News from March 18, 2025 at 2 PM

US President Donald Trump is set to discuss a ceasefire in Ukraine with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week. US envoy Steve Witkoff stated on March 16 that Trump is seeking Putin's support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukraine accepted last week. Despite ongoing heavy aerial strikes over the weekend and Russia's advances in pushing Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk region, Trump expressed optimism in a March 14 social media post that the bloody conflict could end, while strongly urging Putin not to kill the Ukrainian troops being expelled from Kursk.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced on March 18 that the Israeli military, under orders from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz, launched airstrikes on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip. An Israeli official revealed that U.S. President Trump gave the green light for the operation after Hamas refused to release more detainees. Previously, White House Press Secretary Levitt stated that Israel consulted the White House about the attack, with Trump warning that Hamas and others would pay a price. The airstrikes have resulted in at least 310 deaths. Israel claims Hamas rejected all mediation proposals, and the military action aims to pressure Hamas to release detainees. Hamas accused Israel of resuming aggression and threatening the fate of detainees. Israel warned Hamas of unprecedented strikes if remaining detainees are not released.

A nightclub fire in Kocani, North Macedonia, has resulted in 59 deaths, mostly teenagers. The Pulse nightclub was packed with fans watching the popular hip-hop band DNK when the fire broke out. Around 20 people, including the nightclub owner and some former government ministers, have been detained for questioning. Many believe corruption allowed the venue to operate with inadequate safety measures. Over 160 people were injured, with 45 suffering severe injuries and being flown to hospitals in neighboring countries. Protesters demanded justice, and mourners lit candles in the central square. The Interior Minister stated there are suspicions of bribery and corruption linked to the fire, and the club's license was obtained illegally with the emergency exit locked.

Ukrainian soldiers fighting in Russia's Kursk region have described scenes akin to a horror movie as they retreated from the front lines under heavy fire, with extensive destruction of military equipment and constant attacks from Russian drones. Soldiers, using aliases to protect their identities, shared their accounts via social media. Ukraine lost Sudzha, its largest held town. Travel restrictions limited a full understanding of the situation. Soldiers detailed the chaotic and difficult retreat, highlighting Russia's use of a significant number of North Korean soldiers and advanced drones. Western estimates put around 12,000 Ukrainian troops in the Kursk offensive, equipped with Western-supplied weapons. Russia claimed control over the situation as Ukrainian forces retreated. Ukraine's top general stated that troops have withdrawn to more favorable positions, but the situation has significantly changed since last August.

Germany's Bundestag is set to vote on a major fiscal package later on Tuesday, which includes changes to long-standing debt policies to enable higher defense spending and a 500 billion euro ($548 billion) infrastructure and climate fund. More than two thirds of parliament need to support the package for it to pass and be enshrined in Germany's constitution, followed by approval from the Bundesrat. The proposed laws would exempt defense and certain security expenditures above a threshold from the debt brake, along with loans for the infrastructure fund. The Christian Democratic Union, Christian Social Union, and Social Democratic Party, likely to form the incoming coalition government, proposed the package. Time is tight as constitutional changes require two-thirds majority in both parliament and the Bundesrat before the new parliament convenes. A compromise was reached with the Green Party, including 100 billion euros for climate and economic transformation. If all three parties support the package, there would be a 31-vote buffer for passage. Analysts view the plans as a potential boost for Germany's struggling economy, with the OECD and Ifome projecting GDP growth of 0.4% and 0.2% respectively.

Peru's government declared a state of emergency in the capital Lima on Monday, deploying soldiers to the streets to quell a recent surge in violence. The death of renowned cumbia musician Paul Flores, who was shot in a bus attack by unknown assailants on Sunday, sparked public outrage. The crime wave, including a rise in extortion, led President Dina Boluarte to suggest the death penalty for murderers, despite Peru only allowing execution for traitors. The 30-day emergency decree covers Lima and neighboring Callao province, granting authorities additional powers to deploy the military against lawlessness. In recent years, Peruvian officials have frequently declared emergencies amid spikes in criminal activity or social unrest. Monday's government actions follow weeks of escalating violence attributed to criminal groups targeting businesses, including transport companies, despite recent gang arrests.

US President Donald Trump stated that former President Joe Biden's 11th-hour pardons of members of Congress who investigated the Jan 6 insurrection are void because they were signed with an autopen. In a statement on his Truth Social platform just after midnight on March 17, Trump declared the pardons invalid. This follows similar arguments from the conservative Heritage Foundation. While Trump acknowledged that courts should ultimately decide on the validity of the pardons, his comments suggest the Justice Department might prosecute Biden's pardoned political adversaries, including former congresswoman Liz Cheney, retired general Mark Milley, and infectious diseases expert Anthony Fauci. A 2024 federal appeals court decision and a 1929 Justice Department opinion support the legality of presidents using autopens for pardons.

Lawyers for the former hospital management have requested a suspension of the public inquiry into nurse Lucy Letby's baby murder case. Inquiry chair Lady Justice Thirlwall noted the request, following an international medical expert panel's attribution of the deaths to poor medical care and natural causes. Similar pleas were previously made by Letby's legal team and Conservative MP David Davis. Letby, serving life sentences for murdering seven infants and attempting to murder seven others, awaits a potential retrial as expert findings were submitted to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. Around 50 protesters gathered outside Liverpool Town Hall, demanding Letby's release. Representatives from the hospital trust and the Department of Health opposed the suspension, emphasizing the need for lessons learned. The final inquiry report is expected this autumn.

On March 17, 2025, Irish mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor criticized Ireland's immigration policies during a visit to the White House, drawing condemnation from the country's prime minister. McGregor, dressed in a green pinstripe suit, met with President Donald Trump and senior administration officials. Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin stated on social media that McGregor's remarks were wrong and did not reflect the views of the Irish people. Ireland has struggled with a record influx of asylum seekers in recent years, making immigration a key political issue. The Trump administration has implemented a tough policy against illegal immigration. McGregor, who was ordered to pay nearly 250,000 euros in damages for assaulting a woman in 2018 and is appealing the verdict, has hinted at running for the largely ceremonial role of Irish president.