Libre News of The World Express Edition. Monday the 5th of May 2025

Subscribe today so you never miss an episode! On this episode of Libre News of The World Express Edition, we began with "India-Pakistan Tensions Soar After Kashmir Attack Leaves 26 Dead", reporting on rising hostilities between the two nations following a deadly assault in Pahalgam, with India suspending the Indus Waters Treaty and Pakistan retaliating with missile tests and diplomatic expulsions (The Hindu, https://www.thehindu.com). Next, in "Portugal's Caretaker Government Plans Mass Migrant Expulsions Ahead of Election", we covered Portugal’s decision to expel 18,000 undocumented migrants just ahead of its May 18 election, a move widely criticized as aligning with the far-right Chega party’s agenda (Público, https://www.publico.pt). We then turned to "Ukraine Uses Naval Drones to Down Russian Fighter Jets in Historic Strike", highlighting Ukraine’s unprecedented use of naval drones armed with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles to shoot down two Russian Su-30 jets over the Black Sea, showcasing a major leap in asymmetrical warfare (Ukrainska Pravda, https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/). Our next story, "Putin Reaffirms Russia’s Resolve in Ukraine War, Downplays Nuclear Use", detailed President Vladimir Putin’s televised remarks asserting Russia’s strength while hoping to avoid nuclear escalation amid revised doctrines and continued conflict (TASS, https://tass.com). In "Uzbekistan to List $1.7 Billion in State Assets as Economic Reforms Accelerate", we explored Uzbekistan’s plan to attract global investors by listing state assets under Franklin Templeton’s management by 2026 (The Financial Times, https://www.ft.com). We then visited "Iceland Adapts to New Era of Volcanic Activity in the Southwest", as the nation implements long-term strategies to manage recurring eruptions on the Reykjanes Peninsula (RÚV, https://www.ruv.is). Next, "Sweden Celebrates Royal Debut of Princess Ines During King's 79th Birthday" highlighted the public introduction of newborn Princess Ines during national festivities (Svenska Dagbladet, https://www.svd.se). Our report "Germany’s Incoming Government Confronts Rising Far-Right Surge" analyzed Friedrich Merz’s upcoming chancellorship and the record-breaking 20.8% showing by AfD, recently classified as a rightwing extremist group (Deutsche Welle, https://www.dw.com). In "Iberian Blackout Raises Questions Over Grid Resilience Amid Renewable Transition", we covered a massive April 28 power outage in Spain and Portugal that reignited debate over renewable energy stability (El País, https://elpais.com). "Italy Prepares for Pivotal June Referendum on Citizenship and Labor Reforms" looked at five key issues heading to vote on June 8–9, including rare labor protections and migrant naturalization pathways (La Repubblica, https://www.repubblica.it). In "France Marks 80 Years Since Nazi Surrender with Survivor Testimonies and National Reflection", we featured testimonies by Holocaust survivors and commemorations led by President Macron (Le Monde, https://www.lemonde.fr). In "Israel Mobilizes Reservists as Gaza Offensive Escalates Amid Ceasefire Deadlock", we reported on Israel’s decision to call up tens of thousands of reservists, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza (Haaretz, https://www.haaretz.com). "Iran Executes 22 as Nuclear Talks Resume, Sparking Human Rights Outcry" highlighted Iran’s execution wave, including women and minors, amid resumed U.S. talks and international backlash (Radio Farda, https://www.radiofarda.com). "Climate Warnings Cloud Saudi Arabia’s NEOM Project Amid Financial and Environmental Scrutiny" covered expert concerns about weather disruption and cement emissions at the $500 billion megacity (Arab News, https://www.arabnews.com). "Erdoğan’s Islamification Push Sparks Protests in Northern Cyprus" examined widespread backlash against Turkey’s influence over the secular Turkish Cypriot population (Kathimerini Cyprus, https://www.kathimerini.com.cy). "M23 Rebels Face Governance Crisis in Eastern Congo Amid Economic Collapse" reported on the rebels’ heavy taxation and struggling rule over 5 million Congolese citizens, as peace talks are backed by the U.S. and Qatar (Radio Okapi, https://www.radiookapi.net). In "Vietnam and Indonesia Move Closer to Finalizing Maritime Boundary Deal in South China Sea", we examined a major bilateral agreement aligning with the 2016 Hague ruling, countering Chinese claims (The Jakarta Post, https://www.thejakartapost.com). We also covered "South Korea’s KF-21 Program Accelerates Toward Fifth-Generation Stealth Fighter Capability", as the Boramae fighter hits 1,000 test flights and eyes full stealth upgrades (The Korea Herald, https://www.koreaherald.com). In "Bank of Japan Cuts Growth Outlook as U.S. Tariffs Rattle Global Trade", we reported on Japan’s GDP downgrades and stalled policy normalization amid protectionist U.S. moves (Nikkei Asia, https://asia.nikkei.com). Finally, in "New Zealand Air Force Launches Space Squadron Amid Strategic Defense Shift", we covered the creation of Squadron 62 to bolster space security and join U.S.-led efforts like Operation Olympic Defender (The New Zealand Herald, https://www.nzherald.co.nz). These news summaries were written using AI technology. While every effort has been made to ensure factual accuracy, occasional mistakes or omissions may occur. 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