Stuart Jeanne Bramhall's Blog: The Most Revolutionary Act , page 93

Which AI Chatbots Collect the Most Data About You?

Zero Hedge

The harbinger of the AI revolution, ChatGPT, remains the most popular AI tool on the market, with more than 200 million weekly active users.

But amongst all its competitors, which AI chatbots are collecting the most user data? And why does that matter?

Visual Capitalist’s Marcus Lu visualizes data from Surfshark which identified the most popular AI chatbots and analyzed their privacy details on the Apple App Store.

Their findings are as of February 18th, 2025.

Gemini, the Data Collection King

At first place, Google’s Gemini (released March, 2023) collects 22 different data points across 10 categories, from its users.

Data collected ranges from general diagnostics (that all bots in this study collect) to access to contacts (that no other bot identified collects).

Note: The Number of data points collected in each category vary per bot, leading to different totals.

xAI’s Grok (released November, 2023) collects the least unique data points (7).

China’s DeepSeek (released Jan 2025), sits comfortably in the middle of the pack at 11 points.

The kind of data collected by each of these AI tools varies. All of them collected general diagnostics information. However, only Gemini and Perplexity look at purchases.

And then, nearly all but Perplexity.ai and Grok collect user content.

User content is the kind of information that is usually linked to third party data and then sold to advertisers for targeted ads on the platform.

The general rule of thumb when it comes to data privacy is true for AI chatbots also. After all, information is stored on their servers, and those can be breached.

[…]

Via https://www.zerohedge.com/technology/which-ai-chatbots-collect-most-data-about-you

Are white farmers really persecuted? What’s behind the US-South Africa spat

FILE PHOTO. © Getty Images / pixdeluxe

By Vsevolod Sviridov

Why the signing of the Expropriation Act does not imply the immediate implementation of land reform in South Africa

On March 15, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared South African Ambassador to the US Ebrahim Rasool persona non grata following Rasool’s public remarks accusing US President Donald Trump of heading the global white supremacy movement. This marks another crisis in the relationship between Washington and Pretoria, which has significantly deteriorated since the beginning of 2025.

In February 2025, Trump suspended economic aid to South Africa, citing violations of the rights of the white minority and policies contrary to US interests. Rubio subsequently declined to attend the G20 summit in Johannesburg, pointing to South Africa’s anti-American stance. The South African government’s refusal to heed Washington’s demands, coupled with its blunt rhetoric, has further aggravated the crisis. The so-called “land question” in South Africa and the Expropriation Act signed by the South African president in January 2025 seem to have triggered the turmoil.

In fact, tensions between Washington and Pretoria are rooted in more fundamental issues, including South Africa’s independent foreign policy, BRICS membership, strategic partnerships with China and Russia, and a clear refusal to take sides in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Under former US President Joe Biden, a bill was introduced in the US Congress to reevaluate relations with South Africa, criticizing the policies of the African National Congress (ANC), particularly its foreign policy. With the change in US administration, another important source of friction has emerged: the DEI agenda (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).

The land question in South Africa exemplifies the challenges faced by independent African nations, revealing how both internal and external players exploit these challenges for their own purposes.

The land question

In different African countries, the “land question” is influenced by specific factors, which vary by nation. In East Africa, for example, agriculture is a cornerstone of the economy, contributing 20-25% to GDP and providing jobs for 40-80% of the population.

Conversely, in Southern Africa, the mining sector traditionally plays a pivotal role in the economy, while agriculture accounts for only 3-7% of GDP. Nevertheless, just like in East Africa, agriculture remains a primary source of employment across much of the region. The economy’s relatively low dependence on agriculture reflects the government’s willingness to experiment with reforms and its readiness for change.

Political aspects also play an important role. For South Africa – which is currently in the media spotlight regarding land reform – politics is a key factor. Despite the fact that even in Russian supermarkets one will easily find oranges, lemons, and wine from South Africa, agriculture is not the country’s key economic driver. It contributes just 2.6% to GDP, makes up 10% of exports, and employs around 20% of the workforce. Furthermore, historically, settled agriculture and farming were not characteristic of the indigenous cultures that inhabited modern South Africa prior to colonization; these groups predominantly engaged in pastoralism and gathering.

Land holds significant political and symbolic weight for the Zulu, Sotho, and Xhosa communities that were forcibly relocated during the 19th and 20th centuries. For these ethnic groups, gaining ownership of land symbolizes a restoration of rights to their homeland and a reconnection with their ancestral lands. The importance of land in the dynamics between white and black populations is vividly depicted in the culture of post-apartheid South Africa, notably in J.M. Coetzee’s novel ‘Disgrace’, which won the Booker Prize in 1999.

After gaining independence, nearly all African nations struggled with land issues. Land reforms occurred in waves: first in the 1960s and 1970s following independence, and again in the 1990s. The earlier reforms focused on resolving land conflicts stemming from colonial divisions, while the latter focused on market liberalization.

In many African countries, these reforms followed a conservative scenario, aiming to maintain the status quo and protect the interests of the primary landholders. One notable exception is Zimbabwe, where after attempts to negotiate with major landowners – white farmers who owned up to 70% of agricultural land – the government adopted a more radical policy to redistribute land from white farmers to the black majority.

Apartheid and post-apartheid in South Africa

During the colonial eras of Dutch and British rule, and later under apartheid (1948–1994), the black population of South Africa was systematically stripped of land ownership rights. Bantustans, or reservations for black citizens, were established in areas least suitable for agriculture. By the mid-1990s, white minorities – making up less than 11% of the population – owned a staggering 86% of arable land, i.e., approximately 82 million hectares.

Since coming to power in 1994, the ANC, led by Nelson Mandela, has sought to restore land rights for the black population. The first step in this process was the Restitution of Land Rights Act of 1994, which provided a framework for restitution – allowing for the return of land or financial compensation to ethnic groups forcibly removed from their homes after 1913.

