News from March 12, 2025 at 2 PM

The US and Ukraine reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in their relations. Just a week ago, the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a tense meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump at the White House. Despite Trump's often aggressive demeanor, he remains open to further negotiations. On Tuesday, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, causing major US stock indexes to tumble. Ontario Premier Doug Ford subsequently backed down from an energy surcharge, and Trump withdrew his tariff hike. However, the ongoing US-Canada trade dispute has erased trillions in US stock market value. While Ukraine is ready for a time-limited truce, there is no progress on a mineral rights deal sought by the US, and Russia's stance on the ceasefire proposal remains unclear.

The Portuguese-flagged cargo ship Solong collided with the US-registered oil tanker Stena Immaculate off the East Yorkshire coast in the North Sea at around 10:00 GMT on Monday. The 59-year-old captain of the Solong was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter following the search for a missing crew member. One crew member is still missing and presumed dead after the rescue operation ended. Both ships are expected to remain afloat despite the Solong continuing to emit smoke. A criminal investigation has been launched by the police, with the Marine Accident Investigation Branch conducting a preliminary assessment. Thirty-six people were safely evacuated. The Stena Immaculate, carrying 220,000 barrels of jet fuel, had one of its cargo tanks ruptured in the collision.

On March 12, a passenger train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar in Pakistan was hijacked by militants from the Balochistan Liberation Army, taking 450 passengers hostage. At least 10 people, including the train driver and eight security officers, were killed. Thirty-seven individuals have been hospitalized following a counter-terrorist operation. Security sources report that the militants possess explosives, and a special operation to eliminate the extremists and free the hostages is ongoing. At least 155 hostages have been released, and nearly 30 militants have been killed. Russia's Consulate General in Karachi stated that they have no information on whether Russian citizens were among the hostages.

On March 11, the Philippine President's Office announced that former President Rodrigo Duterte was detained at Manila International Airport upon his return from abroad, following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Duterte's anti-drug campaign during his tenure sparked controversy, leading to a preliminary investigation by the ICC in 2018 and a formal investigation in 2021. The Philippine government stated it would cooperate with the ICC. Duterte questioned the legality of his detention, drawing widespread attention in the Philippines. According to ICC procedures, suspects are typically transferred to The Hague for trial. Duterte's detention could impact Philippine politics, especially with midterm elections approaching soon.

On March 12, 2025, Greenland's centre-right opposition party won a surprise general election victory, with independence and US President Donald Trump's pledge to acquire the semi-autonomous territory dominating the vote. The Democratic Party, advocating a gradual approach to independence from Denmark, secured around 30% of the vote. Party leader Jens Frederik Nielsen emphasized the need for unity. Greenland, controlled by Denmark for about 300 years, governs its domestic affairs but relies on Copenhagen for foreign and defence policies. Five of the six main parties support independence but differ on the pace. The Democratic Party, considered a moderate on independence, saw a 20% vote increase from 2021. Naleraq, pushing for immediate independence and closer US ties, was set for second place. The current ruling parties, Inuit Ataqatigiit and Siumut, were heading for third and fourth places, marking a setback for Prime Minister Mute B Egede. About 44,000 Greenlanders voted to elect 31 MPs and the local government. Trump reiterated his acquisition intentions, but Greenland and Denmark's leaders have consistently rejected his demands.

The UN human rights office reported that entire families, including women and children, were killed in recent violence in Syria's coastal region. The UN has verified the killing of 111 civilians since last Thursday, but the actual figure is believed to be significantly higher. Many cases were summary executions, predominantly targeting Alawite areas. Gunmen supporting the Sunni Islamist-led government are accused of carrying out revenge killings. A monitoring group reported over 1,200 civilian deaths in Latakia, Tatous, Hama, and Homs provinces, mostly Alawites. Syria's interim President promised to form an independent investigative committee. This violence was the worst since Assad's overthrow in December. Security forces launched an operation in the coastal town of Jableh, leading to escalating violence.

