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- Business
- Politico
Is AI the exception to ‘America First'?
With help from Aaron Mak The AI Action Plan that President Donald Trump rolled out last week contained quite an easter egg for globalists. In many ways, the 28-page document was very much in line with Trump's swaggering, chest-puffing attitude toward foreign policy. It took an 'America first' approach that rhetorically paralleled the administration's punishing tariff threats, withdrawal from 'woke' UNESCO and drive-by references to 'the evil of globalism.' But packed into the AI plan's pages — page 20, to be exact — was a pivot: a call to forge 'an enduring global alliance' on the technology. The plan gets pretty specific. It calls for the State and Commerce departments to leverage the U.S. position in international bodies — it names the United Nations, the OECD, G7, G20 and the International Telecommunication Union, among others — to advocate standards and governance approaches that 'reflect American values.' (If you're not familiar, the ITU is a 150-year-old UN agency that sets rules for global telecom and tech infrastructure — and has been the subject of a global power struggle before.) So wait — did AI just carve out its own exception to 'America First'? And what does that mean for America's increasingly fragile relationships with Western allies? European diplomats I called from Germany, France and Brussels declined to comment. Karsten Wildberger, Germany's digital minister, attended the AI Action Plan announcement in Washington and nodded to the sense of alliance in a CNN interview: 'Well, look, Germany and Europe, we are great partners of the U.S. — 75 percent of our cloud services is serviced by great American tech companies, and we value this partnership.' Ronan Murphy, director of the tech policy program at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, told DFD that although he saw the theme of the plan as 'very much America First, AI dominance,' he agreed there was a vibe shift when it comes to how to actually push that agenda. 'The outright acknowledgement that there is a benefit to working with others in this technology is a little bit new, for this administration,' Murphy said. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy did not immediately respond to questions from DFD. One group that has long advocated for the U.S. to take a more robust role in AI on the world stage is the Special Competitive Studies Project, founded in 2021 by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. The group submitted its recommendations to the White House ahead of the release of the plan. Joe Wang, vice president of global affairs, said he saw SCSP's ideas reflected in the action plan's third pillar, which reads: 'To succeed in the global AI competition, America must do more than promote AI within its own borders. The United States must also drive adoption of American AI systems, computing hardware, and standards throughout the world.' While there are some calls in the action plan for tracking risks, Wang said the export of the tech stack for AI was paramount: 'If we are not the ones doing that, China will be.' As if on cue, China said Saturday that it planned to launch a new world AI organization, with a focus on the Global South. 'We should strengthen coordination to form a global AI governance framework that has broad consensus as soon as possible,' Premier Li Qiang told the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, according to Channel News Asia. In light of the race with China, any restrictions on American technology could be seen as slowing down Team USA, or the 'enduring global alliance' the AI plan would seek to build. Some of those restrictions still come from American allies — and are still causing arguments. Last week, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick pledged to use tariff negotiations to whack at digital services taxes that U.S. tech firms complain unfairly target them. 'Donald Trump's got these tech companies back and we're working on it,' Lutnick said. 'You saw, we got rid of it in Canada, we got rid of it in all sorts of countries, they knock it down, that's one of our key objectives.' And House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) is on a junket to Brussels and London this week blasting European tech regulations. His work builds on the comments Vice President JD Vance made to the Paris AI Action Summit in February: 'The AI future is not going to be won by hand-wringing about safety. It will be won by building -- from reliable power plants to the manufacturing facilities that can produce the chips of the future.' Bluster aside, the U.S. just reached a trade deal with the EU that skipped over digital taxes or regulation. Ironically, the drive to beat China may be a moderating force for the America First AI policy machine. Wang, at SCSP, said as Washington and Beijing hustle to build out AI infrastructure across the world, the U.S. offers an advantage. China's earlier 'Belt and Road' initiative left countries saddled with 'predatory' giant projects and expensive maintenance, he said. One recent analysis found China is the largest debt collector in the developing world. China's new AI plan is 'the next generation of how China can leverage a new tech ecosystem to make sure partners remain tied to China in a way that is advantageous to China, not the partner countries,' Wang said. By contrast, he said, 'The partnership we operate is a more cooperative system.' Tesla's robotaxis red light Tesla hit a permitting snag with its plans to debut robotaxis in San Francisco over the weekend, reports POLITICO's California Decoded team. Tesla initially informed staff last week it would launch the robotaxis in the city as soon as that Friday, Business Insider reported. But local officials told the Decoded team that Tesla never applied for the permits to do so — even with safety drivers behind the wheel. The California Public Utilities Commission told Decoded that Tesla notified the agency it would offer the service to families and friends of employees, and certain members of the public. 'If Tesla actually deploys its AVs in San Francisco without permits, these vehicles should be seized and impounded,' Democratic state Sen. Scott Wiener told POLITICO. 