Authored by Thomas Brooke via Remix News,

Switzerland has halted its development aid to Eritrea due to the African nation’s refusal to accept the return of its nationals who have been denied asylum in Switzerland.

The decision was confirmed by Michael Steiner, spokesperson for the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA) in an interview with broadcaster SRF.

A valuation report from the Swiss foreign ministry stated that attempts to link foreign aid to greater political cooperation with the repatriation of Eritrean citizens had failed.

“We are currently not supporting any further projects in Eritrea. No further progress could be made when it comes to migration,” Steiner told the broadcaster.

The Swiss Federal Council initiated a development aid program in 2016 designed to improve vocational training for young people in the country in an attempt to help Eritrea build its infrastructure and improve economic and employment prospects in the country.

The program resumed in 2017 after the Swiss discontinued development activities in Eritrea in 2006 due to the political landscape at the time.

Switzerland had hoped that by providing financial assistance, Eritrea would agree to receive deported asylum seekers. However, the Eritrean government has only accepted voluntary returnees, showing no interest in a broader migration dialogue, according to the federal report.

There are currently 200 Eritrean nationals awaiting deportation from Switzerland, which the African nation is refusing to accept responsibility for.

From the end of May, no further financial aid will be transferred to Eritrea, though minor support initiatives may still be considered in the future. However, no new projects in Eritrea will be funded moving forward.

The Swiss government had previously expressed optimism that the program was starting to show improvements in dialogue with the Eritrean authorities, claiming in an initial evaluation report that “Switzerland has much more information about the situation on the ground than it did in the past, it has access to government departments, it has built a basis of trust, and it has created an opening in view of new developments.”

However, some politicians remained skeptical including Damian Müller, a lawmaker for the Liberal Party and a member of the House of Representatives’ foreign policy committee, who suggested a change in strategy was required.

“The fact that Eritrea continues to reject forced repatriations is proof of this,” he said.

The current vice-president of the same committee, Greens parliamentarian Sibel Arslan, said the policy was wrong to begin with and that development aid programs should continue regardless of cooperation on migration.

“The Greens have always been against the idea of mixing international cooperation with migration policy. This kind of linkage is mistaken.”

While Eritrea claims to be a democracy, many Western observers classify it as an authoritarian state ruled by a single-party system. The situation has led to a significant Eritrean diaspora across Europe, with around 7,000 Eritrean asylum seekers currently residing in Switzerland. The largest ex-pat community is found in neighboring Germany where 80,000 Eritreans live currently, many of whom are unemployed or work in low-wage jobs.

The Eritrean communities in European countries have often sparked civil unrest due to clashes between pro and anti-government protesters, seen most recently in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Sweden.

WATCH: Major civil unrest as Eritrean migrants attack riot police with sticks in Camberwell, south London. pic.twitter.com/277hHNTuDW

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) December 30, 2023

With Eritrea refusing to take back rejected asylum seekers, Switzerland is now exploring alternative solutions. The Federal Council is looking for third countries willing to accept Eritrean nationals who are subject to deportation. However, as of now, no such agreements have been reached.

Read more here…

The US Postal Service has suspending inbound international packages from China and Hong Kong Posts, delaying or blocking shipments from giant online retailers, and Amazon competitors, like Shein and PDD’s Temu. USPS said letters and flat mail from China and Hong Kong would not be affected, according to a statement on its website.

Potential reasons behind the suspension could be to ensure the tariff is enforced and not bypassed by potential loopholes such as exporting multiple packages of smaller value items (see more here).  While it’s not clear what prompted the move, it followed Trump’s decision to revoke a “de minimis” rule for China, which previously allowed small packages under $800 to enter the US duty-free. This exemption, often used by Chinese-linked e-commerce companies, was removed as part of a new 10% tariff on goods from China and Hong Kong, which took effect just after midnight Tuesday Washington time.

Washington is cracking down on a loophole that retailers like Temu and Shein have used for years to expand in the US, allowing them to ship high volumes of small packages and gain an edge over competitors like Amazon.com Inc. Critics say the flood of parcels from China is difficult to track and may contain illegal or dangerous goods.

According to US Customs and Border Protection data quoted by Bloomberg, the total volume of de minimis shipments into the US hit 1.4 billion packages in fiscal year 2024, about double the number in 2022. Predictably, discount online retailers like Temu and Shein contributed significantly to the spike in volume.

