How China gets the Nvidia chips it needs to develop AI

The Korea Times - Nov 10, 2026

TOKYO — Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has admitted to having an affair, reportedly with a Chinese executive at a Singapore-based company that the United States suspects of smuggling AI microchips into China. The scandal has focused attention on how China, a major artificial-intelligence power in itself, obtains the cutting-edge chips despite US export restrictions. - Why are Nvidia chips so important? - Nvidia designs advanced components originally created to handle 3D visuals in video games, called Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). These have the power to crunch colossal amounts of digital data, so are also used at scale to train and run artificial intelligence. ChatGPT's 2022 launch showcased the potential of AI, sparking an investment gold rush as governments and tech giants raced to develop the technology further. With chip orders pouring in, Nvidia's market valuation has soared to $4.5 trillion -- currently on par with Apple as the world's two most valuable companies. Which chips does the US restrict? Washington bans the export of Nvidia's top-end "Blackwell" and "Rubin" GPUs to China, citi

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Pope Leo Mass in Buenos Aires draws record crowd of 2.5 million, Vatican says

Nov 10, 2026

Pope Leo Mass in Buenos Aires draws record crowd of 2.5 million, Vatican says

BUENOS AIRES — Vast crowds thronged one of the main boulevards in Buenos Aires on Monday as Pope Leo rejoiced at the strength of the Catholic Church in South America during an outdoor Mass that officials said drew a record crowd of 2.5 million people on the first papal trip to Argentina in nearly four decades. Argentines stretched for miles down the Avenida del Libertador, waving the white-and-yellow Vatican flag and pressing against security barriers for a glimpse of the pontiff at the largest event yet of the pope's 12-day South American tour, and of his 18-month tenure leading the global Catholic Church. Chants of "Long live Pope Leo!" echoed down the tree-lined street as the pope was driven by in an open-top popemobile under sunny skies. Leo said in his sermon how happy he was to see Catholics in a region that has long been a stronghold for the Church but where it has been losing ground recently to fast-growing evangelical denominations. "It fills my heart with joy to celebrate... with you," said the pope. "My visit to this land of Argentina has allowed me to see on your faces the

Nvidia's shares slide as chip giant probes CEO over spy claims

Nov 10, 2026

Nvidia's shares slide as chip giant probes CEO over spy claims

SEOUL/SYDNEY — Nvidia shares declined on Monday after an internal investigation into whether CEO Jensen Huang had been targeted by a foreign intelligence effort put his future at the AI chipmaker under scrutiny. The internal probe followed a media report that Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who allegedly passed information to Beijing. Huang told Nvidia's employees that he had been unfaithful to his wife, without disclosing details of the relationship. The investigation, announced on Sunday, has put a spotlight on 63-year-old Huang's future given Nvidia's status as the world's most valuable chipmaker and the CEO's role as the most prolific salesman of the AI boom. The leather-jacketed Huang enjoys rock-star status worldwide, particularly in Asia, where he often mingles freely with fans, taking selfies and signing autographs for his devoted followers. He is Nvidia's fifth-largest shareholder with a roughly 3.6 percent stake, according to LSEG data, and keeps a tight grip on the company through an unusually flat structure in which dozens of executives report di

Nvidia probe into CEO Huang's affair puts spotlight on personal life

Nov 10, 2026

Nvidia probe into CEO Huang's affair puts spotlight on personal life

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has been one of the poster boys for the AI revolution because his company's chips are essential for the technology. Now his personal life is in the spotlight after revelations of an affair with a purported Chinese spy that triggered an investigation by the board. Here's a look at Jensen Huang. Founded in a fast food franchise Nvidia is a tech giant that's worth more than $4 trillion, making it one of the world's most valuable companies. But the company's beginnings more than 30 years ago were decidedly unglamorous. The company got its start when three engineers — Huang, Chris Malachowsky and Curtis Priem — gathered in 1993 at a Denny's diner in San Jose, California, in what's now the heart of Silicon Valley. They discussed building a computer chip that would make graphics for video games faster and more realistic. That conversation, and the ones that followed, led to the founding of Nvidia. Why Denny's? Huang worked at the restaurant when he was young and his time there appears to have played a big role in his early life. On his LinkedIn profile he lists only tw

