DAILY NEWS Stream – February 20, 2025

Ukraine and Europe will be part of the “real” peace talks, says US Secretary of State Rubio, signaling the US-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia is a preliminary discussion for the US to weigh Putin’s motives (New York Post)

Putin’s a “little bit scared” of President Trump as Russia and US diplomats begin Ukraine peace talks, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy says (Fox News)

UK targets Putin’s inner circle with new sanctions against high-profile Russian officials and oligarchs (Gov.uk)

Thailand bans offshore fishing from February 15 to June 14, 2025, to allow recovery of fish populations (Bangkok Post)

NATO members must boost defense spending to “considerably” more than 3 percent of their GDP [gross domestic product], says NATO Secretary- General Mark Rutte, just days after US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called for 5% minimum spending target (New York Post)

US: Independent voters side with President Trump on tax cuts and eliminating wasteful government spending, focus group reveals (Fox News)

President Trump receives thunderous cheers at the Daytona 500 motor race in Florida [US] as His Air Force One jet flew over the speedway. His limousine then led the drivers for two laps around the track while He radioed them messages of encouragement: “This is your favorite president, I’m a big fan, I am a really big fan of you people… I just want you to be safe, you’re talented people and you’re great people and great Americans, have a good day, have a lot of fun and I’ll see you later” (Sky News Australia)

Unemployed man in France admits to killing girl, 11, because he was angry about losing in a video game (New York Post)

Suspected avian flu case detected in one bird at poultry operation in County Tyrone [Northern Ireland, UK] (The Irish Times)

World Health Organization [WHO] urges cancer warnings on alcohol packaging to address the widespread lack of awareness that alcohol is a proven cause of seven types of cancer, including common ones such as breast and bowel cancer (The Guardian)

US recalls Quaker Oats pancake mixes, issues “most serious” warning over undeclared milk, which poses life-threatening allergic reaction risks (Fox9)

Exercise boosts cognition for people with ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]: Study reveals 30 minutes of aerobic exercise, like jogging, swimming, or dancing, temporarily enhances ADHD patients’ self-control and muscle memory (Science Alert)

10 high-protein vegetables to help lose weight and maintain muscle mass: 1) Edamame; 2) Spinach; 3) Kale; 4) Broccoli; 5) Brussels sprouts; 6) Artichokes; 7) Peas; 8) Mushrooms; 9) Asparagus; 10) Sweet corn (The Manual)

Heavy snow in Aizu Wakamatsu [Fukushima, Japan] collapses greenhouses, causing agricultural losses and significant economic damage (HTV - Đài Hà Nội)

Cyclone Zelia rocks Western Australia, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds, with no deaths or injuries reported, but flood threats persist (WAtoday)

Vietnam: Widespread heatwave expected in downtown HCM CT by late February 2025, with temperatures soaring above 35ºC across central districts (Tuổi Trẻ)

South Korea’s imports of fresh fruits hit record high in 2024 amid poor harvests due to climate change (The Korea Times)

Record global heat in January 2025 signals loss of La Niña weather phenomenon’s cooling influence, as human-caused ocean warming overwhelms natural weather patterns (Globo.com)

US nonprofit Xerces Society petitions the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to protect bees by tightening pesticide rules (Mongabay)

Analysis: Animal welfare standards vary widely across the EU’s 27 Member States, highlighting need to modernize EU legislation for uniform care. Key issues include: Only 6 Member States include animal welfare in their constitutions. 5 Member States allow force-feeding for foie gras [fattened goose liver] production. 16 Member States completely lack legislation protecting industrially-raised fish. 25 Member States violate the EU’s minimum standards for factory-raised pigs, including painful mutilation of piglets. 11 Member States have yet to ban fur raising, despite overwhelming public support for a ban. No Member States are completely cage-free, with confinement rates as high as 99% in one nation despite 1.4 million EU citizens supporting the End the Cage Age citizen’s initiative (Eurogroup for Animals)

New Taipei City [Taiwan] officials warn potential pet pig caregivers to research before adopting, as unprepared adopters led to 14 cases of abandoned or escaped pigs in 2024. Though bred for their cute appearance and gentle temperament, pet musk pigs have special dietary and health needs, require plenty of space, and weigh around 120 kilograms [264 pounds] on average when fully grown (Taipei Times)

US: Third-generation driller Brock Yordy transitions from oil and gas to geothermal and co-founds Geothermal Drillers Association to attract more professionals to the clean energy industry (Inside Climate News)

Global commitment to urban wetlands grows with announcement of 31 new Wetland Cities, recognized for their outstanding efforts in conserving and sustainably managing urban wetlands: Argentina: Trelew Belgium: Mechelen Botswana: Kasane-Kazungula; Shakawe Chile: Valdivia China: Chongming; Dali; Fuzhou; Hangzhou; Jiujiang; Lhasa; Suzhou; Wenzhou; Yueyang France: Abbeville; Arles; Hampigny India: Indore; Udaipur Iran: Babol; Bandar Kiashar; Gandoman Japan: Nagoya City Morocco: Mehdya Philippines: Balanga City Poland: Poznan South Korea: Gimhae; Mungyeong Serbia: Novi Sad Switzerland: Canton de Genève Zimbabwe: Victoria Falls (Ramsar)

Spanish biologists discover ocean bacteria are connected by vast networks of nanotubes, which act as bridges for sharing or trading resources – challenging previous theories about bacterial interaction and suggesting our world is far more interconnected than scientists realized (Wired)

Cockatoo birds show appetite for dips to add flavor when eating bland food, scientists find (The Guardian)

Researchers discover most birds-of-paradise species emit light through parts of their plumage, enhancing courtship displays of males and camouflage in females. It’s done by absorbing UV [ultraviolet] light into their feathers and re-emitting it at lower frequencies, a process known as biofluorescence (The Guardian)

New York State [US]: Pet caregivers and animal advocates support proposed PAWS Act to protect furry friends from street collisions by increasing penalties for drivers who hit a pet on the road,

as State Senate reviews bill in committee (AMNY)

Cities worldwide are pledging to reduce meat and add veggies to government facility menus to help the climate. Canadian cities and towns that have committed to promoting plant-based foods include Montreal, Rainbow Lake, and several Ontario communities, including Brampton, Kingston, and Toronto (CBC)

Elevating quote of the day: “We don’t develop courage by being happy every day. We develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity.” – Barbara De Angelis