News

Special exhibition to remark 20th anniversary of artist Koh Woo-young's passing opens

2025/04/29 17:00

Up next we learn about a prominent Korean comic artist who continues to be celebrated for his unique tale telling technique. Cha Yun-kyung shares his story. Artist Koh Woo-young received high praise for raising the standard of Korean comics. He was a true storyteller who reinterpreted classics and folktales to give them a modern viewpoint. He left a lasting impression on his readers by reinventing strong characters from retold traditional tales like ' Iljimae' and ' Garujigi'. The Chinese classic, such as ' Samgukji' and ' Water Margin' were also reinvented through Koh's humor and art. "We say that the history repeats itself. While I was working on Chinese classics, my hair stood on end several times. It is just as the same as our situation. More than a lesson, a story from a thousand years ago could be our story, too." The comics of Koh Woo-young secured a large fan base of adult readers, opening up a new world of Korean comics. Koh also received much lover from the readers, increasing newspapers sales in the process. The special exhibition: "Storyteller of our times, Koh Woo-young," sheds light on Koh's artwork and heritage. "We planned this exhibition with the hope that people, those who have read his works, and young people, can rediscover the values of artist Koh Woo-young's works. Koh's various works have been exhibited such as his most well-known pieces, scripts, and sketches. Visitors can see a timeline of the life of the artist and his work at the exhibition, which will be run until May 16th at Chungkang's Comics and Animation Library in the city of Icheon, Gyeonggi-do Province. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

Power gradually returns after major blackout in Spain and Portugal

2025/04/29 17:00

Staying in Europe. An unprecedented power outage plunged Portugal and Spain into complete darkness on Monday. Park Hyo-been has more. Cheers erupted as lights gradually flickered back on across the Iberian Peninsula late Monday night. By early Tuesday, around 90 percent of Spain's national grid had been restored, with light also returning to Lisbon. The massive blackout had plunged much of the region into chaos earlier in the day. Traffic lights went dark, causing major traffic disruption. Police were dispatched to key intersections to manually direct traffic. Subways and trains ground to a halt, leaving hundreds of tourists and residents trapped in the dark, many experiencing moments of panic. High-speed train services were also disrupted, forcing passengers to disembark. "They opened the door so, you can you know, freshen up and everything. After I would say an hour, the battery died down on the train, and then that's it, the bathroom wasn't working. And so it's so stupid because everything was electronic." As the Spanish government declared a national emergency, long lines formed outside supermarkets and gas stations as people rushed to stock up on essentials. "I don't know, we've been without electricity for a while now. We don't know how long it's going to be, so we are buying what's possible to buy for the moment." The exact cause of the outage is under investigation. "It is better not to speculate. We will know the cause. We do not rule out any hypothesis, but now we must focus on the most important thing, which is to restore electricity to our homes." The two countries held emergency cabinet meetings in response to the crisis. Spain is receiving emergency electricity from France and Morocco, but no timeline has been given for full restoration. Meanwhile, Portugal expects normal service to resume as early as Tuesday, prioritizing hospitals, airports, and railways. Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.

N. Korean delegation left for Moscow on Tuesday ahead of 80th Victory Day

2025/04/29 17:00

Meanwhile a North Korean defense delegation has departed for Russia sparking rampant speculation about its purpose. Kim Bo-kyoung explains. Ahead of Russia's 80th Victory Day celebrations on May 9th, North Korea's military delegation has left for Moscow to attend an international event. According to the North's state-run Korea Central News Agency on Tuesday, the delegation led by the deputy director of the General Political Bureau of the North's Korean People's Army, departed Pyongyang. Though the North's media said the visit was for an international anti-fascist conference, speculation has risen over the possibility of the delegation visiting Moscow to discuss Russia's Victory Day parade, or North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's potential visit to Russia around that time. "Instead of attending Russia's Victory Day ceremony, the focus is likely to be on a potential North Korea-Russia summit, with Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia expected to happen around that time. Rather than participating as just another leader in a multilateral setting, Kim is likely to focus on a one-on-one meeting, where his alliance with Russia and contributions to its war effort could be more highlighted." The North's Rodong Sinmun newspaper published Putin's recent statement thanking Pyongyang on its front page. This, came a day after North Korea officially confirmed its troop deployment to Russia. Putin's statement said that the deployment was in accordance with international laws, along with the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty which Kim and Putin signed in June last year. While expressing HIS deepest gratitude to North Korea, Putin claimed Russia would forever remember the heroes of Korea who sacrificed their lives for Russia and for their shared freedom. Meanwhile, as both Pyongyang and Moscow have now admitted the deployment of North Korean troops, Ukraine urged tougher sanctions on them on Monday local time. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the deployment is in violation of international laws and UN Security Council resolutions, and stressed that the deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow would pose a threat not only to the Korean peninsula but also to global security. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

