Reuters World News - AI market slump, UK crypto donations, US mail-in ballot fight

Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, I'm Kim Vinal in Wanganui, New Zealand. And I'm Christopher Walgessper in Chicago. It's Monday, September 14th. Today, AI stocks fall as industry leaders call for a development pause. Two crypto investors make history with huge donations to the right-wing Reform UK. And a second judge has ruled against Trump's mail-in voting rules, less than two months before midterm elections. This is Reuters World News,

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Starting point is 00:00:57 and coffee plus B6 to keep your day moving. Or go with the flow and choose ginseng delight. Our new double espresso with ginseng extract. Whatever lies ahead, don't change your morning. Let your morning change you. Discover coffee plus on espresso.com. President Donald Trump says U.S. AI companies should not be slowing down

Starting point is 00:01:21 because the U.S. already has guardrails in place to regulate and prosecute abuses. We're leading China in AI. We're most sophisticated country in the world. And frankly, I want to keep it that way. Because whoever wins AI wins. In a truth social post, Trump said, quote, the only control or guardrails that AI needs is a strong and smart, high IQ president and the U.S. has that in spades, unquote. He says China is benefiting from doubt being cast on AI. Markets fell in early trading on Monday following leaders of several.

Starting point is 00:02:02 major artificial intelligence companies, warning the industry should slow down. The NASDAQ 100 fell to a six-week low, with chip-related stocks hit the hardest. Anthropics Dario Amode called for a slowdown in the race to build more powerful systems, citing growing safety concerns. Open AIs, Sam Altman and Elon Musk's XAI both backed the proposal. Altman has even put plans for an Open AI IPO on hold, saying safety must come first. Here's Reuters Deepa Sitterroman on how concerns over AI have gained traction. The fact that Sam Altman, the CEO of Open AI, felt comfortable enough to promote Dario's essay and say, yeah, we would also, you know, I'm in support of this.

Starting point is 00:02:58 I'm in support of a lot of the proposals laid out here. I mean, that's unusual. These are two guys that don't trust each other at all, and they don't really like each other. But the fact that they came together, at least in public for this moment, means both CEOs recognize that the noise around safety and the questions and the concerns about transparency and oversight have gotten so loud that they can't ignore it. But Deepa says the details aren't yet clear. It is hard to know what.

Starting point is 00:03:30 exactly slowdown means? Is it, you know, that they're promising not to develop future technologies, or is it that they won't release that technology to the world? What is the time frame? What is safe enough even look like? I mean, there are all these really open, trenchant questions that are going to be important to figure out and define that we don't have definitions for just yet. In China, a state-backed newspaper has hit back at Anthropics' call to slow AI development, calling it hypocritical, short-sighted, and a Cold War playbook. A key meeting aimed at getting shipping flowing once more through the Strait of Wormuz has been postponed, putting oil markets on edge again.

Starting point is 00:04:21 Oman says planned talks between Iran and Gulf Arab states have been delayed, dimming hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough. Adding to the jitters, Saudi Arabia is keeping a major oil pipeline shut after drone attacks, while fresh strikes on ships in the region are raising new concerns about the security of key shipping routes. Two crypto investors are gifting Britain's anti-immigration party, Reform UK, nearly $100 million in donations. That amount, which may seem like not such a big deal to our American listeners, is huge by UK standards. And it comes at a sensitive time for the party, which is facing allegations over foreign donations, allegations it denies.

Starting point is 00:05:18 So who are the crypto men, Christopher Harbourn and Ben Dello, who want Reform UK in power? Reuters political correspondent Alistair Smout explains. Both Delo and Harbourn have previously donated to reform within this year. In Delo's case, he said that recent questions over Reform UK's funding had actually clarified in his mind the need to make them not have to worry about finances so much. Whereas Harbourn has also been a consistent supporter of Reform UK and prominent Eurosceptic Nigel Farage's political platform. Reform UK have been clear that these donations are not sort of in exchange for any perks or privileges should reform get into government. Reform UK has said that if it comes to power, it would propose a law to boost crypto adoption. Britain's governing Labour Party argues donations this large could give wealthy individuals too much political influence.

Starting point is 00:06:26 The Labour government's already brought forward legislation to be more restrictive on donations. Certainly donations coming from abroad or people who live abroad or recently moved back to the UK. Now, both Delo and Harbourn are British, and reform say that they have moved back to the UK and both under the current electoral rules, but also any future rules that might be applied retrospectively, they meet all the criteria for this donation to be above board. In the U.S., a second federal judge has blocked a Trump administration rule that would tighten mail-in voting requirements ahead of November's midterms. Washington-based judge Carl Nichols ruled the Postal Service

Starting point is 00:07:19 exceeded its authority with a regulation requiring states to submit voter lists and use special barcoded envelopes. The Trump-appointed judge says the rule could make it harder for some people to vote by mail. The Supreme Court is still weighing whether to overturn a separate order blocking the measure. Then come, Sweden for a new regering. Swedish opposition leader Magdalene Adershon addresses supporters, with her center-left block holding a razor-thin, lead over the right-wing government in elections. Given the closeness of the race, the winner

Starting point is 00:07:59 may not be called for days. There's a lot at stake, with the result deciding whether Sweden continues down its right-wing path and toughens its stance on immigration and crime, or shifts course after four years of conservative rule under Prime Minister Ulf Christchishon. The Kennedy Centre in Washington, D.C., could close its doors as early as Tuesday. That's according to the Washington Post, which reports that trustees installed by President Trump say the centre is on the verge of bankruptcy, warning it won't be able to pay its bills within weeks. Those trustees say putting the president's name on the facade may be the only way to avoid collapse. The Kennedy Center did not respond to a request for comment.

Starting point is 00:08:49 And finally, the Emmy Awards get underway tonight, offering a rare night of celebration for Hollywood, as the industry grapples with job cuts, disruption from artificial intelligence, and uncertainty over major media mergers. A few TV veterans are looking at some big wins. Gene Smart could make Emmy history with a possible fifth straight best comedy actress win for hacks. And 84-year-old Harrison Ford is nominated for an Emmy, which he has yet to win, for his role in Apple Plus show Shrinking. Drama favourite, The Pit, is looking at is looking to repeat last year's success, with Noah Weil of 90s ER fame

Starting point is 00:09:30 hoping for a second consecutive Best Actor Trophy. For more on any of the stories from today, as well as more analysis and news shaping our world, check out Reuters.com or the Reuters app. There's a link in the description to download it and start getting pure news straight from the source. Don't forget to follow us on your favourite podcast player, and if you're listening on a smart speaker,

Starting point is 00:10:01 just ask for the latest news from Reuters seven days a week. We'll be back tomorrow with our daily headline show.

Reuters World News - AI market slump, UK crypto donations, US mail-in ballot fight

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