While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Feb 12, 2025
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Displaced Palestinians cross the Netzarim corridor as they make their way to the northern parts of the Gaza Strip on Feb 9.
PHOTO: AFP
Netanyahu says Israel will end Gaza ceasefire if hostages not returned by Saturday
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Feb 11 the ceasefire in Gaza would end and the military would resume fighting Hamas until it was defeated if the Palestinian militant group did not release hostages by midday Saturday, Feb 15.
Following Netanyahu’s ultimatum, Hamas issued a statement renewing its commitment to the ceasefire and accusing Israel of jeopardising the ceasefire.
The Israeli announcement came after Netanyahu met with several key ministers, including defence, foreign affairs and national security, who he said gave the ultimatum their full support.
After nearly 16 months of war, Hamas has gradually been releasing hostages since the first phase of a ceasefire began on Jan 19, but on Feb 10 said it would not free any more until further notice over accusations Israel was violating the deal.
China launches new rocket designed to carry more satellites
A new Chinese carrier rocket designed to send up bigger batches of satellites in one launch made its first flight on Feb 11, boosting Beijing’s strategy of countering US billionaire Elon Musk’s oversized presence in Earth’s lower orbits via SpaceX.
The heavy-lift Long March 8A blasted off for its maiden flight at 5.30pm from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on the southern Chinese island of Hainan, carrying a group of low-Earth orbit satellites.
The Long March 8A is a modified version of the medium-lift Long March 8 rocket that began flights in 2020. It has an enhanced payload capacity of seven tonnes, allowing China to send larger clusters of satellites into low and medium-Earth orbits in one launch, according to China Aerospace Science and Technology Group Corporation.
Ukraine prepared to offer territory swap with Russia, says Zelensky
Ukraine will offer to swap territory with Russia in any potential peace negotiations, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview published on Feb 11, adding that Europe alone would not be able to shoulder Kyiv’s war effort.
Mr Zelensky will meet US Vice-President J.D. Vance on Feb 14 at the Munich Security Conference, the Ukrainian leader’s spokesman told AFP, as Washington pushes for an end to the nearly three-year war with Russia.
Mr Vance has been a frequent critic of US support that has been vital to Ukraine’s war effort.
In first for Italy, Tuscany approves right-to-die law
Tuscany approved on Feb 11 a right-to-die law, becoming the first region in Roman Catholic Italy to regulate assisted suicide in the absence of national legislation on a highly controversial topic.
Italy's constitutional court de-facto legalised the procedure in 2019, and urged Parliament to pass a law to provide a clear legal framework. But the invitation has gone unheeded, with national politicians ducking the issue.
Tuscany's regional law, which passed by a 27-13 majority, spells out how assisted suicide requests should be handled, including an obligation for a medical panel to consider applications within 30 days.
Australia football player Sam Kerr not guilty of racially abusing UK police officer
Australia women’s football captain and Chelsea striker Sam Kerr was on Feb 11 found not guilty of racially abusing a British police officer after a dispute with a cab driver.
Kerr, who has Indian ancestry, called officer Stephen Lovell “stupid and white” after a drunken dispute two years ago. She was acquitted by a jury at Kingston Crown Court after her lawyer argued the words were a comment on power and privilege.
“While I apologise for expressing myself poorly on what was a traumatic evening, I have always maintained that I did not intend to insult or harm anyone and I am thankful that the jury unanimously agreed,” the 31-year-old said in a statement.