Back in 1994, the ANC declared that it would transfer up to 30% of agricultural land from white ownership to black South Africans. However, in practice, the government has been hesitant to take bold actions, and the interests of the emerging post-apartheid South African business community have largely focused on sectors like mining, trade, energy, and logistics.

Debates about the “land reform” continue in society and significantly influence elections, which is particularly important for the ANC as its support gradually declines.

Why is the land reform important?

The land reform should be viewed as a comprehensive set of legislative measures, regulatory initiatives, educational programs, and other efforts aimed at addressing the “land question”.  For South Africa, this means finding a delicate balance: fulfilling the demands of the black majority without undermining the interests of the white minority, while ensuring sustainable development in the agricultural sector.

According to the South African government’s website, the primary principles underpinning the reform include: the transfer of agricultural land to black beneficiaries without distorting land markets; sustainable production on transferred land by making sure that human capabilities precede land transfer through incubators, learnerships, mentoring, apprenticeships and accelerated training in agricultural sciences; the establishment of monitoring institutions to protect land markets from opportunism, corruption and speculation.

Preparing for the land reform entails modernizing legal frameworks and aligning them with the provisions of South Africa’s modern constitution, adopted in 1996. Almost 20 acts related to the land question have been passed from 1937 to 2025. The adaptation of these laws sparked the “land reform” scandal that caught international attention in February, drawing criticism from Trump.

What is the Expropriation Act?

The controversy was sparked by the 2024 Expropriation Act (Act No. 13 of 2024), which was introduced in parliament in 2020, passed after a series of discussions and revisions in 2023, and signed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in January 2025. As the name suggests, this act regulates expropriation matters, defined as the “compulsory acquisition of property for a public purpose or in the public interest by an expropriating authority, or an organ of state upon request to an expropriating authority.” This law replaces the previous Expropriation Act enacted during apartheid in 1975.

Expropriation practices are widespread around the globe and are enshrined in various constitutions, including those of Germany and Italy, as well as in the laws of China and India. Since 1996, Section 25: “Property” of the South African Constitution has stated that “property may be expropriated only in terms of law of general application for a public purpose or in the public interest.” Consequently, the 2025 law aims to align the constitution with the legislation that interprets its provisions. It clarifies the meaning of the term “public interest” which was absent from the 1975 act but is present in the constitution, specifies the procedures for allowing government inspectors access to private properties for measurements, regulates the process of receiving a Notice of Expropriation, and more.

  A key innovation in the new act is the introduction of the concept of “nil compensation” (derived from the Latin word ‘nihil,’ meaning ‘nothing’.) It outlines the conditions under which this applies:the land is not being used and the owner’s main purpose is not to develop the land or use it to generate income;organ of state holds land that it is not using for its core functions;owner has abandoned the land by failing to exercise control over it despite being reasonably capable of doing so;market value of the land is equivalent to, or less than, the present value of direct state investment or subsidy in the acquisition and beneficial capital improvement of the land.

However, the act includes a stipulation that the grounds for expropriation include but are not limited to the four reasons listed above. Critics argue that under a broad interpretation, any property could potentially be expropriated without compensation. The debate surrounding this law – which, despite the president’s signature and official publication, was not commenced, pending its effective date to be proclaimed by the president, allows all parties involved to score political points. President Ramaphosa and the ANC demonstrate their commitment to the land reform without binding themselves to extensive obligations, while simultaneously gaining leverage over landowners in future negotiations. Meanwhile, opposition groups and lobbyists, such as AfriForum and Solidarity, rally their supporters by portraying themselves as defenders of white farmers’ interests, thus drawing attention from external partners. Washington, in turn, leverages this controversy to exert political pressure on South Africa and reduce its financial commitments.

It’s clear that the land reform in South Africa is far from complete, and the highly publicized Expropriation Act is merely one of the initial and not most important technical steps in the process of its implementation.

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/africa/615008-us-south-africa-land-reform/

Why is BRICS+ suddenly running everything?

FILE PHOTO: Workers check molten steel from the furnace at a foundry plant in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province of China. ©  Hu Jianhuan / VCG via Getty Images

By Dereje Yiemeru

BRICS+ collectively represents nearly half of the world’s population and is set to overtake the G7 in terms of global GDP share by 2028. The figures underscore the critical role of BRICS in the international arena, showcasing its influence over essential sectors like agriculture, energy, manufacturing, and the extraction of minerals.

At the Kazan summit in October 2024, BRICS+ leaders invited 13 more countries to join as partners. The new BRICS partner states which accepted the invitation are Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Nigeria, Algeria, and Uzbekistan. On January 6, 2025, Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populus country, joined BRICS as a full member, making it the first Southeast Asian state to join the bloc, as well as the tenth member of BRICS.

BRICS member states’ combined GDP accounts for more than 41% of global GDP. India is 8% of world GDP, Russia over 3.5%, Brazil over 2.4%, and Indonesia 2.4%, while China’s economy accounts for approximately 19.5% of the world’s GDP.

Gross Domestic Product is a measurement of the value of all of the goods and services produced in a country in one year. However, if you look at the composition of the GDP in the US, the actual production of tangible products that people need for their lives is just around 10% of its GDP.

Around 21% of the US GDP comes from the FIRE sector (finance, insurance, and real estate). Higher fees from banks and brokers boost GDP. Professional and business services, including white-collar jobs like lawyers and managers, also contribute. Healthcare represents 18% of GDP, but the US has poor public healthcare outcomes despite spending twice as much as other advanced economies (their healthcare spending ranges from 9.6% to 12.4%), including those among the BRICS+ nations. Additionally, 8% of US GDP comes from imputed rents for owner-occupied housing, which is a theoretical figure rather than actual income.

BRICS+ countries account for nearly half of global GDP in areas like food production, energy manufacturing, and public health, when measured by Parity Purchasing Power (PPP). GDP reflects value of all the goods and services produced by countries in global terms, while GDP by PPP focuses on what money can actually buy in each country.

Global food production

BRICS+ has become a key player in global food production. Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are major contributors to primary crops like sugar, corn, rice, wheat, palm oil, and potatoes. These countries produce nearly 90% of the world’s palm oil and substantial amounts of soybean and canola oil.

