News from March 31, 2025 at 2 PM

On March 28, 2025, a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar, resulting in approximately 1,700 deaths, 3,400 injuries, and over 300 missing persons. The Myanmar military government stated that the death toll could rise. Countries including India, China, and Thailand have sent rescue teams and aid. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies warned of the urgent need to stabilize affected communities as temperatures rise and the monsoon season approaches. Critical infrastructure in the quake-hit areas is severely damaged, hampering rescue efforts. In Thailand's capital, an under-construction skyscraper collapsed, killing 18 and leaving 76 trapped.

A devastating earthquake in Myanmar has resulted in over 1,600 deaths. The quake flattened much of Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. Rescuers pulled a woman alive from a 12-storey apartment block 30 hours after its collapse. Limited equipment and communication issues are hampering rescue efforts. The UN's OCHA reported severe transport disruptions and shortages of medical supplies. Despite international aid arriving, the worst-hit areas remain underserved. The junta stated that over 1,500 buildings in the Mandalay region were damaged, with power restoration expected to take days. Meanwhile, the junta continues airstrikes against ethnic armed groups, drawing international condemnation.

On March 30 local time, US President Donald Trump, in an interview with NBC, expressed anger over Russian President Vladimir Putin's criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and threatened to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil. Trump also plans to speak with Putin again. Putin proposed setting up a temporary administration in Ukraine under UN supervision to organize democratic elections. Additionally, Trump threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary tariffs if it does not reach a nuclear agreement. Trump has written to Iranian leaders urging negotiations, to which Iran has responded, putting indirect talks on the agenda.

US President Donald Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the stalemate in Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 30 for questioning the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and later turning his criticism towards Zelensky, warning of major trouble if Ukraine withdraws from a US-Ukraine mineral agreement. Trump is attempting to mediate a ceasefire and has urged Zelensky to sign an agreement granting US companies exclusive access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Trump previously threatened to impose high tariffs on Russian oil buyers but later softened his criticism of Putin. Putin rejected a joint US-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, while Zelensky sought to unite allies against Putin.

On March 31, 2025, French far-right leader and member of the National Rally (RN) party, Marine Le Pen, was sentenced to a five-year ban from running for public office for embezzlement charges in Paris. This judgment almost certainly blocks her planned presidential run in 2027. Le Pen had previously stated this would be her fourth and final attempt at the French presidency. The ruling has sparked political reactions from France and around the world.

On July 1, 2024, Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally party, was barred from running for public office for five years at the party headquarters in Paris, following a conviction for misappropriating EU funds. This decision halts her 2027 presidential election ambitions and throws her party into disarray. Le Pen and eight of her party's MEPs were found guilty of embezzlement. She received a four-year prison sentence (two years suspended and two under electronic surveillance) and a fine of 100,000 euros. The ruling has caused turmoil in France's right wing, with Le Pen's European allies, including Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, condemning the decision as a declaration of war on the EU.

The Palestinian militant group Hamas has expressed support for a new ceasefire plan for Gaza that would release five more hostages to Israel in exchange for a 50-day truce. Khalil al-Hayyam, the highest-ranking Hamas leader outside Gaza, stated that the group has approved the draft deal proposed by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed receipt of the plan and submitted a counter-proposal. If agreed upon, the limited ceasefire could align with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. These discussions occur amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes across Gaza and a ground operation in Rafah, following the breakdown of a January ceasefire earlier this month. In the first phase of that deal, Hamas released 33 hostages and is believed to still hold 59, though not all are reportedly alive. Hamas had insisted on adhering to the original deal, but negotiations for the second phase never commenced. Israel and the US proposed extending the first phase of the ceasefire, which expired a month ago, without a clear end to the war. Israel accused Hamas of rejecting the extension and resumed its military offensive in Gaza on March 18, resulting in over 900 deaths, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Netanyahu's office stated that the Israeli counter-offer was agreed upon with the US but provided no details. Meanwhile, protesters in Israel accuse Netanyahu and his government of endangering the remaining hostages by breaking the ceasefire. One hostage, Elkana Bohbot, was shown in a new Hamas-posted video pleading for release. The conflict was triggered by Hamas's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and took 251 captives to Gaza. Israel responded with a massive military offensive, resulting in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

Hamas Political Bureau Deputy Khalil al-Hayya stated that Hamas has agreed to a new ceasefire proposal by mediators Egypt and Qatar for the Gaza Strip. The proposal includes the weekly release of five Israeli hostages and a 50-day ceasefire starting from March 31, the beginning of Ramadan. However, Israel finds the proposal unsatisfactory and has put forward a new suggestion, demanding the release of 10 to 11 hostages by Hamas. Currently, Hamas holds 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement took effect on January 19, but severe disagreements over the next phase led to a negotiation deadlock. Israel launched its largest attack on Gaza since the ceasefire on March 18, with Prime Minister Netanyahu claiming that increased military pressure on Hamas has been effective.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated that he does not believe the US will launch an attack on Iran from the outside, but warned that if Washington attempts to incite rebellion within the Islamic Republic, it will face a strong response. Khamenei, during a sermon marking the Eid al-Fitr holiday, emphasized that if the US were to act, Iran's response would be tough. On March 30, US President Donald Trump announced that he would impose secondary sanctions on Iran if no progress is made in negotiations on Iran's nuclear program within two weeks, threatening unprecedented bombings in case of complete refusal to conclude a deal. On March 27, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran had sent an official response to Trump's letter through Oman. The response included two documents: one outlining Tehran's views on the current global situation and the other commenting comprehensively on the proposals in Trump's letter.

