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☆ Jared Kushner expected to be pivotal to Trump admin’s Middle East efforts without taking a formal job
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Kylie Atwood | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —President-elect Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is seen as being pivotal to the incoming administration’s Middle East efforts, even though he is not likely to take a formal job within it, regional diplomats and Trump allies told CNN. Trump’s Middle East team has been taking shape this week after he selected a former Republican governor and a close friend and real-estate developer to take on key roles. Since Trump left office in 2021, Kushner and his wife, Ivanka Trump, have moved to Miami and largely exited politics. Kushner has also maintained relationships with key players in the Middle East, including Israeli officials and leaders in the Arab Gulf. That is the key question,” explained Aaron David Miller, a former Middle East negotiator at the State Department, referring to Trump’s longtime friend and real estate developer who will serve as his special envoy to the Middle East.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Jared Kushner, Kushner, Trump, Jared, ”, –, ” Kushner, Abraham, Ivanka Trump, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump’s, bin Salman, Israel, “, Kusher, Ghaith Al, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Ron Dermer, Brian Hook, ” Hook, “ Kushner, Mike Huckabee, Steve Witkoff, Kushner –, Aaron David Miller, Rubio, ” Witkoff, Witkoff Organizations: CNN, Trump, Trump’s, Republican, White, Abraham Accords, United, United Arab Emirates, Affinity Partners, Washington, Saudi Crown, MBS, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, Harvard, Washington Institute, Israel, State Department, CNN International, Former Arkansas Gov Locations: Israeli, Israel, Isreal, United Arab, Gaza, Lebanon, Miami, Arab, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, New Jersey

Scores of people have been killed in Israeli strikes in northern Gaza this weekend, according to local officials, with the bloodshed in the enclave and continued attacks in Lebanon dimming hopes that the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar might breathe new life into cease-fire talks that have been stalled for months. The Israeli security cabinet is expected to hold a meeting Sunday afternoon to discuss plans for a strike on Iran, an Israeli official told NBC News. In northern Gaza, the local health ministry on Sunday said at least 87 people were killed, with more than 40 others injured, in Israeli strikes on residential areas in Beit Lahia on Saturday. Videos and photos emerging out of northern Gaza showed devastating scenes. Israeli forces on Sunday continued operations in Gaza and in Lebanon, with the IDF saying troops remained active across the northern, southern and central ares of the Strip.

Persons: Yahya Sinwar, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Israel, ”, Joe Biden, Gershon Baskin, they're, Izzat Al, Rishq, Israel's, Netanyahu Organizations: Israeli, NBC News, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Civil Defense, Palestinian Health Ministry, Sunday Locations: Gaza, Lebanon, Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Israel, Iran, Lebanese, Beit Lahia, Hamas, Beit, Indonesian, Washington

☆ A year on from October 7, the Middle East is facing its greatest upheaval in a half-century
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-07 | by ( Nic Robertson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Propelled by US incentives, Saudi Arabia and Israel seemed closer than ever to a historic normalization of relations. It was October 10, and Major General Itai Veruv of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was leading the first international press access to see the devastation of Hamas’ attacks. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is unwilling to be a partner in a deal that would resow Middle East relations. Nearly 42,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed, many by US bombs and bullets in Israel’s hands, authorities in Gaza say. Tehran’s Shia proxies in Iraq have also answered its calls and begun escalating drone attacks on Israel.

Persons: Butchery, Yahya Sinwar, Itai Veruv, General Eisenhower, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jack Guez, haven’t, Israel’s, Netanyahu, Joe Biden’s, Hassan Nasrallah, Israel –, Biden, Mohammed Bin Salman, Anwar Gargash, cleaver Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Aza, Israel Defense Forces, Israel's, Getty, West Bank, Saudi, Saudi’s Crown, MBS Locations: Israel, Saudi Arabia, Gaza, AFP, Lebanon, Iran, United States, Tehran, Tel Aviv, Iraq, Saudi, Palestinian, UAE

☆ China would love a domestic Nvidia rival — but that's proving quite the challenge
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The U.S. government has restricted the export of Nvidia's most advanced chips to China since 2022, with restrictions tightening last year. "These companies have made notable progress in developing AI chips tailored to specific applications (ASICs)," Wei Sun, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC. China's key challengesThe flags of China and the USA are being displayed on a smartphone, with an NVIDIA chip visible in the background. Huawei leading the packTriolo identified Huawei as one of the leaders in China with its Ascend series of data center processors. In its annual report earlier this year, Nvidia explicitly identified Huawei, among other companies, as a competitor in areas such as chips, software for AI and networking products.

