News from March 3, 2025 at 2 AM

On March 2, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that European leaders had agreed to draft a Ukraine peace plan to present to the United States. This summit in London followed just two days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky clashed with US President Donald Trump and cut short his visit to Washington. World leaders offered strong support to Zelensky and pledged to increase aid to Ukraine. European leaders agreed to boost defense spending to demonstrate to Trump that Europe can protect itself. Starmer stated that Britain, Ukraine, France, and other nations would form a 'coalition of the willing' to create the peace plan. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of increased defense investment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk noted the need for higher defense budgets within NATO. Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed readiness to deploy British and French troops to Ukraine for peacekeeping.

Israel has blocked all humanitarian aid entering Gaza after Hamas refused to accept a US-proposed ceasefire extension. The first phase of the ceasefire expired on Saturday, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating Hamas had not agreed to a temporary extension proposed by US envoy Steve Witkoff. A Hamas spokesman called the blockade 'cheap blackmail' and urged mediators to intervene. Hamas wants the second phase of the deal to proceed as negotiated, involving the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Netanyahu's office said further consequences would follow if Hamas continues its refusal. Late last night, Israel agreed to a six-week ceasefire extension, reserving the right to resume fighting if negotiations fail. Aid agencies confirmed no aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, but stored supplies pose no immediate threat to civilians.

U.S. space startup Firefly Aerospace successfully landed its unmanned probe, Blue Ghost, on the Moon for the first time, aiming to explore the lunar environment and prepare for future human landings. Blue Ghost landed in the Mare Crisium basin on the northeastern part of the Moon's near side at 3:34 AM EDT on March 2, transmitting the first lunar image post-landing. The probe, about the size of a small car, carries 10 scientific instruments from NASA and is set to complete various scientific tasks within 14 days. Firefly Aerospace became the first commercial company to achieve a fully successful lunar landing, marking a significant milestone in commercial space exploration. In February last year, another U.S. private firm's lunar lander mission ended prematurely due to a landing mishap.

On March 2, the Vatican reported that Pope Francis' condition remained stable and he no longer required mechanical ventilation. The 88-year-old pontiff has been hospitalized for over two weeks due to double pneumonia, admitted on February 14 with a severe respiratory infection. The latest update indicated that the Pope no longer needed non-invasive mechanical ventilation but continued to receive oxygen through a small hose under his nose. On March 2, the Pope was fever-free, but doctors maintained a guarded prognosis due to the complexity of his condition. Pope Francis met with two Vatican officials in the hospital and expressed gratitude to well-wishers in a written message. He has continued to lead the Vatican during his hospital stay, last meeting officials on February 24. An unnamed Vatican official said the Pope was eating normally and moving around his hospital room as he undergoes treatment. Pope Francis has experienced several health issues in recent years and is prone to lung infections.

The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) announced a ceasefire with Turkey, ending a 40-year struggle for autonomy. On March 1, the PKK responded to the call of their imprisoned leader, Abdullah Ocalan, to lay down arms and dissolve. The party demanded Ocalan's release, stating that only under his leadership could the ceasefire and disarmament be realized. Ocalan, who has been imprisoned since 1999, called for the party's dissolution on February 27 and expressed willingness to bear historical responsibility. Turkish President Erdogan described this as a 'historic opportunity' and pledged to ensure the conflict's resolution. Peace negotiations between Turkey and Ocalan began in 2012. Founded in 1979, the PKK sought to establish a state in Kurdish regions. Analysts believe the ceasefire benefits both Turkey and Syria, stabilizing the Syrian situation and alleviating Turkey's terrorism threat.

Asia-Pacific markets were poised to rise on Monday as investors awaited clarity on U.S. President Donald Trump's plans to impose tariffs on key trading partners this week. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick indicated that the tariffs on Mexico and Canada starting Tuesday remain uncertain and could be lower than the proposed 25%, while the additional 10% duty on Chinese imports is set. Japan's Nikkei 225 futures pointed to a higher open, as did futures for Hong Kong's Hang Seng index. China's Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing PMI for February was expected later, with Australia's S&P/ASX 200 starting the day 0.64% higher. Indian stocks were in focus after the economy grew 6.2% in the third fiscal quarter. U.S. major averages closed higher on Friday despite a volatile week and monthly losses in February, with a brief pullback due to geopolitical tensions before rallying into the close.

