While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, April 20, 2025
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Ukrainian servicemen firing a Caesar howitzer towards Russian troops in Ukraine's Donetsk region on April 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Putin declares unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a surprise one-day ceasefire in Ukraine for Easter on April 19, but Kyiv said attacks continued, Mr Putin couldn’t be trusted and Moscow should instead accept a 30-day truce Kyiv had agreed to in March.
Mr Putin’s unilateral move followed Washington’s announcement that it could abandon peace talks within days unless Moscow and Kyiv showed they were serious about negotiating.
Mr Putin ordered fighting to stop as of 6pm Moscow time on April 19 (11pm in Singapore) until midnight on the night of April 21.
Shortly after the announcement, around an hour before it was due to take effect, air raid sirens rang out in Kyiv.
At least 11 killed in India building collapse
At least 11 people, including three children, were killed in New Delhi on April 19 after a residential building collapsed on the outskirts of the Indian capital, local reports and authorities said.
The incident happened in the early hours in the northeastern district of the city that mostly houses migrant workers, with rescue teams digging through the rubble throughout the day.
Eleven people were pronounced dead, NDTV channel reported, though 11 others were rescued and taken to hospital.
Canada’s Carney pledges tax cuts, defence spending
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s campaign platform plans released on April 19 include tax cuts and new spending on infrastructure and defence, as he pledges a new economic order that is less reliant on the United States.
Mr Carney has campaigned on his experience managing crises while running the central bank of Canada during the 2008 financial crisis and that of Britain during Brexit.
He often says he is the best person to stand up to US President Donald Trump, who has imposed tariffs on Canada and threatened to annex the country.
Dodgers baseball star Shohei Ohtani is dad to baby girl
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani announced on April 19 that he and his wife, Mamiko, are parents of a baby girl.
The Instagram post showed a picture of the baby’s feet and the family dog, Decoy.
“I am so grateful to my loving wife who gave birth to our healthy beautiful daughter,” Ohtani wrote in his post.
‘Idiot’ Norris says he let down himself and McLaren
McLaren’s Formula One leader Lando Norris called himself an idiot after crashing in Saudi Arabian Grand Prix qualifying on April 19, and he stuck by the self-criticism when talking to reporters afterwards.
“Makes sense. I agree with it. Should be fighting for pole,” the unhurt driver said after qualifying 10th at Jeddah’s Corniche circuit.
“I shunted so I’m not going to be proud, I’m not going to be happy. I have let myself down and let the team down,” said Norris, blaming himself for “silly risks” he did not need to take.