In the meat sector, Brazil and China lead in the production of chicken, pork, and beef, with China also being the largest producer of hen eggs. Additionally, China, India, and Indonesia account for over 70% of global aquaculture production. This agricultural capacity positions BRICS+ as crucial players in the global food supply chain.

BRICS+ not only addresses food production but also helps stabilize global food security challenges. By promoting sustainable agricultural practices, BRICS+ solidifies its role as the “Bread Basket of the World”.

Energy

BRICS+ nations are major players in energy production, with half of the top oil producers being BRICS+ members. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand is projected to increase by 30% between 2016 and 2040. This surge is comparable to adding the combined current energy consumption of another China and another India to the existing global demand.

With the addition of the UAE, Iran, and, potentially, Saudi Arabia the expanded BRICS+ group would include three of the world’s largest oil exporters and would constitute 42% of the global oil supply. Oil market management will remain the purview of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers (OPEC+).

But over the long term, an expanded BRICS+ grouping could be significant for energy markets. For years, OPEC+ states have complained that Western energy sanctions on Iran and Venezuela have constrained investment and export flows. More recently, the EU embargoes on Russian seaborne crude oil and petroleum products and the EU-G7 price caps have created a new sanctions mechanism that is politically weaponized, and targets a country’s revenues rather than export volumes.

An enlarged BRICS+ would include both oil and gas exporters and two of the largest importers, China and India. Producers and consumers in this group have a shared interest in creating mechanisms to trade commodities outside the reach of the G7 financial sector, and this is not a small task.

In the atomic energy sector, Russia’s Rosatom is a leading player. For example, India’s Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which has been under construction with Russian assistance, features six VVER-1000 reactors that have a total capacity of 6,000 MW. Units 1 and 2 were commissioned in 2013 and 2016, respectively, and Rosatom is currently exploring the addition of six more high-capacity units in India.

In China, four VVER-1000 reactors are operational at the Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant, with four more under construction that utilize advanced VVER-1200 reactor technology. These new units are expected to be completed by 2028. These developments underscore the ongoing collaboration between China and Russia in advancing nuclear energy infrastructure.

Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is also expanding with two new VVER-1000 units expected to be commissioned in 2025 and 2027 under the agreement with Russia.

Rosatom is Involved in constructing nuclear power plants globally, including, among others, Egypt’s El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, which will feature four VVER-1200 units, slated for completion by 2029.

Additionally, Rosatom is pursuing projects in Hungary, Brazil, Bangladesh, Türkiye, and Nigeria.

Manufacturing

The manufacturing capabilities of BRICS+ are strengthened by investments in technology and infrastructure, enhancing productivity across various sectors like automotive, electronics, textiles, and pharmaceuticals.

Integrating digital technologies such as automation, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) into manufacturing processes within these countries is revolutionizing traditional production methods, enabling them to compete more effectively on a global scale.

China’s revolutionary flash ironmaking process improves efficiency and reduces costs, disrupting global iron ore and steel markets. This technology challenges misconceptions about China’s innovative capabilities and aims to lessen reliance on imported iron ore, marking a significant shift in the industry.

Chinese researchers have dedicated substantial resources to this development, which could alleviate pressure on electric grids. As the world’s largest steel producer and exporter, China’s advancements enhance its position in the global steel market, raising concerns for domestic industries in the US and Europe. Additionally, China’s lower labor and energy costs further establish its dominance in iron and steel production.

Mineral extraction

The BRICS+ countries also play a significant role in the global production of critical minerals. Their contributions to the iron ore, copper, and nickel markets are substantial. In particular, the BRICS+ countries are leading producers of iron ore, with Brazil and India taking the lead. Moreover, the BRICS+ nations collectively hold a strong position in global copper production (where Chile and Peru are key contributors).

Russia and Indonesia are prominent in nickel production, a metal that is crucial for battery manufacturing and stainless-steel production. This highlights the strategic importance of these countries within the BRICS+ framework, especially as global interest in renewable energy solutions and electric vehicles grows.

China not only leads in the production of rare earth metals but also plays a crucial role in the global supply chain for microprocessors. This dominance allows China to wield considerable influence over various high-tech industries worldwide.

The collaboration among BRICS+ nations in metallic ore production ensures a stable supply of critical materials and fosters advancements in technology and sustainable practices within the mining sector. Overall, the BRICS+ alliance emerges as a powerhouse in the production of metallic ores, driving innovation and shaping the future of global resource management while responding to the evolving demands of a rapidly changing world economy.

The contribution of BRICS+ in the global economy is constantly growing, and furthermore, the sectors where the alliance holds strong positions are all crucial, from agriculture and food production to energy. This creates a solid foundation for a steady growth of the political role of the group while also deepening ties among its members and partner states.

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/africa/615085-brics-is-determinant-global-economy/

Catherine Austin Fitts: America’s $21 Trillion Black Budget

In this interview, Austin Fitts provides crucial background on DOGE and $21 trillion which has disappeared from Treasury accounts over the last 30 years. She asserts the US government has been operating as a criminal enterprise since October 1997.

She and other financial analysts first raised concerns in September 2001, when missing defense allocations reached $4 trillion. The following day a drone strike destroyed the Pentagon offices where these records were stored.

In 2012, the Washington Post was the first mainstream outlet to report on the “top secret projects” causing the Pentagon to repeatedly fail its financial audits. By 2015 the missing funds totaled $6.5 trillion.

In 2017, Austin Fitts published her own report when the total reached $21 trillion. See Missing Money

A year later Congress approved the Federal Accounting Statement Advisory Board #56 (see FASAB Statement 56: Understanding the New Government Financial Accounting Loopholes). This authorized 150 government entities to conceal financial transactions from the public (and Congress) on the grounds of national securtiy.

Among other projects, this black budget, diverted taxpayer funds to private corporations to maintain approximately 150 secret underground bases across the US and along the continental shelf. These bases focus on developing and deploying space weapons and other secret projects.

