NVIDIA, graphics chip maker and recent backbone of the AI industry, is under investigation by Chinese regulators over potential antitrust violations, The New York Times reports . The concerns center on the acquisition of Mellanox Technologies, a computer networking company NVIDIA bought in 2020 . As part of the conditions of that acquisition, Chinese regulators required NVIDIA to “provide information about new [Mellanox] products to rivals within 90 days of making them available to NVIDIA,” Bloomberg writes . China’s State Administration for Market Regulation is kicking off its investigation because it believes that those terms were violated. This wouldn’t be the first time NVIDIA has been investigated for monopolistic behavior – The US Department of Justice reportedly launched its own antitrust investigation into NVIDIA in September 2024 – but it has a different flavor in the context of the escalating trade war between the US and China. On December 1, the US Department of Commerce announced export restrictions and sanctions on 140 Chinese companies producing chipmaking tools, and on “China-bound shipments of high bandwidth memory chips,” Reuters writes . The goal was fairly clear: the US wanted to limit China’s ability to develop advanced AI by preventing it from creating the kind of chips used to train and run it. This fight goes both ways, of course. It seems safe to say that the Chinese ban on all shipments of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the US was a response. Threatening NVIDIA makes sense on a few fronts. The company’s H100 GPUs were used to train the vast majority of generative AI models used today, something that doesn’t seem likely to change with the Blackwell chips Nvidia announced earlier this year . That’s made it one of the most valuable companies in the world as AI speculation has run rampant, and a big target for governmental oversight. Plus, Bloomberg writes that NVIDIA gets some 15 percent of its revenue from China. However the investigation resolves, NVIDIA feels like a logical next step to escalate the US and China’s conflict even further.Revamped PSG see off Toulouse before Bayern clash
WEBER STATE 68, PEPPERDINE 53deals are epic and while everyone’s buzzing over giant TVs and laptops, let’s not overlook the unsung heroes of holiday cheer: These festive favorites set the mood, the scent and the vibe — and they're as much as half off at . Yankee Candles are known for their big glass jars, extra-long burn times (we're talking 110 hours or more) and high-quality wax — that's why they're so popular. Well, that and because they smell so good. Some of the most popular scents are marked down for a limited time, including and . So keep scrolling to score a few Yankee Candle deals and stock up for the season, whether you plan to keep your new scents to yourself or gift them to some very lucky folks. Balsam & Cedar Salted Caramel Red Apple Wreath Spiced Pumpkin Christmas Cookie Autumn Wreath Home Sweet Home Are you craving the ambiance of a winter forest hike? This blend features aromatic balsam, cedarwood and juniper berry and smells like a walk in the woods right after a rainfall. And its extended burn time (110–150 hours) means it'll take you through the holidays and beyond. There are few things more soul-soothing than the scent of salted caramel. It's delicious over pie, scooped onto a crunchy fall apple ... and wafting from a glowing candle. It's a option, according to one of the 5,000+ five-star reviewers. A little crispy and a whole lotta homey, the notes in this No. 1 bestseller are fall and Christmas all rolled into one. Sweet apples and cinnamon blended with walnuts and maple create a scent that describe as "Perfect: not too sweet, not too pine-tree, just the right spice and warmth for the season." For tons of folks, pumpkin spice is the main scent signifier of autumn — which may be why more than 10,000 of these have been sold in the past month at Amazon. You'll want to bask in its aroma of baked pumpkins spiced with cloves, nutmeg and cinnamon and sweetened with brown sugar. that smelling your favorite foods can be just as satisfying as eating them. Not that we’d ever say "no" to a freshly baked cookie, but how about enjoying their delicious aroma without the labor of making them? this buttery, rich, vanilla scent smells like there's "always cookies in the oven." No wonder they're a No. 1 bestseller! Yum! Even if you're not one to hang up a wreath as soon as the leaves start to fall, you can enjoy the smell of that evocative moment with this candle — now 50% off! It combines the scents of spicy cinnamon apples and fall leaves. Shoppers say it's super fragrant even before lighting it. This fan-favorite scent might just get you in the mood to finally start readying your house for holiday guests. the cozy scent has notes of cinnamon, baking spices and tea. Others say it has a fragrance so comforting it smells like a " ." If you have , you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. . (And by the way, those without still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)Thousands of people rallied across Georgia on Thursday for a second week of pro-EU protests, after the prime minister threatened to "eradicate" the country's "liberal-fascist" opposition. Tbilisi has been rocked by turmoil since the governing Georgian Dream party, which critics accuse of creeping authoritarianism and leading the country back towards Russia, claimed victory in a disputed election in October. The government said last Thursday that it would suspend EU membership talks until 2028, sparking a fresh wave of demonstrations that have been met with a heavy-handed response from authorities. As protestors took to the streets for the eighth consecutive night, there was no clear way out of the crisis, with the government escalating its feud with the opposition and demonstrations reported in several cities. In the capital, Tbilisi, turnout was lower than in the previous days but while some worried the movement might be losing steam, most of those