• Fri, March 7, 2025

by: BBC

Council's 24,000 homes plan rejected by government

Thousands of new homes in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole have been put on hold after inspectors rejected the council's Local Plan. BCP Council proposed building 24,000 homes over 15 years - about 1,

by: CNN

Syria sees worst violence since Assad's toppling with dozens killed in clashes between army and ex-regime loyalists

In the worst outbreak of unrest since Syria's transitional government took power, dozens of people have been killed or wounded in clashes between the security forces and supporters of former President Bashar al Assad this week.

by: LBC

What is a social media algorithm and why are they controversial?

Social media algorithms - or 'the algorithm' - have been controversial for years. They've become the centre of a row over the role of technology, artificial intelligence and social media in our lives.

by: Axios

Hakeem Jeffries rejects Mike Johnson's shutdown plan

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and his leadership deputies said Friday they will not lend their support to the stopgap spending bill being proposed by Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.). Why it matters: Democrats are holding out for language that will restrict President Trump and DOGE from being able to slash government programs already authorized and funded by Congress.

by: Fortune

Trump hit a law firm with an executive order severely limiting the government from working with it. The same firm represented Hillary Clinton's campaign

The dishonest and dangerous activity of the law firm Perkins Coie has affected this country for decades," the order reads, later accusing it of "undermining democratic elec

by: amNewYork

Fears of an emboldened Putin rise among New Yorkers from Ukraine and other former Soviet republics

Silent shock and audible groans ran through many Ukrainian New Yorkers last month when President Donald Trump called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "dictator." Those same reactions occurred several days later at the Oval Office when Trump and Vice President J.

by: Mediaite

Bannon Doubts Musk's DOGE Can Reach $1 Trillion 'Waste, Fraud, and Abuse' Goal, Warns Dems Will 'Use That Against' Trump

Steve Bannon called for more transparency from Elon Musk and DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency), casting doubt on them reaching a $1 trillion goal. The post Bannon Doubts Musk's DOGE Can Reach $1 Trillion 'Waste,

by: Newsweek

What We Know About the Alleged CIA Facility Briefly Revealed by DOGE

Much of the Virginia complex housing what is believed to be a CIA facility was listed as for sale by DOGE this week.

by: Time

The Historic Dangers of Politicizing Our Civil Service

Weakening the professional civil service could turn back the clock to an era when government was rife with corruption.

by: Euronews

Thousands of Slovaks protest against populist PM Robert Fico and his pro-Russian policies

Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets to take part in regular protest pro-Russian policies of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico. View on euronews

by: Yahoo

Thousands join 'Stand Up for Science' demonstrations nationwide to protest Trump administration's funding and jobs cuts

Thousands of people gathered Friday in cities across the United States to protest the Trump administration's jobs and funding cuts to science agencies and research programs. "The banning of federally funded research in my own field of climate science,

by: Forbes

Trump Denies Blowup Between Musk And Rubio: 'No Clash'

A report by The New York Times said Musk and Rubio lobbied insults at each other during a cabinet meeting with other members Thursday.

by: KTVZ

Back and forth: ODOT crews spent nearly half a million dollars on Bend right-of-way homeless camp cleanups last year

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- It seems to be a back-and-forth game for ODOT crews and the homeless, one that costs $440,000 a year. KTVZ News has reported about ODOT right-of-way cleanups around the city for years. You'll see crews up and down Highway 97 in Bend, including Revere Avenue, Truman Avenue and Reed Market Road.

by: Snopes

Republicans claim government spent millions on 'transgender mice.' Here's the truth

The conservative-led nonprofit White Coat Waste claims the government spent $250 million on "transgender animal experiments."

by: MSN

Trump insists there was 'no clash' between Elon Musk and Marco Rubio over DOGE cuts

President Donald Trump denied reports of a clash between Elon Musk and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over sweeping government cuts during a Cabinet meeting Thursday at the White House, insisting to reporters they get along "fantastically well.

by: Snopes

Analyzing claim Trump confused 'transgenic mice' with 'transgender mice' in address to Congress

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's address to Congress on Mar. 4, 2025, a rumor circulated online that he misspoke when he said the government used taxpayer money to fund research on "making mice transgender.

by: Newsweek

Elon Musk's DOGE Tried to Fire Air Traffic Controllers: Report

The exchange reportedly occurred when Trump called his cabinet into the Oval Office to clarify the scope of Musk's authority.