Putin declares temporary ceasefire next month to mark 80th anniversary of Victory Day

2025/04/29 17:00

Russia has unilaterally called for a 72-hour truce in Ukraine starting next Thursday ahead of its Victory Day celebration. Shin Se-byuck covers this latest development. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, unilaterally declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8th to the 10th, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day, two weeks after a 30-hour truce over Easter. The latest announcement, made via a Telegram message, added that the ceasefire was "based on humanitarian considerations." It further explained that all military actions will be prohibited during the ceasefire period, and called on Ukraine to follow the ceasefire protocols. It warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, the Russian military would respond "appropriately and effectively." The temporary ceasefire also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday, that he may consider introducing sanctions against Russia, if Putin doesn't intend to end the war. However, the White House on Monday stressed that what Trump wants to see is a permanent ceasefire, adding that the U.S. leader has been frustrated with the lack of progress made in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. "He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire -first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a video speech on Monday also dismissed Moscow's announcement as an "attempt at manipulation," and called for an unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days. "Now, once again, there is another attempt at manipulation An immediate, complete, and unconditional ceasefire, for at least 30 days to ensure it is guaranteed and reliable, is what can provide the foundation for real diplomacy." According to one expert, Putin's unilateral ceasefire decision is a gesture aimed at seizing the initiative in war-related negotiations and attempting to negotiate directly with Trump, bypassing Ukraine. "If I am a bit blunt here, Ukraine can only resist Russia with the help of the U.S. So what Putin is trying to do now is that he's trying to negotiate directly with Trump over the head of Ukrainians." He added that Putin's underlying message is clear, that he can end the war at any time if his demands are met. Shin Se-byuck, Arirang News.

Seoul set to raise base subway fare to 1,550 won from 1,400 won

2025/04/29 17:00

Starting in late June the base subway fare within the Seoul metropolitan area when using a transportation card will rise to one-thousand-five-hundred-50 won or slightly above one U.S. dollar. The current base fare for the subway stands at one-thousand-four-hundred won. The hike in fare follows a meeting among officials of Seoul Metro and their counterparts from Gyeonggi-do Province Incheon City and the Korea Railroad Corporation.

S. Korea to hold second senior APEC officials meeting on Jeju next month

2025/04/29 17:00

A second meeting of senior delegates from APEC member states will begin this coming Saturday on Jeju Island for a two-week session. This is according to the Foreign Ministry here. The first such gathering took place earlier in March in Gyeongju the host city of this year's APEC summit which is scheduled to take place in late autumn. Over three-thousand officials are expected to fly into Jeju for the latest forum that includes discussions on demographic trends and artificial intelligence.

PPP presidential primary goes to run-off between 'against impeachment' and 'for impeachment'

2025/04/29 17:00

The People Power Party for its part is poised to hold a run-off election between two contenders with the results to be revealed this coming Saturday. Our correspondent Kim Do-yeon has the latest. It's now down to two Kim Moon-soo and Han Dong-hoon. The People Power Party announced the winners of the second round of voting on Tuesday. The second round had been fierce, with no clear front-runner from the three days of heated debates. But as the results were announced, they continued to emphasize party unity as the Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Jae-myung certainly not an easy opponent awaits in the presidential election. I am also grateful to Han Dong-hoon for joining me in the final stage of the primary. I believe he has a bright future ahead, and I look forward to seeing him play a major role for the good of our country. In this challenging presidential race, there are differences between Kim Moon-soo and I, but that's exactly why we must team up — like a three-legged race — and stand as one against Lee Jae-myung. The results follow voting on Sunday and Monday, under the same rules as the second round: 50 percent PPP members and 50 percent an open survey. Neither candidate secured over 50 percent of the total tally, leading to a run-off proving the tightness of the race. A one-on-one debate will be held on Wednesday, followed by voting, with the final result announced on Saturday at the party's presidential race convention. Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo in his exit speech pledged to support the winner of the race. We must work harder to overcome the crisis facing our party. Whoever wins, I'll give my all to stop Lee Jae-myung and bring about a change in government. Hong Joon-pyo as he said before declared his retirement from politics a 30-year career with five terms at the parliament and two gubernatorial posts. I will return to private life and live a quieter life. My role in this presidential race ends here. The race yet again is between one candidate who was against impeachment Kim Moon-soo and one pro-impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol Han Dong-hoon. This translates to someone more appealing to conservative and traditional PPP members versus someone more appealing to moderate and undecided voters. In addition, Kim has been openly supporting the idea of Acting President Han Duck-soo running for the presidency and merging camps while Han has even called the Party's support of this a "defeatist" mindset. Kim Do-yeon, Arirang News.

