CURRENT EVENTS MARCH 24 - 29

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this is the most conservative of UK papers

www.telegraph.co.uk

Mercurial America is preparing to bleed Britain dry

The US is an unreliable ally when it comes to UK and European security
www.telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk

It is often said that if you are troubled by what people say, you should just imagine what they are thinking. The publication of a messaging app group chat of senior US politicians discussing their plans to bomb Yemen demonstrates quite clearly that the Trump administration doesn’t care about European security. It also shows implicitly – although they may not realise this – that they don’t see the United States as the world’s leading superpower at all.

Gloating over the fact that they “loathe” the “freeloading Europeans”, and seeing them trying to work out how to extort money from Europe for US security operations in the Red Sea, the ignorance and stupidity of the current Trump administration is laid bare for all to see – quite apart from the desperately amateur sharing of classified operational plans over a messaging app.

At the time of the British Empire’s pinnacle, our economy and global power rested primarily upon British naval power enforcing freedom of navigation on the high seas for all. This – coupled with free trade – made us the most powerful Empire the world had ever seen.

...

Economic extortion, the kind we have seen discussed in the now-infamous group chat, resembles the actions of a mob boss rather than a global power.

While it’s true that these words came from vice-president JD Vance instead of Trump himself, it’s also true that the vice-president represents the future of Maga and is tipped to be the 2028 presidential favourite.

This problem is not going away. The Government must get serious about UK and European security, and it must start by building up our hard military power; only through being strong can we be secure.

The Prime Minister must do what the Liberal Democrats have been calling for: increasing our defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP as a minimum and engaging in cross-party talks to come to a shared agreement on how we fund that increase; and accepting that part of that funding increase must go towards an Army that builds itself up to a personnel of 100,000 once again.

We should also accept that the US is an unreliable ally when it comes to our defence and security, and we must work with our European allies to deliver the collective defence of Europe – without the United States. This is a project that the UK – as a nuclear power and one of Europe’s two great military powers – should be leading on.
 
sringwal said:
www.bbc.com

How Trump blew up the world order - and left Europe scrabbling

This is the gravest crisis for Western security since the end of World War Two. So which nations will step forward as the new world order emerges?
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
Click to expand...
"For decades, Japan and other nations have been taking advantage of the United States," he wrote in 1987. "Why are these nations not paying the United States for the human lives and billions of dollars we are losing to protect their interests?

"The world is laughing at America's politicians as we protect ships we don't own, carrying oil we don't need, destined for allies who won't help."

^^^^^

Could have been a WH press release from yesterday.
 

Trump Takes Tough New Approach to Choking Off China’s Access to U.S. Tech​

Dozens of entities added to trade blacklist as Silicon Valley frets it will lose business from Washington’s curbs​



“… The move is the clearest signal yet that the Trump administration intends to further limit what kind of American technology Chinese companies can buy, despite complaints from Silicon Valley companies, including Nvidia, that former President Joe Bidenalready went too far.

In the Biden administration’s final days, it imposed limits on third countries buying cutting-edge American chips, hoping to prevent those chips from making their way to China. U.S. tech executives have asked President Trump to roll back those limits before they take effect in May.

The latest export controls add to friction between the world’s two largest economies. Since he took office, Trump has imposed cumulative new tariffs on China of 20%, on top of the levies imposed during his first term. …”
 

U.S. Prosecutors Probe Tip About Timing of Pfizer Vaccine​

Claim came to the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan via Pfizer rival GSK​


GIFT LINK 🎁 —> https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/p...47?st=svhzHe&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink

“… A senior GSK scientist, who formerly worked at rival Pfizer, had told GSK colleagues that Pfizer delayed announcing the success of its Covid vaccine in 2020 until after that year’s election.

… The scientist disputes that account of what he told colleagues.

But prosecutors are taking a closer look at what GSK shared with them, which is potentially politically explosive. Trump for years has claimed that Pfizer sat on the positive results of clinical trials, which could have reflected well on his management of the pandemic. There has never been evidence to support the accusation, and the development of the Covid vaccines is widely viewed as a medical miracle, coming faster than any other vaccine in history.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan has interviewed at least two people in connection with the allegation, including a GSK executive who took notes of a conversation with the former Pfizer scientist, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

The scientist, Phil Dormitzer, led Pfizer’s viral vaccine research and development before moving to GSK in 2021. He has since left GSK, and his attorney is among those who have spoken to prosecutors. …”
 

U.S. to End Vaccine Funds for Poor Countries​

A 281-page spreadsheet obtained by The Times lists the Trump administration’s plans for thousands of foreign aid programs.

www.nytimes.com

U.S. to End Vaccine Funds for Poor Countries

A 281-page spreadsheet obtained by The Times lists the Trump administration’s plans for thousands of foreign aid programs.
www.nytimes.com www.nytimes.com

“The Trump administration intends to terminate the United States’ financial support for Gavi, the organization that has helped purchase critical vaccines for children in developing countries, saving millions of lives over the past quarter century, and to significantly scale back support for efforts to combat malaria, one of the biggest killers globally.

