News from February 25, 2025 at 2 AM

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu warned that Israel is ready to resume intense fighting with Hamas at any time, with battle plans in place. Hamas accused Israel of endangering the ceasefire by delaying the release of Palestinian prisoners. Since the ceasefire on January 19, Hamas has released 25 hostages, but Netanyahu suspended the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners due to a 'humiliating ceremony' during the handover. The US supports Israel's decision. The first phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire is set to expire, with no agreement on the next steps. Israel deployed tanks in the West Bank, with the defense minister instructing troops to prepare for long-term presence to combat Palestinian armed groups, sparking strong reactions from the Palestinian side.

The Vatican has issued a medical update stating that Pope Francis's health has slightly improved, though he remains in a critical condition. On Sunday, the Pope was critically ill with respiratory and kidney issues. However, the Vatican now says that a minor kidney problem is no longer a concern. The Pope resumed some work on Monday and called the Priest of the Parish of Gaza to express his support. He is undergoing oxygen therapy, but doctors have not yet disclosed the prognosis. Despite still being in a critical state, the Pope is eating normally and can move, showing no signs of fever or sepsis. On Monday evening, cardinals in Rome, along with Vatican curia members, prayed for the Pope outside St Peter's Basilica.

Officials at the FBI and US State Department instructed staff not to respond to an email from Elon Musk demanding a list of their accomplishments in the past week. Appointees of the Trump administration sent emails telling employees to adhere to their chains of command. Musk's Department of Government Efficiency has already laid off over 20,000 workers and offered buyouts to another 75,000. The approach has drawn widespread criticism, including from voters in some Republican areas. On February 22, federal workers received an email to detail their work, but it omitted Musk's threat of termination. Multiple departments advised employees not to respond pending further guidance. The largest federal workers' union questioned Musk's authority and advised members to follow their supervisors' guidance.

U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that new tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico will proceed as scheduled after a month-long delay. Trump emphasized at a White House press conference that the tariffs will move forward on time. He had previously signed executive orders imposing 25% tariffs on Mexican products and 10% duties on Canadian goods, but paused them after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to enhance border security. Trump also mentioned that his administration would negotiate with Mexico and seek a final economic deal with Canada. Additionally, Trump imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese imports in his first month in office, raising concerns about a potential trade war.

French former surgeon Joel Le Scouarnec admitted in court in Vannes to committing 'despicable acts' against hundreds of patients, mostly children. He is accused of assaulting or raping 299 patients, the majority under 15, between 1989 and 2014. Already imprisoned since 2017, Le Scouarnec was found guilty in 2020 for abusing four children. Many victims were abused under anaesthesia or during recovery, with some having no recollection of the abuse. Prosecutor Stéphane Kellenberger noted that investigators alerted the victims. The trial, focusing on the victims' families and psychological trauma, is expected to conclude in June.

The funeral of Hezbollah's former leader Hassan Nasrallah, killed in an Israeli airstrike in Beirut in September, was held on Sunday with large crowds gathering at a stadium on the outskirts of the Lebanese capital. Nasrallah's successor, Hashem Safieddine, also killed in a separate Israeli strike, was honored alongside him. Hours before the funeral, Israel launched airstrikes in southern Lebanon. Nasrallah's coffin, draped in Hezbollah's flag, was paraded with Safieddine's casket among mourners. Current Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem addressed the crowd via video, affirming Hezbollah's strength. Under Nasrallah's 30-year leadership, Hezbollah became a significant political and military force, closely linked to Iran. Last year's Israeli offensive in Lebanon resulted in around 4,000 deaths and over 1.2 million displacements.

According to Xinhua News Agency in Paris, at around 8 a.m. local time on February 24, two incendiary devices were thrown into the Russian Consulate in Marseille, France. Fortunately, there are no reports of casualties at this time. French authorities have initiated an investigation, but the identity and motive of the assailant remain unclear. This incident has drawn international attention, and security measures are being enhanced accordingly.

On September 20, 2024, Apple Inc. announced plans to build a 250,000-square-foot artificial intelligence server factory in Houston, Texas, as part of its $500 billion investment in the U.S. The new facility, scheduled to begin operations in 2026, will produce servers for Apple Intelligence, the AI personal assistant for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers. Apple also plans to hire around 20,000 new employees in the U.S., focusing on research and development, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that the move reflects the company's confidence in the future of American innovation. Additionally, Apple will double its U.S. Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion and establish a new manufacturing academy in Michigan.