Austin Fitts believes one of the functions of DOGE may be to return these black budget projects onto the official balance sheet by privatizing them. She also believes the failed US war in Ukraine was launched to capture Russian resources, just as Trump’s proposed acquisition of Greenland, Canada and Panama is hoped to grab more resources for the US. If successful, they could be used to recoup trillions of dollars of technology the US government transferred to private companies without reimbursing taxpayers.

A second DOGE agenda, she believes is to eliminate civil service jobs (see Catherine Austin Fitts: What is the Real DOGE Agenda?) to allow Wall Street more direct control over federal fiscal spending (without being accountable to Congress).

A possible third DOGE agenda is to use massive federal job cuts to trigger a recession and lower the value of the US dollar, making US manufactured products more attractive overseas.

A a likely fourth is to plunder US government databases for personal and payment information Musk can use in developing his XAI, which Austin Fitts believes Wall Street and Tech oligarchs will ultimately use to control society. One of DOGE’s first moves was to fire the privacy and ethics officers charged with protecting US taxpayers data.

Austin Fitts believes Trump also plans to use his Wall Street banker controlled Stable Coin rollout to cover the $22 trillion black budget as well as the massive US deficit. Under Stable Coin, the global corporate mafia would control the ensuing digital social credit system, unlike a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), which be run by the Federal Reserve.

She believes Trump, DOGE and RFK Jr are genuine in their desire to reduce the ballooning Health and Human Services budget ($1.8 trillion in 2023). For the first time in history it exceeds the “official” defense budget ($857 billion or 0.857 trillion in 2023). According to HHS figures, estimates 54% of American children suffer from chronic illness. Austin Fitts estimates the true number is closer to 70%, as HHS can’t count children who are too poor to see a doctor.

Top German Politicians Calling for Resumption of Russian Gas

The CDU’s Michael Kretschmer, via dpa

Zero Hedge

In Europe, the lure of a return to cheap energy is ever-present, and that conversation is becoming easier as the Trump administration in Washington pushes hard for ceasefire negotiations with Moscow.

Senior German politicians are already calling for a resumption of ties with Russia. For example Michael Kretschmer, a senior member of Friedrich Merz’s centre-right Christian Democrats, is now arguing that EU sanctions on Russia are “completely out of date” as they increasingly openly contradict “what the Americans are doing.”

Financial Times in a fresh report quoted Kretschmer’s words to the German press agency DPA as follows: “When you realize that you’re weakening yourself more than your opponent, then you have to think about whether all of this is right.”

The same publication has observed the expected immediate backlash to the statements as follows:

Kretschmer, who is also a long-standing opponent of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, is the latest in a string of figures from both Merz’s centre-right CDU and the centre-left Social Democrats to have gone public in recent weeks with calls to resume economic or energy ties with Russia.

That has created a problem for Merz — who is all but certain to be Germany’s next chancellor — as well as for his likely coalition partners in the SPD at a time when he is trying to cast himself as a strong partner for Ukraine and for Europe. Germany’s Green party, which is strongly pro-Kyiv, called on Sunday for Merz to clamp down on “friends of Putin” in his party. 

But Merz hasn’t himself actively tried to silence this growing desire in some political circles for rapprochement with Russia.

But Bloomberg reported Monday, “The co-head of Germany’s Social Democrats party and frontrunner to become the next finance minister Lars Klingbeil dismissed swirling speculation over reviving pipeline gas deliveries from Russia after a potential peace deal for Ukraine.”

And as we highlighted, TotalEnergies’ chief executive Patrick Pouyanne said last week:

“I would not be surprised if two out of the four (came) back to stream, not four out of the four,” Patrick Pouyanne said at an industry event in Germany’s capital city, Berlin, as carried by Reuters.

“There is no way to be competitive against Russian gas with LNG coming from wherever it is,” the executive added.

Meanwhile, both Hungary and Slovakia not only continue bypassing Ukraine for imports of Russian gas – after Ukraine broke from the transit of Russian gas on January 1st – but are actually boosting these supplies.

Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto announced on Tuesday that the Veľké Zlievce/Balassagyarmat interconnection border point from Hungary to Slovakia has been brought to full capacity due to the stoppage through Ukraine.

Source: EIA

“We managed to solve the problem of natural gas supplies to Slovakia and Hungary, despite the fact that Ukraine created very serious difficulties for us. To ensure reliable gas supplies to Slovakia via Hungary even with the cessation of its transit through Ukraine, we had to increase the capacity of the connecting gas pipeline between our countries,” the FM told a press briefing.

“Today, the gas pipeline between Hungary and Slovakia is operating at increased capacity. We have now increased the capacity of this pipeline by 900 million cubic meters per year. Until now, 2.6 billion cubic meters were transported between the two countries per year. Starting today, this volume will increase to 3.5 billion cubic meters,” Szijjarto noted.

He added that “compared to last year’s record volume, the volume of natural gas transported through Hungary to Slovakia has increased by 50% in the first three months of this year.”

[…]

Via https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/top-german-politicians-are-calling-resumption-russian-gas

How Trumps Tariffs Are Fueling US Jobs, Manufacturing and Tax Relief

By Antonio Gracifo

Democrats have criticized President Trump’s tariffs, arguing that they lead to price increases that disadvantage American workers. While tariffs can contribute to higher prices, they also offer benefits to American workers.

Firstly, revenue generated from tariffs contributes to the government’s operating fund, potentially offsetting expenses that would otherwise be covered by income taxes. This additional revenue has opened discussions about tax relief measures, such as removing income tax from overtime pay or tips.

Moreover, tariffs serve to encourage domestic manufacturing and attract foreign direct investment (FDI).

Foreign companies aiming to maintain access to the U.S. market may choose to establish manufacturing facilities within the United States to circumvent import tariffs.

For instance, Hyundai Motor Group announced a $21 billion investment in U.S. operations, including a new $5.8 billion steel plant in Louisiana, to avoid potential tariffs and bolster its American manufacturing presence.

