The US is probing if DeepSeek has been using smuggled Nvidia chips
The U.S. Commerce Department is investigating whether DeepSeek, a Chinese company, has used American computer chips that U.S. regulations prohibit shipping to China. This investigation follows DeepSeek’s AI technology surprising many in the tech industry with its performance.
Last week, DeepSeek released a free AI assistant, claiming it works more efficiently and costs much less than American versions. The app quickly became the most popular download on Apple’s App Store. This success worried many about America’s lead in AI technology and triggered a massive drop in U.S. tech company stock values, erasing around $1 trillion.
Currently, there are rules stopping companies from selling Nvidia’s most advanced AI chips to China. However, according to Reuters, organised groups have been smuggling these chips to China through countries like Malaysia, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
DeepSeek has publicly stated that it uses Nvidia’s H800 chips, which they could legally buy in 2023. The company also appears to own Nvidia’s H20 chips, which are less powerful and which companies can still legally ship to China.
Trump threatened BRICS countries with tariffs if they try to replace the dollar
On Thursday, Donald Trump issued a warning to BRICS member countries, threatening 100% tariffs if they try to replace the U.S. dollar as a reserve currency. This threat echoed his previous statement from weeks after winning the November presidential elections.
“We are going to require a commitment from these seemingly hostile Countries that they will neither create a new BRICS Currency, nor back any other Currency to replace the mighty US Dollar or, they will face 100% Tariffs,” Trump posted on Truth Social, almost word-for-word matching his Nov. 30 statement.
BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, along with several countries that joined in the past couple of years. Although the group hasn’t created a common currency, discussions about one have picked up speed since Western nations sanctioned Russia over the Ukraine war.
“There is no chance that BRICS will replace the U.S. Dollar in International Trade, or anywhere else, and any Country that tries should say hello to Tariffs, and goodbye to America!,” Trump declared.
There were no survivors in the Washington plane crash
President Donald Trump said there were no survivors after last night’s midair collision between an American Airlines regional jet and a US Army Black Hawk helicopter in the Washington, DC, area — the deadliest since 2001. Trump also, without evidence, placed the blame on diversity policies for the crash.
Efforts were suspended for the night with at least 14 people still missing. Dozens of bodies have been removed from the Potomac River, where the aircraft crashed after the collision. The plane, flying from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying 64 people, while three soldiers were aboard the helicopter.
Read Also: Scores feared dead in Washington after jet collides with helicopter, crashes into river
Lagos lawmakers are insisting that Obasa’s removal was legal
Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) members have reaffirmed their decision to remove Mudashiru Obasa as speaker, declaring the action legally binding.
The lawmakers removed Obasa several weeks ago after accusing him of corruption and other offences.
Though Obasa claims he still leads the assembly – even after members elected another person to the position – the Lagos State Assembly insisted on Thursday that his removal stands.
“The Lagos State House of Assembly, as an independent arm of government, has exercised its constitutional duty in the best interest of the people of Lagos,” Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode stated on behalf of the Assembly after lawmakers met with the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS).
“The lawmakers made the decision to remove the former Speaker through a democratic process, with the required majority as stipulated by law. Any attempt to challenge this lawful action undermines the authority granted to us by the Nigerian Constitution.”
NLC is proposing a 5% telecoms tariff hike instead of 50%
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the Nigerian Communications Commission’s 50 per cent telecom tariff increase again, suggesting a five per cent rise instead.
The labour union also confirmed it will hold its planned nationwide protest on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, to oppose the tariff adjustment.
NLC spokesman Benson Upah made these statements during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday.
“They keep on emasculating us through stupid taxes. It will come to a point when people can pay, but they won’t pay. This really is to halt this mindless tariff increase. And if by any chance there has to be an increase at all, five per cent, given the fact of our situation that there have been increases across the board.
“But now to say 50 per cent, it is not going to work. Where will the ordinary Nigerians be at the end of the day when we have energy tariff increases?” he said.
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