Morning Briefing: March 17, 2025

ANKARA

Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Monday with, including the death toll from US airstrikes on Yemen climbing to 53, the number of deaths from a fire at a nightclub in North Macedonia rising to 59, and the presidents of Türkiye and the US discussing bilateral relations in a phone call.

TOP STORIES

• Death toll from US airstrikes on Yemen rises to 53: Houthis

Yemen’s Houthi group announced that US airstrikes on the country had killed 53 people and injured 98.

The Houthi-run Ministry of Health, which is not internationally recognized, said the dead included five children and two women, while nine children and nine women were among the wounded.

Earlier in the day, the Houthis reported 31 deaths and more than 100 injuries from the attacks.

In a televised statement, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group retaliated by targeting the US aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman and its accompanying warships in the northern Red Sea with 18 ballistic and winged missiles and a drone.

• Death toll from North Macedonia nightclub fire rises to 59

The death toll from a devastating fire that tore through a nightclub in North Macedonia’s eastern town of Kocani has risen to 59, with at least 155 others injured, local media reported.

The blaze erupted late Saturday night at the crowded venue, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) from the capital Skopje. Authorities said 22 of the injured remain in critical condition.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Interior, initial reports indicated that 500 people were inside the nightclub at the time of the fire, although only 250 had tickets.

Interior Minister Pance Toshkovski said one person has been detained in connection with the incident.

• Türkiye-US relations to advance in new era, Turkish President Erdogan tells Trump

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to his US counterpart Donald Trump and expressed his full confidence that Türkiye and the US will advance bilateral cooperation through solidarity, a result-oriented approach and in a sincere manner in the new era of relations.

According to Türkiye's Communications Directorate, bilateral relations and regional and global issues were discussed during the call.

The two last had a phone conversation in November, when Erdogan congratulated Trump on his victory for a second term.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• The Iranian foreign minister said the US has no authority or mandate to dictate Iran’s foreign policy because "that era ended in 1979."
• Japan is considering deploying long-range missiles on the southwestern island of Kyushu, which would put longtime rivals North Korea and China's coastal areas within range.
• Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his country's contribution to a future peacekeeping effort in Ukraine would be "small."
• A Myanmar junta airstrike on a village held by anti-coup fighters killed 12 people, local media reported.
• At least 34 people lost their lives because of severe weather in the central and southeastern US, which has caused widespread destruction, including tornados, wildfires and car accidents, according to local authorities.
• Two people were killed and another injured in Israeli drone strikes in southern Lebanon, in the latest violation of a ceasefire agreement, the Health Ministry said.
• Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that 56 people were injured and 22 detained on suspicion of vandalism during a massive anti-government protest in the capital, Belgrade.
• At least seven paramilitary troops were killed and 43 others injured in a suspected suicide bombing in southwest Pakistan.
• A high court in Bangladesh awarded death sentences to 20 students and life imprisonment to five others of the country's top engineering university for brutally killing a fellow student, upholding a lower court verdict.
• The Israeli army killed 14 more Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, taking the overall death toll since October 2023 to 48,572, said the Health Ministry.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will participate in an informal meeting on Cyprus with the leaders of the divided island and guarantor powers at the UN Office in Geneva, according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
• The death toll from an explosion in the coastal city of Latakia in northwestern Syria rose to 16, said the Syrian Civil Defense.
• Municipal authorities in Gaza warned of a looming severe water crisis that could lead to widespread thirst amid Israel’s continued closure of border crossings and threats to cut water supply.
• The UN called for an end to all military activities after multiple US strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision to dismiss Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, citing a lack of trust between them.
• Israeli negotiators are in Cairo for discussions with Egyptian officials regarding the release of hostages held in Gaza, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

SPORTS

• Newcastle United beat Liverpool 2-1 to bag maiden English League Cup

Newcastle United clinched their maiden English League Cup (Carabao Cup) after beating Liverpool 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

Newcastle scored the first goal before the end of the first half in the 45th minute through Dan Burn.

The Black and Whites maintained their good display in the second half as well, as Alexander Isak's goal made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute.

Liverpool's only goal came from Federico Chiesa in the 94th minute.

Newcastle’s last major domestic trophy was the FA Cup in 1955.