Similarly, Taiwanese chipmaker TSMC is set to invest $100 billion in a U.S.-based semiconductor plant.

Tariffs can reduce the need for subsidies by leveling the playing field for American producers competing against heavily subsidized foreign imports. A good example is agriculture.

The media criticized President Trump for placing a 25% tariff on Canadian food imports, claiming it would raise grocery prices and hurt American families. But the reality is more complex, and the tariffs make sense in context.

The United States is food-independent and typically a net exporter of agricultural products—it produces more food than it consumes and doesn’t rely on imports to feed its population.

Still, in 2023, the U.S. imported $40.5 billion worth of agricultural goods from Canada, about 20.6% of total agricultural imports. These imports aren’t driven by necessity but by factors like seasonality, economic efficiency, and consumer demand.

Some products—like fruits, vegetables, and certain animal goods—are simply cheaper to import due to Canada’s climate, harvest cycles, or subsidies. The two countries also have deeply integrated food supply chains, with items often crossing the border multiple times for processing.

While these imports provide variety and affordability, they also undermine American farmers—who already receive tens of billions in subsidies each year. In 2023 alone, agricultural subsidies totaled $10.97 billion.

Programs like the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) pay farmers to take land out of production for environmental reasons, but have been criticized for reducing the total food supply.

On top of that, the American Relief Act of 2025 added another $31 billion in aid to farmers and ranchers.

[…]

Yes, tariffs can raise prices on certain goods, but they also create jobs, generate government revenue, and reduce the need for taxes and subsidies.

Tariffs on agricultural imports—like those from Canada—help ensure American-grown food reaches consumers instead of being destroyed or left unharvested.

That means less waste, less need for subsidies, and more support for American workers and producers.

[…]

Via https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/how-trumps-tariffs-are-fueling-u-s-jobs/

Russia warns of ‘catastrophic’ consequences if Trump fulfills threat to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities

The warning signals growing tensions between Russia and the US despite the Kremlin’s careful approach to Trump, with whom President Vladimir Putin has sought to rebuild relations

Russia has issued a stark warning over US threats to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying such an attack could have ‘catastrophic’ consequences for the region.

The Kremlin’s concerns come after Donald Trump vowed to bomb Iran unless it agrees to a new nuclear deal with Washington.

The former US president, in an explosive interview with NBC News, warned that Tehran would face military action and severe economic sanctions if it refused to negotiate.

‘If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing,’ Trump declared. ‘It will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.’

Moscow, which has been strengthening ties with Iran, condemned Trump’s threats.

‘Threats are indeed being heard, ultimatums are also being heard,’ Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the Russian journal ‘International Affairs’ in an interview, extracts of which were published on Tuesday.

‘We consider such methods inappropriate, we condemn them, we consider them a way for (the US) to impose its own will on the Iranian side.’

The warning signals growing tensions between Russia and the US despite the Kremlin’s careful approach to Trump, with whom President Vladimir Putin has sought to rebuild relations.

Donald Trump vowed to bomb Iran unless it agrees to a new nuclear deal with Washington

Russia has positioned itself as a potential mediator, having signed a strategic partnership with Iran earlier in January.

But Ryabkov made it clear that Moscow views Trump’s rhetoric as a dangerous escalation.

‘The consequences of this, especially if the strikes are on nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,’ he cautioned.

Trump’s hardline stance follows his withdrawal from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran’s disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief – a move that led to increased tensions and fears of conflict.

While Iran insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and denies it is seeking to build an atomic bomb, Washington remains unconvinced.

Ryabkov said Trump’s recent comments only served to ‘complicate the situation’ in regards to Iran.

‘The consequences of this, especially if the strikes are on nuclear infrastructure, could be catastrophic for the entire region,’ Ryabkov said.

‘While there is still time and the ‘train has not left’, we need to redouble our efforts to try to reach an agreement on a reasonable basis. Russia is ready to offer its good services to Washington, Tehran and everyone who is interested in this,’ he said.

It comes after Iran threatened to target British forces if Donald Trump attacks the Middle Eastern nation in the absence of a new nuclear deal.

Trump sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier this month urging Tehran to reach a new nuclear deal.

The US President warned: ‘There are two ways Iran can be handled: militarily, or you make a deal.’

In response, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Qalibaf said on Friday: ‘If the Americans attack the sanctity of Iran, the entire region will blow up like a spark in an ammunition dump.’

‘Their bases and those of their allies will not be safe,’ Qalibaf said in a live speech at the annual Al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, that marks the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan.

Iran has threatened to strike American bases and ‘blow up’ the entire Middle East if Donald Trump follows through on his warning of military action in the absence of a new nuclear deal. The image shows an Iranian rocket launched during a drill earlier last year

Iran threatened to target British forces if Donald Trump attacks the Middle Eastern nation in the absence of a new nuclear deal (pictured: Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei)

A senior Iranian military official has now said that Tehran would strike the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia in the Chagos Islands should Trump attack Iran.

‘There will be no distinction in targeting British or American forces if Iran is attacked from any base in the region or within the range of Iranian missiles,’ he told the Telegraph on Saturday.

The military official added: ‘When the time comes, it won’t matter whether you’re an American, British, or Turkish soldier – you will be targeted if your base is used by Americans.’

‘And if they are thinking of causing sedition inside the country as in past years, the Iranian people themselves will deal with them,’ he added.

Over the weekend Donald Trump lashed out at Vladimir Putin after the Russian leader dismissed US efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine, calling Kyiv’s government ‘illegitimate’ and effectively rejecting negotiations.

In a fiery outburst, Trump admitted he was ‘p***** off’ over Putin’s remarks, which undermine Washington’s attempts to bring an end to the bloody conflict.

Trump warned that if he failed to reach a peace deal with Moscow – and if he deemed Russia responsible – he would slap massive secondary tariffs on Russian oil.

If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault … I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,’ Trump said, noting that tariffs could be as high as 50 per cent.

