Libre News of The World. Saturday The 22nd of February 2025

Today’s news highlights a range of significant global developments. In the U.S., Apple is expanding its manufacturing footprint in India, driving a 50% surge in smartphone exports, while geopolitical tensions prompt potential disruptions to Ukraine’s Starlink access amid mineral rights negotiations. On the international stage, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte visited Slovakia for security discussions, and President Putin directed preparations for the return of Western companies to Russia as relations with the U.S. improve. In Europe, Finland and Sweden are investigating suspected sabotage of a Baltic Sea telecom cable, while Sinn Féin leaders announced a boycott of the White House’s St. Patrick’s Day event over U.S. Gaza policy. Meanwhile, Poland plans to allocate €4.4 billion in EU recovery funds to bolster its defense sector, and Uzbekistan showcased new armored vehicle designs at IDEX 2025. Tensions continue globally with U.S.-Russia Track Two talks on Ukraine in Switzerland, Greece detaining over 100 migrants amid Middle East conflicts, and Iran defending its Shahed drone sales at the UN. In economic news, UK banks were fined £105 million for unlawful bond information sharing, Spain struggles with housing affordability despite economic growth, and Singapore launched a S$5 billion initiative to revitalize its stock market. Lastly, cultural and environmental stories included Saudi Arabia celebrating Founding Day, a new bat coronavirus discovery in China, and the velvet worm winning New Zealand’s Bug of the Year.