ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news that you need to start your Tuesday with, Canadians returning Liberals to power, emergency in parts of Spain after massive blackout, Russian president declaring unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine between May 8-11, and Palestinian envoy at ICJ hearings highlighting Israel's "genocidal campaign" against UN, aid workers, organizations.
TOP STORIES
- Canadian voters return Liberals to power under new leader Mark Carney
Canadians voted Monday to give the incumbent Liberals another four years and place their trust that Prime Minister Mark Carney can handle the turmoil of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his fixation on annexing Canada.
Carney used his financial background as governor of the Bank of Canada and then the Bank of England to message Canadians that he had the economic tools to steer the country through an unpredictable financial world of tariff wars and a new trade deal with Trump.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre campaigned on change after 10 years of his contention of sluggish Liberals under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but it was not enough to gain victory.
Canadians rejected Poilievre’s message, which had to be a bitter defeat for him, because he had been miles ahead of the Liberals for months in poll after poll.
- Parts of Spain in state of emergency over massive blackout
Amid a massive blackout, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced a state of emergency in the regions of Madrid, Andalusia, and Extremadura.
The declaration is being made at the request of the regional governments. The move allows the central government to coordinate the response, including mobilizing the military.
Sanchez added that Spain would declare a state of emergency in any other region that ask for it, something Murcia in the country’s southeast later requested, according to Spanish broadcaster RTVE.
“We do not know the causes. We are not ruling out any hypothesis,” Sanchez added in a speech to the nation, after electricity went out across Spain and Portugal around Monday midday.
- Israel's 'genocidal campaign' targeted UN, aid workers, organizations in Gaza: Palestinian envoy at ICJ hearings
The Palestinian envoy to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accused Israel on Monday of deliberately targeting humanitarian groups and carrying out a "genocidal campaign" against Palestinians in Gaza.
Ammar Hijazi, the state of Palestine’s ambassador to international organizations in the Netherlands, said Israeli forces had killed over 408 UN workers, including almost 300 staff of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), as well as dozens of paramedics and first responders.
"These killings are deliberate, not accidental," he told public hearings on Israel's obligations in the occupied Palestinian territory, citing attacks in which Israeli forces ambushed and killed humanitarian workers before burying them in mass graves.
He told the court that "the blockade (in Gaza) has progressively turned into a total siege" since October 2023, warning that Gaza’s civilian population is being starved and deprived of basic necessities.
- Putin declares unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine between May 8-11
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine, as Moscow is set to mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
A statement by the Kremlin said that Putin ordered a cessation of all military actions in Ukraine from midnight on May 7-8 to midnight on May 10-11.
“Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example,” the statement said, noting that Moscow will give “an adequate and effective response” if the ceasefire is violated by Ukraine.
“The Russian side once again declares its readiness for peace talks without preconditions, aimed at eliminating the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis, and constructive interaction with international partners,” it added.
NEWS IN BRIEF
- The head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency said Monday he will step down on June 15, an announcement made following a dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which last month issued a decision to dismiss him – a decision later frozen by the Supreme Court.
- A US F-18 fighter jet and a tow tractor from the aircraft carrier Harry S. Truman both went down while operating in the Red Sea, the US Navy said Monday.
- Germany's center-right CDU/CSU alliance approved a coalition agreement with the Social Democrats at a special party conference in Berlin on Monday.
- The UN refugee chief on Monday said violence has become the defining feature of today's world, criticizing the UN Security Council for failing to prevent and stop wars.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday called for a swift de-escalation of tensions between Pakistan and India.
- There is currently no evidence of a cyberattack in connection with the widespread power outages in Spain and Portugal, the European Council president said on Monday.
- The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel on Monday of exacerbating Palestinian children's suffering through its ongoing genocide and blockade, which has led to widespread acute malnutrition affecting more than 65,000 hospitalized children out of 1.1 million facing daily hunger.
- The Trump administration announced Monday that it has launched investigations into Harvard University and the Harvard Law Review over allegedly factoring race into editorial decisions at the legal publication.
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by phone Monday with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to exchange views on the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
- The Israeli military is preparing to expand its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, citing stalled negotiations with the Palestinian group Hamas, Israel’s state-owned broadcaster KAN reported Monday.
- The US and Mexico reached a "historic" agreement Monday to address water shortages in Texas, with Mexico agreeing to increase its water deliveries under the 1944 Water Treaty.
SPORTS
- Tibor Del Grosso wins stage 2 of 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye
Tibor Del Grosso of the Alpecin-Deceuninck team on Monday claimed victory in the second stage of the 60th Presidential Cycling Tour of Türkiye.
The 21-year-old Dutch rider completed the 167.4-km (104-mile) Kemer-Kalkan track in three hours, 58 minutes, and 40 seconds ahead of 159 cyclists.
Del Grosso captured the Turquoise jersey, worn by the general classification leader, also racking up his first professional stage win.
Giovanni Lonardi of Team Polti Visitmalta came second, while Lander Loockx of Tietema Rockets claimed third.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- Bangladesh gives final approval to Musk's Starlink service
Bangladesh’s transitional government gave final approval Monday to Elon Musk's Starlink to provide satellite internet services in the country.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus approved the license, his office said, with Bangladesh becoming the second country in South Asia to launch Starlink services after Sri Lanka.
Starlink earlier this month applied for the Non-Geostationary Orbit license required for operation. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission approved it and forwarded it to Yunus’ office for final endorsement.
- IBM announces it will invest $150B in US over next 5 years
IBM plans to invest $150 billion in the US over the next five years, the tech giant announced on Monday.
The company said in a statement that the investment would help stimulate the economy and also help IBM accelerate its global leadership role in computing.
The statement said that over the next five years, a $150 billion investment plan is expected to boost quantum computer production in the country.
