March 25, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 23 Palestinians were killed in Israeli military strikes on targets across Gaza overnight. [more]
• United Nations officials said yesterday that about a third of the U.N.'s approximately 100 international staff in Gaza will be asked to leave the Palestinian territory over safety concerns. The announcement follows the death of a U.N. worker from Bulgaria who was killed in an Israeli strike that hit a U.N. compound in Gaza last week. [more]

U.S. COMMUNICATIONS SECURITY | According to a story in The Atlantic, top U.S. national security officials discussed classified plans for pending military strikes on Houthi rebel positions in Yemen using the Signal messaging app and, apparently inadvertently, included Atlantic editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg in the message thread. The White House has confirmed the authenticity of the message thread, but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has denied that war plans were discussed. Reports note that the disclosure of classified information is, in many cases, considered a violation of the Espionage Act and that some of the messages were set to automatically delete, which could be a violation of federal communications records laws, including the Presidential Records Act. [more]

U.S. DEPORTATIONS | The Trump administration yesterday invoked a “state secrets privilege” to justify its refusal to provide additional information to a federal judge who is weighing whether the government defied his order to suspend the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador under an 18th century wartime law. [more]

U.S. TARIFFS | President Donald Trump said yesterday that he intends to impose 25% tariffs on imported goods from any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela starting April 2. Reports note that not only do countries such as China, Spain, India, Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam purchase oil from Venezuela, but so does the United States, and that, also yesterday, the Treasury Department issued an extension to U.S.-based Chevron allowing the oil company to continue oil operations in Venezuela through May 27.  [more]

U.S. FEDERAL WORKFORCE | The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court yesterday to block a lower court ruling ordering the reinstatement of some 16,000 probationary workers fired from their positions at multiple federal agencies as part of Department of Government Efficiency efforts to reduce government size and spending. The lower court ruling found that while the president does have the authority to fire workers, the way in which the firings were carried out may have violated labor laws. [more]

U.S. AND INDIA | Reuters cites unnamed Indian government officials as saying that India is open to reducing or eliminating tariffs on about half of goods imported from the United States as part of trade negotiations aimed at avoiding U.S. reciprocal tariffs scheduled to take effect on April 2. [more]

JAPAN | The Tokyo District Court today ordered the dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan, saying the church violated laws on religious groups through manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that prompted fear among followers and harmed their families. Church officials criticized the ruling as a threat to religious freedom and indicated that they intend to appeal the ruling. [more]

SOUTH KOREA | The Korea Forest Service has raised its wildfire warning to its highest level and urged residents of the South Korean city of Andong to evacuate as firefighters battle multiple blazes that have burned more than 36,000 acres of land over five days. [more]

BRAZIL | Brazilian Supreme Court justices are expected to rule today on whether former President Jair Bolsonaro and close allies will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup and participating in an armed criminal organization. [more]

TURKEY | Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday characterized days of protests over the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu as a “movement of violence” and said the main opposition party would be held accountable for injured police officers and damage to property. Imamoglu, who is widely considered to be Erdogan’s main political rival, has maintained that government charges against him are politically motivated. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1306, Robert the Bruce was crowned king of Scotland at Scone. He later freed Scotland from English rule, winning the decisive Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and confirming Scottish independence in the Treaty of Northampton in 1328.  [more history]