News from March 26, 2025 at 2 AM

On the evening of March 24, the Russian and US delegations concluded talks in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, followed by a second meeting between the US and Ukrainian delegations the next day. On March 25, all three parties issued separate statements on the outcomes of the talks. The US stated that it had reached a consensus with Russia and Ukraine on Black Sea navigation safety, agreeing to avoid the use of force and prevent commercial vessels from being used for military purposes. Russia and Ukraine agreed to formulate measures to prohibit attacks on energy facilities, and the US will continue to facilitate negotiations between the two sides for peace. Additionally, the US pledged to help Russia restore agricultural exports and agreed with Ukraine on issues such as prisoner exchanges. The Ukrainian Defense Minister warned that Ukraine would exercise its right to self-defense if Russia violated the consensus. Russia demanded the lifting of multiple sanctions to implement the agreements. Ukrainian President Zelensky stated that no consensus was reached on territorial issues but that a new round of ceasefire negotiations would be held soon.

US President Donald Trump expressed his trust in all members of his national security team despite the recent scandal involving the leak of data on US military strikes in Yemen. Trump praised National Security Advisor Mike Waltz as a very good man and emphasized the efficiency of his national security team. He criticized his political opponents for paying too much attention to the issue and labeled Atlantic magazine as a 'failed magazine' that publishes fabricated stories. Previously, Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg revealed that he was added to a Signal group chat named 'Houthi PC small group' with top officials including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance. On March 15, details of planned strikes against the Houthis were posted in the chat, followed by the US launching massive strikes on Houthi facilities in Yemen.

According to Qatari television channel Al Jazeera, in the past 24 hours, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted airstrikes and mass artillery shelling of settlements and refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the deaths of at least 65 Palestinians and injuring several dozen others. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip reported that the death toll in the latest escalation has exceeded 600, with over 1,000 people wounded, 70% of whom are women, children, and the elderly. Since October 2023, the total number of Palestinians killed in the enclave has reached 50,082, with 113,408 injured. On March 18, the Israeli army resumed military operations in Gaza, breaking the ceasefire established in January 2025. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained this by Hamas' refusal to accept proposals put forward during negotiations mediated by US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, stating that the goal of the operation is the release of all hostages. The radicals placed the responsibility for the resumption of hostilities on Israel and the United States.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance announced he will visit Greenland this week, accompanying a high-level U.S. delegation. President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the U.S. should take over Greenland, a proposal opposed by both Greenland and Denmark. Polls show that nearly all Greenlanders reject joining the U.S. Vance posted on social media that the visit aims to assess the situation in Greenland and prevent other countries from using its territory to threaten the U.S. and Canada. Greenland, long controlled by Denmark, is now a semi-sovereign territory under the Danish realm. The delegation includes Vance's wife, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, with the visit scheduled from Thursday to Saturday.

The arrest of Ekrem Imamoglu, Mayor of Istanbul from Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, sparked widespread protests across the country. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya stated that 123 police officers were injured and 1,133 suspects detained during the protests, with detainees including members of 12 different terrorist organizations. Authorities seized various dangerous items. President Erdogan labeled the protests as a 'violent movement' and held the Republican People's Party responsible. Imamoglu was detained on corruption and terrorism-related charges and later transferred to the prosecutor's office. Despite protest bans in cities like Istanbul and Izmir, demonstrations continued, with Ankara extending the ban until April 1.

Palestinian Oscar-winning co-director of 'No Other Land,' Hamdan Ballal, was attacked at his home in the Israeli-occupied West Bank by Israeli settlers and subsequently detained by the Israeli military. Witnesses reported that Ballal was beaten by settlers and then taken by soldiers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that no Palestinian was detained from an ambulance, but three Palestinians were detained on suspicion of throwing rocks at security forces. The attack occurred on Monday evening in the village of Susya, where around a dozen masked settlers assaulted the area, also targeting five Jewish American activists. Ballal and his companions are suspected of stone-throwing and causing injuries, and are currently being held at an Israeli police station in the West Bank.

On March 25th local time, Germany's newly elected Federal Parliament held its first session, marking the beginning of the 21st legislative term, which lasts four years. The agenda included the adoption of parliamentary rules and the election of the parliamentary speaker, with former Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner nominated for the position. Current Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his cabinet will receive their dismissal papers but will continue to serve until the new government is formed. The new parliament comprises 630 members, a decrease of 103 seats from the previous term, representing six parties and one Danish minority party. The Free Democratic Party and the alliance led by Sarah Wagenknecht failed to enter the new parliament. The election was held on February 23rd, and the new parliament was required to convene its first session within 30 days of the election.

On March 25, 2025, French movie star Gerard Depardieu appeared in court in Paris for his trial on two sexual assault charges allegedly committed during the filming of 'Les Volets Verts'. Depardieu admitted to grabbing the hips of the woman accusing him of sexual assault but denied it was an assault, attributing his actions to a bad mood. The 76-year-old actor, who has faced multiple sexual assault allegations in recent years and consistently denied any wrongdoing, is standing trial for the first time. If convicted, Depardieu could face up to five years in prison and a fine of 75,000 euros. The trial, expected to last at least three days, was postponed from October due to Depardieu's health issues. Prosecutors allege that Depardieu assaulted two women, including set decorator Amelie K., during the filming in 2021.

The Canada Security Intelligence Service warns that China and India may interfere in the Canadian election on April 28, with Russia and Pakistan also posing potential threats. Deputy Director Lloyd stated on March 24 that hostile nations are increasingly using AI to meddle in elections. Tensions between Canada and China are high, with Beijing imposing tariffs on Canadian agricultural products and executing four Canadian citizens. Canada previously expelled six Indian diplomats. Lloyd noted India's intent and capability to interfere. Foreign interference undermines public trust in democracy. Prime Minister Trudeau called for an early election to counter US tariff threats, but is constrained by 'caretaker government' protocols.

