News from March 27, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on imported cars and car parts, effective from April 2, potentially escalating the global trade war. The US imported approximately eight million cars last year, worth around $240 billion. Major suppliers include Mexico, South Korea, Japan, Canada, and Germany. The new tariffs could disrupt global car trade and supply chains. The White House exempted parts from Canada and Mexico temporarily. Shares in General Motors and Ford fell. The UK and EU expressed concerns, with Canadian Prime Minister calling it a 'direct attack'.

Hundreds of Palestinians held a rare anti-Hamas protest in Beit Lahia, Gaza Strip, demanding an end to the war with Israel. Most protesters were male, chanting slogans like 'Hamas out' and 'Hamas are terrorists.' Protester Mohamad, who withheld his full name for fear of retaliation, told AFP he joined to voice the people's desire for peace, noting Hamas security forces in plain clothes dispersing the crowd. Another protester questioned why Hamas wouldn't relinquish power to protect civilians. Unverified messages on Telegram called for continued protests. Israel resumed large-scale airstrikes on Gaza on March 18 after Hamas rejected a US-proposed ceasefire extension. Hamas warned hostages might be killed if Israel continues its military actions. Egyptian President Sisi and Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez urged Israel to cease fire, while UAE President Mohammed discussed the ceasefire with US President Trump. Palestinian health officials reported nearly 700 deaths from Israeli attacks, mostly women and children.

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.

A spokesperson for the US Armed Forces stated that the Pentagon cannot confirm reports of four US soldiers dying while returning from a military exercise at a training range in Lithuania. The search for the missing soldiers is ongoing. The M88 armored recovery vehicle they were operating has been found submerged in a body of water in the training area. Lithuanian Defense Ministry's Dovile Sakaliene said the search operation would continue through the night.

The Sudanese army encircled Khartoum airport and surrounding areas on Wednesday, marking a significant development in a two-year conflict with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Last Friday, the army seized control of the presidential palace in downtown Khartoum, a major gain in a war that threatens to partition the country. Previously on the defensive, the army has recently retaken territory from the RSF in central Sudan. Witnesses reported that the RSF has mainly stationed its forces in southern Khartoum to secure their withdrawal to Omdurman via bridges. The U.N. describes the situation in Sudan as the world's largest humanitarian crisis, with famine in several areas and disease affecting the country's 50 million people. The conflict began two years ago as Sudan planned a transition to democratic rule. The army and RSF had previously united to oust Omar al-Bashir and later civilian leadership, but long-standing tensions persisted due to Bashir's cultivation of the RSF as a counterbalance to the army.

Tufts University announced Tuesday night that a graduate international student was detained by U.S. federal authorities at an off-campus apartment in Somerville, Massachusetts, and had their visa revoked. The university provided no further details. This incident is the latest in President Donald Trump's administration's crackdown on international students. This month, Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil was arrested; he denies supporting Hamas. A Korean American Columbia student also faces detention, temporarily blocked by courts. Brown University assistant professor Rasha Alawieh was denied re-entry and deported to Lebanon over phone photos.

The US Intelligence Community released its annual report, identifying China as the top military and cyber threat to the US, and noting progress in China's ability to seize Taiwan. The 33-page report devotes about a third of its content to China, highlighting China's capability to strike the US, disrupt its infrastructure and space assets, and potentially strategize to replace the US as the leading AI power by 2030. The report also suggests that the Chinese military might use large language models to create fake news. The Chinese Foreign Ministry countered that the report is irresponsible and biased. The US Department of Commerce added 54 Chinese mainland companies to its export restriction list, prompting a protest from the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

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.

Ozgur Ozel, chairman of Turkey's main opposition party, the Republican People's Party (CHP), stated that protests will continue in every city until early presidential elections are called or jailed Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu is released. A large demonstration is planned for Saturday in Istanbul, launching the party's campaign to make Imamoglu the presidential candidate for 2028. Since Imamoglu's arrest, the opposition has mobilized massive protests, with over 1,400 arrests, including seven journalists. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the protests as 'street terrorism'. Ozel, after visiting Imamoglu in Silivri Prison, said the mayor is in good condition and called the corruption case against him a scam. Imamoglu denies all charges, claiming his arrest was a coup. Ozel criticized the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister Keir Starmer for their silence on the issue.

According to the Houthi-controlled Al Masirah TV channel, on March 26, the US army conducted at least two airstrikes on the al-Dailami military airbase in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa. The base, controlled by the Houthi rebels from the Ansar Allah movement, is located near Sanaa International Airport. This strike represents an escalation of US military pressure on the Houthi forces.

Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has traveled to Moscow for talks with Russian government officials. He plans to discuss the prospects for resolving the conflict in Ukraine and issues of bilateral cooperation, including in the energy sector. Szijjarto wrote on his Facebook page that the peace talks between the US and Russia have reached a new milestone, making the world safer again. Hungary has been advocating for open communication channels for three years. The discussions in Moscow will focus on peace, energy security, and expanding economic cooperation.

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 party of South Sudan's First Vice President Riek Machar stated on Wednesday it is trying to locate him after his residence was forcefully entered by the defense minister and national security chief, who delivered an arrest warrant. Machar's SPLM-IO party condemned this as a violation of the Constitution and the Revitalized Peace Agreement. His bodyguards were disarmed, and the charges remain unclear. Escalating tensions from recent clashes between government troops and a militia allied with Machar have led to warnings of renewed civil war. The UN reported clashes outside the capital, Juba. The 2013-2018 civil war caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. Fighting in Upper Nile State has displaced 50,000 people since last month. Norway temporarily closed its embassy in Juba due to security concerns, while the US ordered non-emergency personnel to leave two weeks ago.

Bolivian President Luis Arce declared a national emergency on Wednesday following torrential rains and severe floods that resulted in over 50 deaths and displaced more than 100,000 people nationwide. All nine of Bolivia's departmental regions have been impacted, with one declared a disaster zone and three others in a state of emergency. Arce stated during a press conference that over 370,000 families have been affected by the rains. Bolivia, which typically experiences its rainy season from November to March, has seen orange and red alerts for river overflows extended from February to April this year, according to Lucia Walper from Bolivia's Senamhi meteorological service. The state of emergency enables the government to purchase supplies and deploy resources, with thousands of soldiers deployed to distribute aid. Congress is expected to approve a $75 million loan from the CAF Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean to address the impact of natural disasters, including floods.

On March 26, 2025, Russian forces launched a massive drone attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, injuring nine people and causing significant damage to buildings. Emergency services reported on Telegram that the attacks started four fires in the city center, with firefighters battling the flames amidst piles of rubble. Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that the city had endured at least 12 drone strikes. Kharkiv, which resisted capture in the early weeks of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has been repeatedly targeted. A separate drone attack also triggered fires in the central city of Dnipro, with no immediate casualties reported, according to regional governor Serhiy Lysak.