News from February 17, 2025 at 2 PM

On February 16, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Ukraine and Europe would be part of any 'real negotiations' to end Moscow's war, downplaying European concerns about being excluded from initial talks between Russia and the United States set to take place in Saudi Arabia. US officials have given European officials a questionnaire asking, among other things, about their troop contributions to enforcing a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. President Trump spoke to Vladimir Putin last week, expressing his desire for peace. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and national security adviser Mike Waltz are scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia on the evening of February 16. Rubio emphasized that Ukrainians and other Europeans would be included in any meaningful negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron will host an emergency summit of European leaders on February 17 to discuss the Ukraine war.

On February 16, 2025, Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli Hospital for ongoing treatment of bronchitis. The Vatican stated that the pontiff, who has been in hospital for four days, remains in stable condition and continues to receive treatment for a respiratory tract infection. The 88-year-old pope had a good night's sleep and ate breakfast on Monday. Due to his illness, Francis was unable to deliver his regular Sunday prayer and a special mass. Over the weekend, he maintained contact with members of a Catholic parish in Gaza via phone calls. The Vatican has canceled his scheduled visit to Rome's Cinecitta film studios on Monday.

On February 14, 2025, Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advanced into the center of Bukavu, the second-largest city in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, facing little resistance from government troops. The rebels have been aiming to seize Bukavu since taking Goma in late January. On Saturday evening, the Congolese presidency stated that Bukavu remained under government and allied control, but by early Sunday, rebels had entered the city center, according to residents and local officials. M23 spokesperson Willy Ngoma confirmed the militia's presence and posted a photo on social media. The rapid advance of the rebels has raised fears of a broader regional conflict. Bukavu residents reported seeing M23 troops in central districts without opposition. The United Nations warned that the humanitarian crisis in eastern provinces has worsened, leaving about 350,000 people displaced.

On February 16, 2025, a stabbing attack occurred in the town of Villach, Austria, resulting in the death of a 14-year-old boy and injuries to five others. Authorities identified the suspect as a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker who was believed to have been radicalized online by the Islamic State (IS). Interior Minister Gerhard Karner stated that an IS flag was found in the suspect's apartment and that he had sworn allegiance to IS. The attack took place amid political tensions in Austria, with the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) using the incident to advocate for stricter deportations of illegal immigrants. This follows recent thwarted and successful terror attacks in Vienna and Munich, respectively.

On February 16, 2024, the first anniversary of the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in prison, at least 1,500 Russians braved freezing temperatures and the risk of reprisals to pay their respects at his grave in Moscow. Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, told AFP she is pushing for an investigation and hopes those responsible will be punished. His widow, Yulia Navalnaya, living in exile, called on exiled Russians to protest on behalf of those unable to do so at home. The European Union and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concerns over Navalny's death. Russia has escalated its crackdown on dissent, with severe penalties for mentioning Navalny or his Anti-Corruption Foundation.

At least 10 people have died in the southeastern US due to torrential rains over the weekend, causing widespread flooding. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared an emergency disaster, reporting nine deaths and over 1,000 rescues in his state. One death occurred in Georgia. Multiple states issued storm alerts, with hundreds of thousands of homes losing power. Parts of Kentucky received 15cm of rain, leading to extensive flooding. Beshear requested an emergency disaster declaration from the White House, which President Donald Trump approved. In Obion County, Tennessee, a levee breach caused rapid flooding, prompting mandatory evacuations. The same weather system is now bringing heavy snow to parts of Canada, while the central US braces for record-breaking cold this week.

