DAILY NEWS Stream – February 25, 2025

Russian and US representatives to meet again within two weeks, says Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, following first meeting in Riyadh [Saudi Arabia] focused on peace in Ukraine (Reuters)

Analysis: US sanctions are DESTROYING Russia’s economy as Russia’s main export income can no longer handle the pressure, providing the US tremendous leverage as Ukraine peace negotiations are arranged (PPR Mundial)

Even the US surprised as Türkiye opposes Russia’s biggest hope of acquiring important rare earth minerals, by backing Ukraine’s control over resource-rich Donbass and Crimea, cutting support for Russia’s payment system, blocking Russian warships, boosting its Black Sea navy, and supplying Ukraine militarily (PPR GLOBAL)

China finds huge reserve of rare earth elements in Yunnan Province, strengthening its already dominant 60-70% market share. This discovery could intensify trade tensions with the US, particularly as President Trump imposes new tariffs, given rare earths’ crucial role in technology and defense (PPR Mundial)

Unprecedented US visit by all 13 Canadian regions’ premiers to propose replacing Chinese imports with Canadian resources, from rare earth minerals to technology. The offer aims to eliminate US tariffs while providing a democratic alternative to China as America’s main trading partner. China has reacted with outrage and threats of retaliation (PPR Mundial)

US Vice President Vance plans to confront UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is visiting Washington [US] this week, over Britain’s erosion of free speech, as President Trump’s team criticizes UK censorship, mass migration policies, and the Online Safety Act’s restrictive impacts on civil liberties and US tech companies (The Telegraph)

President Trump announces His “largest tax cuts in US history,” focusing on helping workers, retirees, and businesses through: 1) No tax on tips – Around 4 million workers in restaurants, hotels, and similar jobs wouldn’t pay taxes on the tips they earn. 2) No tax on Social Security benefits – Retirees wouldn’t be taxed on their monthly Social Security payments anymore. 3) No tax on overtime pay – Over 10 million Americans who work extra hours (over 40 hours a week) wouldn’t pay taxes on their overtime wages. 4) Keeping the 2017 tax cuts – President Trump wants to extend the lower tax rates, bigger standard deductions, and business tax breaks from His first term, which are set to expire in 2025. 5) Raising or removing the State and Local Tax [SALT] cap – The current US$10,000 limit on how much state and local taxes you can deduct might be increased or eliminated, helping Americans in high-tax states. 6) Tax cuts for American-made products – Companies making products in the US could get lower taxes, as low as 15%, encouraging more businesses to produce in America and create jobs. 7) Closing the carried interest loophole – Certain investors, like hedge fund managers, currently pay lower taxes on their earnings. President Trump wants them to pay the same tax rates as regular income. 8) Ending special tax breaks for billionaire sports team owners – Wealthy sports team owners use special deductions to lower their taxes. Trump plans to eliminate these breaks so they pay more (Sherman - My CPA Coach)

President Trump supports the House of Representatives’ “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” to fully implement His America First Agenda, urging Congress to adopt it over the Senate’s version, which includes only parts of His plan (Donald J. Trump)

President Trump welcomes Kash Patel as FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] Director after he wins final Senate approval, saying “I think he’ll go down as the best ever at that position” and adding “agents love this guy,” as Director Patel pledges to restore accountability and integrity to the agency (FOX11; AP)

US Attorney General Pam Bondi alarmed by the waste, fraud, and abuse in the Department of Justice, calling it “worse than I thought,” as she focuses on restoring its mission to fight violent crime and protect Americans (Fox News)

President Trump’s Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt responds to the Associated Press’ lawsuit against her, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich – filed after the agency was barred entry for refusing to follow the President’s order o use the “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico” – saying it was worth it to ensure truth and accuracy at the White House. Supporters agree, slamming the lawsuit as Democrat lawfare [legal warfare] “at its absolute worst” (Forbes Breaking News)

US Efficiency Commissioner Elon Musk delivers his “DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency] update” one month since President Trump retook the White House, sharing extensive government waste and fraud, including US$500 billion in yearly entitlement fraud, US$200 billion in COVID relief fraud sent out of the country, Social Security database issues like a 360-year-old recipient, and US$1 trillion in annual debt interest surpassing the defense budget (Forbes Breaking News)

Chinese researchers find new bat coronavirus enters human cells via same pathway as COVID-19 virus, raising possibility that it could someday spread to humans, Chinese researchers report (Reuters)

Yale University [US] scientists link Covid mRNA vaccines to alarming new “post-vaccination syndrome” causing brain fog, dizziness, and exercise intolerance, with virus proteins staying in patients’ blood for years after taking the shot (Daily Mail)

UK: Deadly surge in norovirus as cases increase by 40% from January to February 2025, overwhelming hospitals. Officials urge Brits to wash their hands frequently to prevent the highly contagious virus from spreading (Daily Mail)

Vietnamese mother named Linh prays earnestly to the Virgin Mary at the Our Lady of Núi Cúi pilgrimage site for her daughter Mai, who has terminal brain cancer. Afterward, Mai miraculously recovers, surprising doctors (Đinh Thập Tự Vlogs)

Huge sinkhole in Surrey [UK] swallows up street section, forcing evacuation of residents over fears of explosion from exposed cables (BBC News)

US tech billionaire Elon Musk’s company SpaceX achieves 8,000 total Starlink satellites launched with latest Falcon 9 flight, with 376 Starlink satellites sent to space in 2025 alone, bringing high-speed internet to remote communities and disaster areas worldwide (Spaceflight Now)

Upright quote of the day: “Men must be decided morally on what they will not do, and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Mencius (vegetarian)