R. Scott Pert

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raymondpert@mastodon-cloud.mostr.pub

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Last Notes

2025-04-09 09:10:22

The Canadians and Danes boycotting American products
> Todd Brayman is no longer buying his favourite red wine, which is from California.
> A veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces, he is one of a growing number of people in #Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world, who are avoiding buying #US products due to President Trump's #tariffs and treatment of #US allies. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0el8ed21w9o #Canada #Denmark #Danmark #DKpolitik #CDNpoli #TradeWar #DKpol
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/307/224/018/132/461/original/8533accc726d42c7.jpeg

2025-03-29 23:09:08

Congressionally created and funded thinktank taken over by #DOGE seeks to prevent and resolve global conflicts
> Most employees at the US Institute of Peace, a congressionally created and funded thinktank now taken over by #ElonMusk’s unofficial “department of government efficiency”, received email notices of their mass firing late Friday, the latest step in the Trump administration’s government downsizing. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/29/us-institute-of-peace-mass-firings #MAGA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/248/236/788/655/232/original/174ba798e0ce55b6.jpeg

2025-03-29 19:45:46

#MAGA - 'One phrase in particular' makes Trump's Smithsonian order 'deeply disturbing':
> "Improper ideologies? Those alone are two words that signal the end of America as we know it," Rothkopf warns. "There are not supposed to be 'improper ideologies' in these United States, a country with freedom of expression woven into the fabric of its founding documents."
https://www.alternet.org/rothkopf-trump-smithsonian/ #DonaldTrump

2025-03-29 19:15:33

Not one family in Nuuk, #Greenland would accept a visit from JD and Usha Vance.
NOT A SINGLE RESIDENCE, this is why the visit was cancelled.
#MAGA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/247/318/310/836/251/original/026347f3a0faafac.jpeg

2025-03-29 17:58:45

Hundreds of thousands join Istanbul protest rally
> Waving flags and chanting slogans, hundreds of thousands of anti-government demonstrators rallied in #Istanbul Saturday calling for democracy to be defended after the arrest of mayor Ekrem Imamoglu which sparked #Turkey’s worst street unrest in over a decade.
https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/03/29/hundreds-of-thousands-join-istanbul-protest-rally-report #Turkiye #protests
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/247/016/303/625/788/original/97f371bc676980cc.jpeg

2025-03-29 13:46:53

Denmark is open to discussions with the U.S. on how to "fix" the status quo in #Greenland, the country's foreign minister said, after Vice President #JDVance accused #Copenhagen of failing to adequately protect the Arctic island during a controversial visit on Friday.
> In a post to X addressed to #Denmark's "dear American friends" late Friday, Danish Foreign Minister #LarsLokkeRasmussen said his nation agrees that the "status quo" in the #Arctic "is not an option."
https://abcnews.go.com/International/denmark-tone-us-greenland-remarks-minister/story?id=120287707

2025-03-29 11:20:18

Trump Says US Will Help After Myanmar Quake
> President #DonaldTrump on Friday vowed the United States would assist #Myanmar after it was hit by a huge #earthquake, following a rare plea for aid by the #SouthEastAsia nation’s ruling junta.
> “It’s terrible,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office about the quake when asked if he would respond to the appeal by Myanmar’s military rulers.
> “It’s a real bad one, and we will be helping. https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/trump-says-us-will-help-after-myanmar-quake.html

2025-03-29 10:13:18

#UK - Disabled man dies in poverty and squalor after DWP removes his benefits, just as Labour cuts PIP by £4.5bn
> The body of a disabled man was found in his flat in distressing, squalid conditions, just weeks after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) wrongly removed his disability benefits because he had failed to return a claim form. https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/disabled-man-dies-in-poverty-and-squalor-after-dwp-removes-his-benefits-just-as-labour-cuts-pip-by-4-5bn/ #brexit #poverty #squalor #austerity #ukpolitics #politicsuk #labour #ukgovernment

2025-03-29 00:35:10

Airlines Cut Seats to the U.S. as Canadians Stay Away
> #Airlines are having to revamp their plans ahead of the peak summer travel season as Canadians avoid trips to the United States amid an escalating #tradewar between the two neighbors.
https://archive.is/2025.03.28-203526/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/world/canada/air-canada-flights-seats-us.html #Canada #Tariffs #CDNpoli #CANpoli #travel

2025-03-28 13:23:36

Several killed as strong earthquake strikes central Myanmar, shakes buildings in Thailand
> A powerful #earthquake rocked Southeast Asia on Friday, killing several people, bringing down a skyscraper under construction in #Bangkok and toppling buildings in neighbouring #Myanmar, where the ruling junta declared a state of emergency in some areas.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/myanmar-earthquake-thailand-1.7495795 #Thailand #SouthEastAsia #expatasia #TootSEA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/240/272/080/113/111/original/a1bdc99063bc16d5.jpeg

2025-03-28 03:42:53

France's Le Pen faces verdict that could end presidential hopes
> A French court on Monday will rule in the trial of #FarRight leader #MarineLePen over an alleged fake jobs scam at the #EU parliament, a verdict which could ruin her chances of standing for president in 2027.
> Three-time presidential candidate #LePen, who scents her best-ever chance to win the French presidency in 2027, has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2289333.html #France

2025-03-28 03:00:08

#Brasil - Bolsonaro will stand trial over an alleged coup plan. Here’s what happens next
> A panel of Brazil Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro and seven of his associates will stand trial on five counts, including attempting to stage a coup after the far-right leader lost the 2022 election.
https://apnews.com/article/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-supreme-court-trial-80e98eba0b7868580f78916850200c8d #Brazil #coup #Bolsonaro

