News from March 19, 2025 at 2 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on March 18 during an online briefing that Russia's leader aims to “weaken” Ukraine and is “not ready to end this war.” He stated Ukraine is favorable to a US-proposed truce on strikes against energy infrastructure endorsed by Russia, but needs more “details” from Washington first. Following a call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine will maintain the truce as long as Moscow abides by it, and called for the US to be “guarantors of control over the implementation.” Explosions and air raid sirens were heard in Kyiv after the Trump-Putin call, with authorities urging residents to take shelter. Ukraine had previously backed a full month-long ceasefire proposed by the US during bilateral talks in Saudi Arabia. Zelensky also noted that Ukrainian troops would continue fighting in Russia’s Kursk region.

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 19, 2025, over 100 supporters gathered near Istanbul's main police headquarters in Turkey to protest the arrest of Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, President Tayyip Erdogan's main political rival. Imamoglu, from the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), was detained on charges including corruption and aiding a terrorist group. Protesters viewed the move as a blow to Turkish democracy, noting Imamoglu's four election victories against Erdogan since 2019. Security forces barricaded streets leading to the police headquarters and banned public gatherings. Imamoglu vowed to continue resisting pressure.

The US government has released the final batch of documents on the assassination of President John F Kennedy, a case that still spawns conspiracy theories over 60 years later. This follows an executive order by President Donald Trump mandating the public release of remaining unredacted files. Experts are reviewing the documents, noting the task will take time and they do not expect significant revelations. Previously, US authorities released hundreds of thousands of JFK documents but withheld some for national security reasons. Many Americans believe gunman Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. Trump had indicated that 80,000 pages would be unsealed. Of the 1,123 documents released by the National Archives and Records Administration on Tuesday, it was unclear how much new material was included. Some files still had redacted sections, while others were difficult to read due to fading or poor scanning. Experts suggest non-scholars might be baffled. Historian Alice George believes more records may be released, but the passage of time complicates truth-finding.

Six migrants died and 40 are missing after a shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa late on Tuesday. The Italian coast guard has rescued 10 people and resumed the search for survivors early on Wednesday. Survivors reported that many of the 56 migrants fell into the water due to bad weather after departing from Tunisia in a dinghy. Italy's main news agency ANSA and other media reported the incident, but the Italian coast guard has not yet confirmed the reports to Reuters.

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 19, an agreement on an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo was reached during talks involving DR Congo President Felix Tshisekedi, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Thani. This marks the first step towards long-term peace in the region. The leaders agreed to continue consultations to restore the territorial integrity of DR Congo, ensure regional stability, and end the violence by the M23 rebel movement in the provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu. The M23 movement, formed by defectors from the Congolese army in 2012, resumed military operations in January 2021, capturing over 100 towns and villages, including the capitals of both provinces. The DR Congo authorities accuse Rwanda of directly supporting the M23 rebels.

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.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced several new products at the GTC conference, aiming to solidify the company's leadership in the AI field. Despite recent stock volatility and a decline in share price, Nvidia remains the dominant player in AI chips. Huang showcased next-generation chips like Blackwell Ultra and Vera Rubin, which are expected to significantly enhance performance. Additionally, Nvidia introduced the open-source software Dynamo, strengthening its position in inference computing, and announced collaborations with General Motors, Alphabet, and other companies.

The Euclid space telescope released its first data on March 19, aimed at unraveling the mysteries of dark matter and dark energy. Launched in 2023, the telescope plans to map one third of the sky, encompassing 1.5 billion galaxies, to create the most accurate 3D map of the universe. Currently located 1.5 million km from Earth, Euclid has already released images of various strange galaxies, colorful nebulas, and bright stars. The initial data covers less than 0.5% of the sky it will scan over its six-year mission but offers early insights into the universe's 'cosmic web' structure. Scientists believe dark matter and dark energy make up 95% of the universe, yet remain mysterious. The data processing was aided by artificial intelligence and over 10,000 volunteers, with the first full data catalog expected in 2026.

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.'

Once labeled the world's ugliest animal for its soft, lumpy appearance, the blobfish made a surprising comeback by being crowned Fish of the Year by New Zealand's Mountain to Sea Conservation Trust this week, garnering nearly 1,300 out of over 5,500 votes. The annual competition aims to raise awareness for New Zealand's freshwater and marine life. The blobfish gained mainstream notoriety in 2013 as the mascot for the Ugly Animal Preservation Society. This gelatinous fish, which lives on the sea bed and grows to about 30cm in length, is primarily found off the coast of Australia at depths of 600-1,200m. In its natural deep-sea habitat, the blobfish resembles a regular fish, but deforms into its characteristic mushy shape when brought to the surface. The orange roughy came in second place, but a passionate campaign by local radio hosts Sarah Gandy and Paul Flynn of More FM helped secure the blobfish's victory.

Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor met with Donald Trump during a Saint Patrick's Day visit to the White House on March 17, where he criticized illegal immigration in Ireland. McGregor stated in the White House briefing room that Ireland is at the cusp of potentially losing its Irishness. Trump later hosted the former UFC star in the Oval Office. McGregor also posed for a picture with tech tycoon Elon Musk. Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin swiftly反驳McGregor's remarks, stating they do not reflect the views of the Irish people. In November 2024, McGregor was ordered by an Irish court to pay damages to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2018.

Chinese tech giant Tencent reported its Q4 2024 earnings on Wednesday, exceeding expectations in both revenue and profit, driven by a surge in gaming and advertising revenue. The company significantly increased its capital expenditure, which more than tripled in 2024, as it boosts its focus on artificial intelligence. Tencent highlighted growth in AI-related revenue in areas such as cloud computing and advertising. Q4 revenue reached 172.4 billion yuan, with profit at 51.3 billion yuan, marking year-on-year increases of 11% and 90% respectively. Domestic games revenue rose 23% year-on-year, while international games revenue jumped 15%. Advertising business revenue grew 17%. Tencent also launched several AI models, driving improvements across various products and expects accelerated growth in cloud services revenue.