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Data center owners urge US Treasury to keep renewable energy subsidy rules

Data center owners urge US Treasury to keep renewable energy subsidy rules

Reutersa day ago
Aug 15 (Reuters) - The Data Center Coalition, which represents data center owners including Google, Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab and Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab, called on U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to uphold existing rules for wind and solar energy subsidies, saying they have enabled the industry to grow quickly and stay ahead of competition from China.
Tougher rules on how projects can qualify for federal clean energy tax credits could slow development of new electricity generation at a time of surging power demand driven by artificial intelligence and the digital economy.
"Any regulatory friction that slows down deployment of new generation today directly impacts our ability to meet AI-era electricity demands tomorrow," the coalition wrote in its letter to Bessent. The letter is dated August 4 but was seen by Reuters on Friday.
President Donald Trump issued an executive order in July directing Treasury to tighten clean energy tax credit rules, including redefining what it means for a project to have started construction.
The industry has relied on the existing rules for the last decade, and advisory firm Clean Energy Associates projected this week that the United States could lose about 60 gigawatts of planned solar capacity through 2030 if stricter "beginning of construction" rules are implemented.
Between 2017 and 2023, the U.S. data center industry contributed $3.5 trillion to the nation's gross domestic product and directly employed over 600,000 workers, according to the DCC.
The Treasury Department is expected to issue updated guidelines as soon as August 18.
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US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says
US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says

Reuters

time19 minutes ago

  • Reuters

US ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, Germany's Merz says

BERLIN, Aug 16 (Reuters) - The U.S. is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday, a day after a summit in Alaska between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz told German public broadcaster ZDF after being briefed together with other European leaders by Trump on his talks with Putin. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is due to meet Trump on Monday in Washington, after which a three-way meeting between Putin, Trump and Zelenskiy should be held as soon as possible with the aim of reaching a peace agreement, Merz said. "If that works out, it's worth more than a ceasefire," he said. Merz said Trump had indicated that Russia seemed ready to negotiate based on the front lines of the conflict, rather than the borders of Ukrainian regions it claims. "This is a huge difference because Russia is claiming territories that it hasn't occupied yet," he said. Speaking separately to German broadcaster n-tv, Merz said he did not think Zelenskiy would face as difficult a time in Washington with Trump as he had in February, when the two leaders clashed in an extraordinary exchange before the world's media at the White House. Merz said Zelenskiy would on Sunday talk to European leaders who would help him prepare for the meeting. "We'll give a few good pieces of advice," he said. Merz told ZDF that while it was important that Europe stand united, the U.S. would for the time being continue to play the decisive role in the war, which has raged since 2022 when Russia invaded Ukraine. "The American president has the power both militarily and via appropriate sanctions and tariffs to ensure that Russia moves more than it currently does," he said.

‘Critical' alert to 3.5bn Google users over ‘high-severity' flaw that could hijack your phone without you doing ANYTHING
‘Critical' alert to 3.5bn Google users over ‘high-severity' flaw that could hijack your phone without you doing ANYTHING

Scottish Sun

timean hour ago

  • Scottish Sun

‘Critical' alert to 3.5bn Google users over ‘high-severity' flaw that could hijack your phone without you doing ANYTHING

The earlier you update, the better GOOG GOD 'Critical' alert to 3.5bn Google users over 'high-severity' flaw that could hijack your phone without you doing ANYTHING Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) IF you use Google's Chrome browser, stop what you're doing and check for an update right now. Google has pushed a fresh security release for Chrome and is urging its billions of users worldwide to install it as soon as possible. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 The company's advisory amounts to a clear 'update now' warning Credit: Getty The company has confirmed the new Stable Channel build is rolling out across desktop and mobile, with fixes for multiple security issues. It's important to note that you are safest after you have updated and restarted your device. What's the problem? Google has flagged a new batch of security flaws, and you should update ASAP. The most serious is CVE-2025-8901 - a high‑severity bug in ANGLE (the graphics tech Chrome uses). In plain English, a dodgy, specially crafted web page could poke at your device's memory where it shouldn't, which is a big no‑no for security. Google's also outlined two medium‑severity issues: CVE-2025-8881: an 'inappropriate implementation' in the File Picker (the bit that lets you choose files to upload). an 'inappropriate implementation' in the File Picker (the bit that lets you choose files to upload). CVE-2025-8882: a 'use‑after‑free' bug in Aura (Chrome's interface layer), which can cause crashes or open the door to further exploits. The good news is that there's no evidence these have been used in real‑world attacks. But some can be triggered remotely by just visiting a malicious page, so don't sit on it - get the latest Chrome update and restart your browser to lock things down. Why it matters Chrome is the most widely used web browser, making it an attractive target for cybercriminals. The latest update includes security fixes that decrease the risk of exposure to malicious websites and infected downloads. Google usually withholds technical details until most users have installed the updates to prevent alerting attackers. This is why it's important to update your browser promptly. Google has confirmed the latest Stable Channel release of Chrome (the latest Stable Channel release) with security fixes for Windows, Mac, and Linux, with Android and iOS following. The company's advisory amounts to a clear 'update now' warning: install the patch and relaunch the browser to be protected. If you leave it for later, Chrome won't fully apply fixes until you close and reopen it. How to update Chrome in 30 seconds On Windows and Mac Open Chrome and click the three dots (top right) Go to Help > About Google Chrome Chrome will check for updates and download automatically Click Relaunch to finish On Android Open Google Play Store Tap your profile > Manage apps & device > Updates available Find Chrome and tap Update (or search for Chrome and update from the app page) Reopen Chrome when it's done On iPhone and iPad Open the App Store Tap Updates (or your profile > Available Updates) Update Google Chrome Reopen the app On Chromebook (ChromeOS) Click the clock > Settings > About ChromeOS Click Check for updates and Restart to update Google Chrome owners can make single click to stay safe – but beware 'red alert' How to check you're protected You don't need to memorise version numbers. After you've updated: Go to Help > About Google Chrome on desktop If it says 'Chrome is up to date' and you've relaunched, you're covered On mobile, open Chrome > Settings > About Chrome to confirm the latest build is installed If your update hasn't appeared yet, don't panic. Google staggers rollouts globally. Try again later today, or grab the latest installer directly from Google's Chrome site and reinstall over the top on the desktop. Managed work devices may be controlled by your IT team, so check with them if updates are blocked. Frequently asked questions Does Incognito keep me safe from exploits? No. Incognito stops Chrome from saving your browsing history locally. It doesn't shield you from security flaws. You still need updates. Do I need to reinstall Chrome every time there's an update? No. Chrome updates itself; you just need to relaunch. Only reinstall if the updater is broken or your install is corrupted. Will I lose my tabs when I relaunch? Enable 'Continue where you left off' to restore tabs after a relaunch. Is this the same as ETAs/patches I see for Android apps? Separate but similar idea. Chrome on Android updates via Google Play like any app. Desktop Chrome has its own updater. What Google hasn't said (yet) - and why You'll see Google acknowledge 'security fixes' without always listing every vulnerability immediately. That's deliberate. By holding back technical specifics for a short window, they make it harder for bad actors to reverse‑engineer the flaw while users are still patching. The takeaway for you is simple: the earlier you update, the better. Why attackers love browsers Your browser sits between you and the internet. 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‘State-driven censorship': new wave of book bans hits Florida school districts
‘State-driven censorship': new wave of book bans hits Florida school districts

