While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 27, 2025
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US President Donald Trump speaking to reporters at the White House on March 26.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Trump presses ahead with auto tariffs of up to 25%
US President Donald Trump on March 26 announced plans for long-promised tariffs of up to 25 per cent on automotive imports, widening the global trade war he kicked off upon regaining the White House this year in a move auto industry experts expect will drive up prices and stymie production.
“What we’re going to be doing is a 25 per cent tariff for all cars that are not made in the United States,” Mr Trump said at an event in the Oval Office. “We start off with a 2.5 per cent base, which is what we’re at, and go to 25 per cent.”
Mr Trump, who sees tariffs as a tool to raise revenue to offset his promised tax cuts and to revive a long-declining US industrial base, said the new import taxes will go into effect on April 2, the same date he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit. Collection of the new auto tariffs would begin on April 3.
Regarding the coming April 2 announcement, Mr Trump indicated the measures may not be the like-for-like levies he has been pledging to impose.
Vehicle of missing US soldiers found ‘submerged’ in Lithuania
The vehicle of four United States soldiers missing in Lithuania was discovered submerged in a body of water on March 26, the US army said, adding that search efforts for the soldiers were ongoing.
The soldiers went missing during a military drill on a training ground in the Baltic country’s east.
Lithuanian and foreign troops, along with helicopters from the air force and the state border guard service, were deployed to search for the soldiers.
Trump says ‘we have to have’ Greenland, ahead of Vance trip
US President Donald Trump ramped up his claims to Greenland on March 26, saying ahead of a visit by Vice President JD Vance that the United States needed to take control of the Danish island for “international security.”
Since coming to power in January, Mr Trump has repeatedly insisted that he wants the self-governed territory to be in Washington’s grip, refusing to rule out the use of force to do so.
“We need Greenland for international safety and security. We need it. We have to have it,” Mr Trump told podcaster Vince Coglianese.
US authorities detain Turkish student at Tufts, revoke visa
US federal immigration authorities detained a PhD student from Turkey studying at Tufts University near Boston late on March 25 and have revoked her visa, according to the university and her attorney.
The Turkish national, Rumeysa Ozturk, was taken into custody near her home in Somerville, Massachusetts, according to her lawyer, who filed a lawsuit in Boston federal court arguing she had been unlawfully detained.
US District Judge Indira Talwani in response to that lawsuit ordered US Immigration and Customs Enforcement to not move Ozturk out of Massachusetts without first providing advance notice and to keep her in the state for at least 48 hours after.
Philippine wild card Eala stuns Swiatek to reach Miami semis
Philippine wild card Alexandra Eala pulled off the biggest win of her young career with a stunning 6-2 7-5 upset of Polish world number two Iga Swiatek on March 26 to extend her dream run at the Miami Open into the semi-finals.
The big-hitting 19-year-old showed no signs of intimidation playing against one of her idols and was instead a picture of poise as she dismantled Swiatek’s serve early on to grab control of the match and never looked back.
“I don’t know what to say, I mean, complete just disbelief right now and I am on cloud nine,” Eala said in her on-court interview.