News from April 28, 2025 at 2 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, set to run from the morning of May 8 until May 11, coinciding with World War Two victory celebrations. Putin cited humanitarian considerations and urged Ukraine to follow suit. The Kremlin warned of an adequate response if Ukraine violates the ceasefire. Russia reiterated its readiness for unconditional peace talks. Previously, both sides observed a 30-hour truce over Easter but accused each other of numerous violations. The announcement comes during a critical week for Russia-Ukraine peace talks, with the US trying to broker a deal and the Trump administration threatening to withdraw if no progress is seen. Since Russia's full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, it controls about 20% of Ukraine's territory, with hundreds of thousands estimated killed or injured.

The Vatican has announced that cardinals will gather in a secret conclave on May 7th in the Sistine Chapel to elect the next pope. The meeting will involve around 135 cardinals from around the world, following the death of Pope Francis at the age of 88 on Easter Monday, whose funeral was held on Saturday. There is no set timeline for the election, but the previous two conclaves in 2005 and 2013 lasted only two days. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni stated that cardinals will participate in a solemn mass at St. Peter's Basilica before eligible voters gather in the Sistine Chapel for the secret ballot. Once inside, cardinals must cut off all communication with the outside world until a new pope is elected. There is one round of voting on the first afternoon, followed by up to four votes each day thereafter. A new pope requires a two-thirds majority, which can take time. If no decision is reached by the third day, cardinals may pause for a day of prayer. The world will watch for smoke from the chimney: black smoke indicates continued voting, while white smoke signals the election of a new pope. On Saturday, politicians and royalty joined thousands in mourning at Pope Francis' funeral in St. Peter's Square. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, 91, delivered a homily on the pope's legacy. After the ceremony, large crowds lined the streets of Rome to witness the procession of the pope's coffin to its final resting place at Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica. Authorities reported that 140,000 people clapped and waved as the hearse, a repurposed white popemobile, passed iconic Roman sights. On Sunday, images of Pope Francis' tomb were released, showing a single white rose on the stone bearing his papal name, beneath a crucifix illuminated by a spotlight.

A massive explosion at Iran's largest commercial port, Shahid Rajaee, on Saturday morning killed at least 40 people and injured over 1,000. Toxic chemical clouds hung over the area, prompting the health ministry to advise nearby residents to stay indoors and wear protective clothing. On Sunday, all schools and offices in the nearby city of Bandar Abbas were closed to focus on emergency efforts. Iran declared a national day of mourning on Monday, with an additional two days in Hormozgan province. Reports suggest the blast may have been caused by improper handling of solid fuel for Iranian ballistic missiles. President Masoud Pezeshkian visited the site and ordered an investigation. The port's customs office stated the explosion likely resulted from a fire in a hazardous materials storage area. The port handles nearly 80% of Iran's imports, raising concerns about potential food shortages.

Canada held its new federal parliamentary election on April 28, deemed the most significant in decades. The Liberal and Conservative parties are the main contenders, with U.S. President Trump's tariff and annexation threats a key issue. Liberal leader Trudeau criticized Trump's trade war, while Conservative leader Poilievre emphasized his differences from Trump. Since Trudeau's resignation in February, the Liberals' support rate reversed and led. Polls show the Liberals at 42.5% and Conservatives at 38.7%. Early voting hit a record high with 7.3 million votes. The election is seen as a test of Trump's overseas influence, with most Canadians holding negative views of him.

On the evening of October 25, gunfire was reported on both sides of the India-Pakistan Line of Control in Kashmir, with Indian officials confirming an exchange of fire, though Pakistan has not verified the incident. Pakistani Prime Minister Sharif called for a neutral investigation into the October 22 shooting, rejecting Indian allegations. India accused Pakistan-backed militants of involvement, which Pakistan denies. India announced measures including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, to which Pakistan reacted strongly, suspending the Simla Agreement. Experts believe large-scale ground warfare is unlikely, but airspace violations may occur. Pakistan's closure of its airspace, previously causing $64 million in fuel losses for Indian airlines, was reiterated. Iran and Saudi Arabia have offered to mediate the tensions between India and Pakistan.

