JD Vance to attend AI summit in Paris, French official says
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will attend a two-day high-level summit focusing on artificial intelligence in Paris next week, his first scheduled trip abroad since taking office, a French diplomatic official said Tuesday. The AI Action Summit on Feb. 10-11 will gather heads of state and top government officials, CEOs and other actors involved in the tech sector, which has been shaken up by galloping advances. Vance has not made any official foreign trips since his inauguration last month. The White House had no immediate comment. VP VANCE CALLS ON US ‘TO DO A BETTER JOB’ WITH AVIATION SAFETY AFTER ‘INCREDIBLY HEARTBREAKING’ DC PLANE CRASH The French diplomatic official spoke on condition of anonymity as the list of top attendees has not been made official yet. China’s Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang is among those expected to attend the summit, which will be co-presided over by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The summit will take place at the Grand Palais, last year’s Olympic venue for the fencing and taekwondo competitions. A dinner with top officials and CEOs is also scheduled at the Elysee presidential palace. Vance’s trip comes after U.S. President Donald Trump last month talked up a joint venture investing up to $500 billion for infrastructure tied to artificial intelligence by a new partnership of OpenAI, Oracle and SoftBank. The new entity, Stargate, will start building data centers and the electricity generation needed for the further development of the fast-evolving AI in Texas, according to the White House. Meanwhile, Chinese AI model DeepSeek’s emergence has shaken up the tech sector, offering companies access to the technology at a fraction of the previous cost and providing the potential to push other AI companies to improve their models and bring down prices. Vance in the past has acknowledged some harmful AI applications, but said at a July Senate hearing that he worries that concern is justifying “some preemptive overregulation attempts that would frankly entrench the tech incumbents that we already have.”
House delays key vote on Trump budget bill after conservative fury over spending cuts
A key vote to advance a massive conservative policy bill has been delayed, putting House Republicans behind in their ambitious schedule to enact President Donald Trump’s agenda. The House Budget Committee had initially aimed to go through and approve the legislation this week, but a source familiar with planning told Fox News Digital that is no longer the case. It comes after conservatives on the panel rejected multiple offers by House GOP leaders on where to set a baseline for cutting federal spending, urging senior Republicans to seek deeper cuts ahead of negotiations with the Senate. “I guess they want to get the resolution out. I do, too. I want to get it out of committee, have an up or down vote. But if you set that floor too low, that’s all that’s going to be achieved,” Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., who sits on the House Budget Committee, told Fox News Digital on Monday. “I have no confidence that they would exceed whatever level we put in there.” SCOOP: KEY CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS DRAWS RED LINE ON HOUSE BUDGET PLAN Norman is one of several members of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus who sits on the budget committee. With just a razor-thin majority in the House – and by extension, on committees – Republicans can afford dissent from just one or two members to pass anything along party lines. It’s a significant hurdle facing the GOP as they seek to use their House and Senate majorities to pass a sweeping conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process. By lowering the threshold for Senate passage from 60 votes to 51 out of 100, the maneuver allows the party in power to skirt its opposition to advance its agenda – provided the items included relate to budgetary and other fiscal matters. The House of Representatives already has a simple majority threshold. Republicans are hoping to use reconciliation to pass a broad swath of Trump’s policy goals, from more funding at the border to removing taxes on tipped and overtime wages. But conservatives have also demanded that any reconciliation bill also reduce the national deficit by pairing new spending with extreme cuts in federal dollars going elsewhere. The first step in the reconciliation process is getting the bill through Congress’ budget committees, which then directs other committees to find areas for cuts and policy changes under their specific jurisdictions. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has said that guidelines for spending cuts would be a “floor” not a “ceiling.” Fox News Digital was told that GOP leaders initially presented what amounted to a $300 billion floor for cuts, paired with $325 billion in new defense and border spending. BLACK CAUCUS CHAIR ACCUSES TRUMP OF ‘PURGE’ OF ‘MINORITY’ FEDERAL WORKERS Conservatives later rejected another offer that amounted to a rough total of $900 billion in spending cuts, with about $300 billion in new spending, Fox News Digital was told. Norman said he wanted the floor set to $2 trillion or $3 trillion. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va., another Freedom Caucus member on the budget panel, said he was optimistic about reaching a deal, but that there were “a lot of conversations about starting the process from the most conservative position possible.” “The Senate is not as interested in fiscal responsibility, so we recognize the need to set parameters for authorizing committees that encourage that… from the beginning,” Cline said Monday. Johnson said he wanted the bill to advance through committee this week with a goal of passing an initial House version by the end of February. Fox News Digital reached out to Johnson’s office for comment. The speaker said on “Fox & Friends” Monday morning of reconciliation talks, “Republicans are working right now to negotiate what that looks like. We don’t want to blow a hole in the deficit by extending the Trump-era tax cuts, for example, but we’re definitely going to get that extended. So we got to find those savings.”
