News from March 21, 2025 at 2 PM

Heathrow Airport in London, UK, announced a temporary closure early on the 21st due to a severe power outage caused by a fire at a power substation. The fire has been brought under control, according to the fire department. Over 1,300 flights are expected to be affected that day. Reporters on the scene noted that power had not been restored in Terminal 5, with nearby roads blocked and no large-scale passenger congestion. The airport advised passengers not to travel there. The power supplier, Scottish and Southern Energy, stated that the fire occurred at the North Hyde substation in the Hounslow area, about 2.4 kilometers from the airport. The London Fire Brigade responded with 10 fire engines and around 70 firefighters on the night of the 20th, evacuating approximately 150 people. The cause of the fire remains unknown.

The New York Times reported that President Trump's ally, Elon Musk, will be briefed on March 21 by the Pentagon on military plans regarding potential conflicts with China, a claim denied by Trump. Musk's expanded role as a presidential advisor raises concerns about conflicts of interest, given his business interests in China and dealings with the Pentagon. Musk needs to understand military plans to avoid proposing budget cuts for key weapon systems. Additionally, Musk's political role has made Tesla a target for retaliation, with its cars and charging stations being vandalized and set on fire. US Attorney General announced the indictment of three individuals for arson at Tesla facilities, while Trump stated that those damaging Tesla cars could face up to 20 years in prison.

The Sudanese Armed Forces announced on March 21 that they have fully seized control of the presidential palace in the heart of Khartoum, the capital. Since the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan in April 2023, the presidential palace had been under the control of the Sudan Rapid Support Forces. Spokesman Nabil Abdullah stated on Sudanese TV that the Armed Forces achieved victory in Khartoum, eliminating personnel of the Sudan Rapid Support Forces stationed in the presidential palace, ministry buildings, and the Arab market, and seizing a large amount of weaponry. Since March 16, the Sudanese Armed Forces had been advancing from the south to the east and north of Khartoum, launching a joint assault with allied forces from the General Command. The General Command had been besieged for about 21 months until the siege was lifted in January this year. The armed conflict between the two forces erupted in Khartoum on April 15, 2023, subsequently spreading to other regions, resulting in approximately 29,700 deaths and over 12.85 million people displaced.

Turkish authorities arrested Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on Wednesday on charges of corruption and aiding terrorist groups, sparking protests in Istanbul and the capital Ankara. Imamoglu, a member of the secular Republican People's Party (CHP) and a key rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was set to be named as a presidential candidate for the 2028 elections later this week. Critics have labeled his arrest as a 'coup' and are planning further demonstrations, despite a four-day protest ban imposed by Istanbul's pro-Erdogan governor. Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced on Thursday that police had identified 261 'suspect account managers' and arrested 37 individuals, with efforts ongoing to catch others. Despite these measures, protesters remain undeterred. Although Imamoglu spent his first night in detention, his opposition party still controls the municipality. On Thursday, six universities in Istanbul called for demonstrations, with students chanting opposition slogans in the rain. However, the number of protesters remains relatively small for a city of over 16 million, posing limited political pressure on Erdogan to release Imamoglu.

Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive year, while the United States has dropped to 24th place, marking its lowest ranking ever. The Oxford University's Well-being Research Centre released the '2025 World Happiness Report' on March 20, with Nordic countries dominating the top spots, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. Costa Rica and Mexico entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking sixth and tenth respectively. Assistant Professor Mattila from Aalto University in Finland attributes Finland's high happiness levels to a well-functioning society and comprehensive welfare system. The decline in the U.S. ranking is partly due to the increase in people eating alone and rising 'deaths of despair.' Afghanistan is rated the least happy country, owing to its ongoing humanitarian crisis. The report is based on global survey data from 2022 to 2024, considering factors such as life satisfaction, GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and perceptions of corruption.