US President Donald Trump has revealed the names of five cryptocurrencies he wants included in a new strategic reserve to make the US 'the Crypto Capital of the World': Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano. Following the announcement, the market prices of these coins surged. On Sunday, Trump posted on social media that he had signed an order directing the Presidential Working Group to move forward on a Crypto Strategic Reserve including XRP, SOL, and ADA. He later added that BTC and ETH would also be central to the Reserve. The first three coins he mentioned jumped by up to 62% on Sunday, while Bitcoin and Ethereum each rose by over 10%. Earlier in his presidency, Trump signed an executive order tasking the group with evaluating the creation of a national digital asset stockpile. Despite previously criticizing cryptocurrencies, Trump and his wife Melania have recently launched their own cryptocurrencies, sparking accusations of profiting from his White House policies.

At least 37 people have died and 30 were injured after two passenger buses collided near the south-western city of Uyuni in Bolivia. The crash occurred early on Saturday, about 5km from Uyuni. One driver is receiving intensive care while the other is in stable condition, according to police commander Wilson Flores. Images show a severely damaged bus with luggage scattered on the roadside. The collision happened on the route between Uyuni and Colchani in Bolivia's Potosí department, suspected to be due to a lane invasion. One bus was heading to the western city of Oruro for the Oruro Carnival, one of Latin America's largest festivals. The vehicles were recovered by 10:00 local time, and the injured were taken to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí. The identities of the deceased have not been confirmed, and the condition of the injured is still being assessed. Police are awaiting the results of alcohol tests on the drivers. Deadly traffic accidents are common in Bolivia, with over 30 killed in a similar incident in February and 19 in January.

On March 2, 2025, a multi-storey apartment building in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, was hit by a Russian drone strike, causing a fire and injuring eight people. Mayor Ihor Terekhov, writing on the Telegram messaging app, stated that the fire spread to several apartments on the top floor of the building, but none of the injured required hospital treatment. Additionally, three other residential buildings were damaged, with over 100 windows smashed. Emergency crews were working at the site. Kharkiv, which resisted capture in the early days of Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, has been a frequent target of air attacks, including a medical center damaged in one of several drone strikes on Friday.

On March 1, nine people were arrested during a raucous protest outside a Tesla dealership in New York City, targeting Elon Musk's role in sweeping federal workforce cuts ordered by President Donald Trump. The protest, involving hundreds, was part of nationwide 'Tesla Takedown' demonstrations. Protesters also gathered at Tesla showrooms in Jacksonville, Florida, Tucson, Arizona, and other cities, blocking traffic and chanting slogans. Musk's unprecedented push to shrink the federal government has led to the firing of thousands of employees and the termination of hundreds of aid contracts and federal leases. Since Trump took office, at least 100,000 of the 2.3 million federal employees have accepted buyouts or been fired. Protest organizers called for dumping Tesla stock and joining picket lines.

Reportedly, Russia and China have recently instructed their intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to recruit US federal employees, particularly those who have been fired or are at risk of layoffs. CNN cited sources stating that these countries are exploiting the Trump administration's massive layoffs to poach talent, focusing on employees with security clearances and probationary staff. At least two governments have set up recruitment websites and are actively soliciting on social platforms like LinkedIn. A US Navy Criminal Investigative Service report indicates that adversary nations are attempting to recruit US federal employees. A former National Security Council counterintelligence director noted that employees feeling unfairly treated are more likely to leak sensitive information. The Pentagon and CIA are considering layoffs, which could result in over 5,000 probationary employees being dismissed.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett made a rare comment on President Donald Trump's tariffs, warning that punitive duties could trigger inflation and harm consumers. In an interview with CBS News, Buffett described tariffs as an act of war to some degree and a long-term tax on goods. This marks the 94-year-old 'Oracle of Omaha's' first public remark on Trump's trade policies. Trump recently announced 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, effective March 4, and an additional 10% tariff on China. China has vowed to retaliate. Buffett had previously warned in 2018 and 2019 about the global negative consequences of Trump's aggressive trade moves. When asked about the current state of the economy, Buffett refrained from direct comment. Recently, Buffett has been rapidly selling stocks and raising a record amount of cash, with market interpretations of his actions varying.

On February 27, 2025, Xiaomi announced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona its plan to start selling electric vehicles (EVs) outside of China within the next few years. Xiaomi President William Lu stated that the company's first luxury EV, the SU7 Ultra, was launched in China on the same day, priced at 529,000 Chinese yuan ($72,627), and received 15,000 orders within 24 hours. Xiaomi entered the EV market in 2021, with its first model, the SU7, launched in March last year, delivering over 100,000 units in 2024. The company's stock, listed in Hong Kong, has surged nearly 300% over the past 12 months. Xiaomi also launched a new high-end smartphone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, aiming to challenge Samsung globally.