Notices by R. Scott Pert (raymondpert@mastodon.cloud)

Al-Sharaa named as Syria’s transitional president

> #Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was named president for a transitional period, the Syrian state news agency (SANA) reported on Wednesday, citing commander Hassan Abdel Ghani.

> Al-Sharaa was also authorized to form a temporary legislative council for the transitional phase which will carry out its task until a new constitution is adopted, SANA reported, citing Abdel Ghani. https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2025/01/29/al-sharaa-named-as-syria-s-transitional-president #AhmedalSharaa

#Japan tackles dementia crisis as super-ageing society sees cases soar

> Japan is one of the fastest-ageing societies in the world, with almost a third of its population over 65 years old. As a result, the county is seeing more and more cases of #dementia each year: almost 5 million people are now living with the condition. In response, the government is taking the problem seriously and has formed a special committee in a bid to tackle the crisis.
https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/focus/20250128-japan-tackles-dementia-crisis-as-super-ageing-society-sees-cases-soar #ageing #mentalhealth

AI 'bubble' echoes dotcom excesses, Ray Dalio warns

> Investor exuberance over #artificialintelligence (#AI) has fuelled a “#bubble” in United States stocks that resembles the build-up to the dotcom bust at the turn of the millennium, billionaire investor #RayDalio has warned.
https://archive.is/2025.01.29-002909/https://financialpost.com/financial-times/ai-bubble-echoes-dotcom-excess-ray-dalio-warns

Boeing posts $3.8B Q4 loss and has lost more than $35B since 2019 fatal crashes

> Boeing posted a fourth-quarter loss of $3.8 billion on Tuesday as a machinists #strike and other problems continued to plague the troubled #aircraft manufacturer.

> #Boeing has lost more than $35 billion since 2019 following the crashes of two then-new Max jets that killed 346 people. For the full year 2024, Boeing logged a loss of $11.8 billion.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/boeing-posts-38-billion-q4-loss-lost-35-118173371#Aviation #737 #737Max #economy

Egg prices are soaring. Don't expect that to change anytime soon

> #Birdflu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month, pushing #US egg prices to more than double their cost in the summer of 2023. And it appears there may be no relief in sight, given the surge in demand as Easter approaches.
https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/egg-prices-soaring-expect-change-anytime-118161257 #eggs #H1N1

#Singapore - China’s slow recovery part of why Changi Airport narrowly missed pre-pandemic traffic levels, say analysts

> #China’s tepid post-pandemic recovery contributed to airports in #SoutheastAsia seeing a slower uptick in passenger numbers, compared to European and American counterparts. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/changi-airport-passenger-traffic-china-recovery-4898756 #China #Economy #Aviation #travel #airports #travel #TootSEA #ExpatAsia

After fragile ceasefire: New backlash over Trump plan to move Palestinians out of Gaza

> As thousands of displaced Gazans began returning to their war-torn homes, President #DonaldTrump's suggestion to relocate #Gaza's population abroad sparked strong opposition from regional leaders and international allies on Tuesday.
https://today.rtl.lu/news/world/a/2271727.html #Israel #GazaWar

#Netherlands - Russian oligarchs exploit loophole in Dutch laws to shield finances

> Russian oligarchs are reportedly using a loophole in Dutch regulations to classify their mailbox companies as microbusinesses, allowing them to obscure financial flows and avoid stringent reporting requirements, despite the companies often being worth millions of euros, as reported by NOS.
https://nltimes.nl/2025/01/28/russian-oligarchs-exploit-loophole-dutch-laws-shield-finances #Russia #UkraineWar

President #DonaldTrump on Friday used his executive authority to restore U.S. participation in two international anti-abortion pacts, including one that cuts off U.S. family planning funds for foreign organizations if they provide or promote abortions.

> [..] abortion rights advocates contend the rule disrupts other forms of healthcare access and blocks nongovernmental organizations abroad from receiving #US funds, even if they use their own money on #abortion care.
https://www.news18.com/world/trump-uses-executive-power-to-restore-anti-abortion-pacts-9202425.html

#Canada - #Podcast - A radical plan to fight U.S. tariffs and build an export industry jailbreaking consumer products from #iPhones to tractors
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-14-day-6/clip/16123612-a-radical-plan-fight-u.s.-tariffs-build-export #DonaldTrump #antitarrifs #MAGA #Apple #ElonMusk #oligarchs #oligarchy

Federal prosecutors dropped their charges against a Dallas surgeon accused of leaking the records of underage patients’ gender transition-related care in what some #conservative activists are calling a win for anti-transgender activism.

