Robin MacNab
@robinmacnab.bsky.social
Canadian Foreign Service Officer 1971 - 2015. RTs of news on international affairs, technology and other subjects.
The past week's fighting between the Syrian army and Syrian Kurdish paramilitaries shows how difficult the military integration of the two will be to achieve. www.dw.com/en/syria-no-...
Syria: No end to conflict between Kurds, central government
The past week's fighting between the Syrian army and Syrian Kurdish paramilitaries shows how difficult the military integration of the two will be to achieve.
www.dw.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:26 PM
The past week's fighting between the Syrian army and Syrian Kurdish paramilitaries shows how difficult the military integration of the two will be to achieve. www.dw.com/en/syria-no-...
Venezuela: Could Machado be the big loser in the power game?
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader plans to give Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. But is her plan to link herself to the US president already backfiring? www.dw.com/en/venezuela...
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader plans to give Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. But is her plan to link herself to the US president already backfiring? www.dw.com/en/venezuela...
Venezuela: Could Machado be the big loser in the power game?
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader plans to give Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. But is her plan to link herself to the US president already backfiring?
www.dw.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Venezuela: Could Machado be the big loser in the power game?
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader plans to give Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. But is her plan to link herself to the US president already backfiring? www.dw.com/en/venezuela...
On Thursday, Venezuela's opposition leader plans to give Donald Trump her Nobel Peace Prize. But is her plan to link herself to the US president already backfiring? www.dw.com/en/venezuela...
Joe Scarborough on ICE shooting in Minneapolis www.ms.now/morning-joe/...
Outrage after deadly ICE shooting in Minneapolis
Joe Scarborough wraps up recent events from Iran to Minneapolis.
www.ms.now
January 12, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Joe Scarborough on ICE shooting in Minneapolis www.ms.now/morning-joe/...
Trump’s college agenda may have a lasting impact on research, culture. Trump has altered the government’s relationship with higher education in ways that will be difficult to undo. Some schools say a change was needed. wapo.st/49KEsS5 (gift article)
Trump’s college agenda may have a lasting impact on research, culture
Trump has altered the government’s relationship with higher education in ways that will be difficult to undo. Some schools say a change was needed.
wapo.st
January 11, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Trump’s college agenda may have a lasting impact on research, culture. Trump has altered the government’s relationship with higher education in ways that will be difficult to undo. Some schools say a change was needed. wapo.st/49KEsS5 (gift article)
Thorough Ukraine update from @GeoffyPJohnston.bsky.social “it is up to the European Union and Canada to supply Ukrainians with the weapons, munitions, and other forms of aid that they require to defeat the Russians in 2026.” www.globalreport.ca/single-post/...
‘Coalition of the Willing’ designs security architecture for Ukraine
Geoffrey P. Johnston Just days after the most recent meeting of the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ in Paris, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukrainian civilian population centres and energy infrastruc...
www.globalreport.ca
January 11, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Thorough Ukraine update from @GeoffyPJohnston.bsky.social “it is up to the European Union and Canada to supply Ukrainians with the weapons, munitions, and other forms of aid that they require to defeat the Russians in 2026.” www.globalreport.ca/single-post/...
This was absolutely all true under the old paradigm. But with an existential threat from Trump we need a “card” to play. A much more engaged (or the threat of it) China on his doorstep would do it. Opinion: Is more trade with China really a good idea?
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: Is more trade with China really a good idea?
Canada’s focus should be developing stronger ties with partners that are not coercive
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 10, 2026 at 10:30 PM
This was absolutely all true under the old paradigm. But with an existential threat from Trump we need a “card” to play. A much more engaged (or the threat of it) China on his doorstep would do it. Opinion: Is more trade with China really a good idea?
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Five key exercises to age well (gift article) wapo.st/4suBCrE
Experts say these 5 exercises are key to staying healthy and aging better
These simple moves can help you stay strong and build muscles as you age.
wapo.st
January 10, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Five key exercises to age well (gift article) wapo.st/4suBCrE
Kingston Whig Standard’s @GeoffyPJohnston.bsky.social: “Under President Donald Trump, the United States has gone from being the nominal leader of the free world to a rogue super power - U.S. imperialism threatens Western Hemisphere.”
www.thewhig.com/opinion/u-s-...
www.thewhig.com/opinion/u-s-...
U.S. imperialism threatens Western Hemisphere
Under President Donald Trump, the United States has gone from being the nominal leader of the free world to a rogue super power.
www.thewhig.com
January 9, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Kingston Whig Standard’s @GeoffyPJohnston.bsky.social: “Under President Donald Trump, the United States has gone from being the nominal leader of the free world to a rogue super power - U.S. imperialism threatens Western Hemisphere.”
www.thewhig.com/opinion/u-s-...
www.thewhig.com/opinion/u-s-...
Anne Applebaum: Far from making us more powerful, the pursuit of American dominance will make us weaker, eventually leaving us with no sphere, and no influence, at all. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Trump’s ‘American Dominance’ May Leave Us With Nothing
The president’s moves in Venezuela foretell a new global system.
www.theatlantic.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Anne Applebaum: Far from making us more powerful, the pursuit of American dominance will make us weaker, eventually leaving us with no sphere, and no influence, at all. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Most Americans still do want their country to stand for something other than greed, and most don’t want their expensive military to fight on behalf of Trump’s oil-industry donors. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Trump’s ‘American Dominance’ May Leave Us With Nothing
The president’s moves in Venezuela foretell a new global system.
www.theatlantic.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Most Americans still do want their country to stand for something other than greed, and most don’t want their expensive military to fight on behalf of Trump’s oil-industry donors. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Venezuela illustrates one often overlooked fact about Trump. He launches his campaigns with the bravura of Teddy Roosevelt, but his follow-through is sometimes weak and disorganized.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trump might have his hubris checked in Venezuela
The president has launched a violent process of change that he can’t fully control.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Venezuela illustrates one often overlooked fact about Trump. He launches his campaigns with the bravura of Teddy Roosevelt, but his follow-through is sometimes weak and disorganized.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Canadians must acknowledge the real risk that Mr. Trump will use military coercion against our country. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Opinion: We need to prepare for the possibility that the U.S. uses military coercion against Canada
After the capture of Venezuela’s president and Trump’s musing about Greenland, Canada must consider the worst-case scenario
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Canadians must acknowledge the real risk that Mr. Trump will use military coercion against our country. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
Brilliant insights from David French: Trump Is Unleashing Forces Beyond His Control (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/o...
