March 31, 2025

MIDDLE EAST | Updates from regional conflicts:

• The Israeli military today ordered the evacuation of most of the southern Gaza city of Rafah as it continues operations against Hamas following the end of a temporary cease-fire earlier this month. Analysts suggest the evacuation order suggests the possibility of a new major Israeli ground operation in and around Rafah. [more]
• Reports cite Israeli government sources as saying Israel has proposed an extended truce in Gaza in exchange for the release of about half of the hostages still held by Hamas who are thought to still be alive. [more]

UKRAINE | Today is day 1131 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Here are your updates:

• U.S. President Donald Trump threatened new sanctions on Russia over the weekend after expressing his anger with Russian President Vladimir Putin over perceived Russian intransigence regarding Ukraine cease-fire negotiations. [more]
• Ukrainian officials say Russia carried out large-scale drone attacks on the city of Kharkiv overnight, marking two-nights in a row of such attacks on the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 1,000 Russian drones were launched at targets across Ukraine over the weekend. [more]

TRUMP PRESIDENCY | President Donald Trump said yesterday that he is “not joking” about trying to find a way to serve a third term in office. Reports note that the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” [more]

U.S. VACCINES | Dr. Peter Marks, the top vaccine official with the Food and Drug Administration, said in a letter announcing his resignation on Friday that he had hoped to work with Trump administration health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to address concerns about the safety of vaccinations, but that ““It has become clear that truth and transparency are not desired by the Secretary, but rather he wishes subservient confirmation of his misinformation and lies." [more]

WISCONSIN | Ahead of tomorrow’s state Supreme Court election in Wisconsin, Tesla CEO and Trump administration advisor Elon Musk handed out $1 million checks yesterday to two voters after state Supreme Court justices refused to hear a last-minute appeal of lower court rulings that found the payments did not violate election laws. [more]

NEW MEXICO | Reports say federal authorities are investigating a fire yesterday that damaged the entrance to the Republican Party of New Mexico’s headquarters in Albuquerque. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigators say unspecified “incendiary materials” were found at the scene. Albuquerque’s Democratic mayor, Tim Keller, said that “Politically motivated crimes of any kind are unacceptable,” and urged anyone with information regarding the fire to report it to authorities. [more]

U.S. AND IRAN | Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian yesterday rejected U.S. calls for direct negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programs, but left open the possibility of indirect talks. The rejection follows recent threats of military action by U.S. President Donald Trump if a nuclear agreement cannot be reached with Iran. [more]

U.S. AND FRANCE | Major French companies report having received letters from the U.S. State Department saying that the companies’ contracts with the United States could be at risk if they do not cancel diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Reports note that many inclusion policies are mandated by French and European Union laws, including ones pertaining to equality between men and women, the fight against discrimination and racism, and the promotion of diversity to help people with disabilities. [more]

MYANMAR | Authorities say the death toll from Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck central Myanmar has risen to more than 1,700 and note that the actual scope of the quake’s impact is still uncertain, as infrastructure and communications disruptions have made reaching some areas impossible. [more]

FRANCE | Far-right French politician Marine Le Pen was found guilty of embezzlement today by a Paris court in a case centered on her misuse of European Union funds. Le Pen was sentenced to four years in prison – with two years suspended – ordered to pay a 100,000 euro fine, and was barred from running for office for five years. [more]

PAKISTAN | At least 10 civilians were killed by Pakistan’s military during an anti-militant operation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the weekend, according to government authorities, who promised to investigate the circumstances of the incident. [more]

GLOBAL MARKETS | Most major stock indices around the world are lower today ahead of the expected imposition of broad tariffs this week by U.S. President Donald Trump. Reports also note that gold is trading at a record high as investors turn to the traditional financial safe haven amidst market uncertainty. [more]

SWEDEN | Swedish authorities say the number of homicide and manslaughter incidents in the Nordic country fell to 92 in 2024 – down from 121 the previous year and the lowest level since 2014. [more]

COLLEGE BASKETBALL | All four No. 1 seeds – Auburn, Duke, Florida, and Houston – advanced to the men’s NCAA basketball tournament Final Four over the weekend. [men’s bracket] [more]

TENNIS | Aryna Sabalenka beat Jessica Pegula and Jakub Mensik defeated Novak Djokovic to win the women’s and men’s titles, respectively, at the Miami Open this weekend. [more]

WEEKEND MOVIES | "A Working Man" topped the North American box office over the weekend with an estimated $15.2 million in receipts, followed by "Snow White" and "The Chosen: Last Supper." [more]

R.I.P. | Actor Richard Chamberlain, widely known for his leading role in the 1960s television series “Dr. Kildare” and for his roles in the 1980s miniseries “Shogun” and “The Thorn Birds,” died Saturday at the age of 90. [more]

TODAY IN HISTORY | On this date in 1492, King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain issued the Alhambra Decree, an edict expelling Jews from Spanish soil, except those willing to convert to Christianity. [more history]