News from March 19, 2025 at 2 AM

Han Jianwei of the Middle East Studies Institute at Shanghai International Studies University stated that Israel's renewed bombardments of the Gaza Strip may be part of a strategy by Tel Aviv and Washington to force residents to relocate. In mid-January, Israel and Hamas reached a three-stage agreement brokered by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, declaring a ceasefire in Gaza. The initial 42-day phase ended on March 1, followed by Israel closing all crossings and blocking humanitarian aid. On March 18, the Israel Defense Forces launched a series of strikes on Hamas targets. According to Al Arabiya TV, the death toll has exceeded 400, with over 1,000 injured. In early February, US President Donald Trump, alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, announced plans to reclaim Gaza and transform it into the 'Riviera of the Middle East,' supporting the relocation of Palestinians to other regional countries.

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams are preparing to return to Earth after a nine-month stay on the International Space Station (ISS), originally planned for only eight days but extended due to technical issues with their spacecraft. They will travel back in a SpaceX capsule along with NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, expected to undock at 05:05 GMT on Tuesday and splash down off Florida's coast at 21:57 GMT. The re-entry will involve high temperatures and significant g-forces. During their extended stay, they conducted various experiments, with Suni setting a record for the most hours spent on spacewalks by a woman. Upon return, they will undergo medical checks at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

On March 16, 2025, the U.S. government deported 137 Venezuelans suspected of being members of the gang Tren de Aragua to El Salvador, where they were imprisoned in the Terrorism Confinement Center. This rapid deportation sparked a legal standoff, leaving families and immigration attorneys struggling to obtain information. President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act for the deportations, despite a judge's order to halt them. Families claim innocent individuals, like Solanyer Sarabia's brother Anyelo, were deported due to tattoos. The Immigrant Defenders Law Center criticized the lack of transparency, causing family distress. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, known for his anti-gang crackdown, faces human rights abuse allegations in his prisons.

Germany's Bundestag is set to vote on a major fiscal package later on Tuesday, which includes changes to long-standing debt policies to enable higher defense spending and a 500 billion euro ($548 billion) infrastructure and climate fund. More than two thirds of parliament need to support the package for it to pass and be enshrined in Germany's constitution, followed by approval from the Bundesrat. The proposed laws would exempt defense and certain security expenditures above a threshold from the debt brake, along with loans for the infrastructure fund. The Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union, and Social Democratic Party, likely to form the incoming coalition government, proposed the package. Time is tight as constitutional changes require two-thirds majority in both parliament and the Bundesrat before the new parliament convenes. A compromise was reached with the Green Party, including 100 billion euros for climate and economic transformation. If all three parties support the package, there would be a 31-vote buffer for passage. Analysts view the plans as a potential boost for Germany's struggling economy, with the OECD and Ifome projecting GDP growth of 0.4% and 0.2% respectively.

A nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, has resulted in 59 deaths, mostly teenagers. The Pulse nightclub was packed with fans watching the popular hip-hop band DNK when the fire broke out. Around 20 people, including the nightclub owner and some former government ministers, have been detained for questioning. Many believe corruption allowed the venue to operate with inadequate safety measures. Over 160 people were injured, with 45 suffering severe injuries and being flown to hospitals in neighboring countries. Protesters demanded justice, and mourners lit candles in the central square. The Interior Minister stated there are suspicions of bribery and corruption linked to the fire, and the club's license was obtained illegally with the emergency exit locked.