Opinion | Trump Is Unleashing Forces Beyond His Control
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:51 PM
Brilliant insights from David French: Trump Is Unleashing Forces Beyond His Control (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2026/01/05/o...
Kaitlyn Collins: Canada's $244B EU Deal LEAKED—Pentagon Had No Idea Trump Lost America’s Biggest Ally youtu.be/Hm2ygW_4uCw?...
1 Min Ago: Canada's $244B EU Deal LEAKED—Pentagon Had No Idea Trump Lost America's Biggest Ally
YouTube video by Kaitlan Report Usa
youtu.be
January 4, 2026 at 1:31 AM
Kaitlyn Collins: Canada's $244B EU Deal LEAKED—Pentagon Had No Idea Trump Lost America’s Biggest Ally youtu.be/Hm2ygW_4uCw?...
Trump has done Russia and China a great service by trashing, yet again, guardrails that limit other nations from running amok.
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Maybe Russia and China Should Sit This One Out
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are just shocked—shocked!—by the American attack on Venezuela.
www.theatlantic.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:17 AM
Trump has done Russia and China a great service by trashing, yet again, guardrails that limit other nations from running amok.
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
This insight from Eric Reguly is all the more important in view of the comments made by Trump today The U.S. will be investing heavily in oil production in Venezuela. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: Trump is backing regime change in oil-rich Venezuela. Canada, beware
The U.S. President has zero loyalty to Canada or its exports, including oil
www.theglobeandmail.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:57 PM
This insight from Eric Reguly is all the more important in view of the comments made by Trump today The U.S. will be investing heavily in oil production in Venezuela. www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
What a longevity expert eats in a day: Cardiologist Eric Topol has studied “super agers” for years. This is exactly what he eats — and avoids (gift article) wapo.st/4piAKUk
What a longevity expert eats in a day
Cardiologist Eric Topol has studied “super agers” for years. This is exactly what he eats — and avoids.
wapo.st
January 2, 2026 at 8:26 PM
What a longevity expert eats in a day: Cardiologist Eric Topol has studied “super agers” for years. This is exactly what he eats — and avoids (gift article) wapo.st/4piAKUk
Our personal data is all over the dark web. Here’s what you can do (gift article) wapo.st/496Fd6k
Our personal data is all over the dark web. Here’s what you can do.
Got a message saying your data wound up somewhere it shouldn’t be? You’re not alone.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Our personal data is all over the dark web. Here’s what you can do (gift article) wapo.st/496Fd6k
Customs agents have broad authority to search the electronic devices of travelers entering and leaving the U.S. Here are tips for keeping your data safe. (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/t...
Phone Searches at the Border Are Up. How to Protect Your Privacy.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Customs agents have broad authority to search the electronic devices of travelers entering and leaving the U.S. Here are tips for keeping your data safe. (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/t...
A good overview and assessment of various AI tools (gift article ) wapo.st/49gIuAa.
Column | ChatGPT is overrated. Here’s what to use instead.
When I want help from AI, ChatGPT is no longer my default first stop.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 1:22 AM
A good overview and assessment of various AI tools (gift article ) wapo.st/49gIuAa.
As usual, a very well written piece from @stephanienolen.bsky.social : Claire Brosseau Wants to Die. Will Canada Let Her? (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/h...
Claire Brosseau Wants to Die. Will Canada Let Her?
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:23 AM
As usual, a very well written piece from @stephanienolen.bsky.social : Claire Brosseau Wants to Die. Will Canada Let Her? (gift article) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/h...
Breakthrough technology that is portable, inexpensive and provides better images than the big X-ray machines that dominate the health care sector. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
Two Canadian hospitals giving startup’s imaging tech a chance
KA Imaging breaks into Canadian hospitals. St. Mary’s in Kitchener and the University Health Network in Toronto bought mobile X-ray units from KA Imaging that will be used for bed-side scans for inten...
www.therecord.com
December 28, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Breakthrough technology that is portable, inexpensive and provides better images than the big X-ray machines that dominate the health care sector. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
Reposted by Robin MacNab
Jakarta is now estimated to have almost 42mn residents, overtaking greater Tokyo as the world’s biggest city, according to the UN. www.ft.com/content/4ee5...
Move over, Tokyo — the world has a new biggest city
Jakarta and its sprawling environs’ 42mn inhabitants are now the most populous conurbation, according to the UN
www.ft.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Jakarta is now estimated to have almost 42mn residents, overtaking greater Tokyo as the world’s biggest city, according to the UN. www.ft.com/content/4ee5...
Very important piece (gift article): The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly. China’s battery dominance is raising alarms far beyond the auto industry. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/c...
The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly.
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Very important piece (gift article): The Pentagon and A.I. Giants Have a Weakness. Both Need China’s Batteries, Badly. China’s battery dominance is raising alarms far beyond the auto industry. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/c...