Hamas announces halt in talks until Israel frees Palestinian prisoners

"Hamas leader Mahmoud Mardawi announced the resistance group would halt negotiations with Israel until Palestinian prisoners held by Tel Aviv are released.

The decision comes after Israel cancelled freeing of 620 Palestinian prisoners, initially set for Saturday.

The United States backed Israel’s decision.

Separately, Israel has heightened its military readiness near Gaza, while President Donald Trump reaffirmed support for Israel’s war on enclave."

Germany's Christian political alliance declares election victory

"Germany’s opposition leader, Friedrich Merz, declared victory as projections showed his Christian conservative political alliance securing 28.5 percent of the vote, surging past rivals.

Merz urged swift coalition talks to restore Germany’s leadership.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party SPD, suffered a historic defeat at 16.5 percent, while the far-right Alternative for Germany AfD, soared to 20.6 percent.

Coalition negotiations remain uncertain, with smaller parties struggling to meet the 5 percent threshold. Voter turnout hit a record high of 84 percent."

US pushes for Ukraine-Russia peace deal based on Istanbul pact

"The US says it is ""very close"" to brokering a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, modeled after the Istanbul Protocol Agreement, says Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff.

Speaking to CNN, he stressed that the war was ""provoked"" and must end.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has resisted US pressure to withdraw its European-backed UN resolution demanding Russia’s withdrawal, according to officials, setting the stage for a high-stakes vote on Monday."

CAIR condemn Musk's claim that US Muslim aid groups are terrorists

"The Council on American-Islamic Relations CAIR has condemned Elon Musk for amplifying claims that US Muslim aid groups receiving USAID funds are “terrorist organisations.”

CAIR warns that such rhetoric fuels Islamophobia and puts Muslim Americans at risk.

Musk’s post targeted over a dozen nonprofits, including Islamic Relief and Palestine Children's Relief Fund.

""Anyone who sees the word 'Islam' in the name of an American charity and then immediately declares that the charity must be a 'terrorist organisation' is a hateful person,"" CAIR said."

Thousands gather in Beirut to mourn Hezbollah leaders killed by Israel

"People gathered in Beirut to mourn the late Hezbollah leaders, Hassan Nasrallah and Hashem Safieddine.

Hezbollah's Naim Qassem condemned Israel for breaching a ceasefire deal and stressed the group's readiness to defend Lebanon.

The funeral comes after a fragile ceasefire, marking the end of intense clashes between Israel and Hezbollah.

Despite Israel’s delayed withdrawal, Qassem vowed that neither Israel nor the US would pressure Lebanon into submission.

The fallen leaders were assassinated in September and October of 2024."

*Israel strikes several locations along Syrian-Lebanese border

The Israeli army has said it carried out air strikes on several locations along the Syria-Lebanon border, alleging the sites were being used for weapons transfers to Hezbollah.

The Israeli military further claimed that such smuggling efforts "are a blatant violation of the understandings between Israel and Lebanon."

This marks the second time in less than 48 hours that Israel has announced air strikes in the border region.

*Trump says US close to minerals deal with Ukraine, wants aid 'money back'

President Donald Trump said the United States is close to an agreement with Ukraine on sharing revenue from Ukrainian minerals as part of efforts to end the Ukraine war, saying his intent is to recover the aid Washington has provided.

"Europe has given $100 billion. The United States has given $350 billion because we had a stupid, incompetent president and administration," he told the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday.

The president argued that Washington should not bear the burden alone.

*DRC's Tshisekedi plans unity government in response to rebels' offensive

Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi will launch a unity government, his spokesperson has said, as he faces domestic pressure over his handling of an offensive by M23 rebels in eastern provinces.

Since the start of the year, DRC has faced back-to-back losses in North and South Kivu provinces, fuelling criticism of the authorities' military strategy.

*Israel may deploy tanks in northern West Bank for 1st time since 2002

The Israeli army may deploy tanks to the northern occupied West Bank for the first time in 23 years, a media outlet has reported.

According to Channel 14, citing anonymous sources, the political leadership is "pressuring for the inclusion of tanks” in the ongoing military raids in the northern occupied West Bank.

The tanks "could soon participate" in the raids, the sources further indicated. It added that the decision came "after pressure from the political leadership."

*Gambian information minister praises strong bilateral ties with Türkiye

Gambian Information, Media, and Broadcasting Services Minister Ismaila Ceesay stated that Türkiye has very strong bilateral relations with Gambia.

It is important for Gambians to know their friends and to fully understand Turkish culture, traditions, geography, and history, he stated.

Ceesay also suggested signing a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in capacity building, experience sharing, and news exchange between the two countries.

Hamas hands over bodies of four captives killed by Israeli bombing

China supports Trump's Ukraine peace initiative at G20

Major Al Shabab attack repelled, 130 terrorists killed: Somalia

Multiple explosions hit buses in central Israel

Syria economic recovery could take over half a century: UN

February 20, 2025 by TRT World

February 19, 2025 by TRT World

February 18, 2025 by TRT World

February 17, 2025 by TRT World

* Israel, Hamas complete 6th prisoner swap amid fears of Gaza truce collapse

Palestinian resistance group hands over three Israeli captives in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel, completing the latest swap despite fears of the Gaza truce deal collapsing.

Four recently freed Palestinian prisoners were rushed to the hospital upon arrival in Ramallah due to severe health complications, a humanitarian group says, amid reports of abuse in Israeli custody.

Negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire, meant to lay out steps towards a more permanent end to the war, are expected to begin next week.

