Senate Democrats Poised to Block House-Passed Funding Bill

Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, have declared their intent to block a House-approved continuing resolution (CR) aimed at funding the government through September 30, 2025. Schumer criticized the bill for its partisan development, noting the absence of Democratic input, and advocated for a clean, short-term funding extension until April 11 to allow for bipartisan negotiations. The House bill proposes modest increases in defense and immigration enforcement budgets, offset by cuts to non-defense discretionary spending. With the current funding set to expire on Friday night, the likelihood of a partial government shutdown looms if an agreement isn't reached.

Sources: New York Post, Financial Times

EU and Canada Retaliate Against U.S. Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

In response to President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, the European Union (EU) and Canada have announced significant retaliatory measures. The EU plans to implement tariffs targeting up to €26 billion ($28 billion) worth of U.S. goods, including iconic American products such as bourbon, motorcycles, and motorboats, with the first set of measures taking effect on April 1. Canada has declared 25% tariffs on approximately C$29.8 billion ($21 billion) of U.S. imports, encompassing steel, aluminum, and various other products.

Sources: Associated Press, Reuters

Russia Presents Demands to U.S. Amid Efforts to Negotiate Ukraine Ceasefire

Russia has submitted a list of demands to the United States aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and resetting bilateral relations. These demands include prohibiting Ukraine's NATO membership, banning foreign troop deployments in Ukraine, and recognizing Crimea and four other provinces as Russian territory. Over the past three weeks, U.S. and Russian officials have engaged in both in-person and virtual discussions regarding these terms. Concurrently, U.S. President Donald Trump awaits Russian President Vladimir Putin's response to a proposed 30-day truce, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has agreed to as an initial step toward peace negotiations. However, there are concerns that Russia might use such a ceasefire to create divisions among the U.S., Ukraine, and Europe, potentially undermining the peace process.

Sources: Reuters

Train Hijacking in Pakistan Ends with 21 Passengers Dead

Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) hijacked the Jaffar Express train in Pakistan's Balochistan province, leading to a deadly standoff with security forces. The train, carrying approximately 450 passengers from Quetta to Peshawar, was ambushed on Tuesday when militants blew up the tracks, halting the train within a tunnel. The assailants took hostages and demanded the release of imprisoned Baloch fighters. Pakistani security forces launched a rescue operation, resulting in the deaths of 33 militants and 21 passengers, while successfully rescuing the remaining hostages.

Sources: Financial Times, New York Post

Intel Appoints Industry Veteran Lip-Bu Tan as New CEO

Intel Corporation has announced the appointment of Lip-Bu Tan as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective March 18, 2025. Tan, a seasoned figure in the semiconductor industry, previously led Cadence Design Systems and served on Intel's board until August 2024. His return to Intel's leadership comes after the company's recent struggles with declining market share and challenges in the rapidly evolving chip industry. Following the announcement, Intel's stock experienced a notable surge, reflecting investor optimism about Tan's potential to steer the company back to prominence.

Sources: Intel Newsroom, Associated Press

Google Launches Gemma 3: A Powerful AI Model Built for Efficiency

Google has introduced Gemma 3, its latest AI model designed to be powerful yet efficient enough to run on a single high-end GPU. Unlike massive AI models that require multiple expensive processors, Gemma 3 can handle complex tasks like coding, math, and natural language processing while using fewer resources. AI models like Gemma 3 are reshaping industries by making automation, customer service, and data analysis faster and smarter. Companies can integrate it into chatbots, improve search functionality, generate content, and even assist with coding—all without needing a massive AI infrastructure. Google claims it outperforms competitors like Meta’s Llama 3 and OpenAI’s o3-mini in certain areas, making it an attractive option for businesses looking for cost-effective AI solutions.

Sources: 9To5Google