News from March 17, 2025 at 2 AM

President Donald Trump announced that the US has launched a 'decisive and powerful' wave of air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, citing the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Trump stated that the Iran-funded Houthis have fired missiles at US aircraft and targeted US troops and allies, causing billions of dollars in losses and risking lives. The Houthi-run health ministry reported at least 13 killed and nine injured in the strikes. The Houthis, who began targeting shipping in response to the Israel-Hamas war, vowed to retaliate. They blamed the US and UK for attacking residential areas in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, though the UK was not involved in Saturday's strikes. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on Red Sea vessels, forcing major shipping companies to reroute. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran, and Trump urged Tehran to cease its support for the Houthis.

US President Donald Trump is set to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. US envoy Steve Witkoff stated on March 16 that Trump is seeking Putin's support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine accepted last week. Despite ongoing heavy aerial strikes over the weekend and Russia's advances in pushing Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region, Trump expressed optimism in a March 14 social media post that the bloody conflict could end, while strongly urging Putin not to kill the Ukrainian troops being expelled from Kursk.

A fire at the Pulse nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, has resulted in at least 59 deaths and over 155 injuries. The blaze occurred around 02:30, with 1,500 people attending a concert by the popular hip-hop duo DNK. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski described it as a 'difficult and very sad day' for the country. Interior Minister Pance Toskovski announced arrest warrants for four individuals, with initial reports suggesting the fire was caused by pyrotechnic sparks. Witnesses reported chaos, and hospitals are struggling to identify the deceased, with 18 patients in critical condition. The government pledged a thorough investigation and full mobilization to address the tragedy.

The Trump administration announced on Sunday the deportation of hundreds of immigrants alleged to be members of a Venezuelan gang to El Salvador under the wartime Alien Enemies Act. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president invoked this authority to deport nearly 300 individuals. On Saturday, a judge temporarily blocked the effort, but the ruling did not apply to migrants who had already landed in a foreign country. It remains unclear how the government determined these individuals were gang members or if they received U.S. court or immigration hearings. Two flights carrying Venezuelans were in transit during the judge's ruling, with one landing in El Salvador an hour after the ruling. The ACLU and Democracy Forward filed a lawsuit challenging the administration's use of the Alien Enemies Act.

The Vatican released the first image of Pope Francis since his hospitalization a month ago, showing him sitting in a wheelchair in front of an altar at Rome's Gemelli Hospital. In his written Angelus message on Sunday, the Pope mentioned facing a 'period of trial,' thanking well-wishers for their prayers and praying for peace in 'countries wounded by war.' This marked the fifth consecutive Sunday he was absent from his weekly blessing in person. The Vatican earlier this week stated that an X-ray confirmed 'improvements' in his condition, but he still required hospital treatment. The 88-year-old Pope has not been seen in public since his admission on February 14 and no photos had been released until Sunday. He has been treated for double pneumonia and other infections, suffering several respiratory crises, raising concerns about his health.

Early on March 16th Eastern Time, SpaceX's Crew Dragon capsule successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS). American astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams, who had been stranded on the ISS for over nine months, are now expected to return to Earth soon. The Crew-10 mission aboard the capsule includes astronauts from the United States, Japan, and Russia, who will replace the Crew-9 team. The new astronauts will conduct over 200 scientific experiments. Last June, Wilmore and Williams were stranded due to technical issues with Boeing's Starliner spacecraft. President Trump criticized the previous administration, but the astronauts stated they were prepared. They are expected to return to Earth as early as March 19th.

The United States has expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating he is 'no longer welcome in our great country.' Rubio accused Rasool on X of hating America and President Donald Trump, labeling him a 'race-baiting politician.' South Africa's presidential office called the decision 'regrettable' but affirmed its commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship with the US. This rare move by the US marks the latest escalation in tensions between the two nations. Rubio cited a Breitbart article quoting Rasool's critical remarks about the Trump administration during an online lecture. Last month, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa over alleged 'egregious actions' and 'unjust racial discrimination' against white Afrikaners. The South African government has denied these claims. The White House accused South Africa of 'blatantly discriminating against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups.' The expulsion of a senior diplomat like a foreign ambassador is highly unusual in the US.

Canada's newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has identified countering President Donald Trump's tariff policies as a top priority. Trudeau called Trump's annexation remarks 'too crazy' and vowed that Canada will never become part of the US. The new government aims to protect workers' interests and reduce spending. Trudeau plans to visit France and the UK to strengthen alliances with European nations. A former Goldman Sachs executive and central bank governor, Trudeau has streamlined his cabinet to 24 members. Canada's general election, expected in a few weeks, sees the Liberal Party neck-and-neck with the Conservative Party in polls.

Michael Abramowitz, director of the Voice of America, announced that nearly 1,300 journalists, producers, and assistants have been put on administrative leave, effectively silencing the media broadcaster that operates in nearly 50 languages. This marks the first time in 83 years that the Voice of America is being silenced. Earlier, ABC News reported that all full-time employees had been notified of the paid administrative leave. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday to significantly reduce the scope of the US Agency for Global Media, which is responsible for foreign policy propaganda and coordinates the activities of government-funded radio stations like the Voice of America and Radio Liberty/Free Europe.

US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on EU alcoholic products. French Economy and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire stated on the 14th that the US-EU trade dispute would escalate, and the EU would raise tariffs in response. Le Maire called this a 'stupid war' but emphasized the need for equal footing in negotiations. French Central Bank Governor François Villeroy de Galhau noted that the EU has means to retaliate but should avoid escalating the situation, believing Trump's policies are detrimental to the US economy and could trigger recession risks.

Recently, a California jury ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to a delivery driver, Michael Garcia, who suffered severe burns due to an improperly secured hot drink lid. The incident occurred in 2020 at a Starbucks in Los Angeles when Garcia was scalded by a hot drink, resulting in third-degree burns and permanent injuries. The victim filed a lawsuit in the California Superior Court, accusing Starbucks of violating safety obligations. After years of litigation, the jury ruled in favor of the plaintiff, ordering Starbucks to pay $50 million. Starbucks has indicated it will appeal. The company had previously offered a $3 million settlement, later increased to $30 million, but the offer was rejected.

Germany's parliamentary budget committee on Sunday approved a massive state borrowing plan aimed at bolstering defense and reviving growth in Europe's largest economy. The committee convened for an extraordinary session and backed the plans agreed on Friday between the conservative CDU/CSU, the Social Democrats, and the Greens, sending them to parliament for adoption. The bill, which includes a 500 billion euro ($540 billion) fund for infrastructure and changes to borrowing rules, requires a two-thirds majority in the parliamentary vote scheduled for Tuesday, March 18. It will be one of the last major acts of this Bundestag before a new one convenes on March 25 following last month's election. Greens lawmaker Sven-Christian Kindler told Reuters, 'Today in the budget committee, we have cleared the way for future investments.'