News from May 2, 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.

Parts of England are holding local and mayoral elections on May 1, involving 24 councils and six mayoral positions. This is the first major set of polls since the Labour Party's landslide victory in last year's general election. Approximately 1,650 seats are contested across 14 county councils, eight unitary authorities, one metropolitan district, and the Isles of Scilly. The six mayoral elections are taking place in the West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, Doncaster, North Tyneside, Hull and East Yorkshire, and Greater Lincolnshire. A by-election in Runcorn and Helsby was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury. The government postponed elections in nine areas undergoing reorganization. Most results are expected by Friday evening. No local elections are scheduled in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Voters are required to show photo ID to vote.

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.

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.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang stated on Wednesday at a tech conference in Washington, D.C., that China is not behind in artificial intelligence and that Huawei is one of the most formidable technology companies globally. He noted that while China may be right behind the U.S. currently, the gap is narrow. Nvidia has become crucial to the world economy by producing chips that power the majority of advanced AI applications. However, the company faces challenges in the U.S., including tariffs and pending Biden-era regulations restricting AI chip shipments. The Trump administration recently restricted shipments of Nvidia's H20 chips to China, which the company estimates will result in a $5.5 billion loss. Despite being on a U.S. trade blacklist, Huawei is reportedly developing its own AI chip. Huang urged the U.S. government to focus on AI policies that accelerate technological development, emphasizing the need to compete in this industry. President Trump praised Nvidia's plan to build $500 billion in AI infrastructure in the U.S. over the next five years. Nvidia's shares have fallen more than 20% this year.

One of Japan's busiest bullet train lines, the Tokaido Shinkansen, halted operations due to a snake entangled in a power line, causing a power outage. Services between Tokyo and Osaka were suspended around 17:25 local time on Wednesday and resumed at approximately 19:00, according to Central Japan Railway Company. This incident occurred during Japan's busy Golden Week holiday season and as Osaka hosts the World Expo, attracting millions of visitors. The snake incident took place between Gifu-Hashima and Maibara stations, affecting multiple train routes. Passengers gathered at stations and queued at ticket machines. A frequent traveler noted it was his first experience of such a disruption, while another expressed frustration with service issues. This is not the first time a snake has disrupted the shinkansen service, with a similar incident reported in April 2024.

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.