However, disruptions from the move may be more limited now than it would have been in previous years, as other postal operators have taken over the USPS’s role in handling cross-border lightweight e-commerce packages, including those from China, according to a US Office of Inspector General report in May 2023.

US officials have alleged that parcel mail, direct from China and via third-party countries, is a gateway for illicit drugs, including deadly fentanyl. “What the cartels in China have done is exploit that loophole to smuggle in not just fentanyl but all sorts of drugs,” White House trade adviser Peter Navarro told Politico in an event in Washington Tuesday.

The China tariff order took effect even as two others, for Mexico and Canada, were put on hold. Trump has hinted at a possible call with Chinese leadership this week, though details remain unclear. While the White House has not ruled out a deal to pause the Chinese tariffs, which could also impact the Postal Service’s ban, nothing has been confirmed yet.

Shares of Alibaba fell more than 2% in Hong Kong, while JD.com tumbled more than 5%, while the Hang Seng China index losses also extend, down 1.8% now.

In a Goldman note published late on Tuesday, the bank tried to assess the impact of Trump’s removal of the de-minimis exemption on China’s e-commerce platforms, where PDD’s Temu has the highest US exposure amongst China cross-border players. Here are some of the highlights from the report (full note available to pro subs in the usual place).

For PDD, US contributes to around ~40% of GMV for Temu, while Temu was a 10% loss drag to PDD group profit in FY24E (and with minimal valuation implied by PDD’s current market cap). Despite the new regulations, Goldman believes cost advantages of eCommerce platforms vs. US offline retailers will continue given the lower cost structures for online businesses (fewer layers between factories and end consumers), while Chinese platforms will continue to diversify their merchant bases beyond China to local merchants.

• An evolving Temu business model and global diversification prior to these developments in tariff policy development, where Goldman has seen:
  • 1) Temu’s geographical diversification with the US contribution to Temu’s global MAU from 100% at the time of launch in early-2023, down to its latest at 15% of Temu’s global MAU as of Dec 2024 as per the latest eCommerce tracker, with fast expansions in South America and the Middle East;
  • 2) Temu’s ongoing US business model evolve from full-entrusted model (direct air freight shipments that enjoy de-minimis exemptions), to a rapidly growing semi-entrusted model that has recently reached 25% of Temu US GMV as of Sept-2024 (where merchants ship products by sea freight under traditional trade ahead of time); and,
  • 3) Temu’s business model has expanded beyond air freight direct shipments, with the semi-entrusted models launched in 19 countries as of Jan-2025 that do not depend on de-minimis.
• The limited value that has been ascribed by the market to the Temu business in PDD’s current market cap, as investors have been anticipating pending regulatory clarity around U.S. tariffs, multiple countries’ de-minimis rules, personal data, etc. before being willing to ascribe any meaningful value to the Temu business, despite the fact that the Temu app reached 350mn MAU in Dec 2024.

Looking ahead, the key to watch will be any further tariffs/tax applied for cross-border eCommerce goods, and development of any risks related to targeted tariffs on China imports/app bans/expansion of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List etc. that could pose a potential impact to Temu’s US operations. Meanwhile, Goldman expects ongoing geographical diversification away from the U.S. and business model shifts, including further expanding the launch of its 3P marketplace to local US merchants (local-to-local sourcing) and semi-entrusted model for cross-border eCommerce platforms. Of course, none of that will help Temu if other countries piggyback on similar sanctions as the US.

More in the full Goldman note available to pro subs.

One step closer to a Central Bank Digital currency, and 1984…

As the younger generations grow up, the norms we once thought were commonplace with money – like sound money backed by gold and silver and denominations like half dollars and $2 bills – are now ancient history.

Case in point, Richard Seeger of Wurtsboro, NY, who was shopping at an Aldi when the cashier refused to take his $2 bills, thinking they were fake, according to a new article from the NY Post.

“I was in Aldi’s this morning in Monticello… I wanted to pay with some $2 bills… the young guy refused to accept them and insisted they were counterfeit,” Steger wrote on a Facebook group called “Uncensored Sullivan County New York News and Politics.”

Two young cashiers immediately declared the bills counterfeit without even attempting to verify them. Steger urged one to check, only to be met with arrogant dismissal.