The Lewotobi Laki-Laki Volcano on Flores Island, Indonesia, erupted on the evening of the 20th local time, with an ash column reaching 8 kilometers high, lasting for 11 minutes and 9 seconds, prompting the highest alert level. Ngurah Rai International Airport spokesperson Andadina Diah stated that as of 9:45 AM on the 21st, seven international flights were canceled, including six Jetstar flights to Australia and one AirAsia flight to Kuala Lumpur. Nurah Rai International Airport reported delays for several flights to Thailand, Singapore, and Australia. The eruption did not damage nearby villages, but authorities warned that heavy rain could trigger volcanic mudflows. Last November, eruptions from the same volcano resulted in nine deaths, thousands of evacuations, and numerous flight cancellations.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the release and return to France of Olivier Grondeau, a French tourist detained in Iran for over two years. Grondeau, 34, was arrested in southern Iran in October 2022 and sentenced to five years in prison for 'conspiracy against the Islamic Republic,' charges his family has consistently denied. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot posted a photo of Grondeau on a plane home, noting his reunion with family after 887 days in detention. Grondeau spoke publicly for the first time since his arrest, claiming he was 'held hostage' by authorities. Two other French citizens, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, remain detained in Iran, with France repeatedly calling for their release. Human rights groups say tourists and dual nationals are often held as leverage in diplomatic negotiations.

On March 20th local time, at the 144th session of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) held in Greece, Kirsty Coventry was elected as the IOC President in the first round of voting with a decisive majority, becoming the first female and African president. Following her victory, Coventry held her first press conference, where Yang Mingjiao, a reporter from the China Media Group, was the only Chinese journalist to ask a question. Yang inquired about Coventry's views on the relationship between the IOC and China and her future plans. Coventry stated that the relationship between the IOC and China has always been very close and will continue to be so, and she will work to foster good relations with all member entities.

Germany's parliament on Friday approved a reform of the country's borrowing rules and established a 500-billion-euro ($542 billion) fund to upgrade its infrastructure and revitalize Europe's largest economy. The constitutional amendment relaxes the so-called debt brake and also permits de-facto unlimited spending on defense and security. The upper house, representing Germany's 16 states, passed the bill with the required two-thirds majority following Tuesday's vote in the lower house, the Bundestag. Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz defended the tight timetable, citing a rapidly changing geopolitical situation, which angered fringe opposition parties.

On March 21st local time, the presidential inauguration ceremony was held at the State House in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. Elected President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah took the oath of office, officially beginning her five-year term. Nandi-Ndaitwah secured over 50% of the vote in the December 2024 presidential election, becoming Namibia's first female president. Previously, she had long served in key positions within the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO),积累了丰富的政治经验.

Russian President's Press Secretary Peskov stated on October 20 that talks between Russian and US representatives might soon take place in Saudi Arabia, possibly early next week. On October 18, US Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Witkoff told Fox News that the talks would be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on October 23. The US delegation will be led by Secretary of State Rubio and National Security Advisor Walz. Witkoff revealed that during an earlier phone call between US President Trump and Russian President Putin, both sides agreed to start with a ceasefire in energy and infrastructure sectors, and will engage in technical negotiations on a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, comprehensive ceasefire, and permanent peace, emphasizing the importance of details.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi stated that Iran will consider both the 'opportunities' and threats in a letter from U.S. President Donald Trump urging a new nuclear deal, and will soon respond. Last week, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected Trump's letter as deceptive, stating it would increase sanctions and pressure on Iran. Araqchi noted Tehran is still evaluating the letter and weighing its response. Trump's letter set a two-month deadline for Iran to reach a nuclear deal or face stricter sanctions under his renewed 'maximum pressure' campaign. Araqchi said Tehran will respond via appropriate channels, rejecting direct negotiations while Washington imposes pressure and sanctions. Trump withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in 2018, re-imposing sanctions, leading Iran to breach nuclear activity limits. Western powers accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran claims its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

On the 21st local time, Russia's Central Bank announced the maintenance of the key interest rate at 21%. The bank noted that while domestic inflationary pressures have eased, they remain high, with demand growth significantly outpacing supply increases. It emphasized the need for a prolonged strict monetary policy and may consider further rate hikes if necessary. The bank forecasts inflation to drop to 7%-8% by 2025 and reach the target level of 4% by 2026. A routine meeting on April 25th will review the key rate again.

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