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The United Nations released the 2025 "World Happiness Report" on March 20, ranking the happiness levels of 147 countries and regions worldwide. Finland has held the top spot for the eighth consecutive year, while Taiwan ranked 27th globally, placing third in Asia.

Since 2012, the United Nations has published the annual "World Happiness Report" on March 20, which coincides with International Happiness Day. The report surveys 147 countries and regions, using self-reported life satisfaction, GDP per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom, generosity, and corruption levels as key indicators. Finland remains at the top this year as the world's happiest country, followed by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden, with Norway ranking seventh. Nordic countries occupy five spots in the top ten.

The United States dropped one position from last year, ranking 24th, a significant decline from its 11th position in the 2012 report. Taiwan improved to 27th place, surpassing Singapore (34th), Japan (55th), South Korea (58th), and China (68th). In Asia, Taiwan ranks third, behind only Israel (8th) and the United Arab Emirates (21st). At the bottom of the rankings is Afghanistan, under Taliban rule, which remains the least happy country in the world.

Donald Trump officially spoke with Vladimir Putin on March 18 to discuss a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Putin rejected a full 30-day ceasefire, agreeing only to a prisoner exchange and a one-month suspension of attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Further negotiations are required for a permanent ceasefire. In a statement after the call, Russia added additional conditions to the ceasefire agreement, including that Ukraine must agree to limit military mobilization and halt the rearmament process. According to Russia's *Kommersant* newspaper, Putin also demanded that Trump formally recognize Russia's control over four Ukrainian regions and Crimea as Russian territory.

However, just hours after Trump's call with Putin, Russian forces continued airstrikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in the eastern region, raising doubts about Putin's reliability. Throughout the Russia-Ukraine war, Russia, facing sanctions from Western nations, successfully transitioned its economy to a wartime model and shifted its trade focus to countries like China and India. With the conflict still in Russia's favor, Putin has shown little urgency in negotiating. While Trump has suggested considering pressure on Russia, his approach remains focused on maintaining friendly relations, pending further assessment of the situation.

On March 19, Trump spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the conversation as very "positive," "frank," and "productive." The two agreed on a limited ceasefire regarding energy facilities, and Ukraine also requested more air defense systems from the U.S. Trump agreed to help find available resources. Zelensky stated on social media platform X, "We believe that together with the United States and President Trump, under the leadership of the United States, lasting peace can be achieved within this year."

For Ukraine and Europe's power grid, the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, controlled by Russia, is of critical importance. Trump also suggested that the U.S. could take over the ownership and operation of the plant, which would allow the U.S. to ensure its safety. Zelensky noted that it could take up to two years to resume operations at the plant.

On March 18, Israel launched a large-scale airstrike campaign on the Gaza Strip, resulting in more than 400 deaths and over 560 injuries. The collapse of ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which had been ongoing for two months, has raised international concerns about the potential for renewed conflict.

According to foreign reports, a White House spokesperson stated that Israel had consulted with the U.S. government before launching the attack on Hamas. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on social media platform X that Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant had instructed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to carry out military actions on the evening of the 17th, citing Hamas's refusal to release hostages and accept related mediation proposals. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would intensify military pressure on Hamas, vowing to use force to rescue hostages held in Gaza.

Israeli officials explained that the attack on Gaza in the early hours of the 18th was a preventive, preemptive measure aimed at disrupting Hamas's terrorist activity plans and rearmament. Targets included mid-level Hamas military commanders, leaders, and related infrastructure. The Israeli authorities indicated that the attacks would continue, and if necessary, operations would not be limited to airstrikes.

Sources from Hamas reported that at least five senior officials were killed in the airstrikes. Hamas accused Israel of unilaterally ending the ceasefire agreement, which has further endangered the fate of 59 hostages.

The scale of this attack clearly surpasses Israel's recent drone strikes on smaller militant groups. Palestinian health officials indicated that many of the dead were children, women, and elderly individuals. CNN reported intense airstrike sounds in multiple areas of Gaza, while witnesses told Reuters that Israel used tanks to attack the Rafah area in southern Gaza.