2025-03-26 20:32:06

#mapleMAGA - When #DanielleSmith tried explaining Poilievre to Americans, Canadians heard it too
> Premier saying #Conservative leader 'in sync' with Trump rattles both federal and provincial politics
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/danielle-smith-breitbart-poilievre-trump-sync-analysis-1.7493168 #PierrePolievre #CDNpoli #ABpoli #Tariffs #MAGA #Canada #DonakdTrump
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/230/632/397/390/255/original/9eb3564d14ce950b.jpeg

2025-03-25 21:31:07

#MAGA - Speaker Mike Johnson floats eliminating federal courts as GOP ramps up attacks on judges
> “We do have the authority over the federal courts, as you know. We can eliminate an entire district court. We have power of funding over the courts and all these other things,” Johnson told reporters on Tuesday. “But desperate times call for desperate measures, and Congress is going to act.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/speaker-mike-johnson-floats-eliminating-federal-courts-rcna197986

2025-03-25 00:34:08

AI Without Nvidia: Jack Ma-Backed Ant Touts Breakthrough Built on Chinese Chips
> Jack Ma-backed #AntGroup Co. used Chinese-made #semiconductors to develop techniques for training #AI models that would cut costs by 20%,
> Ant used domestic #chips, including from affiliate #Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and #Huawei Technologies Co., to train models [..] It got results similar to those from #Nvidia Corp. #chips like the H800, https://archive.is/2025.03.24-132650/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-03-24/jack-ma-backed-ant-touts-ai-breakthrough-built-on-chinese-chips #JackMa #CHINA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/220/259/452/034/468/original/8326d30829e1863c.jpeg

2025-03-25 00:07:01

Vancouver International Auto Show sets record after #Tesla ban
> Organizers of the #Vancouver International Auto Show say the event broke attendance records after it attracted international headlines for banning Tesla on safety grounds.
> Supporters of the electric car company and CEO #ElonMusk had called for a #boycott of the show, but organizers say it instead set a new five-day attendance record of more than 138,000. https://globalnews.ca/news/11095774/vancouver-international-auto-show-sets-record-after-tesla-ban/ #BCpoli #CDNpoli

2025-03-24 17:10:11

#Canada - Hundreds of part-time college instructors affected by drop in foreign enrollment
> Shannon Knelsen has taught health management in Ontario’s college system for nearly eight years. Until recently, she had all the work she could handle, even if that meant a teaching schedule cobbled together across four different schools.
Then came the sudden drop in foreign enrolment brought on by changes to the international student program. The college sector plunged https://archive.is/2025.03.24-104207/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-hundreds-of-part-time-college-instructors-impacted-by-drop-in-foreign/ #CDNpoli
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/218/513/797/104/284/original/3ab403351067d90b.jpeg

2025-03-24 16:10:56

Danish PM urges respect ahead of U.S. delegation visit to #Greenland
> "The visit from the United States cannot be seen independently of the public statements that have been made. In the Kingdom (of Denmark), we want to cooperate with the Americans. But it must be a cooperation that rests on the fundamental values of #sovereignty and #respect between countries and peoples," Frederiksen said in a written statement to Danish broadcaster DR https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-24/Danish-PM-urges-respect-ahead-of-U-S-delegation-visit-to-Greenland-1C0iNJfz4E8/p.html #Denmark #Danmark #MAGA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/218/280/769/619/291/original/02717d82ec7cbcdb.png

2025-03-24 00:30:21

- reply

@nprofile…5t7v
> It can now handle real-world actions. Think booking a restaurant table or ordering groceries online, all from a simple prompt. OpenAI’s been teasing this “agentic” capability for months, and it’s finally here for Pro users to test out.
#AI #innovation #OpenAI #chatGPT

2025-03-22 12:50:38

How Trump uses disinformation in his trade war with Canada
> "Nobody knows that #Canada is charging our dairy farmers," [..] "They have 270 per cent tariffs. Nobody knows that. Nobody knows it. They have up to 400 per cent"
> The reality is that over 97 per cent of U.S.-Canada trade in agricultural goods and over 99 per cent of #trade in manufactured goods occurs under a zero-tariff rate https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-trade-war-disinformation-1.7489805 #tariffs #TradeWar #CDNpoli
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/206/168/579/231/897/original/4ad125f13194e58f.jpeg

2025-03-22 12:10:04

#MAGA - Columbia University cedes to Trump administration demands after threat to withhold funds
> The Trump administration canceled $400 million worth of grants and contracts to #Columbia, accusing the #university of "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." The administration sent a letter last week, listing out nine demands Columbia must comply with by Thursday "as a precondition for formal negotiations" regarding federal funding https://abcnews.go.com/US/columbia-university-cedes-trump-administration-demands-after-threat/story?id=120039126

2025-03-21 16:10:09

80 Teslas damaged at Hamilton dealership, largest car vandalism reported in #Canada against the #US company
> Dozens of vehicles have been damaged at a #Tesla dealership on the Hamilton Mountain, police in the #Ontario city said.
> It's believed to be the largest vandalism in Canada against vehicles from the U.S.-based car company.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/tesla-dealership-vehicles-damaged-1.7488806 #ElonMusk

