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Europe
Hungary
March 15, 2025 Today, in a speech at a party rally in Budapest marking Hungary’s 1848 revolution against Austrian rule, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reiterated his criticism of the European Union’s military support for Ukraine, and his opposition to a Ukrainian accession to the EU. Orbán published earlier today a wishlist which included what Hungarians want from Brussels: a strong veto for national governments, halting migration, the removal of what he said were ’Soros agents’ in the European Commission and peace in Europe, as well as a Union without Ukraine. 'The rulers of Europe decided that Ukraine must continue the war at all costs, and it will get a fast EU membership in exchange, using our money. We can only have one answer to that: a Union but without Ukraine,” he said. The Hungarian leader has taken a hard line in EU talks to support Ukraine, vetoing an EU push to replace U.S. military aid for Ukraine earlier this month and forcing the remaining 26 EU leaders to issue their conclusions without him. He vowed to crack down on a ’shadow army’ in the country, who he said were working for foreign powers. Orbán accused them of taking ’corrupt dollars’ at the expense of their own country. (Source: Politico, an American online newspaper owned by a German company)
by Cokelaere
Serbia
(15 March 2025) Tens of thousands of people have descended on Serbia's capital to attend anti-government protest against the deaths of 15 people in the Novi Sad railway station collapse last November. Students have been calling for full transparency and accountability over the collapse. They want the government to publish all the documentation relating to the renovation project and say they are not satisfied with the papers the authorities have released so far. They also want those responsible for the disaster to be charged and convicted. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting for the loss of life. Prosecutors have indicted at least 16 people, but the charges have yet to go to trial. President Vucic described the student protests as "well-intentioned". But he had less flattering words for opposition parties, labelling them members of a "criminal cartel". He accused them of attempting to force the formation of a "'raudulent interim government'. (Source: BBC - United Kingdom)
United Kingdom
(Saturday), 15/03/2025 UK premier Keir Starmer told some 26 fellow leaders in a group call he hosted that they should focus on how to strengthen Ukraine, protect any ceasefire and keep up the pressure on Moscow. Military chiefs will meet again on Thursday in the UK as the coalition moves into the operational phase, he added. Summit leaders meeting virtually today shifted planning for a peacekeeping force into an 'operational phase.' Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reiterated after the call, which she joined, that Italy's 'participation in a possible military force on the ground is not envisaged". French President Macron today called for joint US and European pressure on Russia to accept the proposed ceasefire. Starmer and Macron have been leading efforts to assemble a so-called 'coalition of the willing' ever since Trump opened direct negotiations with Moscow last month. They said they are willing to put British and French troops on the ground in Ukraine. US Secretary of State Rubio said yesterday he was "cautiously optimistic" about reaching a truce, but a lot more work needed to be done. US President Trump today appointed Kellogg as special envoy to Ukraine. He had previously been described as special envoy for both Ukraine and Russia. (Source: France 24)
Africa
South Africa
(March 15, 2025) The U.S. Secretary of State Rubio announced yesterday that the South African Ambassador to the U.S. Rasool was no longer welcome accusing him of being a race-baiting politician critical of President Trump. Rubio’s statement followed a webinar where Rasool discussed demographic shifts in the U.S. and the Trump administration's policies. This rare diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the U.S. and South Africa over a land law and claims made by Trump about discrimination against South Africa’s white minority. (Source: Africa News - located in Lyon, France)
Asia
India
03/15/2025 Christians in the eastern Indian state of Odisha have been denied the right to bury their loved ones until they convert to Hinduism. The denial of burial is a serious violation of fundamental rights. A recent ruling by the Indian Supreme Court is becoming a pretext for more discriminatory acts. “Denying Christians the right bury their dead follows a recent Supreme Court ruling not allowing a Christian in Chattisgarh to be buried in his own land. This has opened Pandora’s box,” Fr Singh, a Catholic priest and human rights activist notes. “It is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights and disrespect for the dignity of person even after death,” Fr Singh explained. What is more, he warns that, “This is an alibi for fanatics to intimidate Christians into forceful abandonment of the Christian faith. This is not in line with our secular faith and social fabric.” The latest case occurred on 3 March, in Siunaguda, a village 20 km from Umerkote (Nabarangpur), when the family of a 70-year-old man was not allowed to bury him. Siunaguda is a Hindu-majority village with only three Christian families. “We accepted Hinduism out of fear,' the elder son of Santa family said, noting that his father had embraced Christianity five years earlier, but was forced to posthumously reconvert to Hinduism. The episode is part of a broader pattern of discrimination against religious minorities. (Source: AsiaNews, an official press agency of the Catholic Church's Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions, which headquarters Rome, Italy)
Yemen
March 15, 2025 President Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen today, promising to use overwhelming lethal force until Iranian-backed Houthi rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said 13 civilians were killed in the capital, Sanaa. The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect. The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday’s mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region. (Source: AP News - U.S.)
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