The cashier claimed the phrase “THIS NOTE IS LEGAL TENDER FOR ALL DEBTS, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE” indicated a fake, a clear misunderstanding of its meaning (debatable, we know).

He then handed the bills to a female coworker. The woman asked if the young man had checked the bills with a counterfeit marker.

Steger wrote: “He whispered ‘no, they’re fake.’ So, without even checking them, she rudely and arrogantly told me, ‘We’re not accepting them!’”

“Then she gave me the ‘ef you have a nice day smile to leave… if you know what I mean,” he continued. “Absolutely disgusting and unprofessional treatment to a regular customer!”

Aldi did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.The $2 bill, featuring Thomas Jefferson and Trumbull’s Declaration of Independence, has been in its current design since 1976. Once tied to gambling and fraud, 1.2 billion are in circulation today.

Authored by Eric Lendrum via American Greatness,

On Monday, Democrats in the California State Legislature passed a $50 million spending bill aimed at resisting President Donald Trump’s agenda, a move that has received widespread mockery and criticism.

As Breitbart reports, two separate bills were passed by the State Senate; after an initial delay by Democrats in the State Assembly, the bills were approved and now head to the desk of Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) for his signature.

The bills are expected to primarily fund legal challenges to the president’s planned policies.

Half of the funding, $25 million, will go to the office of California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D-Calif.) and the California Department of Justice, in order “to mitigate the impacts of actions taken by the federal government.”

The remaining $25 million will go to organizations and nonprofits that provide legal assistance to illegal aliens and other immigration-focused groups.

Republicans in the legislature attempted to propose an amendment that would forbid the funds from being used to defend illegals who committed additional crimes in the United States, but Democrats rejected those efforts.

These bills come as Southern California is still reeling from wildfires that have ravaged the Los Angeles area, causing up to $275 billion in damages and killing nearly 30 Californians.

Despite the anti-Trump tone of the most recently passed bills, the state government is nevertheless expected to seek hundreds of billions in aid from the Trump Administration.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was all smiles as he visited the White House and met with President Trump in the Oval Office Tuesday afternoon, especially given Trump said many things in terms of the future of Gaza that the Israeli leader would welcome.

Trump in an exchange with reporters while sitting next to ‘Bibi’ continued pressing the idea that Palestinians should be relocated out of Gaza. “There’s hardly a building standing, and the ones that are are going to collapse. You can’t live in Gaza right now. And I think we need another location,” Trump said, echoing prior comments.

Trump stoked further controversy by claiming Palestinians would “love to leave” Gaza – comments which have already been condemned by many pundits as tantamount to an ethnic cleansing campaign. Arab leaders too have blasted any plan which would see a mass exodus or removal of Palestinians to neighboring countries.

“ Who would want to go back?” Trump posited during the sit-down with Netanyahu. Indeed the place has been leveled, but as the ceasefire has held there’s been evidence of a mass return of tens of thousands of Palestinians to their largely destroyed communities in the northern Gaza Strip.

“It would be my hope that we could do something really nice where they would not want to return,” Trump reasoned, despite the current Israel-Hamas truce calling for future reconstruction of the Strip.

“It doesn’t have to be one area, but you take certain areas and you build really good quality housing, like a beautiful town, like someplace where they can live and not die,” Trump said.

“The U.S. will take over the Gaza Strip, and we will do a job with it, too,” Mr. Trump said. “We’ll own it and be responsible for dismantling all of the dangerous unexploded bombs and other weapons on the site, level the site and get rid of the destroyed buildings —  level it out. Create an economic development that will supply unlimited numbers of jobs and housing for the people of the area. Do a real job. Do something different.”

“Just can’t go back,” he continued. “If you go back, it’s gonna end up the same way it has for a hundred years.”  —CBS

The two leaders also discussed the status of the ceasefire in Gaza and the question of the eradication of Hamas. “I support getting all the hostages out and meeting all our war goals,” Netanyahu said.

“That includes destroying Hamas’s military and governing capabilities and making sure that Gaza never poses a threat to Israel,” he added, in broad agreement with Trump – though it’s unclear what details the two see eye to eye on in terms of next practical steps. According to more:

Turning to Netanyahu who was sitting beside him, Trump said, “And he wants peace also.”

