News from March 28, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump has ordered a 25% tariff on imported vehicles and parts, set to take effect on April 3. Germany and Japan have opposed the move and are considering retaliatory measures. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared the traditional relationship with the US is over. Experts warn of higher vehicle costs, with Ferrari planning to increase prices for US-bound models. Global stock markets plummeted, with automakers' stocks leading the decline. The American Automotive Policy Council cautioned that tariffs should not raise consumer prices. Trump threatened larger surcharges if Canada and the EU collaborate against the US.

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and leaders from 27 nations convened in Paris for the 'Volunteer Coalition' summit in support of Ukraine, discussing military aid and post-ceasefire troop deployment, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in attendance. This was the coalition's third and largest summit, but the U.S. did not send a representative. No consensus was reached on troop deployment, yet the UK and France will continue efforts. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accused the UK and France of planning military intervention. Various leaders participated, with some expressing dissent. Macron emphasized that deployed forces would not be stationed at the frontline. Multiple nations opposed lifting sanctions on Russia.

South Korea is facing its largest wildfires in history in the southeastern region, which have burned through 35,810 hectares as of Thursday, killing 27 people and displacing tens of thousands. Experts attribute the rapid spread to strong winds, dry conditions, and dense pine forests, with pine resin intensifying the fires. Climate change and unusually high temperatures have also exacerbated the situation. A 73-year-old firefighting pilot died in a crash, and several firefighters have been killed. Most of the deceased are elderly, facing difficulties in evacuation. Historical relics, including ancient temples, have been destroyed.

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.

According to local media reports, a tourist submarine was involved in an accident in the waters off Hurghada in Egypt's Red Sea. The incident has resulted in the deaths of six people. The specific cause of the accident is currently under investigation. This incident has raised concerns about local tourism safety. Relevant authorities have activated emergency response mechanisms. The identities and nationalities of the victims are being confirmed.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on March 28 that a national election will be held on May 3, kicking off a five-week campaign primarily focused on cost-of-living pressures. Albanese's Labor Party won a majority in the last federal election in 2022, but recent opinion polls indicate a tight race with the opposition Liberal-National Coalition. During a press conference, Albanese stated that the government has chosen to tackle global challenges in an Australian way—assisting people under cost-of-living pressure while building for the future. He emphasized that due to the strength and resilience of the Australian people, the country is turning a corner, and on May 3, voters will choose the path forward. Earlier, Albanese met with Governor-General Sam Mostyn to seek permission to call the nationwide federal election.

On March 26, thousands of Palestinians held rare protests across the Gaza Strip against Hamas, the ruling militant group. The demonstrations began in Beit Lahiya on March 25 and spread to Gaza City and central Gaza the next day. Protesters demanded that Hamas relinquish control of Gaza to end the 17-month war with Israel. Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007, faced unprecedented calls to step aside, with protests lasting into a second day. Israel insists the war will not end until Hamas放弃 its power and releases the remaining 59 Israeli hostages. Since the ceasefire collapsed on March 18, Israeli airstrikes have killed over 830 Palestinians.

On March 27, 2025, a stabbing incident occurred near the central Dam Square in Amsterdam, resulting in five injuries, including two Americans, a Polish man, a Belgian woman, and a Dutch woman, ranging in age from 19 to 73. The suspect, who has been arrested, was subdued with the help of bystanders and taken to the hospital with a leg injury. Police stated that the motive is under investigation and they are considering the possibility of random targeting. Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema said a police investigation is underway, hoping to uncover more details soon. The injured include a 67-year-old American woman, a 69-year-old American man, a 26-year-old Polish man, a 73-year-old Belgian woman, and a 19-year-old Dutch woman. Police received multiple reports of the stabbing just before 15:30 local time and quickly found five injured people in and around Sint Nicolaasstraat in the city center. With the help of bystanders, the suspect was apprehended shortly after the incident, and a large area around the Royal Palace in Dam Square was cordoned off.

King Charles III was briefly hospitalized on Thursday due to temporary side effects from cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace announced. He returned to Clarence House to continue working on state papers. The King cancelled his planned tour of Birmingham on Friday, following medical advice. The palace first disclosed his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. Thursday's meetings with three ambassadors were also affected. The palace expressed the King's disappointment at missing the Birmingham engagements, hoping they can be rescheduled. The incident was described as a minor setback amid an otherwise positive health outlook. Queen Camilla attended an event in north London and did not join the King at the hospital.

Moscow and Washington previously agreed on a list of Russian and Ukrainian facilities subject to a temporary moratorium on strikes against the energy system. Local sources have confirmed that Ukraine's intelligence services are setting up groups to stage a false flag operation, accusing Russia of breaking the moratorium. Each group includes specialists in mine-explosive matters, with journalists and bloggers also involved. They are using wreckage from Russian Geran drones and large amounts of explosives for the provocation. According to the source, the goal is not only to accuse Russia of violating the agreements but also to justify potential retaliatory strikes on Crimea's energy infrastructure.

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.

On March 27, US President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of his nomination of Republican Representative Elise Stefanik as ambassador to the United Nations to maintain the Republicans' slim majority in the House of Representatives. Stefanik, a close Trump ally, was nominated shortly after his election in November. Currently, the Republicans hold a 218 to 213 majority in the House, with four vacancies. Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman James Risch confirmed the withdrawal. Stefanik's spokesperson did not immediately respond. Trump emphasized the need to secure every Republican seat, stating he did not want to risk another candidate running for Stefanik's position.