2025-03-21 15:30:10

Chinese scientists ‘make first perfect replica’ of tooth enamel
> Scientists at a Chinese university say they have discovered the world’s first material that can repair damaged tooth enamel once and last for life.
A few drops of the liquid solution can fix all invisible cracks and wear on an ageing molar, according to researchers at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou
https://archive.is/2025.01.06-022141/https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3025059/chinese-scientists-make-first-perfect-replica-tooth-enamel #China #Technology
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/201/133/583/715/681/original/33abf78c3eeab5bd.jpeg

2025-03-21 13:30:38

Chinese-led team achieves 10,000-km quantum-secured communication
> Leveraging this engineering achievement, Chinese scientists, in collaboration with their counterparts from Stellenbosch University, have successfully demonstrated the longest-distance hacker-proof communication across hemispheres to date.
https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-03-20/Chinese-led-team-achieves-10-000-km-quantum-secured-communication-1BTaBTU0M6I/p.html #China #quantumcomputing #quantum #science #quantummechanics #quantumphysics #technology

2025-03-21 12:30:01

#MAGA - Detentions of European tourists at US borders spark fears of traveling to America
> “The only reason I see is there is a much more fervent anti-immigrant atmosphere,” Rios said.
> U.S. authorities did not respond to a request from The Associated Press for figures on how many tourists have been held at detention facilities or explain why they weren’t simply denied entry.
https://apnews.com/article/border-tourists-german-canadian-detention-immigration-408cd27338e8065268fabc835f8b0c34 #immigration #deportations #iCE

2025-03-20 22:59:14

'Deplorable': French scientist denied US entry over text messages criticising Trump
> French officials have expressed their dismay after a French scientist was denied entry into the United States because #immigration officers found text messages containing a "personal opinion" about the Trump administration and its policies on scientific research.
https://www.france24.com/en/americas/20250320-french-scientist-denied-us-entry-over-text-messages-criticising-trump #MAGA #DonaldTrump

2025-03-20 22:00:59

The European Commission has put #Apple and #Google on notice:
> Change your products so they’re in line with the European Union’s digital competition rules, or face the consequences.
> The EU executive ruled Wednesday that the two U.S. tech giants may be in breach of the EU’s Digital Markets Act (#DMA), throwing down a gauntlet to U.S. President #DonaldTrump, who has sought to pull the issue of tech regulation into Washington’s escalating trade dispute with the #EU
https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-donald-trump-google-apple-rulings-dma-tech/

2025-03-20 13:00:21

#Turkey arrests dozens for online posts after Erdogan rival held
> Authorities in #Turkey have arrested dozens of people for "provocative" social media posts after the mayor of Istanbul Ekrem Imamoglu was detained on Wednesday.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cpv43dd3vlgo #Turkiye

2025-03-19 23:25:03

Trump admin. halts funds for tracking abducted Ukrainian children
> Funding for a U.S.-based program that tracks thousands of Ukrainian children allegedly abducted and taken to #Russia has been cut and US lawmakers are worried that a database with crucial information has been permanently deleted, according to a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed by more than 15 lawmakers
> "This data is absolutely crucial to #Ukraine's efforts to return their children home https://www.npr.org/2025/03/19/nx-s1-5333328/trump-admin-cuts-funding-for-program-that-tracked-ukrainian-children-abducted-by-russia

2025-03-19 20:50:41

EU slams the door on US in colossal defense plan
> United States arms-makers are being frozen out of the European Union’s massive new defense spending plan, which aims to splash the cash for #EU and allied countries, according to defense spending plans released Wednesday.
> Also left out — for now — is the United Kingdom.
> “We must buy more European. Because that means strengthening the European defense technological and industrial base,” https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-freeze-us-multi-billion-defense-plan-arm-makers/ #EU #defence #NATO #UK
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/191/069/313/580/633/original/a4873e6ed1fa8d0a.jpeg

2025-03-19 17:38:58

Elon Musk’s X obtains $44bn valuation in sharp turnaround
> Social media site was valued at less than $10bn in September https://archive.fo/2025.03.19-153509/https://www.ft.com/content/d4616dec-c4c7-417f-8549-134710bbc5b1 #ElonMusk #Twitter

2025-03-19 04:05:28

#CANADA - Tesla removed from Vancouver International Auto Show for safety concerns
> Last week, in a move to give preference to Canadian goods and exclude #US -produced goods, the #BC government announced that #Tesla products were no longer eligible for the #electricvehicles charger rebate program for single-family homes
https://globalnews.ca/news/11087740/tesla-removed-vancouver-international-auto-show-safety-concerns/ #BCpoli #CDNpoli

2025-03-19 01:25:02

How Jack Ma’s pivot to AI rehabilitated Alibaba
> The Chinese tech giant is establishing a lead in a fiercely competitive sector, and its billionaire founder is back in favour
https://www.ft.com/content/df2bccee-1730-402f-bb92-9d743018324f #China #JackMa #Alibaba #AI #artificialintelligence

2025-03-19 01:05:15

#US - Beginning March 31st, people will no longer be able to verify their identity to the SSA over the phone [..] will be required to visit an agency field office in person to complete the verification
> The plan also comes as the agency plans to shutter dozens of Social Security offices throughout the country and has already laid out plans to lay off thousands of workers https://apnews.com/article/social-security-fraud-waste-doge-elon-musk-212e3089951f731fd3f83443e104b315 #SocialSecurity

2025-03-18 23:10:33

FTC removes posts critical of Big Tech from its website
> The #FTC has removed over 300 blog posts published during the agency’s leadership under former chair #LinaKhan, Wired reports. These include posts that are critical of companies like #Amazon and #Microsoft for their handling of customer data. https://techcrunch.com/2025/03/18/ftc-removes-posts-critical-of-big-tech-from-its-website/ #MAGA

