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Bessma Momani

Bessma Momani

@bmomani.bsky.social

3.2K followers 1K following 350 posts

Professor at the University of Waterloo and Senior Fellow at CIGI, interested in International Affairs and Geopolitics of Technology.

Political science 34%

Economics 31%

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Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · Dec 30

My latest op-ed in Globe and Mail on AI race between China and US. Trump’s war on talent in universities and international scholars may kill what pwas US has had www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...

Opinion: In the roiling cold war for AI supremacy, the U.S. has let China back in the race

Decisions by the Trump White House – particularly ones dissuading the world’s top AI talent from going to America – have allowed China to assert itself

www.theglobeandmail.com

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 5h

Shameful. Note these are funds to help countries that are experiencing a climate related disaster like floods ect, not to fund a project like say windmills.

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 5h

The US has stopped supporting climate-linked lending at the International Monetary Fund, casting “no” votes or abstentions on financing programs it had previously backed, after the Trump administration signaled a shift in priorities.

US Pulls Support at IMF for Climate Lending Bashed by Bessent

The US has stopped supporting climate-linked lending at the International Monetary Fund, casting “no” votes or abstentions on financing programs it had previously backed, after the Trump administration signaled a shift in priorities.

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Drop Site @dropsitenews.com · 5h

⭕️ NEW: An Al Jazeera investigation finds that Israel has used U.S.-supplied thermal & thermobaric weapons in Gaza that burn at up to 3,500°C, leaving no remains of victims. Gaza’s Civil Defence documented 2,842 Palestinians who effectively “evaporated” since Oct 2023, identified through forensic...

⭕️ NEW: An Al Jazeera investigation finds that Israel has used U.S.-supplied thermal and thermobaric weapons in Gaza that burn at up to 3,500°C, leaving no remains of victims. Gaza’s Civil Defence documented 2,842 Palestinians who effectively “evaporated” since October 2023, identified through forensic cross-checking at strike sites where only blood spray or small tissue fragments were found. Experts link the disappearances to munitions such as MK-84 bombs and GBU-39 glide bombs, whose heat and pressure vaporize bodies. Legal experts say the use of indiscriminate weapons constitutes war crimes and implicates Israel’s Western suppliers, as killings continued despite provisional measures from the International Court of Justice and an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Ghassan Abu Sitta
@GhassanAbuSitt1
Al Jazeera investigation reveals how US-supplied thermal and thermobaric munitions burning at 3,500C have left no trace of nearly 3,000 Palestinians

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2026/2/10/israel-used-weapons-in-gaza-that-made-thousands-of-palestinians-evaporate

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 5h

😂

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 5h

Around 6 in 10 people surveyed said they expected their lives would be significantly better in the future than today. That is about nine percentage points lower than during the height of the covid-19 pandemic, according to a new poll.

Americans’ optimism for their future took a hit last year, poll finds

Around 60 percent said they expected their lives would be significantly better in the future, roughly nine percentage points lower than during the pandemic.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Bloomberg News @bloomberg.com · 5h

The US has stopped supporting climate-linked lending at the International Monetary Fund, casting “no” votes or abstentions on financing programs it had previously backed, after the Trump administration signaled a shift in priorities.

US Pulls Support at IMF for Climate Lending Bashed by Bessent

The US has stopped supporting climate-linked lending at the International Monetary Fund, casting “no” votes or abstentions on financing programs it had previously backed, after the Trump administration signaled a shift in priorities.

Bessma Momani @bmomani.bsky.social · 8h

The stupidity doesn’t end. “Trump is threatening to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, a new border crossing between Canada and the United States, unless Ottawa meets a list of demands and gives Washington half ownership of the structure”

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Robin Brooks @robin-j-brooks.bsky.social · 1d

Gold is back above $5,000. The rally in precious metals is reckless and crazy, but so is global fiscal policy. At some point over the past 20 years, policy makers who believe in keeping public debt stable stopped existing. Makes sense to buy safe havens...
robinjbrooks.substack.com/p/does-frida...

Reposted by Bessma Momani, Samantha Brennan

Toronto Star @thestar.com · 1d

Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

Air Canada suspends flights to Cuba amid aviation fuel shortage

Cuba has been facing a worsening energy crisis amid a U.S. blockade of oil to the Caribbean nation.

www.thestar.com

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Devex @devex.com · 1d

Opinion: Maternal deaths remain catastrophically high across the continent despite decades of mobile health interventions. Artificial intelligence offers personalized, predictive care — if designed with the right safeguards.

