News from March 29, 2025 at 2 AM

On March 28, an earthquake with a magnitude ranging from 7.7 to 7.9 struck Myanmar, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. The disaster has resulted in 144 deaths and 732 injuries. Myanmar's Prime Minister Min Aung Hlaing stated that the country is ready to accept aid from any nation and has accepted offers from India and ASEAN. In a televised address, he urged foreign countries to provide assistance and warned that the death toll could still rise. Thailand was also affected by the earthquake, with at least eight deaths and over 110 missing in Bangkok, where residents of multi-story apartment buildings were evacuated.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance visited Greenland on March 27, as President Donald Trump renewed his calls for U.S. control over the semi-autonomous Danish territory. Vance's original plan, which had been opposed by authorities in both Greenland and Denmark, was scaled back. He was expected to visit the U.S. military base at Pituffik in the north of the Arctic island, as per a 1951 agreement allowing the U.S. access with prior notification. Trump's comments sparked anger among some residents in the Greenland capital, Nuuk. Meanwhile, Greenland is set to announce a new government on Friday. Trump stated that both the U.S. and the world need Greenland. The Danish Defense Minister condemned Trump's escalated rhetoric. Russian President Vladimir Putin noted the intensification of geopolitical rivalries in the Arctic and Moscow's enhancement of military capabilities in the region.

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.

The U.S. State Department stated on Friday that Israel is defending itself from rocket attacks originating from Lebanon, and it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to disarm militant groups such as Hezbollah. This comment was made during a press briefing in response to Israel's first strike on Beirut's southern suburbs since a fragile ceasefire deal in November. Israel's airstrike followed a rocket launch from Lebanon, marking the most serious test of the ceasefire. The strike targeted a building in Hezbollah's stronghold, Dahiyeh, which Israel claimed was a drone storage facility of the Iranian-backed Shi'ite militant group. The Lebanese army located the launch site of Friday's rocket attacks and initiated an investigation. Last year's Israeli war in Lebanon displaced over 1.3 million people, destroyed much of the country's south, and eliminated Hezbollah's top leadership. Meanwhile, Israel's military assault on Gaza has killed over 50,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, displacing nearly the entire 2.3 million population and causing a hunger crisis. The latest conflict in the decades-old Israeli-Palestinian conflict was triggered on October 7, 2023, when Palestinian Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing 1,200 and taking about 250 hostages.

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.

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.

A tourist submarine named Sindbad sank near the resort town of Hurghada in the Red Sea, Egypt, killing six passengers, including two children, all of whom were Russian tourists. The incident occurred around 10:00 local time, with 45 passengers and five crew members on board; 39 passengers and all crew were rescued, and nine people were injured, four critically. The cause of the accident remains unclear. The Red Sea governor stated that passengers were from Russia, India, Norway, and Sweden. An investigation is ongoing, with the Association of Tour Operators of Russia suggesting the submarine hit a reef and lost pressure. This marks the second such incident in the Red Sea in about six months.

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 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held a press conference in Kyiv, stating that Ukraine would not accept any mineral rights deal threatening its integration with the EU. He noted that the dramatically expanded minerals deal proposed by the US needed legal review before further comment. The draft requires Ukraine to send all natural resources income to the US until all American aid, plus interest, is repaid. Zelensky emphasized that Kyiv does not view past US assistance as something to be repaid. Following a rift with Trump in February, Washington suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Kyiv would issue its position on the draft only after reaching a consensus.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk this week, urging UN support for the release of hundreds of Venezuelan migrants deported by the United States to a notorious prison in El Salvador. The mid-March deportations are now the subject of a legal battle, with the Trump administration on Friday requesting the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the use of a 1798 law to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members. Many migrant families have denied any gang connections, and the Venezuelan government has vowed to do everything possible to secure their release. Maduro spoke to Guterres on Wednesday and Turk on Friday, asking the UN to support the restoration of the migrants' human rights and their release. Both officials expressed their commitment to activating all available mechanisms to promptly reestablish the flagrantly violated rights of the Venezuelan migrants. A spokesperson for Guterres did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Maduro's government has long been accused by the political opposition of arbitrary arrests and detentions of opponents.

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.

On March 28, 2025, Britain's King Charles canceled his engagements due to side effects from his cancer treatment. The 76-year-old has been undergoing treatment since being diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February last year. Buckingham Palace announced late Thursday that Charles had returned to Clarence House from the hospital, and his Friday engagements would be rescheduled as a precaution. On Friday morning, Charles was seen leaving Clarence House by car, waving to well-wishers. The palace did not disclose details of the side effects but described Thursday's setback as a minor issue. His state visit to Italy next month with Queen Camilla will proceed as planned, and no further health updates are expected.

