DAILY NEWS Stream – February 19, 2025

US President Trump says Hamas “should release all of the hostages” (Sky News Australia)

“They broke that agreement”: US President Trump criticizes Hamas’ threat to derail negotiations as Gaza ceasefire proceeds after latest hostage exchange (Sky News Australia)

President Trump is the “only Man” who can end Russia-Ukraine war, says Deputy Assistant to the US President, Sebastian Gorka (Sky News Australia)

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calls for creation of an “Army of Europe” as the US approaches Russia directly and sidelines Europe for peace talks, explaining: “Even those who regularly come to Mar-a-Lago [President Trump’s home] need to be part of a strong Europe – because President Trump doesn’t like weak friends. He respects strength” (Sky News Australia)

US Secretary of State Rubio criticizes CBS journalist Margaret Brennan for suggesting free speech caused the Holocaust, clarifying it was a hateful authoritarian regime that caused it, not free speech (Sky News Australia)

Vietnam ready to cooperate closely with US in receiving deported nationals, Vietnam’s foreign ministry says (Vietnam-Plus)

Vietnam ready to import more farm products from the US, says Trade Minister Nguyễn Hồng Diên, one day after President Trump announced global reciprocal tariffs (Báo VietNamNet)

ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] signs agreement to jointly solve cross-border smog problem by exchanging information, technology, and policies (VTV.vn)

US Space Development Agency launches study on President Trump’s “American Iron Dome” missile defense order, which aims to counter hypersonic missiles and other advanced threats, likely utilizing space-based sensors and interceptor technology (Defense News)

President Trump tours Boeing plane to highlight the aircraft maker’s failure to deliver a new Air Force One presidential aircraft on time as promised – initially set for 2024, but pushed to sometime in 2027 for the first plane and 2028 for the second (New York Post)

Analysis: The US Deep State faces destruction as President Trump and Elon Musk’s DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] expose corruption and reform key federal agencies linked to the shadow government, such as USAID [United States Agency for International Development] (60 Giây | Tinh Hoa TV)

Nearly 162,000 counterfeit stamps made by Chinese scammers are seized in Chicago [US] (New York Post)

Brazil’s playgrounds come alive again as nation imposes cellphone ban in schools, with children having fun with each other “like in the old days” and concentration in class improving (Việt Nam News)

Griffith University [Australia] research discovers brain swelling in long COVID and chronic fatigue patients, specifically in the hippocampus brain region that helps with learning and memory, potentially explaining symptoms like brain fog (Xinhua Daily)

United Arab Emirates reports its first case of new monkeypox variant clade 1b, World Health Organization [WHO] says (Reuters)

Democratic Republic of the Congo [DRC]: Monkeypox patients flee Goma hospitals as violence engulfs eastern DRC, posing epidemic risk to 350,000 displaced people (Macau Business; UNHCR)

US: Alcohol-related liver transplants on the rise among young adults, especially women, Dr. James Burton says (Fox News)

Global nonprofit Doctors Without Borders warns of significant increase in child malnutrition in northern Nigeria, treating 357,000 malnourished children there in 2024 (allAfrica.com)

Freezing bread could make it healthier: Scientists find freezing and then defrosting white bread significantly reduces blood sugar response compared to fresh bread. Toasting also helps, and the best effect comes from combining methods – freezing, defrosting, and then toasting. This happens because freezing turns starch into resistant starch, which has several health benefits, including a cleaner gut and reduced colon cancer risk (Earth.com)

Simple way to remove harmful microplastics from drinking water: Boil, then filter through a tea strainer. This removes up to 90% of nano- and microplastics (Dân Trí)

New study confirms importance of vegan diet to protect against gastrointestinal cancers, as men who eat the most plant-based foods have a 22% reduced colon cancer risk (NC Newsline)

Half of Amsterdam Island [with France, in Indian Ocean] burnt by wildfire raging for nearly a month, with 31 people evacuated to Réunion Island (BBC)

US: At least one dead as brutal storms, flash floods hit several southern states (New York Post)

Scientists warn of climate threat to chocolate as West African cacao farmers, producing 70% of the global crop, struggle with up to three weeks of above 32°C heat compared to 10 years ago, significantly lowering crop quality and production (Free Malaysia Today)

Scientists discover hidden “ice quakes” deep inside Greenland’s ice streams for the first time, promising new insights on ice melt and sea level rise (The Times of India)

World’s largely unprotected peatlands [bogs and swamps] are a ticking “carbon bomb,” study warns. Peatlands occupy just 3% of all land, but contain more carbon than all of the world’s forests. Farmers and miners are draining the planet’s peatlands, already releasing so much CO2 that if they were a country, they would be the fourth biggest polluter in the world, after China, the US, and India (The Guardian)

Warming climates force plants to compete with each other, accelerating their extinction, new study finds (Earth.com)

America’s “first car-free neighborhood,” Culdesac Tempe [Arizona], is proving walkability works, offering a lifestyle built around eco-friendly transit and human interaction, with one resident saying “We’ve probably made more connections here in six months than we did in 15 years in the suburbs” (The Optimist Daily)

US businesswoman Angela Simmons’ near-death experience reveals shocking testimony from God: If your church is doing these 4 things, you MUST leave immediately to save your soul: 1) Prosperity gospel: Churches focus on wealth and donations, making people believe giving money brings blessings, leading to disillusionment and greed. 2) Popularity over truth: Churches prioritize entertainment and feel-good messages, avoiding talks about sin, leaving people spiritually unfulfilled. 3) Worshiping pastors: People idolize pastors instead of God, becoming dependent on leaders and losing personal faith. 4) Compromising with sin: Churches soften teachings on sin to fit societal norms, causing confusion about right and wrong, weakening true faith, and making repentance - and therefore salvation - impossible.

Burlington [Vermont, US] nonprofit Village Hydroponics transforms shipping container into indoor hydroponic farm that feeds immigrants for free (Good Good Good)

West Virginia [US] State Senate reviewing bill to strengthen animal cruelty laws with tougher penalties (WVNews)

Bengaluru [India] invites animal welfare groups to help educate schoolchildren about public health, animal health, and co-existence with community animals (The Hindu)

Scientists crack code to “creamy” plant-based cheese, discovering how protein-fat interactions can be tuned to achieve desired hardness while preserving favorable properties (Food Navigator)

Edible popcorn bucket and vegan caviar on the menu as the 2025 British Academy Film Awards [BAFTAs] embrace sustainability (The Guardian)

Japan’s All Nippon Airways [ANA] to offer vegan ramen on international first and business class flights starting March 1, 2025 (Aerotime)

175+ food companies across Asia commit to responsible sourcing in light of sustainability and animal welfare, supported by US nonprofit Lever Foundation (Green Queen)

Uplifting quote of the day: “Be nicer than necessary to everyone you meet, for everyone is fighting a hard battle.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Socrates (vegetarian)