, marking the first restart since March 2020. The move aims to prevent taxpayers from continuing to bear the costs of debts voluntarily assumed by borrowers. Although Congress mandated the resumption of repayments from October 2023, the previous Biden administration refused to restart collections. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the department will collaborate with the Treasury to manage student loan programs and assist borrowers in resuming payments.