Vietnam votes with Communist Party backing nearly 93% of candidates
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of cand...
Sweden, Norway, and Denmark are stepping up military support for Ukraine with a $500 million contribution to a new NATO-coordinated initiative, aiming to deliver U.S. weapons like Patriot missiles swiftly to the front lines.
This move follows U.S. President Donald Trump's recent proposal that European allies fund American weapons shipments to Ukraine, highlighting urgent European coordination to bolster Ukraine’s defense against ongoing Russian threats.
Norwegian Defence Minister Tore O. Sandvik emphasized that the contribution is intended to ensure quick delivery of essential military equipment.
"With this contribution, we want to ensure that Ukraine quickly receives the equipment it needs, while strengthening NATO cooperation on Ukraine's defence and securing peace on Ukrainian terms," Norwegian Defence Minister said in a statement.
Echoing that urgency, Denmark’s Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen confirmed the funds are ready for immediate use and expressed openness to future contributions.
"Speed is absolutely critical," he said in a statement.
In terms of specific figures, Denmark will provide around $90 million, Norway about $146 million, and Sweden $275 million for air defense systems and anti-tank weapons.
Swedish Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch noted that continued access to American defense systems, especially those Europe lacks in quantity is crucial for Ukraine’s survival.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the rapid funding from the Nordic countries. NATO will oversee the distribution of packages worth $500 million each through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism.
On Monday, the Netherlands became the first country to join the initiative, pledging 500 million euros. Sweden has already donated nearly 93 billion Swedish crowns to Ukraine as of March this year, according to its government.
A long-running investigation has suggested that the street artist known as Banksy may be legally named David Jones. A report indicates that Jones was previously known as Robin Gunningham, a name long associated with Banksy, before legally changing his name several years ago.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued veiled threats to Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Hezbollah on Thursday (12 March), during his first press conference since the conflict with Iran began.
Israel and Iran continued to exchange strikes on Friday (13 March), as the U.S. and French militaries reported deaths in Iraq, and the U.N. launched a $325 million appeal to help Lebanon, where a seventh of the population have left their homes since fighting began.
A widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel has triggered escalating military strikes across the Middle East, disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and raised concerns over global energy supplies. This live report tracks the latest developments.
North Korea fired what appeared to be a ballistic missile on Saturday (14 March), Japanese and South Korean officials said. The development comes amid the joint annual U.S.-South Korea "Freedom Shield" military drills and South Korean Prime Minister Kim Min-seok's visit to Washington.
Tens of millions of Vietnamese were voting on Sunday (15 March) to elect members of parliament from a list of candidates almost exclusively fielded by the Communist Party, ensuring the party's continued overwhelming dominance.
Top U.S. and Chinese economic officials began a new round of talks in Paris on Sunday (15 March) to resolve issues in their trade truce. The discussions aim to smooth the way for U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the end of March.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw the test-launch of 12 600mm-calibre multiple rocket launchers on Saturday (14 March), state media KCNA said, after the United States and South Korea this week launched their annual large-scale military drills in South Korea.
French voters head to the polls on Sunday (15 March) to elect their mayors in a closely watched ballot seen as a test of the strength of the far-right and the resilience of mainstream parties ahead of next year's presidential vote.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 15 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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