International
Putin orders exercises of the Russian strategic nuclear forces

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the celebration this Tuesday of exercises of the strategic forces of nuclear deterrence in order to rehearse the launch of ballistic and cruise missiles.
“We will train the actions of the commanders to control the use of nuclear weapons with ballistic and cruise missile launches,” Putin said during a statement broadcast on Russian television.
Putin stressed that, “taking into account the increase in geopolitical tensions and the emergence of new external threats and risks, it is important to have modern strategic forces that are permanently ready for use in combat.”
He stressed that the nuclear triad – intercontinental missiles, atomic submarines and strategic aviation – continues to be a “reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of our country, which allows the tasks of strategic deterrence to be fulfilled.”
In addition, he added, it also allows “to maintain nuclear parity and the balance of forces in the world as objective factors of global stability.”
Use of nuclear weapons
At the same time, Putin assured that “Russia confirms its principled position that the use of nuclear weapons is an extreme and extraordinary measure of security guarantee.”
The head of the Kremlin insisted that Moscow intends to continue perfecting all the components of its nuclear arsenal within the framework of the state rearmament program, for which it has greatly increased defense spending since the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
This will include the supply to strategic forces of new stationary and mobile missile systems that are much more accurate and, in addition, require less time for launch, he explained.
“And, what is very important, with greater possibilities of overcoming missile defense systems,” he added, alluding to the US shield.
However, he assured that, although Russia intends to strengthen its nuclear forces with modern armaments – currently that indicator is 94% – it does not plan to be involved in a “new arms war” as happened to the Soviet Union.
At the end of last July, Russia carried out tactical nuclear maneuvers with Belarus using Iskander-M ballistic missiles.
Recently, Putin announced the modification of the current nuclear doctrine after the West considered allowing Ukraine to use long-range weapons against targets in Russian territory.
The new doctrine contemplates the use of nuclear weapons in the event of a conventional attack that threatens the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus.
Negotiations between Russia and the United States are currently stalled for the signing of a new START, which expires in 2026 and which is the last strategic disarmament treaty between the two superpowers.
International
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka

Japanese police arrested a man on Thursday after he rammed his car into a group of seven schoolchildren in an apparent deliberate attack in the city of Osaka.
The children, who were on their way home from school, sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. All seven remained conscious, according to local authorities.
An Osaka police officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the suspect is a 28-year-old man from Tokyo. The officer shared statements the man made after his arrest: “I was fed up with everything, so I decided to kill people by driving into several elementary school children,” the suspect reportedly said.
The man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
The injured children, aged between seven and eight, included a seven-year-old girl who suffered a fractured jaw. The six other children—all boys—suffered minor injuries such as bruises and scratches and were undergoing medical evaluation.
Witnesses described the car as “zigzagging” before hitting the children. One witness told Nippon TV that a girl was “covered in blood” and the others appeared to have scratches.
Another witness said the driver, who was wearing a face mask, looked to be in shock when school staff pulled him from the vehicle.
Violent crimes are rare in Japan, though serious incidents do occur from time to time. In 2008, Tomohiro Kato drove a two-ton truck into pedestrians in Tokyo’s Akihabara district, then fatally stabbed several victims. Seven people were killed in that attack.
Internacionales
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages

May Day protests in France were marked by a heavy police presence and clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement in several cities.
In Paris, Lyon, and Nantes, thousands took to the streets to demand better wages, fairer working conditions, and to voice their dissatisfaction with President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
While the majority of the demonstrations remained peaceful, isolated confrontations broke out in some areas. Protesters threw objects at the police, prompting the use of tear gas and resulting in several arrests.
Videos showing police crackdowns circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from labor unions and human rights advocates, who denounced the authorities’ response to the protests.
International
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.
During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.
“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.
“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”
Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.
On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.
-
International3 days ago
Colombia sees deadliest surge in violence since FARC peace deal
-
International5 days ago
Nine dead after driver runs over crowd at Vancouver Street Festival
-
Central America3 days ago
Guatemala sees road blockades amid protests against lawmaker pay hikes
-
International3 days ago
Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may
-
International4 days ago
King Charles III expresses deep sadness after Vancouver festival tragedy that left nine dead
-
International3 days ago
Spain’s PM calls for calm and patience amid ongoing blackout
-
International3 days ago
Mexican activist who exposed pornography ring found dead in Veracruz
-
International3 days ago
Madrid carries out 286 elevator rescues amid massive blackout
-
International1 day ago
Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition
-
International1 day ago
Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president
-
Internacionales10 hours ago
Clashes erupt during may day protests across France amid calls for better wages
-
International10 hours ago
Man arrested after deliberately driving into seven children in Osaka