International
Two trams collide in French city of Strasbourg, many injured

Two trams collide in French city of Strasbourg, many injured
At least 30 people have been injured after two trams collided at Strasbourg’s central station on Saturday, authorities said.
Videos and photos posted on social media showed two trams containing dozens of people inside. One video shows smoke rising and chaotic scenes as an alarm sounds.
Local media reported that the crash occurred after one of the trams switched tracks and collided with a stationary tram. Other reports said one tram was reversing at the time.
A spokesman for the prefecture said an investigation into the cause of the accident has been opened and no fatalities have been confirmed.
Strasbourg’s mayor Jeanne Barseghian told reporters at the scene there had been a collision involving a tram, but the cause was not known.
According to BFM TV, Barseghian called on people to wait for the results of the investigation.
One eyewitness named Johan told AFP news agency that he saw one of the trams reversing at speed, adding: “We heard a big impact, a big bang.”
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Another eyewitness told BFM TV that the doors of the tram flew off on impact.
The outlet reported that a large security perimeter was set up in front of the station.
The Bas-Rhin region’s Fire and Rescue Service posted on X urging people to avoid the area to allow emergency services to access the area.
The service’s director Rene Cellier said some of the non-fatal injuries reported were “mostly trauma”, but also include scalp wounds, clavicle fractures, and knee sprains.
“There are also around 100 people who have no particular injuries but are being seen by the doctors,” Cellier said.
He added that around 50 vehicles and 130 firefighters were dispatched to the scene and that the situation “could have been much more serious”.
Emmanuel Auneau, the director of the CTS – which is responsible for managing public transport in Strasbourg – said the two tram drivers were “not physically injured, but are very shocked”.
Two trams collide in French city of Strasbourg, many injured
BBC
International
US to close Abuja Embassy, Lagos office on Monday

US to close Abuja Embassy, Lagos office on Monday
The United States has announced the closure of its Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General office in Lagos on Monday, February 17, 2025.
The announcement made on its X handle on Sunday said it would be done to mark the Presidents’ Day.
The US Mission in Nigeria said normal operations would resume on Tuesday, February 18, 2025.
“The U.S. Embassy in Abuja and Consulate General in Lagos will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of Presidents’ Day. We will resume normal operations on Tuesday, February 18, 2025,” the statement read.
The Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the United States, observed on the third Monday of February each year.
It originally honoured the birthday of George Washington, the first US president, but over time, it has evolved to celebrate all US presidents.
The holiday was established in 1879 as Washington’s Birthday and was later moved to its current date in 1971 under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which aimed to provide more three-day weekends for workers.
International
Eighteen killed in New Delhi station crush

Eighteen killed in New Delhi station crush
A crush at New Delhi Railway Station has left around 18 people dead and at least 10 injured.
Thousands of people reportedly crammed into the railway station on Saturday night as they tried to board delayed trains.
Four of the victims were children, while 10 were women, according to a list released by officials.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said his thoughts were “with all those who have lost their loved ones” in a post on X.
Crowd crushes are regularly reported in India where there is frequent overcrowding at religious events, festivals and public spaces.
The incident comes weeks after 30 people were killed in a pre-dawn crush at the religious festival, Kumbh Mela, in northern India, where tens of millions of Hindus had gathered to bathe in sacred river waters on one of the holy days of the six-week event.
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In Delhi, witnesses told BBC Hindi that a “huge crowd” had gathered at the station, through which many people were travelling to and from the Kumbh Mela, which is being held in Prayagraj city in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh state. Hundreds of people were also waiting for trains to other places.
According to officials, two trains had been delayed at the station, while a third – heading to Prayagraj – was waiting to depart.
Ruby Devi said the crowd at the Indian capital’s main railway station had been so big she was unable to get inside.
Umesh Giri, whose wife Shilam Devi died in the crush, said that the crowd was “uncontrollable” as he tried to board the Prayagraj Express.
Dharmendra Singh, who was also travelling to Prayagraj, told India’s PTI news agency that there were” far more people than I have ever seen at this station”.
“In front of me, six or seven women were taken away on stretchers.
KPS Malhotra, deputy commissioner of police (railways), said that authorities were investigating what led to the crush.
“This happened due to a delay in two trains arriving and more people gathering at the station,” he said.
Opposition leaders have criticised the government, accusing them of administrative failure.
“Considering the large number of devotees going to Prayagraj, better arrangements should have been made at the station,” Rahul Gandhi, the leader of opposition in India’s parliament, posted on X.
Eighteen killed in New Delhi station crush
International
Israel, Hamas free more hostages in latest ceasefire swap

Israel, Hamas free more hostages in latest ceasefire swap
Hamas has released another three Israeli hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners following a week in which the fragile ceasefire deal appeared under threat.
American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, Argentinian-Israeli Yair Horn, 46, and Russian-Israeli Alexander Troufanov, 29, were freed in return for 369 Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
So far 19 hostages and more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners have been freed in the first phase of ceasefire deal which began on 19 January.
The swap came days after Hamas said it would pause the release of hostages, accusing Israel of violating the terms of the deal – an allegation denied by Israel.
Israel, backed by US President Donald Trump, said “intense” fighting would resume unless the hostages were handed over. Hamas later said it remained committed to the ceasefire, and that Israel was “responsible for any complications or delays”.
But on Saturday the sixth swap went ahead, with the hostages handed over to Red Cross workers in a highly-choreographed public show in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.
Surrounded by heavily armed Hamas militants, the men briefly addressed a crowd of Palestinians before being transferred into Red Cross vehicles.
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They did not look as gaunt as the hostages freed a week earlier – their appearance had aroused anger in Israel and elsewhere.
Under the first six-week stage of the ceasefire deal, 33 hostages and 1,900 prisoners are supposed to be freed.
The three men were airlifted by military helicopters to a hospital in central Israel, where they underwent medical tests and were reunited with relatives.
Yair Horn and his brother Eitan, 37, had been abducted from a kibbutz during the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas. Eitan remains in captivity in Gaza.
Pictures showed Yair Horn hugging his mother and his brother Amos in hospital, and a message where he wrote “Eitan, you’re next”.
US citizen Sagui Dekel-Chen also reunited with his wife, where he learned that he had one-year-old daughter. His wife had been eight months pregnant with their third child when he was captured by Hamas in October 2023.
US President Donald Trump marked the hostage release on Saturday, noting Hamas had not followed through with their threat.
“They seem to be in good shape,” he said.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog, posting on social media, said the hostages had been “forced to endure” a “despicable and cynical ceremony”.
In a social media post, Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israel would continue to work with the US to “ensure that all hostages return to Israel soon”.
The majority of the freed Palestinians were taken to Gaza, although some were taken to the West Bank. In both areas, crowds gathered to welcome the former prisoners.
The Palestinian Red Crescent Society told the BBC that five of those released in the West Bank city of Ramallah were taken straight to hospital.
“They all have chronic illnesses,” said Mohammad Faqih, an official from the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, adding that one man had a broken leg.
Most of the 36 Palestinians serving life sentences will reportedly be deported to Egypt.
The latest releases mean that under the ceasefire, Hamas is due to free another 14 hostages.
However Israel says eight are of them are dead, meaning six living Israelis are still expected to be returned in the first phase.
A total of 141 hostages have now been freed, including 81 Israelis and 24 foreign nationals released as part of a previous deal between Israel and Hamas.
About 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken back to Gaza as hostages when Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023.
This triggered a massive Israeli military offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
Israel, Hamas free more hostages in latest ceasefire swap
BBC
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