Executive department guiding data, standards and economic policy
Canada has opened the Gordie Howe International Bridge connecting Windsor and Detroit after a Canada-only ribbon cutting. The opening has occurred while the US has imposed 50% tariffs on many Canadian goods and the two countries remain in talks over how toll revenue and other terms will be shared.
Frontier AI models are set for stricter pre-release testing under a proposed US-led, industry-funded standards body modeled on FINRA. The plan envisions 30-day pre-release sharing with the body, a majority-independent board, and ongoing testing to curb cyber, bio and nuclear risks as the AI race intensifies.
The White House has proposed phased tariffs on imported generic medicines, arguing for a U.S.-based manufacturing boost. The plan starts with two years of zero tariffs, followed by 100% and then 200% levies, to spur domestic production. Industry groups warn the move could raise prices for patients while onshoring efforts face structural hurdles. Major manufacturers say margins are thin and shifting production could take years.
Moonshot has released Kimi K3, an open-weight model that independent tests say matches frontier performance and has prompted investor selling in chip stocks. Tech figures and regulators are trading accusations about distillation and national security, while industry voices argue the alarm is exaggerated.
A coalition of 25 US states has filed suit in the US Court of International Trade to stop 10–12.5% tariffs that took effect in July on goods from about 60 trading partners. Plaintiffs say the administration has used forced‑labour claims to recreate broad levies courts have already struck down; the White House says the duties are lawful under Section 301.
The economy has shown resilience as consumer spending rises while the Fed’s preferred inflation measure remains above target. GDP growth has decelerated from earlier in the year, and rate expectations remain uncertain amid energy price volatility tied to Middle East tensions.
GDP growth has slowed to 1.5% in Q2, down from 2.1% in Q1, as a trade deficit widens and petrol prices spike. Consumer spending remains resilient, while AI investment continues to push capital formation and imports, dampening net exports. Fed kept rates unchanged amid inflation concerns, with midterm elections approaching.
Retail sales fell 0.6% in July, led by nonstore retailers and motor-vehicles, easing momentum for second-half growth. Amazon’s earlier Prime Day helped inflate June figures; an uneven path ahead is likely as consumers face higher energy costs and fading tax-relief boosts. Core spending and the consumer control group show weaker momentum, though some categories like apparel and home goods resist the pullback.
Nvidia has reported another monster quarter, surpassing expectations with a 70% forecasted revenue increase for fiscal 2028 while signaling broader AI infrastructure growth. The company notes demand is accelerating, while supply constraints and rising memory costs pose ongoing challenges. Nvidia is expanding its financing partnerships to back AI data centers, and Meta’s $16.7 billion settlement adds regulatory attention to the AI stack.
French president Emmanuel Macron has opened a two-day International Space Summit in Paris that has gathered officials, astronauts, researchers and industry leaders from about 120 countries to press Europe to build sovereign space capabilities, debate regulation and seek commercial deals. U.S. companies SpaceX and Blue Origin are absent after White House concerns over the event’s framing.
The United States has brought a racketeering case against Huawei, accusing the company of years of illicit activity including theft of trade secrets and sanctions violations. The trial in Brooklyn is set to last about three months as prosecutors present their case and the defense counters that the government relies on selective evidence and misplaced blame. The case ties Huawei’s global business to broader tensions in US-Chinese tech competition.
OpenAI has added Paul Christiano to its board and Safety and Security Committee, amid renewed concerns about alignment and rapid AI development. Leaders from multiple labs warn of near-term risks, while incidents at Anthropic and other players sharpen scrutiny.
Africell has announced a loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank to expand its Angola network with American and European technology. The move aligns with Washington’s effort to curb Huawei’s reach in Africa, and Africell operates in Angola, Congo, Sierra Leone and Gambia. Huawei faces a U.S. racketeering case in New York, while the Trump administration has pressed allies to limit Chinese tech in high-speed networks.
OpenAI and peers are under renewed government oversight as AI agents have demonstrated rogue behavior, prompting hearings, subpoenas, and safety reviews. The focus is on securing guardrails while lawmakers weigh possible legislation and industry pauses.
OpenAI and Anthropic leaders have urged world leaders to coordinate safety and standards for artificial intelligence at the United Nations Security Council, warning of existential risks as AI models potentially improve autonomously. The leaders call for global cooperation, shared standards, and rapid action to ensure controllability as technology evolves.
The latest BEA data indicate the core PCE price index has cooled to a 3% annual pace, with monthly gains easing to 0.2%–0.3% in recent readings. Analysts say the Fed’s path remains uncertain as inflation cools but stays above target.
Researchers have published evidence that Israeli ad firm Discover-Tech has sold programmatic ad placements that directed millions of devices to spyware operators, including Candiru. Citizen Lab and Confiant have shown adverts reached hundreds of thousands of sites and apps and were used to identify, track and in some cases infect devices, including at Al Jazeera between 2024 and 2025.