World | WPN World People News

A large-scale power outage occurred in Puerto Rico on April 16 (local time), with all power plants shutting down at one point, plunging the entire island into darkness and leaving 1.4 million customers without electricity. Reports indicate that power restoration may take up to 72 hours, highlighting the aging state of the island’s power grid infrastructure.

The blackout began shortly after 12:00 p.m. on April 16. Genera, the power generation company, stated that the complete halt of all power plants led to the widespread outage. LUMA Energy, the power transmission and distribution operator, said full restoration could take as long as 72 hours. The sudden, island-wide blackout caused major disruptions, including traffic chaos, the shutdown of the urban train system, severe congestion in city streets, and the forced closure of shopping centers and malls. Around 1.4 million households across the island were left without power, triggering widespread public frustration.

Puerto Rico, home to approximately 3.2 million people, has a poverty rate as high as 40%. Since Hurricane Maria devastated the island in 2017, Puerto Rico has faced persistent problems with its electrical grid. Major blackouts have become increasingly common in recent years, with the most recent one occurring on New Year’s Eve, December 31. The recurrence of such outages—as seen again on April 16—underscores the urgent need to address the island’s deteriorating power infrastructure.

Japan and the United States began bilateral tariff negotiations on the 16th, led by Japan’s Minister for Economic Revitalization, Ryomasa Akazawa. U.S. President Donald Trump personally met with Akazawa for approximately 50 minutes. Following the meeting, a 75-minute discussion was held with key U.S. cabinet members including Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, Commerce Secretary Robert Lutnick, and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Lee Greer. Before departing from Tokyo, Akazawa stated that he would prioritize Japan’s national interests. Trump expressed his desire to reach an agreement with Japan as soon as possible and later posted that the talks had made “significant progress.”

On the 14th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba publicly stated in the National Diet that Japan is not prepared to make major concessions in the negotiations and is in no rush to reach an agreement. He also ruled out the possibility of imposing retaliatory tariffs on the U.S.—his strongest warning to Washington thus far. Ishiba stressed that the negotiations should not be rushed, warning that "constant compromise" and "hasty settlements" may ultimately lead to failure.

On the afternoon of the 16th (Washington time), Akazawa first met with around 10 representatives from Japanese business circles in the U.S. to exchange views on tariff-related issues and to better understand the challenges faced by Japanese companies operating locally.

On the morning of the 17th, Ishiba stated at the Prime Minister’s Office that both sides had engaged in lengthy, honest, and constructive discussions and would proceed to the next phase. He added that he himself plans to visit the U.S. at "the most appropriate time" to negotiate directly with President Trump. At a press conference following the talks, Akazawa announced that the two sides had reached three points of consensus:

1. Both parties will engage in constructive discussions with the goal of reaching an agreement as soon as possible, to be jointly announced by the two leaders;
2. A schedule adjustment will be made to hold the next round of talks within the month;
3. In addition to ministerial-level discussions, working-level talks will continue as well.

Japan has requested the removal of certain tariff measures, but has not disclosed specific U.S. demands in areas such as automobiles and agriculture, stating only that negotiations are "ongoing." The issue of U.S. military forces stationed in Japan was also on the agenda. While the Trump administration had previously raised concerns over the yen’s exchange rate, this issue was not included in the discussions.

The *Federal Register* on April 14 reported that the U.S. Department of Commerce has announced a national security investigation into imported semiconductors. The scope of the investigation includes silicon wafers, semiconductor components, chip manufacturing equipment, and downstream products containing semiconductors.

According to foreign media reports, the purpose of the investigation is to assess the feasibility of boosting domestic semiconductor production, reduce reliance on imports, and explore whether additional tariffs or other trade measures are needed to safeguard national security.

Although U.S. President Donald Trump stated on April 11 that certain electronic products such as smartphones, computers, and semiconductors could be exempt from reciprocal tariffs, chips and the broader electronics supply chain were not excluded. The Trump administration is planning to impose new tariffs on imported semiconductor products. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated on the political talk show *This Week* on April 13 that these measures could be officially implemented within the next one to two months. The measures are based on Section 232 of the 1962 *Trade Expansion Act*, which allows the President to impose tariffs on the grounds of national security.

