News from February 18, 2025 at 2 AM

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expects to hold another round of talks with European leaders next week. On February 17, European leaders met in Paris for emergency discussions, calling for increased defense spending but remaining divided on deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine. The meeting was convened by French President Emmanuel Macron after US President Donald Trump arranged bilateral peace talks with Russia, excluding European allies and Ukraine. European officials were stunned by the Trump administration's recent moves on Ukraine, Russia, and European defense, facing the reality of reduced US protection. Starmer stated that a US security commitment is necessary for European countries to deploy troops. Meanwhile, Taiwan is considering a multi-billion dollar arms purchase from the US amid Chinese military pressure. Israel expressed support for a US proposal to take over Gaza and relocate its Palestinian residents. Hamas indicated a willingness to cease governing Gaza to extend the ceasefire. Pope Francis faces a complex medical condition, requiring an extended hospital stay.

On February 17, a Lebanese official stated that Israeli troops had begun withdrawing from some border villages, following Israel's military announcement to remain in five 'strategic points' hours before a ceasefire deadline. Lebanon's president expressed concern that Israel might miss the February 18 deadline under the ceasefire with Hezbollah and urged countries to pressure Israel to honor the agreement. An Israeli military spokesman said that small amounts of troops would be temporarily deployed in five strategic points along the Lebanese border. The Lebanese army is ready to deploy in areas from which Israelis withdraw and to protect the border. Since the ceasefire began, Israel has continued to carry out strikes on Lebanon, claiming to have killed a Hamas commander on February 17. The Lebanese government stated that the state should be the sole bearer of arms and vowed to liberate all Lebanese territory.

On July 17th, a Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis, USA, experienced an accident upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada. All flights at the airport were subsequently grounded, and 15 injured individuals were transported to the hospital. Video footage showed the plane upside down with thick smoke billowing. Preliminary reports suggest severe weather as the cause. The investigation will be led by Transport Canada. All 80 people on board the aircraft have been evacuated.

Pope Francis, 88, was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital last Friday for treatment and tests for bronchitis. On Monday, the Vatican announced that the pontiff has a polymicrobial infection of his respiratory tract, necessitating a change in his treatment. Currently, the Pope is in stable condition without a fever and has been conducting some work in the hospital. He expressed gratitude for the numerous messages of support and specifically thanked other hospitalized patients for their affection and prayers. The weekly general audience scheduled for this Wednesday has been cancelled. This is not the first time the Pope has been hospitalized due to health issues.

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.

At around 12 noon local time on the 17th, a bus in Bolivia was involved in a traffic accident on a road connecting the provinces of Potosí and Oruro, resulting in at least 31 deaths. The accident occurred at a sharp turn, where the bus plummeted into the mountains due to excessive speed. Initially, 11 deaths were reported, but as rescue operations progressed, the confirmed death toll continued to rise. Rescue teams are still conducting search and rescue efforts in the accident area.

Argentine President Javier Milei is facing calls for impeachment and legal action accusing him of fraud over his promotion of cryptocurrency on social media. On Friday, Milei posted about the $LIBRA coin on X, formerly Twitter, claiming it would fund small businesses and start-ups, and shared a purchase link, causing its price to surge. However, within hours, he deleted the post, leading to a nosedive in the cryptocurrency's value and significant losses for investors. Some opposition members of Congress plan to initiate impeachment proceedings, while lawyers filed fraud complaints in Argentina's criminal court on Sunday. Milei is accused of a 'rug pull,' where cryptocurrency promoters attract buyers and then cease trading to abscond with the funds. The presidential office stated that the post was removed to avoid speculation and that Milei was not involved in the cryptocurrency's development, with the Anti-Corruption Office set to investigate any impropriety. Former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner criticized Milei as a 'crypto scammer,' and the main opposition coalition vowed to file an impeachment request, calling it an 'unprecedented scandal.' Esteban Paulón, a member of the opposition Socialist Party, also pledged to seek the start of impeachment proceedings.

