- Turkey: Hundreds of thousands join growing Istanbul protest – 29.03.2025
Mass protests erupted across Istanbul after the arrest of opposition leader and Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption and terrorism charges, which critics call politically motivated. The CHP-led “Freedom for Imamoglu” rally in Maltepe drew hundreds of thousands, with Imamoglu addressing the crowd via letter from prison, vowing resistance against President Erdogan. The CHP pledged continued protests until his release and candidacy in early elections. Authorities have detained nearly 2,000 protesters and cracked down on journalists, arresting 13 Turkish reporters and jailing Swedish journalist Joakim Medin. Erdogan dismissed the protests as political provocation.
- Danish foreign minister scorns ‘tone’ of JD Vance in Greenland, Denmark comments – 29.03.2025
Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen criticized U.S. Vice President JD Vance for his remarks accusing Copenhagen of underinvesting in Greenland, calling the tone unacceptable. During his visit to the Pituffik Space Base, Vance emphasized Greenland’s strategic importance to U.S. security, while President Donald Trump suggested negotiations to acquire the island but did not rule out the use of force. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the uninvited U.S. visit as “unacceptable pressure,” and both Danish and EU officials reaffirmed their opposition to any U.S. acquisition of Greenland. While all political parties in Greenland support independence, they reject becoming part of the U.S., and the newly formed coalition government called for unity in the face of external pressure.
- Scramble to free survivors as death toll passes 1,600 after Myanmar earthquake – 29.03.2025
Rescue workers in Myanmar continue searching for survivors after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed at least 1,644 people and injured over 3,400, with many still missing. Emergency teams, often working with minimal equipment, managed to rescue a woman trapped for over 30 hours in Mandalay, one of the hardest-hit areas. In Thailand, efforts are ongoing to find survivors in a collapsed 30-storey building in Bangkok, where at least 10 people have died. Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing has appealed for international aid, with Russia, China, India, and Malaysia sending rescue teams and supplies, though response efforts are hindered by damaged infrastructure and ongoing conflict since the 2021 coup. The UN, EU, UK, and WHO have pledged financial and humanitarian support, but access to affected areas remains a challenge. Many residents, fearing aftershocks, are sleeping outdoors, while aid agencies warn of a severe shortage of medical supplies and damaged healthcare facilities.
- South Korea, China, Japan agree to promote regional trade as Trump tariffs loom – 30.03.2025
South Korea, China, and Japan held their first economic dialogue in five years to strengthen regional trade cooperation amid concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. The three trade ministers agreed to advance talks on a trilateral free trade agreement and enhance the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Their meeting came ahead of Trump’s planned tariff announcement, which includes a 25% duty on car imports, potentially impacting Asian automakers. Despite past tensions over territorial disputes and Japan’s Fukushima wastewater release, the three countries aim to boost trade collaboration. The next ministerial meeting will be held in Japan.
- Hezbollah says it will act if Israel’s attacks on Lebanon continue – 30.03.2025
Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Naim Kassem, warned that if Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue and the Lebanese government fails to act, the group may take alternative measures, implying possible military action. His comments followed Israel’s first airstrike on Beirut since a ceasefire ended the latest Israel-Hezbollah war in November. Under the U.S.-brokered agreement, Israel was to withdraw from Lebanese territory, and Hezbollah was to end its armed presence south of the Litani River, but Israel remains in five locations and continues strikes on Hezbollah targets. Kassem accused Israel of pressuring Lebanon to normalize relations, which Hezbollah rejects, and stated that the group is prepared to respond if the ceasefire terms are not upheld. The ongoing conflict, which escalated after the Gaza war in 2023, has killed thousands and displaced tens of thousands in both Lebanon and Israel.
- US to revoke authorizations to foreign partners of Venezuela’s PDVSA, sources say – 30.03.2025
The U.S. has notified Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA’s foreign partners that authorizations allowing Venezuelan oil exports will be revoked. These licenses, granted during former President Biden’s administration, enabled companies like Spain’s Repsol, Italy’s Eni, and India’s Reliance to trade with PDVSA, but many firms have halted imports due to new sanctions imposed by President Trump. Venezuela’s oil exports have already begun to decline since March, and the new restrictions are expected to tighten the squeeze. Chevron has been given until May 27 to wind down its Venezuelan operations, signaling Washington’s increasingly tough stance on Maduro’s government. The Trump administration accuses Maduro of election irregularities and failing to facilitate migrant returns, while Maduro condemns the sanctions as an “economic war.”
- Long road to recovery begins in wake of South Korea’s worst-ever wildfires – 30.03.2025
The recent wildfires in southeastern South Korea have been classified as the most severe in the country’s history, both in terms of human casualties and property loss. The fires, which began on March 21, resulted in 75 casualties, including 30 deaths, and burned approximately 48,239 hectares of land. More than 3,200 homes were destroyed, displacing around 4,700 people, many of whom remain in temporary shelters. The government has prioritized immediate recovery efforts, including providing temporary housing, deploying medical staff to affected areas, and offering psychological support to survivors. However, the recovery process remains challenging, as infrastructure damage, including power and water outages, continues to hinder reconstruction. In some of the hardest-hit areas, such as Uiseong-gun and Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province, residents face uncertainty about when and how rebuilding efforts will begin. Meanwhile, the government is conducting damage assessments and has proposed a supplementary budget of 10 trillion won ($6.8 billion) to address wildfire recovery, economic fallout, and broader national stability.
- https://amp-dw-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.dw.com/en/turkey-hundreds-of-thousands-join-growing-istanbul-protest/a-72082321?amp_js_v=0.1&_gsa=1#webview=1
- https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20250329-denmark-foreign-minister-tone-jd-vance-greenland-usa-trump-arctic-visit
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/29/myanmar-earthquake-death-toll-devastation
- https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-china-japan-agree-promote-regional-trade-trump-tariffs-loom-2025-03-30/
- https://apnews.com/article/lebanon-israel-hezbollah-ceasefire-airstrike-hadath-violations-e8a91c5fc5d9e52fecc0c45a888138bc
- https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/us-revoke-authorizations-foreign-partners-venezuelas-pdvsa-sources-say-2025-03-29/
- https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10453553
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