In addition, the Trump administration has launched a similar national security investigation into pharmaceuticals and drug ingredients, underscoring its strong emphasis on supply chain security.

On April 13, Russia launched a deadly missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing at least 34 civilians and injuring around 100 others, including several children. This marks one of the deadliest Russian attacks on Ukraine this year. Czech officials strongly condemned the assault, urging the international community to take tougher action against Moscow.

Czech President Petr Pavel stated that the attack shows Russia has no intention of seeking peace and emphasized that without increased pressure on Russia, the situation will not change. Prime Minister Petr Fiala said Russia’s actions threaten the security of all Europe and revealed that the Czech Republic is cooperating with the UK- and France-led “coalition of volunteers” to enhance support for Ukraine.

Other high-ranking Czech officials also condemned Russia’s actions, labeling them as “war crimes” and “atrocities.” Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine and criticized the Russian regime as “led by murderers.” Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Markéta Pekarová Adamová warned against naively believing that Putin seeks peace. Agriculture Minister Marek Výborný called on former U.S. President Donald Trump to hold Russia accountable and push for a ceasefire.

Sumy, located just tens of kilometers from the Russian border, has suffered repeated airstrikes since the Russia-Ukraine war began three years ago. Although the Trump administration has attempted to broker a limited ceasefire agreement, it has yet to yield concrete results.

The United States and Iran held talks in Oman on the 13th regarding Tehran's escalating nuclear program. Both sides described the dialogue as “positive” and “constructive,” and agreed to continue discussions next Saturday.

According to Reuters, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iran’s state television, “I believe we are very close to establishing a basis for negotiations. If we can finalize this foundation next week, it would be a major breakthrough and could lead to substantive talks.”

Araqchi noted that the US-Iran talks were conducted in an “efficient, calm, and positive” atmosphere. This marks the first face-to-face negotiation between the two nations during President Donald Trump’s administration. He also revealed that both sides had agreed to maintain dialogue and could meet again next Saturday, stressing that both Iran and the US are seeking to reach an agreement in the short term, rather than engage in prolonged and vague negotiations.

The White House also released a statement calling the meeting “highly positive and constructive.” Participants included US Middle East envoy Steven Witkoff, the US ambassador to Oman, and Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi. The White House stated, “Despite the complexity of the issues, today’s direct communication between Envoy Witkoff and the Iranian side marks an important step toward a mutually beneficial outcome. Both parties have agreed to reconvene next Saturday.”

According to an Associated Press report, the Trump administration recently added approximately 6,300 legally residing immigrants to the Social Security Administration’s “Death Master File,” resulting in the cancellation of their Social Security Numbers (SSNs). This action has prevented them from working legally, opening bank accounts, or enrolling their children in school.

The move stems from claims by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that these individuals were under “temporary parole” and had connections to terrorist watchlists or FBI criminal records, though no concrete evidence has been provided. The White House stated that the goal is to eliminate the economic incentives for unlawful stay and to encourage voluntary departure.

However, immigrant rights advocates have criticized the action as a form of “digital assassination,” emphasizing that the affected individuals are lawful residents. They argue it violates privacy and civil rights. Experts have also warned that labeling living individuals as deceased poses risks to all Americans, as similar errors could affect a broader population.

In addition, the government has revoked the legal status of immigrants who applied for parole through the CBP One mobile app and has reached an agreement with the IRS to grant Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) access to immigrants’ tax records. This move has sparked significant privacy concerns and led to the resignation of acting IRS Commissioner Melanie Krause.

The incident highlights the administration’s hardline stance on immigration policy and raises alarm over potential infringements on individual privacy and legal rights, drawing widespread public attention.

