Libre News of The World Super Express Edition. Monday the 28th of April 2025

On this episode of Libre News of The World Super Express edition, Canada edges closer to a historic election as nationalist sentiment surges, with Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberals pulling ahead of Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre amid mounting U.S. tensions (for more information visit The Washington Post). Meanwhile, President Donald Trump faces intensifying domestic crises even as he engages globally at Pope Francis’s funeral and in talks with Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy (for more information visit The Washington Post). Trump also demands free transit for U.S. ships through the Panama and Suez Canals, challenging long-standing international norms (for more information visit The Wall Street Journal). The IMF has downgraded its Caribbean economic outlook to 2.0% growth amid rising global financial pressures (for more information visit Reuters). Brazil’s Central Bank signals a possible rate hike in May, citing persistent inflationary pressures (for more information visit Bloomberg). Colombia celebrates a sharp drop in multidimensional poverty, though rural and minority challenges remain (for more information visit El Tiempo). Chile fast-tracks lithium projects to meet global electric vehicle demand, collaborating with firms like Eramet and Codelco (for more information visit Reuters). In Argentina, thousands mourn Pope Francis in Buenos Aires, with tributes from San Lorenzo football club (for more information visit La Nación). China slashes tax refund thresholds for tourists to boost spending and counteract slowing growth (for more information visit South China Morning Post). In New Zealand, a powerful 6.7 magnitude earthquake strikes the South Island, triggering evacuations and widespread damage (for more information visit The New Zealand Herald). The Bank of Japan faces tough choices, potentially delaying interest rate hikes amid rising global tariff tensions (for more information visit Reuters). In South Korea, Lee Jae-myung surges as the clear favorite in the presidential race following President Yoon’s removal (for more information visit The Korea Times). Vietnam hosts its largest hot air balloon festival in Dong Nai, blending tradition and spectacle (for more information visit Vietnam News). Namibia’s new president promises free university education starting in 2026, in a landmark social reform (for more information visit The Namibian). Turkey and the PKK move toward renewed peace talks following Abdullah Öcalan’s dramatic call for disarmament (for more information visit Al Jazeera). Saudi Aramco invests heavily in synthetic e-fuels to keep combustion engines alive amid the EV boom (for more information visit Financial Times). Iran’s Bandar Abbas port suffers a catastrophic explosion, killing dozens, blamed on negligent handling of missile fuel components (for more information visit Al Jazeera). The Gaza conflict worsens, with the death toll surpassing 52,000 and humanitarian conditions spiraling (for more information visit Al Jazeera). France announces a sweeping plan to merge or eliminate a third of its state agencies to rein in public spending (for more information visit Le Monde). Pope Francis is laid to rest in Rome’s Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, with world leaders attending his modest funeral (for more information visit Vatican News). Spain invests €1.3 billion to boost industrialized social housing construction amid a housing shortage (for more information visit El País). Portugal’s euthanasia law remains stalled after Constitutional Court objections to key safeguards (for more information visit Público). Birmingham faces a worsening rat infestation amid a prolonged bin workers’ strike (for more information visit The Guardian). In Ireland, a Justice Department report advises against widespread use of pepper spray in overcrowded prisons (for more information visit The Irish Times). Germany eyes an EU exemption to dramatically increase defense spending without breaching fiscal rules (for more information visit Deutsche Welle). Norway’s political scene heats up ahead of parliamentary elections, with economic reforms and security dominating debates (for more information visit The Local Norway). Iceland accelerates its defense policy review in response to growing global instability (for more information visit Iceland Review). Flights between India and Central Asia are canceled as Pakistan closes its airspace following the Kashmir attack (for more information visit The Times of India). Russia claims to have retaken the Kursk region with support from North Korean troops, though Ukraine disputes the extent (for more information visit Reuters). Ukraine firmly rejects a U.S. peace proposal involving recognition of Crimea under Russian control (for more information visit The Kyiv Independent). Finally, India suspends the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan in a dramatic escalation following the Kashmir attack (for more information visit The Hindu).

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