'We have permitting & safety rules for a reason. Elon Musk isn't exempt from those rules.' The warnings may have worked. Members of the Decoded team report that they didn't see any Tesla robotaxis on San Francisco's streets this weekend. Tesla did not respond to an inquiry from DFD. X to comply with Irish social media law X implemented age verification and parental control measures over the weekend to abide by the terms of Ireland's Online Safety Code, POLITICO's Eliza Gkritsi reports. That law, which went into effect on July 21, requires sites hosting adult content to implement practices to protect minors. Ireland's media regulation agency, Coimisiún na Meán, said last Wednesday that X had not taken any actions to comply with the code, and requested that the company provide information about its plans to do so. Coimisiún na Meán told POLITICO on Monday that X had implemented the measures for minors, but Irish regulators said they are still determining whether those steps are sufficient. The company is currently challenging the Online Safety Code in Irish courts. post of the day THE FUTURE IN 5 LINKS Stay in touch with the whole team: Aaron Mak (amak@ Mohar Chatterjee (mchatterjee@ Steve Heuser (sheuser@ Nate Robson (nrobson@ and Daniella Cheslow (dcheslow@
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Delhi University may drop Pak, China, Islam courses from political science syllabus; faculty slams move
The MA Political Science syllabus at Delhi University may lose references to Pakistan, China, Islam, and political violence as the university is likely to drop courses on these subjects from the syllabus. Delhi University is likely to drop courses on Pakistan, China and Islam from the syllabus of MA Political Science. (File Photo) 'Pakistan and the World', 'China's Role in the Contemporary World', 'Islam and International Relations', 'Pakistan: State and Society' and 'Religious Nationalism and Political Violence' will likely be either dropped or replaced by other courses. Following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, department heads at Delhi University were asked to remove any unnecessary glorification of Pakistan from their syllabus, university Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh told news agency ANI. Faculty slams move The move to potentially drop these courses from the MA Political Science course at Delhi University has not gone down well with the faculty, who argue that it would undermine geopolitical understanding. According to Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee, the MA Political Science syllabus faced "significant scrutiny" during the meeting. Dr. Monami Sinha, a member of the Standing Committee, said the Political Science PG syllabus came under "significant scrutiny" when the university's Standing Committee on Academic Matters met to discuss the syllabi of several courses. "It is imperative to study Pakistan in detail because, pedagogically, we need to train our students and foster scholarship on Pakistan, as it remains one of India's constant foreign policy challenges," she stated in her note. She also called China an emerging key player in the Global South, emphasising why its important to include a course on it. Abha Dev, Secretary of Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) also objected to the move, emphasising academic autonomy. "Academic autonomy of Departments stands eroded. The dumbing down of courses by revisions centred around "beliefs" rather than questions of pedagogy and scientific inquiry is unfortunate. Forced revisions are retrograde and are politically motivated. DU was known for its UG courses. These forced changes will adversely impact students' scholarships. This should worry all of us," said Abha Dev. Mithuraaj Dhusiya, elected member of the Academic Council, reminded the university authorities of the importance of debate. The official argued that while changes can be suggested, departments cannot be mandated to enforce them. "Instead of cancelling uncomfortable questions, one needs to always engage even with the perceived 'other' to equip oneself with the intellectual wherewithal to tackle the 'other' in the new global geopolitical order," said Dhusiya, in a statement. If the courses on Pakistan, China and Islam are replaced, the new ones will be referred to the department's course committee, which will then prepare a new syllabus. This syllabus will be presented for approval to the university syllabus panel and then tabled in the Academic Council for approval. (With ANI inputs)
Time Magazine
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time Magazine
What to Know About Trump's New Travel Ban
As promised during his campaign, President Donald Trump is reviving his ' famous ' travel ban policy from his first term, citing threats to national security to block out entire nationalities from entering the U.S. Trump issued a proclamation Wednesday that bars the entry of nationals from 12 countries and tightens restrictions on nationals from seven more. The order takes effect on June 9. It provides exceptions, including for lawful permanent residents and specific visa holders as well as for athletes and team members who are traveling for major sporting events. (The U.S. is hosting the FIFA Club World Cup this summer, the FIFA World Cup in 2026, and the 2028 Summer Olympics.) Trump's original travel ban, which he issued just a week after his first-term inauguration in 2017— sowed chaos at arrival points and incited protests across the country. The order was widely referred to as a 'Muslim travel ban' as it initially targeted Muslim-majority countries, barring Syrian refugees from entering and temporarily suspending the entry of nationals from Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Over time, the list of countries was revised, while the ban was challenged in court. The Supreme Court upheld the ban in 2018, though Trump's successor President Joe Biden repealed it upon taking office in 2021. The new 'travel ban' comes after a Jan. 20 executive order that directed the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence to identify countries with security and public safety risks. Trump said in the proclamation on Wednesday that the new restrictions are necessary 'to prevent the entry or admission of foreign nationals about whom the United States Government lacks sufficient information to assess the risks they pose to the United States.' What countries have new restrictions? The proclamation fully suspends the entry of nationals from Afghanistan, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Myanmar, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Nationals