Libre News of The World. Thursday the 20th of February 2025

On February 19, 2025, a series of significant global events unfolded. In the Middle East, Hamas announced plans to release six Israeli hostages and return four bodies as part of an accelerated exchange deal with Israel, while tensions escalated in Kashmir as Indian police raided bookstores, seizing 668 books linked to the banned Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. In Europe, leaders convened in Paris for an emergency summit on the Ukraine conflict, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposing the possible deployment of British troops under a peace agreement. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prepared to visit Slovakia amid political turmoil, and Germany’s Defense Minister called for the reintroduction of conscription and increased military spending. In economic news, U.S. investors were projected to lead activist campaigns in Europe, and Spain’s economy saw a 3.2% GDP growth, fueled by pro-migration policies. On the environmental front, Norway faced backlash after approving hydropower plants in protected rivers, and Italy was ordered by the European Court of Human Rights to address mafia-led toxic waste dumping. In healthcare, an Irish man regained his sight through groundbreaking gene therapy, while the UNHCR integrated its Termez hub in Uzbekistan into its global stockpile network, enhancing humanitarian aid delivery. Lastly, diplomatic tensions rose as President Trump controversially blamed Ukraine for the ongoing war, further straining U.S.-European relations.