Persons: Nvidia's, China's, Wei Sun, Paul Triolo, Albright Stonebridge, SMIC, TSMC, Triolo, Chip IPOs Organizations: Nvidia, CNBC, Huawei, Alibaba, Baidu, Technology, Counterpoint Research, NVIDIA, Nurphoto, Wall Locations: Beijing, wean, China, U.S, USA, SMIC

☆ China seeks a homegrown alternative to Nvidia — these are some of the companies to watch
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Arjun Kharpal | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

This has renewed focus on China's homegrown efforts to rival Nvidia and create semiconductors that can underpin the world's second-largest economy's own AI industry. Huawei then sells these chips as a part of servers that go into data centers to train AI models. Alibaba and BaiduAlibaba and Baidu both buy Nvidia chips but they are also designing their own semiconductors for AI processes. Inference is the process that follows the training of AI models, as it refers to the actual application of AI in the real world, such as a chatbot responding to user queries. Moore ThreadsMoore Threads, founded in 2020, is developing GPUs designed to train large AI models.

Persons: Paul Triolo, Albright Stonebridge, Baidu Alibaba, Wei Sun, Moore, KUAE, ByteDance Organizations: Istock, Getty, Nvidia, CNBC, Huawei Huawei, Huawei, Wall, Alibaba, Baidu, Counterpoint Research, Biren, Technologies, China Morning, Cambricon Technologies, U.S, Sequoia, GGV Locations: China, U.S, Beijing, Washington, Shenzhen, Biren's

☆ Nvidia preparing version of new flagship AI chip for Chinese market, Reuters reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Nvidia is working on a version of its new flagship AI chips for the China market that would be compatible with current U.S. export controls, four sources familiar with the matter said. The AI chip giant in March unveiled its "Blackwell" chip series, which is due to be mass-produced later in the year. A version of a chip from Nvidia's Blackwell series for the Chinese market would boost the U.S. firm's efforts to fend off those challenges. Expectations are high that the U.S. will continue to keep up the pressure on semiconductor-related export controls. The U.S. wants the Netherlands and Japan to further restrict chipmaking equipment to China, sources have said.

Persons: Blackwell, Inspur, Nvidia's Blackwell, Biden Organizations: MWC Shanghai, Nvidia, Reuters, Huawei, Bloomberg News Locations: Shanghai, China, Washington, U.S, Netherlands, Japan

☆ 2023 has been an AI feeding frenzy, here are the startups that attracted the most investment this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Darius Rafieyan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Despite an overall slump in startup funding, 2023 saw a scramble among investors to pour money into AI and machine learning startups. And the company's star still appears to be rising, despite a messy leadership struggle that recently spilled into public view. Meanwhile OpenAI's perennial rival Anthropic attracted multi-billion dollar investments from both Google and Amazon to fund a competing AI model known as Claude. At the same time legacy companies from John Deere to accounting firm PwC played up their AI bona fides to capitalize on the hype. The list doesn't include startups who have not publicly released the amount of their funding rounds.

Persons: OpenAI, Anthropic, Claude, Databricks, John Deere, PwC, Fresh Organizations: Microsoft, Google, Alpha, Technology, Monogram, Sigma, Lambda, Helsing, Metals, Eagle Eye, Amelia, Asimov, Farmers Business, Harbinger, Prins, Silo, Mistral, Alto, AMP, Management Software, Universal, Coro, Kodiak Robotics, Aerospace, Defense, Sana, Corti, Kyte, Mitra, Tech, Boss Digital Technology, Halcyon, & $ Locations: PitchBook

