News from March 8, 2025 at 2 PM

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.

At approximately 5:48 PM local time on March 8, South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol was released from the Seoul Detention Center and returned to the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, Seoul. He had been detained for 52 days since his arrest on January 15. Large crowds of citizens gathered in downtown Seoul, calling for Yoon's impeachment. On March 7, the Seoul Central District Court annulled Yoon's detention, sparking public dissatisfaction. The court cited the prosecutors' late filing of charges as procedurally illegal and highlighted legal disputes over the investigative authority of the public prosecution office. The decision to release Yoon has caused significant controversy in South Korean society. The Constitutional Court has concluded the trial phase of Yoon's impeachment case and is now in internal deliberation. Analysts expect a final decision next week. Regardless of the outcome, the impact of the emergency measures and impeachment on South Korean society is expected to persist in the short term.

On March 8, clashes in the Syrian provinces of Latakia and Tartus resulted in at least 134 deaths, including 13 women and five children, with most of the deceased being members of the Alawite community. Since Thursday, a fierce exchange of fire between Syria's transitional government forces and armed supporters of former President Bashar Assad has claimed a total of 229 lives. Latakia's Department of Internal Affairs reported that 50 security officers were killed in an operation to suppress an armed rebellion in the country's northwest. The authorities extended the curfew announced on Thursday for an additional 24 hours. The Syrian Defense Ministry stated on Friday that control had been restored over coastal areas, but fighting continues in some regions, including Qardaha, the hometown of the Assad family. These clashes represent the biggest challenge faced by the transitional government in Damascus since the power change in December 2024.

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.

On March 7, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formally adopted an Arab League counter-proposal to US President Donald Trump's plan to take over Gaza and displace its residents during an extraordinary session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The decision by the 57-member grouping came three days after the Arab League ratified the plan at a summit in Cairo. The Egyptian-crafted alternative proposes to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority. The OIC urged the international community and regional funding institutions to swiftly provide necessary support for the plan. Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and relocate its Palestinian inhabitants to Egypt or Jordan sparked global outrage. Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty expressed hope for broader international support, including from the US. However, the Egyptian proposal, which does not outline a role for Hamas, has already been rejected by both the US and Israel.

On March 7, an unexploded World War II bomb was discovered at Gare du Nord in Paris, affecting approximately 500 trains and 600,000 people, paralyzing the northern part of France. Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot stated that the bomb weighed 500kg with 200kg of explosives. Defusing operations were completed by the afternoon, allowing rail services to resume progressively from 5pm GMT on March 7 and return to normal on March 8. Around 300 police officers were mobilized to secure the site, with nearby residents evacuated and part of the Paris ring road temporarily closed. Experts speculate the bomb was dropped during Allied bombings of railway infrastructure during the German occupation of France in WWII.

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.

Toronto police report that 12 people were injured in a shooting at a pub near Scarborough city center on Friday evening. Three suspects entered the pub and opened fire indiscriminately, remaining at large. Six victims suffered gunshot wounds, while others were injured by flying glass, all non-life-threatening. Authorities are deploying all resources to apprehend the suspects. Mayor Olivia Chow expressed deep concern and offered condolences to the victims and their families. Last year, the area saw eight injuries and two deaths in shooting incidents.

Yemen's Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, stated on Friday that the group will resume naval operations against Israel if the blockade on aid to Gaza is not lifted within four days. Since November 2023, the Iran-aligned Houthis have conducted over 100 attacks on shipping, sinking two vessels, seizing another, and killing at least four seafarers, disrupting global shipping. The attacks diminished in January following a ceasefire. On March 2, Israel blocked aid trucks from entering Gaza, escalating tensions. The Houthis, who control most of Yemen, also threatened military action if the U.S. and Israel forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza.

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.

US President Donald Trump convened a cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss Elon Musk's efforts to reduce government spending and personnel. The meeting reportedly became heated, with Musk accusing Secretary of State Marco Rubio of failing to cut enough staff at the State Department, calling him "good on TV". Musk also clashed with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy over whether his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) task force had tried to lay off air traffic controllers who were already in short supply at the Federal Aviation Administration. Trump later intervened, stating he still supported Doge, but cabinet secretaries would now be in charge, with the Musk team only advising. The White House has not responded to further comment requests. The meeting may indicate Trump's decision to curtail Musk's influence and his cost-cutting initiative.

In the latest episode of CNBC Crypto World, bitcoin ended the week on a positive note following President Trump's signing of an executive order to establish a U.S. bitcoin reserve. Economist and author of the 'Crypto is Macro Now' newsletter, Noelle Acheson, discussed the implications of creating a bitcoin reserve and a U.S. digital assets stockpile for the markets. The signing of the executive order marks a significant policy shift in the U.S. approach to cryptocurrencies.

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.

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 8, 2025, a man carrying a Palestinian flag scaled the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, at the Palace of Westminster. The Metropolitan Police were called to the scene at 07:24 GMT. At least nine emergency service vehicles were stationed on Bridge Street in central London, with a police cordon in place. Around 10:00 GMT, three emergency personnel were lifted on a fire brigade aerial ladder platform to communicate with the man. Bridge Street and Westminster Bridge were closed to facilitate the emergency response, and one exit of Westminster Tube station was shut, though Tube services remained unaffected. The London Fire Brigade and London Ambulance Service also deployed multiple crews to handle the incident.

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.

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, stated that resolving the Ukrainian crisis requires addressing the legitimate concerns of both Moscow and Kiev. He believes the current steps are correct and the final solution should address both countries' concerns. He emphasized the need for direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, supported by their partners. Commenting on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement about sending troops to Ukraine, he noted it is an issue between Russia and Ukraine that they need to resolve themselves. Qatar has been mediating between Russia and Ukraine, helping reunite children with their families.