ACTUAL NEWS: Friday, March 28th 2025 Recap
- Olga Nesterova
- Mar 28
- 13 min read
QUICK HITS
The United States needs Greenland for international security peace, President Donald Trump said on Friday, adding that there were Chinese and Russian ships in the area that Washington could not leave to Denmark or anyone else to "take care of."
Meanwhile, the Second Family has arrived in Greenland.
JD Vance: Denmark has not done a good job by the people of Greenland
He added: The president said we have to have Greenland, and I think we do have to be more serious about the security of Greenland. We cannot just ignore this place. We cannot just ignore the president’s desires.
King Frederik X of Denmark: There should be no doubt about my love for Greenland, and my connection to the Greenlandic people is intact.
Hillary Clinton published an op-ed condemning President Trump and his administration
Here are some quotes:
"In a dangerous and complex world, it's not enough to be strong. You must also be smart."
"It's not the hypocrisy that bothers me; it's the stupidity. We're all shocked — shocked!
- that President Trump and his team don't actually care about protecting classified information or federal record retention laws. But we knew that already."
"The Trump approach is dumb power. Instead of a strong America using all our strengths to lead the world and confront our adversaries, Mr. Trump's America will be increasingly blind and blundering, feeble and friendless."
"When American aid dollars help stop a famine or an outbreak, when we respond to a natural disaster or open schools, we win hearts and minds that might otherwise go to terrorists or rivals like China. We reduce the flow of migrants and refugees. We strengthen friendly governments that might otherwise collapse."
"People and leaders around the world are watching to see if democracy can still deliver peace and prosperity or even function. If America is ruled like a banana republic, with flagrant corruption and a leader who puts himself above the law, we lose that argument. We also lose the qualities that have made America exceptional and indispensable."
"If there's a grand strategy at work here, I don't know what it is. Maybe Mr. Trump wants to return to 19th-century spheres of influence. Maybe he's just driven by personal grudges and is in way over his head. As a businessman, he bankrupted his Atlantic City casinos. Now he's gambling with the national security of the United States."
President of Ukraine Zelenskyy said that Ukraine does not accept US military aid as a debt.
The Ukrainian president has confirmed that Kyiv has indeed received a draft of a new agreement on minerals from the USA - and the document is radically different from the previous one.
According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine will not perceive the provided military aid as a debt:
‘We are grateful for the support, but it is not a loan, and we will not allow it.’
NATO Allied chemical defense soldiers, alongside specialists from Italy, the U.S., and Moldova, trained on live chemical agents in Czechia to enhance their ability to detect and neutralize chemical weapons. The course, hosted by the NATO Joint CBRN Defence Centre of Excellence in Brno—the only facility capable of live-agent training—provided hands-on experience with nerve and blister agents like Sarin and mustard gas. After five days, participants gained confidence in their skills and protective equipment, strengthening NATO’s readiness for potential CBRN threats.
TODAY IN HISTORY
1854: France and England declared war on Russia, joining the Ottoman Empire in the Crimean War.
1930: The Turkish city of Istanbul officially received its present name, having previously been known as Byzantium and later Constantinople.
1935: Triumph of the Will, the Nazi propaganda film directed by Leni Riefenstahl, premiered in Germany, documenting the party's 1934 congress in Nürnberg.
1939: Francisco Franco captured Madrid, securing victory in the Spanish Civil War and toppling the democratic Spanish Republic.
1969: Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, died at age 78.
1979: A malfunction at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, led to radioactive leakage, marking the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history.
QUICK ACTUAL NEWS
NATIONAL
The State Department informed Congress on Friday of its plan to restructure the U.S. Agency for International Development, eliminating any remaining functions that do not align with the administration’s priorities, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced.
Senate Republicans are urging President Donald Trump to work with them to formalize his proposed government spending cuts through legislation, rather than continuing to withhold funds unilaterally.
On Friday, Donald Trump petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold his use of a 1798 law to expedite the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members. His administration argues that courts "should not interfere with the president’s national security authority".
