"Five Things to Know About March 24"

1. Russia-Ukraine** A U.S. delegation has begun high-stakes talks with Kremlin negotiators in Saudi Arabia, pushing for a ceasefire in separate discussions with both Russia and Ukraine. This follows a meeting between U.S. officials and Ukraine’s defense minister, which was described as “productive and focused.” However, major differences remain—Russia insists any ceasefire must prevent Ukraine from using it to resupply or reorganize its troops and continues to demand that Ukraine never join NATO. Volodymyr Zelensky, the president of Ukraine, stated, "The one who brought this war must take it away," emphasizing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in charge of bringing an end to the conflict. 

2. Venezuela** The U.S. deported nearly 200 Venezuelan migrants early this morning, marking the first repatriation flight to Venezuela since both countries agreed to resume deportations. The move comes amid growing outrage over the deportation of 238 Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador, with the U.S. alleging they were part of a criminal organization—claims that families deny. Additionally, the Trump administration announced plans to revoke the legal status of over 500,000 migrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Haiti, and Nicaragua who arrived in the U.S. under a humanitarian parole program during President Joe Biden’s term. The affected individuals have thirty days to leave or risk deportation. 


3. Greenland** Greenland’s Prime Minister Múte B. Egede strongly criticized a planned visit by U.S. officials, including second lady Usha Vance and national security adviser Mike Waltz. Egede was particularly critical of Waltz's visit, describing it as "highly aggressive" in light of Trump's recent comments about annexing Greenland. "In Greenland, what is the national security adviser doing? The only purpose is to demonstrate power over us,” Egede told Greenlandic newspaper Sermitsiaq. Jens-Frederik Nielsen, a likely candidate for Greenland’s next leader, echoed these concerns, saying the timing of the visit showed “a lack of respect.” 







 4. The Golden Dome** Despite proposed budget cuts at the Pentagon, President Trump is prioritizing funding for a missile defense system known as the "Golden Dome." Similar to Israel’s Iron Dome, the project aims to protect the U.S. from long-range missile attacks. While experts estimate the system could cost billions and take years to develop, the White House has insisted that no expense should be spared. In January, Trump issued an executive order giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth until March 28 to present a plan for the project’s development and implementation. 

 5. 23andMe** Anne Wojcicki has resigned as CEO and co-founder of the genetic testing company 23andMe, which has filed for bankruptcy. The company, which has struggled to maintain a profitable business model, is seeking Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to facilitate a potential sale. Since 2006, 23andMe has provided DNA testing services for health and ancestry insights. However, it remains unclear what will happen to the vast amount of genetic data the company has collected if a sale goes through. Would you like any modifications or additional context?