News from February 12, 2025 at 2 AM

Hamas issued a statement on its Telegram channel blaming Israel for failing to fulfill its commitments under the Gaza ceasefire agreement, leading to implementation issues. Hamas stated it would continue to implement the Egypt-, Qatar-, and US-mediated deal as long as the other party meets its obligations. Despite rejecting US President Donald Trump's statements on taking control of the Gaza Strip and resettling its residents, Hamas still considers the mediators as guarantors of the deal's implementation. Previously, Hamas postponed the release of hostages due to Israel's ceasefire violations. Trump demanded the release of all hostages by February 15, threatening unspecified actions otherwise. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces would resume military operations if hostages are not released by the deadline.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview with The Guardian published on February 11 that Ukraine is willing to swap territory with Russia in potential peace negotiations, including land seized in Russia's Kursk region six months ago. He emphasized that Europe alone cannot support Ukraine's war effort without American involvement. Zelensky is set to meet US Vice-President J.D. Vance at the Munich Security Conference on February 14. President Trump seeks a deal between the two sides, but Ukraine fears any settlement lacking strong military commitments will allow Russia to regroup. Zelensky also offered lucrative reconstruction contracts to US companies to garner support, highlighting Ukraine's significant mineral reserves and the risk of them falling into Russian hands.

According to media reports, the United States and the United Kingdom were not among the signatories of the final declaration of the Paris AI Action Summit. The declaration, signed by 61 countries including China, France, and India, calls for ensuring that artificial intelligence is open, inclusive, transparent, ethical, safe, secure, and trustworthy. It also emphasizes greater cooperation in AI governance, fostering a global dialogue, and warns against market concentration risks. The summit is taking place at the Grand Palais exhibition complex in Paris, co-chaired by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Organizers say one of its goals is to establish a foundation to harness AI's power for the benefit of society, expecting to raise over 2.5 billion euros in the next five years.

On February 11, 2025, former Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) president Luis Rubiales testified in court that he was 'absolutely sure' he had Jenni Hermoso's consent before kissing her during the 2023 Women's World Cup final medal ceremony in Australia. Rubiales is on trial for sexual assault and attempting to coerce Hermoso into publicly stating the kiss was consensual. Hermoso insists she did not give permission, calling the incident a stain on one of her happiest days. The event sparked widespread protests, leading to Rubiales's resignation in September 2023. Three former colleagues are also on trial for allegedly pressuring Hermoso. Prosecutors are seeking a two-and-a-half-year jail term for Rubiales, with the trial set to conclude on February 19.

CGTN reporter learned that on February 11 local time, an explosion occurred near an airport in Texas, United States. The explosion resulted in at least 4 injuries. Currently, the specific cause of the explosion is under investigation. The injured have been rushed to the hospital for treatment. Local police and fire departments have swiftly responded to the scene for handling the situation.

On February 10, US Vice-President J.D. Vance attended the AI Action Summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris. On February 11, he delivered a speech in Paris, emphasizing the Trump administration's goal to make the US the 'gold standard worldwide' for artificial intelligence and warning against regulating political speech. Vance specifically criticized the European Union's tough regulatory approach to social media platforms and AI, accusing it of trying to clamp down on Silicon Valley. He also stated that the AI revolution should not be dominated by large companies seeking to censor or control user thoughts. This trip marks Vance's first major foreign engagement as vice-president, during which he is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The Trump administration has clashed with the EU over tech regulatory policies, with Trump announcing 25% tariffs on global aluminum and steel imports, prompting a countermeasure warning from the EU. Vance pledged to protect US chip technology from misuse by authoritarian regimes or foreign adversaries.

A female teacher suffering from depression in Daejeon, South Korea, stabbed an 8-year-old girl, Kim Hana, to death on a school campus on Monday, shocking the nation. Kim Hana disappeared after leaving her after-school care program at 4:40 PM, and her parents reported her missing at 5:15 PM. Police found the teacher and Kim Hana in a pool of blood in the audio-visual room at 5:45 PM, with the girl succumbing to her injuries. The teacher confessed to the crime and attempted self-harm. She had taken a medical leave for depression in December but returned to work early, experiencing anxiety and irritability. Prior to the incident, she assaulted a colleague, and the school's recommendation for her to take leave was rejected by the education office. Citizens and parents expressed concerns over school safety and management, with the victim's father urging the government to legislate to prevent similar tragedies.

Renowned British-Indian author Sir Salman Rushdie testified in a New York state court about the stabbing attack on stage two years ago, which left him blind in one eye. He recounted thinking he was dying during the assault. The defendant, 27-year-old Hadi Matar, has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and assault. Sir Salman had faced years of threats since the publication of his novel The Satanic Verses in 1988. The attack occurred on August 12, 2022, as he was about to speak at the Chautauqua Institution. He detailed the attack, stating he was stabbed 15 times, with the most severe injury to his eye. His wife, Lady Rushdie, cried in the courtroom as he recounted the incident. Despite reduced threats, the attack shattered his sense of safety.