On March 27, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem approved the final readings of a Bill granting politicians greater influence in selecting judges. The Bill alters the composition of the nine-member Judges Selection Committee by removing members chosen by the Israel Bar Association and replacing them with representatives selected by the government and opposition. Opposition parties, criticizing the Bill as a blow to a cornerstone of Israeli democracy, boycotted the final vote. Justice Minister Yariv Levin stated that the new law, set to take effect under the next parliament, would ensure a 'balanced and representative' selection committee and prevent the exclusion of worthy candidates due to differing views. However, the measure was denounced by opposition politicians and protesters already不满 with the government over issues ranging from the resurgence of the Gaza war to the recent dismissal of the domestic intelligence chief. Roni Mamluk, attending a protest in Tel Aviv, described it as a critical day where a cornerstone of democracy was turned into a political issue. The Bill passed on March 27 was part of a package of measures that sparked massive protests in Israel in 2023. The government argued that these measures, which would also have curbed the powers of the Supreme Court, were necessary to prevent judicial overreach into parliamentary affairs, but critics viewed them as an attempt to undermine the authority of the justice system.

On the evening of March 26, the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) confirmed that South Sudan's First Vice President Rick Machar was placed under house arrest in the capital Juba, calling for restraint from all parties. UNMISS head Nicholas Haysom warned that ignoring the conflict resolution agreement could plunge the nation back into war. An official from Machar's opposition group, SPLM-IO, stated that the Defense Minister and National Security Service Director led forces into Machar's residence and issued an arrest warrant. The government forces have yet to respond. Recently, clashes between government troops and the opposition near Juba have raised concerns over deteriorating political and security situations.

Iran has officially responded to US President Donald Trump's letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei through the mediation of Oman, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The response was sent yesterday in the appropriate form. Araghchi stated that the reply consists of two documents: one outlining Iran's views on the current geopolitical situation, and the other analyzing and commenting on Trump's remarks. On March 7, Trump proposed negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program on his Truth Social page. In response, Khamenei dismissed the offer, stating that Iran would not engage in dialogue with the US as Washington is solely concerned with its own interests.

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.

On September 25, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notified The Walt Disney Company and its ABC unit that it would initiate an investigation into their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. In a letter dated Friday, the FCC stated its aim to ensure that Disney and ABC have not violated FCC equal employment opportunity regulations. A Disney spokesperson said they are reviewing the FCC's letter and look forward to engaging with the commission. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who was recently appointed by President Donald Trump, began a similar investigation into Comcast and NBCUniversal in early February. This inquiry follows Trump's executive order in January aimed at ending DEI practices at U.S. corporations. In a letter to CEO Bob Iger, Carr noted that Disney has faced controversies surrounding its DEI policies in recent years.

On March 28, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting the Smithsonian Institution, which operates over 20 museums and research centers. The order directs Vice-President JD Vance to eliminate 'improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology' from the institute's museums, centers, and the National Zoo in Washington. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is instructed to restore federal properties, including parks, memorials, and statues, that have been 'improperly removed or changed' in the last five years. This move is part of Trump's effort to shape American culture. The order, titled 'Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,' states that Congress should not fund Smithsonian exhibits and programs that 'divide Americans by race.' It criticizes the developing American Women's History Museum for planning to 'recognize men as women' and singles out the National Museum of African American History and Culture for portraying 'hard work,' 'individualism,' and 'the nuclear family' as aspects of 'White culture.' The Smithsonian museums, which offer free entry to 15 to 30 million visitors annually, operate 21 museums in Washington, Virginia, and New York. Additionally, the order instructs the Interior Secretary to complete 'restorations and improvements' to Independence Hall in Philadelphia ahead of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

CoreWeave CEO Michael Intrator defended the company's hefty debt load in a Friday interview with CNBC's Jim Cramer, describing debt as the engine for growth. Despite a tough market day, especially for tech stocks, CoreWeave debuted with an opening price of $39 and closed flat at $40, raising $1.5 billion in its IPO, the largest tech IPO in the U.S. since 2021. The company has raised nearly $13 billion in debt, primarily for GPUs in its leased data centers. Intrator highlighted that this debt is offset by larger revenue contracts, including a recent deal with OpenAI worth nearly $12 billion over five years, with two one-year extensions. He also refuted concerns about the obsolescence of Nvidia's graphics chips.

U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned Trevor Milton, the founder of Nikola Corp., who was convicted of federal crimes related to securities fraud in 2022. Milton, sentenced to four years in prison in December 2023, had been free pending an appeal. The pardon came two weeks after prosecutors urged a judge to order Milton to pay $680 million in restitution to Nikola shareholders. Due to the pardon, no restitution could be ordered. Milton expressed his relief on social media, calling it the best day in five years. Trump stated that Milton was exonerated and highlighted his support for him. Following his sentencing, Milton made significant political donations to Trump and his allies.