Since January 2025, fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo has resulted in approximately 7,000 deaths. Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka of the DRC revealed at a high-level meeting of the Human Rights Council in Geneva that around 450,000 people are without shelter after 90 displacement camps were destroyed. The advance of the M23 rebels marks the most severe escalation in over a decade of the long-standing conflict in eastern Congo. Rwanda denies allegations from Congo, the United Nations, and Western powers that it supports the M23 with arms and troops. The prime minister urged the international community to act and impose 'dissuasive sanctions' in the face of mass displacements and summary executions. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, in his opening remarks at the 58th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, stated that human rights globally are being 'suffocated' and referred to appalling human rights abuses in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

R&B singer Roberta Flack passed away on February 24, 2025, at the age of 88. Known for hits like 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' and 'Killing Me Softly With His Song,' she announced in 2022 that she had motor neurone disease and could no longer sing. Born in North Carolina and raised in Arlington, Virginia, Flack began as a classical pianist and received a full scholarship to Howard University at 15. Her career took off after being discovered in a jazz club by musician Les McCann. Her first major hit came in her 30s, featured in Clint Eastwood's 1971 film, earning her a Grammy. She collaborated with various artists and returned to the charts in 1991 with a duet with Maxi Priest. In 2020, she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former Secret Service agent Clint Hill passed away at his home in California at the age of 93. On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Hill was part of First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy's protective detail when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. He leapt onto the president's limousine in an attempt to shield him and his wife. Hill later expressed that the incident remained seared in his memory. He retired from the Secret Service at 43 and authored several books, including 'Five Days in November' and 'Five Presidents'. The Secret Service praised his unwavering dedication and exceptional service.

Dan Bongino, a former U.S. Secret Service agent, best-selling author, and conservative pundit, has been appointed as the FBI deputy director. President Donald Trump announced the appointment on his Truth Social platform, praising Bongino's love and passion for the country. Bongino will serve under Kash Patel, who was sworn in as FBI director last Friday. Both are staunch Trump allies, raising concerns among Democrats. Neither Bongino nor Patel has prior FBI experience, which is notable amid escalating national security threats. They inherit an FBI in turmoil, with the Justice Department recently ousting senior officials and demanding names of agents involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot investigation. Bongino previously served on presidential details for Obama and Bush, later becoming a prominent right-wing figure who spread false information about the 2020 election.

Social media platform Telegram was fined nearly AUD 1 million in Australia for failing to timely report to the regulatory body eSafety on measures taken to prevent the spread of child abuse and violent extremism content. eSafety, the world's first cybersecurity regulator, required social media platforms including YouTube, X, Facebook, and Telegram to report their preventive measures by May last year. Telegram responded on October 13, delaying online safety measures by half a year. eSafety Commissioner Grant emphasized that timely disclosure is mandatory. Telegram claimed it had fully responded and deemed the penalty unfair, planning to appeal. Telegram has 28 days to pay the fine or appeal, or eSafety will take the matter to court. Australian intelligence noted that one in five local counter-terrorism cases involves juveniles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday that Russia launched over 200 drones in an overnight attack, marking the largest of the war, as he condemned Russia's 'aerial terror' and called for unity among Ukraine's allies. Ukraine's air force reported that 138 drones were downed and another 119 disappeared from radars due to electronic warfare jamming, adding that Russia also fired three ballistic missiles. Damage was reported in five regions of Ukraine. For months, Moscow has conducted near-nightly mass drone attacks on Ukraine, aiming to exhaust its air defenses. Zelenskiy noted that nearly 1,150 attack drones, over 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and 35 missiles of various types were launched by Russia at Ukraine in the past week. He thanked those operating Ukraine's air defenses and urged foreign allies to unite for a 'just and lasting peace.' Kyiv and its European allies are unnerved by new U.S. President Donald Trump's verbal attack on Zelenskiy last week and a meeting between U.S. and Russian delegations in Riyadh, to which Ukraine was not invited.

On January 21, 2025, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, speaking on CNBC's 'Squawk Box' outside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, revealed that the company is in talks to raise a $3.5 billion funding round, significantly exceeding expectations. This round would approximately triple the AI startup's valuation to $61.5 billion, according to unnamed sources familiar with the deal. Lightspeed Venture Partners is leading the funding, with participation from General Catalyst and others. The financing, first reported by The Wall Street Journal, indicates ongoing investor interest in top-tier AI firms despite potential competition from China's DeepSeek. Anthropic, backed by Amazon and Google, initially aimed to raise $2 billion. The company's last private valuation was $18 billion, with Amazon investing $8 billion. Founded by early OpenAI employees, Anthropic created the popular chatbot Claude and released its 'most intelligent AI model yet' on Monday.