In response to the burgeoning social welfare expenditure, the UK government has decided to reform the welfare system, reducing subsidies for the disabled and long-term sick while encouraging employment. On March 18th, Minister for Employment and Pensions Kandall announced the reform plan in the House of Commons, stating that the current system is failing those who need help and hindering national development. The reform is expected to save £5 billion by 2030. The plan includes tightening the eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), setting a 'permanent, above-inflation' allowance for Universal Credit, and abolishing the work capability assessment in 2028, replacing it with an assessment of independent living ability to determine benefits. Kandall noted that one in ten working-age individuals in the UK are claiming sickness or disability benefits, nearly one million young people are not in education, employment, or training, and the number of PIP applicants is set to double by 2030. The Prime Minister's spokesperson emphasized the necessity of the reform, assuring that those most in need will continue to receive adequate support. Data from the Office for Budget Responsibility shows that UK welfare spending reached £296.3 billion in the 2023/24 fiscal year, nearly 11% of GDP.

On March 14, 2025, stock futures on the New York Stock Exchange hovered near the flatline at the opening bell, as markets awaited the Federal Reserve's interest rate decision. Dow Jones Industrial Average futures rose by 25 points, less than 0.1%; S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures inched up slightly. After a rough Tuesday, the Dow Jones lost 0.6%, the S&P 500 shed over 1%, ending 8.6% off its February high, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 1.7%, with shares of Tesla, Palantir, and Nvidia falling. Recent market volatility has seen the S&P 500 enter correction territory, with the Nasdaq still in correction. Investors are eyeing the Fed's decision due at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Morgan Stanley plans to cut about 2,000 jobs, while Gilead Sciences and HealthEquity shares fell in after-hours trading, and Meta Platforms slipped into negative territory for the year.

On July 16, 2024, Google signed a definitive agreement to acquire New York-based cloud security startup Wiz for $32 billion in an all-cash deal, marking Google's largest acquisition ever. The move aims to enhance Google's security technology amid advancing AI and cybersecurity threats. Wiz will integrate into Google Cloud, with the deal expected to close in 2026. Last year, Wiz rejected a $23 billion acquisition offer from Google, opting for an IPO, which was later shelved due to unfavorable market conditions. Founded in 2020, Wiz achieved $100 million in annual recurring revenue within 18 months. This acquisition will help Google compete with rivals like Microsoft.

The Royal Air Force confirmed that John 'Paddy' Hemingway, the last surviving pilot from the Battle of Britain during World War II, passed away on Monday at the age of 105. Originally from Dublin, Mr. Hemingway joined the Royal Air Force as a teenager before the war. At 21, he served as a fighter pilot during the three-month Battle of Britain, defending against a massive assault by the German Luftwaffe. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to Mr. Hemingway, noting that his and other RAF pilots' courage helped end WWII and secure freedom. The RAF stated that Mr. Hemingway's passing marks 'the end of an era and a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom during World War II.'

Peru's government declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima on Monday, deploying soldiers to the streets to quell a recent surge in violence. The death of renowned cumbia musician Paul Flores, who was shot in a bus attack by unknown assailants on Sunday, sparked public outrage. The crime wave, including a rise in extortion, led President Dina Boluarte to suggest the death penalty for murderers, despite Peru only allowing execution for traitors. The 30-day emergency decree covers Lima and neighboring Callao province, granting authorities additional powers to deploy the military against lawlessness. In recent years, Peruvian officials have frequently declared emergencies amid spikes in criminal activity or social unrest. Monday's government actions follow weeks of escalating violence attributed to criminal groups targeting businesses, including transport companies, despite recent gang arrests.

BYD announced a new technology on Tuesday, claiming it can charge electric vehicles for 249 miles in just 5 minutes. Its Hong Kong-listed shares surged over 6% at the open, reaching a new 52-week high. The Shenzhen-listed stock also rose more than 2%. The technology, named 'Super e-Platform,' boasts a peak charging power of 1,000 kilowatts. In contrast, Tesla's latest superchargers offer up to 500 kilowatts, adding 270 kilometers of range in 15 minutes. BYD stated that its Han L sedan and Tang L SUV will feature this technology and plans to build over 4,000 ultra-fast charging piles across China. Earlier this month, BYD raised up to $5.2 billion from its Hong Kong shares sale, reportedly for R&D and other investments. Analysts suggest this technology could alter EV charging behavior.