In Wilmington, Delaware, a U.S. judge has scheduled a rare holiday court hearing for Monday to address a lawsuit filed by Democratic state attorneys general aiming to protect major federal agencies from Elon Musk's government cost-cutting team, known as DOGE. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in Washington, D.C., announced the hearing on Sunday. On Friday, 13 Democratic state attorneys general argued for a temporary restraining order to prevent DOGE from accessing information systems at agencies including the Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, and others. Since Donald Trump became president last month and tasked Musk with eliminating wasteful spending, DOGE has swept through federal agencies, resulting in thousands of job cuts on Friday. The attorneys general also sought to prevent Musk and his team from firing or placing government employees on leave, requesting the order to last 14 days to file for a more permanent solution. Chutkan did not rule on Friday. The states argue that Musk's power requires presidential nomination and Senate confirmation, and that DOGE lacks Congressional authorization. Approximately 20 lawsuits challenging Musk's authority have been filed, with mixed initial rulings.

On February 16, a deadly stampede occurred at New Delhi Railway Station, India, resulting in at least 18 deaths and several injuries. The incident was triggered by overcrowding due to the delay of two trains and a third train bound for Prayagraj city for the Kumbh Mela festival waiting to depart. A passenger slipping and falling on the stairs caused the crush. Opposition leaders criticized the government for inadequate crowd management. An investigation has been launched, and compensation for victims announced. Eyewitnesses and families of victims blamed the station authorities and police for delayed response. A similar crush at Kumbh Mela last month killed 30 people.

Muhsin Hendricks, South Africa's first openly gay imam, was shot dead near Cape Town at the age of 57. He ran a mosque that served as a safe haven for gay and marginalized Muslims. The attack occurred on Saturday morning when his vehicle was ambushed near Gqeberha. Two masked suspects fired multiple shots at the car. Julia Ehrt, executive director of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA), called for a thorough investigation, fearing it might be a hate crime. Hendricks dedicated his life to helping people reconcile their faith and sexuality, and his death has triggered an outpouring of global tributes. Despite South Africa's constitution protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation, the LGBTQ+ community still faces discrimination and violence.

South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron was found dead in her home in Seoul's Seongsu-dong district at the age of 24. Her body was discovered by a friend at around 16:55 (07:55 GMT) on Sunday. Police reported no signs of foul play and are investigating the cause of death. Kim began her career as a child actor and was considered one of South Korea's most promising young actresses. She gained prominence with her role in the 2009 film A Brand New Life, which led to her appearance at the Cannes Film Festival. She later starred in South Korea's highest grossing film of 2010, The Man from Nowhere, and the 2012 thriller The Neighbour, earning award recognition. Other notable roles include the 2014 film A Girl at My Door and the 2016 TV series Mirror of the Witch. Kim largely retreated from the public eye in 2022 following a drink driving incident, for which she was fined 20 million won (£11,000) in April 2023. Her last role was in Netflix's 2023 Korean drama Bloodhounds, with most of her scenes reportedly edited out due to the driving incident.

A Russian court in Moscow has fined Alphabet's Google 3.8 million roubles ($41,530) for hosting content on YouTube that included videos instructing Russian soldiers on how to surrender, as reported by Russia's TASS news agency on Monday. For several years, Russia has ordered foreign technology platforms to remove content it deems illegal, such as what it calls 'fakes' about the war in Ukraine, issuing small but persistent fines for non-compliance. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Critics accuse Russian authorities of deliberately disrupting YouTube's download speeds to prevent Russians from viewing content critical of President Vladimir Putin and his government. Russia denies this, blaming Google's failure to upgrade equipment, a claim disputed by the company and technology experts. In December, Putin accused Google of being a tool used by the U.S. government for political gains.

Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, has been arrested on money laundering charges by the state-run Financial Crimes Commission (FCC). FCC spokesperson Ibrahim Rossaye stated that Jugnauth will be detained at the Moka detention centre in central Mauritius. The arrest followed searches by FCC detectives at various locations, including Jugnauth's residence, where they seized 114 million Mauritius Rupees ($2.4 million). Jugnauth's lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, said his client has been provisionally charged with money laundering but denies the charges. In November, Mauritius' new Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced an audit of public finances after questioning the accuracy of some government data compiled by the previous administration. The country's former central bank governor was detained last month and released on bail, facing charges of conspiracy to commit fraud. Mauritius, an Indian Ocean archipelago, is an offshore financial centre that positions itself as a link between Africa and Asia.