On April 27, a car crashed into a crowd at a street festival in Vancouver, Canada, killing at least 11 people, including a five-year-old girl. The suspect, Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and is in police custody. Authorities stated that the attack is not being treated as terrorism. The incident occurred at 8:14 PM local time on Saturday at the intersection of East 43rd Avenue and Fraser in south Vancouver. Eyewitnesses described the black SUV plowing into the crowd. The city's Filipino community is deeply grieving, and local leaders, including the mayor and several political figures, have expressed their condolences.

On April 28, 2025, a US airstrike on a detention center in Saada province, north-western Yemen, controlled by the Houthi armed group, killed at least 68 African migrants and critically injured another 47. The center was holding 115 Africans at the time of the attack. US Central Command had previously announced that it had hit over 800 targets since President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of airstrikes against the Houthis on March 15. Houthi authorities claim the strikes have killed dozens of civilians. Despite 11 years of conflict in Yemen, migrants continue to arrive from the Horn of Africa, intending to cross into Saudi Arabia for work, facing exploitation, detention, and violence. The International Organization for Migration reports that nearly 60,900 migrants arrived in Yemen in 2024 alone.

Spanish power grid operator Red Electrica stated it is collaborating with energy companies to restore power after a significant power outage affected large parts of Spain and Portugal on Monday. E-Redes, a Spanish electricity grid monitoring company, issued a statement saying it is working to reestablish connections in phases, adding that this is a broader European issue. Spanish radio stations reported the evacuation of parts of the Madrid underground, with traffic jams in Madrid city center due to non-functioning traffic lights. Portuguese police noted that traffic lights were impacted nationwide, with the metro closed in Lisbon and Porto, and trains not running.

Philippine National Security Council spokesperson Jonathan Malaya stated on April 24 that reports of China seizing the disputed Sandy Cay reef in the South China Sea were false, as a Philippine team found no Chinese presence there on Sunday. Previously, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported its coast guard landing on Sandy Cay for maritime control operations but did not claim occupation. Sandy Cay is near Thitu Island, the largest feature occupied by the Philippines in the Spratly archipelago. Tensions between China and the Philippines over disputed areas in the South China Sea have escalated, with the Philippines criticizing China's 'aggressive' conduct. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said China's actions aim to counter illegal activities and safeguard national territorial sovereignty.

On April 17, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held high-level talks with France's Minister of Foreign Affairs in Paris to discuss Ukraine and its security. Rubio stated on Sunday that Washington will assess the progress in the Ukrainian conflict settlement in the coming week and decide whether to continue participating in the peace process. He believes this will be a critical week, requiring a determination on whether to stay involved or shift focus to other equally or more important issues. Rubio also noted that Washington is not expanding sanctions against Russia to avoid hindering the peace process.

In 2024, global military expenditure reached US$2.7 trillion, marking the steepest rise since the end of the Cold War. Significant increases were observed in Europe and the Middle East, with Russia's military spending rising by 38% and Ukraine's by 2.9%. Germany's spending increased by 28%, overtaking India as the fourth-largest spender globally. The United States saw a 5.7% increase, accounting for 37% of worldwide spending. In the Middle East, Israel's military expenditure surged by 65%. China's military budget grew by 7%, marking three decades of consecutive growth.

A joint survey by ABC television, The Washington Post, and the Ipsos sociological service, published on April 27, revealed that President Donald Trump's approval rating after 100 days in office is the lowest for any president in the last 80 years. 55% of Americans disapprove of Trump's performance, while 39% rate it positively. In 2017, Trump also set a record low approval rating after 100 days. Trump criticized the American media on Truth Social for distorting poll results, claiming the press writes negative stories and manipulates polls.

