National and international media news & headlines compiled by CLG

CIA confirms suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine | 5 March 2025 | Washington has brought all intelligence sharing with Ukraine to a halt, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to Fox Business on Wednesday. The development came just a day after several American media outlets reported that the U.S. had suspended military assistance, including both the purchase of new weapons and shipments already in progress. When asked whether the U.S. had “cut off” its cooperation with Ukraine, Ratcliffe said that U.S. President Donald Trump had “asked for a pause” to see if Kiev was ready to work toward resolving the conflict with Russia. “President Trump had a real question whether…Zelensky was committed to a peace process,” Ratcliffe said, claiming that the halt to assistance and information sharing contributed to Zelensky publicly stating that he was “ready for peace.”

Washington bans Britain from sharing any U.S. military intelligence with Ukraine | 5 March 2025 | The United States has banned Britain from sharing intelligence from Washington with Ukraine as part of its withdrawal of support for Volodymyr Zelensky. Donald Trump’s decision to freeze American military aid to Kyiv yesterday brought warnings that Ukraine could run out of weapons in as little as two to three months’ time. But on top of missiles and ammunition, all UK intelligence agencies and military outlets also received an order expressly forbidding the sharing of U.S.-generated intelligence, previously known as “Rel UKR” — short for “Releasable to Ukraine.” The Mail has learned that the top-level security classification has now been removed by the United States pending further notification. The ban affects the likes of the UK’s GCHQ, the spy agencies and intelligence branches of the Ministry of Defence.

Poland confirms U.S. has suspended military aid to Ukraine –American weapons have stopped moving across the border, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has said | 5 March 2025 | The U.S. has suspended military assistance to Ukraine, including the delivery of weapons that were already in shipment, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has told journalists. Earlier, the move was reported by several U.S. media outlets. “Today, a decision was announced to suspend American aid for Ukraine,” Tusk told reporters ahead of a government meeting on Tuesday. Washington has not made any official announcements on the issue. “Reports that are coming from the border, from our hub in Jasionka, have confirmed the announcements of the American side,” the Polish prime minister stated. Located in the southeastern Poland, Jasionka airport has been transformed into a major supply and transport hub for Ukraine-bound Western military aid.

U.S. suspends cyber operations against Russia – media –The order was reportedly given before last week’s Trump-Zelensky disastrous meeting at the White House | 3 March 2025 | The Pentagon has ordered a halt to offensive cyber operations against Russia, multiple media outlets reported on Monday, citing a senior U.S. official. The decision was reportedly made prior to the heated exchange between Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky and President Donald Trump in the Oval Office last Friday. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the order to U.S. Cyber Command to cease activities in late February while Washington reassesses its relationship with Moscow, according to unnamed officials. The Record, a cybersecurity-focused news outlet…highlighted that the directive does not apply to signal intelligence collection conducted by the National Security Agency, which operates under the Department of Defense. While details of the rollback remain unspecified, sources claimed it was indefinite.

Trump administration weighs lifting sanctions on Russia – Reuters –The possible plans are reportedly part of the president’s efforts to improve ties with Moscow and end the Ukraine conflict | 3 March 2025 | The White House has directed the State and Treasury departments to draft proposals for easing certain sanctions on Russia, Reuters reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter. The tentative plans would align with U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to improve diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow and to facilitate an end to the conflict in Ukraine. The proposed sanctions relief could include specific Russian entities and individuals, including some business leaders, according to the outlet. The list will be discussed with Russian representatives in the coming days as part of the administration’s broad talks with Moscow on repairing ties, the sources told Reuters. However, it remains unclear what concessions or actions Washington might seek in exchange.

DOD says it’s found $80 million in waste to trim from Pentagon budget with help from DOGE | 3 March 2025 | The Department of Defense officials and members of Elon Musk’s DOGE team have identified about 80 million in fat — so far — that can be trimmed at the Pentagon, the agency announced Monday. A hodgepodge of numerous programs and expenses, including some Diversity Equity and Inclusion initiatives on the chopping block were rattled off by chief DOD spokesperson Sean Parnell in a social media post. The Air Force earmarked nearly 2 million for holistic DEI transformation and training and the Defense Human Resources Activity — which provides personnel data management and analysis for the DOD — spent 3.5 million to support DEI groups, he said.