The administration has decided to continue some key grants for medications to treat H.I.V. and tuberculosis, and food aid to countries facing civil wars and natural disasters.

…The cover letter details the skeletal remains of U.S.A.I.D. after the cuts, with most of its funding eliminated, and only 869 of more than 6,000 employees still on active duty.

In all, the administration has decided to continue 898 U.S.A.I.D. awards and to end 5,341, the letter says. It says the remaining programs are worth up to $78 billion. But only $8.3 billion of that is unobligated funds — money still available to disburse. Because that amount covers awards that run several years into the future, the figure suggests a massive reduction in the $40 billion that U.S.A.I.D. used to spend annually. …”
 
altmin said:
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Tufts Graduate Student Detained by Federal Immigration Authorities​

Rumeysa Ozturk is the latest international student targeted by the Trump administration​


GIFT LINK 🎁 —> https://www.wsj.com/us-news/law/tuf...0a?st=CfHnWF&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink

IMG_5921.jpeg

“… ICE records don’t show which detention center Ozturk is being held in. Khanbabai said even a day after the detainment, the government hasn’t charged Ozturk or told Khanbabai where her client is.

“This is incredibly bizarre and concerning,” Khanbabai said. …”
 

Trump administration to cut $11.4 billion in COVID funding from local health departments​


www.cbsnews.com

Trump administration to cut $11.4 billion in COVID funding from local health departments

Federal health officials said they are cutting $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

“Federal health officials said they are cutting $11.4 billion in COVID-19-related funds for state and local public health departments — money that was was largely used for COVID-19 testing, virus research and community health jobs.

"The COVID-19 pandemic is over, and HHS will no longer waste billions of taxpayer dollars responding to a non-existent pandemic that Americans moved on from years ago," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement Tuesday.

… The statement said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects to recover the money beginning 30 days after termination notices, which began being sent out on Monday.

… "This ... is money that had been going to state, local, territorial, tribal health departments across the country, and as we know, as was the case with a lot of COVID funding, it was not just supporting COVID-related programs, but many other things," she said, noting wastewater surveillance as one example of what's being lost with these cuts, which helps experts look for infectious diseases and other toxins in the water.

"This has direct applications to the measles outbreak in West Texas right now. It gives us an early warning system for where there might be measles in other areas, where they need to be focusing measles vaccinations, and that program is falling victim to this," Gounder said.

"And state (and) local health departments really depend on that CDC money. The CDC functions as a funnel of funding to the state and local level, and in some cases, it's 90% of their budget."

Lori Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials, said much of the funding was set to end soon anyway. "It's ending in the next six months," she said. "There's no reason — why rescind it now? It's just cruel and unusual behavior." …”
 
Kraftyheel89 said:
Trump is considering reparations for the "Patriots" of J6.

Yes, this is real life.
Click to expand...
Maybe! But we bought it. "[Trump] received 77.3 million popular votes, a number that ranks among the largest vote totals ever". I’m thinking society is becoming so complex that many are yearning for strength in leadership. So, they elected a charlatan.
 

Marjorie Taylor Green-Led DOGE Panel Rips ‘Radical Left’ NPR and PBS, Calls to End Public Funding​

NPR boss Katherine Maher was questioned about 2020 tweets in which she called President Trump a “fascist” and “deranged racist sociopath”

www.thewrap.com

Marjorie Taylor Green-Led DOGE Panel Rips 'Radical Left' NPR and PBS, Calls to End Public Funding

Congressional Republicans ripped into NPR and PBS, questioning the ideological slants of the nation's two biggest public broadcasters.
www.thewrap.com www.thewrap.com

“… There were several escalated exchanges throughout the hearing, including when Greene accused PBS of using “taxpayer funds to push some of the most radical left positions, like featuring a drag queen” dubbed “Lil Miss Hot Mess” in a show for kids. Greene called the drag queen a “child predator” and “monster.”

… Rep. Brandon Gill mentioned a tweet from Maher saying “America is addicted to white supremacy,” while Rep. Tim Burchett questioned Maher about a 2020 tweet in which she called President Donald Trump a “fascist” and “deranged racist sociopath.”