A U.S. federal judge on Friday extended a temporary halt on President Donald Trump’s use of a 200-year-old wartime law to expel alleged Venezuelan gang members, dealing a setback to his administration’s efforts to accelerate deportations.
A federal appeals court has temporarily lifted a lower court’s block on President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. However, the court signaled that it may revisit the decision if the military moves to take action against transgender service members.
Law firms WilmerHale and Jenner & Block filed lawsuits against the Trump administration on Friday, challenging executive orders targeting their firms. The move escalates tensions between the president and the legal community.
Meanwhile, the New York Times reported Thursday that law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom has been in talks with Trump administration officials to avoid facing similar executive orders.
UPDATE: According to a White House pool report, Trump announced a deal with Skadden, under which the firm will provide $100 million in pro bono work approved by the administration. “This was essentially a settlement,” Trump said.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is onboarding officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), granting them staff-level access to networks, systems, and data. Additionally, the SEC is forming a liaison team to coordinate with DOGE.
Five Democratic senators, led by Elizabeth Warren, have requested information about World Liberty Financial, a cryptocurrency project backed by President Donald Trump and his family. The lawmakers are particularly concerned about the project's newly announced plans to issue a stablecoin, according to a letter cited by the Wall Street Journal on Friday.
Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy is set to brief the Trump administration next week on efforts to attract Asian investment in a $44 billion natural gas export project. Alongside executives from AGDC and Glenfarne Group, Dunleavy has been meeting with officials in Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.
Trump hopes these nations will participate as part of a broader trade strategy. Dunleavy plans to emphasize the project’s economic and trade benefits in discussions with senior administration officials.
The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index rose 0.3% in February, matching its unrevised 0.3% increase in January, the U.S. Commerce Department reported Friday. Economists had forecast the same 0.3% gain.
U.S. bank regulators announced Friday their intent to rescind a 2023 update to fair lending rules and reinstate previous requirements. The decision follows a legal challenge from the banking industry over the revised framework.
Separately, another banking regulator declared that financial institutions no longer need prior approval to engage in certain cryptocurrency-related activities. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) stated Friday that banks may participate in legally permitted crypto activities as long as they manage their risks appropriately.
The U.S. stock market faces a critical test in the coming week, with investors eyeing a key deadline for President Donald Trump’s tariff plans and an employment report that could signal a slowing economy.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced Friday new measures to enhance privacy protections for aircraft owners. Following congressional approval of privacy-related legislation, the FAA will now allow private aircraft owners and operators to electronically request the withholding of their registration details from public records.
The Trump administration has filed a lawsuit seeking to invalidate dozens of labor contracts between federal agencies and unions, arguing that the agreements obstruct the president’s efforts to reshape the federal workforce and safeguard national security.
The Federal Reserve’s previously steady path toward a soft landing is becoming increasingly uncertain under the Trump administration. Rising inflation expectations and signs of consumer spending caution are complicating economic forecasts.
Global automakers, particularly those in Germany, Japan, and South Korea, saw their stock prices decline after Trump announced tariffs on imported cars and car parts. Meanwhile, shares in Tesla, which manufactures all its vehicles domestically, rose nearly 3%.
Industry experts warn that major automakers will have to adjust to Trump’s auto import tariffs in ways that will inevitably lead to higher prices, fewer model options, or limitations on features for consumers.
Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel are actively negotiating to salvage their $14 billion merger, with Nippon offering to boost its investment in Rust Belt facilities from $2.7 billion to as much as $7 billion, according to Semafor. The companies are also in talks with the U.S. government to finalize the deal’s terms. In
February, President Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba suggested structuring the bid as an investment rather than an outright acquisition, with Trump open to Nippon holding only a minority stake.
Nippon Steel originally bid $14.9 billion in December 2023, pledging substantial upgrades while keeping U.S. Steel’s headquarters in Pittsburgh.
Trevor Milton, founder of the now-bankrupt electric and hydrogen truck maker Nikola, announced on social media Thursday that he has been pardoned by President Donald Trump. Milton was previously convicted of fraud.
