Latest news with #APNewYork
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Politics
- Business Standard
Putin agrees that US could offer Nato-style security to Ukraine: Witkoff
Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks Friday at a military base in Alaska, said it was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that and called it game-changing AP New York Russian leader Vladimir Putin agreed at his summit with President Donald Trump that the United States and its European allies could offer Ukraine a security guarantee resembling Nato's collective defense mandate as part of an eventual deal to end the war, a US official said Sunday. Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, who took part in the talks Friday at a military base in Alaska, said it was the first time we had ever heard the Russians agree to that and called it game-changing. We were able to win the following concession: That the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in Nato," Witkoff told CNN's State of the Union. Witkoff offered few details on how such an arrangement would work. But it appeared to be a major shift for Putin and could serve as a workaround to his deep-seated objection to Ukraine's potential Nato membership, a step that Kyiv has long sought. It was expected to be a key topic Monday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and major European leaders meet with Trump at the White House to discuss ending the 3 1/2-year conflict. BIG PROGRESS ON RUSSIA, Trump said Sunday on social media. STAY TUNED! Hammering out a plan for security guarantees Article 5, the heart of the 32-member transatlantic military alliance, says an armed attack against a member nation is considered an attack against them all. What needed to be hammered out at this week's talks were the contours of any security guarantees, said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also participated in the summit. Ukraine and European allies have pushed the US to provide that backstop in any peace agreement to deter future attacks by Moscow. How that's constructed, what we call it, how it's built, what guarantees are built into it that are enforceable, that's what we'll be talking about over the next few days with our partners," Rubio said on NBC's Meet the Press. It was unclear, however, whether Trump had fully committed to such a guarantee. Rubio said it would be a huge concession." The comments shed new light on what was discussed in Alaska. Before Sunday, US officials had offered few details even as both Trump and Putin said their meeting was a success. Witkoff also said Russia had agreed to enact a law that it would not go after any other European countries and violate their sovereignty. The Russians agreed on enshrining legislatively language that would prevent them from or that they would attest to not attempting to take any more land from Ukraine after a peace deal, where they would attest to not violating any European borders," he said on Fox News Sunday. Europe welcomes US openness to security guarantees European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, speaking in Brussels alongside Zelenskyy, applauded the news from the White House as a European coalition looks to set up a force to police any future peace in Ukraine. "We welcome President Trump's willingness to contribute to Article 5-like security guarantees for Ukraine and the coalition of the willing' including the European Union is ready to do its share, she said. Zelenskyy thanked the US for signaling that it was willing to support such guarantees but said much remained unclear. There are no details how it will work, and what America's role will be, Europe's role will be and what the EU can do and this is our main task: We need security to work in practice like Article 5 of Nato, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron said the substance of security guarantees to secure any peace arrangement will be more important than whether they are given an Article 5-type label. At the White House meeting, Macron said European leaders will ask the US to back their plans to beef up Ukraine's armed forces with more training and equipment and deploy an allied force away from the front lines. We'll show this to our American colleagues, and we'll tell them, Right, we're ready to do this and that, what are you prepared to do?'" Macron said. That's the security guarantee. Defending Trump's shift from ceasefire to peace deal Witkoff and Rubio defended Trump's decision to abandon a push for a ceasefire, arguing that the Republican president had pivoted toward a full peace agreement because so much progress had been made at the summit. We covered almost all the other issues necessary for a peace deal, Witkoff said, without elaborating. We began to see some moderation in the way they're thinking about getting to a final peace deal. Rubio, appearing on several TV news shows Sunday, said it would have been impossible to reach any truce Friday because Ukraine was not there. Now, ultimately, if there isn't a peace agreement, if there isn't an end of this war, the president's been clear, there are going to be consequences, Rubio said on ABC's This Week. But we're trying to avoid that." Rubio, who is also Trump's national security adviser, also voiced caution on the progress made. We're still a long ways off," he said. We're not at the precipice of a peace agreement. We're not at the edge of one. But I do think progress was made towards one. Land swaps are on the table Among the issues expected to dominate Monday's meeting: What concessions Zelenskyy might accept on territory. In talks with European allies after the summit, Trump said Putin reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up the Donbas, European officials said. It was unclear among those briefed whether Trump sees that as acceptable. Witkoff said the Russians have made clear they want territory as determined by legal boundaries instead of the front lines where territory has been seized. There is an important discussion to be had with regard to Donetsk and what would happen there. And that discussion is going to specifically be detailed on Monday, he said. Zelenskyy has rejected Putin's demands that Ukraine give up the Donbas region, which Russia has failed to take completely, as a condition for peace. In Brussels, the Ukrainian leader said any talks involving land must be based on current front lines, suggesting he will not abandon land that Russia has not taken. The contact line is the best line for talking, and the Europeans support this, he said. The constitution of Ukraine makes it impossible, impossible to give up territory or trade land. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
