February 18, 2025

Armed conflicts and attacks

• Gaza war, Middle Eastern crisis
  • 2025 Gaza war ceasefire
    • Hamas accuses Israel of carrying out at least 266 attacks in the Gaza Strip since the agreed ceasefire on January 19, killing at least 132 Palestinians and wounding 900 others. (Newsweek)
• Israeli invasion of Lebanon
  • Israel partially withdraws troops from Lebanon as the deadline for their withdrawal expires. (Reuters)

Business and economy

• Brazilian minister of mines and energy Alexandre Silveira announces the country will join the OPEC+ oil cartel. (AP)

Disasters and accidents

• February 2025 North American storm complex
  • The death toll from flooding in Kentucky, United States, rises to 14, amid the threat of an imminent winter storm in the region. (NBC News)

International relations

• Peace negotiations in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia–United States relations
  • The United States and Russia start talks in Saudi Arabia about the war in Ukraine without European or Ukrainian participation. (The New York Times) (BBC News)
  • The delegations agree to start the negotiating process for ending the war, create high-level teams, and normalize diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. (AP)