Russia’s Recovery, Pensions, & AI Heads To Tinseltown
March 25, 2024
Hello, readers – happy Monday! Today, we’re talking about the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Russia, updates on the Middle East, the Nigerian schoolchildren set free, U.K. pensions, ousting Speaker Johnson, Ronna McDaniel’s thoughts on January 6, and Sora heading to Hollywood.
Here’s some good news: Billions of dollars are being funneled into a massive project to restore the Florida Everglades in what some say is the largest restoration project in human history. Also, Germany’s government has agreed to help fund the expansion of an offshore terminal that will aid in the country’s wind energy goals.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” – William Shakespeare
A Massive Tragedy In Moscow
On Friday, Russia experienced its worst terrorist attack in over 20 years. Gunmen armed with fully automatic weapons attacked a crowd at the Crocus City concert hall, killing at least 137 people and injuring 182 others. So far, four people have been arrested and charged, and they all face life in prison. The men, who are from Tajikistan but worked as migrant laborers in Russia, were arraigned last night and charged with committing a terrorist act.
While the Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the mass shooting, Russian President Vladimir Putin has tied the attack to his country’s war with Ukraine. In a televised address on Saturday, he claimed that the terrorists were “moving toward Ukraine” when they were detained by Russian state forces, and that “a window was prepared for them from the Ukrainian side to cross the state border,” though he stopped short of directly accusing Kyiv.
The U.S. has claimed that the White House warned Moscow of an upcoming terrorist attack earlier in March, but Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. says that the Biden administration didn’t pass along “concrete information” about the terrorist plot.
Will Peace Get A Chance?
Israel has agreed to a U.S. proposal that would see Hamas release about 40 Israeli hostages in return for about 700 Palestinian prisoners. A diplomatic source added that other issues like the entry of aid into Gaza and “Israeli military repositioning” are also on the table. Hamas and Israel are currently in ceasefire talks in Doha, Qatar, but delegations from the U.S. and Israel are still waiting for a response from Hamas as of writing.
Meanwhile, Israel remains positioned to begin a ground invasion of Rafah, where much of Gaza’s population has been pushed by Israeli operations. International aid organizations have described a possible invasion as a “bloodbath” and “absolutely catastrophic for children,” and even with an IDF plan to push civilians to “humanitarian islands” outside of the conflict area, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said a Rafah offensive would be “something we can’t support.”
Over the weekend, U.S. resistance to an IDF ground invasion of Rafah reached new heights. In an interview with ABC, Vice President Kamala Harris said there would be “consequences” for Israel if it moves ahead with its invasion plans. “Let me tell you something: I have studied the maps. There’s nowhere for those folks to go,” she said.
Tories Come To Terms With The Triple Lock
- The U.K.’s ruling Conservative Party has committed to preserving the country’s triple lock rule for increasing state pensions. The rule states that the government will increase pensions by the level of earnings, inflation, or a flat 2.5% each year – whichever of the three options is the highest. The rule has come under increased scrutiny in recent years as Britain struggles to deal with high inflation, which drove up pensions by £11 billion ($13.9 billion) last year alone.
- The Labour Party has not yet committed to maintaining the triple lock ahead of elections slated for later this year, but party chair Anneliese Dodds has told the BBC that the party will put out its position on the issue in due time. The Tories have also stated that they’re committed to lowering the overall tax burden for Britons, and have highlighted that the Labour party hasn’t yet made a statement lowering taxes.
Herders Hand Over The Youth
- On March 7 this year, 287 students were abducted from a school in the remote Nigerian town of Kuriga, at least 100 of them 12 or younger. On Sunday, they were released. Kaduna state Governor Uba Sani didn’t reveal details about how, exactly, the students were released, but he did thank Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for “particularly ensuring that the abducted school children are released unharmed.”
- Similar abductions have become increasingly common in Nigeria’s northern regions, where nomadic herders have clashed with local settled communities. Most kidnappers can avoid arrest by releasing their victims unharmed after families pay their ransoms, or the government negotiates a hostage deal. The herders, according to one expert, are able to escape the law by hiding in Nigeria’s impenetrable forests.
