Iran-U.S.-Israel tensions rise after strikes and threats of retaliation- 31 March
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. fi...
The European Commission has announced €153 million ($183 million) in emergency aid for Ukraine, alongside €8 million ($9.5 million) to support Moldova, which hosts large numbers of Ukrainian refugees.
The Commission said the aid aims to address urgent humanitarian needs, providing protection assistance, shelter, food, cash support, psychosocial care, and access to clean water and healthcare services.
“After more than a decade of hostilities and almost four years of full-scale war, the people of Ukraine continue to endure immense suffering,” the Commission said.
Due to repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, millions of people are exposed to freezing winter temperatures. To mitigate the impact, the European Union say it's delivered 447 power generators this week, valued at €3.7 million ($4.4 million), to restore electricity to hospitals, shelters, and other critical services.
An additional 500 generators are being deployed from the EU’s rescEU strategic reserves to maintain essential services across affected regions.
The move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin had agreed to refrain from firing on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for a week because of cold winter weather.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he thanked Washington for the initiative, which he described as halting Russian strikes on energy targets, which have left hundreds of apartments in Kyiv without power during freezing weather.
There was no immediate comment from Moscow, which had earlier issued a new invitation for Zelenskyy to hold talks in Moscow, an offer already long rejected by the Ukrainian leader.
Speaking afterwards in his nightly video address on Thursday, Zelenskyy thanked the United States "for their efforts in ensuring a stop to strikes on energy (targets) at this time and let's hope that America succeeds in ensuring this".
"We shall see what the real situation is with our energy facilities and cities in the days and nights to come," he said.
Support for Moldova
The €8 million allocated to Moldova is intended to bolster its capacity to host Ukrainian refugees, providing vital services and resources for displaced populations.
The European Commission said its humanitarian response will continue to adapt to the evolving needs of those affected by the war in Ukraine and the harsh winter conditions.
U.S. President Donald Trump has said that the U.S is in talks with the new Iranian regime. He said this in a post on his Truth Social account but warned that the U.S. will "Obliterate" Iran's electric and oil facilities if no deal is reached, especially regarding the Strait of Hormuz closure.
NASA is aiming to launch its Artemis 2 mission on Wednesday (1 April), sending astronauts on a 10-day journey around the Moon, officials confirmed. According to the Space Administration, the launch window is due to open at 23:24 GMT, with additional opportunities to 6 April if delays occur.
The Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict is intensifying, with fresh strikes near Tehran, European calls for restraint, and Iran threatening to target U.S. firms in the region, raising fears of a broader escalation across the Middle East.
The war in Iran has rapidly upended regional security, triggering spillover across the Middle East and raising fears of wider economic disruption that could threaten globalisation.
The Israeli military said on Monday that Iran launched multiple waves of missiles at Israel, and an attack had also been launched from Yemen for the second time since the U.S.-Israeli war began on Tehran. It said two drones from Yemen were intercepted early 30 March but gave no further details.
A Russia-flagged tanker carrying about 700,000 barrels of crude has arrived in Cuba’s Matanzas Bay, marking the first major oil delivery to the island since the Trump administration cut off its fuel supplies.
China and Kenya have agreed to revive a long-delayed railway project, signalling renewed momentum in infrastructure cooperation and a shift towards more sustainable financing models across Africa.
HHungary’s foreign minister has been drawn into controversy after an audio recording, released by an investigative outlet, appeared to show him discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart days before an election that could shape Budapest’s relationship with Moscow, Reuters reports.
The European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas and several EU foreign ministers arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre and to voice their support for Ukraine, amid tensions within the bloc over blocked EU aid.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 31 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
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