News from March 8, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump has stated he is 'strongly considering' imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace deal with Ukraine is achieved. Trump mentioned this move due to Russia's current 'pounding' of Ukraine on the battlefield. However, hours later, Trump told reporters he was finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine and reiterated his trust in Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last Friday, Trump harshly criticized Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office and paused all US military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. This week, Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, with it unclear if Trump's pause enabled this. On Friday morning, Trump issued his sanctions threat against Russia, apparently in response to the attack.

Forces linked to Syria's new rulers have engaged in heavy fighting with fighters loyal to deposed President Bashar al-Assad in a coastal area, marking the worst violence since Assad's ouster in December. The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported over 70 deaths. A curfew has been imposed in the port cities of Latakia and Tartous, where the clashes erupted after government forces were ambushed. Reinforcements were sent, with videos showing intense gunfire. The coastal region, a stronghold of the Alawite minority and the Assad family, saw 71 deaths, including 35 government forces, 32 former regime gunmen, and four civilians, according to the human rights group. Former regime gunmen ambushed military forces along the coastline, occupying military zones. Colonel Hassan Abdul Ghani, a spokesman for Syria's defense ministry, warned Assad loyalists via state media. Interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa faces significant security challenges, with the Alawite community subjected to violence since Assad's fall, and recent clashes with Druze forces in the south.

On March 7, 2025, an unexploded World War Two bomb was found near Gare du Nord station in Paris, leading to the cancellation of all trains to and from the station. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that all Eurostar services to and from the city were cancelled for the day, with normal operations expected to resume on Saturday. The French police evacuated 200 people from homes in Saint-Denis and temporarily closed part of the suburb's main ring road. The 500kg bomb was discovered two metres deep at a construction site about a mile north of Gare du Nord. Eurostar's Chief Safety and Stations Officer, Simon Lejeune, said cancelling all 32 services between London and Paris was the best option to provide clarity amid uncertainty. Affected passengers were advised to use the website to change bookings, get refunds, or obtain vouchers. The bomb was found 200m from the busy Paris périphérique, causing significant traffic jams in the area.

The Seoul Central District Court in South Korea canceled the detention of impeached President Yoon Seok-yeol on March 7 due to procedural flaws. Yoon was detained and indicted for treason, with his legal team applying for the cancellation of detention on February 4 and undergoing review on February 20. The lawyers argued that the detention order expired on January 25, while the prosecution filed charges on January 26, resulting in an approximately nine-hour overstay. The court found the prosecution's calculation method incorrect and decided to cancel the detention. The prosecution's two applications for extended detention were rejected, and the court emphasized that calculating detention periods by the hour is more reasonable. Yoon's legal team accepted the ruling, while the Constitutional Court will independently review the impeachment case, with a decision expected next week.

Australia's east coast is bracing for the rare tropical Cyclone Alfred, expected to make landfall on Saturday morning between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, impacting areas including Brisbane. Approximately 84,000 households are without power, and tens of thousands have been evacuated. The cyclone, forecasted as a category two with wind speeds up to 130km/h, has already caused flooding that may worsen over the weekend. A man is missing in New South Wales after his vehicle was swept into a river. Four million people in Queensland and northern New South Wales are at risk. Residents are preparing, schools are closed, and transportation is suspended. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urges the public to take warnings seriously and stay safe.

Authorities revealed on Friday that actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease, showing severe signs of Alzheimer's disease a week after his wife Betsy Arakawa died of hantavirus in their home. Initial investigations on February 26 ruled out foul play, with negative tests for carbon monoxide poisoning. Chief Medical Investigator Dr. Heather Jarrell stated Hackman, 95, likely unaware of his wife's death, was found in the home's entryway, his death attributed to heart disease with Alzheimer's as a contributing factor. Arakawa, 65, was found with an open prescription bottle and pills, her death linked to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, a rare disease spread by rodent droppings, typically reported in spring and summer. The exact time of her death remains unknown. Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza announced this alongside state fire and health officials. Investigators earlier retrieved personal items from the couple's home, including a monthly planner and two cellphones.

During a White House Cabinet meeting, billionaire adviser Elon Musk clashed with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over staff cuts. Musk accused Rubio of failing to reduce staff, while Rubio countered that over 1,500 State Department officials had taken early retirement. President Donald Trump intervened, supporting Rubio and stating that secretaries would now be in charge of cuts, with Musk's team only advising. This meeting marked a turning point in Trump's second term, indicating a willingness to limit Musk's power. Additionally, Musk disputed with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over FAA equipment issues. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins argued for strategic cuts, which Trump agreed with.

