.
Europe
European Commission
March 18, 2025 'Yesterday, the Council of the EU approved a third payment of non-repayable grants and loans to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. Ukraine will soon receive approximately €3.5 billion. The Ukraine Facility, which entered into force on 1 March 2024, provides up to €50 billion of stable financing, in grants and loans, to support Ukraine’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation for the period 2024 to 2027. 'With this third disbursement, Ukraine will have received close to €20 billion under the Ukraine Facility since its entry into force a year ago. 'The Foreign Affairs Council also discussed defence support to Ukraine'. 'EU High Representative Kallas told after the meeting that there was a 'broad political support' for [the] defence initiative of [€]40 billion'. (Source: Eu Neighbours east, 'under the guidance' of European Commission, headquarters Brussels, Belgium)
18 March 2025 Donors at a European Union-led conference yesterday pledged €5.8bn to help Syria's new authorities 'as they struggle with humanitarian and security problems' after the fall of Assad. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that toppled Assad, is designated as a terrorist organisation by the UN. 'But EU officials want to engage with the new rulers as long as they stick to pledges to make the transition inclusive' and peaceful. 'This is a time of dire needs and challenges for Syria, as tragically evidenced by the recent wave of violence in coastal areas,' EU foreign policy chief Kallas said. European Commission President der Leyen said at the meeting that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost €2.5bn for 2025 and 2026 - an increase of about €160m to its previous pledge for this year. (Source: TimesLive - South Africa)
18/03/2025 Czech Republic has hosted Radio Free Europe for 25 years. During Monday's gathering of foreign ministers in Brussels, Czech Foreign Minister Lipavský has urged the EU to step up and support RFE/RL. The outlet has provided critical coverage in Ukraine. Two projects of RFE/RL - Crimea Realities and Donbas Realities have also provided sources of information 'about the Russian-occupied territories'. EU foreign policy chief Kallas, recalled the influence the network had on her as she was growing up in Estonia, which was part of the Soviet Union when she was a child. 'It is sad to hear that US is withdrawing its funding,' she told, after chairing a meeting of EU foreign ministers. 'There was really a push from the foreign ministers to discuss this and find the way', she added. "Coming up with funding may prove difficult". (Source: Euronews, based in Lyon, France)
Russia
(18 March 2025) Russian President Putin agreed today to a proposal by U.S. President Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders. Trump and Putin discussed the Ukraine war today which Washington hoped would convince Moscow to accept a 30-day ceasefire and move towards a permanent peace deal. Kremlin spokesman Peskov said before the call that Trump and Putin would discuss settling the conflict in Ukraine and normalising relations between Russia and the United States. "The leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire, as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire and permanent peace," the White House readout said. Peskov said there was already a "certain understanding" between the two leaders, based on a phone call they held on February 12 and on subsequent high-level contacts between the two countries. Putin said last week he supported in principle Washington's proposal for a truce but that his forces would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out. The two countries plan to begin negotiations "immediately" in the Middle East, according to a readout from the White House. Dmitriev, Putin's international cooperation envoy, said that under the leadership of Trump and Putin the world had become a much safer place. Trump hopes also to secure progress towards a longer-term peace plan, which he has hinted could include territorial concessions by Kyiv and control of Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Putin has said Russia must keep control of Ukrainian territory it has seized, that Western sanctions should be eased and Kyiv must stage a presidential election. ’European Commission der Leyen warned today that Russia had massively expanded its military-industrial production capacity in preparation for ’future confrontation with European democracies.’ Zelenskiy, elected in 2019, rules under martial law he imposed. Putin said he sent troops into Ukraine because NATO's creeping expansion threatened Russia's security. He has demanded Ukraine drop its ambition of joining the Western military alliance. (Source: Independent - Ireland)
Tue, March 18, 2025 Russian leader Putin has demanded that all Western arms supplies to Ukraine be halted. The news agency sources in Moscow said that during the visit of Trump's Special Envoy to the Middle East Witkoff to the Russian capital, Putin called this condition mandatory for the signing of a ceasefire agreement. Bloomberg sources added that Russia wants to stop all arms supplies to Ukraine, but its minimum goal is to cut off US aid. The Russian sources also insist that Putin's request to suspend arms supplies will be temporary. Arms deliveries will allegedly resume after a peace agreement is concluded, in which Ukraine agrees to limit its military potential. Earlier, the agency wrote that Putin allegedly generally supports the US proposal for a "truce", but insists that a number of conditions must be met before Russia agrees. An unnamed European official said it was unlikely that Europe would agree to Russia's demand that its allies block arms supplies to Ukraine during any "truce". He stressed that this could lead to a situation where Russia would be able to rearm during the cessation of hostilities, while Ukraine would not have such an opportunity. The White House says that the US president is "determined" to conclude an agreement to end Russia's war against Ukraine and that the world is close to such a peace. (Source: Yahoo / Ukrainska Pravda ’with reference to Bloomberg')
