News from March 16, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump praised the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the US-proposed ceasefire deal in Ukraine as 'good and productive'. Following a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, the Kremlin expressed 'cautious optimism' about the peace process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of trying to prolong talks to continue the war, while UK PM Sir Keir Starmer insisted Putin could not be allowed to 'play games' with ceasefire proposals. Ukraine has accepted the US-proposed ceasefire, but Russia has yet to agree. Putin set tough conditions for peace, which Zelensky labeled 'manipulative'. Zelensky criticized Putin for sabotaging diplomacy. Sir Keir will host a video call to advance a peacekeeping mission. The White House believes the sides have 'never been this close to peace'. Trump urged Putin to spare Ukrainian troops, while Ukraine denied its forces were encircled. G7 members in Quebec supported the US ceasefire proposal and called for a ceasefire with 'no conditions'.

President Donald Trump announced that the US has launched a 'decisive and powerful' wave of air strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen, citing the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea. Trump stated that the Iran-funded Houthis have fired missiles at US aircraft and targeted US troops and allies, causing billions of dollars in losses and risking lives. The Houthi-run health ministry reported at least 13 killed and nine injured in the strikes. The Houthis, who began targeting shipping in response to the Israel-Hamas war, vowed to retaliate. They blamed the US and UK for attacking residential areas in Yemen's capital, Sanaa, though the UK was not involved in Saturday's strikes. Since the Israel-Hamas conflict, the Houthis have launched hundreds of attacks on Red Sea vessels, forcing major shipping companies to reroute. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Iran, and Trump urged Tehran to cease its support for the Houthis.

The United States has expelled South Africa's ambassador to Washington, Ebrahim Rasool, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating he is 'no longer welcome in our great country.' Rubio accused Rasool on X of hating America and President Donald Trump, labeling him a 'race-baiting politician.' South Africa's presidential office called the decision 'regrettable' but affirmed its commitment to a mutually beneficial relationship with the US. This rare move by the US marks the latest escalation in tensions between the two nations. Rubio cited a Breitbart article quoting Rasool's critical remarks about the Trump administration during an online lecture. Last month, Trump signed an executive order freezing aid to South Africa over alleged 'egregious actions' and 'unjust racial discrimination' against white Afrikaners. The South African government has denied these claims. The White House accused South Africa of 'blatantly discriminating against ethnic minority descendants of settler groups.' The expulsion of a senior diplomat like a foreign ambassador is highly unusual in the US.

Canada's newly sworn-in Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, has identified countering President Donald Trump's tariff policies as a top priority. Trudeau called Trump's annexation remarks 'too crazy' and vowed that Canada will never become part of the US. The new government aims to protect workers' interests and reduce spending. Trudeau plans to visit France and the UK to strengthen alliances with European nations. A former Goldman Sachs executive and central bank governor, Trudeau has streamlined his cabinet to 24 members. Canada's general election, expected in a few weeks, sees the Liberal Party neck-and-neck with the Conservative Party in polls.

On March 14, 2025, violent storms struck multiple U.S. states, killing at least 26 people. Missouri was the hardest hit, with at least 12 deaths from tornadoes. In Sherman County, Kansas, a dust storm caused a highway pileup that killed eight people. Arkansas reported three deaths and 29 injuries. Three people died in car crashes during a dust storm in Amarillo, Texas. The massive storm system affected over 100 million people, with blizzard and wildfire warnings issued in various regions. Oklahoma saw over 130 fires, damaging nearly 300 homes.

A Palestinian official told the BBC that talks to extend the Gaza ceasefire have failed to reach an agreement, as the US accused Hamas of making 'entirely impractical' demands during meetings in Qatar. The US proposed extending the first phase of the truce until mid-April, including a further exchange of hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. However, Israel and Hamas disagreed on key aspects of the deal proposed by US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to receive a report from Israel's negotiating team. The White House accused Hamas of making impractical demands, delaying permanent peace negotiations. Hamas stated that negotiations had broken down, while Israel had accepted the US proposal. Both sides remain at odds over the number of hostages to be released and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, with Israel halting all aid and electricity to Gaza to pressure Hamas.

