Emerging TikTok deal with China ensures US control of board and crucial algorithm, White House says
WASHINGTON (AP) — An emerging TikTok deal with China will ensure that U.S. companies control the algorithm that powers the app's video feed and Americans will hold a majority of seats on a board overseeing U.S. operations. That word comes from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a Fox News interview Saturday. A central question has been whether the popular social video platform would keep its algorithm after the potential divestment of Chinese parent company ByteDance. Congress passed legislation calling for a TikTok ban to go into effect in January. President Donald Trump has allowed TikTok to keep operating in the United States as his administration tries to reach agreement for ByteDance to sell its U.S. operations.
White House says $100K H-1B visa fee won't apply to existing holders as Trump move stirs anxiety
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s latest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused. That left the White House on Saturday scrambling to clarify that its new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers that soon will go into effect only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders. The president on Friday signed a proclamation that will require the fee for what are known as H-1B visas — meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill.
Cyberattack disrupts check-in systems at major European airports
LONDON (AP) — A cyberattack targeting check-in and boarding systems has disrupted air traffic at several major European airports. On Friday night, the attack hit a service provider affecting airports like Brussels and Berlin's Brandenburg. Brussels Airport says the incident has forced manual check-ins, causing significant delays. Berlin's airport operators cut off connections to the affected systems. London Heathrow, Europe's busiest airport, reports a technical issue with a service provider. Collins Aerospace, the provider, is experiencing problems that may delay departures. Airports are advising travelers to check their flight status and apologize for the inconvenience.
Nvidia to invest $5 billion in struggling rival Intel
Nvidia has announced a new partnership with Intel to work on custom data centers and personal computer products. Nvidia is also investing $5 billion in Intel's common stock. The deal unveiled Thursday is subject to regulatory approvals. The deal comes a month after the U.S. government took a 10% stake in Intel. This agreement provides a lifeline for Intel, which has struggled after missing the shift to mobile computing. Intel has fallen behind amid the artificial intelligence boom that has propelled Nvidia into becoming the world's most valuable company.
The Taliban internet ban spreads across Afghanistan as more provinces are shut down
JALALABAD, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban crackdown to “prevent immorality” is spreading across Afghanistan, with more provinces losing access to fiber-optic internet after the country’s leader imposed a complete ban on the technology. It’s the first time a ban of this kind has been imposed since the Taliban seized power in August 2021. Mobile internet remains functional, however. The northern Balkh province confirmed a Wi-Fi shutdown on Tuesday, with reports of severe disruption in other parts of the country. On Thursday, officials in the east and north said internet access was cut off in the provinces of Baghlan, Badakhshan, Kunduz, Nangarhar, and Takhar. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization condemned the ban and expressed its concern.
Will electric tractors gain traction? At a pilot event for farmers, researchers see possibilities
EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — At an August event, researchers at Michigan State University asked farmers what they think of a new electric tractor. The market is so new they’re still trying to figure out if they’ve designed it well enough to excite growers of specialty crops like carrots, asparagus and blueberries. The small, battery-powered machine isn’t meant to replace the giant diesel tractors used on big commercial soy or corn operations. Powerful enough technology for that could be decades away. But researchers say they think electric tractors could be ideal for smallholder farmers who care about being more sustainable and want to market their crops as such.
Warsaw turns to Ukraine for drone warfare expertise after Russian drones enter Polish airspace
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Poland is tapping into Ukraine's expertise in drone warfare by setting up joint military training and manufacturing projects. Officials from Warsaw and Kyiv announced this on Thursday, following a recent incident where Russian drones entered Polish airspace. Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Polish counterpart signed a memorandum to create a joint working group for uncrewed systems. They plan to test new methods of intercepting drones and enhance compatibility between their armed forces. This collaboration aims to bolster security in response to Russian activities that threaten Ukraine and other European countries.
How Huawei plans to outperform global tech leaders with less powerful chips
BEIJING (AP) — Huawei Technologies has announced plans to launch what it says will be the world's most powerful AI computing clusters over the next two years. The company aims to surpass global leaders using domestic semiconductors. China is pushing to develop its own tech as the U.S. restricts chip sales to the country. Huawei revealed its new "superpods," interconnected computers combining thousands of chips, at a conference in Shanghai. The Atlas 950 SuperPoD is set for release in late 2026, followed by the Atlas 960 in 2027. Huawei's strategy involves creating new computing architectures to overcome the lack of access to the most advanced semiconductors.
Trump signs proclamation adding $100K annual fee for H-1B visa applications
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation that will require a new, $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications. This move is among the changes to the program for highly skilled foreign workers, which has come under scrutiny by the administration. H-1B visas are intended to bring skilled foreigners for jobs that tech companies struggle to fill with U.S. citizens. Critics argue the program allows companies to pay lower wages and fill entry-level jobs. Historically, these visas have been distributed through a lottery system, with California having the highest number of H-1B workers.
Trump says he and Xi will meet in South Korea in coming weeks and he'll later go to China
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump says he’ll meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at a regional summit taking place in October in South Korea and will visit China early next year. Trump and Xi had a lengthy phone call on Friday. In a Truth Social post, Trump said Xi would come to the United states and noted the leaders made progress on “the approval of the TikTok Deal” to allow the popular social media app to keep operating in the U.S. Trump hasn’t given details on what was discussed about TikTok. A Chinese government statement says Xi urged the U.S. to avoid any trade restrictions but didn't mention the visits.