On November 11, a collision between a train and a truck occurred in Hamburg, Germany, resulting in one death and 16 injuries. Approximately 300 passengers were on the train at the time of the incident. One injured passenger died after being rushed to the hospital, while three others sustained severe injuries. The 34-year-old truck driver was taken into custody by police for questioning and undergo alcohol and drug tests. The train, which was en route from Hamburg to Munich, was evacuated, and the railway section was closed off. The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Multiple U.S. media outlets reported that a consortium led by Elon Musk has offered $97.4 billion to acquire OpenAI. Musk's lawyer revealed that an acquisition offer has been submitted, but OpenAI CEO Sam Altman publicly rejected it. Altman stated that OpenAI's structure ensures no individual can control it and plans to transform it into a for-profit company, investing up to $500 billion through the Star Gate project. Long-standing tensions between Musk and Altman date back to their co-founding of OpenAI in 2015, with Musk suing OpenAI last year for betraying its original mission. OpenAI is currently in new funding negotiations, with its valuation potentially reaching $300 billion. Musk's move is seen as the boldest offensive against OpenAI's transformation.

A spokesperson for the Kunduz Provincial Police confirmed to Xinhua that a suicide bombing occurred outside the Kabul Bank in Kunduz Province, northern Afghanistan, on the morning of November 11th. The attack has resulted in 5 deaths and 7 injuries. Following the incident, local authorities promptly launched an investigation, with further details still under investigation.

The top Democrat on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dick Durbin, alleged on Tuesday that President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, Kash Patel, has been secretly overseeing the ouster of the bureau's leadership before his confirmation. Durbin said he learned of Patel's alleged role in the firings from several whistleblowers and has asked Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz to investigate. Durbin claimed Patel was working with senior White House and Justice Department staffers to oversee the removals. Patel's spokesperson, Erica Knight, called Durbin's claims 'second-hand gossip' on social media. An FBI spokesperson declined to comment, and spokespeople for the White House and Justice Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The committee is set to vote on Patel on Thursday, who testified under oath during his confirmation hearing that he was unaware of any efforts to fire or punish FBI employees. Durbin suggested Patel may have perjured himself if the allegations are true. The day after Patel's hearing, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove fired eight senior FBI officials and ordered Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll to hand over a list of employees who worked on investigations related to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. The demand for the list led two groups of FBI agents to sue the Justice Department to prevent the public release of their names, which they said could put them at risk. The department has since agreed not to release any names and to provide the plaintiffs with at least 48 hours notice if that changes.

Following the United States' announcement last month to withdraw from the World Health Organization, WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier stated on February 11 that the organization is struggling to obtain information on avian flu outbreaks in the US. Lindmeier noted that communication challenges exist and traditional contact methods have been cut off. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day in office, January 20, to withdraw from the WHO. Some countries have expressed concerns that the US might stop reporting relevant information. Data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 68 human cases of H5N1 avian flu have been reported in the US since 2024. Currently, no human-to-human transmission has been detected, but the risk of infection is higher for individuals with prolonged exposure to birds, poultry, or cattle.

On February 11, 2025, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader and chancellor candidate Friedrich Merz spoke at the last planned session of the Bundestag in Berlin, promising no collaboration with the far-right ahead of the national elections. Scholz accused Merz of breaking his promise after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) supported his migration and security motion last month, violating a long-standing taboo against cooperation with the far-right. Latest polls show the AfD in second place, ahead of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), with the CDU/CSU bloc poised to win the largest vote share. All parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD, suggesting that government formation talks could drag on after the elections.

On February 11, 2025, Google Maps renamed the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America in its US version, following a longstanding practice of adhering to official government source updates. The Gulf, bordered by the US, Cuba, and Mexico, retains its original name for users in Mexico. The change came after President Donald Trump ordered the renaming in US government documents upon his return to office last month. Mexico opposed the move, arguing the US lacks the legal right to change the Gulf's name. Google made the change based on an update from the Geographic Names Information System, a US government database. Trump also proclaimed February 9 as 'Gulf of America Day.' Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum asked Google to reconsider. The Associated Press, which refused to change the name in its style guide, was barred from covering a White House event.

On February 11, Canada appointed senior intelligence official Kevin Brosseau as the new fentanyl czar to coordinate efforts against fentanyl smuggling, fulfilling a promise made to US President Donald Trump. Trump had threatened to impose tariffs on all imports from Canada unless the government took stronger measures to stop the flow of fentanyl across the border. Last week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Trump twice, who agreed to pause punitive measures for a month in exchange for several concessions, one of which was appointing the fentanyl czar. Brosseau, a former senior policeman, most recently served as Trudeau's deputy national security and intelligence advisor. Public Safety Minister David McGuinty stated that Canada needs a fentanyl czar to coordinate between agencies, act swiftly to tackle challenges, and work closely with American counterparts to disrupt and dismantle the illegal drug trade crossing the border. White House officials say Canada and Mexico are conduits for small-package shipments of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals into the US. Public data shows that 0.2% of all fentanyl seized in the US comes from the Canadian border, while the vast majority originates from the southern border.

On February 10, the United Nations deadline for submitting new carbon emission reduction targets was missed by nearly all nations, with only 10 out of nearly 200 countries required to deliver fresh climate plans under the Paris Agreement doing so on time. Major economies like China, India, and the European Union were among those that failed to meet the deadline. The United States, Britain, and Brazil were the only G-20 economies to submit on time, though the US pledge was largely symbolic. UN climate chief Simon Stiell called for submissions by September to be properly assessed before the UN COP30 climate conference in November. Analysts expect China, the world's largest polluter and renewable energy investor, to unveil its climate plan in the second half of 2025. The slow response has raised concerns about a potential backslide on climate action.

On February 11th local time, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced that the Ukrainian government had approved a plan to recruit and incentivize young Ukrainians aged 18 to 24 to join the military. The plan allows volunteers in this age group to sign one-year contracts. According to Ukrainian media, the contract includes financial and other incentives, such as a reward of 1 million hryvnias (approximately $24,300) and the option to choose their military specialty.