News from February 28, 2025 at 2 PM

Pope Francis's condition showed slight improvement as Catholics prayed for his health beneath St Peter's Basilica for a third night. Nuns, tourists, and student priests joined the prayers in the Vatican, led by a cardinal. The nightly gatherings began after the 88-year-old Pope's health deteriorated dramatically at the weekend. Latest updates indicate he can sit, eat normally, and do light work. Admitted to Gemelli hospital on February 14 with double-pneumonia, a CT scan shows normal lung evolution. Despite the improvement, no prognosis has been given. Vatican officials have relaxed their tone but caution the Pope is not out of danger. Speculation about his potential resignation persists, though he has said he would consider it if unable to fulfill his duties.

On February 27, Mexico extradited 29 notorious imprisoned drug lords to the United States to avoid massive US tariffs on Mexican goods. The extradited individuals include Rafael Caro Quintero, wanted for the 1985 murder of a US undercover agent, and two former leaders of the Zetas crime group. Caro Quintero, 72, was on the FBI's top ten most wanted list until his arrest in 2022. The US Department of Justice stated that if convicted, Caro Quintero and others could face the death penalty, with prosecutors also considering terrorism charges. President Trump has designated eight Latin American drug trafficking organizations, including six Mexican cartels, as terrorist groups. A former DEA international operations chief called this extradition unprecedented, noting Mexico's hope for a positive impact on tariff negotiations. A high-level Mexican delegation is in Washington discussing tariff issues with US officials, with President Lopez Obrador hoping to dialogue with Trump to avoid tariffs.

On February 27, 2025, Turkey's jailed militant leader Abdullah Ocalan called on his Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) to lay down arms and disband, a move that could end its 40-year conflict with Ankara and have significant political and security implications for the region. Ozgur Ozel, head of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), supported the call and hoped it would be acted upon. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) Commander Mazloum Abdi welcomed the call but clarified it applied only to the PKK. Nechirvan Barzani, President of Iraq's Kurdistan Region, warmly welcomed the message and offered support. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also welcomed the call, seeing it as a crucial step towards peace. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office expressed support for Turkey's peace process and encouraged all parties to engage in constructive dialogue.

On February 27, 2025, controversial influencers Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan arrived in the US after facing charges, including human trafficking, in Romania, which they deny. The Tate brothers, who hold dual US-UK citizenship, claim to have made millions from their social media empire. They had been under a travel ban in Romania for over two years but were recently allowed to leave, flying to Florida on a private jet. Romanian prosecutors stated that investigations are ongoing and the brothers are expected to return. The Tates have a significant US following and are popular among some American right-wing groups. They also face separate charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK, which they deny.

On February 27, a vehicle carrying the Russian delegation arrived at the residence of the US Consul General in Istanbul. On February 28, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement praising the latest round of talks with the United States as 'substantive and businesslike.' The Russian and US teams held six hours of talks in Turkey aimed at restoring the normal functioning of their embassies. President Vladimir Putin stated that initial contacts with President Donald Trump's new administration had inspired hope. The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegations discussed the issue of the alleged illegal confiscation of Russia's diplomatic property in the US and requested the Americans to consider restoring direct air links. Both sides agreed on steps to ensure the uninterrupted financing and normal operations of their respective embassies.

In Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States, Oscar-winning actor Gene Hackman and his wife, classical pianist Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home. Police discovered their bodies and one of their dogs on Wednesday after a maintenance worker called emergency services. Hackman, 95, was found in a room near the kitchen, while Arakawa, 65, was in a bathroom. The couple appeared to have been dead for some time, with signs of decomposition. Authorities found no signs of injury but deemed the deaths suspicious and did not rule out foul play. A portable heater was found near Arakawa's body, and carbon monoxide and toxicology tests have been requested. The couple last had contact with others two weeks earlier.

South Korean media reported that North Korea dispatched between 1,000 to 3,000 additional combat personnel, including mechanized infantry, engineers, and electronic reconnaissance troops, to the Kursk front in Russia from January to February this year. This marks the second large-scale deployment since October 2024, aimed at addressing the shortage of front-line forces. Previously, the Ukrainian military stated that North Korean troops had withdrawn in mid-January and reappeared on February 7. South Korea's National Intelligence Service confirmed on February 27 that North Korean forces returned to the Kursk front in the first week of February. It is reported that out of the initial 11,000 North Korean troops sent in October last year, over 4,000 have been casualties. Analysts believe that North Korea's additional deployment is due to a severe shortage of front-line troops, and that the Russian military may continue to use North Korean forces as 'cannon fodder'.

This week, 24 individuals were arrested for their involvement in a criminal group that distributed AI-generated images of child sexual abuse. This marks one of the first operations involving AI-generated child abuse material, with Europol highlighting a lack of national legislation on the use of AI for such purposes. The main suspect, a Danish national, operated an online platform where he distributed the AI-generated content, accessible via a symbolic online payment. The operation, led by Danish authorities with involvement from 19 countries, saw most arrests on Wednesday, with more expected in the coming weeks.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco called on citizens to abstain from slaughtering sheep for Eid al-Adha this year due to a significant decline in livestock numbers caused by consecutive droughts. Eid al-Adha, commemorating Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, is scheduled for June. Official figures show a 38% decrease in Morocco's cattle and sheep herds since the last census. The King, also the country's supreme religious leader, emphasized that performing the rite under current circumstances would harm many, especially those with limited income. This year's rainfall is 53% lower than the 30-year average, leading to pasture shortages, reduced meat production, and higher prices and imports. Morocco recently signed a deal to import up to 100,000 sheep from Australia and suspended import duties and VAT on livestock and red meat in its 2025 budget to stabilize prices.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has developed its first quantum chip, Ocelot, at its Center for Quantum Computing in Pasadena, California. The chip's design aims to build highly efficient hardware systems, with Amazon claiming it requires as little as one-tenth the resources of conventional approaches. This announcement follows Microsoft's reveal of its inaugural quantum chip last week. Quantum computers use quantum bits (qubits) that can operate in multiple states simultaneously, solving problems beyond the reach of classical computers. Amazon's Ocelot chip currently has nine qubits, while Google's Willow chip features 105. Amazon plans to offer this chip through its Braket service. Experts predict that commercial quantum computers are still at least 10 years away.

On February 28, 2025, Cyclone Garance struck the French overseas territory of La Reunion with top wind speeds of 155 kph (96 mph), blowing away roofs and cutting power and access to drinking water for many residents. The island's prefect, Patrice Latron, reported no deaths so far. The cyclone made landfall in the north of the island and exited from the southwest several hours later, according to Meteo France. The prefecture stated that 180,000 households, about 42% of the electricity utility's customers, had lost power, and nearly 10% had no access to drinking water. The worst of the storm had passed, and the storm alert was downgraded from the highest level, purple, to red, allowing rescue workers to assess damage and assist those affected. A mandatory order for residents to stay indoors remained in place, with rough weather conditions expected until at least the end of the day. Top winds had decreased to 130 kph (80 mph), but higher gusts were possible in the southwest, with heavy rains now posing a greater risk. Nearby Mauritius reopened its airport after the storm threat eased.