Serbia
(Tuesday), Mar 18 2025 A protest movement formed after 15 people were killed in a railway station roof collapse in the city of Novi Sad in November 2024, following massive government-backed renovations on the facility. Between 100,000 and 300,000 people are estimated to have taken part in one of the largest anti-corruption demonstrations in Belgrade on Saturday, in the biggest turn-out yet in the national movement. At one point the crowd stretched for nearly two kilometres, with people filling the streets in and around the parliament and the capital's main pedestrian square. Suddenly, a deafening roar ripped through the place. A whooshing sound was heard across triggering panic and a brief stampede. Screaming protesters scrambled for cover, leaving the middle of the downtown street almost empty as they fell over each other. It is claimed riot police deployed a military-grade sonic cannon to disperse peaceful protesters. 'Many people who were victims of the alleged attack complained on social media about strong headaches, nausea and disorientation'. Experts say that sonic cannons can emit up to 160 decibels, roughly equivalent to standing next to a rocket launch or a shotgun blast. Human ears have a pain threshold of 120-130 decibels and anything above that is painful. Sonic weapons are used by military and law enforcement agencies for crowd control, deterrence, or psychological warfare. One example is the Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD), which emits concentrated sound waves at high decibel levels. LRADs are frequently deployed to disperse crowds or deter threats, such as pirates at sea. Calls are now mounting in Serbia for an independent investigation into reports that security forces used the prohibited sonic weapon. Often designed to be non-lethal, the sonic weapon remains banned in Serbia. Serbian officials insist that it was not used during Saturday's rally. Serbia's President Vucic denied that the crowd-control device was deployed, calling it a "wicked lie" aimed at destroying Serbia. He said he would soon invite the investigations agencies including the FBI and Russia's FSB to investigate the claims. Vucic added: "It is important for history to see how they lied”. (Source: The U.S. Sun)
18.03.2025 The Serbian Foreign Ministry said today that it will send an urgent request to Albania and Croatia, seeking clarification on a trilateral defense cooperation agreement with Kosovo. The agreement that was signed in Tirana focuses on strengthening defense capacities, advancing military technology and improving regional interoperability through joint training and exercises. It reaffirms Albania and Croatia’s support for Kosovo’s full integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, a move Serbia firmly opposes. The trilateral cooperation reflects the growing strategic partnership among the three countries. Serbia warned that forming a military alliance without consulting Belgrade is concerning, particularly given the involvement of Kosovo, which Serbia does not recognize as an independent state. The development adds to tensions in the Balkans. (Source: Anadolu Agency - Turkey)
Africa
South Africa
March 18, 2025 EU Commission President der Leyen and Council President Costa have been at the EU-South Africa Summit in Cape Town to strengthen Europe’s strategic partnership with the country. 'She announced a Global Gateway Investment Package worth €4.7 billion. The biggest bulk of the package – €4.4bn – will be invested in projects supporting 'a clean and just energy transition in the country'. (Source: EU Reporter, headquarters Brussels, Belgium)
Asia
Gaza
18 Mar 2025 Hundreds killed as Israel launches air strikes across Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered the attacks due to a lack of progress in talks to extend the ceasefire and secure the release of remaining captives taken by Hamas in October 2023. Hamas warned that Israel had breached the ceasefire and put the fate of the captives still held in jeopardy. The White House said it had been consulted and it voiced support for Israel’s actions. /Photo/ (Source: Al Jazeera - Qatar)
(March 18, 2025) Israel launched airstrikes across the Gaza Strip early today, killing at least 326 Palestinians, including women and children, according to hospital officials. Hundreds more were wounded. The surprise bombardment shattered a ceasefire in place since January. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the strikes after Hamas refused Israeli demands to change the ceasefire agreement. The White House sought to blame Hamas for the renewed fighting. National Security Council spokesman Hughes said the militant group "could have released hostages to extend the ceasefire but instead chose refusal and war.” An Israeli official said Israel was striking Hamas' military, leaders and infrastructure and planned to expand the operation beyond air attacks. Israel's defense minister Katz said the 'gates of hell will open in Gaza' if the hostages aren't released. “We will not stop fighting until all of our hostages are home and we have achieved all of the war goals,” he said. Talks on a second phase of the ceasefire had stalled. The strikes came two months after a ceasefire was reached to pause the war. Over six weeks, Hamas released 25 Israeli hostages and the bodies of eight more in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in a first phase of the ceasefire. But since that ceasefire ended two weeks ago, the sides have not been able to agree on a way forward with a second phase aimed at releasing the 59 remaining hostages, 35 of whom are believed to be dead. (Source: Burnaby Now - Canada / The Associated Press - U.S.)
