News from February 15, 2025 at 2 PM

US Vice President Vans warned that if Russia refuses to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine, the US will impose sanctions and may take military action. President Trump plans to negotiate with President Putin to end the Russia-Ukraine war, but believes Ukraine's NATO membership is unrealistic. Ukraine and European allies insist on participating in negotiations. President Zelensky met with Vans at the Munich Security Conference, demanding a 'stop Putin' plan. The US and Ukraine may reach a mineral agreement to compensate for US aid. US Defense Secretary Hergeses urged Europe to take more responsibility for its defense.

Hamas has announced the release of Alexander Troufanov, a Russian-Israeli hostage, on Saturday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel, as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement, which includes the release of three hostages. Israel has threatened to resume bombing if the hostages are not released on time, following Hamas's postponement due to alleged Israeli ceasefire violations. Since the ceasefire began on January 19, 16 Israeli and five Thai hostages have been released in exchange for 566 prisoners. The first phase aims to free 33 hostages for around 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The conflict was triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in about 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken. Over 48,230 people have been killed in Gaza by Israeli offensives since then. The ceasefire has been strained by reciprocal accusations of violations, with mediation by the US, Egypt, and Qatar preventing collapse. Israel is infuriated by the public display of hostage releases, while Hamas accuses Israel of blocking tents and aid lorries from entering Gaza.

On February 14, 2025, social media videos showed people in military clothing in Katana, near Kavumu airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rwanda-backed M23 rebels captured a strategic airport and advanced towards the second major city, Bukavu, in the mineral-rich east of Congo. The rebels overran Congolese forces to seize Kavumu airport, about 30km north of Bukavu in South Kivu province, one of the last major runways for large planes in the region. The M23 stated that Kavumu and its surroundings, including the airport, are now under their control. Residents of Bukavu panicked as shots were heard on the night of February 14. The Congolese army and the UN mission in Congo did not respond to requests for comment. The assault follows the rebels' seizure of Goma in North Kivu province two weeks earlier, resulting in over 3,000 deaths and a similar number of injuries. Global leaders condemned the invasion, calling for peace talks, a ceasefire, and the withdrawal of Rwandan troops from Congo. Rwandan President Paul Kagame denied supporting M23 and claimed ignorance of his troops' presence in Congo. Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi, at a Munich security conference, called for international sanctions against Rwanda and for the EU to stop buying Rwandan minerals, alleging they are stolen from Congo. He also blamed his predecessor, Mr Joseph Kabila, for orchestrating the rebellion. UN and Congolese officials warn that the rebels' next target may be Bukavu, a trading hub for Congo's gold riches. Over the past two weeks, as fighting moved south, Bukavu has received thousands of displaced people, with local youth joining militias to defend the city. Soldiers from neighboring Burundi are also involved in the fight against M23, raising concerns of a broader regional conflict.

On February 14, local time, Munich police in Germany reported that a car attack on the previous day resulted in 36 injuries, with 8 severely wounded and a 2-year-old girl in critical condition. The suspect has been interrogated and confessed to deliberately driving into the crowd for religious motives. The police stated that the suspect acted alone and there is no evidence linking him to extremist religious groups. The incident occurred when the car rammed into a crowd on strike in central Munich.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that a Russian drone attack struck the radiation shelter protecting Chernobyl's damaged nuclear reactor, causing a fire that has since been extinguished. As of Friday morning, radiation levels inside and outside Chernobyl remain normal and stable, according to the UN's nuclear watchdog, the IAEA. Russia has denied the attack, while the IAEA reported no casualties but remains on high alert. Zelensky posted footage showing damage to the protective shield, with experts noting the inner concrete layer remains secure. Zelensky claimed the attack indicates Putin is not preparing for negotiations and will meet US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The incident follows increased military activity around the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the IAEA said.

23-year-old Venezuelan kayaker Adrián Simancas was paddling in the Strait of Magellan off Chile's coast when he was suddenly engulfed by a humpback whale. He felt a slimy texture and saw only dark blue and white before the whale spat him out. His father, Dall, captured the incident on video. Experts explain that humpback whales have narrow throats, making it impossible to swallow large objects. The encounter serves as a reminder to be cautious when kayaking in whale-inhabited areas.

Pope Francis, 88, was hospitalized on the morning of February 14 for tests and ongoing treatment of bronchitis at Rome's Policlinico Agostino Gemelli. Since becoming Pope in 2013, Francis has experienced influenza and other health issues multiple times over the past two years. Earlier this month, he mentioned suffering from a 'strong cold,' later confirmed by the Vatican as bronchitis. Despite his illness, he has maintained his daily schedule, including a meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico before his hospitalization. Recently, he suffered two falls at his Vatican residence, injuring his chin in December and his arm in January. In June 2023, Francis spent nine days at the same hospital for abdominal hernia surgery.

OpenAI has officially rejected Elon Musk's $97.4 billion proposal to buy its nonprofit parent. In a letter to Musk's lawyer, OpenAI's attorney William Savitt stated that the board unanimously determined the proposal is not in the best interest of OpenAI's mission. OpenAI Chairman Bret Taylor declared the company is not for sale. On Monday, it was revealed that Musk was leading a group of investors offering to buy OpenAI. CEO Sam Altman responded on X, saying they would buy X (formerly Twitter) for $9.74 billion instead. The feud between Musk and Altman dates back to 2015 when they co-founded OpenAI. Microsoft has invested billions in OpenAI, and SoftBank is close to a $40 billion investment. Musk is suing OpenAI for breach of contract and attempting to block its transition to a for-profit entity.

