News from May 1, 2025 at 2 AM

The Pakistani government stated early Wednesday that India plans to take military action against Pakistan within the next 24 to 36 hours. Pakistan's Minister of Information and Broadcasting claimed India is using recent shootings in Jammu and Kashmir as a pretext. On April 22, a shooting in the region killed 26 people, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism. India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, to which Pakistan responded by halting trade, closing its airspace to India, and expelling Indian diplomats. Pakistani forces shot down an Indian spy drone in Kashmir, with both sides engaging in continuous gunfire. UN Secretary-General Guterres spoke with Pakistan's Prime Minister and India's Foreign Minister, expressing deep concern and offering mediation. US Secretary of State Rubio is set to call the foreign ministers of both countries, urging them to de-escalate tensions.

Red Electrica, the company managing Spain's national electricity grid, ruled out cyberattack as the cause of a widespread blackout in the country on Tuesday. The company's head, quoted by El Pais, stated that there was no intrusion into Red Electrica's control system, and investigations into the blackout's causes continue. On Monday at 12:30 local time (10:30 GMT), electricity and mobile phone networks were disrupted in hundreds of businesses and homes across Spain, including cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, A Coruna, and Seville, with power outages also reported in Portugal. Later that day, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that nearly half of the country's electricity supply had been restored.

On April 30, a large-scale wildfire broke out in the suburbs of Jerusalem, leading to the evacuation of residents from multiple communities. Social media videos showed the rapid spread of the fire with heavy smoke, and parts of Highway 1 leading from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv were closed by police, with many drivers abandoning their vehicles to flee. Israeli Defense Minister Katz declared a 'national state of emergency,' and the Israeli Fire and Rescue Services activated the 'national emergency plan,' raising the alert level to the highest. 120 fire crews, supported by several firefighting aircraft and helicopters, were deployed to key areas, with an additional 22 teams en route. The Israeli Army dispatched soldiers to assist with the response and evacuation, and aerial assets provided real-time imagery. The Israeli government has requested firefighting assistance from countries including Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, and Italy, with international aid expected to arrive on May 1. Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority has offered to send fire crews, but Israel has not yet officially responded.

On November 9, 2023, Columbia University student Mohsen Mahdawi, who spoke at a protest on campus in New York City, was released on bail. The 34-year-old U.S. permanent resident, born in a West Bank refugee camp, was detained by armed DHS agents during his naturalization interview in Vermont on April 14. Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford ordered his release on bail, denying the government's request to pause the release. Mahdawi, a key organizer of pro-Palestinian protests, was accused by the government of involvement in antisemitic violence, which he denies. His attorneys claimed the government's allegations were baseless and violated free speech rights. Mahdawi called for the release of other detained students and an end to the war in Gaza and U.S. aid to Israel.

On May 1, Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have downed an F-18 fighter jet from the USS Harry Truman aircraft carrier in the northern Red Sea. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated that the operation prevented an air raid on Yemen. The Houthis employed new tactics involving drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles. CNN reported that an F/A-18E Super Hornet fell overboard while evading Houthi fire, resulting in minor injuries to one crew member.

King Charles shared a personal message at a Buckingham Palace reception for cancer charities, discussing his own experience as a cancer patient and highlighting the compassion that can illuminate the darkest moments of illness. While not providing an update on his treatment, royal sources indicate positive progress. Diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, he continues to receive successful treatment. After a brief hospital stay in March due to side effects, he was well enough for a state visit to Italy in April. The King praised the 'community of care' supporting cancer patients and quoted the late broadcaster Dame Deborah James, urging hope and resilience.

On April 30, US President Donald Trump said during a White House Cabinet meeting that Tesla CEO Elon Musk could continue working at the White House but understood his desire to return to his businesses. Musk had earlier indicated he would step back from his role in the administration's cost-cutting 'Department of Government Efficiency' (Doge) to focus on his troubled Tesla car company. Tesla has suffered significant brand damage due to Musk's political work, with vandalism and boycotts in Europe and the US. Trump praised Musk's sacrifices, to which Musk responded about his cars being burned. David Sacks, a close ally of Musk and a member of the Trump administration, said Musk would reduce his Doge role, similar to his approach during the Twitter takeover in 2022.

U.S. and British forces conducted a joint military operation in Yemen on Tuesday, targeting a Houthi military facility responsible for manufacturing drones used to attack ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The facility, located about 24 km south of Yemen's capital Sanaa, was identified through intelligence analysis. President Donald Trump ordered an intensification of U.S. strikes in Yemen last month, vowing to continue assaulting Iran-backed Houthi rebels until they cease attacks on Red Sea shipping. The British statement noted the operation was carried out at night to minimize civilian casualties, with their aircraft returning safely. Houthi-controlled media previously reported a U.S. airstrike killed 68 people at a detention center for African migrants in Yemen. Recent U.S. strikes have resulted in dozens of deaths, including 74 in a mid-April attack on an oil terminal, raising concerns from rights advocates about civilian killings.

