News from April 12, 2025 at 2 PM

The New York Police Department (NYPD) reported that a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River, killing all six people on board. Operated by New York Helicopters, the helicopter took off from the Downtown Skyport in lower Manhattan at 14:59 local time and was in the air for about 15 minutes before crashing near Hoboken, New Jersey. Witnesses described the helicopter breaking apart in mid-air before plunging into the water. The victims included one American pilot and a family of five from Spain. Four were pronounced dead at the scene, and the other two at a local hospital. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with the FAA and NTSB leading the probe.

The UK government has announced an additional £450 million in military support to Kyiv as the UK and Germany prepare to host a meeting of 50 nations in Brussels to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his invasion of Ukraine. The aid package includes funding for hundreds of thousands of drones, anti-tank mines, and repairs to military vehicles. The UK will provide about £350 million, with extra funding from Norway via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine. UK Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized that 2025 is a critical year for Ukraine and highlighted the need to bolster its defenses. Last month, the UK announced a £1.6 billion missile deal and a £2.2 billion loan for further military aid.

On April 11, an immigration judge in the United States ruled that Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student protester from Columbia University detained by the Trump administration, can be deported. The judge stated that the government had provided sufficient grounds for deportation. Khalil's lawyer argued that the process was a mockery of due process and vowed to seek a waiver. Khalil's arrest, which sparked protests, was deemed a national security threat. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed Khalil's activism could harm US foreign policy but did not formally allege Hamas ties. Numerous lawyers have joined the case, viewing it as a test for freedom of speech and the limits of Trump's power. Similar cases involve students from Tufts University and Columbia.

In December 1958, Argentina secured its first $75-million loan from the IMF. Last Friday, the IMF board approved a new $20-billion program for Argentina, making it the IMF's largest debtor. Argentina faces severe economic crises, including triple-digit inflation and negative foreign currency reserves. Previous $57-billion and $44-billion IMF programs in 2018 and 2022 failed to halt economic decline. Public sentiment criticizes the IMF for exacerbating the 2001-2002 crisis. President Milei has implemented significant spending cuts, stabilizing the economy. Analysts believe Milei's commitment to market reforms may make this loan program more effective.

An explosion occurred near the offices of Hellenic Train in central Athens, with CCTV footage showing the blast originating from a backpack. Police reported anonymous calls warning of the attack to Greek media. Transport Minister Christos Staikouras condemned the act as 'criminal,' endangering lives. Local outlets Efsyn and Zougla reported the explosive device was in a padlocked backpack on an unlicensed scooter. The bomb disposal squad arrived too late. Hellenic Train confirmed no injuries and limited damage. The explosion comes amid public anger over a February 2023 railway disaster that killed 57 people.

Col Susannah Meyers, the head of the US military base in Greenland, was fired after reportedly sending an email distancing herself from Vice-President JD Vance's criticism of Denmark. The US Space Operations Command stated that Meyers was removed from her role at Pituffik Space Base due to a 'loss of confidence in her ability to lead'. Last month, Vance criticized Denmark for not adequately supporting Greenlanders and insufficient security spending during his visit to the Danish territory. Meyers' alleged email, released by a military news site, indicated that Vance's comments were 'not reflective' of the base. Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell cited the article, stating that actions undermining US leadership would not be tolerated. On March 31, Meyers reportedly wrote that she did not understand current politics, but Vance's concerns did not represent the base. The Space Force announced Col Shawn Lee as her replacement, emphasizing that commanders must remain nonpartisan. Meyers had taken command of the Arctic station in July last year, while Lee was previously a squadron commander in Alaska. During his visit, Vance reiterated Trump's desire to annex Greenland for security reasons, which both Greenland and Denmark oppose. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, during her visit to Greenland, told Trump, 'You can't annex other countries,' and offered closer collaboration with the US in defending the Arctic. The US has maintained a strategic interest in Greenland since World War Two, with Pituffik Space Base being crucial for US defense. Most Greenlanders want independence from Denmark but do not wish to become part of the US.

On April 11, 2025, a roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, resulted in at least 221 deaths. The incident occurred during a crowded concert featuring merengue singer Rubby Perez, who was among the fatalities. Over 4,500 emergency workers were deployed to the scene, working for nearly 59 hours to rescue 189 people, with 17 still hospitalized. The Dominican government's report did not specify the cause of the collapse, and an expert team is continuing the investigation. The National Institute of Forensic Pathology is working to identify victims and return remains to families. President Luis Abinader is scheduled to attend a memorial mass on Sunday, the final day of the national mourning period.

A U.S. Department of Homeland Security spokesperson announced on Friday that the Trump administration has ended temporary deportation protections for thousands of Afghans and Cameroonians in the U.S. Approximately 14,600 Afghans eligible for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) will lose it in May, and around 7,900 Cameroonians will lose their status in June. President Donald Trump, who took office in January, pledged to deport record numbers of illegal migrants and has swiftly moved to strip migrants of temporary legal protections, expanding the pool of potential deportees. The TPS program is designed for individuals from countries experiencing natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary events, offering deportation protection and work permits for 6-18 months, renewable by the Homeland Security secretary. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem determined that conditions in Afghanistan and Cameroon no longer warranted the protected status.

A subway construction site in Gwangmyeong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, experienced a collapse approximately 15 hours after work was halted due to safety concerns, at around 3:13 PM on April 11. The incident resulted in one excavator operator trapped and another worker missing. Initially, five of the 17 workers on site were unaccounted for, but three were later confirmed safe. The collapse occurred during a safety inspection and reinforcement process in a tunnel over 30 meters deep. Two nearby commercial buildings were unaffected, and the Gwangmyeong City Government advised residents in the vicinity to evacuate. Earlier, workers had reported cracks in the tunnel's support pillars, prompting police to impose traffic control and evacuate 17 workers.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a judge's order requiring President Donald Trump's administration to facilitate the return of a Salvadoran man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was erroneously deported to El Salvador. Abrego Garcia, who had a work permit, was deported on March 15. Judge Paula Xinis had ordered the administration to assist in his return, but the Supreme Court sought clarification on the directive to 'effectuate' his return. Abrego Garcia, who has never been charged with a crime, was wrongly accused of being a member of MS-13. The Justice Department acknowledged the deportation as an 'administrative error' that violated a 2019 protection order.

The Trump administration on Friday announced the cutoff of all federal education funding for Maine's public schools after the state refused to ban transgender athletes from girls' sports teams. Shortly after the U.S. Department of Education's announcement, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture from cutting off federal school lunch funding over the same issue. Maine receives about $250 million annually in federal K-12 education funding. The Education Department also referred its Title IX investigation into the Maine Department of Education to the U.S. Department of Justice. This action follows Trump's threat to withhold funds during a February 21 White House meeting with Governor Janet Mills, who insisted on following the law. Maine officials have declined to comply with Trump's demands, having updated state law in 2021 to explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity.