While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, March 17, 2025
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US President Donald Trump is trying to win Russian President Vladimir Putin’s support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal.
PHOTO: ERIC LEE/NYTIMES, EPA-EFE
Trump and Putin to discuss this week on Ukraine ceasefire terms
US President Donald Trump is expected to speak with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week on ways to end the three-year war in Ukraine, US envoy Steve Witkoff told CNN on March 16 after returning from what he described as a “positive” meeting with Mr Putin in Moscow.
“I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we’re also continuing to engage and have conversation with the Ukrainians,” said Mr Witkoff, who met with Mr Putin on the night of March 13, adding that he thought the talk between Mr Trump and Mr Putin would be “really good and positive.”
Mr Trump is trying to win Putin’s support for a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine accepted last week, as both sides continued trading heavy aerial strikes through the weekend and Russia moved closer to ejecting Ukrainian forces from their months-old foothold in the western Russian region of Kursk.
Mr Trump said in a social media post on March 14 that there was “a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.” He also said he had “strongly requested” that Mr Putin not kill the thousands of Ukrainian troops that Russia is pushing out of Kursk.
US vows to keep hitting Houthis until shipping attacks stop
The United States will keep attacking Yemen’s Houthis until they end attacks on shipping, the US defense secretary said on March 16, as the Iran-aligned group signaled it could escalate in response to deadly US strikes the day before.
The airstrikes, which the Houthi-run health ministry said killed at least 53 people, are the biggest US military operation in the Middle East since President Donald Trump took office in January. One US official told Reuters the campaign might continue for weeks.
Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said on March 16 that his militants would target US ships in the Red Sea as long as the US continues its attacks on Yemen. “If they continue their aggression, we will continue the escalation,” he said in a televised speech.
Ukraine’s Zelensky appoints new chief of general staff to speed up reforms
President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 16 appointed Major-General Andriy Hnatov as Ukraine's chief of the general staff as Kyiv seeks to speed up army reform.
A decree published on the presidential website said General Hnatov, a deputy chief of staff, would replace Lieutenant-General Anatoliy Barhilevych.
"We are consistently changing the armed forces to make them even more combat ready. To achieve it, we are changing the management system and introducing clear standards," Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a statement.
Pope Francis seen in hospital for first time as Vatican releases photo
The Vatican on March 16 released the first image of Pope Francis in hospital since he began treatment for double pneumonia, in which the 88-year-old pontiff appears to be breathing unaided.
The Pope was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital on Feb 14 with a severe respiratory infection that has required evolving treatment. He has not been seen in public since.
Pope Francis is pictured from behind in the image as he is seated in a chapel at the hospital. The side of his face is visible and his right hand rests on his lap. He appears to be breathing on his own in the photo, after receiving oxygen throughout his treatment in hospital.
Guimaraes hails best day of his life as Newcastle win League Cup
Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes said it was the best day of his life as they beat Liverpool 2-1 in the League Cup final at Wembley Stadium on March 16 to win their first major domestic trophy in 70 years.
Newcastle, who last tasted domestic glory when they won the FA Cup in 1955, took the lead in the first half when centre back Dan Burn buried a header into the back of the net and doubled their advantage through striker Alexander Isak after the break.
“It’s all for these fans. They deserve everything. When I first came here I said I wanted to put my name in history,” Brazil midfielder Guimaraes said.