K-wave AI News

2025/04/29 14:00

Hello and welcome to your AI guide to the latest cultural updates from Korea. Here's our top story. Korean ballerino Jeon Min-chul has claimed the top prize at the 20-25 Youth America Grand Prix, which concluded on Sunday. The competition's highest honor, the Grand Prix, is awarded to the dancer who demonstrates outstanding artistry and technical excellence across all age groups and categories. Jeon became the fifth Korean dancer to clinch the prestigious title. Currently majoring in dance at Korea National University of Arts, Jeon is poised to take the next step in his career by joining the Mariinsky Ballet in Russia. The 'Chunhyang Festival,' Korea's oldest traditional festival honoring the iconic love story of Chunhyang from the Joseon Dynasty, will kick off Wednesday in Namwon, Jeollabuk-do Province. Now in its 95th year, this year's festival will be held under the theme "The Sound of Chunhyang Opens the World," presenting over 100 performances and hands-on programs. A wide array of events are in store blending traditional and contemporary, and Eastern and Western sounds in creative harmony. Adding an international flair, folk performance teams from diverse countries will take part in a special "Global Stage" program. Visitors can also enjoy a variety of immersive experiences, such as essay and drawing competitions, along with plentiful offerings of delicious and affordable local cuisine. The festival continues through May 6. The 4th Jeonju International Picture Book Fair will take place from May 29 to June 1 at the Factory of Contemporary Arts in Palbok and Jeonju Wansan Library. Under the tagline "Picture Books, A Magical Space," the festival will showcase original illustrations by domestic and international authors, and offer a rich array of programs, including picture book conferences, lectures, and a book market. Among the highlights are a lecture by Swedish author and illustrator Sara Lundberg on May 31 and a "Dance Drawing" workshop with Belgian author Kitty Crowther on June 1. For more information, visit the festival's official website at jipf.jeonju.go.kr. That's all from me. Keep it tuned to the Kulture Wave.

[Kulture Issue] The world falls "pokssak" for Jeju culture

2025/04/29 14:00

Jeju Island is one of South Korea's most popular tourist destinations. Isolated from the mainland, Jeju has developed a unique dialect and its own distinctive local culture, including the haenyeo culture, important aspects of the island’s identity. Recently Jeju has been receiving growing interest from around the world, on the back of a successful K-drama. Today, we want to learn more about Jeju Island’s culture with David Tizzard, Professor of Korean Studies at Seoul Women’s University and Hanyang University who is now connected with us. Hello Professor Tizzard! 1) Professor Tizzard, Korea’s recent Netflix series “When Life Gives You Tangerines” or “Pokssak Sogatsuda” in Korean was a hit not only in Korea, but in many other countries. One of the reasons for its success has probably got to do with the setting, Jeju Island. First off, what comes to mind when you think of Jeju? 2) “Pokssak Sogatsuda” means something along the lines of “you’ve worked hard” in Jeju dialect. Ever since the hit drama, there has been a resurgence in the interest in the Jeju dialect, with the word “pokssak” appearing in advertisements, on news headlines and so on. What significance does the dialect have from a cultural perspective? 3) Earlier this month, records of the Jeju April 3rd uprising, a pivotal incident in Korea’s history, were officially added to UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. What’s the significance of this inscription? 4) The Jeju April 3rd incident also is featured in Nobel Prize literature winner Han Kang’s book “We do not part”. How is Jeju Island portrayed in the novel? 5) In what other ways is Jeju an attractive place? 6) Are there any cultural aspects of Jeju Island that you would like to see more widely recognized?