2025-03-18 20:50:31

Bondi Says Trump Will Defy Judge, Continue Deportations
> On Monday, Attorney General #PamBondi said that the Trump administration would “absolutely” continue expelling Venezuelan immigrants from the #US, despite a federal judge’s order temporarily halting the #deportations
> “These are foreign terrorists, that the president has identified them, and designated them as such, and we will continue to follow the Alien Enemies Act [AEA]” Bondi said on Fox News on Monday https://truthout.org/articles/bondi-says-trump-will-defy-judge-continue-deportations/ #ICE

2025-03-18 19:50:03

China’s energy and auto giant BYD has announced an ultra fast EV charging system that it says is nearly as quick as a fill up at the pumps.
> BYD, China’s largest EV maker, said Monday that its flash-chargers can provide a full charge for its latest EVs within five to eight minutes, similar to the amount of time needed to fill a fuel tank. It plans to build more than 4,000 of the new charging stations across #China https://apnews.com/article/china-byd-tesla-buffet-ev-63280ec09317d2c0a8e70449fd0e4a95 #EV #ElectricVehicles #BYD

2025-03-18 19:30:39

Markets: According to Bank of America: "biggest drop in US equity allocation ever."
> A new survey from Bank of America shows that global fund managers are moving out of domestic companies in what analysts at the financial giant describe as the "biggest drop in U.S. equity allocation ever." The reason: growing pessimism about the country's economic outlook as the Trump administration beats the drum for a #tradewar with #Canada, #Mexico, #China and other countries
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stocks-down-trump-tariffs-trade-wars/ #stocks

2025-03-18 18:30:25

Google owner #Alphabet to buy cybersecurity startup Wiz for $32B
> The all-cash acquisition announced Tuesday would be Google’s biggest in its 26-year history, and it is the biggest deal of 2025.
> Wiz will join #Google Cloud, boosting Google’s in-house cloud security in the era of #AI, the companies said. https://apnews.com/article/google-alphabet-wiz-32-billion-e50fb41b9a84a1056a116f963e6efed0 #Wiz #stocks #acquisitions

2025-03-18 15:50:32

Police evict young migrants from Paris theater after months-long occupation
> Police on Tuesday, March 18, evacuated hundreds of young #migrants from a central #Paris theater they had occupied for months, arresting 46 people police said. Police with batons charged the migrants, who had found shelter in the historic Gaîté Lyrique venue, as many people gathered outside to protest against the eviction, they said.
https://www.lemonde.fr/en/immigration/article/2025/03/18/police-evict-young-migrants-from-paris-theater-after-months-long-occupation_6739269_144.html #France #Immigration #migration
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/184/226/702/582/131/original/99b1ad51da708003.jpeg

2025-03-18 15:30:10

#US - Electric vehicle owners don’t buy gas. States look for other ways to pay for roads and bridges
> .. without more funding, residents [..] could see further declines in the quality of roads, highways and bridges starting this year. But revenues from gas #taxes paid by drivers at the pump are projected to decrease as more people adopt electric and fuel-efficient cars, forcing officials to look for new ways to fund #transportation #infrastructure https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/electric-vehicle-owners-dont-buy-gas-states-ways-119897926 #EV #ElectricVehicles

2025-03-18 11:46:56

Trump said to 'green-light' renewal of Gaza strikes, as world laments truce collapse
> US President #DonaldTrump gave Israel a “green light” to renew military operations against #Hamas in #Gaza, #US media reported Tuesday, as the international community lamented the collapse of the hostage- #ceasefire deal. https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-to-green-light-renewal-of-gaza-strikes-as-world-laments-truce-collapse/ #GazaWar #Israel
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/183/268/842/276/523/original/f74fffc8f26c3b92.jpeg

2025-03-17 13:18:47

#Thailand - Visa-free stay to be cut to 30 days
> The period of visa-free stays in Thailand is set to be reduced from 60 days to 30 days as related authorities have agreed in principle to the move in an effort to curb the risk of illegal businesses exploiting the visa exemption scheme, according to the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/2981803/visa-free-stay-to-be-cut-to-30-days #SouthEastAsia #expatasia #TootSEA

2025-03-17 08:45:02

Irish protesters raise Palestine flag over St. Patrick’s Day weekend
> Irish protesters raised Palestinian flags across #Dublin’s iconic Ha’Penny Bridge over St. Patrick’s Day weekend, turning the national celebration into an expression of solidarity. The demonstration was held to pressure the Irish government to act against Israel's actions in #Palestine and to send a message of support for the Palestinian people. https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250316-irish-protesters-raise-palestine-flag-over-st-patricks-day-weekend/ #GazaWar #Ireland

2025-03-16 19:04:31

Voice of America shuts down - White House explained Trump's decision
> Trump’s administration presented a list of grievances against #VOA, citing various media outlets that accused the broadcaster of violating journalistic standards and consistently evading accountability.
> The White House also noted that several #VOA reporters had posted comments against Trump on their professional accounts on the social media platform X, despite the policy of impartiality. https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/white-house-explains-why-trump-cut-funding-1742114375.html #MAGA

