First Line News Articles for Tuesday, February 18 2025
Top Stories
US and Russia set to begin high-stakes talks over Ukraine’s fate
High-level delegations from the U.S. and Russia were set to begin talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday over the fate of Ukraine — negotiations taking place — without Ukraine.
Delta jet crashes at Canada’s Toronto Pearson Airport; crews responding to plane flipped upside down
A plane crashed at Toronto Pearson Airport on Monday afternoon, injuring Delta passengers flying from the U.S.
Russia Releases U.S. Citizen Arrested for Drug Smuggling Ahead of Peace Talks
Russia has released a U.S. citizen arrested earlier this month for drug smuggling, the latest sign that tensions between Moscow and Washington are easing ahead of this week’s peace talks to end the war in Ukraine.
Latter-Day Saint News
How BYU’s Master of Laws program is blessing individuals, communities, the Church and nations
Like the upcoming medical school, BYU’s LL.M. program is designed for non-U.S. students, creating leaders in nations around the globe
Thriving through the ‘spiritual health crisis,’ psychologist teaches during Marjorie Pay Hinckley lecture
Psychology professor Pamela Ebstyne King shared ways that religion and spirituality impact human well-being
Spokane food bank receives 40,000-pound donation amid rising demand
The Salvation Army’s Hope Market in Spokane is set to receive a significant donation from the Jesus Christ Church of Latter-day Saints. Nearly 40,000 pounds of food will be delivered to help families in need.
Elder Kevin R. Duncan: A testimony of Christ’s love for the Chilean people
Reflecting on the seven years I spent serving in Chile — first as a young missionary in the early 1980s, later as associate legal counsel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and ultimately as a mission president — I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the love of Jesus Christ and the power of His gospel to change lives.
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints members meet with state officials
More than 58 members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints gathered at the Kentucky State Capitol on Thursday, February 7 to meet with Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman and members of the Kentucky General Assembly.
National
Kentucky flooding updates: Rescue, recovery efforts continue Monday
Recovery efforts have resumed Monday as several areas around Kentucky continue dealing with the aftermath of devastating flooding that has left at least nine people dead, but efforts could be snarled by a winter weather system set to move into the region Tuesday.
Elon Musk’s DOGE prepares to audit US gold reserves at Fort Knox after urging by Sen. Rand Paul
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has his sights set on an audit of the U.S. gold reserve at Ft. Knox through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after it was revealed there is no yearly review for the world-renowned stash.
Judge Chutkan Expected to Rule Quickly on Musk’s DOGE
A U.S. judge said on Monday she hoped to rule within 24 hours in a lawsuit that aims to protect information systems at major government agencies from Elon Musk’s DOGE team, which President Donald Trump has tasked with overhauling the government.
Ramaswamy Launches Ohio Gov. Campaign on Feb. 24
Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur who unsuccessfully ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, will officially launch his campaign for governor of Ohio on Feb. 24, The Hill reported.
Trump: US Will Charge Reciprocal Tariffs for Fairness
President Donald Trump said Monday that the United States will charge other countries a reciprocal tariff to “bring fairness and prosperity back,” as well as level the playing field for American workers.
Layoffs Begin at FAA Weeks After Deadly D.C. Crash
Layoffs began at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) just weeks after the deadly collision between a commercial passenger jet and a military Blackhawk helicopter outside of Washington, D.C.
Attorneys General Face Uphill Battle to Justify Lawsuits Against Trump Executive Orders
Attorneys general in left-leaning states have been crowding into courtrooms to sue the Trump administration. This spectacle, the growing tangle of hastily issued injunctions preventing the enforcement of presidential executive orders, might lead some to think that they are observing the reverse side of a familiar pattern—one in which the party that lost a national election sends its state-level proxies into federal court to harass the party that won the White House.
Democrats Keep Convincing Themselves Their Problem Is Podcasts (It’s Their Policies)
Democrats insist their problems are rooted in their inability to communicate with voters but say nothing of how they ruined everything with destructive policies.
World
Zelenskyy travels to UAE as momentum grows for talks to end Russia’s war in Ukraine
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the leader of the United Arab Emirates on Monday as momentum grows for potential peace talks ending Russia’s war on the country.
Mexico awaits new response from Google on dispute over Gulf of Mexico name before filing lawsuit
Mexico said Monday it’s awaiting a new response from Google to its request that the tech company fully restore the name Gulf of Mexico to its Google Maps service before filing a lawsuit.
Zelenskyy not yet signing US economic agreement ‘short-sighted,’ White House official says
A senior White House official reportedly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision not to sign a proposed agreement to give the United States access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals.
In Israel, US senators dismiss Trump’s Gaza plan, say Arab states to have viable alternative
U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham dismissed on Monday President Donald Trump’s proposal to seize Gaza and force out the Palestinians, while Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal said he expects Arab states to put forward a workable alternative.
Macron speaks with Trump ahead of European leaders’ summit
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron shortly before European leaders discussed their nations’ security concerns and the continent being shut out of efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.
U.K., Sweden say troops could head to post-war Ukraine as Trump fuels a European “collective security” drive
European leaders gathered Monday in Paris for a hastily organized meeting to discuss how to react to recent diplomatic moves by the Trump administration pertaining to Ukraine. The leaders of Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and the EU were among those attending.
Israeli Military Says It Killed Hamas Official in Southern Lebanon
The Israeli military Monday killed a Hamas leader in southern Lebanon’s Sidon area, it said in a statement.
State Department Drops Opposition to Taiwan Independence from Website
The State Department dropped wording from its website regarding U.S. opposition to Taiwan’s independence from China, possibly foreshadowing a hawkish shift in U.S. policy toward China.
Business
Boeing’s Air Force One Program Might Be Delayed
The Air Force One program may be further delayed until 2029 or years later, a senior administration official said, citing supply-chain issues and changing requirements, after the White House highlighted delays in the project over the weekend.
Science
Archaeologists uncover ancient ‘city of the dead’ in Italy: ‘Perfectly preserved’
Archaeologists recently discovered an ancient “city of the dead” in Italy, dating back nearly 3,000 years.
Health
Bird flu vaccine gets ‘conditional license’ from USDA, company announces
A New Jersey pharmaceutical company has received a “conditional license” for its bird flu vaccine for use in chickens.
Are noise-cancelling headphones to blame for young people’s hearing problems?
Whether it’s the echo of beeping tills in a supermarket or the hissing of a coffee machine in your local café, the brain is constantly working to decode hundreds of noises each day.
COVID Vaccine Controversy: New Study Sparks Scientific Debate
Medical researchers are engaged in a vigorous debate over the potential dangers of the COVID-19 vaccine after a journal urged for immediate global market withdrawal of all COVID vaccines.
Economy
Fed Governor Michelle Bowman: Progress crucial on inflation before new rate cuts
A Federal Reserve governor says she wants to see more data on inflation before advocating additional interest rate cuts.