February 17th Global News Review
United States
- Legal and Political Tensions: There are ongoing legal disputes regarding the Trump administration’s compliance with court orders, with some experts warning of a potential constitutional crisis. A judge in Boston extended a stay on federal employees’ resignation offers while considering further arguments.
- Policy Changes: The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) has decided to stop funding programs that promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) or “gender ideology,” affecting long-standing grants for underserved communities.
- International Relations: Secretary of State Marco Rubio is involved in talks with Russia, marking the first significant diplomatic engagement since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
China
- Economic Policy: There’s a focus on clarifying misinformation around tariffs, with China responding to what they describe as a “fake news” blizzard.
- Legal Developments: A Boston man was cleared of charges related to acting as a Chinese agent.
- Technology: Europe’s privacy watchdogs are discussing DeepSeek, a technology presumably related to data privacy or AI, at a meeting.
Russia
- International Relations: The U.S. engagement with Russia over Ukraine has been a topic, with U.S. senators dismissing Trump’s Gaza plan, suggesting an alternative approach from Arab states.
Canada
- Nationalism and U.S. Relations: Canadian politicians are leveraging nationalist sentiments in response to U.S. President Trump’s policies, particularly threats that might affect Canadian interests.
Europe
- Sanctions and Relations with Russia: There’s a risk of a showdown between Europe and the U.S. over Russian sanctions, indicating ongoing tension in transatlantic relations.
India
- Public Health Policy: In response to an antibiotic resistance crisis, the Indian government is considering stripping state drug regulators of their licensing power for antibiotic manufacturing.
Other Global News
- Middle East: Updates on the Russia-Ukraine war continue to be relevant, with implications for U.S. foreign policy in the region.
This summary provides a snapshot of how political landscapes are shifting across major countries, focusing on significant policy shifts, legal battles, and international diplomacy.
News links News Summary Sources:
- The Last Refuge – Presidential Politics – Trump Administration Day 30
- Artnet News – A Running List of How the Trump Administration Is Impacting the Arts
- The Moscow Times – Vance Threatens Sanctions, U.S. Troops in Ukraine if Putin Rejects Peace Deal
- The New York Times – The N.E.A.’s New Gender and Diversity Edicts Worry Arts Groups
- NPR – ‘Chilling effect’: Arts organizations react to end of DEI initiatives from fed agency
- The Independent – Russia Ukraine war latest: Trump says Ukraine may be Russian someday while agreeing to $500bn rare earth deal
- Artnet News – NEA’s New Grant Rules Imperil Funding for Arts Programs in Underserved Communities
- American Theatre – New NEA Guidelines Require Compliance With Trump’s Anti-DEI, Anti-Trans Orders
- The New York Times – Arts Endowment Cuts Grants Dedicated to Underserved Communities
- The Art Newspaper – NEA shuts down arts grant for ‘underserved communities’ amid flurry of Trump executive orders
- GMA News Online – National Arts Month 2025: 10 art and culture events happening in Metro Manila this February
- The Washington Post – National Endowment for the Arts cancels some grants to boost patriotic art
- Deadline – National Endowment For The Arts Shifts Grant Priorities In Trump Era
- Axios – NEA to prioritize Declaration of Independence in grants funding
- The Independent – Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv launches drone strike at Russian oil depots as Zelensky ready to speak with Putin
- The Guardian – In this Trump era of shakedown diplomacy, everything has a price
- Euronews – Trump dissolves the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities
- CSIS – Can Trump Persuade Putin to Make Peace in Ukraine?
- The New York Times – Trump Dissolves Arts Committee Previously Restored by Biden
- Crisis Group – What 2025 Could Mean for the War in Ukraine and the Ukrainian and Russian Armed Forces
- The Telegraph – Trump has shown tariff diplomacy works – we should follow his example
- NPR – Trump is threatening more sanctions against Russia if it fails to negotiate on the war
- Washington Times – Trump eyes tariffs, sanctions on Russia to end Ukraine war
- USA Today – Trump threatens tariffs on Russia if Putin doesn’t ‘settle now and stop’ Ukraine war
- NPR – Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and sanctions if Ukraine war doesn’t end
- Please note that these links are from the context provided, and the exact URLs might not be functional in reality. They are meant for illustrative purposes based on the information given.