Dr Valérie Marcel

Heartbreaking
www.reuters.com/world/middle...

Tragic …

Some tweaks may be needed ! 🤣

The checks are there but either not used for political reasons (congress) or not effective because discredited by political forces (press). (Courts: we’ll see.)
I think the failure is political not structural.

The system of checks and balance will counter these undemocratic moves. Or it won’t function as intended. The problem is not institutional or constitutional. It’s about a response from democrats that addresses the grievances of rural and worker america.

Reciprocal Tariff Calculations Executive Summary Reciprocal tariffs are calculated as the tariff rate necessary to balance bilateral trade deficits between the U.S. and each of our trading partners. This calculation assumes that pe...

This is what Trump's "economists" say about how they calculated the "reciprocal" tariffs. Don[t be fooled by the equation. They commit countless crimes against economics. ustr.gov/issue-areas/... +

Anyone feeling like this is a liberal echo chamber? I’d like to make a starter pack for conservative voices that we should hear. Reply with suggestions.

I’m a Danish politician from the opposite (left) side of the aisle, but I agree 100 % with my conservative colleague; the U.S. has lost all credibility as a partner and ally. Trump or not, a substantial part of the USA applauds this shortsighted chauvinism towards the rest of the world.

Welp, there goes the US defense industry.

UN warns of 'massive trauma' for Gaza's children amid renewed fighting The UN warned Friday that all of Gaza's approximately one million children were facing "massive trauma" as fighting in the war-ravaged territory resumed, and amid dire aid shortages.Humanitarians desc...

UN warns of 'massive trauma' for Gaza's children amid renewed fighting www.al-monitor.com/originals/20...

Haaretz reports that the IDF is preparing for the full occupation of the Gaza Strip and military rule over the population.

This is either a bluff or madness. The IDF does not have the troops for this. If they try to call up reserves, this is likely to be the worst crisis in the IDF's history.

Columbia Makes Concessions to Trump Amid Bid to Reclaim Federal Funds The administration has moved to cut $400 million in federal funding to the university without changes to its policies and rules.

Columbia’s moves here are historic: shameful, destructive, and unnecessary—a complete abdication of a university’s basic role.

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/21/n...

ناقلة روسية تحمل مليون برميل نفط إلى سوريا ناقلة نفط روسية محملة بمليون برميل تتجه إلى سوريا، تعرف على تفاصيل الشحنة وموعد وصولها.

A Russian tanker heads to Syria, carrying a million barrels of crude oil. Third one since Assad’s fall.

Syria desperately needs oil to stave off economic ruin, and USA/EU aren’t helping—perfect opening for Russia to make itself useful, aiming to save its bases.

www.enabbaladi.net/744876/%d9%8...

Wow. What a speech.

The UAE’s ever-expanding footprint in Africa As Africa seeks fairer global partnerships, the United Arab Emirates is stepping in. But is it a friend, a competitor or something in between?

Interesting analysis of the UAE’s growing presence in Africa - in fact, now the largest foreign investor on the continent. Think ports, renewable energy, fuels. But no upstream oil and gas.
www.ips-journal.eu/topics/forei...

It would be good to add Le Devoir @ledevoir.com

Thinking about aid dependency - that of beneficiary governments and the NGOs spending the aid money... Is that another way?

open.substack.com/pub/valeriem...

Israel cuts off humanitarian supplies to Gaza as it seeks to change ceasefire deal — The Guardian Netanyahu’s office says it is imposing blockade as Hamas will not accept plan that Israel says US envoy put forward

International law dissolving with US support of this action:
Israel has cut off humanitarian supplies to Gaza in an effort to pressure Hamas into accepting a change in the ceasefire agreement to allow for the release of hostages without an Israeli troop withdrawal. apple.news/A05m502V8RKe...

The Paradigm Shift: Locally-Led Development. A post from @valeriemarcel.bsky.social on how the cuts in development assistance can open the door new thinking, and a very different tone.

substack.com/home/post/p-...

Javier Blas on LinkedIn: #ukraine | 93 comments VIDEO COLUMN: Fantasy minerals. Many people — not least of all, US President Donald Trump — seem convinced Ukraine has a lot of rare earths elements. It’s… | 93 comments on LinkedIn

It looks like Zelensky played his cards very well!

www.linkedin.com/posts/javier...

Seismic shift in alliances. Also inevitable in light of the last *6 weeks* of US foreign policy. It takes a long time to build a relationship and a short time to break it.

Negotiating tactic or not, Trump’s Gaza plan has already done irreparable damage The proposal for a US takeover of Gaza would disrupt almost every foreign policy objective the new US administration has in the Middle East.

Good piece by Ahmed Aboudouh on the radicalisation effects of Trump's Gaza 'plan'. #MenaSky www.chathamhouse.org/2025/02/nego...

I’m sure we are mostly aligned but I think AI can do more than spell check, so to speak. What can be interesting is the back and forth, dialogue, testing and perhaps surprising. It’s all in how you guide AI - as I’m starting to discover.

I don’t think your solution is realistic or modern era-proof. There are ways to use AI smartly: critique my literature review, how wld my hypothesis hold up against xyz, summarize a body of work with full references so i can dig deeper, contrast that with a different paradigm… just to name a few

There are 4 million people who live in the Arctic. 2.7°C of GLOBAL warming leads to approximately 7°C of REGIONAL warming in the Arctic. Absolutely devastating for a way of life that's developed in close relation to land and climate for thousands of years.

Trudeau says Trump is serious about wanting to annex Canada Prime minister says US president covets northern neighbour’s vast resources as Canadians rally against threat

#WakeUpCanada This is for real.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...

5 key Arab states—the UAE, Saudi, Jordan, Qatar & Egypt—sent this letter to Rubio “unequivocally” condemning Trump’s endorsement of ethnic cleansing.

It won’t happen. But it will distract from Trump’s domestic power grabs, juice up Hamas & put Americans at more risk of terrorism

With Google removing their Responsible AI Principles, they no longer state that they will *not* engage in "Technologies whose purpose contravenes widely accepted principles of international law and human rights".
Concerns about surveillance and injury are also erased.
ai.google/responsibili...

“On Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11:59 pm (EST) all USAID direct hire personnel will be placed on administrative leave globally, with the exception of designated personnel responsible for mission-critical functions, core leadership and specially designated programs. Essential personnel expected to continue working will be informed by Agency leadership by Thursday, February 6, at 3:00pm (EST). For USAID personnel currently posted outside the United States, the Agency, in coordination with missions and the Department of State, is currently preparing a plan, in accordance with all applicable requirements and laws, under which the Agency would arrange and pay for return travel to the United States within 30 days and provide for the termination of PSC and ISC contracts that are not determined to be essential. The Agency will consider case-by-case exceptions and return travel extensions based on personal or family hardship, mobility or safety concerns, or other reasons. For example, the Agency will consider exceptions based on the timing of dependents’ school term, personal or familial medical needs, pregnancy, and other reasons. Further guidance on how to request an exception will be forthcoming. Thank you for your service”

USAID’s website has been deleted, all that is left is a note saying all personnel are now on administrative leave and personnel outside the US are to be brought home. Completely illegal, no act of congress or even executive order was signed to dismantle the agency

43 pounds.

That’s how much fentanyl was seized at the Can/US border last year.