News from March 30, 2025 at 2 PM

On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and over 300 missing persons. The Myanmar military government stated that the death toll could rise. Countries including India, China, and Thailand have sent rescue teams and aid. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned of the urgent need to stabilize affected communities as temperatures rise and the monsoon season approaches. Critical infrastructure in the quake-hit areas is severely damaged, hampering rescue efforts. In Thailand's capital, an under-construction skyscraper collapsed, killing 18 and leaving 76 trapped.

On March 28, 2025, US Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, criticizing Denmark for insufficient investment in Greenland's security and claiming that other European allies have not kept pace with defense spending. President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to control the autonomous Danish territory, considering it an 'absolute necessity' for US national security. Vance stated that Denmark has not done a good job at keeping Greenland safe. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen responded by saying they are open to criticism but do not appreciate the tone in which it is delivered. Trump has reaffirmed his interest in Greenland, while both the governments of Greenland and Denmark have opposed his proposals.

US President Donald Trump stated he is indifferent if carmakers raise prices in response to planned tariffs on imported vehicles. In an interview with NBC News on March 29, Trump denied warning foreign car executives against increasing consumer prices due to the 25% tariffs he plans to impose. He expressed hope that price hikes would lead consumers to buy American-made cars. The tariffs are expected to impact a $240 billion trade route, with imported cars and light trucks accounting for about half of the roughly 16 million vehicles sold in the US in 2024. Starting May 3, tariffs will extend to key parts like engines, transmissions, and electrical systems. Parts compliant with the US-Canada-Mexico free-trade agreement will initially be exempt. JPMorgan Chase analysts estimate average car prices will rise by 11%.

Hundreds of thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators have taken to the streets of Istanbul, Turkey, in support of jailed Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, seen as the main rival to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Imamoglu was arrested on corruption charges last week, sparking mass protests. He denies the charges, claiming political motivation. Saturday's protest was so large that it spilled into a neighboring park. The chairman of Imamoglu's Republican People's Party (CHP) read a letter from the jailed mayor, who is in solitary confinement. Imamoglu's wife, Dilek, vowed to continue fighting. Protesters waved Turkish flags and chanted for rights and justice. Imamoglu, mayor since 2019 and a landslide winner in last year's elections, is the CHP's presidential candidate for 2028. Erdogan, in power for over two decades, cannot run for president again after 2028. Mass protests have rocked Turkey since Imamoglu's arrest, with nearly 2,000 people, including journalists, arrested. Erdogan labeled the protests as 'street terrorism' and accused demonstrators of attacking police and damaging property. Concerns remain about Imamoglu receiving a fair trial, while the government denies political motives behind the arrest and insists on the independence of Turkish courts.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has expressed support for a new ceasefire plan for Gaza that would release five more hostages to Israel in exchange for a 50-day truce. Khalil al-Hayyam, the highest-ranking Hamas leader outside Gaza, stated that the group has approved the draft deal proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the plan and submitted a counter-proposal. If agreed upon, the limited ceasefire could align with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. These discussions occur amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes across Gaza and a ground operation in Rafah, following the breakdown of a January ceasefire earlier this month. In the first phase of that deal, Hamas released 33 hostages and is believed to still hold 59, though not all are reportedly alive. Hamas had insisted on adhering to the original deal, but negotiations for the second phase never commenced. Israel and the US proposed extending the first phase of the ceasefire, which expired a month ago, without a clear end to the war. Israel accused Hamas of rejecting the extension and resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18, resulting in over 900 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Netanyahu's office stated that the Israeli counter-offer was agreed upon with the US but provided no details. Meanwhile, protesters in Israel accuse Netanyahu and his government of endangering the remaining hostages by breaking the ceasefire. One hostage, Elkana Bohbot, was shown in a new Hamas-posted video pleading for release. The conflict was triggered by Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 captives to Gaza. Israel responded with a massive military offensive, resulting in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Syria's new transitional government was formed, with key ministers such as foreign and defense ministers retaining their posts. Former opposition politician Hind Kabawat became the only female minister, heading the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor. The new government introduced two new ministries: the Ministry of Emergencies and Disasters and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Foreign Minister Asaad Shaibani pledged to open Syria to the world and restore its status. Interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated that the new government would focus on change and construction. In late November, Syrian opposition forces launched a large-scale offensive, entering Damascus on December 8, leading to Bashar Assad's resignation and departure. Al-Sharaa was declared interim president on January 29.

On March 29, protests erupted outside Tesla showrooms in the United States, Europe, and Canada, with demonstrators opposing company CEO Elon Musk. Hundreds rallied in New York's Manhattan, criticizing Musk for his excessive power and demanding the closure of his 'Department of Government Efficiency'. Amy Neifeld, a 70-year-old psychologist, accused Musk of leading the country towards 'fascism'. The environmental group Planet Over Profit organized the protests, arguing that stopping Musk would protect democracy. Demonstrations also took place in Washington, Florida, Massachusetts, California, and cities like London, Berlin, and Paris. US Attorney-General Pam Bondi denounced the vandalism against Tesla as 'domestic terrorism'.

