“Sudan’s army has recaptured Khartoum airport from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), ‘fully securing it,’ according to military sources. Soldiers also encircled areas surrounding the airport in the Sudanese capital on Wednesday, a key development in a two-year-old conflict between the armed forces and rival RSF. … The military, at war with the RSF since April 2023, launched a campaign this week to push the paramilitary forces out of central Khartoum, after recapturing the presidential palace in a key victory on Friday. RSF fighters had been stationed inside the airport, just east of central Khartoum’s government and business district, since the war began.” (03/26/25)
“Hundreds of people have taken part in the largest anti-Hamas protest in Gaza since the war with Israel began, taking to the streets to demand the group step down from power. Masked Hamas militants, some armed with guns and others carrying batons, intervened and forcibly dispersed the protesters, assaulting several of them. Videos shared widely on social media by activists typically critical of Hamas showed young men marching through the streets of Beit Lahia, northern Gaza on Tuesday, chanting ‘out, out, out, Hamas out.’ Pro-Hamas supporters defended the group, downplayed the significance of the demonstrations and accused the participants of being traitors. Hamas is yet to comment.” [editor’s note: The Palestinian protests against Hamas misrule were growing — despite violent suppression and execution of dissidents as “Israeli spies” — prior to the October 7 attacks, which were probably a last-gasp attempt by Hamas to survive by bringing Israel in as “worse cop” – TLK] (03/25/25)
“The White House announced Tuesday that it had reached separate agreements with Russia and Ukraine to allow for ‘safe navigation’ in the Black Sea, eliminating a major roadblock for peace talks between the two countries. The Trump administration, in two statements, said that technical-level talks between U.S., Russian and Ukrainian officials in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, resulted in agreements to ‘ensure safe navigation, eliminate the use of force, and prevent the use of commercial vessels for military purposes in the Black Sea.’ The U.S. also said it would help restore Russia’s ‘access to the world market for agricultural and fertilizer exports’ and take steps to improve Moscow’s access to global shipping.” (03/25/25)
“The Unification Church in Japan was ordered dissolved by a court Tuesday after a government request spurred by the investigation into the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The church said it was considering an immediate appeal of the Tokyo District Court’s revocation of its legal status, which would take away its tax-exempt privilege and require liquidation of its assets. The order followed a request by Japan’s Education Ministry in 2023 to dissolve the influential South Korea-based sect, citing manipulative fundraising and recruitment tactics that sowed fear among followers and harmed their families. The Japanese branch of the church had criticized the request as a serious threat to religious freedom and the human rights of its followers.” (03/25/25)
“U.S. grocery chain Kroger countersued Albertsons on Tuesday, escalating a legal battle between the companies following the collapse of their proposed $25 billion merger in December. Albertsons terminated the merger immediately after courts blocked it and sued Kroger, alleging a breach of contract that led to the deal falling apart. The formal termination ended a two-year effort by the grocery chains to combine that regulators — who moved to stop the deal — said would eliminate competition and cause higher prices and reduce leverage for unionized workers. In December, Albertsons asked for billions of dollars in damages along with a $600 million termination fee. Kroger had called the claims baseless.” [editor’s note: Sounds like they should both be suing those regulators instead – TLK] (03/25/25)
“President Trump signed Tuesday an executive order to make sweeping changes to federal elections that includes a proof of citizenship requirement and aims to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day. Trump said on Truth Social his administration believes this is ‘the farthest-reaching executive action taken in the history’ of the U.S. to ‘Secure our Elections’ — and it’s likely to face legal challenges, with Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s (D) among those already calling the order ‘unlawful.'” (03/25/25)
“A Columbia University student and American resident has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump and his administration for its alleged efforts to remove her from the United States. The suit, filed Monday by 21-year-old Yunseo Chung, alleges that ‘the federal government began a series of unlawful efforts to arrest, detain, and remove’ her from the country, despite the fact she has lived in the U.S. since she was 7 years old. The suit states that Chung is now ‘at active risk of being put in immigration detention and deported from the only country she has ever known.’ … A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told CNN Chung ‘is being sought for removal proceedings under the immigration laws,’ and ‘has engaged in concerning conduct, including when she was arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College.'” (03/25/25)
“South Sudan is on the brink of a renewed civil war as violence between rival factions escalates, the United Nations has warned. The situation in the country is ‘dire’ said Nicholas Haysom, head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), late on Monday, as tension between forces allied with President Salva Kiir and those of Vice President Riek Machar continues to build. … South Sudan, the world’s youngest country, fell into a bloody civil war soon after gaining independence in 2011, as forces aligned with Kiir, an ethnic Dinka, fought those loyal to Machar, an ethnic Nuer. The conflict killed more than 40,000 people before a 2018 peace deal saw the pair form a government of national unity. However, tension has flared once more.” (03/25/25)
“An Israeli strike Tuesday in southwestern Syria killed at least six people as Israeli troops occupying the area clashed with local residents, Syria’s Foreign Ministry and a war monitor reported. Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said troops fired back at gunmen who attacked them, before launching a drone attack. The Syrian ministry said the six killed were civilians. Syrian state-run news agency SANA said that several people were wounded, including a woman. The report said Israeli tanks in the southwestern village of Koayiah also fired several rounds. Britain-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at seven.” (03/25/25)
“U.S. consumer confidence fell for the fourth straight month as Americans’ anxiety about their financial futures declined to a 12-year low amid rising concern over tariffs and inflation. The Conference Board reported Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 7.2 points in March to 92.9. Analysts were expecting a decline to a reading of 94.5, according to a survey by FactSet. The Conference Board’s report Tuesday said that the measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market fell 9.6 points to 65.2. It is the lowest reading in 12 years and well below the threshold of 80, which the Conference Board says can signal a potential recession in the near future. However, the proportion of consumers anticipating a recession in the next year held steady at a nine-month high, the board reported.” (03/25/25)