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.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander urged Mayor Eric Adams to develop a detailed contingency plan following the resignation of four senior aides, or risk potential removal from office. The departures on February 17 created an unprecedented leadership vacuum at the highest levels of city government, impacting essential services, Mr. Lander said. He threatened to convene the Committee on Mayoral Inability if Adams failed to deliver a plan by February 21, which could initiate his removal. The US Justice Department's directive to drop bribery charges against Adams sparked criticism and led to the resignations of four deputy mayors, exacerbating turmoil at City Hall. New York Governor Kathy Hochul expressed serious concerns over alleged 'quid pro quo' between Adams and the Trump administration.

According to Ynet, Israel demands that Hamas release six hostages on Saturday instead of the three stipulated in the current agreement. Israel is also preparing to receive the bodies of several hostages who died in Hamas captivity, which will be brought to Israel two days before Saturday's handover for identification procedures. Kan radio station reported that Israel would receive the bodies of four to five hostages, with Hamas expected to announce their names on the morning of February 20. On January 15, Israel and Hamas reached an agreement to release hostages held in Gaza and declare a ceasefire in the enclave. The three-phase deal, which took effect on January 19, involves Hamas releasing 33 Israeli hostages in the initial 42-day phase in exchange for Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Israel states that 73 people remain in Hamas captivity.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated at a campaign event in Kassel that it is premature to discuss German military involvement in a potential peacekeeping mission in Ukraine. He emphasized the importance of ensuring peace without making decisions behind Ukraine's back and highlighted the need for a strong Ukrainian army. German government spokeswoman Christiane Hoffmann echoed that it is too early to consider sending German troops to Ukraine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer indicated the UK's readiness to deploy troops to provide security guarantees for Kiev. Kremlin Spokesman Dmitriy Peskov warned of severe consequences if foreign military contingents enter Ukraine. EU leaders are scheduled to hold an informal meeting in Paris on February 17 to discuss the Ukrainian conflict and European security self-sufficiency, with Scholz attending, though Berlin does not expect concrete results.

Last night, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station in Russia's Krasnodar region. The station is owned by the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, which is not subject to US sanctions and has a significant portion of its stock owned by American shareholders. This attack could be seen as a blow to US business interests and a personal insult to US President Donald Trump, who has been working to lower oil prices for the benefit of the United States and its people. The drone attack, along with other strikes on Russia's oil infrastructure, may help maintain or even increase oil prices by reducing supply. Speculation arises that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky might be attempting to assert leverage over the US by threatening American business interests.

On February 17th, a senior U.S. government official stated that Boeing's Air Force One project may be delayed until 2029 or later due to supply chain issues and evolving requirements. Boeing has faced difficulties in obtaining parts, meaning President Donald Trump might not see the new aircraft delivered before the end of his second term. In 2015, the U.S. Air Force selected the Boeing 747-8 as the new presidential aircraft. Trump reduced the contract amount to $3.9 billion in 2018, with delivery originally set for 2024. Due to various issues, the delivery date has been postponed multiple times and is now potentially delayed until 2029.

An indigenous community leader in Peru called for a state of emergency on Monday, accusing illegal miners of using children as 'human shields' in the Amazon. Teófilo Kukush, president of the Wampís community in the Amazonian regions bordering Ecuador, said that children aged 5 to 10 are placed in front of dredges during enforcement actions. Several clashes in the area have resulted in at least thirty deaths over the past two years. Last July, an indigenous land rights activist was found dead, and numerous community leaders have been murdered due to conflicts with miners, loggers, and drug traffickers. Local financial regulator data shows that customs reported $1.096 billion in operations linked to illegal mining from January to October last year. Peru produced 108 million grams of fine gold in 2024, with nearly half supplied by small-scale miners, but only 20% of these miners have formal permits.

On February 14, US Vice President JD Vance criticized the European Union's censorship, including social media blocking, at the Munich Conference. On February 16, Christoph Heusgen, the chair of the Munich Conference, described the forum's outcome as 'a nightmare for Europe,' highlighting the values gap between Europe and the United States. The same day, US billionaire Elon Musk mocked Heusgen for crying during his closing speech, calling him 'pathetic' on social media. Heusgen, a prominent German politician, previously served as Germany's envoy to the United Nations from 2017 to 2021 and chaired the Munich Security Conferences in 2022 and 2025.