The ACTUAL NEWS: Monday, February 17th 2025 Recap

4 days ago

"Today in History" and the Latest National and Global News

TODAY IN HISTORY

1801: Following a tie in the electoral college, the U.S. House of Representatives elected Thomas Jefferson president.

1843: The British annexed most of what is now Sindh province in Pakistan after winning the Battle of Miani.

1864: During the American Civil War, the Confederate Hunley became the first submarine to sink an enemy

ship when it successfully attacked the USS Housatonic in the waters off Charleston, South Carolina.

1897: The National Congress of Parents and Teachers, better known as the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), was founded in Washington, D.C., as the National Congress of Mothers.

1955: British Minister of Defense Harold Macmillan announced plans to develop and produce hydrogen bombs.

1979: After the Vietnam War, Vietnam bolstered its ties with the Soviet Union rather than with China. Following a series of anti-Chinese, pro-Soviet maneuvers by Vietnam, China invaded its southern neighbor this day in

1979.

1996: An earthquake and an accompanying tsunami in Indonesia left 108 people dead, 423 injured, and 58 missing.

2008: Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia, though a number of countries refused to recognize the new republic. The International Court of Justice later ruled that Kosovo had not violated international law, but Serbia rejected that decision.

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NATIONAL

Storms and flooding have devastated Kentucky, resulting in at least nine deaths and widespread damage.
President Trump is reportedly set to attend a meeting with tech executives in Miami, hosted by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, during a summit.
Amazon warehouse workers in North Carolina have overwhelmingly voted to reject unionization.
Four deputies to New York Mayor Eric Adams are planning to resign in the coming days, withdrawing their support for the embattled mayor. This follows a request from President Trump’s Justice Department to drop criminal charges against Adams, citing his alignment with Trump’s immigration policy, according to local media reports from Monday.
The Air Force One program may face further delays until 2029 or beyond, according to a senior administration official. Supply chain issues and changing requirements have contributed to the setback, after the White House announced the project failed to deliver a new plane on time over the weekend.
The Trump administration has warned that federal funding cuts may be imposed on academic institutions and universities if they continue their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, which the new U.S. president is working to dismantle early in his term.
On Monday, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright called the pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 a "sinister goal" and criticized the British government's efforts to meet clean energy targets.
President Donald Trump announced he will nominate Edward Martin, his top prosecutor in Washington, for a full and permanent term as U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, according to a social media post on Monday.
The new administration is rapidly changing the government’s approach to voting rights, as highlighted by a closely watched redistricting case from Louisiana. On January 16, the U.S. Solicitor General requested the Supreme Court allow the federal government to participate in the case. However, just days after President
Trump’s inauguration, the acting solicitor general withdrew the request on January 24, stating the government no longer supported its previous argument.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba criticized the U.S. government review board and then-President Joe Biden’s decision to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel, calling it “unjust political interference.”
Personnel from Elon Musk’s government downsizing team, DOGE, visited the Federal Aviation Administration’s Air Traffic Control command center in Warrenton, Virginia, on Monday, as the Trump administration pushes for reforms in the system.
The Trump administration has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in its effort to fire the head of an independent U.S. agency that protects government whistleblowers. This marks the first legal battle involving Trump’s actions to reach the nation’s highest court since he assumed office in January.
On Sunday, the Department of Energy reported that President Trump and Elon Musk had purged fewer than 50 employees from the agency responsible for maintaining the nation’s nuclear weapons arsenal. This came after a wave of larger layoffs was abruptly reversed, causing chaos among staff.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration employees involved in reviewing Elon Musk’s brain implant company, Neuralink, were reportedly fired over the weekend as part of a "broader federal workforce purge", according to two sources with knowledge of the matter.
The acting commissioner of the Social Security Administration resigned over the weekend following a dispute with Elon Musk’s DOGE regarding attempts to access sensitive government records.