Hidden Strength: South Sudan | Africa’s New Directions
Informal sector business owners and vendors are the backbone of South Sudan’s economy. South Sudan is the world’s youngest nation. Despite its rich cultural diversity and natural resources, the country faces immense challenges, including economic instability and governance issues exacerbated by continuing conflicts. The informal sector, a lifeline for many South Sudanese, plays a critical role in sustaining the nation’s fragile economy. Hidden Strength unveils the stories of resilience within the informal economy of Juba. Through expert interviews and local business owners, the film demonstrates how honest livelihoods can be forged even in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Adblock test (Why?)
Thousands of displaced Sudanese return to Gezira state, post-RSF
NewsFeed Thousands of people are returning home to Wad Madani in Sudan for the first time since the Sudanese army regained control of the Gezira state capital in January. But many are finding their homes looted and damaged after a year under RSF control. Published On 4 Feb 20254 Feb 2025 Adblock test (Why?)
Is this the death of the English major?
We’re examining the global decline in demand for English degrees as students increasingly turn to STEM fields, fearing an English degree won’t lead to high-paying jobs. Is an English degree simply about analysing rhyme schemes and bragging about reading Ulysses? We speak with students and recruitment managers to uncover the causes and effects of this academic trend. Do employers prioritise communication skills, or do they value technical expertise more? And does avoiding the humanities at university really guarantee a high-paying job? Adblock test (Why?)
New DNC vice chair sets social media ablaze after ‘radical’ posts exposed: ‘Learned absolutely nothing’
Newly elected Democratic National Committee (DNC) Vice Chair David Hogg, a 24-year-old gun control activist and emerging voice in the Democratic Party, is the DNC’s first Gen Z vice chair. He has the digital footprint to prove it. “Are you ready to go on the offense? We have to win back our young people. I’m the only candidate in this race for any of these positions that is under 30. We had a 20-point shift to the right of our young people. We must show our young people we give a damn about them, that we support them, and we invest in them,” Hogg said at the DNC’s Winter Meeting. Yet, Hogg could be backed into a defensive position as he assumes his new role as vice chair. NEW DNC VICE CHAIR PREVIOUSLY CALLED FOR ICE TO BE ABOLISHED “I have raised over $11 million in the past year to support the future of our party because I don’t just tweet,” Hogg said. “I don’t just talk the talk. I also walk the walk, and I knock the knock on doors around this country.” Hogg’s old posts have gone viral as conservative activists have sounded the alarm about his past policy positions and rhetoric against conservatives. In 2022, he rallied around several left-wing positions, including “legalizing all drugs” and “supporting a 100% tax after your first billion.” “How radical you ask? I don’t think anybody should have over $1 billion in assets there should be a 100% tax after your first billion,” Hogg posted on X in April 2022. “I think we need to do what Australia did in regards to guns. We need universal healthcare Free college for all Legalize all drugs.” DNC LAMBASTED FOR ‘BEYOND PARODY’ LEADERSHIP VOTE THAT INCLUDED SINGING, GENDER RULES: ‘CAN’T STOP LAUGHING’ Months later, he said he would prefer to own a Porsche than have kids, claiming it is better for the environment. “Like me? I’m never planning on having kids. I would much rather own a Porsche and have a Portuguese water dog and golden doodle,” Hogg posted on X in September 2022. “Long term it’s cheaper, better for The environment and will never tell you that it hates you or ask you to pay for college.” Hogg also acknowledged in 2022 that “any politician doing anything with me is in effect committing political suicide.” Conservatives on X are calling out the irony of the DNC now electing him to a leadership position. Many have pointed to Hogg’s progressive views on masculinity as a turnoff to young male voters. In 2021, Hogg called to “abolish ICE” and “defund the police not USPS.” Upon accepting the new DNC leadership position, X users are calling out Hogg for his 2022 post that said, “We have enough straight white men in power. It’d be nice to see some people who actually look like our country and not privilege.” DEMOCRATS ELECT NEW CHAIR WHO BRANDED TRUMP A ‘TRAITOR’ AS PARTY AIMS TO REBOUND FROM DISASTROUS 2024 ELECTION X users also argued Hogg’s nomination proves the Democratic Party is out of touch with its electorate. Conservatives have also trolled Hogg’s nomination, arguing that “He will help Republicans win for years to come.” Hogg garnered national attention in 2018 as a co-founder of March for Our Lives, a student-led organization launched by survivors of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Since 2018, Hogg has become a voice of young Democrats in the mainstream media as he continues his advocacy work. After graduating from Harvard in 2023, Hogg co-founded Leaders We Deserve, a political action committee promoting young progressive candidates for state and federal office. Fox News Digital reached out to the DNC and David Hogg.
