News from April 29, 2025 at 2 PM

On April 29, 2025, Canadian voters supported Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal Party in a national election heavily influenced by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. It is unclear if the Liberals will secure a majority government, but they are projected to continue ruling. Carney, in his victory speech, emphasized that Trump's comments about making Canada the 51st U.S. state were serious threats and stressed the need for self-reliance. Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre conceded defeat, describing the Liberals' win as a 'razor-thin minority government.' Poilievre, who had been favored to lead Canada a few months ago amid public frustration over inflation and immigration, lost ground due to his perceived similarities with Trump. Trump's policies and rhetoric became central to the election, aiding the Liberals' dramatic turnaround. Carney, a former central banker, leveraged his experience to bolster the Liberal campaign.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberals secured a victory in the election, with Carney gaining international attention for his tough stance against US President Donald Trump. Carney stated that Canada is ready to lead a coalition of like-minded countries promoting international cooperation and free trade. The Liberals defeated the Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre, whose 'Canada First' slogan and Trump-like style cost him voter support. Despite winning only a minority of seats in the House of Commons, Carney plans to expand trade with Europe, Australia, and Asian democracies to mitigate the economic impact of new US tariffs. He also pledged to accelerate military spending and reduce reliance on the US for defense procurement.

On April 28, massive blackouts occurred in Spain, leaving millions without electricity and disrupting transport and communication systems. The authorities stated that the causes of the blackouts remain unclear, with experts investigating the circumstances. The outages affected the entire country, neighboring Portugal, and even Andorra and areas of France bordering Spain. On April 29, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that all electrical substations in Spain were operational, with power restored to nearly the entire country, meeting 99.95% of energy demand. The Security Council will hold a new meeting to determine further steps to restore the national power grid.

On April 28, 2025, a massive power outage struck Spain and Portugal, also affecting Andorra and parts of France. Around midday, traffic lights went out, metros closed, businesses shuttered, and cash payments became the only option. Passengers were stranded on trains, with local villagers providing food and water. Residents in Madrid and Lisbon faced severe disruptions, with mobile networks temporarily down. Spain's power grid operator said it could take six to ten hours to restore power, while Portugal's electricity firm predicted up to a week for normalcy. Spain declared a state of emergency, with power gradually being restored in some areas.

On April 28, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day ceasefire in the war with Ukraine from May 8 to May 10, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union and its allies' victory in World War II. The Kremlin stated that the 72-hour ceasefire would start at the beginning of May 8 and end at the close of May 10, urging Ukraine to participate. The statement added that in case of violations by Ukraine, Russia's armed forces would provide an 'adequate and effective response'. This story is still developing.

Vladimir Putin, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, has announced a ceasefire from midnight on May 7 to 8 until midnight on May 10 to 11, in honor of the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, based on humanitarian considerations. All combat operations will be suspended during this period. Russia urges the Ukrainian side to follow this example. In case of ceasefire violations by Ukraine, the Russian Armed Forces will respond adequately and effectively. The Russian side reiterates its readiness for unconditional peace talks aimed at addressing the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis and engaging in constructive cooperation with international partners.

According to the Mehrnews agency, the death toll from an explosion at the Shahid Rajaee port in southern Iran's Hormozgan province has risen to 70. The explosion occurred on Saturday at the port located in the city of Bandar Abbas on the coast of the Persian Gulf. On Monday, Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni cited negligence as the cause of the explosion, stating that necessary precautions were not taken at the port. A special commission has been established to investigate the incident, and some individuals suspected of involvement have already been summoned to court.

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.

On April 27, 2025, cardinals paid their respects at the tomb of the late Pope Francis in the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, Italy. A senior Vatican source revealed that Roman Catholic cardinals will convene in a secret conclave starting May 7 to elect the new leader of the global Church. The date was set during a closed-door meeting of cardinals at the Vatican, the first since Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday. An official announcement is imminent. Approximately 135 cardinals under the age of 80 from around the world are eligible to participate in the conclave and decide the next leader of the 1.4-billion-member Church. The previous two conclaves, held in 2005 and 2013, lasted only two days.

On April 28, the US Navy reported that an F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet crashed off the deck of the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier. The jet lost control while being towed, resulting in it and the tow vehicle falling into the sea, with one sailor sustaining minor injuries. The incident occurred as the carrier was making a sharp turn in the Red Sea to evade Houthi rebel fire. Additionally, since the US military launched a large-scale airstrike against Houthi rebels in Yemen on March 15, seven MQ-9 Reaper drones, each costing $30 million, have been lost. The Houthi rebels claimed to have shot down a Reaper drone on April 19.

According to the US Department of State, the Russian side initiated a phone call to discuss further steps towards resolving the Ukrainian crisis. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Lavrov's request, emphasizing the next steps in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the urgency to end the war following Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's April 25 visit to Moscow. The US expressed its seriousness in facilitating an end to this senseless war. Earlier, the Russian foreign ministry stated that during the call, both top diplomats highlighted the importance of strengthening conditions for peace talks in Ukraine. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov noted that the Russian leader is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions. On April 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin held his fourth meeting with visiting US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, which Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov described as constructive and quite useful.

On April 27, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine needs to be reached soon, and the Trump administration will spend the coming week deciding whether to continue as a mediator. Rubio noted that if efforts are fruitless, other options will be considered. Previously, President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met in Rome to discuss ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Zelensky calling the meeting potentially historic. Meanwhile, US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns that Trump might cave in to Putin, viewing it as a betrayal of Ukraine.

Earlier on Monday, Al Masirah TV, controlled by Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) rebel movement, reported that the US conducted a strike on a detention center for African migrants in the city of Saada in northwestern Yemen, resulting in at least 68 deaths and 47 injuries. At least 115 migrants were present in the center at the time of the attack. The Houthis issued a statement condemning the US action, stating it reflects the moral decay of the Washington administration. On March 15, under orders from President Donald Trump, the US began massive strikes against Houthi targets, aiming to protect American interests and ensure freedom of navigation. In response, Ansar Allah launched a series of missile and drone attacks on the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea, with no reported damage to the ship.