GLOBAL

Italy's Prime Minister vowed on Monday to push ahead with plans to deport irregular migrants to camps in Albania, despite delays caused by national judges. She emphasized that the government had a popular mandate to reduce migrant arrivals.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine and the United States must discuss the future of mineral deposits in areas captured by Russia, as Washington negotiates with Kyiv to open Ukraine's natural wealth to U.S. investment.
U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham dismissed President Donald Trump's proposal to seize Gaza and expel the Palestinians, while Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed expectations that Arab states would present a viable alternative.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed plans for Gaza during a meeting on Monday, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. Rubio is in the Middle East after President Trump angered the Arab world with a proposal to resettle Palestinian residents of Gaza in other Arab countries and have the U.S. take over Gaza.
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that he believes he could meet "very soon" with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Trump added that both Putin and Zelensky appear "eager to stop the fighting".
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly presented Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with a document requesting that Ukraine grant the U.S. about 50% ownership of its precious mineral deposits, crucial for high-tech manufacturing. The Trump administration framed the deal as a way for Ukraine to repay U.S. financial support after Russia’s 2022 invasion. However, Zelensky rejected the proposal, stating it lacked long-term security guarantees, with one former official calling it "colonial." Note: There was no direct investment in Ukraine; most of the funds allocated were used to purchase older military equipment from U.S. stockpiles, allowing the Pentagon to replenish and modernize its military arsenal.
Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin's foreign policy adviser, stated on Monday that Moscow and Washington have yet to agree on the approach to peace talks regarding Ukraine, as the U.S. has not appointed a chief negotiator to engage with Russia.
Volodymyr Zelensky declared that Ukraine would not accept a peace deal it did not help negotiate.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov ruled out territorial concessions to Ukraine on Monday, taking a tough stance ahead of talks scheduled for Tuesday with President Trump’s team in Saudi Arabia.
European leaders, led by France, attempted to present a united front on Ukraine in response to concerns about possible shifts in U.S. policy under Trump. However, their efforts fell apart due to disagreements over whether to send troops to enforce a potential peace agreement.
Keir Starmer, Britain’s Prime Minister, offered British troops to help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any peace deal. Starmer stated on Monday that a U.S. security commitment was the only way to ensure lasting peace in Ukraine, but it was too early to determine how many British peacekeeping troops would be deployed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed a desire for a strong and sovereign Europe on Monday, ahead of urgent talks in Paris, following indications that the United States is no longer seeking Europe’s input on resolving the Ukraine conflict.
European leaders meeting in Paris on Monday for emergency talks called for increased defense spending to bolster the continent's capabilities but remained divided on the idea of deploying peacekeepers to Ukraine in support of any peace deal.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, stated on Monday that the "survival of the West" depends on countries prioritizing their own national interests before extending support to their neighbors.
President Zelensky mentioned on Monday that he had discussed the release of Ukrainians held by Russia with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during a meeting in Abu Dhabi.
Taiwan is exploring a multibillion-dollar arms purchase from the United States, according to sources briefed on the matter. This move is intended to garner support from the new Trump administration amid ongoing military pressure from China.
An Israeli military operation in the West Bank has displaced approximately 40,000 Palestinians from their homes, marking the largest displacement of civilians in the region since the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.
Israel is preparing to receive the bodies of four hostages from Gaza on Thursday and is working to bring back six living captives on Saturday, an Israeli security official said on Monday.
White House: "Today, President Donald J. Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron had a friendly call. The leaders discussed the Ukraine War, the meeting of European nations, and the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia between U.S. and Russian officials. The call lasted approximately 30 minutes."
The EU plans to tell Israel that Palestinians displaced from Gaza should be guaranteed a dignified return and that Europe will contribute to rebuilding the devastated territory, according to a document seen by Reuters.
Argentine libertarian leader Javier Milei promoted the cryptocurrency $LIBRA on X, calling it a private project to boost Argentina's economy. However, after the coin's market cap surged to $4.4 billion, it plummeted by over 95%. Milei later deleted his post, claiming he was unaware of the project's details. This incident mirrors U.S. President Donald Trump's earlier launch of a memecoin before his inauguration. In response, some political factions are pushing for an investigation, with discussions around a potential impeachment of Milei. Milei has also expressed interest in "exploring whether any laws were violated".
South Africa's foreign minister Ronald Lamola said on Monday that the United States had not responded to attempts to discuss President Trump’s executive order cutting off aid, but China had pledged support.

CARTOON OF THE DAY

POSTS OF THE DAY

GOOD TO KNOW

President Trump held an informal gaggle with the press upon returning to Mar-a-Lago on Sunday. During the session, he addressed a variety of topics, including the US-Russia negotiations on Ukraine, the ceasefire in Israel, rising egg prices, and more. As usual, I recommend tapping on each screenshot to read the exact quotes.

Please tap a photo to open the gallery (4 pictures), then swipe left.

VIDEO QUICK NEWS

A Delta flight with about 80 passengers from Minnesota appears to have crash-landed at Toronto Pearson Airport. While no fatalities have been reported, at least 8 people were injured. Photos and videos show passengers safely exiting the plane, which was overturned.

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov: EU can’t hide behind the "nuclear shield", will have to answer for its “lawlessness”

Btw, Elon Musk called it "competent leadership."

Fake US promises to Ukraine? Kaja Kallas warns the world

Starmer in his address to the nation after meeting the EU leaders and NATO: Ukraine must have a secure future, Europe must have a secure future, Britain must have a secure future, and democratic values must prevail.

Zelenskyy: if US pulls out of NATO, Russia will occupy Europe

Clinton: I feel personal mistake because I got Ukraine to give up their nuclear weapons

Putin’s former senior adviser Illarionov: Military defeat of Russian forces is the only way to peace

Carney: Americans are just our neighbor now as opposed to an ally

Trump: Elon called me, said they try to drive us apart

ABC News: Musk is aiming to get access to the IRS data system

Former USAID Deputy Administrator Kunder: We are not making America great, we are making America weak

Greg Casar (TX): At least 5 inspector generals who were investigating Musk were fired

You can find ALL VIDEOS on our YouTube

TODAY'S COVER PHOTO

Paris, France European Union leaders and NATO held an urgent meeting to discuss the growing divide in views between the EU and the United States.

Posted by Secretary General of NATO Rutte on X

That's all from me for now. Thank you for reading.

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