Chances of Trump-Kim summit 'go up' after US midterms: expert

Nov 10, 2026

Chances of Trump-Kim summit 'go up' after US midterms: expert

WASHINGTON — The chances of another summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un could increase following last week's midterm elections, as Pyongyang may view Trump as a weaker and easier negotiating target following a major Republican defeat, a U.S. expert assessed Monday. "I do think that chances go up of a meeting after the midterm elections," said Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), during a press briefing held to preview potential agendas and meetings during Trump's upcoming trip to Asia. The trip will take Trump to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen, China. He suggested that Pyongyang may have been waiting until after the midterm elections before considering another meeting with Trump, anticipating that he would be in a weaker political position. "They see Trump as weaker and therefore perhaps more vulnerable and easier target," Cha said. He also pointed to Trump's desire to build his diplomatic leg

Trump's close ties to Nvidia's Huang scrutinized after foreign intelligence concerns

Nov 10, 2026

Trump's close ties to Nvidia's Huang scrutinized after foreign intelligence concerns

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump's close relationship with embattled Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang came under renewed scrutiny on Monday, after the company said its board was investigating whether the tech executive has been the target of a foreign intelligence effort. Huang is one of Trump's closest allies in Silicon Valley, and the relationship between the two dates to at least 2025. Over the past two years, he has repeatedly voiced support for the administration's agenda and become a regular presence in Washington as Nvidia sought to sell advanced chips to the Chinese market. Advanced chips are the backbone of the U.S. AI boom and government officials have previously tried to restrict China's access to them through export controls to stifle its AI capabilities. Nvidia's board launched its probe after a New York Times report said Huang had a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman whom U.S. intelligence officials believe passed information to the Chinese government. Nvidia shares hit a seven-month low on Monday. Huang has a direct line to the president. A Reuters reporter s

Hegseth faces expected US House impeachment vote this week

Nov 10, 2026

Hegseth faces expected US House impeachment vote this week

WASHINGTON — Pete Hegseth, the U.S. defense secretary, calls himself the secretary of war, part of his effort to rebrand a military he said was too weak and "woke" when he took office last year. Now, with a House impeachment vote expected this week, he could soon share something in common with an actual secretary of war. William Belknap, who held that title in 1876, became the first, and to date only, civilian leader of the U.S. military to be impeached by Congress. US Representative Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican, introduced articles of impeachment on Monday, setting off a two-day clock for an expected House vote on charges including waging war against Iran without congressional approval and other abuses of power. Congressional sources say the resolution may have the simple majority needed to pass the Republican-controlled House before Democrats take over on January 3. Conviction appears unlikely in the Senate, however, where a two-thirds majority is required and Republicans hold 53 of 100 seats. House Speaker Mike Johnson opposed the effort, saying impeachment “in the middle

French officials blame Iran for refrigerator hacks, vow retaliation

Nov 10, 2026

French officials blame Iran for refrigerator hacks, vow retaliation

PARIS — French officials on Monday accused Iran's Revolutionary Guards of responsibility for the cyberattacks that knocked out commercial refrigerators and freezers across France last month, saying there would be consequences for Iran. The hacks that struck hundreds of French supermarkets in early October were among the most disruptive cyberattacks of the Iran war that began in February, a conflict that has been marked by scattered incidents of alleged digital disruption. These have included hacks against the Los Angeles transit system in March, against US water treatment plants in July and against ships bound for the United States in August. Iran's mission to the United Nations did not return messages seeking comment. Iran routinely denies carrying out malicious cyber operations. The French announcement was made only minutes after Reuters revealed that investigators privately suspected Iran of being behind the attacks. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the Iranian ambassador had been summoned to France's foreign ministry. Barrot also threatened further EU sanctions again

Trump says Huang had 'no idea' lover was alleged Chinese spy

Nov 10, 2026

Trump says Huang had 'no idea' lover was alleged Chinese spy

WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump took a sympathetic tone towards Jensen Huang on Monday, saying the Nvidia CEO was "suffering greatly" and didn't know a woman he had an affair with was an alleged Chinese spy. Trump also danced around the question of when he personally was aware of intelligence linking the chip boss to Alice Huang, a Chinese executive who had allegedly been funneling information to Beijing. The U.S. leader said he had spoken to Huang earlier on Monday "to see if he's feeling alright," calling the Taiwanese-born tech boss an "amazing guy." "I asked him that question, 'did you have any idea that she was a spy?' He said, 'I had no idea that she was a spy,' and I really believe him," Trump told reporters at the White House. He added: "I hope there is no problem. I believe he is suffering greatly... more so because of his family, his wife, who he loves, and his family. But he's definitely suffering." Jensen Huang sent a message to Nvidia employees on Sunday in which he acknowledged having an affair and apologized to both his family and company staff. Trump said he was