The federal government layoffs initiative pushed by US President Trump and advisor Musk has led to nearly 10,000 employees being fired, affecting multiple departments including the Interior, Energy, and Veterans Affairs. As of February 14, over 9,500 employees had received layoff notices. The lack of coordination in the layoffs has caused dissatisfaction among some staffers, prompting the Energy Department to rescind some dismissal notices. The firing of 325 employees from the National Nuclear Security Administration has raised concerns among experts. Additionally, nearly 1,300 employees from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were laid off, accounting for about 10% of its workforce, dealing a blow to public health efforts.

A fire broke out at the construction site of a Banyan Tree Hotel in Busan, South Korea, on the morning of February 14, resulting in at least six deaths and 25 injuries. The blaze occurred around 10:50 a.m. local time, with approximately 100 workers present at the site. Most of the injured were hospitalized due to smoke inhalation. Fire Chief Hong Moon-sik stated that the fire is believed to have originated from insulation materials stored near the hotel's first-floor pool. The hotel, which began construction in April 2022, was scheduled to open in May this year.

On February 8, demonstrators gathered at Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle, Washington, to support transgender youth. US President Donald Trump's transgender policy, which began with a Day One executive order, has now affected the US National Park Service website by removing the word 'transgender' from the Stonewall National Monument page. The monument commemorates the Stonewall Inn, where a 1969 police raid sparked the LGBTQ rights movement. While other Trump measures have real-world implications for transgender Americans in the military, healthcare, and sports, the symbolic act of deleting 'transgender' was seen as an attempt to erase them. The monument's website was initially altered on February 13 to exclude the letter T, later removing Q and +, leaving the acronym as LGB. Activist Stacy Lentz and transgender activist Raquel Willis strongly opposed this move. Trump's initial executive order, signed on his first day, faced legal challenges, and a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 40% of Americans support barring transgender people from the military.

On February 12, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced the dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams during a press conference in Washington, D.C. The move followed the resignation of seven federal prosecutors who protested the DOJ's directive to drop the case. The DOJ requested Manhattan federal court Judge Dale Ho to dismiss the case without prejudice, retaining the right to refile charges against Adams in the future. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove concluded that prosecuting Adams would hinder his governance in New York City, posing unacceptable risks to public safety and national security. The court filing also cited concerns about the appearance of impropriety and potential interference with New York's primary and mayoral elections this year. The ability to refile charges has raised concerns that President Donald Trump could leverage Adams to support his policies. Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Danielle Sassoon resigned in protest, followed by other prosecutors, including Hagan Scotten, who criticized Bove's rationale for the dismissal. Bove's controversial order led to multiple resignations, including that of the acting chief of the Public Integrity Section, John Keller, and other senior prosecutors.

Starting from the evening of February 13, the short-video platform TikTok was restored in the US Apple and Google app stores. Reporters confirmed that the TikTok app is now fully functional in both stores. In a statement, TikTok said that its US users can download the latest version of the app and continue to create, discover, and share content they enjoy. According to US media reports, Apple and Google reinstated TikTok after receiving assurances from US Attorney General Pam Bondi.

On October 14, Japan's Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Eto Taku, announced the release of up to 210,000 tons of government reserve rice to address issues in rice distribution. This move aims to counter the continuous rise in rice prices by increasing supply to lower retail prices, marking Japan's first use of reserve rice for distribution purposes. Previously, reserve rice was only used in cases of disasters or significant crop failures, but policies were amended last month. Since last summer, extreme heat has led to rice shortages, causing prices to surge by 82%. The government plans to sell the rice through bidding and will repurchase an equivalent amount within a year to prevent price crashes.

On November 19, 2024, tech billionaire Elon Musk expanded his influence over more than a dozen U.S. federal agencies, causing frustration among some top aides to President Donald Trump. Trump's chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and her team felt out of the loop as Musk's Department of Government Efficiency aimed to fire thousands of federal workers and access sensitive data. Wiles recently spoke with Musk, demanding better coordination. Despite Musk projecting alignment with Trump's team during a White House press briefing, underlying tensions remained. Trump later issued an executive order expanding Musk's power over federal agencies. The secretive operations of Musk's department have stunned federal employees. Wiles expressed dissatisfaction with Musk's approach, not his goals, urging more orderly operations from his team.

On February 15, 2024, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) reported the detection of toxic agents in new samples taken in Ukraine. According to the expert report, chlorobenzalmalononitrile, or CS, was allegedly used on the combat engagement line in Ukraine's Dnepropetrovsk Region in October 2024. The findings are based on various documents, witness testimonies, and nine samples collected by the Ukrainian side at the site. This marks the OPCW's second report on the situation in Ukraine, following the first released in November 2024, which alleged a CS incident on September 20, 2024, near the village of Ilyinka in the Dnepropetrovsk Region. CS, a non-lethal tear gas used for riot control, is banned for use in warfare under the Chemical Weapons Convention. Commenting on the first report, Russian Ambassador to The Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW, Vladimir Tarabrin, criticized the report's methodology, comparing it to the one used in Syria and questioning the reliability of the evidence and witness testimonies.