While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Feb 19, 2025
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(From left) US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz speak after meeting with Russian officials on Feb 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
US, Russia agree to restore diplomatic missions
The US and Russia agreed on Feb 18 to restore the normal functioning of each other’s diplomatic missions, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after talks between senior US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia.
The move appeared to signal a significant easing of restrictions on Russian diplomatic missions in the United States that were imposed by past US administrations over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and other Russian actions.
The Riyadh talks were aimed as a step towards ending Russia’s war in Ukraine after President Donald Trump, who took office in January, ordered top officials to begin negotiations.
Mr Rubio said the sides agreed as a first step to appoint teams of officials to “work very quickly to re-establish the functionality of our respective missions.”
EU lawmakers warn Europe cannot ‘rely on’ US
EU lawmakers on Feb 18 demanded Europe “double down” on bolstering its defences and supporting Ukraine after the United States launched efforts with Russia to stop the war.
“Europe can no longer fully rely on the United States to defend our shared values and interests, including continued support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said a statement from the European People’s Party, Socialists and Democrats, Renew and Greens.
“We must face this new reality and double down on our joint European effort in defence of Ukraine and European security as a whole by establishing a credible and strong deterrence against any aggression.”
Pope Francis has pneumonia in both lungs
Pope Francis has shown the onset of double pneumonia, further complicating treatment for the 88-year pontiff, the Vatican said on Feb 18.
“The laboratory tests, chest X-ray, and clinical conditions of the Holy Father continue to present a complex picture,” said a statement.
“(A) chest CAT scan which the Holy Father received this afternoon... showed the onset of bilaterial pneumonia that requires further pharmacological therapy,” it added.
France sets new plasma record in hunt for nuclear fusion
French scientists on Feb 18 announced that they had reached a “crucial milestone” in the long road towards nuclear fusion by managing to maintain raging-hot plasma for a record 22 minutes.
Nuclear fusion has the much-vaunted potential to provide the world with clean, safe and nearly inexhaustible energy - but the scientific holy grail has remained stubbornly elusive over decades.
The idea is to recreate the process that occurs at the heart of stars by fusing two atomic nuclei. This would be the opposite of fission - which splits the atom - that is used in nuclear power plants.
Shakira medical record leak sparks Peru investigation
Peruvian authorities threatened sanctions and hefty fines on Feb 18 as they investigated how popstar Shakira’s medical records were leaked following her treatment at a Lima clinic.
The 48-year-old four-time Grammy-winning Colombian singer-songwriter was taken to the emergency room on Feb 15 for an abdominal condition, forcing her to scrap a blockbuster show on Feb 16.
Shortly after her brief hospitalisation, her medical report appeared on social media, sparking widespread outrage among fans and an official investigation.