On March 15, thousands of student demonstrators gathered in the center of Belgrade, Serbia, causing traffic paralysis in most parts of the city. The protesters, carrying Serbian flags and using drums, vuvuzelas, and whistles, were met with police forces deployed along the march route, with some officers blending into the crowd. The protest aimed to block key points in the capital, with major highway interchanges being sealed off from noon, scheduled to peak at 4:00 p.m. GMT. The Tanjug news agency reported that public transport in Belgrade was suspended for the day due to the protests. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic vowed that the country's leaders would strive to maintain peace and stability despite the pressure from protesters.

On March 14, NASA and SpaceX launched the Crew-10 mission to bring back US astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who have been stranded on the International Space Station (ISS) for nine months. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket lifted off at 7:03pm Eastern Time from Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, carrying four astronauts to replace Wilmore and Williams. Originally scheduled for an eight-day stay, their mission was extended due to safety issues with Boeing's spacecraft. The Crew-10 astronauts are expected to stay on the ISS for about six months. Wilmore and Williams are scheduled to return to Earth on March 19. The mission drew attention due to interventions by President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.

According to CNN, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte attended his first hearing at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague via video link on September 14. Duterte, located in the ICC detention center, briefly confirmed his identity. Presiding Judge Motosuke informed him of the charges of murder, constituting crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in the Philippines between November 1, 2011, and March 16, 2019. Duterte's lawyer claimed he was kidnapped and unable to participate due to health issues, but court doctors deemed him fit. His daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, arrived at the ICC to support him and requested a postponement of the hearing, which was denied. Under ICC rules, suspects can request temporary release or challenge prosecutorial evidence, with the trial process potentially lasting months or years.

According to sources familiar with the matter and an internal memo seen by Reuters, the Trump administration is considering imposing sweeping travel restrictions on citizens of dozens of countries as part of a new ban. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that there could be changes to the list and that it has yet to be approved by the administration, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo lists a total of 41 countries divided into three groups: those facing full visa suspension, including Afghanistan, Cuba, and Iran; those facing partial visa suspension (affecting tourist, student, and some other visas), including Eritrea and Haiti; and countries recommended for partial suspension if they do not address deficiencies, including Angola and Antigua and Barbuda.

On March 15, CCTV reporters learned that US President Trump ordered a cut in funding for the parent organization of the government-funded Voice of America and six other federal agencies. This move resulted in the suspension of dozens of Voice of America employees. The employees received an email instructing them to cease work but continue to receive full pay and benefits until further notice. Trump signed the executive order on March 14 as part of the latest efforts to reduce bureaucratic institutions.

US influencer Sam Jones faced widespread criticism after being filmed taking a wild baby wombat from its mother in Australia. The video shows Jones picking up the joey by the roadside and running to a car, with the mother in pursuit. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese strongly condemned the act. Jones apologized on Instagram, claiming she intended to keep the animals safe. She also criticized Australia's animal culling laws. The incident sparked outrage, leading Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to consider revoking her visa, though Jones reportedly left the country voluntarily. Jones, who goes by Samantha Strable, has nearly 95,000 Instagram followers and describes herself as an outdoor enthusiast and hunter.

Cuba's Energy and Mines Ministry reported that the country's national electrical grid collapsed late on Friday, causing widespread blackouts in the capital Havana and across the nation. An electrical substation in Havana failed around 8:15 p.m., cutting power to a large area of western Cuba, including the capital. The entire waterfront skyline of Havana was dark, with only a few tourist hotels operating on fuel-fired generators. Social media reports from provinces east and west of the capital indicated that much of the country's 10 million population was without power. This grid failure follows a series of nationwide blackouts late last year that plunged Cuba's fragile and outdated power generation system into near-total disarray, exacerbated by fuel shortages, natural disasters, and economic crisis. Hours-long rolling blackouts have been common for months, and severe shortages of food, medicine, and water have made life increasingly unbearable for many Cubans, leading to record numbers fleeing the island in recent years.