On Monday night, the Sudanese Armed Forces conducted an airstrike on a crowded market in North Darfur, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries, as reported by activists on Tuesday. Social media posts showed numerous burned corpses and smoke rising from the ground, verified by the London-based Centre for Information Resilience, which identified the site as the village of Tora, 40 km north of al-Fasher. The incident, matching satellite imagery, marked one of the highest casualty numbers in Darfur since October 2024. The Sudanese army did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment. Lists provided by the Coordinating Committee for Refugees and Displaced People in Darfur included 84 people, with at least 26 confirmed dead. Emergency Lawyers, a group monitoring the conflict's impact on civilians, declared the attack a violation of international humanitarian law and a war crime, calling for an independent investigation. Tora, controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), is amidst a power struggle with the Sudanese army. The conflict exacerbates what the United Nations describes as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with half of Sudan's 50 million population facing acute hunger and over 12.5 million displaced due to ongoing violence. The RSF reported over 400 deaths in Tora, though Reuters could not independently verify these figures.

The South Korean Constitutional Court rejected the impeachment against Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, immediately reinstating him as acting president. Han thanked the court for its wise decision in a statement. The presidential administration welcomed the ruling, accusing the National Assembly of abusing its powers by impeaching officials, describing it as a reckless and malicious political offensive. The office expressed hope that Han's return would normalize the country's governance.

On March 25, the head of Pope Francis' medical team revealed that the pontiff came close to death during his hospitalization for pneumonia, with doctors considering halting treatment to allow the 88-year-old to die peacefully. On February 28, Francis suffered a breathing crisis that nearly led to choking, prompting a decision on whether to continue treatment. Ultimately, he underwent 38 days of treatment at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital, marking the most severe health crisis of his 12-year papacy. He was admitted on February 14 for bronchitis, which developed into double pneumonia, a critical condition given his history of pleurisy and partial lung removal in his youth.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun on Monday denied the possibility of China's participation in a potential peacekeeping contingent in Ukraine, emphasizing that such media reports are untrue. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated in late February that Russia had not discussed the involvement of Chinese peacekeepers in resolving the conflict in Ukraine. A German newspaper reported on Saturday that China was discussing with European countries the possibility of participating in a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on March 6 that Russia sees no possibility for a compromise on the deployment of European peacekeepers in Ukraine. Earlier in March, media reports emerged that French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer were trying to convince 37 countries to join a coalition ready to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine and provide security guarantees to Kiev. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service stated last year that the West could deploy around 100,000 troops in Ukraine under the guise of a peacekeeping force to restore Kiev's combat capabilities. Peskov argued that in any conflict, the deployment of foreign peacekeepers is only possible with the consent of all parties involved.

Yevgenia Gutsul, the head of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region, was detained at the Chisinau airport on March 25 by officers from the National Anti-Corruption Center. Gutsul has been held for 72 hours, with all details set to be announced on Wednesday. The detention was carried out by the National Anti-Corruption Center, and the investigation is ongoing.

King Charles and the Queen have postponed their state visit to the Vatican due to the Pope's need for rest following a recent illness. The visit, planned during the Papal Jubilee year, was significant for building symbolic links between the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England. Pope Francis, who recently recovered from pneumonia and respiratory issues, was discharged from hospital in Rome. Despite the cancellation of the Vatican leg, the royal couple will continue their visit to Italy, meeting the Italian president and prime minister. This trip marks their first state visit of the year and coincides with their 20th wedding anniversary celebrations.

On March 25, 2025, former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini were acquitted of corruption charges by the Extraordinary Appeals Chamber of the Swiss Criminal Court in Muttenz, Switzerland. The case involved a 2 million Swiss franc ($2.26 million) payment authorized by Blatter to Platini in 2011 for consultancy work. The pair were initially acquitted in 2022 by a lower court, but Swiss federal prosecutors appealed. Platini's lawyer stated that the proceedings had significant personal and professional consequences for Platini, including preventing his election as FIFA president in 2016.

US President Donald Trump announced on March 24 that countries purchasing oil or natural gas from Venezuela would face a 25% tariff, effective as early as April 2. This move has sparked widespread international concern, particularly impacting Asian markets. In 2024, India imported over 22 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, accounting for 1.5% of its total oil imports. In February, Venezuela exported about 500,000 barrels of oil to China, while the US imported 240,000 barrels. The tariff could disrupt Asian markets and increase global trade uncertainties. Trump claimed the measure targets China and extended Chevron's oil extraction permit in Venezuela until May 27. Venezuela responded strongly, and the Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the US to stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs.

On July 4, 2024, BYD showcased its electric vehicles inside its first EV factory in Southeast Asia, located in Rayong, Thailand. BYD reported an annual revenue of 777 billion yuan ($107 billion) for 2024, surpassing its U.S. rival Tesla. In a filing published on Monday, BYD posted a 29% increase in revenue from the previous year, driven by sales of its hybrid vehicles. This figure exceeded Tesla's annual revenue of $97.7 billion. Wang Chuanfu, chairman and president of BYD, highlighted the company's 'rapid development' in 2024, noting that BYD became the first automaker globally to roll out 10 million new energy vehicles in November. BYD has emerged as an industry leader in sectors ranging from batteries and electronics to new energy vehicles, breaking the dominance of foreign brands. Additionally, BYD's Hong Kong-listed shares have surged by 46% year-to-date, while Tesla's shares have plummeted by over 31% due to Elon Musk's political stance and declining market demand.