Trump meets with Zelensky, opening new chapter in fraught relationship

Washington Post,

Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday morning in New York, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their tense relationship. The meeting comes amidst growing skepticism from Trump and his Republican party over U.S. involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war. While Trump referred to the meeting as an “honor,” both leaders displayed caution, aware of their differing perspectives on the United States’ role in the ongoing conflict.

Trump, aiming to highlight his diplomatic ties, remarked that he had a “very good relationship” with Zelensky and with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky responded diplomatically, saying, “I hope we have more good relations.” This was their first meeting since 2019, and it took place as Trump nears the final stage of a U.S. presidential race that has underscored partisan divisions over support for Ukraine.

Trump, a vocal critic of current U.S. involvement in the war, indicated optimism about finding a resolution, predicting a “very fair and rather rapid deal” if he were to win the presidency in November. However, he did not offer specific details about what such a deal would entail. The encounter underscores the geopolitical tension surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with U.S. policies potentially hanging in the balance depending on the election outcome.

OpenAI might raise the price of ChatGPT to $44 by 2029

TechCrunch,

OpenAI, the company behind the popular AI language model ChatGPT, is reportedly planning to increase the price of its subscription service in the coming years. According to internal documents cited by The New York Times, OpenAI will raise the price of ChatGPT Plus from its current rate of $20 per month to $22 by the end of 2024, with a more substantial increase to $44 by 2029.

This pricing strategy reflects pressure from investors to reduce the company’s financial losses, which are projected to reach $5 billion this year. Despite generating $300 million in monthly revenue, OpenAI’s expenses related to staffing, office rent, and its extensive AI training infrastructure are contributing to these losses. The company’s daily operating costs for ChatGPT alone are reportedly as high as $700,000.

While ChatGPT has gained approximately 10 million paying users, OpenAI risks alienating a significant portion of its customer base with the planned price hike. Surveys suggest that many users already feel the current $20 per month price is too steep, and a sharp rise could lead to a drop in subscriptions. OpenAI’s decision comes at a time when it is facing growing competition in the AI space, adding to the challenges of retaining its user base.

US and India unite on chips, opening new front in tech war against China

SCMP,

India and the United States have cemented a groundbreaking semiconductor manufacturing deal, marking a significant step forward in their strategic collaboration on sensitive military technology and chip production. The deal, finalized during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this month, includes the establishment of a semiconductor fabrication plant in Kolkata, which will be dedicated to producing chips for defense equipment, telecommunications, and renewable energy.

This partnership is expected to redefine India’s role in the global semiconductor supply chain, a goal that New Delhi has pursued since signaling its chip ambitions in 2021. Analysts have compared this agreement to the landmark U.S.-India civil nuclear deal of 2005, which transformed India’s access to advanced nuclear technology.

C. Uday Bhaskar, director of the Society for Policy Studies in Delhi, remarked, “This deal can be compared with India’s civil nuclear agreement with the US, which in the geopolitical context brought India out of its outlier status.” Before the 2005 agreement, India had limited access to advanced civil nuclear technology. This semiconductor agreement, likewise, has the potential to elevate India’s geopolitical standing while boosting its domestic technological capabilities.

Myanmar military urges anti-coup forces to give up struggle and join talks

Al Jazeera,

In a surprising move, Myanmar’s military leadership has called on opposition forces, including ethnic armed groups and the People’s Defence Forces (PDF), to put down their weapons and join political talks. The military, which seized power in a coup in February 2021, is now urging its adversaries to abandon armed resistance and engage in dialogue aimed at resolving the country’s political crisis.

The appeal was made by the State Administration Council (SAC), the governing body established by the military following the coup. In a statement published in Friday’s edition of the Global New Light of Myanmar, the SAC urged ethnic armed organizations and PDF groups to “discard the armed terrorist way” and resolve political issues through electoral processes or party politics. The council expressed hope that these groups could work with the military to promote “durable peace and development.”

However, the appeal was swiftly rejected by opposition forces, who have taken control of significant swathes of Myanmar since launching a major offensive last year. These groups have been fighting the military regime since the coup, and their gains have put the military under intense pressure. Observers believe that the military’s call for dialogue reflects its growing desperation as it struggles to maintain control of the country.

US charges Iranians with hacking attack on Trump campaign

Reuters,

The U.S. Justice Department has filed criminal charges against three members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, accusing them of hacking into Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and attempting to disrupt the November 2024 election. The indictment, unsealed on Friday, alleges that the hackers sought to undermine Trump’s re-election bid through a series of cyberattacks targeting his campaign’s digital infrastructure.

The charges, which include wire fraud, identity theft, and computer fraud, are part of the Biden administration’s broader efforts to counter foreign interference in U.S. elections. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated at a press conference that the three individuals — Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yasar Balaghi — worked to undermine the Trump campaign in favor of his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris.

The Iranian government has denied the accusations, with officials calling them “baseless.” The charges mark the latest escalation in the U.S.-Iran cyber conflict, which has seen both countries engage in tit-for-tat digital warfare over the past decade. This case adds a new layer to the tensions surrounding the 2024 U.S. election, which remains a focal point for foreign actors seeking to influence the outcome.