DAILY NEWS Stream – March 24, 2025

Germany pledges an additional €300 million in humanitarian aid to the Syrian people through the UN and international organizations (VTV.vn)

US discovers US$8.4 billion of critical rare earth minerals could be recovered from coal ash deposits, potentially reducing reliance on Chinese imports (VnExpress; Sustainability Times)

Afghanistan’s Taliban government frees American hostage George Glezmann following negotiations with US and Qatar (Fox News)

Migrant deaths reach record level in 2024, with nearly 9,000 fatalities confirmed worldwide, but the real toll is likely much higher, UN reports (Al Jazeera)

US President Trump’s administration sanctions Argentina’s ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and former Minister of Planning Julio Miguel de Video for “involvement in significant corruption,” as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declares America’s “commitment to counter global corruption, including at the highest levels of government” (Al Jazeera)

US cancels temporary residency status of 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans, setting them up for potential deportation in about a month, as President Trump pushes to end the “broad abuse” of asylum programs (AP)

US President Trump signs landmark executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, returning control to state governments if approved by Congress. It is one of the largest attempts to reduce the size of government in US history (Sky News Australia)

President Trump ends a Biden-era policy that made diversity, equity, and inclusion [DEI] an “integral” part of scientific research. Supporters view this as a return to traditional scientific standards, free from political influence (Fox News)

President Trump criticizes federal judge James Boasberg for blocking the deportation of illegal immigrant gang members, accusing him of trying to steal His presidential power. He urges Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts to step in, warning that such rulings - where local “activist” judges make nationwide rulings – put the country in serious danger (New York Post)

US: Three people accused of destroying Tesla electric cars and charging stations face up to 20 years in prison for “domestic terrorism,” US Attorney General Pam Bondi says (Sky News Australia)

“WE ARE LOOKING FOR YOU”: President Trump sends blunt warning to Tesla vandals, saying they and anyone who funds the attacks will likely go to jail for up to 20 years (New York Post)

US: Congressional DOGE [Delivering on Government Efficiency] committee is investigating the US Agency for Global Media [USAGM] for “rampant” corruption, after years of complaints by whistleblowers but no action from the Biden administration (Fox News)

Texas [US] authorities arrest midwife for allegedly providing abortions. She faces up to 20 years in prison and a fine of US$10,000 if convicted (BBC)

Namibia swears in its first female president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, joining a growing list of African countries that have had female leaders (AP)

Japan faces shortage of matcha green tea, with top companies Ippodo and Marukyu Koyamaen limiting purchases for the first time ever amid surge in global demand (VnExpress)

London [UK] Heathrow Airport resumes flights after a fire triggered a major power failure, causing travel chaos at Europe’s busiest airport (Al Jazeera)

US: New outbreak of deadly bird flu strain H7N9 confirmed for the first time in 8 years at a poultry operation in Mississippi (Fox News)

US Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene [Republican-Georgia] calls for ending government approval of COVID-19 vaccines, which are “causing permanent harm and deaths” (Fox News)

North Carolina Supreme Court [US] decides a mother and son can sue over an unwanted COVID-19 shot, which was given to the boy “without consent” by the public school system and a group of doctors (AP)

“I nearly died”: Taba, a tobacco drug Gambian women take intravaginally, has many dangers, including irritation, infections, and full-body burning sensations, and during pregnancy can increase risk of preterm labor, fetal growth restriction, and stillbirth, warn medical experts and victims (Al Jazeera)

Farmers in KwaZulu-Natal [South Africa] get foot and mouth disease [FMD] from infected cows, sheep, and goats. Symptoms include blisters, fever, and vomiting. The disease spreads through contact with animals and through milk (Prensa Latina)

Isle of Man: Program encouraging five-year-olds to brush their teeth twice a day has been expanded to more age groups to address worsening tooth decay problem (BBC)

South Florida [US] fire scorches 24,000 acres [9,700 hectares], blanketing the region in smoke and disrupting traffic as crews try to contain the blaze (New York Post)

Thailand’s heat index reaches danger levels in the first half of March 2025 and is expected to heat up again from March 23-28; residents are advised to stay out of direct sunlight and drink lots of water to stay safe (Bangkok Post)

Study finds 1 in 5 countries in Asia recorded more than 30 days of “unusual heat” that was likely caused by climate change. Brunei Darussalam ranked first with 83 days, Maldives second with 81, and the Philippines third with 74 (Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Climate change is fueling a mental health crisis in Androy [Madagascar], one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable regions, as young people report extremely high levels of anxiety, depression, and worry amid crop failure and water scarcity (Euronews)

“We don’t have anywhere to go”: In Ghana, rising seas and powerful waves sweep away homes, displacing about 300 people in Agavedzi and nearby communities in recent weeks, local officials say (AP)

Vanishing reservoirs, empty taps: Iran’s water crisis becomes a national emergency, with some provinces losing up to 98% of reservoir supplies due to severe drought and chronic mismanagement (France 24)

Australia: Strange foam and dead fish wash ashore at two beaches as surfers fall sick from suspected microalgal bloom (AP)

Victoria [Australia]’s unique dolphin population threatened by “forever chemicals” DDT [dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane] and PCB [polychlorinated biphenyl], which remain at high levels in local waters despite being banned decades ago (The Guardian)

Large-tusked elephants in Kenya’s Amboseli National Park are at risk from trophy hunters and poachers, with at least five killed in 2024. This threatens the entire species’ breeding and social structure, as the “big tuskers” are often key alpha males. Activists are calling for stronger wildlife protection laws in Kenya and Tanzania (World Animal News)

Europe: Electric vehicles are expected to cut carbon emissions by 20 million metric tons in 2025, as transport sector emissions finally start falling after 35 years of increase (Euronews)

Indonesia aims to convert waste into fuel and electricity in 30 big cities by 2029 (VnExpress)

Fake reviews generated by AI [artificial intelligence] are plaguing the internet, as fraudsters use increasingly sophisticated tools to trick businesses and consumers. Some signs of a fake AI review are that they’re: - Typically longer. - Often highly structured. - Include vague or generic phrases. - Tend to include cliche phrases like “the first thing that struck me” and “game-changer.” - Might be overly positive or negative (AP)

Barren County [Kentucky, US] officials propose tougher fines for animal neglect (WBKO)

More vegan meals in UK schools and hospitals could save the national health system over £54 million, says major policy briefing (Plant Based News)

Cautionary quote of the day: “More people die of jealousy than of cancer.” – Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.