News from April 29, 2025 at 2 AM

Power began to return to parts of the Iberian Peninsula late on April 28 following a massive outage that brought large areas of Spain and Portugal to a standstill, grounding flights, halting public transport, and forcing some hospitals to suspend routine operations. Spain's Interior Ministry declared a national emergency, and both countries' governments convened emergency Cabinet meetings to investigate the cause of the blackout, which began around 10.33am GMT. Portugal's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro stated there was no indication of a cyberattack. Power resumed in Spain's Basque country, Barcelona, and parts of Madrid on April 28, while various municipalities in Portugal, including Lisbon city center, also saw gradual power restoration. Hospitals, oil refineries, and retail businesses in both countries were affected, with traffic lights and metro systems failing, leaving many people stranded.

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.

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.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) began a five-day hearing on April 28 to consider whether Israel has a legal obligation to allow aid to Palestinians and cooperate with the UN's Palestinian aid agency, Unrwa. Israel has barred aid from entering Gaza since March 2, citing pressure on Hamas to release hostages. The UN and aid agencies claim food and supplies are dwindling in Gaza, a claim Israel denies. Last year, Israel severed ties with Unrwa, accusing it of colluding with Hamas. Palestinian Ambassador to International Organisations in The Hague, Ammar Hijazi, accused Israel of a 'genocidal campaign' against Palestinians. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated Israel would not participate in the 'circus,' calling it a politicization of the legal process. The US and Hungary are likely the only countries to defend Israel. Unrwa has challenged allegations of Hamas infiltration. The UN argues Israel, as an occupying power, is obliged to ensure supplies for Gaza's 2.1 million Palestinians. The World Food Programme warns of skyrocketing food prices and spreading malnutrition in Gaza.

As Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks enter a crucial week, President Trump stated he believes Ukrainian President Zelensky is ready to cede Crimea to Russia. Trump revealed in New Jersey that his Vatican meeting with Zelensky went well, noting Zelensky's increased calmness and willingness to reach an agreement. Trump expressed impatience with Russian President Putin, urging him to cease attacks and sign a deal. US Secretary of State Rubio emphasized the importance of the upcoming week, hinting the US might withdraw mediation efforts if no agreement is reached. Washington suggested freezing front lines and accepting Russian control of Crimea. North Korea confirmed for the first time its deployment of troops to help Russia reclaim Kursk, with Putin thanking Kim Jong-un.

According to a source, the date for electing the next pope was set during a closed meeting of cardinals held following the funeral of Pope Francis. The Vatican conclave is scheduled to gather on May 7 to conduct the election. This information was reported by Reuters, citing a source.

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.

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.

The China Coast Guard has raised the Chinese flag on the disputed Sandy Cay reef in the Spratly Islands for the first time in many years. According to a report by Chinese media outlet CCTV on April 26, China has declared 'sovereign jurisdiction' over the reef, which is located several kilometers from Thitu Island, used by the Philippine Coast Guard since 2023 to monitor China's activities. The Financial Times reports that China's claim effectively grants it a 12-nautical-mile radius of maritime territory overlapping with Thitu, raising concerns about escalating Sino-Philippines tensions. This move comes amid the Balikatan joint US-Philippines naval drill, the largest annual exercise focusing on coastal defense and island seizure training, which also takes place in parts of the South China Sea claimed almost entirely by Beijing. Since 2022, the US and the Philippines have intensified military cooperation under President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., and in February 2023, they revitalized their Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), granting the Pentagon access to nine strategic Philippine military bases and enhancing the US military presence in the region.

On April 9, 2025, Amazon successfully launched the first batch of 27 Kuiper internet satellites from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, U.S., using a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, following an earlier scrubbed attempt due to bad weather. ULA systems engineer Caleb Weiss commented on the smooth countdown and liftoff. The satellites are set to separate about 280 miles above Earth. Amazon aims to deploy 1,618 satellites by July 2026 to meet FCC requirements, having booked over 80 launches with partners including SpaceX, Arianespace, and Blue Origin. The company is investing up to $10 billion in the Kuiper network, expecting to start commercial services later this year.

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.

According to Axios correspondent Barak Ravid, the next round of nuclear consultations between the United States and Iran will be held in Rome, Italy on May 3. This follows the third round of talks held in Oman on April 26. Earlier, Iran invited Germany, the United Kingdom, and France to meet for discussions on the nuclear program in Rome on May 2. The first round of talks took place in Oman's capital Muscat on April 12, and the second round was held in Rome on April 19.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' that China should take responsibility for de-escalating trade tensions. He highlighted that China exports five times more to the US than it imports, making the 120% to 145% tariffs unsustainable. Bessent mentioned that markets have been on edge since President Donald Trump's April 2 announcement of broad-based global tariffs. A week later, Trump decided to maintain a 10% across-the-board tariff but delayed more aggressive levies against individual trading partners for 90 days. Bessent noted progress in negotiations, singling out India as a potential deal in the coming days. He also pointed out that European nations are likely panicking over the euro's strength against the US dollar, predicting that the European Central Bank will cut rates to weaken the euro. Recently, administration officials have sent mixed signals about the state of negotiations, with Trump claiming discussions with Chinese officials visiting Washington, while other reports indicated their presence was for World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings.

