Global Events Recap: March 17 - March 23, 2025

Welcome to Kehillah Model UN's newsletter, where we keep you informed on the latest global events through our weekly recaps.

March 8–1:  2025 Special Olympics World Winter Games, Turin, Italy: Held in Turin, these games brought together thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities from over 100 countries. Events included alpine skiing, snowboarding, floorball, and figure skating. The games promoted inclusion, dignity, and athletic excellence, with strong local and international support. Turin, which also hosted the 2006 Winter Olympics, saw record-breaking volunteer participation and a festive atmosphere throughout the city.

March 9: Mark Carney becomes leader of Canada’s Liberal Party: Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, was elected leader of the Liberal Party. His background in finance and climate policy helped him secure broad support within the party. On March 14, he was officially sworn in as Prime Minister of Canada after a rapid transition following the resignation of Justin Trudeau, signaling a technocratic and climate-forward direction for Canada’s future.

March 11: Rodrigo Duterte arrested by ICC in the Philippines: Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested following an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. He faces charges related to crimes against humanity, stemming from his controversial “war on drugs” during his presidency, which resulted in thousands of extrajudicial killings. The arrest sparked nationwide protests and reignited international debate over sovereignty and accountability.

March 11 Greenland general election: In a surprising shift, Greenland's center-right Democrats defeated the incumbent Inuit Ataqatigiit party, which had governed with a left-leaning, pro-environment platform. The election turned on issues like mining development, autonomy from Denmark, and climate policy. The new government is expected to push for expanded economic independence and potentially more resource extraction, sparking concerns among environmentalists.

March 12: Belize general election: The People’s United Party (PUP) secured a landslide victory, winning a second consecutive term under Prime Minister John Briceño. Their platform focused on economic recovery post-COVID, climate resilience, and infrastructure development. The opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) suffered significant losses, raising questions about its future leadership and strategy.

March 16: Kočani, North Macedonia nightclub fire: A catastrophic fire in a crowded nightclub in Kočani killed 59 people and injured 155 more. The blaze was reportedly sparked by a pyrotechnics accident. Investigations revealed severe safety violations, including blocked emergency exits and poor fire suppression systems. The tragedy prompted nationwide mourning and led to calls for stricter enforcement of public venue safety regulations.

March 16: Keith Rowley resigns as PM of Trinidad and Tobago: After nearly a decade in office, Prime Minister Keith Rowley resigned, citing personal reasons and a desire to mentor new leadership. He was succeeded by Stuart Young, former Minister of Energy and National Security. Young’s leadership is expected to maintain Rowley’s economic policies while prioritizing crime reduction and digital innovation.

March 18: Somali President survives convoy attack: President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud survived an ambush on his convoy by al-Shabaab militants in central Somalia. The attack killed at least 10 people, including bodyguards and bystanders. The incident underscored Somalia’s ongoing security challenges, despite increased international support and a robust government offensive against the insurgent group.

March 19: Protests erupt in Turkey: Massive protests erupted across Turkey after the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, a key opposition figure, on charges of corruption and terrorism. Many believe the charges are politically motivated. The protests were met with police crackdowns, and hundreds were detained. İmamoğlu's arrest has sparked concerns about democratic backsliding ahead of the 2026 general elections.

March 20: Kirsty Coventry elected President of the IOC: Kirsty Coventry, Zimbabwean Olympic gold medalist and former sports minister, became the first African and first woman to lead the International Olympic Committee. She won in the first round of voting during the 144th IOC Session. Her election is seen as a turning point for inclusivity and global representation in the Olympic movement. She has vowed to prioritize youth engagement, climate-conscious events, and athlete well-being.

March 21: Heathrow Airport suffers massive power outage: A rare, widespread power outage crippled London’s Heathrow Airport, grounding thousands of flights and causing ripple effects across global air travel. Initial investigations blamed a failure in a backup transformer system. Full restoration was expected to take several days. Airlines scrambled to reroute passengers, and British authorities launched a review into the airport's infrastructure resilience.

March 21: South Korea wildfire: South Korea faced one of its worst wildfires in modern history, as over 87,000 hectares burned in South Gyeongsang Province. The fire, fueled by high winds and dry conditions, killed at least 28 people and displaced thousands. The government declared a national emergency and deployed military units for evacuation and containment. The disaster reignited debates over climate adaptation policies.