> The request for dismissal, submitted by #JenniferLowery [..] did not specify why the four counts of wrongful disclosure of individually identifiable health information against Dr. #EithanHaim were dropped. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/24/transgender-care-data-leak-texas-childrens-hospital/ #Texas #MAGA #LGBTQ

#DonaldTrump goes live tonight at Davos, first international address after his White House comeback

> Donald Trump on Thursday will star in an eagerly-anticipated online appearance at the World Economic Forum in #Davos, addressing global elites [..] Trump’s name has come up in almost every conversation in the Swiss Alpine village this week: [..] He enjoys being a provocateur, and many people at Davos are bored in their life." https://www.firstpost.com/world/donald-trump-goes-live-tonight-at-davos-first-international-address-after-his-white-house-comeback-13855660.html #Switzerland #WEF

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A look at world's largest electricity producers and how much is from renewables

> A report out Thursday said a record 47% of the European Union’s electricity came from renewable sources in 2024, and experts called it a promising sign for the world’s ability to transition away from fossil fuels that are driving climate change. https://apnews.com/article/climate-renewable-energy-electricity-european-union-us-china-5a681606856e7b23f669a519fdc70ee2 #ClimateChange #FossilFuels #US #GlobalWarming #EU #China #Canada #Brazil #Korea #Renewables #CleanEnergy

Trump's embrace of meme coin sours mood in crypto industry

> President #DonaldTrump’s goodwill in the #cryptocurrency industry has taken a hit after he and his wife launched meme coins — a move critics say looks like an unseemly cash grab https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/trumps-embrace-meme-coin-sours-mood-crypto-industry-117959175 #crypto

Indonesia holds firm on iPhone 16 ban despite Apple’s $1B investment offer

> The tech giant proposed constructing a factory to produce accessories instead of components for mobile phone.
https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/indonesian/iphone-ban-01092025153427.html #Iphone #Apple #Indonesia #SouthEastAsia #TootSEA #ExpatAsia

After a weeks-long confrontation, South Korea’s impeached president Yoon is detained

> South Korean police detained impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol at his residence in Seoul on Wednesday local time,
https://abcnews.go.com/International/impeached-south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeol-arrested/story?id=117682572 #Korea #ROK

Nawaf Salam named as Lebanon’s new prime minister

> Nawaf Salam, president of the International Court of Justice, has secured the support of a majority of Lebanon’s MPs to become the country’s next prime minister, dealing another blow to Hizbollah after its devastating war with Israel.

> The Iran-backed militant group and its allies had been pushing for caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to continue in the post,
https://www.ft.com/content/79670dbc-2db6-4bea-99a8-89e5d6566917?accessToken=zwAAAZT7GSiikc95Zw28LbZL6tOZqInl1lZpFwE.MEYCIQDkcloCIeaNwNn0U_elAig6s5oljrCvBM9ErR1H_z8u4gIhALT1F-LOirale8-BtwagJH8ojYy_DyQZOqaotmEDfVln&segmentId=7d4bcc2e-e664-92ba-62e3-5590579f1902
#Lebanon #NawafSalam #Hizbollah #Iran

China discussing using Elon Musk as broker in TikTok deal

> Officials in Beijing are discussing using #ElonMusk as a broker in a potential sale of #TikTok’s US operations, days before the Chinese-owned social media app faces a ban from Washington, according to two people familiar with the talks.

> The bill passed by Congress in April, which requires TikTok’s Beijing-based parent #ByteDance to sell its stake in the app or face a ban

https://www.ft.com/content/cee84b1a-6b55-42a8-abf9-19f9a80e04a6?accessToken=zwAAAZUABXb4ktOh0DK2-RtGX9Oz-ptGrgcv5dPO6Esaa1VCqNOr-Rn5qA4EpgE.MEQCIHCfnKlv3Q0vJC49-bzyQAzOVEB7jVjkkdCPL9f26W_eAiBgg1fDg0ORTtmY6s652qlEC7ECeAxzNr_miu4k8BLMGA&segmentId=7d4bcc2e-e664-92ba-62e3-5590579f1902 #China #US #socialmedia

Syrian foreign minister to visit Qatar, UAE and Jordan

> The top diplomat in Syria’s new leadership said Friday he will make official visits to Qatar, the UAE and Jordan this week, having just been in Saudi Arabia on his first trip in office.

> The new government is eager for foreign investment to help rebuild...
https://www.arabnews.com/node/2585174/middle-east #Syria

The #Myanmar air force has bombed a fishing village in Rakhine state killing 41 civilians and wounding 52, most of them Rohingya Muslims, residents involved in rescue work said on Thursday, in an attack insurgents condemned as a war crime.

> Military planes bombed Kyauk Ni Maw village on the coast in Ramree township on Wednesday afternoon sparking huge fires that destroyed about 600 homes, residents said, sending clouds of black smoke up over the sea. https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/bengali/myanmar-junta-bombs-rohingya-muslim-village-killing-41-rescuers-say-01092025080025.html #SouthEastAsia