Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas, the world’s oldest person, died at 116. Born in 1908, she became the oldest following Japan’s Tomiko Itooka’s death. Her birth date is disputed, but her faith was her longevity’s secret. A teacher and soccer fan, she taught Brazil’s former dictator João Figueiredo. After her death, Ethel Caterham, 115, became the oldest person. Caterham is the last living person born in 1909, according to Guinness World Records. Noah Prescott 02/05/2025 4:30 pm
Reform U.K., an anti-immigration party, achieved significant wins in local elections, signaling a rise in populist politics in the U.K. They secured their first mayoral seat and narrowly won a parliamentary by-election from Labour. Reform also led in several council contests, gaining 39% of votes, surpassing Conservatives by 11 points. These results challenge the dominance of the Conservative and Labour parties. Labour faced criticism for unmet promises and unpopular policies, while Reform’s rise wasn’t curbed by Labour’s rightward shift. Despite setbacks, Labour outperformed Reform in some major races. Ava Sinclair 02/05/2025 4:30 pm
Spain experienced a major blackout following several power glitches, highlighting challenges in its power grid amid a renewable energy boom. The government has launched investigations, including a high court probe into a potential cyber attack. Experts note that both energy surpluses and deficits can destabilize grids. Prior to the blackout, power surges and cuts occurred, affecting railway services. Despite the instability, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and REE’s chief Beatriz Corredor stated that renewable energy was not responsible for the outage. Ava Sinclair 02/05/2025 4:30 pm
Prince Harry lost his legal battle for full security protection during UK visits. A judge ruled that he will receive state-funded police protection on a case-by-case basis, ending his challenge to a 2020 decision denying automatic taxpayer-funded security after he and Meghan stepped down as senior royals. The RAVEC committee had rejected his proposal to personally fund police protection. The judge acknowledged Harry’s grievances but found no legal basis to challenge RAVEC’s decision. Penelope Kingsley 02/05/2025 4:30 pm
Chilean authorities issued a tsunami warning and ordered evacuations after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck off southern Chile and Argentina. A “red alert” was declared for coastal areas in the Magallanes region and Antarctica. Hundreds were evacuated, including from Puerto Williams. No damage or casualties were initially reported. The quake hit the Drake Passage at a depth of 10km. President Gabriel Boric urged coastal evacuations. Videos showed calm evacuations. Argentina’s Ushuaia suspended water activities in the Beagle Channel. Ava Sinclair 02/05/2025 4:30 pm
Gaza’s community kitchens, crucial for feeding needy families, face imminent closure due to a two-month Israeli blockade. With dwindling supplies, kitchens like those run by Anera are struggling to provide meals, now limited to basic dishes like koshari. The blockade, intended to pressure Hamas, has halted all goods, including food and medicine, leading to warnings of potential mass starvation. The UN and international bodies urge Israel to lift the blockade, emphasizing that withholding aid and starving civilians is a war crime. Penelope Kingsley 02/05/2025 1:00 pm
Activists planning to sail an aid ship to Gaza claim it was attacked by drones in international waters near Malta, allegedly by Israel. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s ship, The Conscience, was targeted, causing significant damage. The Maltese government confirmed all aboard are safe, and a fire was controlled. Greta Thunberg, who planned to join the mission, condemned the attack. The NGO demands accountability from Israel for violating international law. The Israeli military is investigating. The ship remains at the attack site, with activists committed to their cause. Penelope Kingsley 02/05/2025 1:00 pm
As tensions rise between Pakistan and India, with military movements and leaders’ strong rhetoric, the Pakistani public is weary and sees war as the last thing needed. The disconnect between official statements and civilian concerns highlights Pakistan’s deeper issues, such as economic hardship and political dissatisfaction. Conversations focus more on inflation, unemployment, and an uncertain future rather than conflict. Many, like university student Tehseen Zahra, express a desire for peace, emphasizing that the country already faces too many problems without adding war to the mix. Noah Prescott 02/05/2025 1:00 pm
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classified the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) as an extremist entity threatening democracy, allowing increased surveillance. The BfV’s 1,100-page report cites the AfD’s racist, anti-Muslim stance, potentially affecting its membership and public funding. The AfD condemned the decision, which analysts say might boost its support. The move comes amid debates on handling the AfD in parliament, with some advocating treating it as a regular opposition party to avoid a ‘victim’ narrative, while others oppose this, citing the party’s extremist classification. Noah Prescott 02/05/2025 1:00 pm
India will include caste details in its next census, impacting socio-economic and political dynamics. Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the decision, highlighting its alignment with societal values. The inclusion may prompt demands to increase quotas for government jobs and education, currently capped at 50%, with 27% for Other Backward Classes. Caste, a key social hierarchy, lacks updated data. Previous governments avoided updating it due to potential unrest, but supporters argue it’s essential for social justice programs. The census, delayed from 2021, follows the last in 2011. Noah Prescott 02/05/2025 9:30 am