2025-03-16 15:52:10

Americans Worry Trump Too Closely Aligned With Russia, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds
> More than half of Americans, including one in four #Republicans, think President #DonaldTrump is "too closely aligned" with #Russia, as he radically realigns U.S. foreign policy, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows. https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2025-03-13/americans-worry-trump-too-closely-aligned-with-russia-reuters-ipsos-poll-finds #MAGA
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/172/908/498/946/435/original/bf3f8adfa95337f2.jpeg

2025-03-16 14:52:28

#UK - London hospitals ban staff from wearing pro-Palestinian symbols
> The decision came after complaints from Jewish patients were forwarded to the trust. One came from a woman who underwent a C-section and three staff members wearing pro-Palestinian badges treated her within 24 hours. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/405445 #Israel #GazaWar

2025-03-16 12:15:49

China's Baidu launches 2 new free AI models to compete with DeepSeek as industry competition heats up
> Chinese AI startup #DeepSeek's roll-out of AI models which it says is on par with, or even better than, industry-leading models in the United States at a fraction of the cost, has roiled the industry and re-energised the global #AI race
> "ERNIE X1 delivers performance on par with DeepSeek R1 at only half the price," #Baidu said of one of the new models
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/chinas-baidu-launches-2-new-free-ai-models-compete-deepseek-industry-competition-heats-up-5003541 #China #AI
https://media.mastodon.cloud/media_attachments/files/114/172/057/846/708/769/original/70cd17616e91f8b7.jpeg

2025-03-16 11:39:39

RFA President: RFA’s cancellation a boon to the Chinese Communist Party – Radio Free Asia
> The termination of RFA’s grant is a reward to dictators and despots, including the Chinese Communist Party, who would like nothing better than to have their influence go unchecked in the information space. https://www.rfa.org/english/about/releases/2025/03/15/rfa-cancellation-a-boon-to-the-chinese-communist-party/ #DOGE #MAGA #China

2025-03-16 10:27:09

Judge blocks Trump from deporting noncitizens under Alien Enemies Act, orders flights turned around
> Less than two hours after President #DonaldTrump attempted to invoke the 18th century law to deport alleged members of the Venezuelan gang [..] U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the Trump administration from deporting noncitizens currently in custody pursuant to the president's recent proclamation
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trump-expected-invoke-wartime-alien-enemies-act-carry/story?id=119769090 #immigration #ICE

2025-03-15 23:30:35

#Canada - Carney to visit UK, France to build ‘reliable’ trade, security partnership
> Prime Minister #MarkCarney will travel to #France on Sunday and the United Kingdom on Monday to seek “reliable partners” in trade and security, a statement from the prime minister’s office said
> As the Canada-US relationship goes through a rough patch with U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs forcing economic pain on Canada, Ottawa will look across the Atlantic https://globalnews.ca/news/11083576/carneys-first-foreign-visit-uk-france/ #UK #TradeWar #Trade

2025-03-15 21:10:14

'Do you have communist links?' US sends 36 questions to UN aid groups
> United Nations aid agencies have been sent questionnaires by the US asking them to state if they have "anti-American" beliefs or affiliations.
> Among the 36 questions on the form, sent by the #US Office of Management and Budget (#OMB) and seen by the #BBC, is one asking if they have any links to #communism. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c70enzddxywo #MAGA #USpol #UN
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2025-03-15 15:49:58

Trump administration accused of ‘blatant foreign interference’ in Australian universities over questionnaire on DEI and gender
> Researchers told to respond within 48 hours to more than 30 questions, including on #DEI, gender and climate
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/14/australian-university-sector-accuses-trump-administration-of-blatant-interference-in-research #MAGA #Australia @nprofile…t4dq
@nprofile…wn97

2025-03-15 00:01:04

Trump administration seeks eggs from Denmark
> Two important issues for US President Donald Trump, #Greenland and egg prices, now seem on a collision course.
> The Danish Egg Association says the United States has asked it and producers in other countries if it could export #eggs as prices surge despite President #DonaldTrump's promise to lower them.
https://www.dw.com/en/us-updates-trump-administration-seeking-to-import-eggs-from-denmark/live-71925467 #Denmark
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2025-03-14 22:20:02

Homeland security agents search two Columbia University students’ rooms
> Also marking that escalation: Todd Blanche, the US deputy attorney general, said on Friday that the federal justice department would examine whether last year’s student protests at Columbia over Israel’s military strikes on Gaza violated #terrorism laws.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/14/homeland-security-search-columbia-students #ColumbiaUniversity #GazaWar

2025-03-14 22:12:06

'3.3 million' Canadian visitors to Florida mocked by DeSantis
> Florida Gov. #RonDeSantis suggested this week that so many Canadians visit the state because they want "to get a glimpse of what a Stanley Cup winning hockey team actually looks like."
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/desantis-florida-canada-stanley-cup #Canada #CDNpoli #Florida #RonDesantis #MAGA
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2025-03-14 20:40:44

Citi Upgrades China #Stocks as US Gets Downgraded in Markets Divergence
> As Citi downgraded #US stocks, it upgraded #China to overweight in another sign of divergence in their market outlooks. “US exceptionalism is at least pausing” for the coming few months, according to its strategists. While the MSCI £China Index slumped, it remains up by over 3% since the start of (meeting). The rally sparked by #AI sensation #DeepSeek is infusing new energy... https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-11/citi-upgrades-china-stocks-as-us-gets-downgraded-in-markets-divergence #economy #tariffs
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2025-03-14 11:45:54