by: Forbes

Tesla Stock Is Down As Musk's DOGE Role Changes Some Buyers' Minds

Tesla stock is down 46% below its December 2024 high, notes CNBC, a $677 billion loss in market value. Last year Tesla shipments fell as Musk's DOGE work hurts the brand.

by: MSN

Trump demands Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow resign over teen cancer survivor comments

President Donald Trump called for MSNBC hosts Nicolle Wallace and Rachel Maddow to resign after they criticized his decision to make a 13-year-old cancer survivor an honorary Secret Service agent. The president also took the opportunity to bash the network ...

by: Newsweek

Medicaid Important to Nearly Half of Trump Voters and Their Families: Poll

In a new report from health policy research firm KFF, 42 percent of all 2024 Trump voters said Medicaid is important to them and their families. Four experts talked with Newsweek

by: Newsweek

Map Shows Canada's Rare Earth Treasure Trove as Tariff War Escalates

As the trade conflict intensifies, attention has turned to Canada's vast reserves of critical minerals and rare earth elements.
  • Sat, March 8, 2025

by: Deadline

Donald Trump Appoints Fox News' Maria Bartiromo And Laura Ingraham To Kennedy Center Board

Donald Trump said that has appointed Fox News' Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo to the board of the Kennedy Center, filling out the board with more of his supporters. Trump wrote on Truth Social, "I am thrilled to announce that Laura Ingraham and Maria Bartiromo will be joining our Kennedy Center Board - This completes

by: Newsday

As Trump pushes limits of power, courts and lawmakers increase pushback

As the Trump administration enters its eighth week, the president and Musk have begun to encounter increased pushback in the courts and in Congress, prompting the president to post on social media that Musk should step back and allow cabinet secretaries to carry out the task of downsizing their departments and agencies.

by: Fortune

Jerome Powell says the 'net effect' of the Trump administration's policies on trade, immigration, fiscal policy, and regulation will determine interest rates in the future

The Fed chair reassured an audience at the University of Chicago the economy was in a "good place" despite "elevated uncertainty."

by: Benzinga

Elon Musk, Marco Rubio Clash In Heated White House Meeting In First Signs Of Tensions In Trump's Cabinet: Report

In a dramatic turn of events at the White House, Elon Musk and Marco Rubio reportedly engaged in a heated debate during a meeting with President Donald Trump and other officials. The confrontation centered around Musk's aggressive cost-cutting strategies and Rubio's staffing decisions.

by: BBC

Starmer praised for statesman role abroad but can he fix problems at home?

In around a fortnight Rachel Reeves will be on her feet in Parliament, probably announcing cuts to public spending running to billions. Government sources point to some better statistics on wages, and cuts to interest rates, but Reeves is under enormous pressure to explain how the economy is going to escape the doldrums its been stuck in for ages.

by: Slate

What's the Deal With Amy Coney Barrett Lately?

Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily.

by: dw

South Korea's impeached Yoon Suk Yeol released from prison

Seoul's Central District Court canceled Yoon's arrest warrant on Friday, citing the timing of his indictment and "questions about the legality" of the investigation.

by: Wired

What's Driving Tesla's Woes?

As Tesla faces a global sales slump, and with shares down for the seventh consecutive week, could Elon Musk's antics really be to blame?

by: KUTV

Utah Legislature wraps up after bills on taxes, nuclear power, flags, labor law

The Utah Legislature stopped collective bargaining for public workers, added to its string of yearly tax cuts, put restrictions on Pride Flags at government bui

by: CNN

Political advertising's new rising star: Trump's cost-cutter in chief Elon Musk

Elon Musk is emerging as a new star in Democratic ads and fundraising appeals, as politicians from Virginia to Wisconsin try to seize on the tech billionaire's role in slashing the federal government to motivate their voters and donors.

by: NDTV

'People Of Pak-Occupied Kashmir Will Push For Joining India': Rajnath Singh

Predicting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's (PoK) assimilation into India in the near future, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday batted strongly for healthy relations with neighbours like Bangladesh.

by: Alternet

Congressman can't name specific 'waste, fraud and abuse' and admits DOGE is making 'mistakes'

South Dakota's lone congressman defended some of the Trump administration's mass firings and funding freezes as needed "disruptions" while acknowledging "there are methods that can be improved." South Dakota Searchlight interviewed U.

