AI market slump, UK crypto donations, US mail-in ballot fight (Updated)

Hi, I'm Kim Vanelle in Wangenewy, New Zealand. And I'm Christopher Walgesper 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 mid-term elections. This is Royce's world news, bringing you everything you need to know from the front lines in 10 minutes, seven days a week. President Donald Trump says USAI companies should not be slowing down because the US already has guardrails in place to regulate and prosecute abuses. The leading China and AI were sophisticated countries 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 US has that in spades, unquote. He says China is benefiting from doubt being cast on AI. Democrats fell in early trading on Monday following leaders of several 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. Altman AI's 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' deepestith ramen on how concerns over AI have gained traction. The fact that Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, felt comfortable enough to promote Dario's essay and say, "Yeah, we would also, you know, am in support of this. 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 CEO is recognized 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 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 timeframe? What is safe enough even look like? I mean, they're 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 hormones has been postponed, putting oil markets on edge again. 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 shot 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. So who are the crypto men, Christopher Harborn and Ben Delo, who want reform UK in power? His political correspondent, Alice Dismount, explains, both Delo and Harborn 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 Harborn has also been a consistent supporter of reform UK and prominent Eurosceptic, Nigel Farage's political platforms. Reform UK have been clear that these donations are not in exchange for any sort of 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. The Labour government already brought forward legislation to sort of 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 Harborn 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 with the criteria for this donation to be above board. In the US, 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 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. The Supreme Court will call this right again for a deal, but he hasn't. Swedish opposition leader Magdalene Aderson addresses supporters with her centre-left block holding a raise-a-thin lead over the right-wing government in elections. Given the closeness of the race, the winner may not be called for days. There's a lot it's take, 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 Christian. 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 Centre did not respond to a request for comment. 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 of a major media mergers. A few TV veterans are looking at some big wins. Jean 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 to repeat last year's success, with no a while of 90's ER fame 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. 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