Despite his anger, Trump suggested that tensions with the Kremlin could ease if Putin ‘does the right thing,’ and once again emphasised his close ties with the Russian president, saying he has ‘a very good relationship with [Putin]’.

However, the Kremlin has remained tight-lipped, with Putin yet to respond directly to Trump’s heated remarks.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that Russia is committed to ‘restoring’ relations with Washington, which he claimed had been ‘damaged by the Biden administration’ following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.

He also confirmed that Putin remains in ‘open contact’ with Trump, with another call reportedly scheduled between the two this week.

Via https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14558829/Russia-issues-chilling-warning-Trump-catastrophic-consequences-carries-threat-strike-Irans-nuclear-facilities.html

Argentina’s Milei to declassify documents on Nazi war criminals who fled to Argentina

DW (March 25, 2025)

Argentina’s President Javier Milei says he is declassifying government documents on how Nazi war criminals escaped Europe and resettled in South America following World War Two. Historians believe as many as 5,000 Nazis evaded arrest in Argentina – sometimes with the help of the authorities. The most prominent of them was Adolf Eichmann. Eichmann was one of the architects of the Holocaust and escaped to Argentina using false papers. Israeli agents captured him in Buenos Aires and took him to Jerusalem to stand trial. He found guilty and sentenced to death.

Inside the historic anti-Hamas revolt in Gaza

Palestinian protesters in the Gaza Strip. ©  Wikipedia

Elizabeth Blade

For the first time in nearly two decades, the people of Gaza are raising their voices – not only against Israel but also against Hamas. In an unprecedented wave of protests sweeping across Beit Lahia, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Rafah, hundreds have taken to the streets, demanding an end to Hamas’ rule, restoration of their rights, and a future free from war and oppression. But as the protests grow, so does Hamas’ crackdown. Can this movement survive, or will Hamas crush it once again?

Why they rise 

The demonstrations, which erupted in late March 2025, represent the largest grassroots challenge to Hamas since it seized control in 2007. Protesters chant for freedom, the end of Hamas’ regime, and liberation from the heavy burdens of war, poverty, and fear.

“We can’t live like this anymore,” said Mohammad, a resident of Nuseirat, whose full identity is withheld for safety reasons. “People are drowning in darkness, oppression, and sorrow. We’re exhausted by Hamas dragging us into death and destruction while they live comfortably [in Qatar].”

Since Hamas’ takeover in 2007, conditions in Gaza have worsened significantly – not solely due to the Israeli blockade imposed because of Hamas’ designation as a terrorist organization.

From 2007 to 2023, Gaza’s GDP per capita dropped by 54%, nearing levels last seen in 1994. Unemployment spiked from 40% in 2007 to a staggering 80% by 2024, and poverty soared to 65% by 2022. The war that erupted the following year only worsened the crisis.

Yet, it’s not merely economic hardship driving the unrest. Hamas has maintained an iron grip on Gaza for nearly two decades, suppressing dissent and silencing opposition. Now, frustration has reached a boiling point. Protesters have clear demands: ending Hamas’ rule, restoring basic human rights, and living free from the constant threat of war.

Years of frustration 

Though these demonstrations are unprecedented in scale, they aren’t Gaza’s first attempt to challenge Hamas. Previous protests, notably the Bidna Na’ish (“We Want to Live”) movements in 2011 and 2015, called primarily for economic reform and political freedom. Each time, Hamas swiftly crushed these movements with violent crackdowns, arrests, and intimidation.

This time, however, the mood feels different.

“Hamas’ police are everywhere, but people aren’t backing down,” Mohammad said. “They know arrests and violence are inevitable, but we have nothing left to lose.”

Unlike past protests focused mainly on economic grievances, today’s demonstrations explicitly target Hamas’ political power. Protesters aren’t just asking for better living conditions – they want Hamas removed entirely. Interestingly, they blame Hamas, alongside Israel, for Gaza’s current devastation.

Gaza has weathered multiple wars, but the destruction since October 7, 2023, has pushed it to collapse. Following Hamas’ attack on Israel, the Israeli military response left vast areas in ruins.

According to recent UN estimates, 80% of buildings in northern Gaza are damaged or destroyed, 97% of residents lack consistent access to clean water, and child malnutrition rates have doubled. Essential infrastructure is devastated: roads lie in rubble, hospitals barely operate, and power outages are frequent.

 “Of course, Israel is bombing us and killing our children, but who brought this upon us?” asked Mustafa, another Gazan critical of Hamas, who spoke anonymously due to fear of persecution.

“When they [Hamas] planned the attack on Israel, didn’t they think what the outcome might be? Did they really think Israel would swallow it? It was obvious that they would wreck havoc on us, so why did the leadership put us in this position from the first place?” he lamented.

Mustafa’s anger at Hamas is intensified by what he sees as their indifference to Palestinian suffering.

“Entire neighborhoods have no food or water, especially since humanitarian aid stopped flowing,” Mustafa claimed. “Meanwhile, Hamas leaders sit comfortably [in Qatar], stockpiling supplies. They’re not suffering like we are.”

After Israel resumed ground operations in Gaza, border crossings closed again, halting humanitarian aid as happened at the war’s onset. Even when assistance was available, reports suggest Hamas and its allies diverted substantial portions, leaving ordinary Palestinians hungry and desperate. Such systemic corruption has deepened resentment. Gazans are now equally outraged at Hamas’ greed and mismanagement as at Israel’s blockade.

Enough is enough? 

For years, Hamas justified its authoritarian rule as necessary resistance for Palestinian freedom. But after enduring endless cycles of violence, many Gazans reject this narrative.

“For years, they told us resistance would bring dignity,” Mustafa said. “But what has it brought? Hunger, death, and endless war. Hamas is fighting for Iran’s interests, not for us.”

Palestinians lift national flags during a demonstration in Gaza City. ©  Majdi Fathi / NurPhoto via Getty Images

Hamas’ ties with Iran and other Islamist movements have increasingly become contentious. Protesters accuse Hamas of jeopardizing Gaza’s future by prioritizing foreign agendas.