[K-wave] Suspension bridge spanning Namhangang River will be open next month

2025/04/29 14:00

The city of Yeoju in Gyeonggi-do Province, is known for its high-quality rice, historical sites such as royal tombs, and is now aiming to attract more visitors with a new attraction. Yeoju's Namhangang suspension bridge is poised to officially open later this week not only to provide people with panoramic sights but also the chance to make new memories. Cha Yun-kyung has more. The spring river breeze brings a pleasurable feeling to tourists. A suspension bridge spanning the Namhangang River boasts of grand and beautiful features. This is the first suspension bridge over the Hangang River with a length of 5-hundred-15 meters and an average height of 30 meters, providing magnificent panoramic views of the River. "We are shivering since it is very high up here, and I think it is a great place to visit with the family since it has beautiful landscapes." Visitors can experience the thrill of looking through the bridge's glass floor where people can view the river and at the "media glass," which looks like it is breaking when people step on it. There is a special zone at the center of the bridge where a person can propose to their loved one. People can also find an elevator for transportation of the disabled and elderly. "It is great for both adults and children to walk around here on the suspension bridge since it is not steep, is fun, and has wonderful views." Around the suspension bridge, tourists can explore the thousand-year-old Silleuksa Temple and Geumun Morae Camping, adding more things to see and enjoy. "We declare the year of 2025 as the first Visit Yeoju year with the completion of the suspension bridge. We are planning to make Yeoju a brand new city by attracting more than 6-million tourists." Based on the opening of the Yeoju Ceramic Festival, the suspension bridge will officially open on the first day of next month after final safety inspections are carried out by the end of April. Cha Yun-kyung, Arirang News.

[K-enter] "The King of Kings" beats "Parasite" as highest Korean grossing film in U.S

2025/04/29 14:00

So, let's see what's happening in the world of K-entertainment. Starting off with something we talked about last week. We had a report on the Korean animated movie "The King of Kings.". We had a feeling that this movie was going to be big but I personally couldn't imagine how big. The Korean-produced animated film "The King of Kings", has overtaken director Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winning movie "Parasite" to become the highest-grossing Korean-produced film in the United States. Just in terms of numbers, according to production company MoFAC Studio on Monday, "The King of Kings" reached a cumulative revenue of 54.50 million U.S. dollars , surpassing the final U.S. box office gross of Parasite, which was roughly 54 million U.S. dollars . Written and directed by MoFAC Studio CEO Jang Sung-ho , the film is based on Charles Dickens’ "The Life of Our Lord" and depicts the journey of Jesus from birth to resurrection. The film features a star-studded voice cast including Oscar Issac, Kenneth Branagh, Mark Hamill, Uma Thurman, Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Forest Whitaker. The film is expected to be released in Korea this summer. Do I sense another big award coming Korea's way? It looks like the movie is becoming "The King of K-movies" at least in the U.S. for now But speaking of award we have a Korean director expected to play an important role at a major film festival? I keep saying this is the year for director Hong Sang-soo . The birth of his child with actress Kim Min-hee, a new film out and now he has been chosen to serve as a jury panelist at the 78th Cannes Film Festival. On Monday, the Cannes Film Festival’s organising committee announced the industry figures who will serve on this year’s competition jury. French actress Juliette Binoche will serve as the jury president with other jury members including, American actress and director Halle Berry, Indian director and screenwriter Payal Kapadia among others. Regarding director Hong Sang-soo, the Cannes Film Festival said, "Hong has become an indispensable presence at Cannes, even choosing Cannes as the backdrop for his film Claire's Camera.” Hong Sang-soo is the sixth Korean director or actor to serve as a jury member for the festival’s main competition section. Another example of Korea's growing presence in the global movie industry. Lastly moving onto some K-pop news. What do you have for us? Legendary boy group TVXQ or DongBangShinKi or TOHOSHINKI concluded their Japan nationwide live tour with a spectacular finale at the Tokyo Dome. Starting from Saitama in November last year, TVXQ held their “TOHOSHINKI 20th Anniversary LIVE TOUR” across several cities delivering a total of 22 performances. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut in Japan, the tour drew a remarkable total of 350,000 attendees. Notably, their recent Tokyo Dome concerts from April 25 to 27 sets a new milestone by reaching a total of 33 Tokyo Dome performances and 92 nationwide dome performances overall, once again surpassing their own record for the most dome concerts by a foreign artist in Japan.