Pakistan
(Tuesday), Mar 18, 2025 'China may deploy troops in Pak amid attacks by Baloch insurgents'. The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has intensified its insurgency in Pakistan, targeting both the military and Chinese interests. On Sunday, the group ambushed Pakistani troops in Balochistan, blowing up a military bus and claiming at least 90 casualties. Pakistan is deeply worried about the potential fallout of these attacks on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billion-dollar initiative that is a key part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. The persistent threat has led to intelligence reports suggesting that China may soon deploy its own troops in Pakistan, a move that would mark a major shift in Beijing's security presence in the region. Beijing has stepped up its involvement in Pakistan's security. China has signed a private security and military contract to protect its engineers and workers engaged in various CPEC projects. Under this arrangement, three private Chinese security firms - Dewe Security Frontier Service Group, China Overseas Security Group, and Huaxin Zhongshan Security Service - will now play a role in safeguarding Chinese nationals in Pakistan. The Baloch rebels, apart from demanding independence from Pakistan, have been vocal in their opposition to Chinese projects in the region. They accuse China of exploiting Balochistan's rich natural resources-such as natural gas, coal, copper, and other minerals - in collaboration with Pakistan, leaving the local population marginalised. (Source: India Today)
North America
United States
18 March 2025 US President Trump yesterday revoked secret service protection for former president Biden's children Hunter and Ashley. He has had secret service protection for an extended period of time, all paid for by the US taxpayer Trump said in a post on Truth Social. Please be advised that, effective immediately, Hunter will no longer receive secret service protection. Likewise, Ashley, who has 13 agents, will be taken off the list, Trump added. (Source: TimesLive - South Africa)
Note: See also on X - U.S.
Since March 18, 2025 6:54 a.m.: 33 600 views
March 18, 2025 Trump said that some provisions of a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine had already been agreed upon with Russian President Putin. Trump made the statement on his social network Truth Social late yesterday, ahead of a scheduled phone call with Putin. (Source: Meduza, based in Riga, Latvia)
Space
Tue, Mar 18 2025 Boeing Starliner astronauts complete return to Earth in SpaceX Dragon capsule. Wilmore and Williams are back on Earth after about nine months at the International Space Station. The pair - both veteran astronauts and retired Navy test pilots - arrived at the ISS in June on a troubled Boeing Starliner capsule “Calypso” that returned empty without them. They and two other crew members - Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Gorbunov - splashed down off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida, at 5:57 p.m. ET today. The astronauts will now head to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for several days of routine health checks before they can go home. Boeing has lost more than $2 billion on its Starliner spacecraft. NASA officials reiterated that Starliner needs to undergo more testing and left the option open that its next flight could be uncrewed. (Source: CNBC - U.S.)
18 March 2025 Williams, Wilmore undock from Space Station; Journey to Earth begins after 9 long months. US President Trump earlier in March spoke about the possibility of personally launching a rescue team into orbit to help bring astronauts Wilmore and Williams back to Earth - and blasted former President Biden for their eight-day mission stretching to nine months and counting. He also had some words of appreciation for NASA’s Indian-origin astronaut Williams' hair as he told a pair of stranded astronauts aboard the International Space Station that "we're coming up to get you." “We have two astronauts that are stuck in space. I have asked Elon I said, ‘Do me a favour. Can you get them out?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ He is preparing to go up, I think in two weeks.” /Video/ (Source: Outlook India)
