The Daily Signal - Russia Ready to Talk Ending War, Bibas Hostages, Mayor Adam’s Fate in Question | Feb. 18

Starting point is 00:00:00 At Desjardin, we speak business. We speak equipment modernization. We're fluent in data digitization and expansion into foreign markets. And we can talk all day about streamlining manufacturing processes. Because at Desjardin business, we speak the same language you do. Business. So join the more than 400,000 Canadian entrepreneurs who already count on us. And contact Desjardin today.

Starting point is 00:00:25 We'd love to talk, business. Russian officials say they are ready to move forward with peace talks to end the war with Ukraine. I'm Virginia Allen, and this is the Daily Signal's top news in 10 for Tuesday, February 18th. Russia has agreed to engage in talks over ending the war with Ukraine. Today, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in Saudi Arabia to meet with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Levrov, to discuss the war between Russia and Ukraine. National Security Advisor Mike Walts and Special Envoy Ambassador Steve Whitkoff were also present at today's meeting. Rubio told the Associated Press that there were three central goals that were discussed during today's meeting between the U.S. and Russia.

Starting point is 00:01:20 The first goal that Russia and the U.S. have agreed to is to restore staffing in their respective embassies in Washington and in Moscow. Second, both nations are to form a team that will head up peace talks aimed at ending the war. between Russia and Ukraine. And finally, Russia and the U.S. want to explore a greater economic relationship. The State Department says the goal is to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible and in a way that is enduring, sustainable, and acceptable to all sides. Ukraine was not present at today's meeting, and Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, says that Ukraine won't agree to any deal if it doesn't have a seat at the table during the deal-making. On Monday, European leaders convened for an emergency meeting

Starting point is 00:02:09 ahead of the U.S.-Russia officials meeting today. French president Emmanuel Macron's office said that the meeting was focused on bringing together all the parties interested in peace and security in Europe. Trump has been clear that he wants to see the war between Ukraine and Russia end quickly. So, stay tuned. We turn now to Israel, where the fans are the family. families of hostages have just marked 500 days since their loved ones were taken into captivity

Starting point is 00:02:41 in Gaza. There are 73 hostages still being held in Gaza 500 days after Hamas launched its terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 30 of these Israeli hostages are confirmed to already be dead, but Hamas continues to hold their bodies. Today, Hamas announced that on Thursday, they will release the bodies of four deceased hostages, including Shiri Bebis and her two children. For over a year, it has been very unclear if the mother and her two young children were still alive or not. In November of 2023, Hamas claimed that an Israeli air strike had killed Shiri and her kids, but there was no proof of that. Husband and father, Yarden Beavis, was released alive from Hamas captivity on February 1st. The Bebus family issued a statement today saying

Starting point is 00:03:35 they are in turmoil over the announcement. The family said that they have not yet received any official confirmation from Israel regarding the status of Shiri and the children. Right now, we're still in phase one of the current ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. In total, 33 hostages are set to be released during this first six weeks of the ceasefire. The six remaining living hostages still to be released are now going to be released on Saturday. Originally only three hostages were going to be released this coming Saturday, so the news that was going to be six instead was, of course, very welcomed. And Israel officials said that the new terms were reached during talks in Egypt last week.

Starting point is 00:04:20 Over the weekend, Israeli-American hostage, Sigi Del Chen, was released and was reunited with his wife and his three children. One Israeli-American does still remain in captivity in Gaza, 21-year-old Edan Alexander. Many of the hostages who still remain in captivity in Gaza are young men, like Matanzanguker. Matan and his girlfriend Alana Gratutsky were both taken hostage on October 7th. Alana was released after 55 days, days that she describes as a living hell. Since she was released, she has dedicated her time to advocating for Matan Zan. release, and I had the opportunity to actually speak with Alana earlier today after she spoke

Starting point is 00:05:04 at the Heritage Foundation. I will do everything to bring them home alive and tell to Matan if they see you, they will fight from him, and I love you so much, and I will bring you home alive. You can catch my full conversation with Alana and hear more of her story, what she experienced in captivity, by church. checking out my full conversation with her on the Daily Signals YouTube channel. New York City Mayor Eric Adams remains in hot water. Adams faced corruption charges related to allegedly accepting gifts worth more than $100,000

Starting point is 00:05:46 from Turkish citizens. The gifts were allegedly in exchange for political favors. Adams has denied these allegations. Last week, Trump's Justice Department filed a motion to dismiss the criminal case against Adams. Now multiple people in the U.S. Attorney's Office and the mayor's office have resigned. And Mayor Adams is under pressure to resign himself. New York Governor Kathy Hockel has been in meetings with top New York political leaders today to discuss Mayor Adams' fate. Hockel has a couple options before her.

Starting point is 00:06:19 She can choose to back Adams, which at least right now does appear to be unlikely. Or she can pressure him to resign. or she could invoke her powers as governor to remove Adams from office. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Dale Ho wants to know why the Justice Department is seeking to dismiss the case against Adams. The judge has ordered Mayor Adams and federal prosecutors to appear in court tomorrow and explain why the Trump administration is working to drop the case. Up next is our newsflash.

Starting point is 00:06:52 Your government is out of control. It's doing things it has no business doing. It spends way too much money. It gets involved in way too many wars. It not only tells you what you can and can't say, it actively censors you. And the things your government should do, it can't, or worse, won't, do it all. It can't keep your streets clean of crime and filth. It can't keep your neighborhoods safe enough for kids to play outside.

Starting point is 00:07:15 It can't even prevent your country from being invaded by millions of illegal immigrants. Why is that? Because your leaders no longer represent you, they represent themselves and their friends. In my new show, The Signal Sit Down, will expose how the sausage really gets made in Washington, D.C., with guests who have experience on the inside. Fingers will be pointed. Names will be named. You ready?

Starting point is 00:07:37 President Trump's push to end diversity, equity, and inclusion practices continued today. The Wall Street Journal broke the news that the White House is directing all federal agencies to no longer consider a company's DEI practices when deciding whether to use the company's goods and services. Under the Biden administration, federal agencies were told that they needed to consider a company's DEI practices before signing a contract with that company. But no more. How did a plane end up upside down at the Toronto Pearson International Airport? That is the big question that is being asked after a Delta flight flipped upside down upon landing in Toronto yesterday afternoon. All 76 passengers and four crew members miraculously. survived. 18 people were injured in the incident. Some injured critically, but the New York Times

Starting point is 00:08:39 reports that there were no life-threatening injuries. Finally, the Vatican announced today that Pope Francis has pneumonia in both of his lungs. The Vatican described the Pope's health as a complex picture. Pope Francis is 88 years old. With that, we're going to leave it right there for today. Thanks for joining us for the Daily Signal's Top News in 10. Don't forget to hit subscribe so you never miss out on brand new shows. That also is such a help to us. And if you would, take a minute to leave us a five-star rating and review. We love hearing your feedback. Today's show was edited and produced by John Pop and Keith Coughler. Thanks again for being with us today. We'll see you right back here, the same time tomorrow for Top News.

The Daily Signal - Russia Ready to Talk Ending War, Bibas Hostages, Mayor Adam’s Fate in Question | Feb. 18

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.