DAILY NEWS Stream – April 21, 2025

President Trump warns Ukraine and Russia that the US will drop Ukraine peace talks if there’s no progress soon (BBC)

Top European, Ukrainian, and US officials meet in Paris [France] to discuss Ukraine’s future (AP)

“Make the West great again”: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meets with US President Trump at the White House – key takeaways include: - President Trump prefers diplomacy to military action in Iran, saying the Iranian people have “a chance to have a great country” if given peace. - President Trump says His tariffs are “making us rich” after “losing a lot of money under Biden on trade.” - President Trump is confident the US will reach a trade deal with the EU, saying America has enough power to “set the deal.” - President Trump praises Prime Minister Meloni’s immigration policies that reduced illegal migration to Italy by 60%, saying “I wish more people would be like you.” - Prime Minister Meloni says Italian companies plan to invest about US$10 billion in the US in the coming years. - Prime Minister Meloni is interested in collaborating with the US on a Mars mission. - President Trump agrees with Prime Minister Meloni’s vision to make Western civilization “great again” – borrowing from President Trump’s famous motto (Sky News Australia; FOX 5 Washington DC)

Western military alliance NATO softens its language on climate, gender, and diversity to align with US President Trump, Who is removing radical gender ideology from the US government, schools, and other institutions (Politico)

Pet dog named Billy, taken by Hamas in the October 7, 2021 attacks, is found by Israeli troops in Gaza and returned to his family, who call it a “miracle from Heaven” (Sky News Australia)

Severe hailstorms strike Islamabad [Pakistan] and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, causing widespread damage and flash floods after heavy rain (Dawn)

The world is getting brighter: Scientists say air pollution has caused significant changes in solar radiation reaching Earth, with a “global dimming” from the 1950s–1980s followed by a partial “brightening” since the 2000s. Cleaner air has boosted solar energy collection in places like China (Daily Galaxy)

Reddit social media users are horrified to learn that female shrimp in the shrimp-raising industry have their eyes crushed, sliced, or burned to make them lay eggs faster, with many commenting they’ll go vegan after reading about it (PETA)

German scientists discover black crows understand geometry, recognizing patterns like right angles, symmetry, and parallel lines – abilities once thought unique to humans (Tuổi Trẻ)

Scientists develop a simple way to turn rain into energy using vertical tubes that harvest electricity from falling droplets, which could someday power buildings (SciTechDaily)

US: Washington state passes a bill to ban the use of elephants, bears, primates, and big cats from traveling circuses. It now awaits the Governor’s signature to become law (The Chronicle)

Nearly half of Americans would consider eating a plant-based diet to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, new survey finds (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine/Morning Consult)

Scientists find meat-eaters admire vegans for being eco-friendly and healthy, but that they also feel fear, envy, contempt, and anger – often due to frustration or not wanting to change their own diets (Daily Mail)

Self-realizing quote of the day: “There is a Voice that doesn’t use words. Listen.” – The Venerated Enlightened Master Rumi (vegetarian)