On April 30, a traffic accident in central Copenhagen, Denmark, resulted in five injuries. Danish police attributed the incident to driver error, stating an elderly man lost control of his vehicle. The condition of the injured is currently unknown, with at least one person requiring emergency medical treatment. The accident occurred on Sortedam-Dossering Street.

The majority of members of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) have approved a coalition agreement with the conservative bloc of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU), clearing the way for the formation of a new German government. Voting began on April 15 and lasted 15 days, concluding on April 29. Of the approximately 358,000 SPD members, 56% participated, with 84.6% approving the agreement. At least 20% of party members were required to approve the 144-page coalition pact. On May 6, Christian Democrat leader Friedrich Merz will be elected as the new chancellor in the Bundestag, with his government members sworn in the same day. Germany held early parliamentary elections on February 23, with the CDU/CSU bloc winning 28.5% of the vote, the Alternative for Germany party coming in second with 20.8%, and the SPD finishing third with 16.4%.

Iranian state media reported that an Iranian man convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel was executed on Wednesday. The man, identified as Mohsen Langarneshin, was accused of involvement in several cases, including the death of a Revolutionary Guards colonel in 2022. According to Iran's judiciary media outlet Mizan, during his two years as a spy, he supported terrorist operations and was present at the assassination of Sayad Khodai. He also provided operational support for an attack on an industrial center in Isfahan linked to the Ministry of Defence. Earlier this week, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused Israel of seeking to derail Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting limits on Tehran's uranium enrichment and pushing for the full dismantlement of its nuclear infrastructure.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated at a forum that the decision to revert Volgograd's name to Stalingrad should be made by its residents. This comes ahead of the 80th anniversary commemorations of the Soviet Union and its allies' victory over Nazi Germany. Putin acknowledged the historical logic behind the proposal but emphasized the need to gauge public opinion. On Tuesday, he issued a decree renaming Volgograd airport to Stalingrad airport, honoring the Soviet people's victory in the Great Patriotic War. However, most Western leaders are boycotting the anniversary events due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

British police announced on Wednesday that a man has been charged with terrorism offenses and possession of a bladed weapon after attempting to enter the Israeli embassy in London unauthorizedly. The man was detained on Monday evening while trying to gain access to the embassy grounds in west London and was arrested on suspicion of public order offenses, trespassing on a designated site, and possessing an offensive weapon. Detectives later charged Abdullah Sabah Albadri, 33, with preparing a terrorist act and two counts of possessing a bladed article. Commander Dominic Murphy, head of London police's Counter Terrorism Command, reassured the public that no wider threat is perceived and no other individuals are being sought. Albadri is scheduled to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court later on Wednesday. The Israeli embassy thanked British security forces for preventing a potential terror attack and affirmed its commitment to representing Israel in the UK despite any threats.

The European Court of Justice ruled on Tuesday that Malta must end its golden passport program, which allows wealthy foreigners to purchase citizenship, stating it infringes EU law. In 2022, the EU Commission took Malta to court over the scheme, which grants passports and the right to live and work in any EU country in exchange for an investment of around 1 million euros ($1.14 million). The court said that while member states can determine nationality grants, Malta's program undermined mutual trust among member states. The court emphasized that granting nationality for predetermined payments commercializes the process, hindering the necessary bond of solidarity. Malta has insisted its interpretation of EU treaties was correct, suspending the program for Russian and Belarusian nationals due to the Ukraine war but continuing for others. The case was referred to the EU Court after years of disputes, with the EU Commission initiating an infringement procedure in October 2020, which resulted in no significant changes.

On the evening of April 29, a severe fire broke out at a hotel in the center of Kolkata, India, resulting in 14 deaths, including two children. At the time of the fire, there were 88 guests in the hotel. The flames spread rapidly, with thick smoke filling the corridors within minutes. Trapped individuals attempted to escape through narrow window ledges, and at least one person died from jumping from a height. Firefighters managed to control the blaze by the early morning of April 30. Currently, the fire has caused 14 deaths and 13 injuries, with some of the injured in critical condition. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences to the victims on social media. The Indian government has established a special investigation team to probe the fire, and the building has been sealed off.

Since the start of the war in October 2023, over 50 employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), including teachers, doctors, and social workers, have been subjected to cruel treatment and torture by Israeli servicemen in the Gaza Strip. These staff members were detained and abused in the most shocking and inhumane manner, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. He reported that the employees were beaten and used as human shields, enduring sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats to themselves and their families, and attacks by dogs, with many forced into confessions. Lazzarini demands justice and punishment for all those responsible for these flagrant violations of international law.