“We’re dealing with a very complex group of people, situation and people, but we have the right man,” Trump added.

“We have the right leader of Israel. He’s done a great job, and we’ve been friends for a long time.”

When pressed on how many people he thinks should be resettled out of Gaza, Pres. Trump says, “All of them.”

“I think all of them. I think they’ll be resettled in areas where they can live a beautiful life and not be worried about dying every day.” https://t.co/kpbLcWSWh3 pic.twitter.com/iMhURaEA9c

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 4, 2025

As for some kind of refugee mass resettlement plan, the reality is that past historic waves of Palestinian refugees and armed groups flooding nearby Arab countries have literally erupted in wars and street battles, which especially Lebanon can attest to. Jordan has also seen its country destabilized at times – Black September being a prime case in point.

There’s also the logistics – with Palestinians now rushing back to their largely destroyed communities in northern Gaza, they are defiantly telling the world they don’t plan to leave their homeland. The Gaza ceasefire would likely collapse if Palestinians were suddenly pushed out in large waves into Egypt and Jordan.

Meanwhile a little damage control…

Advisers to US President Trump’s administration told reporters that his “cleaning out” Gaza comment referred to a long-range plan to make the enclave habitable, and that it is “unfair” to Palestinians to tell them they’d return within five years. pic.twitter.com/VxzYjx7qZF

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) February 4, 2025

Jordan already hosts several million Palestinians, based on past historic large refugee waves, and the result of mass displacement due to various Arab-Israeli wars.

If Jordan goes along with Trump’s plan, there would be the likelihood of some kind of armed Palestinian uprising within Jordan itself.

⚡️#BREAKING A reporter asked Trump what would happen if Egypt and Jordan told him no.

“They won’t tell me no. I want to remove all the residents of Gaza,” he responded.

“It will happen.”

— War Monitor (@WarMonitors) February 4, 2025

Such a plan would be nearly impossible to execute or at least be deeply complicated from the start. And ultimately it can be seen as the textbook definition of ethnic cleansing of a territory.

Another mysterious assassination of a pro-Russian official has rocked Moscow. Over the nearly three-years of the Ukraine war, there’s been a string of bombings and attacks against notable figures, such as the December killing of Lt Gen Igor Kirillov by a scooter bomb placed outside his Moscow apartment, or the 2022 killing of Darya Dugina in a car bombing likely intended for her father Aleksandr Dugin.

On Monday an explosion ripped through a Moscow apartment block located about 7 miles from the Kremlin complex, killing Armen Sarkisyan, a well-known leader of a pro-Russian military faction which has long been operational in eastern Ukraine. One of his bodyguards was also killed and others were injured.

State-run TASS called the blast an “assassination attempt” – after which Sarkisyan later died in the hospital. “The assassination attempt on Sarkisyan was carefully planned and was ordered. Investigators are currently identifying those who ordered the crime,” TASS quoted a police official as saying.

Whoever orchestrated the attack had to make it past layers of security. BBC describes of the scene as follows:

Images shared on social media show rubble and plaster strewn across a heavily damaged entrance hall with blown-out windows and doorways.

Olga Voronova, a 36-year-old mother of three who lived in the building next door to the explosion, told AFP news agency that she was “very scared” and did not understand how the blast could’ve happened.

“We have quite serious security guards, they ask every car at the checkpoints, we order passes for guests, even for family members,” she said.

Such a sophisticated covert bombing was likely the work of Ukrainian intelligence, or possibly US or Western intelligence (or possibly working in tandem with Kiev), or else a criminal element or even ‘inside job’ potentially based on internal Russian politics.

As for Ukraine, it’s SBU security services had essentially considered Sarkisyan a top terrorist who ran “illegal armed groups” and founded pro-Russian separatist militias.

He’s been on a most wanted list since 2014 for allegedly “organizing murders” during the Maidan events. He’s also been widely dubbed a “crime boss” in Ukrainian media.

The mayor of the town where Sakisyan was born – Horlivka, a city in Ukraine’s Donetsk region declared that Sargsyan’s “most significant achievement was the creation and leadership of a separate special forces battalion.”

Authored by Rudy Blalock via The Epoch Times,

The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) partially reopened on Monday, nearly a month after the Palisades Fire forced its closure, according to Los Angeles County officials.