According to NBC, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary tariffs if it fails to reach an agreement on its nuclear issue. Trump mentioned ongoing dialogues with Iran but provided no details. He previously stated at the White House his preference for a negotiated solution but warned of severe consequences if no new agreement is reached. In a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in early March, Trump proposed negotiations on a new nuclear deal within two months. Iran has responded, refusing direct negotiations but willing to continue indirect dialogues. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed that Khamenei supports indirect talks but rejects direct negotiations under threats.

On March 31, 2025, billionaire Elon Musk distributed $1 million in total to voters in Wisconsin after the state supreme court refused to intervene. This move was aimed at supporting the highly contested state supreme court election scheduled for Tuesday. Wisconsin Attorney General and Democrat Josh Kaul had sued to stop the giveaway, arguing it violated state law banning gifts in exchange for votes. The election could shift control of the state's supreme court to the Republicans, marking the most expensive judicial election in American history. At a rally on Sunday night, Musk stated, 'we just want judges to be judges,' and handed out two $500,000 cheques to voters who signed a petition against 'activist' judges. Kaul argued the giveaway was an illegal attempt to buy votes, but Musk's lawyers countered that it restricted Musk's political speech and First Amendment rights. After two lower courts sided with Musk, Kaul appealed to the state supreme court for a last-minute reprieve, but the top court unanimously declined to hear the case. Musk and President Donald Trump have endorsed conservative candidate Brad Schimel, hoping to flip the liberal-leaning court. Schimel is running against Susan Crawford, who has been endorsed by the court's liberal justices. The election is seen as a referendum on Trump's second term and involves significant cases on abortion rights, congressional redistricting, and voting rules that could impact the 2026 midterm elections. Despite his support, Schimel recently distanced himself from Musk, stating he was unaware of the rally's details.

On March 30, Tesla CEO Elon Musk distributed US$1 million cheques to two voters during a town hall meeting in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and promised smaller payments to others who helped elect a conservative candidate to the state's Supreme Court. Musk stated that he would also pay supporters US$20 for every voter they recruit over the next two days. He claimed the money was to raise awareness for an election where liberal candidate Susan Crawford seems to be ahead of conservative Brad Schimel. The April 1 election will determine the ideological tilt of the state's top court on issues such as abortion rights, labor rights, and potentially election rules. Musk warned that the court might redraw legislative districts in a way that could cause the Republicans, Trump's party, to lose seats in the House of Representatives. As of last week, groups affiliated with Musk had spent at least US$17.5 million supporting Schimel, which is more than one-fifth of the total US$81 million spent on the race.

Syria's Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa announced the formation of a transitional government on March 29, appointing 23 ministers aimed at transitioning from the Assad family's decades-long rule and improving relations with the West. The new government is under pressure from the West and Arab countries to be inclusive of the country's diverse ethnic and religious communities. This pressure intensified after the killing of hundreds of Alawite civilians along Syria's western coast this month. The cabinet includes Yarub Badr, an Alawite, as the transportation minister, Amgad Badr from the Druze community as the agriculture minister, and Hind Kabawat, a Christian woman, as the minister of social affairs and labor. The cabinet retained Murhaf Abu Qasra and Asaad al-Shibani as the ministers of defense and foreign affairs, respectively. Al-Sharaa also established a ministry for sports and another for emergencies for the first time, appointing the head of the White Helmets, Raed al-Saleh, as the minister of emergencies. In January, al-Sharaa was named as the interim president, promising to form an inclusive transitional government to rebuild Syria's gutted public institutions and lead the country until elections, which he said could take up to five years.

Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian President's Special Representative, stated on March 31 that Russia and the United States have begun discussions on rare earth metals and other projects. US companies have shown interest in these talks. Dmitriev revealed that negotiations have started on various rare earth projects in Russia. According to the US Geological Survey, Russia's rare earth reserves are estimated at 3.8 million tons, while Russian Natural Resources Ministry data indicates a total reserve of 28.7 million tons. President Trump expressed his desire to purchase Russian rare earth resources. Russian President Putin, after chairing a meeting on the development of the rare earth metal industry, stated that Russia is willing to cooperate with the US in the development of rare earth minerals.