The Guardian

timean hour ago

  • The Guardian

‘State-driven censorship': new wave of book bans hits Florida school districts

A new wave of book bans has hit Florida school districts, with hundreds of titles being pulled from library and classroom shelves as the school year kicks off. The Republican-dominated state, which has already had the highest rate of book bans nationwide this year, is continuing to censor reading materials in schools, bowing to external pressures in an effort to avoid conflict and government retaliation. 'This is an ideological campaign to erase LGBTQ+ lives and any honest discussion of sex, stripping libraries of resources and stories,' William Johnson, the director of PEN America's Florida office, told the Guardian. 'If censorship keeps spreading, silence won't save us. Floridians must speak out now.' Book bans have been rising at a rapid rate across the US since 2021, but this latest wave comes after increased pressure from the state board of education in Florida. The board issued a harsh warning to the Hillsborough county school district in May, saying that if they didn't remove 'pornographic' titles from their library, formal legal action could ensue. More than 600 books were pulled as a result, and the process was expected to cost the district $350,000. The books taken off the school shelves included The Diary of Anne Frank and What Girls Are Made of by Elana K Arnold. None of them were under formal review by the district, and they hadn't been flagged by local parents as potentially inappropriate. Parents with children in the school system even had the opportunity to opt their children out of a particular reading, without removing them from the class for everyone. PEN called the board of education's mass removal in Hillsborough county a 'state-driven censorship', and concluded 'it is a calculated effort to consolidate power through fear, to bypass legal precedent, and to silence diverse voices in Florida's public schools,' in their press release. Fearing similar retribution, nine surrounding school districts have taken proactive measures, pulling books which they are worried could cause similar controversy. This includes Columbia, Escambia, Orange and Osceola, who have followed suit and quietly complied, probably to avoid similar state retaliation. 'Censorship advocates are playing a long game, and making Hillsborough county public schools bend the knee is a huge win for them,' said Rachel Doyle, who goes by 'Reads with Rachel' on social media. Doyle has two children in the Hillsborough school district system and is frustrated that they are being used as political pawns. She feels that her voice has been erased by far-right groups like Moms for Liberty and that parental rights groups do not have her kids' best interests in mind. 'I do not want or need a special interest group or a 'concerned citizen' opting out for me,' Doyle said. 'Once Florida becomes a place where this is the norm entirely, other states will follow.' In Escambia county, one of the nine school districts that have taken books off their library shelves after the Hillsborough removal campaign, 400 titles have been removed without review. These include I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou, and Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, a satirical anti-war novel centered around a prisoner of war in Dresden after the Allied bombings in the second world war. What is happening in Florida is part of a broader, nationwide censorship drive fueled by conservative backlash against teachings about race, gender and diversity. Unsurprisingly, red states on average have seen higher instances of banned reading materials, with Florida accounting for 4,561 cases of prohibited titles this year, spanning 33 school districts. These bans often target authors of color, female writers and members of the LGBTQ+ community. Books that educate about any of these experiences, or that document historical periods, are the recipients of frequent censorship attacks. Rob Sanders, the author of several acclaimed children's books like Ruby Rose and Peaceful Fights for Equal Rights, and a former Hillsborough county educator, has seen many challenges to his books in Florida and beyond. 'If we eliminate every book that tells a story that is different than the life experiences of an individual or a family, there will be no books left in the library,' Sanders said. 'As an author, the best thing I can do for children is to keep writing books that tell the truth and that celebrate the wonderful diversity in our world.'

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