American businessman and government official (born 1961)
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.
Kathryn Ruemmler has testified before the House Oversight Committee, acknowledging a long relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and saying he used her to legitimize his standing. She has stepped down from Goldman Sachs but remains as senior adviser. Lawmakers are pursuing further depositions and documents as part of a broad probe into Epstein’s network.
The Commerce Department has moved toward easing export controls for the United Arab Emirates, designating it as a privileged trading partner and enabling greater access to AI chips and related technology from Nvidia, Microsoft and OpenAI. The change centers on Gulf ties to U.S. tech and security interests.
CXMT’s Shanghai IPO has surged in value, spurring bipartisan concern in Washington about Beijing’s possible state backing. The Pentagon has placed CXMT on its security list, while lawmakers push for a classified briefing to assess national-security risks tied to China’s military-civil fusion strategy.
The latest exchanges in the Iran–U.S. confrontation have escalated, with Trump-related polling shifting and new strikes intensifying the conflict. A string of reports shows economic and political pressures are rising as talks falter and hostilities resume.
The US government is examining whether Chinese open-weight AI models have been distilled from American models, a sign that policy actions are likely as tensions in AI leadership between the US and China intensify. Silicon Valley startups are lobbying for targeted safeguards rather than broad bans while White House officials signal ongoing enforcement in the AI space.
The White House has hosted industry leaders to discuss a voluntary framework reviewing cybersecurity across the AI sector. OpenAI, Google and Anthropic are involved as the administration finalizes how frontier models will be evaluated under a forthcoming framework.
Barclays’ former chief Jes Staley has testified before the House Oversight Committee as questions mount over his long-standing ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Regulators had previously banned him for mischaracterizing those ties, and new disclosures are raising questions about how Barclays and JPMorgan Chase handled information on Epstein’s relationship with Staley.
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.
This week has seen major moves in AI infrastructure financing and buildouts. SpaceX has released renderings for Terafab, a more-than-100-million-square-foot semiconductor factory it plans in Texas that it values at at least $16.8bn for the initial phase. Separately, Nvidia has been reported to be negotiating a $250bn guarantee to back OpenAI’s proposed 10-gigawatt Ohio data‑centre lease and construction debt.
The Federal Communications Commission has added "advanced robotic devices" — including humanoid robots, four‑legged machines and some connected power inverters — to a list that blocks new foreign-made models from US markets on national‑security and cybersecurity grounds. The rule has taken effect for models not yet authorised; existing authorised devices remain allowed while exemptions can be requested.
The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement and a bilateral safeguards pact, but President Donald Trump has said the deal is conditional on Riyadh normalising relations with Israel. Officials and commentators are disputing whether the White House and Energy Department coordinated the announcement. Critics warn the pact weakens non‑proliferation safeguards and could spur a regional arms race.
A wave of government-backed cooking shows and dietary guidance has proponents arguing nutritious, affordable meals can beat fast food. Kennedy-led initiatives are highlighting home cooking as a public-health strategy amid rising costs and chronic disease concerns.
Axios reports that the U.S. is weighing a unified AI oversight approach amid EU and UK frameworks. The Trump administration has dismantled former strategy but is developing a voluntary framework to be released by Aug. 1, while Europe pursues phased, scenario-based risk testing with independent verifications.
Beijing has announced a broad package of countermeasures in response to recent U.S. moves, including sanctions on American entities, tighter export controls on drones and dual-use tech, and case-by-case reviews of certain exports. The measures come ahead of high-level talks and are aimed at pressuring the United States while keeping room for de-escalation.
President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders that narrow who can claim birthright citizenship, targeting birth tourism and expanding exclusions for certain foreign-affiliated parents. The measures follow a June Supreme Court ruling that struck down a broader Trump effort; legal experts and critics say the new orders will face immediate court challenges.
The US has imposed a 15% tariff and set minimum import prices on polysilicon and related products, effective in December, after a yearlong Commerce Department national security review. The order targets Chinese-dominated supply chains, offers incentives to expand domestic production and is prompting pushback from Beijing.