Putin declares temporary ceasefire next month to mark 80th anniversary of Victory Day

2025/04/29 10:00

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a three-day ceasefire to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day a proposal met with another call from the U.S. for a permanent ceasefire, amid frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Lee Seung-jae reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, unilaterally declared that he would hold a three-day ceasefire from May 8th to the 10th, to mark the 80th anniversary of Victory Day. The announcement was made by the Kremlin via a Telegram message, adding that the ceasefire was "based on humanitarian considerations." It further explained that all military actions will be prohibited during this 72-hour period, and called on Ukraine to follow the ceasefire protocols. It warned that if Ukraine violates the ceasefire, the Russian military would respond "appropriately and effectively." The temporary ceasefire also comes as U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday, that he may consider introducing sanctions against Russia, if Putin doesn't intend to end the war. However, the White House on Monday stressed that what Trump wants to see is a permanent ceasefire, adding that the U.S. leader has been frustrated with the lack of progress made in peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. "He is increasingly frustrated with leaders of both countries. He wants to see a permanent ceasefire. I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made it clear he wants to see a permanent ceasefire -first to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed. And while he remains optimistic, he can strike a deal. He's also being realistic as well." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also criticized the temporary ceasefire on Monday, calling for a "full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days," in order provide "a basis for real diplomacy." Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.

PPP primary 2nd round voting result to be announced on Tuesday

2025/04/29 10:00

The People Power Party is set to announce the results of the second round of presidential primary voting at 2 PM Tuesday. The four-way race between Kim Moon-soo, Ahn Cheol-soo, Han Dong-hoon, and Hong Joon-pyo will end if one of them gets more than 50 percent of total votes. Voting in the competition took place on Sunday and Monday with 50 percent of voters eligible PPP members, and the remaining 50 percent coming from an open survey. If there isn't a winner, there will be a run-off between the top two, with the results coming out at the PPP Convention on May 3rd. According to PPP officials, the final voter turnout among party member electors was recorded at around 51 percent, with around 390 thousand members casting their votes.

DP to launch its election campaign committee on Wednesday

2025/04/29 10:00

The Democratic Party, having officially confirmed its former leader Lee Jae-myung as its presidential nominee, is now in the process of putting together its election campaign committee. Lee has been taking steps to emphasize unity and broaden his appeal to centrist and conservative voters since his first day as a presidential candidate. As part of this effort, the party is set to appoint former Environment Minister Yoon Yeo-joon, a conservative strategist, to one of the top posts in the campaign. Lee told reporters Monday that Yoon is someone he has relied on for advice. The party's election campaign committee will officially launch on Wednesday at 2 PM.

Daegu wildfire 82% contained as of 8 AM; containment efforts ongoing

2025/04/29 10:00

The wildfire that broke out on Monday afternoon in Daegu is still burning. Firefighting efforts have achieved an 82% containment rate as of this morning. We now turn to our Kim Jung-sil who is joining us live on the line. Jung-sil, fill us in. Dami, the wildfire that broke out in the northern Buk-gu district of Daegu continues to spread, despite efforts by firefighters overnight. The fire, which started yesterday afternoon, has as of this morning already affected over 2.6 million square meters of land. As of 8 AM this morning, authorities have managed to bring 82% of the fire under control. Now, take a look at this latest situation map. The red lines on the map show where the fire is still burning, while the yellow lines indicate where the flames have been extinguished. As you can see, a significant portion of the fireline has been contained, reflecting progress in the firefighting efforts. This morning, I spoke with the spokesperson of the Korea Forest Service, Kim Jong-gun, who provided an update on the fire. Take a listen. "The fire has affected an area of 260 hectares. So far, 9 kilometers of the 11 kilometer fire line have been contained. The air is extremely dry, and strong winds are fueling the fire. People in forested areas or near the mountains must avoid using any open flames whatsoever." Over 700 personnel were deployed to fight the fire last night, and today, that number has been doubled. Spokesperson Kim also mentioned that 53 firefighting helicopters and 205 vehicles are being used in the operation. Now, Dami, you might wonder how the fire started, especially given that the area is close to residential zones and a popular hiking destination. After a series of devastating wildfires across the country, including the deadly Uiseong wildfire last month that claimed more than 20 lives, the Hamjisan Mountain area was officially designated as a restricted zone to prevent exactly what we're seeing today. Yet, despite the restrictions, the spokesperson confirmed that the fire started within that very restricted zone. Authorities are now investigating how this could have happened. Jung-sil, with the fire now threatening residential areas, how are authorities managing the situation with evacuees? Are there any updates on the safety measures being taken? Yes, Dami, while no casualties have been reported yet, the situation remains dire due to the fire's proximity to residential areas. Authorities are urging residents, especially those near Hamjisan Mountain, to stay on high alert. At least 2,200 residents were evacuated to local elementary schools by Monday afternoon, with an additional 660 evacuating this morning. In response to the growing threat, three schools near the fire zone have been closed today for safety. With Daegu still under a dry weather warning and strong winds expected throughout the day, firefighting efforts are set to face further challenges. That's all I have for this hour, back to you Dami. Thank you for the update, Jung-sil.