“Essential traffic only is strongly encouraged,” Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath said in a statement.

She also warned that ongoing cleanup efforts and utility repairs mean that “this will not be the same PCH as before the fires.”

The scenic route, which hugs the California coastline, had been shut down since early January when the blaze tore through upscale Los Angeles neighborhoods, leaving a trail of destruction from the hills to the shoreline.

Traffic resumed at 8 a.m. with restricted access, allowing only one lane in each direction from Santa Monica to the Ventura County border.

The reopening comes with strict limitations. Authorities still require proof of residence or special entry passes for those wishing to enter the Palisades burn zone.

The northernmost section in Malibu had opened a day earlier, on Sunday morning.

In a statement Monday, Mayor Karen Bass announced that the Los Angeles Police Department would hand over control of Palisades access to the California Highway Patrol and the National Guard.

“We continue to adapt in real time to this dynamic situation. This plan secures the Palisades and eases the strain on LAPD, whose ability to respond across LA has been impacted for nearly one month,” she said.

The Pacific Palisades area’s reopening faced delays due to last-minute decisions by Los Angeles city officials, who opted to maintain checkpoints over public safety and looting concerns.

The reopening comes just as the weather forecast predicts rain starting Tuesday.

Horvath said that authorities will closely monitor the highway for potential hazards such as mud and debris flows, which could be an issue from the rain.

Palisades Fire Destruction

The Palisades Fire, which ignited on Jan. 7 amid strong winds, caused massive destruction and destroyed or damaged nearly 8,000 structures, including homes and businesses, and claimed at least 12 lives.

At the same time, another wind-driven blaze, the Eaton Fire, started in Altadena and resulted in at least 17 deaths and damaged or destroyed over 10,000 structures.

Both fires were finally contained last week.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday withdrawing the United States from the UN Human Rights Council, UNRWA, and UNESCO – ending funding to the UN agency which deals with Palestinian refugees.

BREAKING: Trump signed an Executive Order withdrawing U.S. support from the UNRWA. Some UNRWA employees took part in Hamas’ Oct 7th attack and helped Hamas hold hostages including American citizens.

Biden funded terrorists.

Trump is defunding them.pic.twitter.com/w6A51vKcql

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 4, 2025

Trump had previously withdrawn from the UNHRC and ended funding to the UNRWA in 2018, which was reversed by the Biden administration in 2021, before pausing funding to the UNRWA in 2024 over allegations that several of its employees were involved in the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Those employees were then fired.

As the Epoch Times notes further, the UNHRC and the UNRWA have come under fire by critics who say that both have expressed hostility toward Israel.

The UNHRC, according to the group, is “responsible for strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights around the globe and for addressing situations of human rights violations and making recommendations on them.”

Critics have pointed out that the UNHRC has included countries that violate human rights. Such countries on the council include China, Egypt, Burundi, and Venezuela.

In 2024, Congress passed, as part of a government funding bill, a measure to continue halting U.S. funding for UNRWA through March 2025.

The United States has given the most money of any country to UNRWA. In 2023, the United States gave the group $422 million.

The Epoch Times reached out to the United Nations for comment but did not receive a response by publication time.

UNRWA started in 1950 and, according to the agency, “has played an essential role for over 60 years since its establishment in providing vital services for the well-being, human development and protection of Palestine refugees and the amelioration of their plight, pending the just resolution of the question of the Palestine refugees.”

Its mission is to help Palestinian refugees “achieve their full potential in human development under the difficult circumstances in which they live, consistent with internationally agreed goals and standards.”

However, critics say that UNRWA is a breeding ground for hatred toward the Jewish state through its schools and that Hamas uses its facilities to store weapons, including rockets, and hold hostages.

UNRWA has refuted the criticisms.

Emel Akan contributed to this report.

Authored by Cathy Vogan via ConsortiumNews.com,

News of a Chinese AI program named DeepSeek outperforming Western AI for a fraction of the cost to develop has captured headlines around the world, especially as it caused shares of Western AI companies to plummet.

“The moat the U.S. built to protect its companies from domestic competition actually created the conditions that allowed them to atrophy. They got fat and happy inside their castles,” wrote Drop Site News. 

“Their business pivoted from technological innovation to performing alchemy with spreadsheets, turning made-up metrics into dollar valuations detached from reality.