from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will face limited restrictions, including a ban on entry for immigrants and bans on entry for nonimmigrants with certain classes of visas. In a video posted by the White House on X announcing the proclamation on Wednesday, Trump added that the list can be expanded to include other countries 'as threats emerge around the world.' In March, an internal memo obtained by the New York Times showed that as many as 43 countries could be included in such a ban. Why were these countries on the list? A White House fact sheet about the proclamation lists a justification for each of the 19 countries on the list. Some of the countries have links to terrorism. Afghanistan is controlled by the Sunni Islamist group the Taliban, which took over in 2021 after the exodus of American troops from the country; Iran has links to several militant organizations in the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Hamas in Gaza; and Somalia, where the jihadist group al-Shabaab is based, is designated by the U.S. as a 'terrorist safe haven.' Others are deemed to be uncooperative with the U.S. in sharing law enforcement data or accepting back their removable nationals. In the video on X, Trump said the June 1 attack in Boulder, Colo., which left several injured, 'underscored the extreme danger posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted, as well as those who come here as temporary visitors and overstay their visas.' The Boulder attacker arrived in the U.S. on a nonimmigrant visa that has since expired. 'Thanks to Biden's open-door policies, today there are millions and millions of these illegals who should not be in our country,' the President, who has also promised a mass deportation effort, said. 'We don't want them.' Trump touted in the video that his first-term travel restrictions were one of his 'most successful' policies and claimed they played a role in thwarting terror attacks. 'We will not allow people to enter our country who wish to do us harm,' Trump said in the video. 'And nothing will stop us from keeping America safe.'
Boston Globe
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Trump announces full travel ban affecting a dozen countries set to go into effect Monday
'I must act to protect the national security and national interest of the United States and its people,' Trump said in his proclamation. The list results from a Jan. 20 executive order Trump issued requiring the departments of State and Homeland Security and the Director of National Intelligence to compile a report on 'hostile attitudes' toward the U.S. and whether entry from certain countries represented a national security risk. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up During his first term, Trump issued Advertisement It was one of the most chaotic and confusing moments of his young presidency. Travelers from those nations were either barred from getting on their flights to the U.S. or detained at U.S. airports after they landed. They included students and faculty as well as businesspeople, tourists and people visiting friends and family. The order, often referred to as the 'Muslim ban' or the 'travel ban,' was retooled amid legal challenges, until a version was Advertisement The ban affected various categories of travelers and immigrants from Iran, Somalia, Yemen, Syria and Libya, plus North Koreans and some Venezuelan government officials and their families. Trump and others have defended the initial ban on ___ Follow the AP's coverage of President Donald Trump at ___ Amiri reported from the United Nations.
Asharq Al-Awsat
04-03-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Russia Says Normalizing Ties with US Will Require Lifting Sanctions on Moscow
Russia said on Tuesday that any normalization of relations with the United States would require the lifting of sanctions against Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was responding to a question about a Reuters report that said the United States is drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as President Donald Trump seeks to restore ties with Moscow and stop the war in Ukraine. "It is probably too early to say anything. We have not heard any official statements, but in any case, our attitude towards sanctions is well known, we consider them illegal," Peskov said. "And, of course, if we talk about normalizing bilateral relations, they need to be freed from this negative burden of so-called sanctions." The US and other Western countries have imposed waves of sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine. The Reuters report quoted a US official and another person familiar with the matter as saying the White House has asked the State and Treasury departments to draft a list of sanctions that could be eased for US officials to discuss with Russian representatives in the coming days. The Kremlin also said the next round of Russia-US talks on ending the war in Ukraine is unlikely to happen before the embassies of both countries resume normal operations. "Unlikely," Peskov, the press secretary of President Vladimir Putin, told RIA state news agency in response to a question whether the negotiations could start before the two countries' embassies fully reopen. Operations have been curtailed since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. On Monday, Trump paused military aid to Ukraine after his clash with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy last week, deepening the fissure that has opened between the two allies. Before Trump began his second term as US president in January, ties between the two nuclear superpowers of Russia and the United States had plummeted to their lowest in decades following Russia's invasion. Trump, who has promised a quick end to the war, has upended US policy swiftly to open talks with Moscow, including calls and meetings that have alarmed Washington's European allies and Kyiv. At the end of February, Russia and US teams held hours of talks in Türkiye, narrowly focusing on restoring normal functioning of their embassies, and Putin said initial contacts with Trump's new administration had inspired hope. Last week, Russia said it was sending a new ambassador to Washington, the latest sign of a thaw between the two countries, but it remains unclear when the full work of both embassies will resume. Peskov also told RIA that it was too early say where the next round of talks between Russia and the United States might take place.