American citizen Faye Hall, who was held by the Taliban in Afghanistan for two months, has been released and is set to return home soon, according to former US envoy to Kabul, Zalmay Khalilzad, who announced the news on X. Hall, currently in the care of Qatari officials, was detained along with a British couple in their seventies and their interpreter. The couple ran training programs for women and girls and remained in Afghanistan after the Taliban regained control in 2021. The Afghan authorities have not publicly stated the reason for their arrest. Khalilzad thanked Qatar for its role as a mediator between the US and Afghanistan. Hall is the fourth US citizen released by the Taliban since January following a Qatari-brokered agreement. Days earlier, they freed another American, George Glezmann, who had been held for two years, citing 'humanitarian grounds' and a 'goodwill gesture'. These releases followed high-level direct talks between US officials and the Taliban in Kabul, the first since President Trump's inauguration. Trump's agreement to end the US war in Afghanistan by withdrawing troops within a 14-month deadline was criticized for excluding the Western-backed Afghan government, leading to the Taliban's swift takeover during the chaotic US withdrawal in 2021. The British couple remains in detention, with their daughter appealing for their release due to her father's severe medical issues.

On March 30 local time, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the city was hit by a Russian drone attack on the evening of March 29. So far, the attack has resulted in 2 deaths and 35 injuries. A medical facility and 27 residential buildings in Kharkiv were damaged. The Russian side has not yet responded to the incident.

On March 29, 2025, the Red Cross expressed grave concern over the fate of nine Palestine Red Crescent ambulance crew members who have been missing for seven days in the Gaza Strip's Rafah. The organization has had no contact with the crew since they came under heavy fire in the early hours of March 23. The Red Cross emphasized the necessity of information and access to ensure the safe return of these humanitarians to their families. According to U.N. data, at least 1,060 healthcare workers have been killed since Israel launched its offensive in Gaza following Hamas' attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took over 250 hostages. Health authorities in Gaza report that more than 50,000 people have died in the territory, the majority being civilians. The Israeli military stated it strives to minimize civilian harm and questioned the death toll provided by health authorities in the Hamas-controlled area.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Hungary on April 2, announced on March 30, defying an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes in Gaza. During the visit, Netanyahu will hold talks with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and other senior officials, returning to Israel on April 6. Orban extended the invitation despite the ICC warrant issued in 2024. Netanyahu thanked Orban for his “moral clarity” in inviting him. The ICC issued warrants for Netanyahu and former defense minister Yoav Gallant over allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes in Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Hungary, having signed and ratified the Rome Statute that established the ICC, asserts it is not obliged to comply with ICC decisions due to constitutional reasons.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancee, journalist Lauren Sanchez, are set to wed in Venice at the end of June. On March 29, Venice authorities issued a statement dispelling rumors of large-scale disruptions, emphasizing that only 200 guests will be invited, ensuring no disturbance to the city. The authorities noted that wedding planners have not booked an excessive number of gondolas or water taxis, aiming to maintain normal city operations. Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro welcomed the couple's decision, highlighting the expected million-dollar economic impact, while also stressing the need to respect the city's fragility and uniqueness.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is facing a nearly $600 million income gap in 2025 due to the US decision to withdraw, forcing it to start making budget cuts. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced this in an internal email to UN health agency staff on March 28. The US, formerly the WHO's largest donor, withdrew and froze foreign aid, exacerbating the WHO's financial constraints. The WHO's executive board has reduced the proposed budget for 2026-2027 from $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion and further proposed a cut to $4.2 billion, a 21% reduction. Tedros stated that cuts will start at headquarters, affecting all levels and regions. He warned that global health funding cuts could threaten millions of lives, with disruptions to HIV programs alone potentially leading to over 10 million additional HIV cases and 3 million related deaths. The WHO is conducting a prioritization exercise to focus on core functions and seeking philanthropic and public donations.

Elon Musk's xAI artificial intelligence firm has acquired his social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, for US$33 billion (approximately S$44 billion). The all-stock deal, announced on March 28, consolidates two of Musk's major companies, including automaker Tesla and SpaceX, potentially aiding his ability to train the AI model known as Grok. With US$12 billion in debt, the deal is valued at US$45 billion. Musk announced the transaction on X, stating the combined entity would be worth US$80 billion. The specifics of the deal, such as investor approval and compensation, remain unclear. Musk has also consolidated power in Washington, DC, by overseeing cost-cutting efforts under the Trump administration. His xAI startup, launched less than two years ago, recently raised US$6 billion, valuing the company at US$40 billion. In February, Musk's US$97.4 billion bid for OpenAI was rejected. xAI is expanding its data center capacity, with its supercomputer cluster in Memphis, Tennessee, claimed to be the world's largest. On March 28, a US judge rejected Musk's bid to dismiss a lawsuit alleging he defrauded former Twitter shareholders.

The Houthis claim to have struck the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman three times within a 24-hour period near the Mediterranean Sea, south of Sicily. The attacks, which also targeted other ships in the Red Sea, employed missiles, naval forces, cruise missiles, and drones, according to Yemen's Ansar Allah movement. The American strikes in Yemen have been ongoing since the evening of March 15, when US President Donald Trump ordered the US military to take decisive action against the Houthis. This followed the Houthis' announcement of resuming attacks on Israeli ships in the Red and Arabian Seas in response to the ban on humanitarian aid supplies to the Gaza Strip.

On March 29, 2025, controversial social media figure Andrew Tate faces a new lawsuit filed by his ex-girlfriend, Brianna Stern, in Los Angeles, accusing him of sexual assault, battery, and gender violence. The lawsuit details their relationship and how Tate transformed from a 'dream come true' into an emotional and physical abuser. Stern claims she was assaulted and threatened at The Beverly Hills Hotel on March 11. Tate's attorney dismissed the lawsuit as a 'blatant cash grab' and accused Stern of making the accusations for 'money and attention'. Tate is facing serious legal challenges in multiple countries, including being charged with leading a criminal organization in Romania in 2022 and facing sexual assault allegations in the US and UK, though no convictions have been made.