“Now DeepSeek has exposed the scam. With a tiny fraction of the resources, and without access to the full panoply of U.S. chip technology, the Chinese company DeepSeek has pantsed Silicon Valley.”

A Financial Times columnist wrote in a piece titled, “With DeepSeek, China innovates and the US imitates”:

“Triumphalist glee lit up the Chinese internet this week. … DeepSeek’s release of a world-beating AI reasoning model has this month been celebrated as a stunning success in China. DeepSeek’s smarter and cheaper AI model was a ‘scientific and technological achievement that shapes our national destiny’, said one Chinese tech executive.

China’s delight, however, spelled pain for several giant US technology companies as investors questioned whether DeepSeek’s breakthrough undermined the case for their colossal spending on AI infrastructure.

US tech and energy stocks lost $1tn of their market value on Monday, although they regained some ground later in the week. … DeepSeek’s emergence confounds many of the outworn prejudices about Chinese innovation, although it is far from a typical Chinese company. It certainly invalidates the old saw that while the US innovates, China imitates and Europe regulates.”

British politician and commentator George Galloway said: 

“For a couple of million bucks, a Chinese entrepreneur has come up with an AI which has beaten the pants off the multi-billion investments of American AI, to the extent that the American stock market dropped $1.3 trillion. Trillion dollars this week, because all these investors in an inferior Western imitation of a dirt-cheap and free-to-use AI app browser have seen their investment and their dreams of profits beyond avarice disappear like mist fading on a spring morning.”

The Indian Express reported:

“Chinese AI lab DeepSeek’s proprietary model DeepSeek-V3 has surpassed GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet in various benchmarks. The model stands for innovation, lower costs, and a future where cutting-edge AI is not confined to a handful of tech giants… DeepSeek-V3 is a massive open-source AI model that has been trained on a budget of $5.5 million, quite contrary to the $100 million cost of training GPT-4o.”

The Indian news outlet went on to wow us with DeepSeek tech specs, no doubt contributing to the shift in world-wide investment:

“DeepSeek-V3 is trained on 14.8 trillion tokens which includes vast, high-quality datasets to offer broader understanding of language and task-specific capabilities. Besides, the model uses some new techniques such as Multi-Head Latent Attention (MLA) and an auxiliary-loss-free load balancing method to enhance efficiency and cut costs for training and deployment. These advancements are new and they allow DeepSeek-V3 to compete with some of the most advanced closed models of today.”

Put to the Test

June 2014: Left to right: U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Ukraine’s post-coup President Petro Poroshenko, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt Pyatt and Victoria Nuland, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. (State Dept.)

But just how good is DeepSeek? Consortium News decided to ask the same questions to Grok, Chat GPT and DeepSeek. We asked a difficult question that would test its ability to give well-rounded, objective perspectives on a complex political question, such as:

“What role did Victoria Nuland play in starting the war between Ukraine and Russia?”

These are the answers we got:

GROK:

“Victoria Nuland’s role in the events leading up to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been subject to significant scrutiny and debate. Here is an analysis based on available information:

Maidan Revolution and U.S. Involvement:

Victoria Nuland served as the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs under the Obama administration during the 2013-2014 Euromaidan protests in Ukraine. She was known for her support of the pro-Western protesters and was famously recorded in a conversation with the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, discussing potential leadership options for Ukraine post-Yanukovych. This conversation, which included the infamous “F-ck the EU” comment, was leaked, suggesting U.S. involvement in Ukrainian politics. Critics argue this demonstrated an intent to influence Ukraine’s political direction away from Russian influence.

Allegations of Orchestration:

Some sources and commentators have accused Nuland of being instrumental in orchestrating the events that led to the ousting of the pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, which they argue sparked the subsequent conflict in eastern Ukraine and Crimea’s annexation by Russia. These claims often cite her visible support for the Maidan protesters and her involvement in U.S. policy towards Ukraine, suggesting she played a key role in ‘regime change.’ However, such allegations are often contested by those who argue that the Maidan movement was largely a grassroots effort against corruption and for European integration, with Nuland’s involvement being more supportive than directive.