“I appreciate the opportunity to address this,” Maher said. “I regret those tweets. I would not tweet them again today. They represented a time where I was reflecting on something that I believe that the president had said, rather than who he is. I don’t presume that anyone is a racist.” …”
 

NC House clears less-restrictive bill on cellphone use in public schools​


“The state House cleared Tuesday House Bill 87, its version of legislation that would require public school districts to limit students’ cellphone use during the instructional day.
The bipartisan bill, which was approved by a 114-3 vote, now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Whether the Senate will address HB87 is uncertain given the chamber approved Senate Bill 55 by a 44-1 vote on March 4.

… Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Randolph, said the House did not include other electronic devices in part because bill sponsors wanted to give school districts the flexibility to decide what other devices to restrict.

“We wanted to not overreach and make it awkward for teachers to determine whether the student had a smartwatch or an old-fashioned watch,” Jackson said. …”

journalnow.com

NC House clears less-restrictive bill on cellphone use in public schools

Rep. Neal Jackson, R-Randolph, said the House did not include other electronic devices in part because bill sponsors wanted to give school districts the flexibility to decide what other devices
journalnow.com journalnow.com
 
nycfan said:

U.S. Prosecutors Probe Tip About Timing of Pfizer Vaccine​

Claim came to the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan via Pfizer rival GSK​


GIFT LINK 🎁 —> https://www.wsj.com/health/pharma/p...47?st=svhzHe&reflink=mobilewebshare_permalink

“… A senior GSK scientist, who formerly worked at rival Pfizer, had told GSK colleagues that Pfizer delayed announcing the success of its Covid vaccine in 2020 until after that year’s election.

… The scientist disputes that account of what he told colleagues.

But prosecutors are taking a closer look at what GSK shared with them, which is potentially politically explosive. Trump for years has claimed that Pfizer sat on the positive results of clinical trials, which could have reflected well on his management of the pandemic. There has never been evidence to support the accusation, and the development of the Covid vaccines is widely viewed as a medical miracle, coming faster than any other vaccine in history.

The U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan has interviewed at least two people in connection with the allegation, including a GSK executive who took notes of a conversation with the former Pfizer scientist, according to one of the people familiar with the matter.

The scientist, Phil Dormitzer, led Pfizer’s viral vaccine research and development before moving to GSK in 2021. He has since left GSK, and his attorney is among those who have spoken to prosecutors. …”
Click to expand...
Haha. Phil left GSK very suddenly and unceremoniously earlier this year. I wonder if this is related.
 


Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services​

States were told Monday that they could no longer use grants that were funding infectious disease management and addiction services.

“… For some, the effect was immediate.

In Lubbock, Texas, public health officials have received orders to stop work supported by three grants that helped fund the response to the widening measles outbreak there, according to Katherine Wells, the city’s director of public health.

… In interviews, state health officials predicted that thousands of health department employees and contract workers could lose their jobs nationwide. Some predicted the loss of as much as 90 percent of staff from some infectious disease teams. …

… Congress authorized the money for state public health programs as part of Covid relief bills. The funds were indeed initially used for testing for and vaccination against the coronavirus, as well as to address health disparities in high-risk populations.

But last year, the money was also allowed to be put toward other pressing public health concerns, including testing and surveillance of other respiratory viruses, an array of vaccines for children or uninsured adults and preparedness for health emergencies. …”
 
nycfan said:


Trump Administration Abruptly Cuts Billions From State Health Services​

States were told Monday that they could no longer use grants that were funding infectious disease management and addiction services.

“… For some, the effect was immediate.

In Lubbock, Texas, public health officials have received orders to stop work supported by three grants that helped fund the response to the widening measles outbreak there, according to Katherine Wells, the city’s director of public health.

… In interviews, state health officials predicted that thousands of health department employees and contract workers could lose their jobs nationwide. Some predicted the loss of as much as 90 percent of staff from some infectious disease teams. …

… Congress authorized the money for state public health programs as part of Covid relief bills. The funds were indeed initially used for testing for and vaccination against the coronavirus, as well as to address health disparities in high-risk populations.

But last year, the money was also allowed to be put toward other pressing public health concerns, including testing and surveillance of other respiratory viruses, an array of vaccines for children or uninsured adults and preparedness for health emergencies. …”
Click to expand...

“…
The funds from S.A.M.H.S.A. were not earmarked for Covid programs, and they were intended to address mental health and substance use issues. The pandemic led to widespread loneliness, boredom and anxiety, factors that contributed to a surge in overdose deaths that reached just over 111,000 in 2022, up from about 70,000 in 2019.

The peak overdose numbers dropped to about 87,000 in the 12-month period that ended in October, according to the most recent federal data. Some of the sharpest declines were in states such as West Virginia, Michigan and Tennessee, all of which strongly supported President Trump in the presidential election.

Brian Hepburn, the executive director of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, said many states had also applied their funds to build out their 988 suicide lifelines and other crisis services. But states understood the funding was subject to time constraints, so few used it to fund ongoing services, he said. …”
 
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