Amna Nawaz:
Biden also said that the U.S. and its global alliances are stronger than they were four years ago, and that he’s leaving the next administration a very strong hand to play in world affairs.
The Biden administration is proposing new export limits on computer chips that are used in artificial intelligence. The framework would put restrictions on the number of chips that go to roughly 120 countries, but nearly 20 nations would be exempt, including allies like Japan and Britain. The regulations also keep in place existing bans on U.S. adversaries such as China and Russia.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says the goal is to safeguard A.I. tech and — quote — “ensure that it stays out of the hands of our foreign adversaries.” But industry advocates say the rules might disrupt supply chains and hurt U.S. companies. It’ll be up to the Trump administration whether to follow through on the restrictions.
China’s exports grew sharply last month, as companies rushed to lock in orders ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Exports jumped nearly 11 percent in December, beating expectations. That capped off a year that saw China’s trade surplus reach nearly $1 trillion. Analysts believe American shoppers are stockpiling Chinese goods while they can. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese imports upwards of 60 percent once he takes office again next week.
In South Africa, at least 100 people who were mining illegally have died after being trapped underground for months. That’s according to a group representing the miners, which says a cell phone sent to the surface contained videos showing dozens of bodies wrapped in plastic. It’s believed they died of starvation or dehydration.
The abandoned gold mine has been the site of a standoff between police and miners since November, when authorities first tried to force them out. South African officials are working to bring the survivors to the surface. Illegal mining is common in parts of South Africa.
The Supreme Court said today it won’t hear an appeal from oil and gas companies who want to block lawsuits related to climate change. The order allows a case to proceed from the city of Honolulu that aims to hold BP, Shell and others libel for billions of dollars in damages linked to climate change.
Also today, the court denied a Utah lawsuit seeking to take control of nearly 19 million acres of land from the federal government. It also sidestepped two gun-related cases, one in Maryland related to handgun licenses and the other a challenge to Delaware’s ban on assault-style rifles. And the court upheld a state House district in North Dakota that’s located on an American Indian reservation.
In space news, meanwhile, Blue Origin called off the debut launch of its massive new rocket early this morning minutes before blast off. Standing 320 feet tall, the uncrewed New Glenn is the company’s first rocket that aims to bring satellites into orbit.