Wednesday, January 19th, 2025 

NASA’s Center for Near-Earth Object Studies announces that the chances of asteroid 2024 YR4 impacting Earth on 22 December 2032 has increased to 3.1% (1-in-32) following further observations of its orbital trajectory. It has now surpassed the threat of 99942 Apophis which once had a 2.7% chance of hitting Earth during 2004 before later being ruled out. (Live Science) (CNN) 

An attack with an explosive drone in the locality of El Capire, Apatzingán left one National Guard and a police wounded, while they were on reconnaissance rounds in the area. Hours later, two agents of the Attorney General of Mexico were kidnapped and found dead in the town in Cenobio Moreno, located on the outskirts of Apatzingán. (El Debate) (El Universal) 

Rwandan-backed M23 rebels advance on the city of Butembo, North Kivu, and capture Kamanyola in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo after defeating Congolese forces. Local officials say M23 forces are now preparing to advance on Uvira. (AP) 

Following a meeting between Chadian president Mahamat Déby and a diplomatic envoy of Congolese president Félix Tshisekedi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo formally requests military support from Chad in their ongoing conflict against the M23 rebel movement. (Anadolou Agency) 

Puntland police capture several IS–Somalia militants accused of involvement in extortion and bombings in Bosaso, the capital of the Bari Region, amid ongoing military operations in the Cal Miskaad mountains. (Garowe Online) 

At least one person is killed and 14 others are injured in Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, including a large drone attack on energy infrastructure in Odesa that leaves 160,000 residents without heating and electricity. (The Kyiv Independent) 

Former President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro is formally charged with leading the 2022 Brazilian coup plot. (Reuters) 

Tuesday,  February 18th, 2025 

Brazilian minister of mines and energy Alexandre Silveira announces that the country will join OPEC+. (AP) 

Burundi initiates the withdrawal of its military forces from the eastern DRC following M23 advances. Between 10,000 and 15,000 Congolese civilians cross into Burundi to avoid violence, with several drowning in the Ruzizi River. (Reuters) 

Hamas accuses Israel of carrying out at least 266 attacks in the Gaza Strip since the agreed ceasefire on January 19, killing at least 132 Palestinians and wounding 900 others. (Newsweek) 

Rapid Support Forces militants kill at least 433 people in the villages of Al-Kadaris and Al-Khelwat, White Nile State, Sudan. (Reuters) 

Israel partially withdraws troops from Lebanon as the deadline for their withdrawal expires. (Reuters) 

A joint Egyptian-British archaeological mission announces the discovery of the tomb of King Thutmose II, the first royal Egyptian tomb to be discovered since King Tutankhamun‘s was found in 1922. (CBS News) 

German automotive parts company Continental AG announces it will lay off over 3,000 research and development positions and end operations at its factory in Nuremberg, Bavaria, by 2026. (DW) 

The death toll from flooding in Kentucky, United States, rises to 14, amid the threat of an imminent winter storm in the region. (NBC News) 

The United States and Russia start talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine without European or Ukrainian participation. (BBC News) 

The delegations agree to start the negotiating process for ending the war, create high-level teams, and normalize diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. (AP) 

U.S. President Donald Trump calls for a new presidential election to be held in Ukraine as part of a peace deal with Russia. (The Telegraph)

Russia rules out any peacekeepers from NATO member states being stationed in Ukraine as part of any peace agreement. (BBC News) 

Over 124 people have been killed over the last six weeks from consuming bootleg alcohol, with dozens still hospitalized. Twenty-eight people are arrested in connection with the production and distribution of the alcohol. (CBS News) 

The Welsh Government announces a ban on Greyhound racing in Wales following cross-party calls for a ban on the sport which has been criticized for its animal cruelty. (BBC News) 

An Iranian court charges a British couple who were arrested and jailed last month with espionage. (DW) 

$LIBRA cryptocurrency scandal A judge in Argentina orders investigations into potential fraud by President Javier Milei following his brief social media promotion of a cryptocurrency that collapsed in value hours after promotion. (AP) 

The United States Senate confirms businessman Howard Lutnick as the Secretary of Commerce in a 51–45 vote. (AP) 

The End Wednesday 

Tuesday,  February 18th, 2025 

Israel carried out at least 266 attacks in the Gaza Strip since the agreed ceasefire on 19 January 2025, killing at least 132 Palestinians and wounding 900. (Al Jazeera) 

The U.S. and Russia start talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine without European or Ukrainian participation. (BBC News) 

Monday,  February 17th, 2025 

Russia says its forces have captured the village of Fyholivka in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. (Reuters) 

