During discussions with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Donald Trump stressed the strategic importance of U.S. control over Greenland for global security. He emphasized the need to strengthen America's presence in the Arctic. Trump stated, "We have many key players roaming the coastlines, and we must remain vigilant." Greenland’s outgoing Prime Minister Múte Egede has repeatedly rejected such proposals, but Trump remains firm in his stance that acquiring Greenland is essential.

After a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the Oval Office, former U.S. President Donald Trump stated, "I have a great relationship with Kim Jong Un. Let's see what happens, but he is a nuclear power." Discussing nuclear disarmament, Trump emphasized the need to reduce global nuclear stockpiles, particularly in Russia and China. A White House official mentioned that Trump remains committed to North Korea’s complete denuclearization, a goal he pursued during his first term.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has reported that approximately 9,000 civilians, mostly women and children, have sought refuge at Russia’s Hmeimim Airbase in Syria to escape escalating violence. Sectarian clashes have intensified between interim security forces and the Alawite community. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed hundreds of Alawite civilian casualties. Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa has condemned the violence, calling the killings a “threat to Syria’s unity.” Russia claims to be actively engaging with Arab states, Turkey, and Iran to ensure long-term stability in the region.

In New York, activists from the group “Jewish Voice for Peace” staged a sit-in at Trump Tower, demanding the release of Palestinian worker Mahmoud Khalil. Protesters chanted slogans like “Free Mahmoud, Free Everyone!” and “Fight Nazis, Not Students!” They wore red shirts bearing the messages “Not in Our Name” and “Stop Arming Israel.” Khalil was arrested on March 8 from his university residence, a move activists claim was politically motivated.

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has taken full responsibility for his administration’s controversial “war on drugs.” In a video message posted on Facebook, Duterte stated, “No matter what happened in the past, I stand by our law enforcement and military. I will protect you. I take full responsibility for everything.” His statement comes after he was arrested in Manila and extradited to The Hague to face trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). He is accused of orchestrating the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug dealers and users during his presidency.

Russia has presented a list of conditions to the United States for ending the Ukraine war and rebuilding relations with Washington. The specifics of these conditions remain unclear, but Russia has previously demanded assurances that Ukraine will not join NATO, a ban on foreign military deployments in Ukraine, and international recognition of its annexation of Crimea and four other regions. Russia has long claimed that NATO’s eastward expansion is the “main cause” of the conflict and that the U.S. and Western alliances must address this. Meanwhile, the United States awaits Russia’s response on a 30-day ceasefire agreement.

In Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh, at least 1,015 individuals were detained as a preventive measure during Holi celebrations, and nearly a dozen mosques were covered with tarps. This included the historic Shahi Jama Masjid, among others that are the subject of Hindu nationalist group campaigns. Opposition parties and Muslim organizations have criticized these actions as a manifestation of the government’s biased policies. They allege that top administration officials and BJP leaders are inciting communal tensions by advising Muslims to stay indoors on Holi.

U.S. President Donald Trump has denied that Palestinians are being forcibly displaced from Gaza, contradicting his previous proposal to turn the region into a luxury destination. Earlier, Trump had suggested that the U.S. should seize control of Gaza and relocate its population, envisioning it as the “Riviera of the Middle East.” In his initial proposal last month, he advocated for the permanent removal of Gaza’s nearly two million residents. However, his latest statement on Wednesday insists that no displacement is occurring.

Human rights organization Fortify Rights has urged Bangladesh and the Arakan Army to establish a ‘humanitarian corridor’ to facilitate aid and trade in Myanmar’s Rakhine State. The group reported that Myanmar’s military junta has been obstructing humanitarian assistance, exacerbating the suffering of civilians. UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to discuss humanitarian needs on both sides of the border during his upcoming visit to Bangladesh. Over two million people in Rakhine are in urgent need of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Fortify Rights emphasized that establishing a corridor between Bangladesh and Myanmar is crucial for all affected communities.

The Pakistan military has successfully completed an operation against the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which had attacked the Zafar Express train and taken passengers hostage in Balochistan. According to military spokesperson General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, all 33 militants involved in the attack were “eliminated.” However, 21 innocent hostages were killed before the operation commenced. Four members of the Frontier Corps were also martyred during the counterterrorism mission. The military stated that the attackers had links to Afghan criminal networks, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.

The Malaysian immigration department has arrested 131 undocumented migrants, including 48 Bangladeshis, during a crackdown in Pahang province. The detainees were found to be without valid visas, overstaying their permits, or violating immigration conditions. Among them, 55 were Indonesians, 48 Bangladeshis, 16 Myanmar nationals, one Egyptian, two Pakistanis, one Chinese, and eight Thai nationals.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Religious Affairs, individuals under the age of 15 will not be allowed to perform Hajj this year. The age will be determined based on the date of birth mentioned in the pilgrim’s passport. Both government-registered and private Hajj agencies, as well as banks involved in Hajj-related transactions, must strictly follow this directive. Those above 15 years must complete pre-registration and official registration to be eligible for Hajj. There will be no exceptions for those under 15.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Chad and Bangladesh topped the list of the world’s most polluted countries in 2024. Their average pollution levels were more than 15 times higher than WHO’s air quality guidelines.

IQAir, a global air quality monitoring agency, reported that only seven countries met WHO’s air quality standards: Australia, New Zealand, the Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Estonia, and Iceland. The battle against pollution is expected to become more challenging, especially after the U.S. discontinued its global air quality monitoring initiative.

Indian security forces have arrested 29 Bangladeshi nationals during separate operations in the state of Tripura. Between March 6 and March 10, the Border Security Force (BSF) conducted raids along various border points, leading to the arrests. Additionally, seven Indian human traffickers were also apprehended. According to a report by Jagaran Tripura, the BSF has intensified security measures, including organizing over nine community meetings in border villages to address public concerns regarding illegal crossings.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has warned that Canada may completely halt electricity exports to the United States if Washington escalates its new tariff measures. On Monday, a 25% tariff on electricity imports from Canada to the U.S. took effect. Ford stated that nearly 1.5 million American customers in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan would be affected. "Believe me, I don't want to do this. This trade war is Trump's doing," Ford said, adding that the tariff increase could push monthly electricity bills for American consumers up by as much as $100.