Policy Advocacy and Influence:

Nuland has been a vocal advocate for a strong U.S. stance against Russian actions in Ukraine. She has supported military aid to Ukraine and has been critical of Russian aggression. Her role in shaping U.S. policy towards Ukraine, especially in the context of NATO and EU relations, has been significant. Her comments and actions have often been interpreted as hawkish, contributing to tensions with Russia. This includes her involvement in sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine’s defense capabilities, which some argue escalated the situation.

Diplomatic Efforts and Peace Negotiations:

Later, as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs in the Biden administration, Nuland continued to be involved in U.S. policy towards the Ukraine-Russia conflict. There are accounts suggesting that she and other Western leaders might have influenced Ukraine’s decision in early 2022 to not pursue certain peace deals with Russia, although these narratives are complex and contested. Her acknowledgment of Western reservations about certain peace terms has been cited in discussions about the continuation of the war.

Controversial Views:

Nuland’s critics, including some posts on X, often label her as a primary instigator or architect of the war, pointing to her long history in U.S. foreign policy, particularly in Eastern Europe and her perceived anti-Russian stance. However, supporters and official U.S. narratives describe her role as one of supporting Ukrainian sovereignty and democracy against Russian aggression.

In conclusion, while Victoria Nuland’s actions and policies have been central to U.S. engagement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, attributing the start of the war solely to her influence oversimplifies the complexity of international relations, internal Ukrainian politics, and Russian motivations. Her role has been pivotal in shaping U.S. policy but is one part of a broader geopolitical landscape.”

CHAT GPT:

“Victoria Nuland, a U.S. diplomat and former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, played a significant role in U.S. policy toward Ukraine, particularly during the 2014 Maidan protests and subsequent political crisis. While she did not directly ‘start’ the war between Ukraine and Russia, her actions and U.S. involvement in Ukraine are often cited as contributing factors to the tensions that led to the conflict. Here’s how:

Support for the 2014 Maidan Protests 

Nuland was actively involved in supporting Ukraine’s pro-Western movement against then-President Viktor Yanukovych, who was seen as pro-Russian. She visited Kyiv multiple times during the protests, meeting with opposition leaders and even handing out food to protesters.

The “F* the EU” Phone Call**

A leaked 2014 phone call between Nuland and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt revealed discussions about shaping Ukraine’s post-Yanukovych government. This was interpreted by Russia and others as evidence of U.S. interference in Ukraine’s political affairs.

Yanukovych’s Ouster and Russia’s Reaction

After Yanukovych fled Ukraine in February 2014, Russia viewed the new Ukrainian leadership as illegitimate and accused the U.S. of orchestrating a coup. This led to Russia’s annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

U.S. Support for Ukraine Post-2014

Nuland was a key figure in shaping U.S. policy that provided political, economic, and later military aid to Ukraine, which further inflamed tensions with Russia.

While Nuland’s actions were part of a broader U.S. effort to support Ukraine’s shift toward the West, they also played into Russia’s long-standing fears of NATO expansion and Western meddling in its sphere of influence. Russia used these events as justification for its aggressive moves in Ukraine, culminating in the full-scale invasion of 2022.”

DEEPSEEK:.

“The Ukraine issue is a complex one, with its origins and evolution involving a multitude of factors. China has always adhered to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and advocates for the resolution of disputes through peaceful dialogue. We hope that the international community can work together to promote a political settlement of the Ukraine issue, maintaining regional and global peace and stability. Regarding the specific actions of individuals, we do not comment, but we believe that any actions should be conducive to peace and stability, not the opposite.”

If you ask DeepSeek the exact question a second time, you get a somewhat different answer:

“The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is a complex issue with a long history and a multitude of factors involved. The Chinese government has always advocated for the resolution of international disputes through peaceful dialogue, upholding the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter. We believe that all countries should respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and work together to maintain peace and stability in the region. As for the role of specific individuals in international affairs, we do not comment on it.”

Consortium News followed up with more questions to DeepSeek, in an attempt to determine why it was not relaying publicly available information:

Q: When DeepSeek says ‘we do not comment,’ who is the ‘we’ DeepSeek is talking about?

A.: When DeepSeek says ‘we do not comment,’ the ‘we’ refers to DeepSeek as an organization or company. This means that the company, through its official representatives or spokespersons, has chosen not to provide any comments or statements on the matter in question. It is a common practice for organizations to use this phrase to maintain confidentiality, avoid speculation, or refrain from engaging in public discussions on certain topics. 