Rubio signs declaration to expedite delivery of $4 billion in military aid to Israel | 2 March 2025 | U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday he had signed a declaration to expedite delivery of approximately 4 billion in military assistance to Israel. The Trump administration has approved nearly 12 billion in major foreign military sales to Israel, Rubio said in a statement, adding that it “will continue to use all available tools to fulfill America’s long-standing commitment to Israel’s security, including means to counter security threats.” Rubio said he had used emergency authority to expedite the delivery of military assistance to its Middle East ally… The Pentagon said on Friday that the State Department had approved the potential sale of nearly 3 billion worth of bombs, demolition kits and other weaponry to Israel.

Transcript of President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress | 5 March 2025 | A transcript of President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, as transcribed by The Associated Press.

Trump reveals executive order signed in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray, 12-year-old allegedly killed by illegal migrants | 4 March 2025 | President Trump announced Tuesday that he named a national wildlife refuge in honor of Jocelyn Nungaray — a 12-year-old Houston girl allegedly killed by a pair of illegal migrants. Trump revealed the heartfelt tribute as he introduced Alexis Nungaray, Jocelyn’s mother, as one of his invited guests to his speech to a joint session of Congress. “Alexis, I promised that we would always remember your daughter, your magnificent daughter, and earlier tonight, I signed an order keeping my word to you,” the president said. “One thing I have learned about Jocelyn is that she loved animals so much — she loved nature. Across Galveston Bay, from where Jocelyn lived in Houston, you will find a magnificent national wildlife refuge — a pristine, peaceful, 34,000 acre sanctuary for all of God’s creatures on the edge of the Gulf of America,” he continued. “Alexis, moments ago, I formally renamed that refuge in loving memory of your beautiful daughter, Jocelyn,” Trump revealed, before asking Vice President JD Vance to hand him the signed order so he could show the young girl’s mom, who struggled to hold back tears.

Trump makes DJ Daniel, 13-year-old with cancer, an honorary Secret Service agent in touching Congress speech moment | 5 March 2025 | President Trump honored Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old cancer survivor, in a moving moment during his address to the joint session of Congress on Tuesday, announcing that he will become an honorary member of the Secret Service. Daniel, clad in a police officer uniform while seated in the House gallery, beamed as his father hoisted him up while Trump recognized his battle to overcome cancer. “He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,” the commander in chief explained during his speech… Trump recounted how Daniel has been made an honorary member of other law enforcement agencies across the country and praised his fighting spirit. “And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all,” Trump teased before announcing the honor. “I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.” Chants of “D-J!” immediately erupted in the House chamber in response to the heartwarming announcement.

Growing calls for ‘odious’ MSNBC star Nicolle Wallace to be fired for shocking comments about cancer-stricken boy | 5 March 2025 | There are growing calls for MSNBC pundit Nicolle Wallace to be fired for her shocking remarks about suicide and the cancer stricken 13-year-old boy who was honored last night at Trump’s joint address to Congress. Trump honored 13-year-old Devarjaye DJ Daniel last night by making him an honorary member of the Secret Service. The young cancer patient was elated — it is his life’s dream to become a cop one day… But Wallace and fellow MSNBC star Rachel Maddow couldn’t resist the urge to say something negative — even about a young cancer stricken boy. “I hope he has a long life as a law enforcement officer, but I hope he never has to defend the United States Capitol against Donald Trump’s supporters…if he does, I hope he isn’t one of the six who loses his life to suicide,” Wallace said. Many say it’s a step too far for even MSNBC, a notoriously liberal network where melodramatic musings against Trump are commonplace.

Dem Rep. Al Green wields cane, booted from Trump’s address to Congress after raucous delay | 4 March 2025 | Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas repeatedly interrupted President Trump early on during his speech to the joint session of Congress, waving around his cane and shouting at the commander in chief. Initially, Trump tried to speak over him, but Green, 77, persisted, shouting, “You don’t have a mandate” — an apparent reference to the budget resolution that narrowly passed the House last week. Green, who represents a district in the Houston area, also pointed his finger at Trump. On a few occasions, he briefly quieted down to let Trump speak so that he could interject again. Republicans seated on the other side of the chamber quickly hit back with chants of “USA,” seeking to drown him out.

