While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 19, 2025
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US President Donald Trump (left) held a lengthy phone discussion with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 18.
PHOTO: AFP
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Trump, Putin agree halt to Ukraine energy attacks
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin agreed on March 18 on a halt in Russian attacks against Ukrainian energy targets – but fell far short of securing a full ceasefire in a highly anticipated phone call.
The US and Russian leaders spoke for more than an hour and a half and both expressed hopes for repairing relations between the countries.
However, there was no agreement from the Russian president for Washington’s proposed full 30-day ceasefire in Russia’s invasion of its pro-Western neighbour.
US allies, alarmed by Mr Trump’s recent pivot towards Russia, fear the Republican will give too much ground to the Russian president, a leader for whom he has repeatedly expressed admiration.
Germany approves huge defence, infrastructure boost
REUTERS
German lawmakers on March 18 voted for a colossal defence and infrastructure spending package proposed by chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz following concern over the US stance on the Ukraine war and Europe’s security.
Local media have labelled the plans – which could pave the way for more than €1 trillion (S$1.4 trillion) in spending over the next decade – as a fiscal “bazooka” for Europe’s top economy.
The hastily drawn plans, which represent a radical departure for a country traditionally reluctant to take on large amounts of debt or to spend heavily on the military, were passed with 513 votes in favour and 207 against.
5 charged in European Parliament Huawei bribery probe
EPA-EFE
The Belgian prosecutor’s office said on March 18 that it has charged five people in connection with a bribery investigation in the European Parliament allegedly linked to China’s Huawei.
The five were detained last week. Four have now been arrested and charged with active corruption and involvement in a criminal organisation, while a fifth faces money laundering charges and has been released conditionally.
The prosecutor’s officer did not disclose the names of those involved or give information that could identify them.
Man hides in mall to rob gold shop but traps himself
PHOTO: THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
A suspected burglar thought he had devised the perfect plan to rob a gold shop in a Thai shopping mall – by hiding inside the mall until closing time before breaking into the shop.
However, his plan backfired when he found himself trapped inside the store, unable to escape.
Police easily arrested the suspect, Aesara (surname withheld), 21, after finding him locked inside the gold shop in the shopping centre on the Chiang Mai-Lampang Superhighway in Chiang Mai’s Mueang district, the next morning on March 18.
England unlikely lad Burn sets sights on World Cup
Newcastle United’s Dan Burn knows his career has not been a “straight line” but at the age of 32 everything is suddenly falling into place for the towering defender who on March 21 could earn a belated first England cap.
Five days ago, he took a call from new England manager Thomas Tuchel who informed him he was part of his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Albania and Latvia at Wembley.
On March 16, Burn’s majestic header, his first goal of the season, paved the way for Newcastle’s first domestic trophy for 70 years, a 2-1 League Cup final win over Liverpool.