On March 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education announced a reduction of approximately half its staff, with about 1,300 career employees set to receive termination notices, in addition to 600 who have already resigned or taken early retirement. Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the layoffs reflect the department's commitment to efficiency and accountability, focusing resources on students, parents, and teachers. The cuts will impact the department's roles in enforcing anti-discrimination laws, campus safety rules, and distributing funds to needy students. Democrats strongly criticized the layoffs, viewing them as a move to undermine government services and harm the interests of students and teachers. The American Federation of Government Employees reported that 969 employees will be affected, losing access to their accounts as early as that night.

On March 11, NASA's Spherex telescope was launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California to explore the origins of the universe and search for hidden reservoirs of water in the Milky Way. Carried by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, the Spherex observatory is set to collect data on over 450 million galaxies and more than 100 million stars in the Milky Way during its planned two-year mission. It will create a three-dimensional map of the cosmos in 102 colors, studying the history and evolution of galaxies. The mission aims to deepen understanding of cosmic inflation, the rapid expansion of the universe following the Big Bang. Spherex will also search for water frozen on interstellar dust grains within our galaxy. Additionally, NASA's Punch mission, launched alongside Spherex, seeks to understand the solar wind and its effects on Earth and the solar system.

On March 11, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., passed a six-month temporary funding bill to prevent a government shutdown at the end of the week. The bill was approved by a vote of 217 to 213, with all Republicans except Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky supporting the continuing resolution, and one Democrat voting in favor. The measure now moves to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain. Republicans hold 53 seats, and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., has firmly opposed it, meaning at least eight Democratic senators would need to support the bill to reach the Senate's 60-vote threshold and send it to President Donald Trump for signing. The government is set to run out of money late Friday. Senate Democrats criticized the partisan approach of House Republicans on the funding bill ahead of the vote, but a significant number remained open to supporting it. House Democratic leaders strongly objected to the bill, arguing it gives the Trump administration too much discretion in spending certain funds.

Swedish electric vehicle battery manufacturer Northvolt announced on Wednesday that it has filed for bankruptcy in Sweden. The company stated that it submitted the insolvency filing after exhaustive efforts to explore all available means to secure a viable financial and operational future proved unsuccessful. In recent months, Northvolt has faced a series of compounding challenges, including rising capital costs, geopolitical instability, supply chain disruptions, and shifts in market demand, which have eroded its financial position. Additionally, the company encountered both expected and unforeseen internal challenges during its production ramp-up. Northvolt's collapse into insolvency deals a significant blow to Europe's ambition to become self-sufficient in building its own EV battery supply chain to compete with China, the world's largest electric vehicle market. Despite seeking financial support and receiving liquidity assistance from lenders and key counterparties during an ongoing Chapter 11 restructuring process in the United States, which began in November, the company was unable to secure the necessary financial conditions to continue operations. A Swedish court-appointed trustee will oversee Northvolt's bankruptcy process, including the sale of the business and its assets and the settlement of outstanding obligations.

US President Donald Trump announced the nomination of entrepreneur Anji Sinha as the new US Ambassador to Singapore. In a social media post on March 11, Trump emphasized the importance of US-Singapore relations and expressed confidence in Sinha's ability to represent American interests. Washington observers have little information about Sinha. Acting Charge d'Affaires at the US Embassy in Singapore, Casey Mace, welcomed the announcement. Trump also nominated several other senior diplomatic officials for Asia, subject to Senate approval. Former US Ambassador to Singapore Frank Lavin praised the nomination, highlighting the significance of US-Singapore ties. During Trump's first term, the ambassador position to Singapore remained vacant for an extended period.

The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, in Geneva, accused Israel of weaponizing humanitarian aid by blocking goods and electricity into Gaza, warning of a renewed hunger crisis. Israel halted all aid at the start of the month and cut electricity, actions condemned by the UK and Germany. Initially, aid supplies increased tenfold during the ceasefire, easing food shortages and restoring some health services. Now, with aid blocked and a major desalination plant's electricity cut, UN Secretary-General António Guterres's spokesman said this would significantly reduce drinking water availability in Gaza. Israel has not ruled out cutting water supplies. Lazzarini criticized Israel's moves, noting a rapid deterioration in Gaza's humanitarian situation. Israel banned UNRWA, alleging staff support for Hamas, while other aid agencies are also blocked from entering.