A U.S. appeals court ruled Friday that Donald Trump can—at least for now—remove Democratic members from two federal labor boards. The decision marks a victory for the Republican president in his efforts to bring independent federal agencies under greater executive control.
GLOBAL
Asian and European stock markets extended their losses on Friday, while safe-haven gold hit another record high, as the latest round of tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump heightened fears of an all-out trade war.
Germany has seized the Russian-linked oil tanker Eventin, a vessel from Moscow’s so-called Shadow Fleet, replacing its entire crew and taking control of 100,000 tons of sanctioned oil aboard. This marks the first time an EU country has taken such decisive action against Russia’s sanctions evasion network since the invasion of Ukraine.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera on Friday urged the United States to reconsider its newly imposed tariffs on European goods and engage in dialogue with Brussels. Sánchez called the tariffs "nonsense" and pushed for negotiations to prevent further economic tensions.
The U.S. State Department confirmed on Thursday that short-term funding had been allocated to an initiative documenting abducted Ukrainian children. This follows the Trump administration’s decision to pause the program on January 25.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Washington's "ironclad" commitment to its defense treaty with the Philippines on Friday, pledging to deploy advanced capabilities to help deter threats, including Chinese "aggression."
South Sudan’s defense minister has placed the country’s vice president under house arrest, his party announced. The U.N. has warned that the move risks plunging the nation back into civil war.
The BBC reported that Turkey deported one of its correspondents covering anti-government protests in Istanbul.
Israel carried out its first heavy airstrike in Beirut since a ceasefire with Hezbollah began in November. The Israeli military issued an evacuation order before the strike, stating it was targeting Hezbollah positions.
Tensions have escalated in recent weeks as Israel announced its intention to remain in Lebanon beyond a previously agreed withdrawal deadline. Last Saturday, Israel intercepted three rockets launched from Lebanon and responded with large-scale airstrikes. Lebanon’s president, who has called for restraint, was meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris today.
The U.S. State Department said on Friday that Israel was acting in self-defense against rocket attacks from Lebanon, emphasizing that it is the responsibility of the Lebanese government to disarm militant groups such as Hezbollah.
Somalia is prepared to offer the United States exclusive control over strategic air bases and ports, President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud stated in a letter to President Donald Trump, as seen by Reuters on Friday.
China-Japan-South Korea Talks: Top trade officials from the three nations will meet this weekend in Seoul for the first time in five years, South Korea’s industry ministry announced. The discussions, driven by concerns over U.S. protectionism, follow last week’s meeting between the countries' foreign ministers.
The United Kingdom's carbon emissions fell by 4% in 2024, the government reported. The decline was attributed to the closure of coal-fired power plants and reduced energy consumption for winter heating due to rising temperatures. The UK shut down its last coal-fired power plant in September and has continued expanding its use of renewable energy.
Iran’s Letter on U.S. Talks: Iran is open to indirect negotiations with the Trump administration, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said Thursday. Through Oman, Tehran issued a written response to a letter from Trump outlining U.S. positions on several key issues. Iranian media also reported that a top foreign policy advisor to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei indicated Tehran was "willing to begin indirect negotiations" with Washington, signaling a potential shift from Khamenei’s previous opposition to talks.
MEME OF THE DAY
POSTS OF THE DAY
VIDEO QUICK NEWS
Trump: we need Greenland
Putin: Trump's plans to annex Greenland are serious
Trump: Many countries are apologizing to me for taking advantage of the US
EU Commission spokesman comments on the new U.S. tariffs on cars from Europe and elsewhere
McCarthy: I am telling you, when I travel the world, they are jealous of what is happening
Musk: This is a revolution.
ICYMI
Archaeologists in Egypt have discovered the tomb of a previously unknown pharaoh, believed to be from a long-lost dynasty that had only recently been identified.
Corporations that once sponsored Pride Month celebrations are now pulling back their support, a move organizers attribute to Trump’s campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.).
Global sea ice levels hit a record low in March, marking the lowest extent ever recorded.
The head of Pope Francis’s medical team revealed in an interview that the pope came close to death during his hospital stay, calling his survival a “miracle.”