[Weather] Pleasant springtime with high risk of wildfire

2025/04/29 10:00

We'll continue to have a nice stretch of springtime days under sunny skies. However, the air is incredibly dry in the eastern regions, so the risk of wildfires remains a significant concern. With this persistent dry weather, we've unfortunately seen wildfires breaking out in several areas. The national forest fire crisis alert level remains at the second highest. On top of that, we'll also see strong winds, especially along the west coast and in the mountains of Gangwon-do Province. Meanwhile, we'll have a very large daily temperature range of 10 to 15 degrees, some inland areas even saw some frost this morning. A pleasant warm-up expected this afternoon, with Seoul reaching 20 degrees, Gwangju climbing to 23. Air quality will be normal to good in most parts. The good news is that we do have rain in the forecast for Thursday nationwide, which should help to ease these dry conditions. But until then, please remain extra cautious when it comes to fire prevention.

Chubby Checker, Cyndi Lauper chosen for Rock Hall of Fame

2025/04/29 10:00

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its 2025 inductees on Sunday, honoring a diverse group of artists who have influenced the music industry. Among the honorees are Chubby Checker, a Philadelphia-born singer renowned for popularizing "The Twist," and Cyndi Lauper, celebrated for her hits like "Girls Just Want to Have Fun." Inductees are selected by fans and industry experts. Eligible artists must have released their first recording at least 25 years ago. The induction ceremony is scheduled for November 8 in Los Angeles.

UN's top court begins hearings on Israel's legal duties towards Palestinians

2025/04/29 10:00

The International Court of Justice in The Hague began hearings on Monday to assess Israel's legal responsibilities concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, following the blockade of aid and the cutting of ties with a UN relief agency for Palestinians. A United Nations General Assembly request initiated the proceedings to determine whether Israel is violating international law by restricting aid to the Palestinian territories. The ICJ's week-long series of public hearings will focus on Israel's obligations to facilitate humanitarian assistance in Gaza and the West Bank. Over 40 countries and international organizations are expected to present arguments during the hearings.

Catholic cardinals set May 7 as start date for conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor

2025/04/29 10:00

The Vatican has officially announced that the conclave to elect the next pope will start on May 7. It will follow the nine-day mourning period for Pope Francis, who died on April 21. The upcoming conclave will be the largest in history, with 135 eligible cardinal electors under the age of 80 participating. Preparations are underway, including the closure of the Sistine Chapel to the public and the installation of the traditional smoke chimney, which will signal the outcome of each voting round. Black smoke will indicate no decision, and white smoke will announce the election of a new pope. The conclave is expected to last several days, with a two-thirds majority required to elect the new pope. Potential successors include Cardinals Pietro Parolin of Italy, Luis Antonio Tagle of the Philippines, Peter Turkson of Ghana, and Peter Erdo of Hungary.

Power outage causes chaos in Spain and Portugal

2025/04/29 10:00

Let's begin in Europe, where a huge power outage swept across Spain and Portugal. Sure. On Monday, a massive power cut hit parts of Spain and Portugal, causing widespread chaos and disruption. The blackout disrupted essential services, halted transportation, and prompted Spain to declare a national emergency. At approximately 12:33 PM local time, a widespread power failure struck mainland Spain and Portugal, as well as parts of southwestern France and Andorra. The outage left millions without electricity, causing traffic lights to fail, halting transportation services, and leaving many without access to mobile and internet networks. In Spain, there was a complete shutdown of the national electricity grid, leading to the suspension of all train services. Madrid's international airport also experienced power loss, causing flight delays and cancellations. It was a similar situation in Portugal. While the cause of the blackout remains under investigation, Portugal's grid operator suggested extreme temperature fluctuations may have led to rare failures in the grid.