A frog, a lobster and a unicorn walked into a No Kings protest

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Even before the No Kings rallies kicked off last weekend, some Republicans cast the protests in a sinister light. House Speaker Mike Johnson called them “Hate America” rallies. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that they would attract “the most unhinged in the Democratic party.” Instead, the rallies were most notable for a … Read more

Trump administration finalizes plan to open pristine Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling

JUNEAU, Alaska — The Trump administration on Thursday finalized plans to open the coastal plain of Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to potential oil and gas drilling, renewing a long-simmering debate over whether to drill in one of the nation’s environmental jewels. U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced the decision Thursday that paves the way … Read more

Don’t be fooled. The US is regulating AI – just not the way you think Sacha Alanoca and Maroussia Lévesque

Beneath the free-market rhetoric, Washington actually intervenes to control the building blocks of AI systems At first glance, today’s artificial intelligence policy landscape suggests a strategic retreat from regulation. As of late, AI leaders such as the US have doubled down on this messaging. JD Vance champions AI policy with a “deregulatory flavor”. Congress considered … Read more

How might Rachel Reeves target lawyers, accountants and doctors in her budget?

Insiders say chancellor is planning a tax raid on partnership structures that could raise £1.9bn Lawyers, accountants and doctors could be hit in the budget if Rachel Reeves ends an exemption on employer national insurance contributions for partnerships. The chancellor has repeatedly warned that those with the “broadest shoulders” should pay their fair share of … Read more

Ministers confirm plans to reduce London’s affordable housing quotas

Developers will qualify for fast-track planning status if they include 20% affordable housing instead of current 35% target Ministers have confirmed plans to reduce affordable housing quotas in London as they try to reverse the recent collapse in housebuilding in the capital. Steve Reed, the housing secretary, said on Thursday that developers would be allowed … Read more

Airport expansion will put UK’s net zero goal in ‘serious jeopardy’, MPs warn

Committee urges ministers to set out measures to reduce carbon emissions before work starts on new runways Airport expansion plans backed by the government are putting the UK’s net zero target in “serious jeopardy”, MPs have warned. Without new safeguards, proposals to enlarge airports including Heathrow and Gatwick could push the UK over its carbon … Read more

Car production slumps to a 73-year low after JLR cyber-attack

Shutdown contributes to 27% slump across the UK sector, which says it remains under ‘immense pressure’ Car production in British factories slumped in September to the lowest level for the month since 1952 after Jaguar Land Rover was hit by an unprecedented cyber-attack. JLR, Britain’s largest automotive employer, was forced to shut down all its … Read more

OpenAI relaxed ChatGPT guardrails just before teen killed himself, family alleges

Adam Raine’s suicide at 16 years old was ‘predictable result of deliberate design choices’ by OpenAI, his family says The family of a teenager who took his own life after months of conversations with ChatGPT now says OpenAI weakened safety guidelines in the months before his death. In July 2022, OpenAI’s guidelines on how ChatGPT … Read more