News from March 1, 2025 at 2 AM

On February 28 local time, US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. Trump described the meeting as 'unsuccessful,' accusing Zelensky of overestimating his bargaining chips. Trump emphasized that the US seeks peace, not a decade-long war, and demanded Zelensky's commitment to peace. The two leaders engaged in a heated argument in front of the media, resulting in Zelensky leaving the White House early. The planned joint press conference and the signing of a US-Ukraine mining agreement were both canceled.

Pope Francis, 88, has been hospitalized at Rome's Gemelli Hospital for two weeks since being admitted on Feb 14 with a severe respiratory infection. On Feb 28, he experienced an 'isolated breathing crisis,' marking a setback in his recovery. Despite receiving non-invasive mechanical ventilation, he remained alert and well-oriented. Previously, the Vatican had reported slight improvements in his condition. Doctors are evaluating the impact of this episode on his clinical status. The Vatican announced that Francis will not lead the annual Church service next week. Nonetheless, he continues to oversee Vatican affairs from the hospital.

On the night of February 28-March 1, 2023, a major railroad disaster occurred in Tempi, Greece, resulting in 57 deaths and numerous injuries. On the second anniversary of the tragedy, over 200,000 people rallied outside the Greek Parliament in Athens, demanding a thorough investigation and accountability. The total number of demonstrators could exceed 300,000. The investigation is ongoing, with opposition parties and citizens suspecting a cover-up by authorities. Government Spokesman Pavlos Marinakis stated that an expert report did not indicate any cover-up but highlighted significant issues in the railroad system. During the rallies, clashes with police erupted, leading to 84 detentions and 41 arrests. Five individuals were hospitalized, and a photographer was injured by a flash grenade.

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.

The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico, U.S., announced on Thursday that legendary actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead at their home, aged 95 and 64 respectively. Deputies were called to a residence on Old Sunset Trail at around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, where they discovered the bodies of Hackman, Arakawa, and their dog. While foul play is not suspected, the exact cause of death has not been determined. Hackman, who won an Oscar for 'The French Connection,' had a distinguished career in film, including notable roles in 'The Conversation' and 'Superman.' He survived a minor bike accident in Florida in 2012.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on February 28 the appointment of Alexander Darchiev as the new ambassador to the United States, filling a position that has been vacant since last year. The appointment followed talks between the US and Russia in Istanbul, Turkey. During the talks, Russia proposed resuming direct flights between the two countries, a suggestion made in the context of the US and Europe halting flights and imposing sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not disclose the US response, but Russian airline stocks rose by 3.8%. The two countries also discussed resolving outstanding issues left by the previous US administration, ensuring unimpeded funding for their embassies and normal diplomatic work. The US Department of State stated that the Istanbul talks covered embassy staffing and visa issues. Prior to the Istanbul meeting, US President Trump and Russian President Putin had a phone call on February 12, followed by a meeting between the US and Russian foreign ministers in Saudi Arabia on February 18.

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.

Israel has completed forensic tests confirming the identities of four Israeli hostages whose bodies were handed over by Hamas. On Wednesday night, Hamas transferred four coffins to the Red Cross in Gaza. The remains were identified as Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69. This handover cleared the way for the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, marking the end of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal. Hamas is ready for the second phase negotiations, but Israel's prime minister faces pressure to extend the current phase. Since October 7, 2023, at least 48,348 people have been killed in Gaza, with most of the population displaced multiple times. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum urges the swift return of remaining hostages.

On February 28, an avalanche occurred in the Himalayas of Uttarakhand, India, resulting in the rescue of 32 people, while at least 25 remain trapped. The incident took place near a road in the Chamoli region, close to Tibet, with the trapped individuals being Indian federal border road construction workers. Rescue efforts have been hampered by adverse weather conditions. In recent years, the region has frequently experienced floods and landslides due to global warming, prompting environmentalists to call for a re-examination of local power projects and other development plans.

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'.

On February 28, 2025, two Egyptian security sources revealed that an Israeli delegation in Cairo is negotiating to extend the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal by an additional 42 days. Hamas opposes the extension and insists on moving to the second phase of the deal as originally agreed, which aims to achieve a permanent end to the war. The first phase of the ceasefire is set to expire on March 1, and the warring parties have yet to clarify the next steps if no agreement is reached by then. Egypt and Qatar are mediating the talks with US support. On the same day, a Palestinian militant group issued a statement urging the international community to pressure Israel to immediately enter the second phase without delay. Two Israeli government officials told Reuters that Israel is seeking to extend the initial phase, with Hamas releasing three hostages each week in exchange for Palestinians held by Israel.

Microsoft announced on Friday that Skype, the 21-year-old calling and messaging service, will shut down on May 5, encouraging users to migrate to its free Teams app. Skype gained popularity in the 2000s for offering free calls, but struggled in the mobile era and did not see a major resurgence during the pandemic. Jeff Teper, president of Microsoft 365 collaborative apps and platforms, said Skype's learnings have been integrated into Teams, and focusing on Teams will drive faster innovation. Over the next few days, users will be able to sign in to Teams with Skype credentials, with contacts and chats transferring over. Launched in Estonia in 2003, Skype was acquired by eBay for $2.6 billion in 2005 and by Microsoft for $8.5 billion in 2011. In 2023, Skype had 36 million daily active users, down from 40 million in March 2020.

On February 28, 2025, UK International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds resigned over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's cuts to the aid budget. In a letter to Starmer, Dodds stated that the cuts would harm the UK's reputation by depriving desperate people of food and healthcare. She delayed her resignation until after Starmer's meeting with President Trump. Starmer announced that aid funding would be reduced from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027. Dodds' resignation sparked internal debate, with some MPs criticizing the move. Baroness Chapman of Darlington was appointed as her replacement. The cuts will likely lead to the UK withdrawing support from numerous nations and multilateral bodies, reducing annual foreign aid spending by £6 billion.