State AI law ban dropped from Trump's tax bill after GOP rift over rules
Tech firms, trade groups, VCs, and Trump officials backed a provision to block states from enacting their own AI regulations for years, aiming for unified national oversight AP New York A controversial bid to deter states from regulating artificial intelligence for a decade seemed on its way to passing as the Republican tax cut and spending bill championed by President Donald Trump worked its way through the US Senate. But as the bill neared a final vote, a relentless campaign against it by a constellation of conservatives including Republican governors, lawmakers, think tanks and social groups had been eroding support. One, conservative activist Mike Davis, appeared on the show of right-wing podcaster Steve Bannon, urging viewers to call their senators to reject this AI amnesty for trillion-dollar Big Tech monopolists. He said he also texted with Trump directly, advising the president to stay neutral on the issue despite what Davis characterised as significant pressure from White House AI czar David Sacks, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and others. Conservatives passionate about getting rid of the provision had spent weeks fighting others in the party who favoured the legislative moratorium because they saw it as essential for the country to compete against China in the race for AI dominance. The schism marked the latest and perhaps most noticeable split within the GOP about whether to let states continue to put guardrails on emerging technologies or minimise such interference. In the end, the advocates for guardrails won, revealing the enormous influence of a segment of the Republican Party that has come to distrust Big Tech. They believe states must remain free to protect their citizens against potential harms of the industry, whether from AI, social media or emerging technologies. Tension in the conservative movement is palpable, said Adam Thierer of the R Street Institute, a conservative-leaning think tank. Thierer first proposed the idea of the AI moratorium last year. He noted the animus surrounding Big Tech among many Republicans. "That was the differentiating factor. Conservative v. conservative in a last-minute fight The Heritage Foundation, children's safety groups and Republican state lawmakers, governors and attorneys general all weighed in against the AI moratorium. Democrats, tech watchdogs and some tech companies opposed it, too. Sensing the moment was right on Monday night, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who opposed the AI provision and had attempted to water it down, teamed up with Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington to suggest striking the entire proposal. By morning, the provision was removed in a 99-1 vote. The whirlwind demise of a provision that initially had the backing of House and Senate leadership and the White House disappointed other conservatives who felt it gave China, a main AI competitor, an advantage. Ryan Fournier, chairman of Students for Trump and chief marketing officer of the startup Uncensored AI, had supported the moratorium, writing on X that it stops blue states like California and New York from handing our future to Communist China. Republicans are that way ... I get it, he said in an interview, but added there needs to be one set of rules, not 50 for AI innovation to be successful. AI advocates fear a patchwork of state rules Tech companies, tech trade groups, venture capitalists and multiple Trump administration figures had voiced their support for the provision that would have blocked states from passing their own AI regulations for years. They argued that in the absence of federal standards, letting the states take the lead would leave tech innovators mired in a confusing patchwork of rules. Lutnick, the commerce secretary, posted that the provision makes sure American companies can develop cutting-edge tech for our military, infrastructure, and critical industries without interference from anti-innovation politicians. AI czar Sacks had also publicly supported the measure. After the Senate passed the bill without the AI provision, the White House responded to an inquiry for Sacks with the president's position, saying Trump "is fully supportive of the Senate-passed version of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill." Acknowledging defeat of his provision on the Senate floor, Cruz noted how pleased China, liberal politicians and radical left-wing groups would be to hear the news. But Blackburn pointed out that the federal government has failed to pass laws that address major concerns about AI, such as keeping children safe and securing copyright protections. But you know who has passed it? she said. The states. Conservatives want to win the AI race, but disagree on how Conservatives distrusting Big Tech for what they see as social media companies stifling speech during the COVID-19 pandemic and surrounding elections said that tech companies shouldn't get a free pass, especially on something that carries as much risk as AI. Many who opposed the moratorium also brought up preserving states' rights, though proponents countered that AI issues transcend state borders and Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce. Eric Lucero, a Republican state lawmaker in Minnesota, noted that many other industries already navigate different regulations established by both state and local jurisdictions. I think everyone in the conservative movement agrees we need to beat China," said Daniel Cochrane from the Heritage Foundation. I just think we have different prescriptions for doing so. Many argued that in the absence of federal legislation, states were best positioned to protect citizens from the potential harms of AI technology. We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years and giving it free rein and tying states hands is potentially dangerous, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene wrote on X. A call for federal rules Another