#MAGA - Hundreds of federal offices could begin closing this summer at DOGE's behest
> Federal agencies will begin to vacate hundreds of offices across the country this summer under a frenetic and error-riddled push by #ElonMusk’s budget-cutting advisers to terminate leases that they say waste money. https://apnews.com/article/doge-federal-buildings-leases-canceled-offices-closed-92974159f6c29a76a90238e8794c7467 #DOGE #DonaldTrump

2025-03-14 08:32:45

Facing Trump’s threats, Columbia investigates students critical of Israel
> Columbia University senior Maryam Alwan [..] received an email from the school accusing her of harassment.
Her supposed top offense: writing an op-ed in the student newspaper calling for divestment from Israel
The probe is part of a flurry of recent cases brought by a new university disciplinary committee — against Columbia students who have expressed criticism of #Israel
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592658/world #MAGA #DonaldTrump #Gaza
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2025-03-14 06:14:19

#CANADA - WARNING: B.C. woman detained at U.S. border, sent to Arizona facility in chains
> Family and friends of a #Vancouver entrepreneur are demanding answers after she was unexpectedly detained by #US #immigration officials while attempting to cross the border with a job offer and visa paperwork in hand.
https://vancouversun.com/news/bc-woman-detained-at-us-border-sent-to-arizona-detention-facility #MAGA #DonaldTrump
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2025-03-14 05:45:10

Trump threatens 200% tariff on European wine.
> President #DonaldTrump on Thursday threatened a 200% #tariff on European wine, Champagne and spirits if the European Union goes forward with a planned tariff on American #whiskey. https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-eu-whiskey-cb259623a25ca1bfdb4673262ceef85b #tariffs

2025-03-14 04:49:55

Putin says ‘yes’ to ceasefire – but lays down impossible terms for Ukraine
> Vitaly Shevchenko, #Russia editor for BBC Monitoring, said Mr Putin’s response to the ceasefire plan was “a ‘no’ disguised as a ‘yes’”.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-ceasefire-ukraine-russia-war-b2714691.html #VladimirPutin #VolodymyrZelensky #Ukraine #UkraineWar

2025-03-13 22:40:15

'Canada is a sovereign state': Trump's ambassador pick distances himself from annexation talk
> Canada, meet good cop.
...we are NOT impressed.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/hoekstra-senate-hearing-1.7482723 #CANADA #CDNpoli #Tariffs #DonaldTrump #PeteHoekstra #MAGA

2025-03-13 12:20:58

#MAGA - Trump’s New Muslim Ban Could Sweep Up U.S. Residents
> A revived and expanded Muslim ban is stoking fears that U.S. residents with “hostile attitudes” toward the country will be targeted.
> “The travel ban that is going to be coming out is going to serve as another basis for the targeting of activists.”
https://theintercept.com/2025/03/12/trump-new-muslim-ban/ #DonaldTrump #immigration
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2025-03-13 12:03:35

#Crimea - Putin demands Kursk total victory ahead of Moscow talks with Trump envoy
> #VladimirPutin visited a command center in #Kursk on Wednesday, ordering troops there to "destroy" all Ukrainian formations remaining in the contested border region
> "Your task is to completely destroy the enemy, which has entrenched itself in the Kursk region and is still conducting warfare here, and fully liberate the Kursk region" https://abcnews.go.com/International/putin-demands-kursk-total-victory-ahead-moscow-talks/story?id=119743582 #UkraineWar #Russia #DonaldTrump #Trump

2025-03-13 02:40:41

#MAGA - Lutnick says Trump's policies are "worth it" even if they lead to RECESSION
> Washington — Commerce Secretary #HowardLutnick defended President Trump's economic policies Tuesday, saying they are "worth it" even if they lead to a #RECESSION
> But he quickly added, "The only reason there could possibly be a RECESSION is because the Biden nonsense
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lutnick-trumps-policies-worth-it-recession/

2025-03-11 22:25:36

Major US airlines warn demand is slowing
> Each of the major U.S. airlines has put out guidance pointing to significant economic uncertainty that is directly affecting their domestic bookings this spring.
> Bookings initially fell after the deadly Jan. 29 midair crash over D.C.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/major-us-airlines-warn-demand-slowing/story?id=119687875 #TradeWar #Tariffs #DonaldTrump #MAGA #economy #airlines #aviation

2025-03-06 22:14:35

What the Department of Education does: Student loans and civil rights enforcement
> President #DonaldTrump has said he wants his new education chief, #LindaMcMahon, to “put herself out of a job” and close the Education Department.
> McMahon was confirmed by the Senate on Monday, and an executive order to shutter the department could come as soon as this week. McMahon told employees it was the department’s “final mission” to eliminate bureaucratic bloat
https://apnews.com/article/education-department-trump-ab509ad5778497dfbd6d53b9eef692b5 #MAGA #education

2025-03-06 21:50:40

‘Pissed off’: B.C. plans toll on U.S. trucks travelling to Alaska amid trade war
> Premier #DavidEby says #BritishColumbia will pass legislation allowing it to tax U.S. trucks transiting the province to #Alaska, as it ramps up retaliation to President #DonaldTrump’s #tariffs.
https://globalnews.ca/news/11069669/eby-us-truck-tax-tariff-trump/ #Canada #US #TradeWar #BCpoli #CANpoli #CDNpoli

2025-03-04 15:49:02

#Ontario - Doug Ford orders LCBO to remove U.S. alcohol from shelves
> The move was Ford’s initial response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. https://www.thestar.com/ontario-premier-doug-ford-orders-lcbo-to-remove-u-s-alcohol-from-shelves/article_7adea3a0-f909-11ef-b155-4b9949192ccc.html #US #Tariffs #DougFord #ONpoli #Canada

