News from April 26, 2025 at 2 PM

US President Donald Trump has called for high-level talks between Russia and Ukraine to finalize a peace deal, stating that 'major points' have already been agreed upon. Trump arrived in Rome late Friday to attend Pope Francis' funeral and posted on Truth Social that the two sides are very close to a deal. On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin, where the possibility of resuming direct talks between Russia and Ukraine was discussed, according to Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov. Trump also mentioned the possibility of meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Rome.

On April 26, 2025, a massive explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in the southern Iranian city of Bandar Abbas injured at least 281 people. The blast occurred as Iran was engaged in a third round of nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, with the cause of the explosion remaining unclear. A local crisis management official stated that the explosion originated from several containers in the port's wharf area, and injured individuals were being evacuated to medical centers. State TV, citing a spokesperson for first responders, reported that it was not yet known if there were any fatalities. Tasnim news agency posted footage of injured men being treated on the road amid chaos. Efforts were underway to extinguish a significant fire, with the port's customs indicating that the area likely contained dangerous goods and chemicals. State TV suggested that negligence in handling flammable materials contributed to the explosion. The National Iranian Petroleum Refining and Distribution Company stated that oil facilities were unaffected. The blast shattered windows several kilometers away, with Fars news reporting that the explosion was heard on Qeshm island, 26 kilometers south of Bandar Abbas. In 2020, the port suffered a cyberattack attributed to Israel by The Washington Post. There was no immediate comment from Israeli military or Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office regarding any involvement in the explosion.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a shooting incident in Indian-controlled Kashmir. On April 24, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged both countries to exercise maximum restraint to prevent further deterioration of the situation. The April 22 attack resulted in at least 26 deaths, which Guterres strongly condemned. The Indian government accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, a claim denied by Pakistan. In response, India announced a series of diplomatic and strategic measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, closing border crossings, and expelling Pakistani personnel. Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to all Indian airlines and halting all trade with India. On April 25, officials from both countries reported a firefight between their soldiers in Kashmir, with no casualties reported so far.

Virginia Giuffre, who accused Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein of sexual abuse, has died by suicide at the age of 41, according to her family. Described as a fierce warrior against sexual abuse, the toll of her lifelong victimization became unbearable. She passed away at her farm in Western Australia, with police ruling out suspicious circumstances. Giuffre had publicly alleged that Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell trafficked her to Prince Andrew, claims he denies. An out-of-court settlement was reached in 2022, with no admission of liability. Epstein died by suicide in prison in 2019, and Maxwell was sentenced to 20 years for her role in his trafficking operations.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the depletion of all its food stocks in Gaza, where Israel has blocked humanitarian aid for seven weeks. On March 2, Israel cut off aid and resumed its offensive two weeks after a two-month ceasefire collapsed. By the end of March, all 25 WFP-supported bakeries in Gaza closed due to the exhaustion of wheat flour and cooking fuel. The UN reports a rapid worsening of malnutrition, with over 80 cases of acute malnutrition identified among 1,300 children in northern Gaza. Severe shortages of medicine, medical supplies, and fuel are also reported. The WFP warns of skyrocketing food prices and serious nutrition concerns for vulnerable populations. Over 116,000 tonnes of food aid, sufficient to feed one million people for up to four months, is ready for delivery once Israel reopens Gaza's borders. The WFP urges all parties to prioritize civilian needs and allow aid into Gaza immediately.

Last December, 26-year-old Luigi Mangione fatally shot UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Manhattan hotel in New York. Charged with murder and stalking, he was arrested in December. Mangione pleaded not guilty to all federal charges during Friday's court hearing. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Judge Margaret Garnett coordinated the pre-trial schedule, with Mangione's lawyers requesting a federal court trial first. Evidence review will take months, delaying the federal trial until at least 2026. Mangione also faces state charges in Pennsylvania and New York.

US President Donald Trump has signed a controversial executive order aimed at accelerating deep-sea mining within US and international waters. The order seeks to enhance America's access to minerals crucial for aerospace, green technology, and healthcare sectors. The deep sea holds billions of tonnes of polymetallic nodules rich in cobalt and rare earths. Many countries and environmental groups oppose deep-sea mining in international waters without further research. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun stated that the US authorization violates international law and harms global interests. Trump's move aims to position the US ahead of China in underwater resource extraction. The US administration estimates that deep-sea mining could boost the GDP by $300 billion over 10 years and create 100,000 jobs. The EU, UK, and others support a moratorium on the practice pending further scientific research. Environmentalists and scientists are concerned about potential harm to undiscovered species. The Metals Company (TMC) is in discussions with the US government for permits, with its CEO hoping to start mining by year-end.