On April 27, 2025, Israel conducted an airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs, targeting a Hezbollah stronghold supported by Iran. Despite a ceasefire in effect for five months, Israel claimed the building housed precision-guided missiles posing a threat to the state and its civilians. The Lebanese presidency condemned the strike and urged the US and France, who brokered the ceasefire, to pressure Israel to halt its attacks. This marks Israel's first strike in the area in nearly a month, potentially pressuring the ceasefire further. Western officials, noting Hezbollah's compliance with the truce, accused Israel of multiple ceasefire violations. Lebanese Civil Defence reported no casualties from the attack.

On the night of October 2-3, 2016, Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in a luxury Paris apartment, losing approximately $10 million in jewelry. Suspect Yunice Abbas and his accomplices were arrested and are set to stand trial in Paris soon. Abbas and a 68-year-old man have confessed, while others deny involvement. The case involves security lapses and social media information leaks. Post-incident, Kardashian reduced her social media presence and enhanced her security. The trial will explore the whereabouts of the jewels and how the suspects obtained Kardashian's schedule.

On April 24, 2025, US President Donald Trump stated in Washington that US military and commercial ships should be allowed to pass through the Panama and Suez Canals free of charge, as those canals 'would not exist without the United States.' Trump posted on Truth Social, instructing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately address and document this situation. This move has garnered international attention and could impact canal transit policies.

On April 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow. Putin stated that Russia is ready to hold peace talks with Ukraine without preconditions. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed this on April 26. Putin has repeatedly outlined his demands regarding Ukraine, including control over five Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow, Ukraine's renunciation of NATO membership, and its demilitarization. Putin views the conflict as a 'hybrid war' waged by NATO against Russia and seeks to overhaul Europe's security architecture, particularly the positioning of NATO forces near Russia's borders. During the three-hour meeting, they discussed the possibility of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine, described as constructive by a Kremlin aide. Since Moscow's offensive began in 2022, Russia and Ukraine have not held direct talks, with the conflict devastating large areas of eastern Ukraine and killing tens of thousands of people.

On April 27, Saudi Arabia and Qatar issued a joint statement pledging to repay Syria's debt of approximately $15 million to the World Bank Group. This move aims to support Syria's economic recovery and pave the way for the World Bank Group to resume its support in Syria after a suspension of over 14 years. The two countries also called on international and regional financial institutions to promptly resume and expand their development engagement in Syria. On April 14, World Bank officials visited Damascus to discuss the potential resumption of financing to restore energy infrastructure and public sector payments. The meeting between Syrian Finance Minister Mohammad Yusr Barnieh and the World Bank delegation was the first public contact between the two sides in recent years. According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia may settle Syria's arrears to the World Bank Group, opening the way for international assistance to the country's restoration efforts.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appointed Hussein al-Sheikh as his deputy and potential successor on April 26, aiming to ease international concerns over the Palestinian leadership. Abbas, who has headed the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian National Authority since 2004, has long resisted internal reforms, including appointing a successor. Sheikh, a senior member of Fatah and seen as a pragmatist, was approved for the newly created position by the PLO Executive Committee. Analysts view this move as paving the way for Abbas's successor. Hamas reacted coolly to the appointment, while Saudi Arabia welcomed it, believing it will strengthen Palestinian political efforts towards self-determination.

On April 27, 2025, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Cory Booker hosted a protest on the steps of the Capitol in Washington, D.C., opposing the upcoming Republican push for a budget reconciliation bill that aims to cut $1.5 trillion in federal spending. Booker stated that the bill poses a significant moral threat to the country, impacting food for the hungry, care for the elderly, services for the disabled, and healthcare. Democrats have warned that the bill will lead to over $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid. The sit-in, which began at 6 a.m., lasted over nine hours, with numerous Democratic figures and progressive leaders participating.

On the morning of April 28, 2025, a Su-27 fighter jet of Ukraine's air force was lost while on a combat mission. The pilot ejected successfully and was later taken to a hospital. The incident is under investigation. Earlier reports in Ukraine mentioned the death of an F-16 fighter jet pilot, but did not specify if the aircraft was lost. Commenting on the F-16 pilot's death, Maryana Bezuglaya, a member of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada (national parliament), stated that Ukraine's aerial target identification system is not functioning properly.