President Trump has signed an executive order directing federal health officials to cut the federal recommended childhood vaccine list, to split the combined MMR vaccine into separate measles, mumps and rubella doses once single‑disease products are available, and to space routine immunisations across separate medical visits. Public health groups and drugmakers have said the changes lack scientific support and will increase missed vaccinations during a major U.S. measles outbreak.
Canada and the United States have resumed intensive talks to avert steep US tariffs that could take effect this week. Ottawa has offered concessions, including removing a retaliatory auto tariff, while Washington has pressed provinces to lift bans on US alcohol and pushed demands on market access and content rules for autos. Negotiators are still finalising details.
President Donald Trump has named Will Scharf as White House counsel and assistant to the president, effective Sept. 1. Scharf has served as White House staff secretary and chaired the National Capital Planning Commission; he has represented Trump in major cases, including at the Supreme Court. The change comes weeks after Trump elevated other former personal lawyers to senior legal roles.
The State Department has revoked more than 175,000 visas, citing law-enforcement encounters, criminal activity and national-security concerns. Officials highlight cases including assault, DUI, theft and drug offenses, as well as birth-tourism concerns. The crackdown follows broader immigration enforcement and stricter vetting.
Anthropic has reported surging run-rate revenue and is considering a public listing this fall. Investors are forecasting a multi-trillion-dollar valuation, while safety and regulatory concerns persist amid fierce competition with OpenAI and Chinese challengers.
Anthropic and OpenAI are preparing for public markets, with valuations drawing scrutiny as investors weigh potential competition from cheaper Chinese models. Experts warn that a price war could threaten the AI boom, while a handful of financiers argue the sector remains heavily skewed toward a few players.
The White House has announced tariffs on drones and components to boost domestic production and safeguard national security. Drones with sensitive capabilities face a 100% levy, while smaller drones face 25%. The move, part of broader defense plans, has boosted drone-related stocks as investors weigh the shift toward onshoring U.S. manufacturing.
Global markets have steadied as US retail data suggests consumer spending is softer while inflation trends remain in check. Traders are watching for Federal Reserve guidance as major indices hover near records after a week of mixed signals across equities, bonds and currencies.
The Kennedy Center dispute has intensified over the past days as a federal judge has tightened constraints on the Trump-backed renaming plan. DOJ lawyers argue the center’s renovation and rebranding are essential to prevent ongoing deterioration, while the board presses to restore President Trump’s name amid a broader legal battle with Congress and critics watching closely.
Natalie Harp, a longtime Trump aide known as the “Human Printer,” is drawing renewed scrutiny as reports detail her proximity to the president and influence over information reaching him. The coverage centers on her letters to Trump and her visibility at events, with lawmakers weighing the implications for governance and access.
IndyCar races through Washington, D.C., as part of the Freedom 250 celebration for America’s 250th birthday. Donald Trump waves the green flag to start the race, with a front-row audience including key allies and cabinet members. The event blends spectacle with political theatrics in the nation’s capital.
The Liberal Party has claimed victories in Chicoutimi-Le Fjord, Beaches-East York and North Vancouver-Capilano, signaling a solidifying stance against US tariffs and trade pressure. The performances are strongest in Quebec, where the Liberal candidate has secured a decisive win, while results in Ontario and British Columbia reinforce the party s parliamentary strength.
Kioxia plans a third plant in Japan to manufacture high-density 3D NAND memory, while Fujifilm opens a new facility in Oita to triple production of post-CMP cleaners, addressing AI-data center bottlenecks.
Transcripts show JPMorgan's Staley disclosed sensitive JPMorgan details to Epstein; lawmakers question if the former Barclays chief exploited access. Staley defends his actions, saying he believed he could share information when appropriate. The panel highlights ongoing scrutiny into Epstein’s elite network.
A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Defense acted illegally when it designated Anthropic a supply‑chain risk and barred agencies from enforcing related directives. Judge Rita Lin has vacated the designation, found the actions retaliatory and ordered agencies to rescind guidance; the government is expected to appeal.
Voters across the United States remain skeptical of AI data centers amid concerns over power use and water resources, even as the administration argues for rapid permission and expansion to sustain AI progress. Polls show broad opposition, while politicians debate permits, regulations, and local impacts.