Trump hails whirlwind six weeks as ‘common sense revolution’ – as Dems heckle and protest address to Congress | 4 March 2025 | President Trump was the boisterous showman in chief before a joint session of Congress Tuesday night — boldly declaring “America is back” and its “greatest era” was underway as he brushed past petulant Democratic protests to lay out both the accomplishments and the agenda of his second term. Trump, 78, described his avalanche of executive orders and new initiatives as a “common sense revolution” during the 99-minute address — the longest in modern history… “Six weeks ago, I stood beneath the dome of this Capitol and proclaimed the dawn of the golden age of America. From that moment on, it has been nothing but swift and unrelenting action to usher in the greatest and most successful era in the history of our country,” Trump said. “We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplished in four years or eight years, and we are just getting started. America’s momentum is back. Our spirit is back. Our pride is back. Our confidence is back, and the American Dream is surging bigger and better than ever before.”

Slotkin slams Trump in post-speech Democratic response | 5 March 2025 | Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) slammed the start of President Trump’s second term in office in the Democratic response to his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday. In a roughly 10-minute speech, Slotkin laid out her view that most Americans share three main beliefs: the middle class is the “engine” of the country, strong national security keeps the country safe and the country’s democracy is worth fighting for, “no matter how messy.” Slotkin noted that she represents a state that voted for Trump for president and her for Senate [not exactly] at the same time.

The IRS reportedly plans to cut half of its 90,000 workforce | 5 March 2025 | The Internal Revenue Service reportedly plans to cut its roughly 90,000-employee workforce by as much as half, as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce. The cuts will be made through a mix of attrition, layoffs and incentivized buyouts, two people familiar with the situation told Rhe Associated Press. The reduction of the federal workforce is being led by the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency, which is being led by Elon Musk… The agency has already cut roughly 6,000 employees, or bout 6% of its workforce, Reuters reported in late February.

Tren de Aragua Suspect Faces Florida Gun Charges – Used Biden’s CBP One App to Enter U.S. | 4 March 2025 | A Venezuelan national and suspected member of the violent Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang is being charged by federal prosecutors with possessing a firearm as an illegal alien. According to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, the suspect entered the United States in Texas using the Biden regime’s now-disabled CBP-One smartphone asylum application to enter the United States in 2023. Luis Ernesto Veliz Riera, 23, entered through a port of entry in El Paso, Texas, in the same manner that the Biden administration allowed 1,450 “asylum seekers” daily using the CBP-One application. .. On February 14, 2025, Miami federal prosecutors charged Veliz-Riera with one count of possessing a firearm as an illegal alien.

22nd Indiana farm hit with avian influenza in 2025; over 6.9M birds dead so far | 5 March 2025 | A commercial duck breeder in Adams County is the latest Indiana farm to be hit with avian influenza, the Indiana State Board of Animal Health reported Wednesday night. The affected flock, consisting of 3,215 ducks, has been quarantined, and control areas have been activated at farms in portions of Adams County and adjacent Jay County. Indiana, California, and Pennsylvania are the top duck producing states in the United States.

Hundreds of birds in NYC infected by bird flu after poultry markets allowed to reopen | 5 March 2025 | Hundreds of birds at a Queens live poultry market have succumbed to a new bird flu outbreak — less than two weeks after the shops were allowed to reopen as the virus runs rampant across the nation. At least 150 birds were found on Monday to be infected with the extremely contagious and devastating virus, data from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service shows. The sprawling infection marks the first at a live market in the Big Apple since early February, when 1,240 birds at Queens and Bronx shops were found to be harboring the disease.

Penn State University sends students into lockdown after outbreak of potentially deadly infection on campus | 4 March 2025 | Students at a top US college are being told to isolate if they develop symptoms of chickenpox amid an outbreak on campus. Three cases of the highly transmissible infection have been detected at Penn State University. All the cases were at University Park, the main campus at the university which has about 42,000 students. It isn’t clear whether the patients are staff or students, but university officials say they have found the “origin” of the outbreak and are now reaching out to close contacts. Students who were in the Mifflin Hall between February 17 and 24 and the Thomas building on February 20 between 1 and 3pm are being warned they may have been exposed to the virus.

JFK International Airport on red alert as foreign traveler imports deadly disease and infects untold number | 3 March 2025 | Health officials have warned about a potential measles outbreak at New York’s JFK International Airport. A child who entered the country on a China Airlines flight has tested positive for the highly contagious disease. After arriving at Terminal 4, the patient traveled on a shuttle bus to Philadelphia where they visited two clinics and were eventually diagnosed. Anyone who was on the shuttle bus on February 25 between 9.30pm and 3.15am is being urged to get tested for the disease. People who were also at a clinic in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, on February 26 from 11.45am to 2.15pm, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia King of Prussia campus, from 12.52am to 3.02pm, are also being advised to get tested.