More Mixed Nuts
- Princess Kate announces she is undergoing treatment for cancer (NBC)
- Pope Francis skips homily at Palm Sunday Mass in rare move (CNN)
- Simon Harris to become Ireland’s youngest prime minister (Guardian)
- Senegal votes in a tightly contested presidential race after months of unrest (AP)
- Chinese coast guard hits Philippine boat with water cannons in disputed sea, causing injuries (AP)
- Poland demands explanation from Russia after a missile enters its airspace during attack on Ukraine (AP)
The Freedom Caucus Hates Funding
- On Friday, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene filed a motion to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from his position, representing the growing displeasure from the far-right group of Representatives in the House. The Freedom Caucus was displeased by Johnson’s negotiations with Democrats and more moderate Republicans to get the funding bill passed.
- With a two-week recess coming up, we’re still learning about the chances of Johnson’s ousting. Sources in the Democratic ranks said yesterday that they’d consider throwing their support behind Johnson once they know how he plans to get aid for Ukraine without too many compromises with the far-right, like the “Return to Mexico” policy. If Johnson were to announce he would take up the Senate’s $95 billion aid package, Democrats would vote to keep him safe, they revealed.
- Also yesterday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez got a bit more specific about her interest – or lack thereof – in keeping Johnson around. AOC told CNN that she is “not inclined” to vote to keep Johnson in his position, but she expects Democrats will “work as a team.” “I don’t think we do that for free, and I don’t think that we do that out of sympathy for Republicans,” she added.
No More Chair, No More Holding Back
- On Sunday, former Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel broke her silence and spoke out against the January 6 riot at the Capitol. She called it “unacceptable” and said it “doesn’t represent our country. It certainly does not represent my party.”
- McDaniel explained that she didn’t speak out before because “When you’re the RNC chair, you kind of take one for the whole team. Right now, I get to be a little bit more myself.” McDaniel faced former President Trump’s ire when the RNC didn’t push his election fraud conspiracy theories harder in 2020.
More Nuts In America
- Snow storm threatens blizzard conditions and power outages in Northern Plains and Upper Midwest (CNN)
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski signals openness to leaving the GOP (NBC)
- Louisiana Democrat wins sheriff’s race do-over after first victory was disputed (Guardian)
- About 360,000 households without power as storms batter Northeast (NBC)
- Fani Willis: ‘Train is coming’ for Trump despite efforts to derail Georgia case (Guardian)
- Millions of Americans could soon lose home internet access if lawmakers don’t act (CNN)
Sora Says Sorry For Making Hollywood Irrelevant
- OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is beginning to roll out a text-to-video AI it’s named “Sora.” It’s released a few of the AI’s videos to the public, but has also begun showing the technology to Hollywood studios, talent agencies, and media executives – which is kind of like the maker of the printing press going around with his new invention to a bunch of monasteries where monks are transcribing books and telling them, “Yeah, you’re gonna lose your job soon.”
- “Being told that it can do all of these things is one thing, but actually seeing the capabilities, it was mind-blowing,” said producer Tyler Perry, who put a hold on a $800 million studio expansion at his Atlanta headquarters after seeing the technology in person. “There’s got to be some sort of regulations in order to protect us. If not, I just don’t see how we survive.”
- As for OpenAI’s plans on Sora’s usage, a company spokesperson told Bloomberg, “OpenAI has a deliberate strategy of working in collaboration with industry through a process of iterative deployment – rolling out AI advances in phases – in order to ensure safe implementation and to give people an idea of what’s on the horizon. We look forward to an ongoing dialogue with artists and creatives.”
More Loose Nuts
- Mountain lion kills California man in state’s first fatal attack in 20 years (Guardian)
- Powerball jackpot grows to $800 million after no winner in Saturday night’s drawing (CBS)
- Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 passengers receive FBI letter identifying them as the victims of a possible crime (NBC)
- This Italian town is struggling to sell off its empty homes for one euro. Here’s why (CNN)
- Referee Removed From NCAA Tournament Game Due to ‘Background Conflict’ (Sports Illustrated)