A powerful earthquake struck central Myanmar, leaving at least 20 people dead.
King Charles was briefly hospitalized due to side effects from his cancer treatment.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has proposed a league-owned European division to the NBA’s 30 owners, with a potential launch as early as next year.
STORY TIME
The Union Army’s Balloon Corps: The Civil War’s First Air Force
In 1861, as the United States plunged into civil war, the Union Army searched for any advantage over the breakaway Confederate states. One unexpected solution? Balloons.
At the height of the conflict, the Union Army formed its first aerial force—the Union Army Balloon Corps—thanks to the ingenuity of aeronauts who pitched balloons as reconnaissance tools. Among them was scientist and balloonist Thaddeus S.C. Lowe, who personally convinced President Abraham Lincoln of their potential. Lowe’s enthusiasm came from firsthand experience—just months earlier, he had been captured in South Carolina after a test flight went off course, suspected of being a Union spy.
Lowe was not alone. Other aeronauts, including John Wise and John LaMountain, also saw military potential in their privately owned balloons. Though military aviation was still in its infancy, balloons had seen some limited use in France. But with the Union Army already experimenting with unconventional military strategies—such as importing camels to the American Southwest—it was willing to give balloons a try.
Taking to the Skies
Lowe first demonstrated the concept at the First Battle of Bull Run, floating above the battlefield to relay intelligence. Though the battle ended in a Confederate victory, Lowe’s ability to send real-time updates to commanders proved valuable. Soon after, the Union Army Balloon Corps was officially formed under the Bureau of Topographical Engineers.
Over the next two years, Union balloons played key roles in battles like the Peninsula Campaign and the Siege of Vicksburg. These were not weapons platforms—no one strapped cannons to balloon baskets—but rather aerial reconnaissance tools. Initially, they were private balloons, but as the corps formalized, the military built its own, including the Intrepid, a 32,000-cubic-foot balloon emblazoned with the name of General George McClellan. Other balloons in the fleet bore names like Union, Eagle, and Excelsior.
The balloons provided a critical advantage: stationed along the Potomac River, they helped Union commanders spot Confederate troop movements and protect Washington, D.C. They also improved artillery targeting, with aeronauts using signal flags to direct fire. To move them, Lowe and his team modified the USS George Washington Parke Custis, turning it into a mobile launch platform—the world’s first aircraft carrier.
The Confederate Response
Not to be outdone, the Confederacy attempted its own balloon program. However, material shortages meant that many Southern balloons were poorly made, and the effort never reached the scale of the Union’s. The two sides never engaged in balloon-on-balloon combat, though Confederate troops did attempt to shoot Union balloons down during the Peninsula Campaign—without success.
The Rise and Fall of the Balloon Corps
Despite early success, the Balloon Corps was short-lived. Poor organization and internal disputes among aeronauts led to tensions, and some military commanders doubted the balloons' usefulness. By 1863, Lowe’s salary was cut, and after mounting frustrations, he resigned. The corps passed to brothers James and Ezra Allen, but it soon collapsed, officially disbanding in August 1863—well before the war’s end.
A Lasting Legacy
Although brief, the Union Army Balloon Corps paved the way for military aviation in the United States. The Army Signal Corps later revived the concept, using balloons in the Spanish-American War and World War I. In the early 20th century, high-altitude balloons played a role in scientific research, foreshadowing later space exploration.
What began as a desperate wartime experiment turned out to be a revolutionary step in aerial warfare, proving that the sky could be a battlefield just as much as the land or sea.
TODAY IN PHOTOS
Mandalay, Myanmar
Motorists pass a damaged building after a strong earthquake struck central Myanmar
Photograph: Reuters
Beirut, Lebanon
Smoke billows over Beirut’s southern suburbs following an Israeli strike
Photograph: Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Victoria, Australia
Spectators look on as a wall of fire is ignited at the Avalon Australian International Airshow. The show is set to be the largest aviation event in the southern hemisphere, featuring industry trade days and a public airshow
Photograph: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images
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