☆ US budget gap soars to $1.7 trillion, largest outside COVID era
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Treasury Department said the deficit was the largest since a COVID-fueled $2.78 trillion gap in 2021. For September, the final month of the fiscal year, the deficit fell to $171 billion from $430 billion in September 2022. The fiscal 2023 deficit would have been $321 billion larger, but was reduced by this amount because the Supreme Court struck down Biden's student loan forgiveness program as unconstitutional. Reuters GraphicsRECORD INTEREST COSTSThe 2023 deficit marks an abrupt end to two years of falling deficits for Biden as COVID-19 spending faded. Fiscal 2023 outlays fell $137 billion, or 2% from the prior year to $6.134 trillion.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Joe Biden's, Biden, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, Biden's, Janet Yellen, Shalanda Young, outlays, Gross, David Lawder, Dan Burns, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Social Security, Treasury Department, Representatives, . House, Management, Treasury, Reuters Graphics, Federal, Federal Reserve, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ U.S. budget deficit jumps 23% to nearly $1.7 trillion as Social Security, health costs rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The U.S. Capitol building is seen in Washington, U.S., April 6, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Oct 20 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Friday posted a $1.695 trillion budget deficit in fiscal 2023, a 23% jump from the prior year as revenues fell and outlays for Social Security, Medicare and interest costs on the federal debt rose significantly. The Treasury Department said the deficit was the largest since a COVID-fueled $2.78 trillion gap in 2021 and marks a major return to ballooning deficits after back-to-back declines during President Joe Biden's first two years in office. The deficit comes as Biden is asking Congress for $100 billion in new foreign aid and security spending, including $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel, along with funding for U.S. border security and the Indo-Pacific region. Reporting by David Lawder and Dan Burns; Editing by Andrea RicciOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elizabeth Frantz, Joe Biden's, Biden, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy, David Lawder, Dan Burns, Andrea Ricci Organizations: U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Social Security, Treasury Department, Representatives, . House, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Ukraine, Israel, U.S

☆ Tencent-backed AI chip startup Enflame raises $2.7 bln from state-linked investors, others
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - China's artificial intelligence (AI) chip startup Enflame, backed by tech giant Tencent, on Thursday said it raised 20 billion yuan ($2.74 billion) from investors including funds linked to a government authority in Shanghai. The deal came as the development of generative AI, boosted by the success of OpenAI's ChatGPT, raises investor interest in companies working on AI-related infrastructure such as AI chips. Enflame said the latest fundraising was co-led by investors including a few funds backed by Shanghai International Group, which is under the control of the state asset regulating authority in the municipality of Shanghai. Tencent, which has cooperated with Enflame in developing an AI chip named Zixiao and contributed to the startup's earlier fundraising, also participated in the latest investment round, according to a statement by Enflame. ($1 = 7.3103 Chinese yuan)Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Kane Wu; Editing by Michael PerryOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: OpenAI's, Enflame, Roxanne Liu, Kane Wu, Michael Perry Organizations: Shanghai International Group, Enflame, Thomson Locations: Shanghai

☆ Trump's looming indictment causes his feud with DeSantis to boil over into insults and insinuations about a 'porn star' and 'underage' classmates
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-21 | by ( Kimberly Leonard | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The Trump indictment news put DeSantis on the spot, given he's expected to run for president. "I don't know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair," DeSantis said. "But when he can actually make a positive difference — whether that's the Silicon Valley bailout or the Trump indictment — he shuts up for political convenience. Asked about the battle, DeSantis' political team pointed to the governor's comments Monday saying that he would not participate in helping Bragg with an extradition. Ron DeSantis' interview with the New York Post.

The cross-border attacks followed an Israeli operation in the West Bank city of Nablus on Wednesday. The Islamic Jihad said Israeli troops had surrounded two of its Nablus commanders in a house, triggering a clash that drew in other gunmen. Palestinian sources said the two Islamic Jihad commanders had been killed along with another gunman. Palestinian groups in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza went on strike on Thursday. Abdel-Latif Abdu, a vegetable seller in Gaza, kept his shop closed in support of residents of Nablus and the rest of the West Bank.

☆ Congressional budget forecast to provide insight on U.S. debt ceiling deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( David Lawder | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, Feb 15 (Reuters) - The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) on Wednesday will provide some clarity on when the United States may default on its payment obligations if lawmakers fail to raise the federal borrowing limit amid a tense partisan spending stand-off. A second CBO report will describe the "current debt situation and CBO's expectation about when the Treasury will no longer be able to pay its obligations fully if the debt limit is not raised." "There has been a Republican drumbeat to cut Social Security and Medicare," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, reminded reporters on Tuesday. There is no agenda on the part of Senate Republicans to revisit Medicare or Social Security. Reporting by David Lawder; Additional reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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