On April 28, foreign ministers of Brics nations began a two-day meeting in Rio de Janeiro to forge a united response to US President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies. The meeting comes at a critical time for the global economy, following the International Monetary Fund's downward revision of growth forecasts due to Trump's new tariffs. Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira emphasized the importance of dialogue amid humanitarian crises and political instability, stating that Brics' role is more crucial than ever. Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on dozens of countries, with tariffs on Chinese products reaching up to 145%, to which Beijing has responded with 125% duties on US goods. Since its 2009 inception, Brics has expanded significantly, now representing nearly half of the world's population and 39% of global GDP. Vieira called for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a diplomatic solution respecting the UN charter on the Ukraine conflict. Putin announced a three-day ceasefire from May 8-10, but the White House deemed it insufficient. Brics nations also plan to increase the share of national currencies in transactions and will discuss climate change issues.

On the 28th of this month, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reported that global military spending reached $2.72 trillion in 2024, a 9.4% increase from the previous year, marking the largest surge since the end of the Cold War. Geopolitical tensions are the primary driver, with significant increases in Europe and the Middle East. European military spending rose by 17%, and NATO member states' spending hit a historic high, with the United States alone spending $997 billion. In the Middle East, military spending increased by 15%, with Israel's spending soaring by 65%. The Asia-Pacific region saw a 6.3% increase, with Japan's spending up by 21%. Experts warn that the surge in military spending will have unpredictable impacts on the global economy and social stability.

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.

A child has damaged a painting worth millions of pounds by American artist Mark Rothko at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam. The museum spokesperson described the damage as 'superficial' with small scratches visible on the unvarnished paint layer. The painting, valued at up to €50m, is undergoing assessment for treatment, with expectations it will be shown again in the future. Experts note modern unvarnished paintings like Rothko's are particularly susceptible to damage, posing challenges for restoration. The incident raises concerns for UK institutions considering similar open-archive displays.

UK retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) continues to face disruptions from a cyber attack, resulting in delayed parcels, paused online orders, and suspended gift card payments. The incident, disclosed last Monday, has persisted into a new trading week, with M&S yet to reveal the nature of the attack or expected recovery time. Customers have expressed frustration over M&S's communication. Experts warn of potential reputational damage. M&S has hired external cyber security experts to address the issue, prioritizing in-store service recovery. Analysts note the attack coincides with a peak season for summer goods, likely impacting M&S's online sales significantly.

US Republican lawmakers are proposing to grant President Donald Trump broad powers to impose substantial fees on migrants seeking asylum in the United States, with a suggested minimum fee of $1,000 per application. The proposal, under review by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee, aims to codify Mr. Trump's domestic agenda into law. In 2023, approximately 54,000 foreign nationals were granted asylum in the US, with leading countries of origin including Afghanistan and Venezuela. The bill also proposes fees for parolees, work permits, and green card applicants, and a massive $8,500 charge for sponsoring a child out of federal custody. The legislation further plans to fund 10,000 new Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and Homeland Security criminal investigators.

On April 15, 2025, the Trump administration announced investigations into Harvard University and its Law Review over allegations that the prestigious journal was selecting articles based on authors' race rather than merit. This follows the administration's recent freeze of $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard due to concerns about campus antisemitism and other issues, prompting Harvard to sue the administration over the legality of the freeze. The civil rights offices of the Department of Education and the Department of Health & Human Services will probe the discrimination claims. The investigations were prompted by a report from The Washington Free Beacon, which cited internal documents revealing a pattern of racial discrimination at the Law Review. The documents indicated that just over half of journal members are admitted based on academic performance, while the rest are chosen by a 'holistic review committee' that prioritizes 'underrepresented groups.'

On April 28, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, following a meeting with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava, stated that Hungary and Slovakia support the US efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine and believe other EU countries should also lend their support. Orban emphasized that war has no solution and that Europeans should back peace initiatives. The two leaders agreed to focus their efforts in Europe on this matter. Orban also reiterated Hungary's welcome of US-Russia talks on the Ukrainian conflict and other issues, noting that these talks have significantly reduced the risk of military escalation.

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.