President Trump announced that starting April 2, countries purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela will incur a 25 percent tariff on their exports to the United States. He accused Venezuela of deliberately sending criminals into the U.S.
Later, Trump indicated that he might provide exemptions on the tariffs to certain countries, although he did not specify which ones. His administration has granted Chevron, the second-largest U.S. oil company, an additional two months to continue oil production in Venezuela for sale to the U.S.
In a separate event, Trump praised Hyundai Motor for its $21 billion investment in the U.S., which may help South Korea avoid tariffs. The U.S. plans to implement reciprocal tariffs on April 2, aligning with the taxes imposed by other countries on American exports.
Japanese automakers, who initially viewed some of Trump's policies positively, are now facing the potential impact of significant U.S. taxes on foreign-made vehicles. Manufacturers of various American products are assessing the risks and possible benefits associated with the sweeping tariffs set to take effect on April 2.
In a related incident, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth inadvertently shared U.S. war plans in an encrypted Signal chat group that included a journalist just hours before a military operation against the Houthi militia in Yemen. The disclosure was revealed after the journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg, noted he had been mistakenly added to the chat by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz.
On March 15, Hegseth shared operational details regarding the planned strikes, including target information and weaponry to be used. The National Security Council confirmed the authenticity of the message thread, which took place outside the official channels typically used for classified military planning. Hegseth reportedly claimed to the group that they were “currently clean on OPSEC,” referring to operational security.
In Turkey, significant protests have erupted, leading to the detention of over 1,100 individuals. Authorities jailed Ekrem Imamoglu, the mayor of Istanbul and a prominent rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, accusing him of corruption and terrorism support. The government has imposed protest bans in major cities, restricted access to social media, and flooded pro-government media with information suggesting Imamoglu's guilt.
Imamoglu's arrest occurred shortly before Turkey's main opposition party named him as its candidate for the upcoming presidential election. Many are calling for his release and accusing the government of targeting a political opponent to Erdogan.
If Imamoglu can navigate his legal challenges, he may face Erdogan in an election, with some polls indicating a potential victory for him. Erdogan's term is set to conclude in 2028.
In other news, Max Park, a renowned speedcubing world-record holder, has achieved a best official solving time of 3.13 seconds, utilizing a method developed in 1982. Park's father described his speedcubing as akin to "playing chess at the speed of Ping-Pong."
Dag Solstad, a celebrated novelist who received the Norwegian Critics Prize for Literature three times, has passed away at the age of 83.
In culinary news, traditional British dishes are experiencing a revival, moving away from stereotypes of blandness. A new generation of chefs is enhancing the quality of British cuisine, although some traditional elements remain.
For those interested in activities, recommendations include a 10-minute yoga routine for relaxation, a list of engaging noir thrillers by author Sara Gran, and various word games such as Spelling Bee and Wordle.
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