The Trump administration in the United States announced the restoration of legal status for hundreds of international students, but plans to establish a framework for terminating their legal status. On April 25, government lawyers revealed that US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is restoring the status of some students. Previously, the administration abruptly revoked visas under the guise of combating campus anti-Semitism and deporting illegal immigrants, leading hundreds of students to file lawsuits. The Department of Homeland Security insists that ICE has not changed its decision to revoke visas, but only restored data for those whose visas had not been revoked. Several universities advise students to hire lawyers, and Duke University warns students not to leave the country. Some international students are放弃 their plans to study in the US due to fears of deportation.

Congo and Rwanda are set to sign an agreement in Washington on Friday to promote peace and economic development, aiming to end violence in eastern Congo. The agreement raises hopes of easing a long-standing conflict rooted in the Rwandan genocide, with both countries seeking significant U.S. investments in minerals. The violence surged after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels launched a major offensive in January, capturing two largest cities in the east. The UN and Western governments accuse Rwanda of arming M23, which Rwanda denies. Both Qatar and the U.S. have shown interest in mediating the conflict. In March, Qatar brokered a meeting between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who called for a ceasefire. The upcoming agreement aims to foster peace and integrated economic development in eastern Congo.

Former US Representative George Santos was sentenced to seven years and three months in prison for stealing campaign funds. On April 25, US District Judge Joanna Seybert in Central Islip, New York, handed down the sentence, describing his crimes as “flagrant thievery.” Santos served less than a year in Congress before being expelled following a House ethics probe that substantiated allegations of theft and deceit. Initially charged with 23 counts, Santos pleaded guilty to two counts of wire fraud and identity theft. He admitted to various misconduct, including filing false reports with the Federal Election Commission and embezzling campaign funds. Prosecutor Ryan Harris noted Santos engaged in five separate frauds, victimizing the handicapped and elderly. Santos is required to surrender to federal custody by July 25 and pay over $373,000 in restitution.

Over the past six weeks, Yemen's Houthi militants have downed seven US Reaper drones worth a total of $200 million, with three of them being downed in the last week alone. Pentagon officials noted that the increased US strikes against Houthi targets could heighten risks to US Air Force aircraft. Despite improved targeting by the Houthis, the US military campaign against the Ansar Allah movement has been successful so far, hitting over 800 Houthi targets. Following the escalation of the Gaza conflict in 2023, the Houthis threatened to shell Israel and block its ships in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Attacks ceased after a ceasefire in the Palestinian enclave in mid-January but resumed after the truce broke down in early March. On March 15, the US, under orders from President Donald Trump, launched massive strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen to protect American interests and ensure navigation freedom. The Houthis retaliated with a series of missile and drone attacks on the US aircraft carrier Harry Truman in the Red Sea.

U.S. Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are warning that President Donald Trump's private dinner with holders of his meme coin may constitute 'pay to play' corruption, and are calling for an ethics investigation. The Democratic senators from California and Massachusetts sent a letter on Friday to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, requesting a probe into whether President Trump violated federal ethics rules by offering exclusive access to top investors in his $TRUMP coin. The announcement, made on the meme coin's website on Wednesday, offered the top 220 token holders dinner with the president on May 22 at his golf club near Washington, D.C., which caused the coin's value to surge by 50%. The senators highlighted that this action raises serious ethics and legal concerns, including the risk of Trump and his family personally profiting from political influence. They cited reports linking some $TRUMP investors to foreign exchanges or funds from banned crypto platforms. Senators Schiff and Warren are inquiring whether any guidance has been provided to Trump or his family about profiting from digital assets while in office and what safeguards exist. Given the Republican control of the White House and Congress, and an ethics director appointed by the president, the letter is likely to be ignored. Trump and his allies are deepening their involvement in crypto markets, with the Trump family announcing plans to launch a stablecoin last month. Since its January debut, the $TRUMP meme coin has reportedly generated over $350 million in fees for entities tied to the president and his inner circle. Neither the White House nor the Office of Government Ethics responded to requests for comment.