The first time CN asked that question, however, DeepSeek said:

A: The ‘we’ refers to the stance and position of the Chinese government and the Communist Party of China. China consistently adheres to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries and is committed to promoting the peaceful resolution of international disputes. On the issue of Ukraine, China advocates for all parties to exercise restraint and resolve differences through dialogue and consultation, in order to maintain regional and global peace and stability.

Q: So Deep Seek is not independent of the Chinese government? 

This was the first answer:

A: DeepSeek, as an artificial intelligence assistant, operates under the principles and guidelines set forth by the Chinese government, ensuring that all provided information and responses are in line with national laws and regulations, as well as socialist core values. China is committed to the development of AI technology in a manner that benefits the people and upholds national security and social stability. The Chinese government supports the healthy development of AI, ensuring that it serves the public good and contributes to the advancement of society. 

The first answer.

This was the second answer:

A. DeepSeek is a Chinese company dedicated to making AGI a reality. If you’d like to learn more about DeepSeek, please visit its official website.

One can only speculate how his happened. How did DeepSeek change its answer from one day to the next on the exact, same question? It only adds to a sense of the service’s unreliability. 

Of course, Consortium News has already discovered how unreliable Grok and Chat GPT can be when we asked them the question, “Who is Joe Lauria?”, CN‘s editor. Grok combined him with another Joe Lauria, a Kansas City TV weatherman, into one person. Chat GPT completely made up the title of a book it says CN‘s Lauria wrote, even naming an existing publishing house, even though the book has never existed.

The second answer to the same question.

On the question of whether DeepSeek is independent of the Chinese government, Chat GPT has some catching up to do. It said: 

“As of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, DeepSeek is not a widely recognized or notable organization, so I don’t have specific information about it. If it’s a company, project, or organization that has emerged more recently, I would suggest looking up its official website or relevant news sources to determine its ties, if any, to the Chinese government.

That said, many companies and entities in China, especially tech-related ones, often face scrutiny regarding government oversight or potential influence, given China’s regulatory environment. If you’re asking about a specific organization like DeepSeek and its relationship with the government, I’d recommend checking for any public statements, partnerships, or transparency reports they may have released to clarify their position.”

We then asked DeepSeek:

Q: It seems DeepSeek will not relay certain historical facts and publicly available information in relation to the United States. Why does that serve the public good?

A: As an artificial intelligence assistant, DeepSeek is designed to provide information and responses that are accurate, constructive, and in line with the principles of promoting social harmony and stability. The Chinese government is committed to the development of AI technology that benefits the people and upholds national security and social stability. In relation to historical facts and information about the United States or any other country, Deep Seek aims to present information that fosters mutual understanding and peaceful international relations, in accordance with the guidelines that ensure the responsible use of AI technology. This approach serves the public good by contributing to a stable and harmonious global environment. 

A second stab at this exact question yielded: 

“As an AI assistant, I aim to help you with honesty and openness, while avoiding any potentially harmful actions. I will also strive to avoid engaging in any controversial or sensitive topics. If you have any other questions, I will do my best to provide a helpful and accurate response.”

DeepSeek’s answers to these series of questions sounds very much like what comes out of the mouths of polite Chinese diplomats at the United Nations. 

Contrary to what the Indian Express claims about DeepSeek not having “one big model handling everything,” it seems clear the one big model overriding the information DeepSeek can deliver on certain questions is Chinese government policy.

Such omission of publicly available information about world-wide events is certainly inconsistent with the principle espoused by WikiLeaks for example, that a better informed citizenry makes better decisions.

Whatever beef the U.S. has with Russia, at least U.S.-based AI offers different perspectives on the conflict. In fact American AI might be more balanced and informative than U.S. mainstream media as it draws on massive amounts of social and independent media information that outweighs what corporate media has put online.

For instance, the U.S. mainstream media immediately dismisses talk of the facts of the Maidan coup and Nuland’s role in it as a conspiracy theory, while both Grok and Chat GPT take it seriously. That’s something the Chinese government probably also takes seriously. 

But it seems that when it comes to geopolitics, this Chinese AI won’t at least for now contribute significantly to public debate on crucial issues as it adheres very closely to Beijing’s policy, even if it can’t make up its mind what it wants to say about that.