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.
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 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.
Meta unveils AI-powered smart glasses with display and neural wristband at Connect event
MENLO PARK, California (AP) — Meta’s newest artificial-intelligence powered smart glasses include a tiny display and can be controlled by a neural wristband that lets you control it with barely perceptible movements. CEO Mark Zuckerberg continues to evangelize the glasses as the next step in human-computer interactions — beyond keyboards, touch screens or a mouse. The glasses, called Meta Ray-Ban Display, will be available in the coming weeks.
Albania's AI ‘minister’ makes its debut with an address to parliament
TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Prime Minister Edi Rama has introduced an AI-generated bot which he has called a government minister in the Albanian parliament. The AI persona named Diella symbolizes the government's push for transparency and innovation. On Thursday, Diella addressed parliament from screens, emphasizing values like accountability. Rama argues that AI will help the government work faster and more transparently in its push toward full membership into the European Union. Opposition lawmakers were highly critical, and believe the program is a way for the government to hide graft. They boycotted a vote on the Cabinet’s program, which passed with 82 votes.
Nvidia CEO Huang says he's disappointed by China chip curbs
LONDON (AP) — Chipmaker Nvidia's CEO said he was disappointed about restrictions on sales to China amid U.S.-China trade and tech tensions. The company faces restrictions on exporting advanced chips to China, crucial for AI development. This week, Beijing regulators accused Nvidia of antitrust breaches. And a media report on Wednesday said that China's internet regulator is banning domestic tech companies from buying a specific Nvidia chip model tailored for the local market. CEO Jensen Huang said he plans to discuss the issue with President Trump at a U.K. state banquet. Despite the challenges, Huang remains supportive of both governments as they navigate these geopolitical policies.
