Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for March 17th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
1. North Macedonia nightclub fire death toll rises to 59.
A fire tore through an overcrowded and unlicensed nightclub in Kocani, North Macedonia, early Sunday, killing 59 people and injuring over 150. Authorities say the blaze began when sparks from stage flares ignited the ceiling, triggering panic. Officials have arrested around 20 people as investigations continue.
2. Azerbaijan reports gunfire from Armenian positions in Goris.
On March 16, units of the Armenian armed forces opened fire multiple times on Azerbaijan Army positions using small arms from various locations in the Gorus region. The first incident occurred at approximately 09:45 from the direction of Digh settlement, followed by another at around 18:35 from Khazinavar settlement, and finally, between 20:10 and 20:45 from the Burun settlement area.
3. SpaceX Crew-10 docks at ISS, enabling astronaut return.
A SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule delivered four astronauts to the International Space Station on March 16, marking a routine NASA crew rotation that will also enable astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to return home after an extended nine-month stay due to Starliner delays.
4. Trump announces new tariffs on steel, aluminium, and autos.
US President Donald Trump confirmed that there will be no exemptions on steel and aluminium tariffs, announcing reciprocal and sectoral tariffs will take effect on April 2, alongside auto duties, in a bid to address trade imbalances.
5. Trump to speak with Putin on Tuesday, hopeful for peace talks.
US President Donald Trump confirmed plans to speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, expressing optimism about the possibility of ending the ongoing conflict, after significant discussions over the weekend.
6. President Erdogan confident in strengthening US-Türkiye relations.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with US President Donald Trump, expressing confidence that Türkiye and the US will enhance bilateral relations through solidarity and a results-driven approach. The leaders discussed key regional and global issues, including peace efforts in Ukraine and cooperation on terrorism and Syria.
7. Serbian president reports injuries and detentions during protest.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic reported 56 injuries and 22 detentions following a massive anti-government protest in Belgrade. The protest, which involved an estimated 107,000 participants, stems from public dissatisfaction over government handling of infrastructure issues, including the deadly Novi Sad train station collapse.
Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, is on track to win the most votes in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election—but likely without securing a governing majority, according to exit polls.
Centrist candidate Rafal Trzaskowski led the first round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, edging ahead of nationalist rival Karol Nawrocki and setting up a high-stakes runoff that will determine whether Poland stays on a pro-European course or shifts toward a more nationalist path
Centrist mayor Nicușor Dan appeared poised to win Romania’s presidency on Sunday, defeating far-right, Trump-aligned rival George Simion in a closely watched election that could shape the country’s future within the EU and NATO.
Following Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the pontiff, thanking the Holy See for offering to host direct Ukraine–Russia talks and affirming Kyiv’s readiness for any format that could end the war.
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Sunday to launch long-term EU–U.S. trade talks, with both sides having already exchanged negotiating papers to tackle their tariff differences.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced. The cancer has been identified with a Gleason score of 9, which, according to Cancer Research UK, indicates highly abnormal cells that are likely to grow rapidly.
Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, is on track to win the most votes in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election—but likely without securing a governing majority, according to exit polls.
Centrist candidate Rafal Trzaskowski led the first round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, edging ahead of nationalist rival Karol Nawrocki and setting up a high-stakes runoff that will determine whether Poland stays on a pro-European course or shifts toward a more nationalist path
Centrist mayor Nicușor Dan appeared poised to win Romania’s presidency on Sunday, defeating far-right, Trump-aligned rival George Simion in a closely watched election that could shape the country’s future within the EU and NATO.
Following Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the pontiff, thanking the Holy See for offering to host direct Ukraine–Russia talks and affirming Kyiv’s readiness for any format that could end the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara on May 15, with discussions reportedly focusing on upcoming peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegates in Istanbul.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the war in Gaza will not stop until Hamas is destroyed, following the release of US-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander.
Qatar signed a landmark agreement with U.S. aerospace giant Boeing on Wednesday to acquire 160 aircraft for Qatar Airways, a deal valued at $200 billion. The signing took place in Doha during the visit of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian and Russian delegations meet behind closed doors at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace at 10:00 local time today to explore security guarantees, territorial integrity and a possible ceasefire.
EU approves 17th Russia sanctions, blacklisting almost 200 shadow‑fleet ships, 30 evasion firms and 75 defence figures, banning missile chemicals and arming Brussels to strike Kremlin hybrid and operations.
The conflict between the Trump administration and Harvard University has escalated dramatically in recent months, with the federal government freezing billions in funding and explicitly threatening to revoke the university's tax-exempt status.
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at Walmart on Saturday, urging the retail giant to absorb the costs of import tariffs rather than pass them on to consumers, as the company warned it would begin raising prices later this month due to the ongoing trade war.
Austria is basking in the glow of a triumphant Eurovision Song Contest victory, but celebrations have quickly turned to practical concerns over where to host next year’s event and how to pay for it, officials said Sunday.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced. The cancer has been identified with a Gleason score of 9, which, according to Cancer Research UK, indicates highly abnormal cells that are likely to grow rapidly.
Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, is on track to win the most votes in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election—but likely without securing a governing majority, according to exit polls.
Former U.S. President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, his office announced. The cancer has been identified with a Gleason score of 9, which, according to Cancer Research UK, indicates highly abnormal cells that are likely to grow rapidly.
Portugal's ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD), led by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro, is on track to win the most votes in Sunday’s snap parliamentary election—but likely without securing a governing majority, according to exit polls.
Centrist candidate Rafal Trzaskowski led the first round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, edging ahead of nationalist rival Karol Nawrocki and setting up a high-stakes runoff that will determine whether Poland stays on a pro-European course or shifts toward a more nationalist path
Centrist mayor Nicușor Dan appeared poised to win Romania’s presidency on Sunday, defeating far-right, Trump-aligned rival George Simion in a closely watched election that could shape the country’s future within the EU and NATO.
Following Pope Leo’s inaugural Mass at the Vatican on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the pontiff, thanking the Holy See for offering to host direct Ukraine–Russia talks and affirming Kyiv’s readiness for any format that could end the war.
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