Hindenburg’s Nate Anderson reveals why he shut down firm, says stands by Adani report
Nate Anderson said that Hindenburg’s January 2023 report accusing Adani Group of “the largest con in corporate history” was a result of following “red flags” raised against the conglomerate in media reports.
‘Those who do photo-ops…’: PM Modi hits back at LoP Rahul Gandhi over ‘boring’ President speech comment
PM Modi criticized Rahul Gandhi for calling the President’s speech “boring,” accused him of using “urban Naxal” language, and slammed Congress over the caste census.
Trump handed ‘opportunity to save Medicare’ after Biden admin’s final blow to seniors: expert
President Donald Trump was handed the “opportunity to save Medicare” after the Biden administration rolled out its final Medicare Advantage proposal early in January that experts say underfunds the insurance plan after already facing rate cuts in previous years. “This is Trump’s opportunity to save Medicare,” former Republican New York Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle, who is also a former nurse and was chairwoman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission until 2019, told Fox News Digital in January. “Medicare Advantage is Medicare for 34 million Americans who choose it. Those seniors are experiencing disruption with their healthcare as a result of two years of cuts — if Trump ensures MA gets funded in line with projected medical cost trends in 2026, he’ll be fixing Joe Biden’s mistake and giving seniors the healthcare they deserve right before the GOP’s midterm elections.” Medicare Advantage plans are private health insurance plans that contract with Medicare and are used by roughly 34 million Americans. The program mostly enrolls adults older than the age of 65, but also offers benefits to people of all ages with disabilities. Traditional Medicare, conversely, is a federal health insurance program for adults older than the age of 65, as well as younger individuals with disabilities. The Biden administration previously had made cuts to Medicare Advantage rates, including in April 2024, when experts said enrollees would face an additional $33 a month for out-of-pocket costs, or $396 a year, due to the cuts. Critics at the time said the cuts would be especially devastating to seniors living on fixed incomes who are already coping with ongoing inflation issues. DON’T LET BIDEN SNEAK IN MORE MEDICARE CUTS ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR Roughly two weeks before leaving office, the Biden administration rolled out its final regulation affecting Medicare Advantage, which did not outright cut rates as it did for 2024 and 2025, but increased the average benchmark payment to Medicare Advantage plans by 2.2%. The proposal, however, seemingly works as another cut and underfunds Medicare Advantage because the proposed rates are still lower than the current rate of inflation, Buerkle said, with the consumer price index showing a 12-month inflation rate of 2.7%. The proposal also comes on the heels of the Biden administration finalizing a 1.12% cut for fiscal year 2024 and a 0.16% cut for fiscal year 2025. TRUMP PUTS BIDEN ON DEFENSE FOR MEDICARE ADVANTAGE CUTS “Underfunding for Medicare Advantage will result in higher premiums, more out-of-pocket costs, and higher deductibles for the 34 million Americans who choose Medicare Advantage,” Buerkle told Fox News Digital. “This, on top of the inflation that the Biden Administration caused by their flagrant spending creates a difficult situation for those seniors on a fixed income.” The proposal is not yet locked in, as the newly minted Trump administration has until April 7 to finalize its policy for fiscal year 2026. “Medicare Advantage saved the federal government $144 billion over the last decade,” Buerkle said. That is because Medicare Advantage plans “use taxpayer dollars more efficiently than traditional Medicare,” she said. “By managing the care for 34 million seniors, MA plans are able to offer more benefits for the same price as original Medicare. Senior satisfaction rate is high, too, with 96% of seniors reporting their satisfaction with their MA plan. So, making sure MA is funded appropriately is a gift to taxpayers,” Buerkle said. