News from February 26, 2025 at 2 AM

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.

On February 24, 2025, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the left-wing The Left (Die Linke) jointly secured one third of the seats in the new parliament in the German general election in Berlin, sufficient to block constitutional changes, including relaxing the country's debt brake, which limits budget deficits to 0.35% of GDP. Both parties oppose military aid to Ukraine and could veto increased defense fund contributions in the Bundestag, causing tensions with Germany's NATO allies. Conservative leader Friedrich Merz vowed to quickly form a coalition after winning the most votes, but gains by the AfD and far-left parties complicate his task. Economists warn that Germany faces fiscal challenges in increasing defense spending while easing the tax burden, potentially triggering a trade war with the U.S.

On the morning of February 25, a bridge under construction on the Sejong Expressway in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, collapsed, resulting in four deaths and six injuries. During the incident, five 50-meter-high concrete structures collapsed after being lifted by cranes. Among the deceased were two Chinese citizens, and five of the injured were severely wounded, including one Chinese citizen. The bridge connected two mountainous areas, with the bridge deck collapsing from a height of 50 meters. South Korean Acting President Choi Sang-moo ordered all available resources and personnel to be mobilized for the rescue. The main contractor, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, apologized for the accident and is cooperating with authorities to address site issues and investigate the cause.

On February 25, US President Donald Trump proposed replacing the existing EB-5 immigrant investor visa program with a so-called 'gold card' that would cost around US$5 million, granting buyers green card privileges and a pathway to American citizenship. Trump stated that details of the scheme would be released in two weeks and it could be applicable to Russian oligarchs. The EB-5 program, administered by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services, aims to stimulate the US economy through job creation and capital investment by foreign investors. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the EB-5 program was fraught with fraud and would be replaced by the 'Trump gold card'.

Late on Tuesday, Israeli warplanes struck the town of Kisweh, approximately 20 kilometers south of Damascus, and a town in the southern province of Daraa, according to residents, security sources, and local broadcaster Syria TV. The Israeli military later stated that it attacked military targets in southern Syria, including headquarters and sites containing weapons. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz's spokesperson said the strikes were part of a new policy to pacify southern Syria and prevent it from becoming like southern Lebanon. Residents of Damascus and Reuters reporters heard planes flying low over the capital and a series of explosions. The bombardment followed Syria's condemnation of Israel's incursion into its south and demands for withdrawal, as stated in a national summit's closing statement. Israel had moved forces into a U.N.-monitored demilitarized zone in Syria after rebels led by a former Al Qaeda affiliate ousted former President Bashar al-Assad in December.

On February 25, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in Tehran, aligning their positions on Iran's nuclear issue. Russia is a signatory to the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbs on its nuclear activities. Lavrov stated that Moscow believes diplomatic measures are still viable for resolving the issue. Last week, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi noted that Iran continues to enrich uranium to around 7 kg per month at 60% purity despite UN pressure, though Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons. Grossi plans to visit Tehran next month for the first time in a year. Russia and Iran have grown closer, signing a strategic partnership agreement in January, and discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues including Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, and the Israel-Palestine conflict during Lavrov's visit.

Syria has entered a phase of rebuilding a new state after prolonged war and devastation. During the National Dialogue Conference in Damascus, interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa emphasized the importance of maintaining national unity and internal stability as the duty of all citizens. He called for firm counteraction against any attempts to undermine the country's unity and urged unity and cooperation to heal the nation and ensure prosperity. The conference, attended by over 600 delegates from various regions, aims to develop proposals for a constitutional declaration and the basic principles of the new governing regime. Hassan al-Daghim, spokesperson for the organizing committee, stated that discussions will cover the transitional justice system, the new economic structure, and administrative reform plans.

The China Earthquake Networks Center officially reported that at 6:55 AM on February 26, a 6.1-magnitude earthquake occurred in the Maluku Sea, Indonesia (0.35°N, 124.85°E), with a focal depth of 20 kilometers. The earthquake was reported by CCTV reporter Zhang Tengfei.

In February, consumer pessimism about the economic outlook intensified amid concerns over a slowing economy and rising inflation, according to the Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index fell to 98.3, a 7-point drop and below the Dow Jones forecast of 102.3, marking the lowest reading since June 2024 and the largest monthly decline since August 2021. Consumers' views on current labor market conditions weakened, and optimism about future business conditions and income decreased. President Donald Trump's threat of additional tariffs against trading partners has raised economists' inflation concerns. Consumer 12-month inflation expectations jumped to 6%, well above the Federal Reserve's 2% goal. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent cautioned about potential slow growth and 'sticky' inflation, advocating for a more diverse economy through tax cuts, deregulation, and tariffs. Stocks briefly fell, and the 10-year Treasury yield declined following the report, reflecting consumer nervousness about potential tariff impacts.

On February 25, US President Donald Trump's hardline agenda faced a crucial test in Congress, where Republicans hold a slim majority in the House of Representatives. Lawmakers are set to vote on a resolution for the 2025 federal government budget, proposing over $1.5 trillion in spending cuts and $4.5 trillion in extended tax cuts over a decade. Republican Speaker Mike Johnson has been working to garner party support, but Democrats argue the bill will deeply cut the Medicaid program relied on by many low-income families. Johnson hinted the vote might be delayed. With a March 14 deadline to agree on a budget outline or face a government shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries stated Democrats will not support the Republican budget. Internal GOP divisions over cut depths and Medicaid reductions, coupled with constituent opposition, complicate matters. Senate Majority Leader John Thune warned of a potential shutdown.

US government workers faced widespread confusion on Monday due to conflicting advice over an Elon Musk-backed email requiring them to report their work from the previous week or face termination. Within 48 hours, the issuing office clarified that responses were voluntary, but President Donald Trump stated that non-compliance would result in firing. Musk later reinforced the ultimatum, giving workers a final chance to respond. Federal worker unions and activist groups filed a lawsuit in California to halt the email mandate. Key agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Health and Human Services, Justice, and the FBI, instructed employees to ignore the directive, leading to widespread uncertainty. Many employees expressed confusion over contradictory guidance. The Office of Personnel Management later said each agency could decide how to handle the directive. Trump called the move a 'genius' effort to determine if employees were working.

An overnight Russian drone attack on the Kyiv region injured a 19-year-old woman, who was hospitalized with a head injury, according to Mykola Kalashnyk, governor of the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital. Kalashnyk posted photos on Telegram showing firefighters battling a residential house fire at night. Reuters witnesses reported hearing blasts in and around Kyiv, suggesting air defense systems were active. Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the city was under air attack on Telegram. Air raid alerts were issued for Kyiv, its surrounding region, and eastern Ukraine starting at around 2000 GMT, per Ukraine's air force data. Russia has not yet commented. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that began three years ago.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva dismissed Nisia Trindade as health minister on Tuesday, appointing Alexandre Padilha to the position. Padilha, currently serving as Lula's institutional relations minister, is expected to be sworn in on March 6. This marks the second cabinet change this year for Lula's administration, following the replacement of the presidential head of communications in January. The move comes as Lula is also contemplating appointing the head of his Workers Party, Gleisi Hoffmann, as institutional relations minister, according to a Reuters report on Monday.