Republican, Texas state Sen. Angela Paxton, wrote to Cruz and his counterpart, Sen. John Cornyn, urging them to remove the moratorium. She and other conservatives said some sort of federal standard could help clarify the landscape around AI and resolve some of the party's disagreements. But with the moratorium dead and Republicans holding only narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress, it's unclear whether they will be able to agree on a set of standards to guide the development of the burgeoning technology. In an email to The Associated Press, Paxton said she wants to see limited federal AI legislation that sets some clear guardrails around national security and interstate commerce, while leaving states free to address issues that affect their residents. "When it comes to technology as powerful and potentially dangerous as AI, we should be cautious about silencing state-level efforts to protect consumers and children, she said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Columbia student data stolen by politically motivated hacker, says univ
The June 24 cyberattack prompted widespread network outages on campus, locking students and staff out of their email accounts, coursework and video conference software for several hours AP New York A politically motivated hacker breached Columbia University's data systems last week, stealing troves of student documents while briefly shutting down the school's computer systems, a university official said. The June 24 cyberattack prompted widespread network outages on campus, locking students and staff out of their email accounts, coursework and video conference software for several hours. On the same day, images of President Donald Trump's smiling face appeared on several public monitors across the Manhattan campus. A spokesperson for Columbia declined to elaborate on the political motivations behind the attack. But they described a highly sophisticated hacktivist who had gained access to private student records in an attempt to further a political agenda. The spokesperson said it was unclear if the Trump photo display was connected to the data breach. We are investigating the scope of the apparent theft and will share our findings with the University community as well as anyone whose personal information was compromised, the school said. The cyberattack comes as Columbia remains in the crosshairs of the Trump administration, which has threatened to pull $400 million in federal funds over what it claims is the school's failure to protect Jewish students. Negotiations over a possible settlement are ongoing. The university has already agreed to a host of changes demanded by Trump, including placing its Middle East studies department under new supervision and overhauling its rules for protests and student discipline. In March, a cyberattack against New York University resulted in student admission records briefly appearing on the school's website. An online hacker who took credit for that action on social media said the intent was to prove the university was not in compliance with the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action in college admissions. An NYU spokesperson said at the time that the data displayed on its webpage was inaccurate and misleading," adding that the university scrupulously complies with the law. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Beijing treads cautiously in Iran-Israel war despite ties with Tehran
Given the tangled politics of the Middle East, where China holds substantial economic and energy stakes yet wields minimal military influence, Beijing 'isn't inclined to stick its neck out' AP New York When Israel attacked Iran nearly two weeks ago, the Chinese government, a longtime friend of Iran, jumped into action at least, when it came to words. It condemned the attacks. Its leader, Xi Jinping, got on the phone with the Russian leader and urged a ceasefire. Its foreign minister spoke with his counterpart in Iran. But that's where China stopped. The usual rhetoric was delivered. De-escalation and dialogue were trumpeted. Yet China offered no material support. Despite Beijing's clout as a near-peer rival to the United States and its ambition to play a bigger role on the world stage, Beijing refrained from offering military support to Iran, let alone getting directly involved in the conflict. The decision underscored the limitations it faces in the Middle East. "Beijing lacks both the diplomatic capabilities and the risk appetite to quickly intervene in, and to think it can successfully navigate, this fast-moving and volatile situation," said Jude Blanchette, director of the China Research Center at RAND. Given the tangled politics of the Middle East, where China holds substantial economic and energy stakes yet wields minimal military influence, Beijing "isn't inclined to stick its neck out," Blanchette added. Instead, the Chinese government opts to remain "a measured, risk-averse actor." China weighs commercial interests Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Relations at Nanjing University in eastern China, said volatility in the Middle East is not in China's interests. "From China's point of view, the Israel-Iran conflicts challenge and impact China's business interests and economic security," Zhu said. "This is something China absolutely does not want to see." After the Iranian parliament floated a plan to shut down the strategically located Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, China spoke against it. "China calls on the international community to step up efforts to de-escalate conflicts and prevent regional turmoil from having a greater impact on global economic development," said Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry. On Tuesday, following the ceasefire announcement, US President Donald Trump wrote in a social media post: "China can now continue to purchase Oil from Iran," suggesting the ceasefire would prevent the disruption of Iranian oil production. A 2024 report by the US Energy Information Administration contained estimates suggesting that roughly 80 per cent to 90 per cent of the oil exported by Iran went to China. The Chinese economy could struggle to preserve its industrial production without the roughly 1.2 million barrels of oil and other fossil fuels provided by Iran. Craig Singleton, senior China fellow at the