us-formally-seizes-second-plane-belonging-to-venezuelan-president-maduro-–-cnn

US formally seizes second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Maduro – CNN

CNN  —  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio formally seized a second plane belonging to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s government on behalf of the United States on Thursday. The relationship between Caracas and Washington has been marked by tensions for decades and the plane’s seizure follows a similar instance in September when a Venezuelan aircraft

trump’s-gaza-plan-shocks-the-world-but-finds-support-in-israel-–-the-associated-press

Trump’s Gaza plan shocks the world but finds support in Israel – The Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plan to seek U.S. ownership of the Gaza Strip and move out its population infuriated the Arab world . It stunned American allies and other global powers and even flummoxed members of Trump’s own party. The reaction in Israel was starkly different. The idea of removing hundreds

panama-formally-exits-china’s-belt-and-road-initiative-as-us-claims-‘victory’-–-south-china-morning-post

Panama formally exits China’s Belt and Road Initiative as US claims ‘victory’ – South China Morning Post

Panama has officially informed Beijing of its decision to withdraw from China’s massive infrastructure and investment project, the Belt and Road Initiative , the country’s leader announced on Thursday. Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said he had instructed diplomats at the Central American country’s embassy in Beijing to submit the required 90-day notice of withdrawal

elon-musk’s-doge-is-working-on-a-custom-chatbot-called-gsai

Elon Musk’s DOGE Is Working on a Custom Chatbot Called GSAi

Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is pushing to rapidly develop “GSAi,” a custom generative AI chatbot for the US General Services Administration, according to two people familiar with the project. The plan is part of President Donald Trump’s AI-first agenda to modernize the federal government with advanced technology. One goal of the initiative

the-us-treasury-claimed-doge-technologist-didn’t-have-‘write-access’-when-he-actually-did

The US Treasury Claimed DOGE Technologist Didn’t Have ‘Write Access’ When He Actually Did

US Treasury Department and White House officials have repeatedly denied that technologists associated with Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) had the ability to rewrite the code of the payment system through which the vast majority of federal spending flows. WIRED reporting shows, however, that at the time these statements were made, a

carried-interest-repeal-could-stifle-investments-in-startups,-nvca-says

Carried interest repeal could stifle investments in startups, NVCA says

On Thursday, President Trump asked Republican lawmakers to end tax breaks on carried interest.  The tax break allows private equity and venture fund managers to treat their earnings from investments at a lower capital gains rate, rather than as ordinary income.  The removal of the tax break would be a big hit to the VC

amazon-doubles-down-on-ai-with-a-massive-$100b-spending-plan-for-2025

Amazon doubles down on AI with a massive $100B spending plan for 2025

Despite all the buzz last week that DeepSeek would herald in an era of lower AI budgets, there is zero sign that Big Tech is slowing down. Instead, they’re ramping things up.  Amazon is the latest tech giant to announce a massive AI spending plan, with well over $100 billion in predicted capital expenditures for