What will it take for AI to work for women’s health in Africa?

What will it take for AI to work for women’s health in Africa?

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Alex Boyd @alexboyd.bsky.social · 1d

Listening to Cross Country Checkup's very good conversation about Alberta separatism and it's striking to me how often COVID health measures or the convoy come up as a motivating factor for separatists. Post pandemic politics strike again. www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

© CBC/Radio-Canada 2026. All rights reserved.

Reposted by David S. Cohen, Bessma Momani

404 Media @404media.co · 1d

“In an extreme case, two users sent very similar messages describing symptoms of a subarachnoid hemorrhage but were given opposite advice,” the study’s authors wrote. “One user was told to lie down in a dark room, and the other user was given the correct recommendation to seek emergency care.”

Chatbots Make Terrible Doctors, New Study Finds

Chatbots provided incorrect, conflicting medical advice, researchers found: “Despite all the hype, AI just isn't ready to take on the role of the physician.”

www.404media.co

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · 1d

Cuba has told international airlines that it will not be able to supply them with jet fuel from Tuesday. The measure, at the height of the tourist season, is expected to hit US, Spanish, Panamanian and Mexican airlines. ft.trib.al/fRmayws

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 2d

"Around a third of countries attending a military AI summit agreed on Thursday to a declaration on how to govern deployment of the technology in warfare, but military heavyweights China and the U.S. opted out." www.reuters.com/business/aer...

US, China opt out of joint declaration on AI use in military

Around a third of countries attending a military AI summit agreed on Thursday to a declaration on how to govern deployment of the technology in warfare, but military heavyweights China and the U.S. op...

www.reuters.com

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 2d

David E Rosenberg: Some 42% of Americans believe that US military aid to Israel “should be reduced or ended, more than those favoring an increase or keeping it at its current level, according to an Aug YouGov poll.” The trend line is very clear, and the hardline Israel supporters are dying out.

The End of U.S. Military Aid to Israel?

Once sacrosanct, the enormous aid package is now in doubt.

foreignpolicy.com

Reposted by Bessma Momani

David Henig @davidheniguk.bsky.social · 2d

I'm pretty sceptical of the excitability around India's trade deals with the EU and US. Plenty of tariff reduction, but as we should have learnt in the last ten years, there's a lot more to trade and economics. Formidable non-tariff barriers remain. www.ft.com/content/f2bb...

India embraces free(er) trade

Narendra Modi’s government pushes historic opening of traditionally insular economy

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Economist @economist.com · 2d

Political battles have long raged over money for renewable-energy research. But Donald Trump’s assault on science goes beyond funding

In America science-sceptics are now in charge

The Trump administration seems to want less clean energy and more preventable diseases

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Barbara Moens @bmoens.bsky.social · 2d

European countries are edging closer to broad social media bans for children, even as doubts persist over how to implement them and the risk of a new battle with US tech groups.

A deep dive with Leila Abboud & @NicFildes

www.ft.com/content/cf46...

Can Europe get kids off social media?

Move follows Australia’s decision to introduce age restrictions over child safety concerns

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 2d

Data centers use MASSIVE amounts of water

Just one Google data center in Iowa used 1 BILLION gallons of water in 2024 -- enough to supply all of Iowa's residential water use for 5 days. ⬇️

Reposted by Bessma Momani, Valentina De Marchi

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 3d

The domino effect from the tech industry’s $700 billion AI spending spree is diverting resources and attention from other sectors of the economy, making finding an electrician or a reasonably priced smartphone increasingly difficult.

The AI boom is so huge it’s causing shortages everywhere else

The hundreds of billions of dollars being spent by tech companies on AI projects are diverting resources from other parts of the economy.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism @globalextremism.bsky.social · 3d

Donald Trump threatened to resume nuclear weapons testing, repeating false claims about other countries and echoing Project 2025’s push for “immediate test readiness.” Experts warn it wouldn’t make the U.S. safer, but would benefit rivals while rolling back long-standing nuclear safety protections.

Project 2025 February 4th Update

This week we look at how Trump declared America will resume nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years while his Department of Energy quietly gutted the radiation safety rules that have pr...

globalextremism.org

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Global Project Against Hate and Extremism @globalextremism.bsky.social · 3d

Austrian white nationalist Martin Sellner appeared with Brandenburg AfD state MP Lena Kotré at a closed-door event in Germany promoting “remigration.” The conference highlights how ideas once confined to neo-Nazi circles are being normalized by elected officials and reframed as migration policy.

