Welcome to Monday’s News on the March – The week that was in my digital world.
Yesterday, my adopted home country Colombia had the scariest rollercoaster ride because of a diplomatic entanglement with the United States. Yesterday morning the Colombian President Gustavo Petro (a committed socialist and ex guerilla warfighter) barred two US military deportation flights (of detained Colombian criminals and undocumented illegal migrants) from landing in Colombia. As a result the new US leadership under Donald Trump threatened Colombia with 25% Tariffs on all Colombian goods (as well as revoking Visas of officials and dignatarias aligned with the Petro Government) and in retaliation Petro did the same on US products. The effect such economic penalties would have on the already fragile Colombian economy would be nothing short of devastating and the run-off effects on security and people’s livelihoods paralleling the Venezuelan crises under the Socialist Dictatorship of revolutionary Hugo Chavez and his successor Nicolás Maduro.
After my troubled sleep last night (due to all this commotion), I woke up to the wonderful news that the Colombian Government agreed to accept – without restrictions the deported illegal Colombian aliens and Trump’s threat has been rescinded or put on hold. More information can be found in the BBC news article here.
‘You pay my bills’ – Collins reacts to hecklers
News article at BBC Sport
I am an unashamed Australian Sports-nut… so when the Australian Open rolls around just after the Christmas and New Year’s festivities I lock into tennis-mode despite the unpleasant start-times due to the time-zone differences (16 hours to be exact) between my native and adopted country. The Open is always embroiled in controversy and this year was no different. One of my favourite moments from the event has to be American Danielle Collins reactions to the heckles and booing of the crowd during and after her match against Australian home hope Destanee Aiava. I must admit I am left disappointed and somewhat embarrassed by the unruly behaviour of large sectors of the Australian crowd including how the GOAT (at least statistically speaking) Novak Djokovic was also boo’d off after retiring injured. On a side note: What he must think of Australia after this and being prohibited from competing in 2021 (for being an unvaccinated traveller) and detained in quarantine under Australian Government’s draconian COVID measures is anyone’s guess.
Collins is my new hero. This is what she said during the post-match interview:
Will blackouts come to Britain?
Video interview hosted by UnHerd
Did the UK only narrowly avoid a blackout last week? Freddie Sayers is joined by energy analyst Kathryn Porter to break down the National Grid numbers and find out how Net Zero might cause blackouts by 2030.
I am a frequent UnHerd viewer and this recent video interview about the state of Electricity in Britain was surprisingly intriguing and educational. I never knew how a Country’s electricity system and grids work or the effect of renewable ‘clean’ energy on its correct functioning. My fear is of a disaster that will ultimately affect mostly working class people. I like how one astute viewer put it, ‘Net Zero means zero heating, zero lighting, zero industry, zero transport, zero shops‘. All in all, the video was a steep learning curve as Freddy Sayers forewarned but a rewarding one at that.
Before I sign-off, I would like to inform you I will be away from the blogger-sphere from tomorrow until Saturday due to a vacation my son and I will be taking to Jungle country in Melgar, Colombia. I recently posted about the same trip I took with my daughter last week. In the meantime I wish y’all a very pleasant week.
That is all. Thank you for reading.
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I’m not sure that I’m pleased about Colombia giving in to Trump’s bullying but I can understand why it did. There will be many other instances of this over the next four years and every time will further encourage his belief in his omnipotence.
I admire Collins for taking on the AO crowds – they were a disgrace.
Be careful with your sources. Unherd is funded by Paul Marshall, who also funds the GB News channel, which is somewhere to the right of Attila the Hun. Not as ‘independent’ as they might claim, and very keen to attack our relatively new Labour government without worrying too much about facts. A lot like Fox ‘News’ in the US.
I understand your concerns regarding Colombia’s decision, but it’s also worth considering that strong and clear migratory policies serve as an effective deterrent against illegal immigration. Trump’s approach, whether one agrees with it or not, was undeniably focused on reducing unauthorized crossings and encouraging nations to take more responsibility for border security. The reality is that when the U.S. enforces stricter measures, it compels other countries to address migration challenges at their own borders rather than passing the issue downstream. This isn’t necessarily about “bullying” but about setting firm conditions that protect national sovereignty and ensure a more orderly immigration process.
Regarding UnHerd, while it is true that Paul Marshall funds both it and GB News, that alone does not invalidate its journalism or independence. UnHerd has a track record of publishing a wide spectrum of views, often challenging mainstream narratives from multiple angles, rather than simply adhering to one ideological line. Comparing it to Fox News may not fully capture its editorial approach, as it frequently features writers with differing opinions, including those critical of right-wing populism. In a media landscape where many outlets lean in one direction or another, skepticism is healthy, but outright dismissal risks missing valuable perspectives.
I read about the Columbia thing. You are right though in what you told Clive…someone has to set an example to the rest of the world.