News from March 2, 2025 at 2 AM

US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky were scheduled to sign a mining agreement at the White House on February 28, but a heated争吵 erupted, resulting in the cancellation of both the agreement and the planned joint press conference. After leaving the White House, Zelensky posted 37 'thank you' messages on social media, expressing gratitude to various leaders. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson proposed a meeting in London on March 2 to discuss the situation, with multiple European leaders and Zelensky in attendance. Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi suggested an immediate summit involving the US, Europe, and allies. EU leaders, including Ursula von der Leyen and Olaf Scholz, voiced support for Ukraine. The incident highlighted divisions between the US and Europe on Ukraine, with Zelensky invited to an EU special summit on March 6.

Pope Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital on Feb 14 with double pneumonia. On Feb 28, he experienced a breathing crisis, but by March 1, his condition stabilized with no recurrence of the crisis. Currently, Francis remains on oxygen but has no fever, is eating, and praying. His hemodynamic parameters are stable, and he does not have leukocytosis. The Vatican stated that the Holy Father's clinical condition remains stable, though the prognosis is still 'reserved'. Catholics and well-wishers worldwide continue to pray for him. Since his hospitalization, Francis has missed several public events, raising concerns about his ability to lead.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) has declared a ceasefire with Turkey and called for its dissolution following an appeal by its jailed leader Abdullah Ocalan. Ocalan, who has been in solitary confinement since 1999, urged an end to the four-decade armed struggle in southeastern Turkey this week. The ceasefire announcement follows an initiative by Devlet Bahceli, leader of Turkey's ultra-nationalist MHP party, to end the conflict. Ocalan met with pro-Kurdish MPs on Imrali Island in the Sea of Marmara. The PKK executive committee stated that no armed action would be taken unless attacked. The PKK, which has waged an insurgency since 1984 for a Kurdish homeland, is designated as a terrorist group by Turkey, the EU, UK, and US.

At least 37 people have died and 30 were injured after two passenger buses collided near the south-western city of Uyuni in Bolivia. The crash occurred early on Saturday, about 5km from Uyuni. One driver is receiving intensive care while the other is in stable condition, according to police commander Wilson Flores. Images show a severely damaged bus with luggage scattered on the roadside. The collision happened on the route between Uyuni and Colchani in Bolivia's Potosí department, suspected to be due to a lane invasion. One bus was heading to the western city of Oruro for the Oruro Carnival, one of Latin America's largest festivals. The vehicles were recovered by 10:00 local time, and the injured were taken to hospitals in Oruro and Potosí. The identities of the deceased have not been confirmed, and the condition of the injured is still being assessed. Police are awaiting the results of alcohol tests on the drivers. Deadly traffic accidents are common in Bolivia, with over 30 killed in a similar incident in February and 19 in January.

On June 11, 2024, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo attended a closed-door interview in Washington regarding New York's COVID-19 response. Cuomo officially announced his candidacy for New York City mayor on Saturday, aiming for a political comeback after his resignation in 2021 due to a sexual harassment scandal. He will compete against incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, a fellow Democrat facing bribery and fraud charges, in the Democratic primary. Cuomo's allies recently registered a super PAC, Fix the City, aiming to raise up to $15 million. A February poll showed Cuomo with 33% support among NYC Democratic primary voters, compared to 10% for Adams. In January 2024, the Justice Department settled claims of sexual harassment and retaliation against Cuomo with New York State's Executive Chamber. The NYC mayoral primary is scheduled for June, with the general election in early November.

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.

Reportedly, Russia and China have recently instructed their intelligence agencies to intensify efforts to recruit US federal employees, particularly those who have been fired or are at risk of layoffs. CNN cited sources stating that these countries are exploiting the Trump administration's massive layoffs to poach talent, focusing on employees with security clearances and probationary staff. At least two governments have set up recruitment websites and are actively soliciting on social platforms like LinkedIn. A US Navy Criminal Investigative Service report indicates that adversary nations are attempting to recruit US federal employees. A former National Security Council counterintelligence director noted that employees feeling unfairly treated are more likely to leak sensitive information. The Pentagon and CIA are considering layoffs, which could result in over 5,000 probationary employees being dismissed.

On March 1, Uruguay's elected President Yamandú Orsi was sworn in at the National Congress, beginning his five-year term. The power transfer ceremony took place at Independence Square in Montevideo, where Orsi and outgoing President Luis Lacalle Pou signed the transfer certificate and exchanged the presidential sash. Orsi pledged to enhance the national economy and public welfare, and appointed new cabinet members. Attendees included Brazil's President Lula, Chile's President Boric, and King Felipe VI of Spain. Orsi, 57, a former history teacher, entered politics in 2005, serving as provincial secretary and governor, and was elected president in the November 2024 runoff.