by: WLRN

DOGE's effort to slash government is now coming for buildings and people who run them

by: Euronews

Preliminary talks conclude on new coalition government for Germany

According to Friedrich Merz, his conservative CDU/CSU bloc and the Social Democratic Party leaders agreed on common principles on migration and the economy. View on euronews

by: CNN

Who will replace Justin Trudeau as Canada's Liberal Party leader? Here's what you need to know

Frontrunners include Chrystia Freeland and Mark Carney, who are making the case they can guide Canada through domestic and international issues. At the top of the list: mounting trade tensions with the United States.

by: dw

Germany: CDU/CSU alliance and SPD finish preliminary talks

Election winner Friedrich Merz's conservatives and the Social Democrats (SPD) have taken a major step toward forming a coalition government, the heads of the parties said.

by: Bloomberg

House unveils bill to avert government shutdown, daring Democrats to vote against it

Speaker Mike Johnson will attempt to hold the fractious Republican majority together and muscle the 100-page bill through the House on Tuesday.

by: Bloomberg

House unveils Trump-backed bill to avert government shutdown

Speaker Mike Johnson will attempt to hold the fractious Republican majority together and muscle the 100-page bill through the House on Tuesday.

by: MSN

Large majority of Canadians reject Trump's annexation overtures, poll suggests

A new poll suggests few Canadians are open to President Donald Trump's repeated pitches for Canada to become a U.S. state, though interest in it rises among Conservative supporters and those living in Alberta.

by: Reuters

Columbia University promises to address Trump administration's concerns after $400 million in funding pulled

Columbia University's interim president said the school is working to address the "legitimate concerns" of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration after $400 million of federal government grants and contracts to the university were canceled over allegations of antisemitism on campus.

by: CNN

Trump's week of whiplash rattles markets, allies and his own administration

Unpredictability has long been one of President Donald Trump's strongest assets. The uncertainty that follows is one of his most confounding.

by: Reuters

Trump's orders targeting law firms raise constitutional concerns, experts say

President Donald Trump's executive orders terminating security clearances and taking other actions against two prominent law firms may violate constitutional protections and represent exceptional acts of retribution against lawyers who have crossed him in the past,

by: MSN

As Trump Threatens Russia, Putin Says Yes For Ukraine Peace Talks, But Shocks Trump With This Demand

Steve Smith announces retirement from ODIs after Australia's Champions Trophy exit.

by: MSN

CS Mbadi, Wandayi and Oparanya Fire Govt Officials; Make New Appointments

John Mbadi, Co-operatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development CS Wycliffe Oparanya, and Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi have revoked appointments of several board officials. Mbadi, in gazette notice dated March 7,

by: Reuters

US, French top diplomats hold call about ending Ukraine war, State Dept says

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a call with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot about "bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war," the State Department said on Friday.

by: Newsweek

Rick Scott Issues Social Security Warning: 'Have To Get Something Done'

Republican Florida Senator Rick Scott has issued a warning on the solvency of Social Security and other programs, saying that Congress is going to have "to do this" in a discussion on overall government spending cuts and adding that he is "optimistic" about getting things done.

by: MSN

Former Gachagua Aide Martha Miano Lands New Job in Ruto's Government

Martha Wanjiru Miano, the former Director of Communications in the office of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, has secured a new position just days after being appointed to the Board of Directors of the Micro and Small Enterprise Authority.

What is a social media algorithm and why are they controversial?

Social media algorithms - or 'the algorithm' - have been controversial for years. They've become the centre of a row over the role of technology, artificial intelligence and social media in our lives.
The article from LBC explains the role and impact of algorithms in social media. Algorithms are essentially sets of rules or instructions that social media platforms use to decide what content users see in their feeds. These algorithms analyze user behavior, such as likes, shares, comments, and time spent on posts, to tailor content that aligns with individual interests, aiming to increase user engagement. The article discusses how these algorithms can create echo chambers, where users are predominantly exposed to similar viewpoints, potentially leading to polarization. It also touches on the ethical concerns, including privacy issues and the manipulation of information, as well as the business model behind these algorithms which focuses on keeping users online longer to serve more ads. The piece highlights the complexity of these systems, which are often opaque to the public, and the ongoing debate about regulation and transparency in how social media companies manage content distribution.

Read the Full LBC Article at:
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/explained/what-is-algorithm-social-media/