THE REGISTER
It means when the two presidents — —
AI superpower ambitions take centre stage as Trump and Xi meet
Today's stories
More from today's coverage, told in the same calm voice.
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Trump and Xi Meet With AI Rivalry Unresolved
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping are scheduled to meet Thursday, with artificial intelligence competition sitting alongside trade and security on the agenda. Both governments have staked national prestige on AI leadership, and any agreements or disagreements between the two presidents are expected to shape policy and investment decisions well beyond their borders. Allies and trading partners are watching for signals on export controls, chip access, and research cooperation.
"What they say and decide will matter to the whole world."
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Federal Judge Restores White House Access for Three Outlets
A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's ban on journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico entering the White House. Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled that the outlets are likely to succeed in arguing the bans violated due process, as reporters were given no prior notice and no opportunity to contest the restrictions. The ruling restores press access while the case proceeds.
"The journalists were not given prior notice of the bans or an opportunity to challenge them."
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OpenAI accessed Australian Medicare data without authorisation
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said OpenAI accessed a Services Australia medical portal after being refused the information it requested. The company notified the Australian government of the breach months later via an email sent to a generic inbox. The incident raises questions about how AI developers handle sensitive government health data and their obligations to disclose unauthorised access promptly.
"It sought information, information was not given, and then it effectively hacked into that medical portal and got that information anyway."
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USS Abraham Lincoln Sailors Report Eight Suicide Attempts
Eight sailors assigned to the USS Abraham Lincoln attempted suicide during a record-long deployment of roughly ten months, according to a letter from Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao obtained by CBS News. The disclosure comes as the carrier strike group operates amid heightened US-Iran tensions, with the conflict already costing lives among commercial shipping crews in the Strait of Hormuz and thousands of deaths reported inside Iran. The human toll on American service members has received little public attention as diplomatic and military rhetoric between Washington and Tehran escalates.
"Eight suicide attempts among sailors on a single carrier strike group over ten months points to a cost of prolonged deployment that official statements rarely acknowledge."
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Eight USS Lincoln Sailors Attempted Suicide During Extended Deployment
The US Navy has confirmed eight suicide attempts among personnel aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln strike group, which has been deployed for more than 300 days amid operations related to the conflict with Iran. Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao acknowledged the incidents as the service faces scrutiny over the mental health toll of prolonged at-sea deployments. The Lincoln's deployment is among the longest in recent Navy history.
"A carrier group kept at sea for over 300 days is not an operational tempo without human cost."
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Venezuela's Rodríguez Pledges Elections Without Setting Date
Delcy Rodríguez, acting president of Venezuela, told the United Nations General Assembly that her government intends an orderly legal transition and will hold elections. She offered no timeline for when a vote might take place. The speech comes as Venezuela navigates a political shift following Nicolás Maduro's departure from power, leaving the country's democratic path uncertain.
"A promise of elections without a date is a promise still waiting to begin."
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AI CEOs urge UN to set global rules
Sam Altman and Dario Amodei addressed the UN Security Council to argue that AI governance cannot be left to a handful of private companies in the United States. Both executives called for an international regulatory framework, citing risks to democratic accountability and the uneven impact on emerging economies. The appearance marks the first time major AI lab leaders have formally petitioned the Security Council on the matter.
"If AI is to be democratic, the most important decisions cannot be made by labs in San Francisco alone."
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Ethiopia and Tigray Trade Blame as Fighting Resumes
Ethiopia's federal government and Tigray's ruling party, the TPLF, have each accused the other of starting a new round of hostilities, raising fears that the 2022 ceasefire has collapsed. A strike on the southern Tigrayan town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and wounded 22 others, according to Tigrayan authorities. Civilians in the region face the prospect of a return to the large-scale conflict that caused widespread devastation between 2020 and 2022.
"A strike in the southern town of Alamata killed at least 14 people and injured 22 others."
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Venezuela Pledges Elections at UN, Offers No Timeline
Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez addressed the UN General Assembly with a commitment to hold elections, but provided no specific date or conditions. The Venezuelan people remain in a prolonged period of political uncertainty. Observers note that international pressure for a firm electoral timetable has eased, with the United States shifting focus toward oil access and investment arrangements with the interim government rather than pressing for democratic guarantees.
"Washington has sidelined the Venezuelan opposition, dropping demands for free elections in favour of oil and investment deals."
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Parton Estate Wins Restraining Order Against Nephew
A Tennessee judge granted Dolly Parton's estate a restraining order against her nephew Bryan Seaver, who had served as her head of security. Court filings allege Seaver threatened violence and vowed to damage Parton's business empire and legacy. The order bars Seaver and his security firm, Squadron Augmented Protection Services, from contacting estate employees, attorneys, and business partners.
"Seaver threatened to commit violence and destroy his aunt's legacy and business empire."
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