Grammy-nominated R&B artist Angie Stone has died in a car crash at the age of 63, according to her daughter Diamond Stone, who announced the news on Facebook. Stone sustained fatal injuries when the van she was traveling in overturned in Alabama early Saturday following a performance. The artist, who was nominated for three Grammys and started her career in the 1970s as a member of the female hip-hop trio The Sequence, left a significant mark on the music industry. Her daughter, also a musician known as Ladi Diamond, expressed her numbness on social media. A spokesperson for the artist told the BBC that Stone's family had traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, and planned to release more information soon. Guy Todd Williams, known as Rahiem from the hip-hop group Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five, stated that nine other passengers were in the van at the time of the crash, with Stone being the sole fatality. Besides her music career, Stone also had success in film, appearing in movies like 'The Hot Chick' and 'The Fighting Temptations'.

A FedEx cargo plane made an emergency landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday due to an engine fire caused by a bird strike. According to Lenis Valens, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, all three people on board evacuated safely and the fire was contained to the engine. The incident briefly halted air traffic, which resumed shortly thereafter. FedEx spokesperson Austin Kemker praised the pilots' exemplary response. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the incident, which comes amid heightened awareness of flight issues following several major aviation disasters in North America recently.

A new monitoring mission from the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), arrived at the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine for the first time via Russian territory on Saturday. The IAEA rotation was delayed for weeks due to military activity, with both sides blaming each other for violating safe passage rules. Yuri Chernichuk, the Russia-installed head of the plant, emphasized the importance of the route through Russian territory. The arrival of three inspectors was facilitated by Russia's defense ministry and national guard, following intense consultations between Russia's state nuclear power company Rosatom and the IAEA. The plant, Europe's largest with six reactors, currently produces no electricity, and both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of firing near the station, risking a nuclear accident. The IAEA has had staff at the plant since September 2022.

The Russian Defence Ministry stated that on Saturday, Russian air defenses successfully repelled an attack by three Ukrainian drones on a compressor station part of the Turkstream pipeline system. The station, located in the 'Russkaya' facility in southern Russia's Krasnodar region, was not damaged as the drones were downed at a safe distance, and the station continues to operate normally. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov requested his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, to take measures to prevent future attacks, to which Fidan pledged his commitment. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, informed of the attack by Lavrov via telephone, emphasized the critical importance of Turkstream to Hungary's energy security and called on the European Union to ensure the protection of infrastructure linked to the bloc.

China's Ministry of Commerce stated on Friday that it firmly opposes U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to increase tariffs on Chinese goods and vowed retaliation if necessary. Trump announced on Thursday that the U.S. would impose an additional 10% duty on Chinese imports starting March 4, coinciding with the beginning of China's annual parliamentary meetings. This follows the 10% tariffs Trump imposed on China on February 4. Trump justified the tariffs as a response to China's role in the fentanyl trade. A Ministry of Commerce spokesperson said that if the U.S. persists, China will take all necessary countermeasures. Experts anticipate China's response may include raising tariffs on select U.S. imports and adding more American firms to its unreliable entity list. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued a strong response, stating that U.S. tariff actions would backfire.

On March 1, mass rallies both in support of and against the impeachment of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol took place in Seoul. Conservative and religious organizations held a pro-president rally in downtown Seoul, with an estimated 60,000 participants according to unofficial police estimates. Another rally organized by conservative circles in the Yeouido District attracted around 28,000 people. A third rally demanding Yoon's removal from power began near the Constitutional Court at 2:00 p.m. local time, with a larger protest led by five opposition parties expected to draw 100,000 participants. The Constitutional Court held the final hearings in Yoon's impeachment case earlier this week, with a verdict expected by mid-March. A Gallup Korea poll released on Friday showed 59% of respondents support the impeachment, while 35% oppose it.

On February 27, 2025, US President Donald Trump greeted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the entrance of the West Wing of the White House in Washington, DC. Three White House officials told CNBC on Friday that Trump plans to sign an executive order making English the official language of the United States, a first in the nation's history. The order would also rescind former President Bill Clinton's August 2000 directive requiring federal fund recipients to provide services for those with limited English proficiency. Trump's order will allow federal agencies to maintain current policies and continue offering documents and services in other languages, but it encourages new Americans to adopt the national language for greater opportunities. Over half of US states have already established English as their official language, but the federal government has not. In 2019, nearly 68 million Americans, or about one in five, spoke a language other than English at home, nearly triple the figure from 1980. The White House fact sheet argues that a national language promotes social unity, civic engagement, and efficiency in government operations. Trump has frequently stoked unfounded fears about undocumented immigrants throughout his political career and targeted languages as a sign of immigration gone awry during his 2024 presidential campaign.