“They’re gambling with our lives,” Mohammad added. “We’re not pawns in their geopolitical games.”

Hamas doesn’t like what it sees. As protests have grown, the group arrested dozens of activists and ordinary citizens, accusing them of spying for Israel or Fatah, Hamas’ main political rival controlling the Palestinian Authority.

Telegram channels linked to Israel and Fatah claim Hamas has executed at least six Gazans accused of organizing protests, though RT could not independently verify these reports.

Hamas claims to RT that information about group “is punishing those who participated in the protests is lacking any evidence.”

“We believe in the right of the our people to raise their voices, those who went to the streets are representing less than 1-2 % of the population and we are in an hourly contact with the people to discuss a way out”, the group stated.

Nevertheless, reports of torture and other radical methods have understandably frightened many, but Mohammad remains resolute.

“Hamas can use force to silence us,” he stated firmly, “but they can’t erase our anger. The harder they repress us, the stronger we’ll become.”

Mustafa echoed this sentiment:

“Hamas knows if these protests succeed, their reign is finished. That’s why they’re desperate to crush them – and exactly why we’re determined to persist. Enough is enough.”

Gazaian people holding the Palestine flag set tyre on fire to stage a protest against killing Palestinians by Israeli forces, in Gaza Strip. ©  Ali Jadallah / Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesHamas’ responses

RT approached a top Hamas official for a comment. The group issued a statement acknowledging the pain felt by the residents of Gaza, while emphasizing unity among Palestinians.

“It is the legitimate right of everybody to cry out in pain and to raise their voices loudly against the aggression targeting our people and the disappointment we face from our nation,” the statement read. “Our people, with all their factions – whether those who have taken to the streets or those who have not – are united; we are part of them, and they are part of us.”

However, Hamas condemned what it described as the manipulation of Gaza’s humanitarian tragedy for political gain, aiming to divert attention away from the real perpetrator – the Israeli occupation and its military.

Addressing critics directly, Hamas questioned: “To those in Ramallah pursuing such questionable agendas, we ask: Where are you when it comes to the ongoing killings, displacement, destruction, and annexation taking place daily in the West Bank? Why do you not mobilize against this aggression, or at least allow the people there to take to the streets and voice their rejection of these crimes?”

Hamas also asserted that it had upheld its commitments under a deal reached with Israel aimed at halting the war. “We have signed a deal with the Israelis, with the main goal to stop the war on our people, and we have fulfilled all our obligations accordingly,” Hamas stated. “Yet, supported by the Americans, the Israelis have breached the deal and launched the war again. Despite of this we are still committed to the deal and we have accepted the proposals presented to us by the mediators.”

[…]

Via https://www.rt.com/news/615048-theyre-gambling-with-our-lives/

Baby Dies After Receiving 6 Shots for 12 Vaccines — Doctors Say ‘Catching Up’ Kids on Vaccines Is Common, and Dangerous

by Suzanne Burdick, Ph.D.

The nurse who administered the shots said 1-year-old Sa’Niya needed them to catch her up on vaccinations she missed at her 6-month appointment — a common but potentially dangerous recommendation, according to pediatricians interviewed by The Defender.

Roughly 12 hours after 1-year-old Sa’Niya was given six shots for 12 vaccines during a wellness visit, the little girl died. Sa’Niya — who had just turned 1 year old on March 11 — received the shots on March 26 at about 4 p.m., at Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatric Practice in Rochester, New York, according to the baby’s mother, Shanticia Nelson.

The nurse who administered the shots said Sa’Niya needed them to catch her up on vaccinations she missed at her 6-month appointment — a common but potentially dangerous recommendation, according to several pediatricians interviewed by The Defender.

Nelson, her husband Kayon Carter and Sa’Niya’s grandmother Latricia Hanley shared the story of Sa’Niya’s death in an interview with CHD.TV Program Director Polly Tommey.

“Sa’Niya was a happy baby,” Nelson said. “She was happy and she loved her dad. Everything was ‘dada.’”

According to the visit notes, Sa’Niya was given six shots containing 12 vaccines, including: “DTap/Hep B/IPV (Pediarix), HiB/Acthib/Hiberix, Pneumococcal 20-valent Conj vaccine, Varicella (known commonly as Chickenpox), MMR, and Hepatitis A.”

She also received sodium fluoride as a teeth treatment.

Nelson said she told the nurse she was uncomfortable having Sa’Niya receive so many shots at once. According to Hanley, the nurse became angry and told Nelson, “She needs these shots. You got to give her these shots.”

The nurse never explained the 12 different vaccines and never mentioned the vaccines’ possible side effects, such as seizures and death.

Sa’Niya was a generally healthy baby. However, on the day she received the shots, she had a “little cough and runny nose,” Nelson said. According to the medical notes from the visit, Sa’Niya also had some eczema, diaper dermatitis and constipation.

  ‘I just want my baby back’

Within hours after receiving the shots, Sa’Niya’s eyes rolled back and she began foaming at the mouth. The police “ended up coming,” Nelson said. They told her it looked as if Sa’Niya had had a small seizure but that she was breathing OK.

Nelson recalled the police saying, “You guys don’t have to take her to the hospital, but if you want to take her to the hospital to make sure she’s OK, they you could do that.”

Nelson knew something was seriously wrong with Sa’Niya. “I looked at my baby and I said, ‘No, my baby is not right … this is not my daughter. My daughter is active. As soon she gets picked up, she’s active.’”

But when Nelson picked her up in that moment, Sa’Niya “just laid there … her eyes just wandered. She wasn’t responding to me calling her name how she used to.”

An ambulance took Sa’Niya to Saint Vincent Hospital in Lake Erie, Pennsylvania, where doctors started running tests on her. They told Nelson it appeared Sa’Niya had had four seizures by the time she arrived at the hospital.

Nelson left the hospital room to bring in her husband and two older children.

The parents and older children hadn’t been in the waiting room for more than two minutes when a nurse told Nelson, “I’m sorry but your daughter — she’s very sick … right now she’s in cardiac arrest.”

