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AI’s everywhere: criminals weaponize it, chatbots monetize it, privacy erodes—while governments juggle Russia sanctions, grid failures, and pay-gap slog amid Alberta separatist dollar dreams, a Green Capital win, and sports shake-ups
Alberta separatists flirt with Washington, and the U.S. dollar
Alberta’s prosperity is reportedly powering a sovereigntist mood, with Alberta Prosperity Project figures said to be quietly meeting in Washington to float ideas like adopting the U.S. dollar and even forming an independent military. A poll pegs separation support or leaners at 29 percent, not a majority, but enough for politicians to start auditioning for the role of “misunderstood petro-prince.” Critics say the movement blames Ottawa for everything while glossing over Alberta’s own boom-and-bust choices, like low taxes, modest royalties, thin savings, and underinvestment in services.
UK pushes coordinated action on Russia after Navalny poisoning
Britain’s foreign secretary, Cooper, says the UK will keep working with partners on responses to Russia following the poisoning of Alexei Navalny, with tougher sanctions on the table. The vibe is “collective action,” because nothing scares a Kremlin hardliner like a well-organized spreadsheet of penalties.
Guimarães named 2026 European Green Capital
Guimarães in northern Portugal will spend 2026 running a year-long program spotlighting green spaces and sustainability-focused activities. In a world where many leaders treat “environment” like a garnish, a city doing the whole meal is a pleasantly rare concept.
South Africa’s power-cut fix, Ramaphosa intervenes as grid reforms stall
President Cyril Ramaphosa says Eskom’s transmission assets will move into the National Transmission Company of South Africa once it is fully independent, a pivot after a December 2025 plan to keep it as an Eskom subsidiary. Reform advocates argue an independent grid is crucial for competition and investment, while Eskom warns shifting assets could spook lenders given its heavy debt. A three-month task team is meant to resolve the restructuring fight, which is political-speak for “please stop screaming long enough to keep the lights on.”
Ads and sponsored content creep into AI chatbots, privacy worries rise
Advertising is being introduced into AI chatbots, raising privacy concerns and forcing brands to race for visibility in yet another shifting online ecosystem. Because apparently the one thing humans demanded from conversational AI was “make it more like a billboard, but personal.”
Interpol warns criminals are using AI to level up phishing and deepfakes
Interpol’s cybercrime teams in Singapore are adapting as criminals use AI to sharpen phishing and produce more convincing deepfake videos. It is the classic cat-and-mouse game, except the mouse now has a film studio, a voice actor, and a decent prompt engineer.
Nottingham Forest hire Vitor Pereira, their fourth manager this season
Nottingham Forest have appointed 57-year-old Vitor Pereira on an 18-month deal, making him the club’s fourth manager of the season. At this rate, Forest’s most consistent performer is the contract printer.
Jack Draper debuts buzz cut while rehabbing injuries
British tennis player Jack Draper showed off a close-cropped buzz cut on Instagram as he works back from injuries that have limited him for six months. The world number 12 last played in Great Britain’s 4–0 Davis Cup win over Norway, beating Viktor Durasovic in straight sets, and fans also spotted a new tattoo as he targets a full return after a strong 2025 season that included an Indian Wells title.
TUC says gender pay gap could take 30 more years to close
The UK’s Trades Union Congress warns the gender pay gap could take another 30 years to close, estimating the average woman effectively works 47 days a year unpaid compared with men. Somehow we can price derivatives in milliseconds, but equal pay remains stuck in “maybe later” mode.
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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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