Washington-based think tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, summed up Beijing's responses as "steady oil buys and ritual calls for dialogue'." "That's about it," Singleton said. "No drones or missile parts, no emergency credit line. Just words calibrated to placate Tehran without rattling Riyadh or inviting US sanctions." Beijing's muted responses also expose the gap between China's great-power rhetoric and its real reach in the region. Said Singleton: "China's Gulf footprint is commercial, not combat-ready. When missiles fly, its much-touted strategic partnership with Iran shrinks to statements. Beijing wants discounted Iranian oil and a peace-broker' headline, while letting Washington shoulder the hard-power risks." In statements, China sides with Iran and pledges to mediate Since the onset of the war, Beijing which brokered a diplomatic rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2023 stood by Iran's side and urged talks. At the United Nations, China, a permanent member of the Security Council, teamed up with Russia and Pakistan in putting forward a draft resolution condemning "in the strongest terms" the attacks against peaceful nuclear sites and facilities in Iran. They called for "an immediate and unconditional ceasefire" even though the United States, another permanent member on the council, is almost certain to veto the proposal. Shortly after Israel attacked Iran, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a phone call with his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, and told him that "China explicitly condemned Israel's violation of Iran's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity." Wang, using common diplomatic language, said China was "ready to maintain communication with Iran and other relevant parties to continue playing a constructive role in de-escalating the situation." Wang later spoke with foreign ministers of Oman and Egypt; both nations are key mediators in the region. And late last week, before the US got involved militarily, Xi spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin; the two agreed to stay in closer contact over Iran and work toward de-escalation. But China stayed away from any direct involvement, and Russia also had muted responses to the Israel-Iran conflict. Iran is an important link in Xi's ambitious global project Belt and Road Initiative, and in 2023 joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a security group by Russia and China to counter the US-led NATO. It has conducted joint exercises with China, including this year's 'Maritime Security Belt 2025' in the Gulf of Oman, in which Russia also took part. On Wednesday, Beijing will convene a meeting of defense ministers of SCO member nations. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
NYC governor to build state's first new nuclear power plant in decades
Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the state's power authority to develop an advanced, zero-emission facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid AP New York New York's governor on Monday proposed the construction of the state's first new nuclear power plant in decades. Gov. Kathy Hochul directed the state's power authority to develop an advanced, zero-emission facility in upstate New York that she hopes will help create a clean, reliable and affordable electric grid for the state. She said the state power authority will seek to develop at least one new nuclear energy facility with a combined capacity of no less than one gigawatt of electricity. That would increase the state's total nuclear capacity to about 4.3 gigawatts. The Democrat said the state needs to secure its energy independence if it wants to continue to attract large manufacturers that create good-paying jobs as it deactivates aging fossil fuel power plants. We're going to get it done, Hochul said, speaking at the Niagara County Power Project in Lewiston. This historic initiative will lay the foundation for the next generation of prosperity. The governor said the state hasn't decided on a potential location, but that upstate communities appear receptive, given the potential for creating 1,600 construction jobs and 1,200 permanent jobs once the facility is operational. Everybody is raising their hand right now, Hochul said. It's going to be hard to decide. Among those likely in the running is the Nine Mile Point nuclear plant in Oswego. Hochul's administration has been supportive of Maryland power company Constellation's bid to build a new nuclear reactor at the two-reactor facility. American utilities have been broadly reluctant to launch new nuclear plants due to high cost overruns and delays on recent high-profile projects. Georgia Power Company completed the first two new nuclear reactors in the country in a generation last year. But Units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro, Georgia, cost nearly USD billion and were powered up some seven years later than initially hoped. Last month, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the nation's largest public power company, applied to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to develop what it bills as a next-generation nuclear power plant at its Clinch River site in Oak Ridge. The federally owned utility provides electricity to seven states and operates three traditional, large nuclear power plants, providing about 40 per cent of the Tennessee Valley's power. New York currently has three active nuclear plants, all located upstate along Lake Ontario and owned by Constellation. The Nine Mile Point, Robert Emmett Ginna and James A. FitzPatrick plants provide about 3.3 gigawatts of power, or roughly 20 per cetn of the state's electricity, according to Hochul's office. The last nuclear power plant built in the state was Unit 2 at Nine Mile Point in 1989. At its peak, nuclear power provided about 5.4 gigawatts, or roughly one-third of the state's electrical supply, according to the advocacy group Nuclear New York. The New York Power Authority previously operated two nuclear plants, including the Indian Point Power Plant, which shut down in 2021. That facility was located along the Hudson River some 40 kilometres north of New York City in Buchanan. The other facility, once operated by the state, was the FitzPatrick plant, which the power authority sold in 2000 and is now run by Constellation.
