News from March 14, 2025 at 2 AM

The US and Ukraine reached an agreement on a temporary ceasefire with Russia on Tuesday, marking a significant shift in their relations. Just a week ago, the US suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a tense meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump at the White House. Despite Trump's often aggressive demeanor, he remains open to further negotiations. On Tuesday, Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, causing major US stock indexes to tumble. Ontario Premier Doug Ford subsequently backed down from an energy surcharge, and Trump withdrew his tariff hike. However, the ongoing US-Canada trade dispute has erased trillions in US stock market value. While Ukraine is ready for a time-limited truce, there is no progress on a mineral rights deal sought by the US, and Russia's stance on the ceasefire proposal remains unclear.

Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte was taken into custody by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on March 12 to face charges of crimes against humanity, specifically murder, over his anti-drug campaign. The ICC, based in The Hague, Netherlands, stated there were reasonable grounds to believe Duterte committed the crime against humanity as an indirect co-perpetrator during the campaign, which rights groups estimate killed tens of thousands. In a video shared as he was about to land in The Netherlands, Duterte said he was responsible, emphasizing his leadership in law enforcement and military actions. He is the first former Asian head of state to face charges at the ICC.

A report commissioned by the UN Human Rights Council accuses Israel of increasingly using sexual and gender-based violence against Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, labeling the systematic destruction of maternal and reproductive healthcare facilities as 'genocidal acts'. The report, based on victim testimonies and public hearings, claims such violence is part of Israeli Security Forces' standard procedures. Israel denies the allegations, calling them 'unfounded'. The report also highlights the systematic destruction of reproductive health facilities in Gaza by Israeli forces, leading to deaths of Palestinian women and girls due to lack of medical access.

On December 12, the rescue operation for a train hijacked by terrorists in Pakistan entered its second day, with security forces rescuing 190 passengers and confirming their identities, while 30 terrorists were killed. On the afternoon of December 11, a train carrying about 450 passengers, including some security personnel, was attacked and hijacked by the Baloch Liberation Army in Balochistan. The attackers engaged in fierce gunfire with the soldiers and took hostage women and children. Ten people, including the train driver and several security personnel, have been confirmed dead, with the total number of passenger casualties still to be verified. Pakistan Railways suspended operations on all routes from Punjab and Sindh to Balochistan and set up information desks at nearby stations for relatives to inquire about rescued individuals. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning strongly condemned the attack, stating that China firmly opposes all forms of terrorism and will continue to support Pakistan's anti-terrorism efforts.

On March 13, 2025, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese criticized US influencer Sam Jones for a video showing her taking a wild baby wombat away from its mother, angering conservationists. Immigration officials are reviewing Jones's visa after over 10,500 people signed a petition calling for her deportation. The Wombat Protection Society expressed shock at the mishandling of the joey, noting it could have caused severe harm. Wombats, a protected species in Australia, form strong bonds with their mothers, and any separation can be distressing. Foreign Minister Penny Wong also condemned the video, urging protection for the baby wombat.

On March 13, 2025, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the abolition of NHS England, bringing it under the Department of Health to reduce bureaucracy and duplication. The move is expected to cut around 50% of jobs at NHS England and the Department of Health. In a speech in Hull, Starmer criticized politicians for relying on numerous quangos. The Department of Health will immediately begin transferring NHS England's functions, aiming to complete the process in two years. The goal is to reduce NHS waiting times. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the changes would liberate frontline workers. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch welcomed the move but warned Labour of accountability. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey supported the plans but argued they were not the main issue for the NHS. The Health Foundation and Unite union expressed concerns.

Polish President Andrzej Duda calls on the United States to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland, discussing the issue with US President Donald Trump's special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg. Duda stated that since NATO's borders moved east in 1999, NATO infrastructure should also shift east 26 years later, believing it would be safer if those weapons were in Poland. In 2022, Duda proposed a similar initiative to the Joe Biden administration, but it failed. Previously, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland should seek access to nuclear and other non-conventional weapons, including participating in French President Emmanuel Macron's nuclear umbrella initiative. Poland will hold presidential elections in May, with Duda, who has served two terms and is ineligible to run again, being replaced by his party's nominee, Karol Nawrocki.

On March 13th local time, Greece's new President Tsatsoulas was sworn into office. He was elected as the President of Greece by parliamentary vote on February 12th. Born in 1959, Tsatsoulas previously served as the Speaker of the Greek Parliament, among other roles. He was nominated as a presidential candidate in January this year. Tsatsoulas' inauguration marks the beginning of a new chapter in Greek politics.

Columbia University announced on March 13 that it had imposed a range of punishments on students who occupied a campus building during pro-Palestinian protests last spring, including multi-year suspensions, temporary degree revocations, and expulsions. This announcement came a week after the Trump administration canceled $400 million in federal grants due to the university's inadequate response to campus antisemitism. Interim President Katrina Armstrong acknowledged the administration's concerns as legitimate and stated that the university was working with the government to address them. The protests began following the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and demanded divestment from Israeli interests and an end to US military aid to Israel. The Trump administration has vowed to crack down on pro-Hamas protesters, and over the weekend, federal agents detained protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, whose deportation has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge.

According to Reuters, the UK Foreign Office announced on December 12 that in response to Russia's earlier revocation of the residency status of a British diplomat in Russia, the UK has summoned the Russian Ambassador to the UK and revoked the residency status of a Russian diplomat and their spouse. The Russian Federal Security Service stated on December 10 that a second secretary of the British Embassy in Russia and the spouse of a first secretary were revoked of their residency status for allegedly providing false personal information and engaging in subversive activities, and were given a two-week deadline to leave Russia. The Russian Foreign Ministry expressed strong protest over this. The UK claimed that Russia's accusations were fabricated. Last year, there were multiple incidents of mutual expulsion of diplomats between the UK and Russia, and British Prime Minister Starmer was already included in Russia's entry ban list. Russian media analysis suggests that the confrontation between the two countries may intensify in the future.

On March 13, US President Donald Trump took his contentious bid to end birthright citizenship to the Supreme Court. Trump's executive order, signed on his first day in office, aims to end birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants and temporary visa holders, but was blocked by federal district courts in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Washington state. The Justice Department filed an emergency application seeking to narrow the scope of the lower court injunctions. Acting Solicitor General Sarah Harris described it as a 'modest' request and did not seek a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of ending birthright citizenship. Meanwhile, Trump faced a legal setback in California, where a district judge ordered six federal agencies to rehire thousands of probationary workers who had been fired. Judge John Coughenour in Washington state described Trump's executive order as 'blatantly unconstitutional'.