Pope Francis, battling double pneumonia for three weeks at Rome's Gemelli hospital, was reported stable by the Vatican on March 6, though his first audio message sounded weak. The 88-year-old pontiff has not been seen in public since his admission on February 14 and has faced several respiratory crises, the latest on March 3. Amid online speculation, the Vatican released an audio message from Pope Francis, his first in weeks, during prayers in Saint Peter's Square. Pilgrims expressed relief he could speak, though some were concerned by his fatigue. The Vatican stated his condition was stable without further respiratory failure, but doctors maintain a reserved prognosis. Pope Francis has faced multiple health issues recently, with this being his longest and most severe hospitalization.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced in a parliamentary speech that the government plans to unveil details of universal military training for all adult males in the coming months, aiming to have a model ready by year-end to ensure every adult male is trained for war. Tusk noted that the Ukrainian army has 800,000 soldiers and Russia around 1.3 million, aiming to increase Poland's military, including reservists, from 200,000 to 500,000. He also said the government is carefully examining France's proposal to include Europe under its nuclear umbrella and considering the possibility of Poland acquiring nuclear weapons. Poland plans to spend 4.7% of its GDP on defense this year, the highest in NATO, and may increase it to 5%. Tusk also supports Poland withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines and possibly the Dublin Convention banning cluster munitions.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking at a UN event in New York, warned that women's rights are under attack and called for a fight back. He highlighted that centuries of discrimination against women are being exacerbated by new threats, with digital tools often silencing women's voices, amplifying bias, and fueling harassment. Guterres emphasized that online violence is escalating into real-life violence, and instead of mainstreaming equal rights, chauvinism and misogyny are becoming more prevalent. He urged the world to fight back, stating that gender equality is not just about fairness but about power, determining who gets a seat at the decision-making table.

On the afternoon of March 6, 2025, at Avalon Airport near Melbourne, Australia, a 17-year-old boy carrying a shotgun and ammunition boarded a Jetstar flight bound for Sydney with 160 people on board. Passengers and crew members subdued the teenager on the ground. Police said the boy breached a security fence to access the tarmac and was tackled by passengers upon boarding. He faces eight charges, including unlawfully taking control of an aircraft, endangering flight safety, and creating a bomb hoax. Victoria Police deployed a bomb specialist to inspect a nearby car and two bags. No injuries were reported, and the airport has reopened.

On March 7, Greece's centre-right government survived a no-confidence vote in parliament over a deadly 2023 train crash. On March 5, centre-left, leftist, and independent lawmakers submitted a motion accusing the government of losing public trust, following massive protests demanding justice for the 57 victims, mostly students. The opposition blames Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' government for shirking responsibility, failing to address railway safety gaps, and covering up evidence. The government, denying any wrongdoing, secured 157 votes against the motion. Mitsotakis ruled out early elections, citing public support for his economic policies. Thousands protested peacefully in Athens, with some clashing with police, leading to 61 detentions. The train crash has become a major challenge for the government, prompting Mitsotakis to promise constitutional changes to limit political immunity and increase wages, along with a plan to modernize the railway by 2027.

The U.S. Justice Department on Friday announced criminal charges against a State Department employee for sharing sensitive government information with individuals he met online. Michael Charles Schena, 42, was charged with conspiring to gather and transmit U.S. national defense information to unauthorized persons. Schena, who worked at State Department headquarters and held a top secret security clearance, began sharing information and accepting payments through various communication platforms in April 2022. Surveillance footage last month showed Schena photographing at least five secret diplomatic documents at a State Department work station. He was arrested the same day outside his Virginia home. The content of the documents and the recipients are not immediately clear, but an invoice mentioned 'CNY', which authorities believe refers to China's yuan.

Two Korean Air Force KF-16 fighter jets accidentally dropped eight bombs during a training exercise in northern South Korea, with one bomb landing in a residential area, injuring 15 people. The incident occurred at 10:04 AM on March 6th. The explosion affected an area over one kilometer, damaging five houses and a church. Preliminary investigations indicate pilot error. The South Korean and U.S. militaries have suspended live-fire training, established an accident investigation committee, and pledged compensation. The incident happened on the eve of the largest annual joint exercise 'Freedom Shield' between South Korea and the U.S., with its impact on the exercise unclear.