Foreign reports also revealed that Hamas has called on the United States, Qatar, and Egypt to act as mediators and demand a ceasefire from Israel. Additionally, Hamas has urged the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting to demand that Israel halt its aggressive actions.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on March 16 that he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 18th in an effort to broker a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine had already accepted a U.S.-proposed ceasefire agreement on the 11th. Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin on the evening of the 13th and described the discussion as problem-solving oriented. Putin has, in principle, agreed to Trump's “vision for ending the Russia-Ukraine war” but requires key conditions to be met before accepting.

Trump stated that the call will address issues related to land and power plants, mentioning discussions on the division of specific assets. U.S. officials have strongly hinted that Ukraine may need to make significant concessions, including ceding some territory and abandoning its NATO aspirations. Witkoff revealed that the gap between the two sides has narrowed and expressed hope for a ceasefire within weeks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on the 15th the formation of a negotiation team led by his Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak.

Additionally, Trump has reappointed Keith Kellogg as the U.S. envoy to Ukraine, focusing on engagement with Ukrainian leadership. Reports indicate that Russia is dissatisfied with Kellogg’s pro-Ukraine stance and has excluded him from high-level negotiations. Overall, the Trump administration is actively pushing for a ceasefire and working to bridge the divide between both sides. The progress of negotiations in the coming weeks will be crucial.

The Gaza Civil Defense Organization stated that an Israeli attack on the 15th resulted in the deaths of nine people, including media professionals, potentially further endangering the fragile truce between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas.

According to AFP, following the attack in Gaza, Hamas accused Israel of "blatantly violating" the ceasefire agreement reached between the two sides on January 19 of this year. In October 2023, conflict erupted between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, and after 15 months of warfare, a temporary ceasefire agreement was reached in January of this year. Although the first phase of the ceasefire expired on March 1 and no subsequent agreement has been reached, both sides have exercised restraint and have not resumed full-scale war.

On the 12th, a senior Hamas official stated that both parties had begun a new round of negotiations in Doha, and Israel had also sent mediators.

Gaza Civil Defense Organization spokesperson Mahmoud Bassal told AFP on the 15th, "Nine martyrs were taken to the hospital, including several media professionals and some staff members from the Al-Khair Charitable Organization." He noted that the incident began when Israel launched a drone attack on Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, followed by artillery shelling in the area.

The Israeli side stated that in Beit Lahia, the military used a drone to strike two terrorists who posed a threat to Israeli forces. Subsequently, several other terrorists seized the drone operation equipment and entered a vehicle, prompting the Israeli military to launch an attack on them.

Hundreds of protesters from Jewish Voice for Peace occupied Trump Tower in New York on the 13th, in solidarity with Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student activist who was arrested by the Trump administration. The New York City police arrested 98 protesters on charges of trespassing and other offenses.

Around 11:30 a.m. that day, hundreds of protesters wearing red T-shirts with the slogan "Jews say stop arming Israel" gathered in the dining area of Trump Tower for a sit-in. They held up banners and chanted slogans demanding the release of Khalil, a former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian activist.

The police arrived at around 12:30 p.m., and after three warnings, arrested 98 protesters on charges of trespassing, obstructing justice, and other offenses. No injuries were reported, and neither Trump nor the protesters have yet commented on the incident.。

On March 13, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs under President Donald Trump, visited Moscow for talks. In addition to discussing the Ukraine issue, Witkoff's visit will also cover the future development of US-Russia relations and economic recovery. Russian President Vladimir Putin, during a press conference on the same day, expressed general support for the 30-day ceasefire agreement proposed by the U.S. However, he emphasized that further discussions are needed regarding the details and ensuring long-term peace.

In a joint statement following US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia on March 11, it was noted that Kyiv is prepared to accept the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in exchange for the immediate resumption of intelligence exchanges and aid to Ukraine. Trump also pressured Putin, stating that if Russia does not accept the temporary ceasefire agreement, the U.S. would impose sanctions that would severely harm Russia. According to Reuters, Russia has submitted a list of conditions for the ceasefire agreement to end the conflict and rebuild US-Russia relations, though this has not been confirmed by the Russian side.