The 2025 World Expo (Osaka Expo) will hold its opening ceremony on the afternoon of April 12 at the Yumeshima venue in Osaka City, including sites like the “Grand Roof.” Attendees will include Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako, Expo Honorary President Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and representatives from participating countries.

The theme of the opening ceremony is “Re-Connect: Parade, Echo, Return, Link.” Performances will feature Osaka Expo Ambassador and conductor Yutaka Sado, who will lead the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra. The Expo includes participation from 158 countries and regions, along with 7 international organizations. Running until October 13, it spans 184 days and is expected to attract around 28 million visitors, generating an estimated economic impact of nearly 3 trillion yen (approx. NT$694.5 billion).

The ticket sales goal for this Osaka Expo is 23 million tickets. However, as of now, only 62% of that target has been achieved in presales. Despite advertisements and promotional slogans being visible throughout Osaka, public response has been relatively lukewarm. Polls show that over 70% of Japanese people are not interested in visiting the Expo. Moreover, the event has faced criticism due to frequent reports of construction delays, explosions, and other negative incidents. Rising construction costs have also increased the financial burden on the public, sparking widespread criticism.

It is estimated that in order to cover the 116 billion yen needed for Expo operations, at least 18 million tickets must be sold. On April 10, Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura stated, “We are working toward the goal of selling 18 million tickets, and we hope more people will consider visiting the Expo.”

The French government officially announced today that it will recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state. This move marks a significant shift in France’s stance on the Middle East peace process and could have far-reaching implications for diplomacy across Europe and the world.

French President Emmanuel Macron stated at a press conference held at the Élysée Palace that recognizing Palestine is “an essential step toward lasting peace and the two-state solution,” emphasizing that the decision is “not against Israel, but in support of peace, justice, and international law.”

Macron noted that although the international community has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tangible progress has remained slow. “We can no longer wait. When peace is delayed, justice is compromised,” he said.

France now joins Sweden, Slovenia, and several Latin American countries as a major European nation recognizing the State of Palestine. Following the announcement, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement highly praising France, calling the move “a validation of the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people.”

Israel, on the other hand, expressed deep regret over France’s decision. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the move “will encourage extremism and undermine efforts toward peace.”

To date, more than 140 UN member states have recognized the State of Palestine. France’s decision could prompt more European countries to follow suit. Analysts believe that France’s move will draw renewed international attention to the Israeli-Palestinian issue and may reignite long-stalled peace negotiations.

A tragic accident occurred in the early hours recently in the Dominican Republic's capital, Santo Domingo, when the roof of a well-known nightclub collapsed, killing over 100 people. Among the deceased are a provincial governor, members of parliament, and former Major League Baseball players. Rescue efforts are still ongoing, and the country's president has declared three days of national mourning.

The nightclub “Jet Set,” a famous venue in Santo Domingo, is known for hosting regular dance music concerts every Monday night. At 12:44 AM local time on the 8th, while popular singer Rubby Pérez was performing on stage in front of hundreds of attendees, the nightclub suddenly experienced a power outage followed by a complete roof collapse.

Authorities have deployed heavy machinery, drones, search dogs, and dozens of rescue personnel to aid in the operation. Both Puerto Rico and Israel have also sent manpower to assist. The cause of the incident is still under investigation. According to Santo Domingo Emergency Operations Center director Juan Méndez, the death toll has surpassed 124, with over 150 injured and potentially hundreds still trapped. The victims include singer Rubby Pérez, former MLB pitchers Octavio Dotel and Tony Blanco, as well as Monte Cristi Province Governor Nelsy Cruz.

Dominican President Luis Abinader expressed deep sorrow and declared a three-day period of national mourning. Prior to a recent game at Citi Field in New York, the New York Mets and the Miami Marlins honored Dotel with a black-and-white photo and the image of the Dominican flag displayed on the scoreboard to pay their respects.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, center, co-hosted the International Day of Conscience Celebration Gala Dinner with Herta Margarete Habsburg-Lothringen, President of the Flame of Peace, left, and Dr. Vinzenz von Holle, President of the Dignity Foundation. (AP Images)