Articles about Access

Lawsuit alleged changes gave DoD free rein to punish reporters and outlets over coverage it did not likeSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxA federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration’s restrictive Pentagon press access policy, which threatens journalists with being branded security risks if they seek information not authorized for public release.The lawsuit by the New York Times in the Washington DC federal court alleged that policy changes by the defense department last year gave it free rein to freeze out reporters and news outlets over coverage the department did not like, in violation of the constitution’s protections for free speech and due process. Continue reading...

• A dispute between the Pentagon and Anthropic emerged on March 16, 2026, threatening privacy rights and global stability through expanded AI surveillance capabilities. • The conflict highlights tensions in military AI contracts, dubbed the 'new digital panopticon' by analyst Asish Gupta. • It underscores risks of government access to advanced AI models impacting civil liberties and international relations.

• NVIDIA GTC 2026, the premier global AI conference, runs March 16-19 in downtown San Jose, focusing on physical AI, AI factories, agentic AI, and inference breakthroughs shaping industries. • Conference passes sold out, but free virtual passes are available, with in-person Exhibits Only passes offered at 20% off using code GTC26-20. • Developers, researchers, and business leaders gather to explore the next wave of AI innovation amid rapid advancements.

• UPMC, a major Pittsburgh health system, stopped providing gender care services to patients under age 19 approximately nine months ago, leaving local transgender teens struggling to find alternative care options. • The policy change has forced young patients like Moss Brinzer to scramble for medical services, creating significant gaps in access to gender-affirming healthcare for minors in the region. • The decision reflects broader tensions in U.S. healthcare around gender medicine for adolescents, with major health systems reassessing their policies amid ongoing national debate.

• The U.S. Senate passed a broad bipartisan housing bill on Thursday designed to make U.S. housing more accessible and affordable, marking a rare bipartisan legislative effort to address the nation's growing housing shortage. • The bill represents a significant policy shift aimed at tackling housing affordability challenges facing American families across multiple income levels. • Congressional support for housing reform reflects bipartisan recognition of the critical need to expand housing supply and reduce barriers to homeownership and rental access.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4386, the America the Beautiful Motorcycle Fairness Act, last week, amending the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to grant motorcyclists with National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Passes fair access to national parks and other federal recreation sites. The bill aims to equalize access for motorcycle owners holding these passes, addressing previous restrictions on federal lands. This bipartisan measure highlights ongoing efforts to update recreation policies amid growing public land usage. The legislation now awaits Senate consideration, potentially advancing under the current congressional calendar.

ByteDance is working with Aolani to deploy approximately 500 Nvidia Blackwell computing systems in Malaysia, comprising roughly 36,000 of Nvidia's most advanced B200 chips, according to reports citing people familiar with the matter. The hardware deployment is valued at more than $2.5 billion and represents a significant effort by the Chinese tech giant to access top-tier AI processors despite US export restrictions. ByteDance's AI portfolio includes Dola chatbot, Dreamina video creation tool, Gauth homework assistant, and Seedance video generation model, which has gained attention for its ability to convert written scripts into realistic short film scenes. The move underscores ongoing tensions around US-China tech competition and export controls on advanced semiconductor technology.