News from March 21, 2025 at 2 AM

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, while the United States has dropped to 24th place, marking its lowest ranking ever. The Oxford University's Well-being Research Centre released the '2025 World Happiness Report' on March 20, with Nordic countries dominating the top spots, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth respectively. Assistant Professor Mattila from Aalto University in Finland attributes Finland's high happiness levels to a well-functioning society and comprehensive welfare system. The decline in the U.S. ranking is partly due to the increase in people eating alone and rising 'deaths of despair.' Afghanistan is rated the least happy country, owing to its ongoing humanitarian crisis. The report is based on global survey data from 2022 to 2024, considering factors such as life satisfaction, GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

On March 20th local time, at the 144th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Greece, Kirsty Coventry was elected as the IOC President in the first round of voting with a decisive majority, becoming the first female and African president. Following her victory, Coventry held her first press conference, where Yang Mingjiao, a reporter from the China Media Group, was the only Chinese journalist to ask a question. Yang inquired about Coventry's views on the relationship between the IOC and China and her future plans. Coventry stated that the relationship between the IOC and China has always been very close and will continue to be so, and she will work to foster good relations with all member entities.

On March 20, US Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced that three individuals have been charged in connection with arson incidents at Tesla car dealerships and charging stations, facing five to 20 years in prison if convicted. The defendants are accused of using Molotov cocktails to set fire to Tesla vehicles or charging stations. Lucy Grace Nelson was arrested in Loveland, Colorado; Adam Matthew Lansky in Salem, Oregon; and Daniel Clarke-Pounder in North Charleston, South Carolina. These cases are linked to activists opposing President Donald Trump's political agenda and the role of Elon Musk. Trump has stated that violence against Tesla dealerships will be labeled as domestic terrorism.

US District Judge Patricia Giles ordered a halt to the deportation of Dr Badar Khan Suri, an Indian scholar at Georgetown University. The Department of Homeland Security has accused Dr Suri of ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas and spreading Hamas propaganda and anti-Semitism on social media. On March 15, Secretary of State Marco Rubio determined Dr Suri could be deported for these activities. Dr Suri, who is in the US on a student visa and married to an American citizen, has been detained in Alexandria, Louisiana. He was arrested outside his home in Rosslyn, Virginia, on the night of March 17. His lawyer welcomed the March 20 ruling, calling it the first due process Dr Suri received since his arrest. The American Civil Liberties Union has also defended Dr Suri.

Polish Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Wieslaw Kukula stated that a coalition of European countries is discussing ground operation scenarios in Ukraine, contingent on the progress of peace talks. European general staffs will be involved in the planning. Poland will not send troops but may provide logistical support and military training. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer mentioned that military commanders from the 'coalition of the willing' will meet in London on March 20 to discuss troop deployment details. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Russia will consider the presence of NATO troops in Ukraine as a threat, regardless of their mission.

According to a statement by the US State Department, George Glezmann, a US citizen detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan for over two years, has been released and is on his way back to the United States. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that George was wrongfully detained for two and a half years and is now returning to reunite with his wife. The release, facilitated with Qatar's assistance, is viewed as a positive and constructive step. Glezmann, a mechanic for Delta Airlines, was detained while traveling in Afghanistan in December 2022. Ten months later, the US Department of State deemed his detention wrongful, granting broad powers to secure his freedom. This incident occurred amidst the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which began in May 2021 and was completed by early September.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the release and return to France of Olivier Grondeau, a French tourist detained in Iran for over two years. Grondeau, 34, was arrested in southern Iran in October 2022 and sentenced to five years in prison for 'conspiracy against the Islamic Republic,' charges his family has consistently denied. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted a photo of Grondeau on a plane home, noting his reunion with family after 887 days in detention. Grondeau spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest, claiming he was 'held hostage' by authorities. Two other French citizens, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, remain detained in Iran, with France repeatedly calling for their release. Human rights groups say tourists and dual nationals are often held as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on March 21 that North Korea's Missile General Bureau began testing a new air defense missile system on March 20, with Kim Jong-un in attendance. The test results indicated that the system has rapid response capabilities and high reliability. Kim Jong-un stated that the North Korean military will equip this defensive weapon system.

