News from April 27, 2025 at 2 AM

On April 26, the funeral of Pope Francis was held in St. Peter's Square in Vatican City, attended by 400,000 mourners, including US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The pontiff's simple wooden coffin was later interred at Rome's Santa Maria Maggiore church. On the same day, Trump and Zelensky had a brief meeting in St. Peter's Basilica, discussing a potential ceasefire with Russia. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named Hussein al-Sheikh as his deputy and likely successor. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed extreme caution about the success of nuclear talks with the US. A chemical explosion at Iran's largest port, Bandar Abbas, killed 14 and injured over 700.

Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following a shooting incident in India-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.

A Hamas official stated on Saturday that the group is open to a multi-year truce with Israel in Gaza but refuses to lay down its arms. During ceasefire talks in Cairo, Hamas leaders proposed a 5 to 7-year truce in exchange for ending the war, rebuilding Gaza, releasing Palestinians jailed by Israel, and freeing all hostages. Taher Al-Nono, Hamas' media adviser, indicated the group is open to discussing the truce but non-negotiable on disarmament. Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel downplayed the chances of a breakthrough unless Israel's core demands are met. Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza on March 18, resulting in over 2,000 Palestinian deaths.

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.

On April 26, Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) announced the detention of a man suspected of carrying out a car blast outside Moscow that killed senior Russian general Yaroslav Moskalik. The explosion occurred on April 25 in the city of Balashikha in the Moscow region. The FSB identified the suspect as Ignat Kuzin, an agent of Ukrainian special services, who allegedly planted a homemade explosive device in a Volkswagen Golf and detonated it remotely from Ukraine. A video released by the FSB showed Kuzin apparently confessing, along with footage of his arrest on a forest road and the bomb's components. Kuzin faces potential life imprisonment on terrorism charges. Kyiv has not yet commented on the incident, which resembles previous attacks on military figures and prominent supporters of the Kremlin's offensive over the past three years.

On April 27, US President Donald Trump stated that American military and commercial ships should be allowed free passage through the Panama and Suez Canals. In a post on his Truth Social page, he claimed that these canals would not exist without the United States. Trump has instructed Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately address and document this situation. This statement has garnered international attention and could impact canal transit policies.

On April 26, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas named his close confidant Hussein al-Sheikh as his deputy and likely successor, a move widely seen as aimed at alleviating international doubts over Palestinian leadership. Abbas has led the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) since the death of Yasser Arafat in 2004 but has long resisted internal reforms, including naming a successor. Sheikh, a veteran of Fatah, the main PLO faction, is viewed as a pragmatist with close ties to Israel. The United States and Gulf monarchies have prioritized PA reform, hoping it can play a central role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The war in Gaza has intensified pressure for reform, with the U.S. supporting the idea of a reformed PA governing Gaza post-war. During a PLO Central Council meeting on April 23-24, Abbas made his clearest call yet for Hamas to disarm and hand over governance of Gaza to the PA.

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.

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.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over the launch ceremony of the 5,000-ton Choe Hyon-class destroyer on April 25, emphasizing the acceleration of building an ocean-going combat fleet and advancing naval modernization. Kim Jong-un stated that the launch of the Choe Hyon marks a significant breakthrough in naval modernization, with plans to build more ships of the same class and develop larger vessels. He criticized the US-ROK joint military drills for simulating nuclear attacks, asserting that possessing ocean-going combat capabilities is a reliable means to counter nuclear threats. The Choe Hyon is expected to be delivered to the navy early next year, equipped with various combat capabilities and hypersonic missiles. Kim Jong-un also mentioned the 'intermediate boundary waters' for the first time, which may aim to redraw the maritime demarcation line between North and South Korea.

A miniature dachshund was found alive and well on Kangaroo Island, Australia, after being missing for 529 days. Kangala Wildlife Rescue had been tirelessly searching for the dog, Valerie, since she was last seen by her owners during a camping trip in November 2023. Owners Georgia Gardner and Joshua Fishlock briefly left Valerie in a playpen while fishing, only to find her gone upon their return. The rescue efforts involved over 1,000 hours of searching, covering more than 5,000km, and utilized surveillance cameras and a trap cage with a remote door system filled with food, Gardner's clothes, and Valerie's toys. Initial sightings by other campers and later reports of a matching pink collar by locals helped in the search. Gardner's scent-trail tactic using her worn t-shirt eventually led to Valerie's successful capture. The rescue was described as a 'rollercoaster' by Kangala directors and volunteers, who emphasized the importance of patience and hope for those who have lost pets.

A 52-year-old man quit his job. He purchased a failing snack company for $250,000. After a period of management and transformation, the company's performance significantly improved. Ultimately, he sold the company for $750 million. This transaction has garnered widespread attention in the industry. The man's success story has become a hot topic in the fields of entrepreneurship and investment.

On April 25, US strikes on the Yemeni port of Ras Isa resulted in injuries to three Russian sailors from an oil tanker preparing to unload. Houthi foreign minister Jamal Amer stated that the target of the US aggression was a ship docked at the port. The injured sailors, Roman Kashpor, Igor Kazachenko, and Artyom Vanin, were rescued by the coast guard and hospitalized. Ras Isa, the largest oil loading port in the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen, is located in al-Hodeidah governorate on the Red Sea coast. Earlier, Al Arabiya TV reported that the US struck a tanker carrying military equipment on the same day, conducting multiple airstrikes on Houthi positions in southern Sana'a and barracks in the Marib governorate.