* Israel kills 3 in southern Lebanon in new ceasefire violation

An Israeli air strike on a car in southern Lebanon killed three people and wounded five others, marking another violation of the ceasefire that began on November 27.

Lebanon’s Civil Defence confirmed the attack in Jarjouaa village, Nabatieh, as Israeli violations in Lebanon reach 936 since the truce, with 76 killed and 270 injured, according to official Lebanese data.

* Trump team to start Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Saudi Arabia

Senior US officials will hold peace talks with Russian and Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia in the coming days, a US lawmaker and a source familiar with the plans confirmed.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, and White House Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff will lead the discussions, US Representative Michael McCaul said.

* UN chief calls for DRC’s territorial integrity amid fears of regional war

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) territorial integrity to be respected and warned against the escalation of war in the region.

Speaking at the African Union summit, Guterres said fighting in South Kivu due to the M23 offensive risks destabilising the entire region.

His remarks came a day after Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seized a second provincial capital in eastern DRC.

* Trump seeks 50% stake in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals for aid

The Trump administration has proposed that the US receive a 50% ownership stake in Ukraine’s rare earth minerals as compensation for military and financial aid, NBC News reported, citing US officials.

The proposal would grant Washington partial control over Ukraine’s critical mineral resources instead of direct financial repayment.

It also includes a provision to deploy US troops to safeguard these assets, but only if a diplomatic resolution with Russia is reached.

* Palestine awaits freedom of 369 citizens from Israeli jails

Israel is set to free 369 Palestinians as part of the sixth exchange since the Gaza ceasefire, often breached by Tel Aviv, that took effect on January 19.

In a statement, the Palestinian Prisoners' Media Office, affiliated with Hamas resistance group, said the released will include 36 Palestinians serving life sentences and 333 from Gaza who were abducted by Israel after October 7, 2023. Twenty-four of the released will be sent abroad.

In return, Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced the names of three Israeli captives scheduled for release as part of the swap deal.

* Erdogan warns of US 'miscalculation' on Gaza

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called the approval of forced displacement completely unacceptable and described it as pure brutality, referring to US President Donald Trump's proposal for the future of Palestine's Gaza.

Discussing the United States' approach to the Middle East, Erdogan criticised its miscalculations, remarking, "One should not disregard the region's history, values, and heritage."

"We expect Trump to fulfil the promise he made before the election. He should take steps to build peace, not start a new war," Erdogan said

* Jewish People Say No to Ethnic Cleansing' — 350+ rabbis sign NYT ad

More than 350 rabbis, alongside Jewish creatives and activists, have signed a full-page ad in The New York Times condemning President Donald Trump's controversial proposal for the forced expulsion of over 2 million Palestinians from Gaza.

The ad features signatories from diverse Jewish denominations and notable figures such as Tony Kushner, Ilana Glazer, Joaquin Phoenix and Peter Beinart.

The text of the ad on NYT's page A7 reads: "Trump has called for the removal of all Palestinians from Gaza. Jewish people say NO to ethnic cleansing!"

* M23 rebels enter eastern DRC's Bukavu city

M23 rebels in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have entered the region's second-largest city of Bukavu, the latest ground gained since a major escalation of their yearslong fighting with government forces.

The M23 rebels entered the city's Kazingu and Bagira zone and were advancing towards the centre of the city of about 1.3 million people.

Videos posted online appeared to show rebels marching toward the Bagira area.

* Roadside bomb kills multiple mine workers in Pakistan's Balochistan

A bomb targeting a vehicle carrying coal miners in southwestern Pakistan killed at least 11 people and wounded six others.

The truck had brought the workers to a mine in the Harnai area of Balochistan province, where Pakistan is battling insurgency.

A military official has said that an improvised explosive device was planted at the roadside which exploded when truck carting coal miners reached the site.

Hamas willing to move ahead with Gaza deal

"The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has signalled that a crisis threatening to unravel the Gaza ceasefire deal could be avoided despite uncertainty over the number of hostages due to be released on Saturday and disagreements over aid supplies.

Hamas said it did not want the deal to collapse, though it rejected what it called the ""language of threats and intimidation"" from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump."

Erdogan, Sharif pledge stronger Türkiye-Pakistan ties in Islamabad

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and expanding economic cooperation.

Turkish President said during a joint news conference in Islamabad that the two countries agree to increase efforts to reach the target of $5 billion in trade volume.

Erdogan underscored the importance of private-sector collaboration, encouraging Turkish investors to expand their activities in Pakistan."

Trump offers F-35 jets, trade deal to India in talks with Modi

"US President Donald Trump has offered to sell state-of-the-art fighter jets to India as he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to ramp up trade, rekindling a bond that defies the new US administration's punitive approach to much of the world.

Trump, who hours before meeting Modi complained about Indian tariffs, agreed with Modi that the two countries would work together on a trade deal."

Trump wants denuclearisation talks with Russia's Putin and China's Xi

"US President Donald Trump has said he wants to hold talks with Russia and China on a mutual reduction in military spending, with a possible summit for the countries' leaders.

Outlining his vision for a shake-up in the world order, Trump also said he would ""love"" to have Russia back in the G7, from which it was suspended in 2014 after Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

Trump also said he would consider a summit with Putin and China's Xi Jinping when things calm down."

US inks plans for 'reciprocal tariffs'

"US President Donald Trump has inked plans for sweeping ""reciprocal tariffs"" hitting both allies and competitors, in a dramatic escalation of an international trade war that economists warn could fuel inflation at home.

Speaking in the Oval Office on Trump said he had decided to impose the reciprocal duties, telling reporters that US allies were often ""worse than enemies"" on trade issues.

""We had a very unfair system to us,"" Trump said in the Oval Office."