On March 8th local time, Syria was reinstated as a member of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after nearly 13 years of suspension. Turkey proposed the reinstatement at the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The meeting passed the resolution draft, marking Syria's official return to the OIC. Following this, Syrian Foreign Minister Assad Shabani attended a special meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

Heavy rains in Bahia Blanca, a port city southwest of Buenos Aires, Argentina, resulted in six deaths and significant flooding. The torrential rain lasted for seven hours, prompting emergency evacuations of homes and health centers, with social media images showing mothers with newborns fleeing a flooded hospital. Meteorologists warned of a grim weather outlook, with a new storm front expected late on Friday. Authorities confirmed one woman's death at a highway intersection and did not rule out further fatalities. Over 200 millimeters of rain submerged large parts of the city, leading to the closure of the local airport and severe road damage. The national and provincial governments announced a rescue operation to assist the victims.

Syrian interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa called on armed supporters of former President Bashar Assad to lay down their arms in a video address posted on Telegram by his office. He emphasized that the country's new authorities would persecute remnants of the fallen regime and those who continue to attack the people would be brought to fair trial.

On March 7, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered remarks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C. He is expected to sign an executive order on Friday that will exclude certain student loan borrowers from the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. A White House official stated that the PSLF program includes borrowers who work for organizations engaged in illegal or improper activities. The PSLF, signed into law by President George W. Bush in 2007, allows many not-for-profit and government employees to have their federal student loans canceled after 10 years of payments. In his early months in office, Trump has cracked down on illegal immigration and diversity efforts in both the public and private sectors, areas where many nonprofits provide legal support or conduct advocacy and education work. Consumer advocates quickly criticized Trump's move. Mike Pierce, co-founder and executive director of the Student Borrower Protection Center, wrote on X: 'Donald Trump is weaponizing debt to police speech that does not toe the MAGA party line. Our Democracy is on fire.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.

On February 25, 2025, eggs were displayed for sale in a Manhattan grocery store in New York City. The U.S. Justice Department has initiated an investigation into potential antitrust issues related to the surging price of eggs, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter. The early-stage investigation is examining whether large egg producers have colluded to raise prices or reduce supply. The soaring egg prices have led some restaurants, such as Denny's, to announce menu changes and reports of empty shelves in grocery stores. Last month, Denny's introduced a surcharge to pass on the rising egg costs to customers. The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index report showed a 53% year-over-year increase in egg prices, with a 15.2% rise between December and January on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking the largest increase since June 2015. The price surge appears to be partly due to an avian flu outbreak prompting egg producers to cull their flocks. However, advocacy group Farm Action sent a letter last month to the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission, calling for an investigation into other potential causes. CNBC has not independently confirmed the ongoing investigation, and the Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

On February 28, 2025, the Trump Organization filed a lawsuit against Capital One in Florida, alleging that the bank unjustifiably closed over 300 of the company's bank accounts following the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit claims that Capital One's decision was motivated by political and social factors, aiming to distance itself from President Trump and his conservative views. The Trump Organization seeks a declaratory judgment that the bank improperly terminated the accounts in June 2021, and demands punitive and monetary damages for the significant impact on the company's ability to transact and access funds. The plaintiffs include the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, DJT Holdings, DJT Holdings Managing Member, DTTM Operations, and Eric Trump, the president's son. Eric Trump stated that the damages suffered by the companies amount to millions of dollars. Alejandro Brito, the lawyer representing the Trump Organization, said the company is considering similar suits against other financial institutions.

On March 7, 2024, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced that the Trump administration has cancelled grants and contracts totaling $400 million (approximately S$530 million) to Columbia University in New York City due to the university's inaction in addressing persistent harassment of Jewish students. These funds were part of the $5 billion in grants committed to Columbia by the U.S. government. Columbia has been at the center of campus protests where demonstrators demanded an end to U.S. support for Israel, citing civilian deaths and a humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's assault on Gaza. Allegations of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia emerged during protests and counter-protests. Columbia previously stated it had made efforts to tackle anti-Semitism. Leo Terrell, who leads the Justice Department's anti-Semitism task force, said cancelling these taxpayer funds is the strongest signal yet that the federal government will not support an educational institution like Columbia that fails to protect Jewish students and staff. It remains unclear which specific grants and contracts are being cut.