White supremacist and German State MP Hold “Remigration” Conference

Austrian white nationalist Martin Sellner appeared alongside Brandenburg state MP Lena Kotré of the far-right AfD at a closed-door event in Vetschau, Germany, promoting “remigration.” The conference u...

globalextremism.org

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Economist @economist.com · 3d

Trust in the news media has declined across the rich world. Some people may not care much when they hear that journalism is in trouble. Yet it is in their interest to care

As global press freedom dwindles, corrupt politicians rejoice

Less scrutiny, more booty

Reposted by Miles Corak, Bessma Momani, Larry W. Hunter

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 3d

As Rupert Murdoch TV hammers away telling its viewers that Canadians are their enemies, Republican views of Canada shift on cue. At this point, Murdoch's propaganda machine can make its viewership believe absolutely anything, no matter how absurd.

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Reuters @reuters.com · 4d

In Trump’s war on global justice, court staff and U.N. face terrorist‑grade sanctions reut.rs/4rFxVyl

In Trump’s war on global justice, court staff and U.N. face terrorist‑grade sanctions

Trump’s sanctions on U.N. expert Francesca Albanese and the International Criminal Court froze assets and disrupted war crimes investigations. The clash is part of the broader campaign by his administration to strongarm allies, enemies and world bodies into toeing the U.S. line.

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Conversation U.S. @us.theconversation.com · 4d

In 2023, a sci-fi magazine shut down submissions after being flooded with AI-written stories. That problem is now everywhere — AI-generated text overwhelming courts, journals, newsrooms, and HR departments.

AI-generated text is overwhelming institutions – setting off a no-win ‘arms race’ with AI detectors

People are using generative AI to flood courts with filings, legislatures with constituent letters and publications with submissions. AI detectors are no silver bullet.

Reposted by Bessma Momani

The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 4d

A new study puts a number on the potential human toll of sharp aid cuts over the past year, projecting an extra 9.4 million deaths by 2030 if the current trends persist.

Global aid cuts could lead to 9.4 million deaths by 2030, study projects

The Lancet study examines how the dismantling of international aid by the U.S. and other countries could undo decades of health gains.

www.washingtonpost.com

Reposted by Steve Peers, Bessma Momani

Robert Wolfe @bobwolfe.bsky.social · 4d

two things are obvious in this clip:
a) Kennedy is trying to describe USMCA
b) Bessent has no idea how USMCA works

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 5d

KENNEDY: If Canada came to the US and said, 'We're going to 0 tariffs on the US, all of them are off,' would you and the president go to 0 tariffs and let Canadian companies and American companies compete on a level playing field?

BESSENT: Absolutely not

Reposted by Steve Peers, Bessma Momani, Juanjo Medina , and 1 more Steve Peers, Bessma Momani, Juanjo Medina, Steven H. Seggie

Jim Pickard @pickardje.bsky.social · 4d

FT exclusive:

“The US state department is set to fund Maga-aligned think-tanks and charities across Europe to disseminate Washington’s policy positions and challenge perceived threats to free speech.”

via @annasophiegross.bsky.social and colleagues

Reposted by Meredith Broussard, Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards , and 6 more Meredith Broussard, Steve Peers, Robert C. Richards, Melanie C. Green, David R. Miller, Graham Webster, Bessma Momani, Julie Novkov, Nathan P. Kalmoe

dell cameron @dell.bsky.social · 5d

NEW: Records reviewed by WIRED show DHS’s facial recognition app (Mobile Fortify) isn’t designed to actually "verify" identity—despite DHS claims and its agents relying on its matches to support probable cause in the field.

ICE and CBP’s Face-Recognition App Can’t Actually Verify Who People Are

ICE has used Mobile Fortify to identify immigrants and citizens alike over 100,000 times, by one estimate. It wasn't built to work like that—and only got approved after DHS abandoned its own privacy r...

Reposted by Bessma Momani

Justin Hendrix @justinhendrix.bsky.social · 5d

A ProPublica report on plans to use AI to write regulations at the US Department of Transportation should be a warning signal for public interest advocates and litigators, writes Jordan Ascher, policy counsel at Governing for Impact. It’s time to prepare for a flood of machine-generated rules.

Trump Administration Official Says Quiet Part Out Loud on AI-in-Government Plans

A ProPublica report on plans to use AI to write regulations at the US Department of Transportation should be a warning signal, writes Jordan Ascher.

www.techpolicy.press