Lobby

Anthropic and OpenAI are publicly raising concerns about AI safety while also seeking to influence how the technology is regulated, according to AP reporting carried across multiple outlets. The story highlights the dual role of the leading AI companies: warning about risks from advanced systems while lobbying to shape the rules meant to control them. Critics and observers are weighing whether industry involvement in regulation serves the public interest or the companies' own.

The contest to select the next United Nations Secretary-General is intensifying as world leaders gather in New York for the General Assembly's high-level week. Diplomatic lobbying and positioning around the top UN job are drawing attention alongside the annual speeches, with candidates and member states vying for support in what is shaping up to be a closely watched race.

Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten is lobbying Washington against a fresh round of export restrictions that would hit ASML's China business. US lawmakers are pursuing legislation that could tighten controls on the chip-equipment maker's immersion lithography systems and its servicing activities in China. The Dutch intervention highlights tensions between US efforts to curb China's chip ambitions and the interests of Europe's most valuable tech firm.

Anthropic and OpenAI, two of the leading artificial intelligence companies, are publicly warning about safety risks from advanced AI systems while also lobbying to influence how the technology will be regulated. Critics and observers are weighing whether the companies' alarm reflects genuine concern or an effort to shape upcoming rules in their own favour. The debate comes as governments worldwide move toward new AI oversight frameworks.

The AI industry's conflicting positions are being scrutinized in both Washington and Silicon Valley, according to Axios. The report points to tensions between the industry's public warnings about AI risks and its aggressive push to build and deploy powerful systems, as well as companies' calls for regulation while lobbying against constraints. The contradictions are drawing attention as policymakers weigh new AI rules and tech leaders shape the debate.

Spain, Portugal and Luxembourg are pushing the European Union to adopt a binding renewables target for 2040, according to Bloomberg. The joint appeal calls on Brussels to set a clear goal for expanding clean energy as part of the bloc's next phase of climate policy, signalling that member states want firmer commitments ahead of negotiations over the EU's post-2030 emissions and energy framework.

British celebrities have won their lobbying campaign against AI companies seeking free use of creative work, and are now cautioning Australia against adopting similar exemptions. Their intervention signals that artists' pressure can shape government policy on AI and copyright, with the UK debate serving as a warning for other countries weighing tech-friendly rules that would let firms train models on creative work without payment.

A campaign is calling for national delegations to the COP31 climate summit to exclude fossil fuel lobbyists entirely. The push aims to prevent oil, gas and coal industry representatives from influencing negotiations at the UN climate talks. Advocates argue industry presence undermines the credibility and ambition of the summit's outcomes.

Russian billionaires are exploring ways to follow the example of Mikhail Fridman and Alisher Usmanov, who succeeded in having European Union sanctions against them lifted, according to Ukrainian media. The report suggests other sanctioned oligarchs may now pursue similar legal and lobbying routes in Brussels to escape EU restrictions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The World Uyghur Congress has issued its weekly brief focusing on Uyghur human rights concerns, its advocacy work at the United Nations, and reports of forced labour affecting Uyghurs. The organisation regularly documents alleged abuses in Xinjiang and lobbies international bodies for accountability, and the brief updates supporters and policymakers on its latest efforts.

High-profile British creators have successfully pushed back against AI industry lobbying over the use of copyrighted works, a campaign now being studied as Australia weighs its own copyright reforms. Observers say the UK experience shows how artists' collective pressure can shape rules governing AI training on creative work, as Australian policymakers face similar demands from both creators and technology firms.

Major food companies in India are urging regulators to reconsider the red colour proposed for warning labels on packaged foods, Reuters reports. The industry argues the red symbol could stigmatise products, while health advocates support strong front-of-pack warnings to combat rising obesity, diabetes and high salt, sugar and fat consumption in the country.

Fast Company reports that Donald Trump's financial gains from the crypto industry are undermining efforts to pass the Clarity Act, legislation meant to establish clearer, looser rules for digital assets. The argument: Trump's personal crypto winnings have politicized the issue, making lawmakers wary of supporting industry-friendly regulation and jeopardizing the regulatory certainty crypto firms have lobbied for.

Teachers unions in California are campaigning to renew a state tax that generates billions of dollars annually for public education. The pitch comes as the tax faces an expiration deadline, with unions arguing the revenue is essential to maintaining school funding levels across the state. The debate over extension is expected to feature prominently in upcoming legislative and budget discussions.