On March 17, 2025, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a press conference at Canada House in London. The Globe and Mail reported that Carney is set to call a snap federal election for April 28, with an announcement expected on Sunday. Liberal Party sources told Reuters that Carney, who won the party leadership to replace Justin Trudeau on March 9, plans to hold an election soon to secure a strong mandate amid deteriorating relations with the U.S. Although the next election was scheduled for October 20, Carney aims to capitalize on the Liberal Party's significant poll recovery since January, when U.S. President Donald Trump began threatening Canada and Trudeau announced his resignation. Carney, a former two-time central banker without political or election experience, convinced party members two weeks ago that he was the best candidate to confront Trump. Carney has not yet spoken to Trump or outlined detailed plans on handling tariffs that could harm the Canadian economy, but he has sought to de-escalate tensions, telling reporters he respects Trump's efforts. Carney will campaign against seasoned Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre. The Conservatives had a substantial lead in polls until Trudeau resigned in January after over nine years in office, facing plummeting approval ratings.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran will consider both the 'opportunities' and threats in a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump urging a new nuclear deal, and will soon respond. Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's letter as deceptive, stating it would increase sanctions and pressure on Iran. Araqchi noted Tehran is still evaluating the letter and weighing its response. Trump's letter set a two-month deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear deal or face stricter sanctions under his renewed 'maximum pressure' campaign. Araqchi said Tehran will respond via appropriate channels, rejecting direct negotiations while Washington imposes pressure and sanctions. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018, re-imposing sanctions, leading Iran to breach nuclear activity limits. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

On March 19, US President Donald Trump vowed to completely annihilate Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels until they cease firing on key shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Trump warned Iran to stop aiding the group, citing ongoing US military strikes that began on March 15. These strikes have resulted in at least 53 deaths and nearly 100 injuries, according to the Houthi-run health ministry. The Houthis claimed attacks on US warships, but US officials dismissed these claims as inaccurate, noting the rebels missed their targets by over 160 kilometers. The Houthis have controlled Yemen's capital, Sanaa, since 2014 amid over a decade of civil war.

On March 19, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis, who has been hospitalized with pneumonia, has stopped using an oxygen mask, and his clinical condition is improving. The 88-year-old Argentine pope has been at Rome's Gemelli Hospital since February 14 for treatment of pneumonia in both lungs. Earlier concerns about his life were allayed by recent progress reports. The pope has ceased non-invasive mechanical ventilation and reduced the need for high-flow oxygen therapy, showing progress in motor and respiratory physiotherapy. However, the Vatican cautioned that the suspension of the oxygen mask does not rule out its future use, and his discharge is not imminent. While his pneumonia is not yet eliminated, it is under control. Over the past week, his breathing has improved, and on March 18, he managed without an oxygen mask for the first time. The Vatican stated that the next medical bulletin is expected on March 24. The pope's prolonged hospitalization has raised questions about leadership for religious events leading up to Easter, but no definitive decisions have been made yet.

The Economist is hiring an Audience Editor in London on a permanent contract, to start as soon as possible. The primary responsibility will be to produce 22 newsletters, 18 of which are exclusive to subscribers, as part of a five-person team. These newsletters include The War Room, Café Europa, Money Talks, and Simply Science. Candidates should have experience in writing, editing, and/or distributing newsletters, with a genuine passion for topics such as geopolitics, business, finance, and technology. They must have a strong understanding of publishers' newsletter strategies and be able to explain how this format drives acquisition and retention, fostering a sense of community. Experience with tools like Salesforce Media Cloud and Parsely for producing newsletters and assessing performance and engagement is desirable.