2025-03-03 21:34:31

Neil Young to open Europe tour with concert in Ukraine
> Folk rock legend #NeilYoung and his band Chrome Hearts will open an upcoming European tour with a free concert in #Ukraine, according to a post on his website.
> The 79-year-old Toronto-born musician, who was part of the supergroup Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, said it would be "a free concert for all." https://today.rtl.lu/entertainment/news/a/2281987.html #Canada #UkraineWar
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2025-03-03 15:55:55

Growing number of long covid patients declared unfit for work
> The number of people in the #Netherlands declared partially or fully unfit for work due to long #Covid has risen sharply in recent years. According to figures from the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), more than 12,000 people have been granted a WIA disability benefit after being ill for more than two years. That figure stood at just 3,000 two years ago.
https://nltimes.nl/2025/03/03/growing-number-long-covid-patients-declared-unfit-work #covid19

2025-03-03 14:32:21

Treasury ends enforcement of database meant to stop shell company formation
> The #US Treasury Department announced it will not enforce a Biden-era small business rule intended to curb money laundering and shell company formation.
> In a Sunday evening announcement, Treasury said in a news release that it will not impose penalties now or in the future if companies fail to register for the agency's beneficial ownership information database
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/treasury-ends-enforcement-business-ownership-database-meant-stop-119382850 #MAGA

2025-03-02 13:30:18

Indonesia launches campaign to raise $200 million aid for Palestine
> #Indonesia on Wednesday launched a campaign to raise $200 million in humanitarian aid for Palestinians, as Jakarta moves to support the rebuilding of #Gaza.
> A staunch supporter of #Palestine, the Indonesian government and people see Palestinian statehood as being mandated by their own constitution, which calls for the abolition of #colonialism
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2591705/world #SouthEastAsia #GazaWar
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2025-03-02 00:08:20

#China tells its AI leaders to avoid #US travel over security concerns, WSJ reports
> Chinese authorities are instructing the country's top #artificialintelligence entrepreneurs and researchers to avoid travel to the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter
> The authorities are concerned that Chinese #AI experts traveling abroad could divulge confidential information about the nation's progress the newspaper said https://www.reuters.com/world/china-tells-its-ai-leaders-avoid-us-travel-over-security-concerns-wsj-reports-2025-03-01/

2025-02-25 14:45:16

#US - Nearly 40% of contracts canceled by Musk's DOGE are expected to produce no savings
> Nearly 40% of the federal contracts that President #DonaldTrump’s administration claims to have canceled as part of its signature cost-cutting program aren’t expected to save the government any money, the administration’s own data shows
https://apnews.com/article/doge-federal-contracts-canceled-musk-trump-cuts-a65976a725412934ad686389889db0df #DOGE #economy

2025-02-24 00:57:02

Zelenskyy offers to resign in exchange for Ukrainian NATO membership
> #VolodymyrZelenskyy said Sunday – the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion – that he was ready to quit as Ukraine’s president if it meant Kyiv would be admitted to the #NATO military alliance.
> Zelenskyy has faced fierce criticism from the new US administration and said he wants to meet #DonalTrump before the #US president meets his Russian counterpart #VladimirPutin https://english.alarabiya.net/News/world/2025/02/23/zelenskyy-says-he-is-willing-to-step-down-for-peace-in-ukraine #UkraineWar

2025-02-23 16:43:05

Petition asking PM to revoke Elon Musk's Canadian citizenship garners support
> Thousands of people have electronically signed a parliamentary petition calling for revocation of #ElonMusk’s Canadian citizenship over his role in the Trump administration, which is pointedly threatening Canada’s #sovereignty https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/petition-asking-pm-to-revoke-elon-musks-canadian-citizenship-garners-support/ #MAGA #CDNpoli #CANpoli
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2025-02-23 16:33:59

#Ontario - Doug Ford Claims There Are ‘More Cranes’ Building Homes Than Ever Before. Actually, The Number of New Home Builds Has Decreased Under Ford.
> [..] ...despite the number of cranes in the sky, housing starts in Ontario have actually decreased every year for the last three years. https://pressprogress.ca/doug-ford-claims-there-are-more-cranes-building-homes-than-ever-before-actually-the-number-of-new-home-builds-has-decreased-under-ford/ #housingcrisis #homelessness ONpoli #DoFO #DougFord #Canada

2025-02-23 12:35:10

As consumer delinquencies rise, U.S. economic growth increasingly powered by the wealthy
> [..] under the hood, The upper echelons of America’s income distribution — those making roughly $153,000 in annual income — are the ones that are now powering much of the spending driving U.S. growth.
# Meanwhile, Americans who are not at the top are facing increasing financial difficulties.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/personal-finance/credit-card-debt-rising-in-america-why-which-consumers-affected-rcna192672 #US #MAGA #DonaldTrump #economy

2025-02-22 14:55:08

Donald Trump news: Light speed and brute force define new admin
> No one can absorb it all. By the time you try to process one big thing — he covets #Greenland, #Canada, the #Panama Canal and #Gaza; he turns away from historic alliances and #Ukraine; fires many thousands of federal workers, then brings some right back; raises doubts whether he will obey laws he doesn’t like; announces heavy tariffs, suspends them, then imposes some... https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/america-votes/article/trump-moves-with-light-speed-and-brute-force-in-shaking-the-core-of-what-america-has-been/ #MAGA #DonaldTrump #US