Artificial intelligence companies and industry groups are directing political spending at states represented by influential senators, according to Punchbowl News. The push reflects a broader effort by the AI sector to shape federal regulation as Congress weighs rules for the fast-growing industry, with swing and battleground states drawing particular attention.

Brazil's Federal Police report says messages were exchanged between banker Daniel Vorcaro and Claudio Lottenberg, a doctor and business executive who had been floated as a minister in a Flávio Bolsonaro-led government. The revelation has drawn attention because it links a figure under investigation to lobbying around a potential cabinet appointment, intensifying scrutiny of the naming of allies to government posts.

Fortune argues that cryptocurrency, once a rebellious outsider movement of hackers and free-market idealists, has become institutionalized, with major exchanges, stablecoin issuers and lobbying groups now operating like established financial powers aligned with regulators and governments. The piece asks what happens next for an industry that has traded its pirate roots for mainstream power, and what that shift means for its original ethos and users.

Europe's rail industry is warning about the absence of a new research programme to support future development. Sector representatives say without dedicated EU-level research funding and planning, innovation in rail technology could fall behind competing transport modes. The warning comes as the industry also faces broader economic headwinds, with UK data showing house price growth halving amid rising mortgage interest rates.

Donald Trump will not win this year's Nobel Peace Prize, according to Reuters, but the US president may still influence the committee's decision and the broader debate over who receives the award. Trump has openly campaigned for the prize, and attention is focused on how his lobbying and peace initiatives could weigh on the committee's choice.

A performance of "Hotel Lobby" by Quavo and Takeoff has become the basis of a viral AI-generated meme circulating online. The clip has been reworked with artificial intelligence tools, prompting confusion and amusement as the altered versions spread. The rapper duo, formerly of Migos, released the track as part of their collaboration, and fans are now sharing the AI edits widely across social platforms.

Rising fuel prices are putting pressure on the Trump administration, and the United States is reportedly pushing the European Union to release its diesel reserves in an effort to ease supply shortages. The reported US lobbying on fuel policy is drawing attention in Germany, where energy costs and transatlantic trade tensions are already sensitive topics.

Fast Company reports on what the leaders of the biggest artificial intelligence companies are seeking from US policymakers. The piece examines the industry's policy agenda in Washington, as AI firms push for regulatory frameworks, federal support, and rules that shape how the technology develops. Discussion centers on the growing influence of AI executives on government decision-making.

South Korean startup industry officials are calling for revisions to the country's 52-hour workweek rules, asking for more flexible arrangements for startup employees. The issue, reported by Chosun Ilbo, reflects ongoing tension in Korea between labor regulations limiting weekly hours and the startup sector's argument that rigid enforcement hampers innovation, competitiveness, and the unpredictable schedules typical of early-stage companies.

US lawmakers are drafting plans to block China's access to American AI chips, escalating technology export restrictions between the two countries. Chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, which rely heavily on the Chinese market, are lobbying President Trump to intervene and soften the measures. The dispute highlights the growing tension between national security concerns in Washington and the commercial interests of the US semiconductor industry.

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington, has selected former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor as its next president. The move puts a veteran Republican lawmaker and Virginia politician at the helm of the industry's top lobbying group, drawing attention to the close ties between the pharmaceutical sector and establishment politics.

An opinion piece argues that pro-Israel lobbying groups are losing their influence over U.S. electoral politics, but warns they will fight to hold on to it. The author, writing from a Jewish perspective, says American Jews are watching closely and that the community's future depends on waking up to these shifts. The piece reflects an ongoing debate on the left about money, advocacy and Middle East policy in American elections.

A Financial Times article shared widely notes that Big Tech firms out-lobby European companies in Brussels, spending far more on influencing EU policymaking than domestic firms do. Commenters describe the finding as unsurprising but worth repeating, amid ongoing debates over EU tech regulation, enforcement of rules like the Digital Markets Act, and the influence of US technology giants on European policy.

The Guardian reports that Martha Dalton, a recent lobbyist for tech firm Palantir, played a key role in Andy Burnham's bid to become prime minister. The story raises questions about the influence of technology industry figures inside Burnham's leadership operation, drawing attention on social media among politics and technology watchers.

Asus has apparently avoided a US restriction affecting routers, but the company has declined to explain how. The Verge reports that Asus will not say what steps it took, raising questions about whether it shifted manufacturing or lobbied for an exemption. The silence has prompted discussion about transparency in US trade and tech policy.