News from February 16, 2025 at 2 PM

US Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg stated that the US will act as an intermediary in the Ukraine peace talks. On February 15, President Donald Trump's Ukraine envoy in Munich indicated that Europe will not have a seat at the table for these talks. Previously, Washington sent questionnaires to European capitals to inquire about their contributions to security guarantees for Kyiv. Trump shocked European allies by calling Russian President Vladimir Putin without consulting them or Kyiv, announcing an immediate start to peace talks. Trump administration officials have made it clear that they expect NATO European allies to take primary responsibility for the region, as the US focuses on other priorities. This move has raised fears that Europeans might be excluded from a peace deal affecting their own security. Kellogg reassured Europeans at a global security conference in Munich that their interests would still be considered. Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasized that Europe cannot be excluded from discussions on Ukraine's future and European security. The US questionnaire is forcing Europeans to think, with France and Poland discussing an urgent meeting. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte urged Europeans to take concrete actions. Kellogg suggested that talks could involve territorial concessions from Russia and targeting Putin's oil revenues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for the creation of a European army, stating that Europe can no longer rely on US protection.

On February 15, Israel and Hamas conducted their sixth round of prisoner exchange, with Hamas releasing three Israeli detainees and Israel freeing 369 Palestinian prisoners. The handover took place in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, where the released Israelis underwent medical checks and reunited with their families. The exchange faced numerous setbacks, influenced by international mediation and intense negotiations between the two sides. Hamas had accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, postponing the release, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to threaten ending the ceasefire. Despite the first phase of the ceasefire agreement passing its fourth week, there has been no substantial progress in the second phase negotiations. Significant differences remain between the two sides on issues of prisoner release and the status of the Gaza Strip, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis and making the path to peace fraught with challenges.

On February 15, a stabbing attack in the southern Austrian city of Villach left a 14-year-old boy dead and five others injured, including two seriously. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner labeled it an Islamist attack with connections to the Islamic State. The suspect, a 23-year-old Syrian asylum seeker, was reportedly radicalized online in a short period. Following the attack, a Syrian food deliverer, Alaaeddin Alhalabi, rammed his car into the attacker, subduing him. Local residents placed candles at the attack site, expressing fears for the future. Carinthia Governor Peter Kaiser called for the harshest consequences for this 'unbelievable atrocity,' while far-right leader Herbert Kickl demanded a rigorous clamp-down on asylum policies.

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.

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 15, a car attack in Munich, Germany, resulted in the death of a 37-year-old mother and her two-year-old daughter, who succumbed to their injuries on Saturday. At least 37 people were injured in the attack, which was carried out by a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, Farhad N, who was arrested at the scene and confessed to the crime, with apparent religious motivation. The incident has brought security issues to the forefront ahead of Germany's federal elections. The suspect arrived in Germany in 2016 and was allowed to stay despite his asylum application being rejected. Police stated he had no criminal record and no evidence linked him to jihadist groups. US Vice-President JD Vance expressed condolences to the victims upon his arrival in Munich.

British couple Craig and Lindsay Foreman, both aged 52, were arrested in Iran in January, with news of their detention emerging on February 15th via Iranian state media, citing unspecified security charges. The couple was on a global motorbike trip and had planned to stay in Iran for only five days. The UK Foreign Office issued a statement on behalf of their family, expressing significant concern and stating they are actively working with the British government and relevant authorities to ensure their safety. The couple had entered Iran from Armenia on December 30th and planned to reach Pakistan by January 4th. After visiting several Iranian cities, they headed to Kerman but never checked into their hotel. Prior to their detention, Lindsay shared positive experiences of Iran on social media. The Iranian authorities have not specified the charges against them.

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.

According to Russian media outlets such as RIA Novosti, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that U.S. President Donald Trump can visit Russia anytime if conditions are coordinated. Peskov emphasized during an interview that Trump's visit would require mutual agreement. He also noted that recent calls between Putin and Trump sent a strong signal of resolving issues through dialogue. On December 12, Trump spoke with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, discussing the situation in Ukraine and agreeing to closely cooperate on ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The next day, Peskov said Russia views the U.S. as the primary interlocutor in negotiations regarding the Ukraine situation.

Brazil assumed the presidency of BRICS from January 1 this year. The BRICS Summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 6 to 7, 2025, as confirmed by the association's press service. This summit is a key event during Brazil's presidency, expected to draw global attention.

According to reports from Bloomberg and Reuters, Musk announced on local time 15th via social platform X that his AI company xAI's chatbot Grok 3 will be launched at 8 PM Pacific Time on the 17th in the United States. Earlier this week, Musk stated that the development of Grok 3 was in its final stages and expected to be released within a week or two, highlighting its strong reasoning capabilities. In November 2023, Musk announced that xAI's AI model Grok can connect to social platform X in real-time.

On February 14 local time, US President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on imported cars as early as April 2, without providing further details. Trump believes that US exported cars have long been unfairly treated in foreign markets. Experts note that this move reflects trade protectionism and will harm both the US and its trading partners. Professor Diao Daming from the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China analyzes that Trump's tariff imposition is based on three considerations: balancing trade structures, pressuring opponents, and protecting domestic industries, particularly aimed at safeguarding the US auto industry and rewarding the midwestern white-collar working class. However, this policy will affect major trading partners such as Mexico, Japan, and increase the burden on US consumers, ultimately proving detrimental to the US in the long run.