Mohammad Shahin, a senior Hamas commander, is assassinated in an Israeli airstrike on a vehicle in Sidon, Lebanon. (Anadolu Ajansı) 

In a coordinated operation, the United States and United Arab Emirates launch joint airstrikes targeting IS–Somalia militants in Bari Region, Puntland, Somalia. (Garowe Online)

American airline company Southwest Airlines announces it will layoff 1,750 jobs, 15% of its corporate workforce, for cost reduction. This is the company’s first mass layoff since it started operating in 1971. (CNBC) 

Ten people are killed and eight others are injured when a three-story residential building collapses in Cairo, Egypt. (Voice of America) 

Eighteen people are injured, including three critically when a Delta Airlines Bombardier CRJ900LR, crashes after catching fire and flipping over at Toronto Pearson Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (CBS News)

Eight adults and one child are killed in flooding caused by heavy rains in the eastern United States. (DW) 

A bus crashes and falls 800 m (2,600 ft) down a cliff in Yocalla Municipality, Bolivia, killing 31 people and injuring fourteen others. (Reuters) 

Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Weimar+ 

European leaders gather in France for a summit on Ukraine after the U.S. administration announced the opening of peace talks with Russia on ending the Ukrainian war without European participation. (CNN) 

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov says that Europe has no role in any peace negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. (BBC News) 

Syrian security forces arrest three former Assad regime officers responsible for the Tadamon massacre, which occurred in south Damascus in 2013. (The New Arab) 

Demonstrations take place at state capitols around the United States, including at Union Square in Washington, D.C., as part of the 50501 movement to protest against the second administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, the Department of Government Efficiency, Elon Musk, and Project 2025. (NPR)

Student groups and the Civil Social Coalition party launch a protest in several cities in Indonesia against the government. (Tempo) 

The End Tuesday 

Above posted Tue 11:00AM 

above new

Monday,  February 17th, 2025 

German automotive manufacturer Porsche announces it will cut 2,000 jobs over the next five years, reducing its workforce by 15%, primarily affecting its assembly plants in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and Weissach in Baden-Wurttemberg. (DW) 

Mohammad Shahin, a senior commander of Hamas, is assassinated in an Israeli airstrike against a vehicle in Sidon, Lebanon. (LBC) 

European leaders gather in France for an summit on Ukraine after the U.S. administration announced the opening of peace talks with Russia on ending the Ukrainian war without European participation. (CNN) 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says that Europe has no role in any peace negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine. (BBC News) 

Singaporean Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh is convicted of two counts of lying under oath to the Committee of Privileges and is fined for S$7,000 per count, but is not disqualified as Member of the Singaporean Parliament. (CNA) 

Students groups and the Civil Social Coalition party launch a protest in several cities against the Indonesian government with a movement called #IndonesiaGelap (#DarkIndonesia) (Tempo English) 

Sunday, February 16th, 2025 

A neutrino detector submerged in the Mediterranean Sea detects a ghost neutrino particle that is 30 times more active than previously found. (AP) 

A crowd crush kills at least 18 people, including three children, and injures ten others at New Delhi railway station in New Delhi, India. (BBC News)

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leads a delegation that includes National Security Advisor Michael Waltz and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for initial talks with Russia. A Russian source reports that the meeting will occur on 18 February and that the Russian delegation is expected to include Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov, and SVR Director Sergey Naryshkin. 

Local officials and residents report that Rwanda-backed M23 forces have taken over the center of Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu in eastern DR Congo. (Al Jazeera) 

The Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo acknowledges the fall of Bukavu to M23 rebels and urges its roughly two million residents to shelter in place. (BBC News) 

Russia launches drone strikes across Ukraine, injuring at least one person and damaging a thermal power station in Mykolaiv, leaving 46,000 people without heat. Ukraine says that it shot down 95 of 143 drones while disrupting 46 others by electronic countermeasures. (Reuters) 

The BAFTAs are held at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England. The Brutalist and Conclave win the most awards, with four each, while the latter also wins Best Film. (Los Angeles Times) 

Saturday, February 15th, 2025 

Muhsin Hendricks, the first openly gay imam, is assassinated by two unidentified assailants while driving near Gqeberha, South Africa. (BBC News) 

Hundreds of White South Africans hold a protest outside the U.S. embassy in Pretoria, South Africa, in support of U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that the South African government is discriminating against the country’s white minority. (AP) 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio speak by telephone about the Russo-Ukrainian War, the Gaza war, the sanctions against Russia, and removing restrictions on each country’s diplomatic missions. They also discuss preparations for a high-level summit in Saudi Arabia. This is the first time the U.S. and Russia had contact at the foreign minister level in almost two years. (Financial Times) 

The End