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services touted the proposal when it was released in early January, saying the health plan will continue providing affordable care, while “being a good steward of taxpayer dollars.” The agency “has worked to ensure that people with Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D have access to stable and affordable offerings,” said Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “Today’s Advance Notice continues CMS’ efforts to provide access to affordable, high-quality care in Medicare Advantage while being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. We are also continuing implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, ensuring people with Medicare Part D have more affordable coverage for their medications.” Former Republican Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindall, who served as an advisor to the U.S. secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush’s administration, published an op-ed for Fox Digital in December 2024, warning against the Biden administration issuing any last-minute Medicare Advantage cuts ahead of Trump taking back the Oval Office. “Over the past two years, the administration has implemented a series of changes that have effectively reduced funding for Medicare Advantage,” he wrote. “These cuts are disguised as ‘payment adjustments,’ but the reality is clear: they are cutting funding for a program that seniors overwhelmingly support. The results? Higher premiums, reduced benefits, and narrower provider networks for many Medicare Advantage enrollees.” Jindall added that Medicare Advantage can be improved to better serve seniors and other enrollees, but he argued “the left” has resisted improving the system in favor of promoting a government-focused program. “Members in both parties have called for modifying the calculation of risk adjustments, to improve a system that can be gamed and often rewards companies for documenting patient acuity rather than actually improving outcomes,” he wrote. “But, the left does not want to improve Medicare Advantage — they want to undermine the program to advance their long-term goal of centralizing more health care under the government’s control.” A Trump administration official told Fox Digital that staffers are reviewing Biden administration proposals and polices skeptically but that no policy has been set in stone related to Medicare Advantage. Trump joined House Republican lawmakers in Florida on Jan. 27, when he vowed not to cut Medicare or Social Security. “I will not sign any bill that cuts even a single penny from Medicare or Social Security for our great seniors. We don’t have to do that. We don’t have to do that. We’ll not touch those benefits in any way, shape or form. I want to use that because during the campaign, they had these fake ads that Trump is going to cut Social Security,” he said. BIDEN-HARRIS MEDICARE CUTS
Elon Musk dunks on Sen Chuck Schumer, declaring ‘Hysterical reactions’ demonstrate DOGE’s importance
Elon Musk, who President Donald Trump tasked with spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) effort, declared in a social media post that “Hysterical reactions” demonstrate the importance of DOGE’s work. He made the comment in response to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. “An unelected shadow government is conducting a hostile takeover of the federal government,” a post on Sen. Schumer’s @SenSchumer X account reads, echoing remarks the lawmaker made during a press conference. RUBIO SAYS ‘NO CHOICE’ BUT TO BRING USAID ‘UNDER CONTROL’ AFTER AGENCY TAKEOVER: ‘RANK INSUBORDINATION’ “DOGE is not a real government agency. DOGE has no authority to make spending decisions. DOGE has no authority to shut programs down or to ignore federal law. DOGE’s conduct cannot be allowed to stand. Congress must take action to restore the rule of law,” Schumer’s post continued. Musk described the effort to slash government waste and bureaucracy as a one-time opportunity. “Hysterical reactions like this is how you know that @DOGE is doing work that really matters,” he wrote in response to Schumer. “This is the one shot the American people have to defeat BUREAUcracy, rule of the bureaucrats, and restore DEMOcracy, rule of the people. We’re never going to get another chance like this. It’s now or never. Your support is crucial to the success of the revolution of the people,” he asserted. USAID CLOSES HQ TO STAFFERS MONDAY AS MUSK SAYS TRUMP SUPPORTS SHUTTING AGENCY DOWN The business magnate has called DOGE “the wood chipper for bureaucracy.” “If the Treasury Secretary does not remove DOGE’s access to the Treasury payment systems at once: Congress must immediately act,” another post echoing the sentiments Schumer conveyed during the press conference reads. “That is why @RepJeffries and I will work together on legislation to stop unlawful meddling in the Treasury Department’s payment systems. We must protect people’s Social Security payments, Medicare payments, and tax refunds from any possible tampering by DOGE or other unauthorized entities.” MUSK RIPS ‘FRAUDULENT’ TREASURY HANDOUTS AS REPORTS MOUNT DOGE HAS ACCESS TO FEDERAL PAYMENT SYSTEM CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Musk declared in a post, “Doge has not looked at, nor is there any interest in, private financial data. What would we even do with it? The outgoing payment review process just looks at potential fraud and wasteful spending to organizations. Corrupt politicians are the ones complaining. I wonder why?”