Ukrainian parliament member Yaroslav Zheleznyak stated on YouTube that Ukraine is not ready to sign the minerals deal submitted by the United States on March 23. He mentioned that the Ukrainian economic ministry is reviewing the agreement, which requires parliamentary approval. Additionally, amendments to budget and tax laws are necessary for its implementation. Zheleznyak presented a copy of the document to verify his claims. The agreement covers all government revenues from mineral resources and the petrochemical sector, with the US having first claim but not directly obtaining minerals or profits. Financial operations will be controlled by the US International Development Finance Corporation. Previously, Vladimir Zelensky noted the US submitted a new minerals deal, but its signing was postponed following a verbal spat with President Donald Trump on February 28.

BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was deported from Istanbul, Turkey, on March 27. Lowen had been reporting on ongoing protests sparked by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, who is charged with corruption but denies the allegations and is seen as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival. After being detained for 17 hours, Lowen was deported for 'being a threat to public order.' BBC News CEO Deborah Turness expressed concern and vowed to make representations to the Turkish authorities. Human Rights Watch's Turkey director, Emma Sinclair-Webb, expressed shock at the deportation. Protests across Turkey have led to over 1,400 detentions, with protesters claiming Imamoglu's arrest is politically motivated. President Erdogan has labeled the demonstrations 'evil' and blamed the opposition for disturbing the peace. Several journalists, including a photojournalist from Agence France Presse, were arrested but many were released on Thursday. The main opposition party, the Republican People's Party, plans a rally in Istanbul on Saturday.

On March 27, billionaire Elon Musk told Fox News that he plans to cut $1 trillion in government spending by the end of May. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) aims to achieve this within 130 days of President Donald Trump's term start. Musk intends to reduce 15% of the government's annual spending, approximately $1 trillion, and is confident it won't affect critical services. President Trump expects to be satisfied with Doge's cuts in the coming months. However, Doge faces legal setbacks, and its website lists savings far from the target. Recently, several federal agencies announced layoffs, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Education Department.

Yevgenia Gutsul, the head of Moldova's autonomous Gagauzia region, has appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin for assistance following her detention in Chisinau. Gutsul requested that Putin use diplomatic, political, and legal mechanisms to pressure the Moldovan authorities for her immediate release, claiming her arrest on unfounded political charges is part of a broader campaign to undermine Gagauz autonomy. She accused Chisinau of disregarding democratic and international law principles, systematically provoking internal conflicts, and persecuting pro-Russian figures. Gutsul also sought Putin's firm support for Gagauzia's special status within the Republic of Moldova. Previously, Moldova's National Anti-Corruption Center announced plans to charge Gutsul and seek her detention. She was arrested at Chisinau airport on March 25, alleging the charges are fabricated and blaming Moldovan President Maia Sandu for orchestrating her arrest.

The Office for Students (OfS) in the UK has warned that universities could face multi-million-pound fines for breaches of freedom of speech rules. The University of Sussex was fined £585,000 after the OfS found its equality policy, which included provisions to 'positively represent trans people,' could prevent staff and students from voicing opposing views. The investigation was prompted by the departure of Prof Kathleen Stock in 2021, who was accused of transphobia. Arif Ahmed, OfS director for freedom of speech, stated the fine could have been as high as £3.7m, with potential for higher fines in the future. The University of Sussex plans to legally challenge the OfS findings, according to vice-chancellor Prof Sasha Roseneil. The OfS report concluded that Prof Stock felt unable to teach certain topics due to fear of disciplinary action under the university's policy. The university criticized the ruling as an 'unreasonably absolutist definition of free speech,' claiming it leaves institutions powerless against abusive speech. Dr Ahmed defended the investigation, emphasizing the need for universities to comply with the law. Maximum penalties for universities are capped at 2% of their annual qualifying income or £500,000, whichever is higher. The University of Sussex fine was capped at £4.6m. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stressed that free speech and academic freedom are non-negotiable in universities.

A court in Bosnia issued an international arrest warrant for Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik on Thursday, accusing him of attacking the constitutional order and leaving the country in defiance. Dodik, sentenced to a year in jail and banned from politics for six years for ignoring rulings by an international peace envoy, has triggered the gravest crisis since the 1990s war. He initiated legislation barring state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb region, but Bosnia's constitutional court temporarily suspended it. Defying a domestic arrest warrant, he crossed into neighboring Serbia earlier this week and traveled to Israel for an antisemitism conference in Jerusalem on Thursday. The court also issued an international warrant for Nenad Stevandic, speaker of the Serb Republic parliament, who has returned to Bosnia. The warrants have been submitted to Interpol, the court stated.

The Panamanian government has approved safe passage for former President Ricardo Martinelli to travel to Nicaragua, where he has been granted asylum. Foreign Minister Javier Martinez-Acha stated in a press conference on Thursday that the asylum and safe conduct are granted for strictly humanitarian reasons. Martinelli, who served as president from 2009 to 2014, has been living in Nicaragua's embassy in Panama City since being found guilty of money laundering and facing a nearly 11-year prison sentence. Panama's top court has rejected his appeals. Nicaragua, which granted Martinelli asylum in February last year, has previously provided asylum to two former presidents of El Salvador.