A man entered the home of US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, in the middle of the night without being detected by his Secret Service detail, a major breach that is under investigation. The individual appeared confused and was asked to leave by Sullivan. There were no immediate reports of a motive or arrest, and Sullivan was physically unharmed. The Secret Service has launched a mission assurance investigation.
Democrats and the majority of voters believe that President Joe Biden, who will turn 81 in November, should not run for a second term. However, those questioning Biden's age must consider that the vice-president - Kamala Harris - could also attract scrutiny when she runs. Democrats and much of the “mainstream” media are working off an invisible memo that tells them to avoid talking about Biden's age, however this cannot last. Biden must now elevate Harris's role to become a bigger factor next year and focus on key issues that will appeal to voters.
US President Joe Biden’s decision not to visit Australia for the Quad meeting risks sending a damaging message to the Asia-Pacific region about the US’ commitment to the area as it competes with China for influence. Biden cancelled his visit to Australia to attend Washington’s regular debt-ceiling and attend a G7 summit in Japan. His decision was influenced by the US Treasury warning it could run out of money to pay bills by June 1. Far more important than any hurt feelings caused, Australia’s hurt over Biden’s withdrawal from the Quad meeting and decision to snub the country along with Papua New Guinea provides weight to arguments that arrangements such as AUKUS and the Quad rely on US domestic politics and are not treated with due seriousness. Biden’s decision to cancel the visit was “a calculated snub to a friend and a gift to a rival,” and was a “slap in the face” to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who had staked much on the visit.
As responsible investors weigh up their approach to artificial intelligence (AI), Sam Altman, CEO of ChatGPT creator OpenAI, spoke of his belief in regulatory intervention to minimise risks introduced by powerful AI models. Speaking to lawmakers on Capitol Hill, Altman suggested a combination of licensing and testing requirements could help avoid "quite wrong" results from the technology. As concerns of widespread water shortages grow, richly valued start-ups working in water technology have become a focus. Gradiant, which develops new ways of treating industrial wastewater, became the WaterTech sector's first "unicorn" this week, following a $225m funding round led by New York family office BoltRock Holdings and Centaurus Capital. Boston-based Gradiant has attracted interest from chipmakers, miners and carmakers looking to secure water supplies and avoid pollution. However, pharmaceutical companies are also facing pressure to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Venture capitalists are investing in start-ups developing new ways to tackle AMR as the AMR Action Fund, which aims to create two to four new drugs against drug-resistant bacteria, has already invested in two start-ups.
The vast majority of Americans see risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Two-thirds of people polled were concerned about negative effects from AI, with 61% believing that the technology could threaten civilization. This compares with just 22% of respondents who didn't agree. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman voiced concerns about the misuse of AI during a virtual hearing in front of US Congress on Tuesday, pressing for the introduction of regulation for the sector. Meanwhile, Elon Musk co-signed an open letter calling for a six-month pause in AI research.
US President Joe Biden believes that a potential US debt default can be avoided by making a deal with Congress. Biden shared that his recent meeting with Kevin McCarthy, Republican Speaker, was “civil and respectful". He said that all parties understood the “consequences of the failure to pay our bills”. Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary, has already warned that a default could happen as early as 1 June if Congress did not take any action to increase the borrowing limit. The fiscal stand-off had become a critical threat to the global economy and finance systems. Biden shortened his international trip to Japan to work on the debt limit negotiations in Washington. The White House and Republicans in Congress are discussing a fiscal deal with limits to discretionary spending over the next several years. Republicans are putting pressure on adding new work requirements for the government's large anti-poverty schemes.
Biden off to Japan for Group of Seven summit, says there’s ‘work to do’ on global stage
The Toronto Star
23-05-17 17:05
US President Joe Biden has warned that there is “work to do” on the global stage, amid high-stakes negotiations in Washington over a federal default and geopolitical concerns over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and China’s assertiveness in the Pacific. Although Biden pledged to remain in contact with negotiators in the capital while travelling overseas, his trip has already been cut short. Speaking before leaving the White House, Biden stated that he had made “clear America is not a deadbeat nation”, amid concerns that a federal default would not just spark a deep recession but could also weaken its standing on the international stage.
President Joe Biden has gone to Japan for a summit with allied powers focusing on issues such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China’s actions in the Pacific. As he departed Washington on Wednesday, talks were ongoing to head off a federal default. Biden is pledging to remain in contact with negotiators in Washington while conducting international diplomacy. Biden had also planned to visit Papua New Guinea and Australia amid the showdown over raising the federal debt limit, but has scrapped these plans. The president is expected to attend the annual G7 summit in Hiroshima to discuss global economic issues, climate change and development.
US President Joe Biden has cut his diplomatic visit to Asia short to participate in final negotiations over America's debt ceiling. His comments came ahead of meetings between Steve Ricchetti, a senior adviser to the president, and Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget with negotiators representing congressional Republicans. The United States is projected to run out of money to pay its bills by June 1 if Congress does not raise or suspend the debt limit, potentially causing a recession. The government reached the $31.4tn debt limit on Jan. 19.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he is considering following President Biden's lead and restricting domestic companies from investing in critical industries in China. Sunak said he was "engaged in a dialogue" with the US and that UK authorities are carrying out "policy thinking on that particular area". Biden has indicated he is considering issuing an executive order to create a screening mechanism for outbound US technology investment, making it harder for China to obtain cutting-edge technology. Sunak said that a joint action over tougher controls on western investments in China was a "work in progress and would not be agreed at the G7 summit".
UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has said that he is considering following the US's lead by imposing new restrictions on domestic companies investing in critical industries in China. US President, Joe Biden, has been drawing up a plan to limit investments in key parts of the Chinese economy, which is yet to be announced. Sunak also mentioned that placing further export controls on China would also be discussed at the G7 gathering. Meanwhile, Sunak has backed away from his promise to ban Confucius Institutes from operating in Britain in an attempt to improve UK-China relations.
Leaders from the Group of 7 (G7) countries are to meet and discuss the global economy this week at the annual G7 summit in Japan. However, the US’ nearing debt default of two weeks may be cause for concern. President Joe Biden hopes to promote an optimistic tone after the White House sent two special aids to negotiate with Republicans to raise the debt. Upcoming discussions are also set to focus on Ukraine and China. European allies are pressing the US administration to give American-made F-16 jets to Ukraine after gaining territory around the city of Bakhmut. Nevertheless, the Biden administration is worried about escalating the situation and the potential costs and time issues that would arise. Discussions on China will focus on handling the threat of its economic, technological and military rise. The summit will also include talks on how to stabilise the global economy and limit devaluations of currencies.
Negotiations over raising the US debt ceiling have been held up by the introduction of work requirements for federal aid. The bill, passed by the House in April, would bring in new work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Medicaid assistance for adults without dependents. Legislators are now debating the proposal, with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy insisting that the work requirements be part of negotiations with Joe Biden over raising the debt limit to avoid a national default. While the President has signalled his openness to a possible compromise, many in his party are concerned over the harm the changes could have to vulnerable Americans. Anti-hunger groups have highlighted that new work requirements could cause needy families to lose out on benefits, without significantly reducing the government's spending in these areas, with over 1 million older adults at risk of losing their food assistance.
US archives have found numerous instances in the past decade where classified materials have been mixed with non-sensitive records belonging to retired lawmakers and officials. These discoveries have raised concerns over data security and classification, with investigations ongoing into the mishandling of information found in records belonging to former president Donald Trump and others, and potential legislative changes being considered. The National Archives stated in a recent congressional testimony that the majority of the 80 calls it received over the mixed classification were made by libraries where former officials, including Senate veterans, had donated their records for future research. In each case, “essentially, each individual is serving as their own custodian with very limited oversight”.
US President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy have named a select group to help broker a deal to raise the nation’s borrowing authority and avoid a default. They have appointed a team consisting of vulnerable Louisiana Republican Rep. Garret Graves, Steve Ricchetti, counselor to the president and chief negotiator, Louisa Terrell, director of the White House’s Office of Legislative Affairs, and Shalanda Young, director of the Office of Management and Budget. Negotiators have until 1 June to beat a deadline before the Treasury Department warns US authorities could default for the first time in history. Democrat and GOP aides have met each day but there have been concerns that there are too many people in the room. These select individuals are essential to closing a deal that would keep the nation in line with its obligations.
Micron Technology is set to receive around $1.5bn in government incentives from Japan to manufacture next-gen memory chips. The company intends to use the cash, which will mark the arrival of EUV equipment to the country for the first time, to introduce a facility to fabricate DRAM chips with plans to launch the more advanced one-gamma production in late 2024. The incentives form part of Japan's move to bolster domestic semiconductor production, something that would provide a backup to Taiwan amid growing tensions between China and the US. Mini-app Rapidus, meanwhile, plans to make 2-nanometer chips by 2027.
US President Joe Biden will hold a Pacific Island leaders' summit later this year featuring more than a dozen nations that are important to the US and whose alliances benefit American interests, amid growing concerns about China’s influence in the region. The summit was confirmed by National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan following the president's decision to scrap his trip to Australia. The summit is the second within 12 months, building on last year's meeting where Biden promised an additional $810m to seek progress on climate change, economic recovery, pandemic response and maritime security.
Voters in Northern Ireland went to the polls yesterday to elect 462 councillors to Northern Ireland’s 11 councils in local government elections. No party has overall control over Belfast City Council, the largest local government area. It is the parties’ first electoral test since last year’s Assembly elections and comes amidst ongoing changes and continued stalemates with the powersharing institutions and the DUP’s protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. The Alliance Party, with 53 councillors, made the largest gains in last year’s Assembly elections and will be hoping to increase their seats this year alongside Sinn Fein, which is running 162 candidates and hopes to emulate its Assembly election success.
China and ASEAN negotiators have agreed to hasten a review of the code of conduct to maintain peace in the South China Sea, the Chinese foreign ministry announced on 28 July. The agreement comes a year after the legally binding code was supposed to be enacted. There are multiple claims and disputes over the area, with China enhancing its presence considerably in recent years. The US considers the South China Sea to be critical to its Indo-Pacific policy and has sent navy vessels to carry out exercises and maintain freedom of navigation close to Chinese-controlled islands and reefs in the area.
Three former UK business secretaries from different parties, Lord Mandelson, Sir Vince Cable and Greg Clark, have accused Chancellor Rishi Sunak of having neither an effective nor visible industrial strategy. Clark said Sunak had never even referred to the subject. Mandelson said the lack of enthusiasm had resulted in a confused policy, while Cable said it had been discontinued due to "ideological zealotry". Senior government insiders admitted the policy was not contained within a single document and was a "comms issue". The role of the state in economies recently has highlighted a difference between European and US approaches.