Russian President's Foreign Policy Assistant Yuri Ushakov, in an interview, stated that the 30-day ceasefire agreement is merely intended to give Ukrainian forces a respite, and that Russia must consider its own interests with the long-term goal of peace in mind. He added that Witkoff had met with Putin last month and that future discussions between both parties would be arranged behind closed doors, with the special envoy’s identity not being disclosed.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova also warned again on March 13 that Russia will not accept the deployment of foreign troops or foreign military bases in Ukraine. Such actions would be considered a direct hostile act against Russia, and appropriate measures would be taken in response.

On March 12, Putin appeared in military uniform in the Kursk region, instructing Russian forces to fully liberate areas previously controlled by Ukrainian forces. On March 13, Russian forces announced that they had fully taken control of the strategic town of Sudzha in the Kursk region. This town, with a population of 5,000, had been the largest target seized by Ukrainian forces after a cross-border attack last year.

On March 8th, International Women's Day, protesters around the world took to the streets to demand equal pay, political representation, and an end to gender violence, expressing concern over the rise of extreme conservative forces. Women's strike organizations estimate that around 150 marches took place across France, with approximately 250,000 participants, including 120,000 in Paris. Various tribute events were also held in Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, Poland, Spain, Nigeria, Russia, and other countries.

For many demonstrators, the gender pay gap remains a primary issue. According to data from France's National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee), women in France earn, on average, about 14% less than men for the same working hours. In conservative countries like Argentina, France, and Nigeria, many women held up photos of victims of sexual violence, calling on governments to prioritize women's rights and abortion rights. In Lagos, Nigeria's capital, thousands of women gathered at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Complex, dancing in purple clothes as a symbol of women's liberation from patriarchal society. At an official event in St. Petersburg, Russia, soldiers handed yellow tulips to women and girls. In the southern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, a tribute event was held to honor fallen female soldiers.

Many protesters also criticized the Turkish government's announcement of 2025 as "Family Year," viewing it as an attempt to further confine women to traditional roles of marriage and motherhood. They were also dissatisfied with the government's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in March 2021, which aimed to protect women from domestic violence. According to the Turkish Women's Rights Platform, at least 1,318 women have been killed by men since the country pulled out of the convention, sparking protests this year. In Italy, protests not only focused on gender violence but also sought to narrow the gender pay and treatment gap.

On March 7, the Seoul Central District Court ruled that the detention of President Yoon Suk-yeol was improper, revoking his arrest warrant and granting him bail pending trial. It has been 51 days since Yoon's arrest on January 15. The South Korean presidential office issued a statement welcoming the decision to release the president from detention and expressed hope that he would return to his work soon.

Yoon’s legal team had filed a motion to revoke his detention on February 4, arguing that the prosecution’s indictment after the detention period had expired was illegal, and that Yoon should be released immediately. A hearing was held on February 20, and the court’s ruling on March 7 decided to revoke Yoon’s detention and allow him to post bail.

Additionally, the Constitutional Court is expected to rule on President Yoon's impeachment case next week. Depending on the outcome, Yoon could face permanent removal from office, which would require a new election. To prevent possible demonstrations and gatherings, South Korean authorities are considering issuing the highest-level emergency alert (Code A) on the day of the ruling, implementing traffic control, and strengthening security measures in several areas.

French President Emmanuel Macron publicly stated on the 6th that Russia's aggression will not stop at Ukraine and has become a threat to France and Europe. He will discuss with European allies how to respond, including opening discussions on nuclear weapons strategy. In response, Russia criticized Macron, citing Napoleon's failed invasion of Russia in 1812.

The war in Ukraine has made Europe realize the danger posed by Russia. U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to stop military aid to Ukraine has strengthened Europe's firm support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Macron pointed out that Russia's aggressive actions "seem to have no borders," and Russia continues to expand its military budget and forces. By 2030, it plans to add 300,000 soldiers, 3,000 tanks, and 300 jet fighters. Macron emphasized that Europe's future will not be determined by the United States or Russia. France itself possesses nuclear weapons, and Europe must engage in nuclear strategy discussions. He suggested that if Ukraine and Russia sign a peace agreement, European troops could be deployed to Ukraine to ensure the peace agreement is implemented, although Macron added that these troops would not be involved in frontline combat.

In response, Russia stated that the deployment of European troops to Ukraine would be equivalent to a "NATO presence" and would constitute a direct threat to Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin sarcastically remarked that France should remember the lesson of Napoleon's disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812.