While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Aug 15, 2025
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US President Donald Trump (left) and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Anchorage, Alaska, on Aug 15.
PHOTOS: NYTIMES
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Trump says Putin ready to make deal on Ukraine
US President Donald Trump said on Aug 14 he thought Vladimir Putin was ready to make a deal on ending his war in Ukraine after the Russian president floated the prospect of a nuclear arms agreement on the eve of their summit in Alaska.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies have intensified their efforts this week to prevent any deal between the US and Russia emerging from the Aug 15 summit that leaves Ukraine vulnerable to future attack.
“I think he’s going to make a deal,” Mr Trump said in a Fox News radio interview, adding that if the meeting went well, he would call Mr Zelensky and European leaders afterwards, and that if it went badly, he would not.
The aim of the Aug 15 talks with Mr Putin is to set up a second meeting including Ukraine, Mr Trump said, adding: “I don’t know that we’re going to get an immediate ceasefire.”
Sandwich-throwing man was US Justice Dept employee
A man facing a felony assault charge for throwing a sandwich at a federal agent during President Donald Trump’s crackdown on crime in Washington, DC worked at the US Justice Department, Attorney-General Pam Bondi said on Aug 14.
Sean Dunn, 37, assisted lawyers on international cases in the department’s Criminal Division, a Justice Department official said.
“I just learned that this defendant worked at the Department of Justice - NO LONGER,” Ms Bondi wrote on X. “Not only is he FIRED, he has been charged with a felony.”
Apple rejects Elon Musk’s claim of App Store bias
PHOTO: AFP
Apple on Aug 14 rejected Elon Musk’s claim that its digital App Store favours OpenAI’s ChatGPT over his company’s Grok and other rival AI assistants.
Mr Musk has accused Apple of giving unfair preference to ChatGPT on its App Store and threatened legal action, triggering a fiery exchange with OpenAI chief executive officer Sam Altman this week.
“The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias,” Apple said, in reply to an AFP inquiry.
Ukraine says eastern front stabilised after Russian push
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ukrainian troops have stabilised the battlefield in an area of eastern Ukraine where Russian forces had made a sudden push this week to pierce Ukrainian defences, the regional governor said on Aug 14.
Ukraine said small groups of Russian infantry had thrust some 10 kilometres towards its main defensive line near the town of Dobropillia, raising fears of a wider breakthrough that would further threaten key cities.
The advance, just days before US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin were due to meet in Alaska, appeared aimed at pressuring Kyiv to give up land in pursuit of peace 3½ years into Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.
Sinner swamps Auger-Aliassime in Cincinnati
Jannik Sinner “felt great on the court” as he annihilated Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-0, 6-2 on Aug 14 to reach the ATP-WTA Cincinnati Open semi-finals with his 25th straight hardcourt match victory.
The world number one powered through a rapid-fire opening set and overcame a wobble as he started the second set by dropping serve.
The defending champion prevailed in a brief 71 minutes as he claimed an eighth victory in a row at this event and his 30th this season.