The US is reviewing a position on the Falkland Islands amid reports it could pressure allies to meet defence spending targets. Britain reiterates the islanders’ wish to remain British, while Argentina’s claim remains unresolved. The UK warns that sovereignty rests with the islanders and will defend their right to self-determination.
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.
President has accelerated renovations at the White House, including a lavish ballroom and a secure underground bunker. Courts are weighing legality and process after demolitions, with debates over permanent fencing around Lafayette Park and a new visitor screening facility.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has completed a three‑country tour of Colombia, Ecuador and Peru to expand military and counter‑drug cooperation with right‑wing governments. Washington has pledged funding, vessels and designations of gangs as foreign terrorist organisations while US forces have intercepted and sunk vessels linked to Ecuadorian criminal groups.
The Justice Department has filed a brief supporting OpenAI and Microsoft in the New York Times' copyright suit, arguing training large language models on published works is transformative fair use that advances national security and economic goals. Publishers argue the practice harms journalism and undercuts creators; Judge Sidney H. Stein is expected to rule on summary judgment soon.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has raised national-security concerns about Ford’s ties to Chinese battery tech and plans with Geely in Spain, prompting political and regulatory scrutiny. Ford defends its approach, while lawmakers press for clarity on independence from Chinese tech.
Voters remain skeptical about election integrity and Trump’s influence ahead of the November elections. YouGov, FT/Focaldata, and Gallup show rising doubt, wavering support for mail-in voting, and concerns about Trump’s impact on conservative candidates. The political landscape remains volatile as independents and Democrats push back against perceived interference and misgivings about funding for promised measures.
President Donald Trump has threatened to block Canadian manufacturer Bombardier from selling aircraft in the United States as Ottawa and Washington have exchanged tariffs on roughly $20–28 billion of goods. Canada has imposed retaliatory levies of 15–50%, and Bombardier has said it employs thousands in the US and sources components from 47 states.
A draft proposal from the Trump administration would exclude undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents from the 2030 U.S. census, potentially shrinking official counts used to allocate seats and federal funds. Race and ethnicity questions may be dropped; the plan opens for public comment before final policy.
Inflation remains elevated as energy prices stay buoyant amid renewed Middle East fighting. The latest data show consumer prices rising year over year, with monthly gains in August. Gas and diesel costs are at multi-year highs, weighing on households and businesses just as midterm politics heighten scrutiny of the administration’s economic management.
Today, on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, ceremonies have taken place at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington and the Flight 93 memorial in Pennsylvania. President Donald Trump has delivered remarks at the Pentagon; all living former presidents and Vice President JD Vance have attended the New York memorial. New New York documents on toxic dust have been released.
President Donald Trump has dismissed calls from AI leaders to slow frontier development, attacked Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei on Truth Social and called safety concerns a "hoax" and a "sick conspiracy." His posts have coincided with a sell-off in AI-linked stocks and intensified debate over regulation and US competition with China.
The White House has announced a plan to invest about $15 billion to build the largest U.S. steel plant in Iowa, powered by a $2.5 billion Minnesota iron ore mine. Production is slated to begin in 2030, creating thousands of jobs and reshoring steel production in a bid to bolster national security and manufacturing. The plan is being pitched ahead of the midterm elections as part of a broader economic push.
The US Supreme Court has lifted a lower court ruling and allowed the deportations of immigrants to third countries to resume, while agreeing to hear the merits of the case in December. The decision follows ongoing debates over due process and safety for deportees, with critics urging Congress to tighten protections.
South Korea is evaluating a proposed $50 billion Alaska LNG project as part of a broader $200 billion investment package announced with the United States. While Washington touts the deal as a boost for energy infrastructure, Seoul is weighing commercial viability and legal compliance amid concerns about the project’s cost, timelines, and long‑term LNG demand.
The government has advanced a voluntary safety pact with AI labs, aiming to curb risks while promoting U.S. leadership. President has celebrated the accord, while critics warn it may be insufficient and industry groups push back on regulatory fears. Several tech executives are honored at a White House event tied to the administration’s tech agenda.