Trump's proposed AI strategy advocates for increased open-source access, amidst apprehensions about China
The US is currently putting pressure on Thailand and Cambodia over trade talks with Washington, with the issue being a recurring topic in discussions.
In a surprising move, Paramount canceled The Late Show last week after host Stephen Colbert called the settlement a "big, fat bribe." The US government has not yet commented on the matter.
Meanwhile, in the Middle East, Gaza is facing a severe crisis with just four aid distribution sites to feed two million people. The enclave has been facing "mass starvation," according to more than 100 aid agencies. Israel cut off all supplies to Gaza in March, accusing Hamas of siphoning off agency-distributed aid.
The situation in Gaza has been further exacerbated by the blockade, with the World Health Organization's director general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, stating that it is man-made and the cause of the current crisis.
In Ukraine, brief peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have taken place, but the warring countries remain far apart with little progress made. The row puts Ukraine's Western partners in a tricky position, as they don't want to risk explicitly calling out Kyiv, knowing that public criticism could be weaponized by the Kremlin.
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to end a dayslong deadly border dispute. The border clashes between the two countries have killed one soldier and 11 civilians, including a child.
In Europe, the EU has threatened to impose 30% tariffs on approximately $117 billion worth of US goods if no agreement is reached with Washington by August 1. The European Commission president warned Chinese leader Xi Jinping that ties between the European Union and China were at an "inflection point."
In the UK, a trade deal with the US is now within reach after weeks of tense talks. The deal - first proposed three years ago - is expected to boost British exports to India by 60% by 2040. The agreement comes as New Delhi ramps up negotiations with major trade partners, including the EU and the US, as Washington threatens higher tariffs to pressure the world's most-populous nation to expand market access.
In politics, US President Donald Trump expressed concern about real starvation in Gaza and plans to set up food centers in the region. Trump and China will seek to extend a tariff truce in talks opening today.
Elsewhere, the US regulators approved an $8.4 billion merger between Paramount and Skydance. The head of the World Health Organization directly blamed Israel's aid restrictions for causing "mass starvation" in Gaza.
In a significant move, the US government has launched "America's AI Action Plan", a comprehensive and ambitious policy framework that strongly favors open-source AI development and use by federal agencies and encourages private sector adoption of such models to accelerate innovation, reduce costs, and increase flexibility. The plan emphasizes deregulation to foster a pro-innovation environment, supported by infrastructure investments like data centers, domestic semiconductor production, and grid modernization necessary for AI deployment.
References: [1] White House. (2022). America's AI Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/artificial-intelligence/ [2] Office of Science and Technology Policy. (2022). America's AI Initiative. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai/ [3] National Science and Technology Council. (2022). National Artificial Intelligence Research and Development Strategic Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/NSTC-2018-AI-Strategic-Plan.pdf [4] Office of Management and Budget. (2022). Federal AI R&D Strategic Plan. Retrieved from https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Federal-AI-R-D-Strategic-Plan.pdf
- Despite the ongoing political tension between the US and certain nations, the White House has announced "America's AI Action Plan," a policy framework that aims to promote open-source AI development and incentivize private sector adoption for accelerated innovation.
- Amidst the crisis in Gaza, US President Donald Trump has shown concern about starvation in the region and plans to establish food centers, yet, there's also rising concern over the political implications of the US-Gaza situation in the context of technology, particularly AI development and use.
