While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 1, 2025
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US President Donald Trump (right) clashing with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb 28.
PHOTO: NYTIMES
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Zelensky, Trump clash in Oval Office shouting match
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s meeting with US President Donald Trump ended in disaster on Feb 28, after the two leaders traded verbal blows before the world’s media at the White House over the war with Russia.
The visit by Mr Zelensky was designed to help Ukraine convince the United States not to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Instead the Ukrainian leader disagreed sharply with Mr Trump and Vice-President JD Vance over the conflict, underlining how the change of administration in Washington has undermined Kyiv’s attempts to maintain Western support for its war effort.
Mr Vance stressed the need for diplomacy to resolve the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II, while Mr Zelensky countered that Mr Putin could not be trusted in any negotiations.
Pope Francis, in setback, had ‘isolated’ breathing crisis
AFP
Pope Francis had an “isolated breathing crisis” in hospital on Feb 28, the Vatican said, in a setback as the 88-year-old pontiff battles double pneumonia.
Francis, 88, has been in Rome’s Gemelli hospital for two weeks, after being admitted on Feb 14 with a severe respiratory infection that triggered other complications.
“This afternoon... the Holy Father experienced an isolated bronchospasm crisis,” said the latest detailed update about the pontiff’s condition. The pope, it said, also had “an episode of vomiting with aspiration and a sudden worsening of the respiratory condition.”
Students in Bangladesh unveil new political party
REUTERS
Bangladeshi students who played a key role in overthrowing the government 2024 unveiled a new political party on Feb 28, the latest outfit to join the fray ahead of expected elections.
The party includes key organisers from the powerful Students Against Discrimination (SAD) group that spearheaded the uprising which ousted iron-fisted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August.
The new Jatiya Nagarik Party – or National Citizen’s Party in English – kickstarted its journey in front of the National Parliament on Feb 28, joined by thousands of supporters who wore green-and-red bandanas, the colours of Bangladesh’s national flag.
UK govt calls urgent meet with BBC over Gaza documentary
REUTERS
The British government called an urgent meeting with the BBC on Feb 28 over the making of a documentary about children’s lives in Gaza that was narrated by the 13-year-old son of a deputy minister in the Palestinian enclave’s Hamas government.
The BBC said on Feb 27 there had been “serious flaws” in Gaza: How To Survive A War Zone, made by an independent production company, and removed it from its online platform, five days after it was first broadcast on television.
The Palestinian militant group Hamas is deemed a terrorist organisation by Britain, the United States and the European Union.
Tsitsipas to face ‘tired’ Auger-Aliassime in Dubai final
REUTERS
Greek ace Stefanos Tsitsipas cruised past Tallon Griekspoor at the Dubai championships on Feb 28 to set up a final with in-form Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Tsitsipas took just 1hr 23min to see off his Dutch rival, 6-4, 6-4.
Auger-Aliassime had a more challenging struggle before ousting Frenchman Quentin Halys 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 on what he described as a “tough day”.
