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Here’s a rundown of all the news you need to start your Saturday with, including UK announcing a virtual meeting on Ukraine, EU moving to legalize "return hubs" in 3rd countries despite human rights concerns, and US Senate passing Republican spending bill to avert government shutdown.

TOP STORIES

• UK to host virtual meeting of 'coalition of the willing' on Ukraine

  UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will host a virtual meeting of world leaders Saturday to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine and urge them to make "concrete commitments," according to Downing Street.

  Around 25 leaders are expected to join to discuss the "coalition of the willing" peacekeeping mission.

  Starmer will urge allies to step up military support for Ukraine, increase economic pressure on Russia in the short term and be ready to back a future peace deal if one is reached.

  Leaders will also receive an update on this week's defense discussions in Paris and outline their plans to enhance military support for Ukraine.

  Downing Street confirmed that participants will include several European nations, the EU Commission, NATO, Canada, Ukraine, Australia and New Zealand.

  
  

• EU moves to legalize 'return hubs' in 3rd countries despite human rights concerns

  In efforts to curb irregular migration, the EU is preparing to legalize "return hubs" in third countries.

  It is a move criticized for potentially leading to human rights violations. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented her “return strategy” to the European Parliament on March 11, listing it among her priorities for the first 100 days of her second term, which began on Dec. 1.

  Von der Leyen first disclosed the contents of the strategy last summer in a letter to member states shortly after securing a second five-year term following European Parliament elections.

  Citing the 2023 return agreement between Italy and Albania as an example, von der Leyen signaled that innovative ideas, such as facilities established in third countries, would be implemented.

  The approach mirrors the UK's 2022 plan to send asylum seekers who entered the country illegally to Rwanda.

NEWS IN BRIEF

• China, Russia, and Iran called on the international community to end “illegal unilateral sanctions, pressure tactics, and threats of force" and instead commit to addressing the "root causes" of the Iranian nuclear issue.
• Denmark is accelerating its ground-based air defense acquisition to strengthen the country’s security and meet NATO force goals, the Ministry of Defense’s Materiel and Procurement Agency (FMI) announced.
• Russian far-right paramilitary fighter Yan Petrovsky was sentenced to life in prison by the Helsinki District Court in Finland for four war crimes in Ukraine, according to public broadcaster, Yle.
• Thousands of protesters in the Serbian capital of Belgrade gathered Friday for a massive anti-government rally against President Aleksandar Vucic, following months of unrest over alleged government negligence.
• Global sea levels rose 0.23 inches (0.59 centimeters) in 2024, surpassing the expected 0.17 inches, according to NASA.
• Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday said a group comprising the UK, some European countries and Türkiye could potentially establish its own sphere of influence in the region.
• Fidan also said that there have been no compromises with the PKK/YPG-led SDF, a terrorist group active in Syria, in relation to its efforts for autonomy or self-governance.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the issue of territorial control will be a key factor in peace talks following a ceasefire, emphasizing that Ukraine will not recognize occupied regions as part of Russia.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, persona non grata after his remarks about US President Donald Trump.
• The Gaza Media Office and Hamas slammed on Friday a joint European-American decision to block Al-Aqsa TV on satellite channels.
• Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte failed to attend a hearing in person at the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Friday for crimes against humanity related to his deadly anti-narcotics crackdown.
• UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his full support for reforms initiated by Bangladesh's transitional government.
• A delegation of around 100 Syrian Druze members arrived in Israel for a two-day visit, marking the first such trip in more than five decades, Israeli public broadcaster, KAN, reported Friday.
• Thailand’s commerce minister said he had discussed a possible Thai-European Union free trade agreement with a top EU official.