Author: INF 365

Taiwan detains Chinese-crewed cargo ship after undersea cable severed. Incident raises concerns over potential “grey zone” tactics by Beijing. The vessel, Hong Tai 58, was anchored near the damaged cable. Authorities treating the case as a national security matter. Previous similar incidents have heightened regional tensions. Taiwan’s coast guard has detained a Chinese-crewed cargo ship after an undersea telecommunications cable was severed off the island’s southwestern coast. Consequently, the incident has sparked suspicions of possible “grey zone” activities by Beijing. Many believe this could be part of a strategy to exert pressure without direct conflict. Meanwhile, the Togolese-registered ship, Hong…

Ocean Infinity resumes search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370. The search operates under a “no find, no fee” agreement. Focus is on a 15,000-square-kilometer area in the southern Indian Ocean. Advanced technology, including WSPR, is employed in the search. The mission aims to provide closure to families of the 239 missing passengers. Maritime exploration firm Ocean Infinity has started a new search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared in 2014. This time, the operation is taking place in the southern Indian Ocean, focusing on a 15,000-square-kilometer area west of Australia. With this mission, they hope to finally solve one…

Nahid Islam resigns from Bangladesh’s interim government. Plans to lead a new political party launching on February 28, 2025. Party aims to fulfill aspirations of the July 2024 uprising. Interim government led by Muhammad Yunus since August 2024. Youth-led political movement seeks inclusivity and democracy. Nahid Islam, Adviser of Information and Broadcasting in Bangladesh’s interim government, resigned from his post today. He submitted his resignation letter to Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus at the State Guest House Jamuna. His decision marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape as he prepares to lead a new political party. The upcoming party, set…

Starlink confronts new rivals in satellite internet market. China’s SpaceSail plans extensive satellite deployments. Amazon’s Project Kuiper enters the broadband race. Brazil explores partnerships with multiple providers. Global satellite internet landscape becomes increasingly competitive. Elon Musk’s Starlink, the top provider of high-speed satellite internet, faces increasing competition from new rivals. China’s state-backed SpaceSail and Amazon’s Project Kuiper are making bold moves to gain market share. Both companies are rapidly expanding their reach, posing a serious challenge to Starlink’s dominance. In November, Shanghai-based SpaceSail signed a deal to enter the Brazilian market. The company is also negotiating with over 30 other…

Israel delays releasing 620 Palestinian prisoners, citing Hamas’s “humiliating” hostage handovers. Hamas halts ceasefire negotiations, demanding Israel’s compliance with prisoner release terms. Israeli tanks enter Jenin, West Bank, for the first time in over 20 years. Around 40,000 Palestinians displaced by intensified Israeli military actions. International community expresses concern over rising tensions and fragile ceasefire. On February 23, 2025, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the postponement of releasing 620 Palestinian prisoners. This decision followed what Israel described as “humiliating” ceremonies conducted by Hamas during the handover of Israeli hostages. Netanyahu emphasized that the release would proceed only if Hamas…

Multinational crackdown frees thousands from Myanmar scam centers. Freed individuals face dire conditions awaiting repatriation. Majority of victims are Chinese nationals; others from over 20 countries. Thailand collaborates with China and Myanmar to address crisis. Efforts include cutting utilities to disrupt scam operations. Authorities from China, Thailand, and Myanmar have joined forces to dismantle numerous online scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border. These centers were part of criminal networks that trafficked hundreds of thousands across Southeast Asia. The crackdown has freed thousands of victims who are now stuck in limbo, waiting to return to their home countries. The authorities have…

President Trump initiates US-Russia peace talks to end the Ukraine conflict. Russia’s economy faces high inflation, interest rates, and Western sanctions. Exclusion of Ukraine from initial negotiations raises concerns among European allies. Potential sanctions relief could offer economic respite for Russia. European leaders deliberate on future sanctions amid evolving US-Russia relations. US President Donald Trump has started direct peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to resolve the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. These discussions do not include Ukraine or European allies, aiming for a quick end to the three-year war. Trump sounded hopeful, saying, “I think I have the power…

Friedrich Merz’s CDU/CSU Secures 28.5% of the Vote Far-Right AfD Achieves Historic 20.5%, Doubling Previous Support Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s SPD Records Worst Postwar Result at 16.4% Greens and Left Party Gain 11.6% and 8.8% Respectively Complex Coalition Talks Anticipated Amid Political Fragmentation In the national election on February 23, 2025, Germany’s conservative bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, secured victory with 28.5% of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made history by gaining 20.5%, its best performance since World War II. Meanwhile, Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) faced a crushing defeat, earning only 16.4%—its worst postwar result.…

UN Secretary-General António Guterres plans mid-March visit to Bangladesh. Guterres to meet Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar camps. International conference on Rohingya crisis scheduled for later this year. Malaysia and Finland to co-facilitate the upcoming conference. Bangladesh seeks increased international support for Rohingya repatriation. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Bangladesh in mid-March 2025 to address the ongoing Rohingya refugee crisis. He plans to visit the camps in Cox’s Bazar to understand the refugees’ humanitarian needs better. Guterres will also explore potential solutions for their repatriation to Myanmar, emphasizing the urgency of resolving this long-standing issue. UN Special Envoy…

Russia launches 267 drones in largest attack since war’s onset. Ukraine intercepts 138 drones; 119 disrupted by electronic warfare. President Zelensky condemns “aerial terror,” urges global unity. US President Trump labels Zelensky a “dictator,” sparking diplomatic tensions. Concerns rise over US-Russia talks excluding Ukraine. On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported an unprecedented aerial assault. Russia launched 267 attack drones overnight, making it the largest drone offensive since the conflict began in February 2022. Zelensky condemned this as “aerial terror” and urged Ukraine’s allies to stand united against the aggression. Ukraine’s…