Nelson was told that Sa’Niya’s heart wasn’t responding to CPR and that her blood sugar level was over 700.

Hospital staff continued CPR for roughly 40 minutes. They said, “We’re going to check for a pulse one more time, and if we don’t have a pulse anymore, she’s gone.”

Nelson said, “They checked and she didn’t have that pulse.”

That happened around 4 a.m. on March 27, Nelson told The Defender. “I just want my baby back,” Nelson said. “No amount of money in this world can replace my baby … I want justice for my baby.”

Nelson, Carter and Hanley said in their CHD.TV interview that they hope what happened to Sa’Niya will never happen to another child.

They encouraged parents to do their own research rather than trusting medical staff to give informed consent for the risks of vaccination.

“Don’t let your kids take the vaccination shots,” Nelson said. “Ask questions. Before they give you anything, ask questions because I promise you they’re not going to tell you everything.”

Dr. Liz Mumper, a pediatrician, said it’s “tragic that a healthy baby died soon after receiving multiple vaccines.” But unfortunately, it’s not as rare as people might think.

Historically, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has “encouraged clinicians to take every opportunity to catch babies up on vaccines,” Mumper said.

She disagreed with claims that all babies can handle lots of vaccines given at the same time. She said:

“Specifically, some babies do not have the liver function or detoxification capacity to handle a cumulative aluminum load. Vaccines stress mitochondria — the powerhouses of the cell. Some babies do not have enough mitochondrial reserve to tolerate the oxidative stress of multiple vaccines on the same day.”

As The Defender previously reported, pediatric clinics can receive multiple financial incentives for administering vaccines. For example, insurance companies may offer pediatricians bonus payments for meeting certain benchmarks, such as having around 80% of patients fully vaccinated by age 2.

The AAP did not immediately respond when The Defender asked how common it is for pediatricians to do catch-up vaccinations — such as giving a 1-year-old additional shots because the baby missed its 6-month vaccinations — and whether the AAP continues to encourage the practice.

1-year visit ‘most dangerous visit of all’

Three other pediatricians — Drs. Renata Moon, Paul Thomas and Lawrence Palevsky — also told The Defender that administering multiple vaccines to babies and children to “catch them up” isn’t all that rare.

“The death of any child is an absolute tragedy,” said Moon. She told The Defender:

“Catch-up vaccines are regularly given in most offices. Parents need to clearly understand the risks and benefits of each individual shot and the risks of giving them in different combinations all at one time.

“We need a public health system that we can trust to act only in the best interests of our nation’s children, and not in the best interests of the pocketbooks of big pharmaceutical companies.”

Dr. Paul Thomas, a retired Dartmouth-trained pediatrician, said that it’s “very common” for pediatricians to attempt to catch babies and children up on vaccines. “This is routinely done at all well visits.”

Most babies are potentially given around nine vaccines at their 1-year wellness visit if the provider is following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule.

Thomas said, “The one-year well visit has become the most dangerous visit of all — especially if pediatricians are giving the COVID jab.”

The CDC schedule recommends 12-month-olds receive: a third dose of the hepatitis B vaccine, a third or fourth dose of the haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine, a fourth dose of the pneumococcal vaccine, the third dose of the polio vaccine, one or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, one or two doses of the influenza vaccine, one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, one dose of the varicella vaccine, and one dose of the hepatitis A vaccine.

Doctors may also choose to give a dose of the RSV vaccine.

Thomas, author of “Vax Facts: What to Consider Before Vaccinating at All Ages & Stages of Life,” said that in the chapter on sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, infant deaths are happening right after vaccines with 78.3% (combined data from six studies) dying in the first week after vaccines.

“Vaccines are killing our children,” Thomas continued. “There is data showing that for every vaccine on the childhood schedule, your child is more likely to die from the vaccine than from the disease the vaccine covers.”

He added:

“When you understand that vaccines have never been tested with a proper saline placebo, the safety data is only collected for a few days, weeks or months and they never look at all health outcomes, you begin to understand that parents should think carefully about what they are about to put in their child’s body.

“When injured, you cannot sue anyone or any company. All involved are protected by the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.”

‘Few, if any, pediatricians understand that vaccines can cause harm or injury’

Dr. Lawrence Palevsky also said it’s “very common” for pediatricians to do as many catch-up vaccines in one pediatric visit as what Sa’Niya received.

“Few, if any, pediatricians understand that vaccines can cause harm or injury,” he said. “They also don’t know that the safety and efficacy of the administration of multiple vaccines at the same time have, for the most part, never been studied.”

Angela Wulbrecht, a nurse who serves on the Vaccine Safety Research Foundation’s board of directors, pointed out the same thing. “I feel like parents are not given true informed consent that these things can happen.”

Wulbrecht is assisting Sa’Niya’s family in completing a Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) report for her death. VAERS is co-managed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC.

Wulbrecht is also working with the family to be sure an independent autopsy of Sa’Niya is completed so her family will have thorough, accurate information about the biological mechanisms that caused her death.

Dr. Jacob Puliyel, head of pediatrics at St. Stephens Hospital Delhi, India, called giving 12 vaccines during one appointment “clearly excessive.”

Puliyel said, “This child was given 12 vaccines, where even five vaccines are associated with sudden deaths.”

In 2018, Puliyel and his colleagues published a peer-reviewed article that suggested a link between SIDS and a pentavalent vaccine. According to the World Health Organization, the pentavalent vaccine protects against five diseases: diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and Hib.

In 2017, Puliyel and his colleagues also published findings on a link between SIDS and a hexavalent vaccine that targets diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis, hepatitis B, inactivated poliomyelitis and Haemophilus influenza type B vaccine.

Puliyel said, “Parents must be made aware of these risks and one hopes the U.S. FDA will investigate these reports and inform the public. Doctors need clear guidance about the dangers.”

[…]

Via https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender/baby-sa-niya-death-received-6-shots-12-vaccines/