2025-02-18 02:30:55

DeepSeek: South Korea temporarily bans AI app
> South Korea on Monday said the ChineseAI DeepSeek app would not be available from local app stores, pending a review of the company's handling of user data.
> Choi Jang-hyuk, vice chairperson of Seoul's Personal Information Protection Commission, told reporters that authorities will "thoroughly examine" DeepSeek's personal data processing practices "to ensure compliance" with local laws. https://www.dw.com/en/south-korea-temporarily-bans-deepseek-ai-app/a-71634702 #SouthKorea #DeepSeek #AI #China

2025-02-18 01:03:56

Let's stop calling the Atlantic Ocean by it's old name.
#Canada #DonaldTrump
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2025-02-18 00:35:50

US TikTok ban linked to pro-Palestine content rather than China threat, insiders reveal
> The main reason behind the United States' push to ban social media application #TikTok is due to #Israel’s image rather than fears of Chinese infiltrations, congressional insiders have revealed.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-tiktok-ban-linked-israel-china-insiders-reveal #China #SocialMedia #US #GazaWar
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2025-02-17 22:37:52

What is a polymicrobial infection? What to know about Pope Francis' condition
> Doctors are treating Pope Francis for a “polymicrobial infection” of his respiratory tract in what they are describing as a a “complex clinical situation” that will require the pontiff to remain hospitalized.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/02/17/pope-francis-polymicrobial-infection-explained/78964466007/ #Pope #PopeFrancis #infection

2025-02-12 16:14:55

OpenAI's board has not received Musk's takeover bid, source says
> OpenAI's board has not yet received a formal bid from an #ElonMusk-led consortium, although a lawyer for the #billionaire said the offer had been sent to OpenAI's outside counsel.
A day after Musk publicized a bid to offer $97.4 billion to buy the nonprofit that controls #ChatGPT maker #OpenAI, the two sides were still at odds over what exactly happened to the formal bid.
https://archive.is/2025.02.12-062254/https://www.reuters.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openais-altman-says-musk-offer-is-tactic-to-try-mess-with-us-2025-02-11/
#artificialintelligence #US #AI

2025-02-10 10:22:38

US tried 'America First' tariffs in 1930s - guess what happened next?
> Smoot-Hawley tariffs worsened Great Depression and created economic factors that helped spark World War II
https://asiatimes.com/2025/02/us-tried-america-first-tariffs-in-1930s-guess-what-happened-next/ #MAGA #tariff #DonaldTrump #US #tariffs #trade
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2025-02-09 22:26:06

Trump promises 25% #tariff on steel and aluminum imports — including from Canada
> U.S. President #DonaldTrump said he will announce on Monday that the United States will impose 25 per cent tariffs on all #steel and #aluminum imports, including from #Canada and #Mexico, as well as other import duties later in the week.
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-tariff-steel-aluminum-canada-1.7454845 #US #tariffs #tradewar #economy #CDNpoli #CANpoli
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2025-02-09 18:46:19

A large majority of Quebecers are ready to boycott the United States
> Following threats of #tariffs and annexation by #DonaldTrump, 76% of Quebecers say they’re buying fewer products from the United States. 74% say they’re also less inclined to travel to the #US
> 71% of Quebecers no longer see the United States as a friendly country. https://cultmtl.com/2025/02/a-large-majority-of-quebecers-are-ready-to-boycott-usa-united-states/ #Quebec #Canada
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2025-02-08 09:09:30

Chinese tech giant quietly unveils advanced AI model amid battle over TikTok
> In the rapidly expanding field of #artificialintelligence, the Chinese tech giant behind #TikTok this week quietly unveiled an advanced #AI model for generating video that leapfrogs the company ahead of its #US competition and raises new concerns about the threat of #deepfake #videos. https://abcnews.go.com/US/chinese-tech-giant-quietly-unveils-advanced-ai-model/story?id=118572557 #China

2025-01-22 21:22:47

Samsung aims to turn its next generation of Galaxy smartphones into AI companions
> #Samsung is injecting another dose of artificial intelligence into the next version of its Galaxy #smartphones, escalating an effort to simplify people’s lives while deepening their dependence on a device that accompanies them almost everywhere
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/samsung-aims-turn-generation-galaxy-smartphones-ai-companions-117990038 #ArtificialIntelligence #AI

2025-01-07 21:15:07

Google unveils an AI-powered TV that summarizes the news for you at CES 2025
> Long gone are the days of simply watching the news.
> #Google unveiled the latest version of its TV operating system at CES 2025 on https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/06/google-unveils-an-ai-powered-tv-that-summarizes-the-news-for-you-at-ces-2025/ #artificialintelligence #AI #Gemini

2024-10-27 07:56:03

The Israeli military said its strikes targeting Iran’s air defenses on Saturday had given it more freedom to operate in skies over #Iran
> “For the State of #Israel, there is now wider freedom of action in the air over Iran as well,” military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a televised briefing. https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2024/10/26/israel-says-it-has-wider-freedom-in-air-over-iran-after-strikes
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2024-10-13 14:51:25

SpaceX catches giant Starship booster in fifth flight test
> #SpaceX in its fifth #Starship test flight on Sunday returned the rocket’s towering first stage booster back to its #Texas launch pad for the first time using giant metal arms, achieving another novel engineering feat in the company’s push to build a reusable #moon and #Mars vehicle.
https://archive.fo/2024.10.13-132908/https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/spacex-launches-fifth-starship-test-eyes-novel-booster-catch-2024-10-13/ #space
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