Big Moves and Big Promises: A Week in the World of Tech and Politics

Big tech companies are making big moves. Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are planning to shift most of their new product manufacturing outside of China by 2026. This is a huge deal because it shows how these companies are trying to spread their operations around the world. Microsoft, for example, is moving the production of its Surface laptops and data center servers. They are also aiming to get at least 80% of the materials for these servers from outside China. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has been making some bold promises. He said that his administration is working on lowering beef prices, which have been going up a lot. He even mentioned that they have a deal in the works. This is important because high beef prices affect many people's budgets.The Trump administration is also looking into buying stakes in more companies, especially in the rare earths industry. This comes after China put restrictions on exporting rare earths, which are important for many technologies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the U. S. needs to be more self-sufficient or rely on allies for these materials. In a more unusual development, a Russian official asked Elon Musk to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait, connecting Alaska and Russia. This tunnel, called the "Putin-Trump" tunnel, would be about 70 miles long. The idea is to symbolize unity between the two countries. It's a creative idea, but it's not clear if it will actually happen. Lastly, President Trump announced a deal to cut the cost of a fertility drug called Gonal-f. This drug is used in IVF treatments, which can be very expensive. The deal includes new federal guidelines that allow employers to offer fertility benefits separately from regular health insurance. This is a big step in making fertility treatments more accessible.