DAILY NEWS Stream – February 12, 2025

US President Trump reiterates plan for United States to own Gaza: “Think of it as a big real estate site…and we’ll - slowly, very slowly, we’re in no rush - develop it. We’re going to bring stability to the Middle East,” adding that sections may be rebuilt by other countries in the region and that the US will “take care of the Palestinians,” making sure they “live beautifully in harmony and peace” (Sky News Australia)

Palestine is coordinating with Arab countries to address the urgent reconstruction of Gaza, says Palestinian Prime Minister Mustafa during meeting with Arab League Secretary-General Gheit in Cairo [Egypt] (Arab News)

“Looked like Holocaust survivors”: US President Trump reacts to Hamas releasing Israeli hostages, lamenting their “horrible condition” and suggesting the rest must be released faster or else the US may “lose its patience” (Sky News Australia)

Ukraine prepared to open a humanitarian corridor in the Ukrainian-controlled Kursk region for Russian civilians to return to Russian-held areas if Moscow requests it (VnExpress)

Baltic states Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania disconnect from Russian power grid and prepare to integrate into EU network, ending threat of Russian energy blackmail while leaving Russia and Belarus on their own (BBC)

Kenya sends 144 more police to Haiti to keep the peace against gang violence (The EastAfrican)

President Trump says Canada would be “cherished” as 51st US state, adding that He “loves the people of Canada” and that joining the US would be “the greatest thing they could ever do… think of how beautiful that country would be without that artificial line running right through it” (Sky News Australia)

President Trump’s approval ratings soar during second presidential term, with up to 70% of Americans believing the President is doing “what He promised” on the campaign trail (Sky News Australia)

President Trump proclaims February 9 “Gulf of America Day,” celebrating the official signing of the order to rename the Gulf of Mexico (Sky News Australia)

Analysis: The US military can support Mexico’s anti-drug campaign by training Mexico’s armed forces to deal with drug cartels, including in using drones, or the US could get directly involved - both options being considered by President Trump and His team (VnExpress)

US: Republican Congressman Ben Cline slams Democrats for “scripted outrage” over Elon Musk and their “lies about DOGE [Department of Government Efficiency],” saying he is “not a private being given ‘unprecedented access to personal and sensitive information;’” in fact, “Mr. Musk holds some of the highest-level security clearances as a key defense contractor [through SpaceX] and his work is integral to ensuring US military superiority” (Sky News Australia)

President Trump expands His US$10 billion lawsuit against CBS News to include parent company Paramount Global after the full “60 Minutes” interview transcript revealed heavy edits favoring Harris in the 2024 election (Daily Mail)

Maharashtra State [India] sees surge in paralytic neurological disease Guillain–Barré syndrome [GBS] with 163 cases mostly in and around Pune, most likely caused by E. coli bacteria-contaminated water (VTV.vn)

Kon Tum [Vietnam]: Outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, with over 70 cows and buffaloes infected in nearly a week (ATI News)

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health warns drinking alcohol in the cold weather can lead to stroke and death, and so can taking a bath late at night when it’s cold due to constricted blood vessels (Video AloBacsi)

Air pollution increases lung cancer rates worldwide in people who have never smoked, making it the fifth leading cause of cancer death globally, International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC] reports (Tuổi Trẻ)

US: Dramatic 96% drop in monarch butterfly count in 2024, nearing record 30-year low as pesticides, diminishing habitat, and climate change take their toll on the beloved pollinator (ABC)

Climate change causes 50% decline in Hudson Bay [Canada]’s polar bear population since the mid-1990s, as melting ice hinders their ability to find food, new paper says (ABC)

Australia’s reliance on coal-fired power drops to record low, accounting for less than 50% of total electricity output, market operator reports (TechXplore)

Research shows a high-fiber plant-based diet is the number one diet to lower cancer risk, with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds all improving gut health and strengthening immune system function – as experts say 40% of all cancers can be prevented through lifestyle changes (Fortune)

Veganuary [Vegan January] campaign celebrates record 25.8 million sign-ups in 2025 and inspires Chinese sister campaign “V-March” [Mangchun Sanyue], a month-long vegan challenge in March to follow Lunar New Year, developed by China Vegan Society (Plant Based News)

Fur production has plummeted to its lowest level in years, dropping 85% in the last decade as more countries introduce bans on fur raising operations (Plant Based News)

US vegan company Beyond Meat and National Basketball Players Association collaborate on new vegan cookbook “Go Beyond the Buzzer,” with contributions from fan favorites like Cade Cunningham (vegan), Kyrie Irving (vegan), and DeAndre Jordan (vegan) (VegWorld)

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine [US] leads new task force to combat animal cruelty throughout North Florida (The Veterinary Page)

Imperial College London [UK] votes for 100% vegan catering at its Students’ Union [SU] and formally endorses the Plant-Based Universities campaign, which calls on all universities to adopt “just and sustainable plant-based [vegan] catering to tackle the climate and nature crises” (The Tab)

US: Hundreds of animals rescued from Ohio fur animal-raising operation, including foxes, raccoons, skunks, opossums, and coyotes (Columbus CW)

Motivational quote of the day: “We cannot live better than in seeking to become better.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Socrates (vegetarian)