“Neuralink has received the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s ‘breakthrough’ tag for its device to restore communication for individuals with severe speech impairment, Elon Musk’s brain implant company said on Thursday in a post on X.
The device would help those affected by amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions, the company said.”
From Reuters.
“The Department of Energy has made public a set of new rules that slash environmental and security requirements for experimental nuclear reactors.
Last month, NPR reported on the existence of the rules, which were quietly rewritten to accelerate development of a new generation of nuclear reactor designs.
The rule changes came about after President Trump signed an executive order calling for three or more of the experimental reactors to come online by July 4 of this year — an incredibly tight deadline in the world of nuclear power. The order led to the creation of a new Reactor Pilot Program at the Department of Energy.”
From NPR.
“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted a construction permit for the Bill Gates-backed small modular reactor startup TerraPower’s flagship project to convert an old coal plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming, to a next-generation nuclear station. The approval marked the first time a commercial-scale fourth-generation nuclear reactor — the TerraPower design uses liquid sodium metal as a coolant instead of water, as all other commercial reactors in the United States use — has received the green light from regulators this century.”
From Heatmap.
“Argentina and the United States agreed Thursday to ease restrictions on each other’s goods in an expansive trade deal that boosts a drive by President Javier Milei to open up Argentina’s protectionist economy…
After imposing sweeping tariffs on its trading partners, the Trump administration changed its tune last November in announcing framework deals with four Latin American countries, including Argentina.
The White House argued that the reduction of tariffs on Argentine beef and Ecuadorian bananas, among other imports, would improve the ability of American firms to sell products abroad and relieve rising prices for American consumers. The announcement also came as Trump’s steep tariffs drew scrutiny from the Supreme Court.
Argentina on Thursday became the first of the four countries to finalize its agreement with Washington…
Argentina will scrap trade barriers on more than 200 categories of goods from the U.S., including chemicals, machinery and medical devices, its foreign ministry said. More politically sensitive imports, like vehicles, live cattle and dairy products, will enter the country tariff-free under government quotas…
Washington, for its part, will eliminate reciprocal tariffs on 1,675 Argentine products, Argentina’s Foreign Ministry said…
The deal also shows the U.S. quadrupling the current amount of Argentine beef it imports at a lower tariff rate to 100,000 tons per year.”
From PBS News.
“U.S. President Donald Trump has extended a 26-year-old free-trade agreement with African countries that was left in doubt last year when his administration allowed it to expire while enforcing his policy of reciprocal tariffs.
Trump on Tuesday signed into law an extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
But the extension is short-term, lasting only until Dec. 31. The trade office said the agreement, which gives eligible sub-Saharan African nations duty-free access to the U.S. market for some products, would be modified to account for tariffs the U.S. has imposed on other countries as part of the Republican president’s America First policy.
The agreement is key to many African countries that feared it would be another economic blow following the new tariffs and cuts to U.S. aid under Trump.”
From Associated Press.