On March 14, China, Russia, and Iran held a meeting in Beijing on the Iranian nuclear issue, chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov and Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi in attendance. The three parties issued a joint statement calling for the abandonment of unilateral sanctions and other actions that could escalate the situation around Iran's nuclear program. They emphasized the importance of implementing UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and urged relevant parties to refrain from actions that could exacerbate the situation, instead creating conditions conducive to diplomatic efforts.

On March 15, the Vatican reported that 88-year-old Pope Francis, who is being treated for double pneumonia at Rome's Gemelli hospital, is showing slow improvement and has reduced the use of mechanical ventilation at night. Since being admitted on February 14, Francis has not appeared in public, marking his longest absence and missing weekly prayers for the fifth consecutive week. He continues to undergo medical treatments, respiratory physiotherapy, and physical therapy, with gradual improvements noted. The Vatican has not provided a discharge date, stating that his recovery is slow. Earlier this week, Francis approved a new three-year process for reforms in the global Catholic Church, indicating his intention to continue serving as pope despite health challenges.

According to AFP, Pavel Durov, co-founder of the Telegram messaging app, has left France for Dubai. Durov, who faced multiple charges in France, was authorized by judges to leave the country for several weeks. He was detained at Le Bourget airport on August 24, 2024, and released after four days. The Paris prosecutor charged him with complicity in managing an online platform that facilitated illegal transactions, punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine of 500,000 euros. An investigating judge placed him under judicial supervision, requiring a bail of 5 million euros, bi-weekly police reports, and a travel ban.

Swedish businessman Carl Lundstroem, 64, died in a plane crash in northern Slovenia while flying from Zagreb, Croatia to Zurich, Switzerland in his Mooney M20 aeroplane. Slovenian police confirmed on March 12 that they found a body likely to be that of the Swedish pilot, but withheld identification pending forensic research. The far-right party Alternative for Sweden announced Lundstroem's death in the crash. Lundstroem, owner of the internet provider that hosted the illegal file-sharing site The Pirate Bay, had previously been sentenced to prison and fined by Swedish courts for his association with the site.

Intel announced this week the appointment of Lip-Bu Tan as its CEO. According to a filing with the SEC on Friday, Tan will receive a total compensation package including a $1 million salary and approximately $66 million in stock options and grants, which will vest over the coming years. Tan's appointment has sparked hopes that the chip industry veteran can turnaround the struggling company. Intel's shares have risen nearly 20% in 2025, with most of the gains occurring this week following Tan's appointment. He will start his new role next week. Besides his salary, Tan is eligible for an annual bonus of $2 million, a long-term equity grant valued at $14.4 million, and a performance grant of $17 million in Intel shares, both vesting over five years, but contingent on Intel's stock performance over the next three years. Tan will also receive stock options worth $9.6 million and a new hire option grant worth $25 million. In total, Tan's compensation includes about $66 million in long-term equity awards and options, in addition to salary, bonuses, and legal expenses. If Intel undergoes a change of control, Tan could be eligible for accelerated vesting, according to the filing. Intel stated that Tan's compensation reflects his experience and credentials as a seasoned technology leader and is competitive in the market. Tan has also agreed to purchase $25 million in Intel shares and hold them to qualify for the grants and bonuses.

On March 15, a powerful explosion struck a four-story apartment building in Latakia, Syria, killing at least four people and injuring 14 others, according to the Syrian Health Ministry. Earlier reports had indicated three fatalities and 12 injuries. Rescuers from the local Syrian Civil Defense Forces suggested the blast near the residential building in the Raml neighborhood might have been caused by unexploded ordnance of a large caliber. Latakia Governor Mohammad Othman stated that both the death toll and the number of injured could rise, as rescue operations are ongoing. Several individuals, including a child, have been rescued from the debris of the collapsed structure. From March 6 to 10, security forces of the interim government conducted an operation against gunmen linked to former Syrian leader Bashar Assad in the governorates of Latakia, Tartus, Hama, and Homs, resulting in over 1,500 deaths in the clashes.