'No ordinary CEO': Why AI race cannot do without Nvidia's Jensen Huang

Nov 10, 2026

'No ordinary CEO': Why AI race cannot do without Nvidia's Jensen Huang

On the streets of Taipei and Seoul, fans of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang mob him for autographs on books, posters and sometimes even on their bodies. In private, even billionaires Larry Ellison and Elon Musk were once reduced to "begging" for his coveted AI chips. The star power that 63-year-old Huang draws as the gatekeeper to Nvidia's chips shows how badly the AI industry is leaning on him for the graphics processing units that train models and run services such as ChatGPT. But he is not just a chip supplier; instead Nvidia has in recent years turned its swelling cash pile into a war chest to fund companies ranging from AI cloud-computing providers and suppliers to the biggest labs. Analysts say that makes Huang a potential risk to the AI industry as Nvidia investigates whether he was targeted by foreign intelligence after Huang confirmed his affair with a Chinese businesswoman accused of passing information to Beijing. "It is hard not to read the news over the weekend as negative given it brings the stewardship of one of America's most important companies and the architect of the US AI traj

UK writer M. John Harrison wins Booker for AI-tinged apocalyptic novel

Nov 10, 2026

UK writer M. John Harrison wins Booker for AI-tinged apocalyptic novel

LONDON — UK author M. John Harrison won the Booker Prize on Monday for his enigmatic novel "The End of Everything", which echoes concerns about artificial intelligence in a darkly satirical depiction of post-apocalyptic Britain. Harrison, 81, became the oldest winner of the award, which comes with a £50,000 ($67,000) prize and a boost in sales and profile for the winner. A veteran of the British science fiction literary scene, it was Harrison's first time being shortlisted for the coveted prize, which critics have said was long overdue. He beat shortlisted authors Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout, Luke Kennard and Rebecca Perry, whose entries ranged from a queer epic unfolding in 1980s Kingston to a campus satire set in modern-day London. "The End of Everything" came out "ahead in terms of both its extraordinary expert writing, but also huge ambition," chair of the judges Mary Beard told a press conference. Harrison's 13th novel follows the beachcomber Phillip Tennent and his dementia-stricken, free-spirited aunt Marnie, set in the near-future on the windswept English coa

France blames Iran for last month's cyberattack on supermarket fridges

Nov 10, 2026

France blames Iran for last month's cyberattack on supermarket fridges

PARIS — France on Monday blamed Iran for last month's massive cyberattack on supermarket fridges, summoned the Iranian ambassador and said it would seek European sanctions against those responsible for the attack. The Oct. 12 attack sent refrigerator temperatures soaring, affecting about 700 of the country’s 10,000 supermarkets. In a statement Monday, prosecutors in Paris said they found that Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard was behind the large-scale cyberattack. The French Foreign Ministry condemned the attack “in the strongest possible terms,” and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, speaking on the sidelines of G7 talks in Paris, said the Iranian ambassador was being summoned to “strongly protest against this extremely serious act.” “This is an attack of unprecedented scale and aggressiveness,” Barrot said. “It is the first large-scale cyberattack aimed at sabotage on French soil, and it represents a major threat to our national interests and the security of the French people. That is why it will not go unanswered.” “We will impose sanctions at th

US aircraft evacuated from second UK base due to Iran threat, WSJ reports

Nov 10, 2026

US aircraft evacuated from second UK base due to Iran threat, WSJ reports

The US military evacuated aircraft from a second airbase in Britain on Monday after a threat from Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter, weeks after the US withdrew its bombers from RAF Fairford airbase over a suspected Iran-linked security incident. Two US refueling tankers that were using the RAF Mildenhall military base diverted to Germany earlier on Monday, while several other tankers at the base were moved to Germany and other locations later in the day, the WSJ report said. According to the Journal, the precise nature of the threat to RAF Mildenhall remains under discussion among US officials. “We do not routinely comment on the activity of other nations. Aircraft and other assets move regularly according to operational requirements,” a British ministry of defense spokesperson said. The Pentagon and the US European Command did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Five men were arrested outside RAF Fairford airbase in southwest England in September over a security incident with two o

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