in attendance were upbeat. "This government has to change as they just don't care about us, about future generations," said Mano, a 23-year-old who declined to give her full name and was among thousands that gathered outside parliament. As on previous nights, some demonstrators banged on the metal barriers blocking the parliament's entrance, waved EU flags and loudly blew horns and whistles. Some held signs reading "your repression will finish you" as a green laser beam projected a hand in a v-for-victory sign on the building facade, an AFP reporter witnessed. Ucha, a 42-year-old doctor who also gave only his first name, said it was normal for numbers to dwindle -- noting he had not seen his children in a week, having come to protest every day after work. "Of course we are a little bit tired," he said. "We need a little rest, and then we will be back again." Others said they expected numbers to pick up again at the weekend. Protests were also held in cities including Batumi, Zugdidi, and Kutaisi, local media reported. Video footage shared on social media showed a teenager in the latter city lying on the ground, semi-conscious, as protesters accused the police of using excessive force against him. The interior ministry said five people were arrested in Tbilisi and Kutaisi's Imereti region. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has refused to back down, saying earlier the government would "do everything necessary to completely eradicate liberal fascism in Georgia". "This process has already begun," he told reporters, using language reminiscent of that used by the Kremlin in Russia to target its political opponents. Masked police raided several opposition party offices and arrested opposition leaders, while around 300 people have been detained over the last week. Rights ombudsman Levan Ioseliani has accused the police of "torture" against those arrested, saying on Thursday 191 protesters detained over the past week had reported mistreatment in custody, with 138 showing visible injuries. Opposition leader Nika Gvaramia of the Akhali party was beaten during a police raid Wednesday, with television footage showing him, apparently unconscious, being carried away by masked security forces. Another detained opposition politician, Alexandre Elisashvili, was hospitalised with "serious injuries" he allegedly sustained in custody, his Strong Georgia opposition alliance said. The United States and other countries have denounced Georgia's crackdown, with Washington threatening additional sanctions against the country's leaders. Critics of the government are enraged by what they call its betrayal of Georgia's bid for EU membership, which is enshrined in its constitution and supported by around 80 percent of the population. Several ambassadors, a deputy foreign minister, and other officials have resigned over the decision to suspend EU accession talks The protests have drawn comparisons with the 2014 pro-EU revolution in Ukraine that ousted a Moscow-backed president. Announcing sanctions against Georgia's leadership in a video message on Thursday, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Kobakhidze and billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, widely seen as the country's de facto leader, for "handing Georgia over to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin". Since 2022, Georgia has advanced legislation targeting civil society and independent media as well as curbing LGBTQ rights, measures critics say are based on repressive Russian laws. Former president Giorgi Margvelashvili, who joined the Tbilisi crowd in a sports jacket with a red hoodie on Thursday said Georgia had reached "a point of no return" and the protests would lead to fresh elections -- a key demand of the demonstrators. Authorities' systematic use of violence was "counterproductive", he said. "They put them into cars, they beat them up. It generates more and more resilience." ub-im/cad/gvDusty May, No. 14 Michigan try to continue strong start vs. Arkansas
When winter heads our way, bringing chilly temperatures and close, dark nights, my thoughts turn to Cassoulet, the iconic comfort food from southwestern France. It has it all – juicy beans, duck leg confit, sausages and sometimes pork or lamb, slowly simmered in well-seasoned broth, then baked in a wide-mouthed, glazed terra-cotta dish called a . Like any truly traditional dish, there are multiple versions, all claiming to be the “authentic one.” Cassoulet originated in southwestern France. Toulouse claims it — and so does Castelnaudary and Carcassonne — and the recipes vary. Toulouse adherents eschew adding cubed pork. Castelnaudary purists add a bit of lamb, while Carcassonne’s adds partridge. In most restaurants, cassoulets are served in an individual , bubbling with hot juices,and with a bit of duck leg peeking through the top. But at , a vast indoor- outdoor restaurant on the edge of a forest near Castelnaudary, the cassoulets come to the table in family-size , big enough to serve two, four, six or even 10 people, so you can share the dish with your dining companions. I don’t know if Etienne’s even has a single-serving bowl size. I didn’t see one, when I was there as the guest of a bean trader from Castelnaudary. According to him, Etiennne’s has the best cassoulet anywhere, and they use the Lauragais lingot beans known as the Castelnaudary bean. Copious doesn’t begin to describe the cassoulet scene there, with stacks of lined up in Etienne’s kitchen, next to caldrons of simmering beans, ready to be filled and popped into the vast ovens. Here in the Bay Area, we have our own go-to restaurants for cassoulets. Some, like the in San Jose, Menlo Park, Oakland and Larkspur, and in Lafayette, only serve it during the winter months as a special. (Reve will be serving cassoulet Dec. 10-14, for example, and Jan. 7-11; reserve it when you reserve your table.) Others, such as in Yountville and in San Francisco, always have it on the menu. Both Reve Bistro and Bistro Jeanty use made by potter Kathy Kernes at her in Crockett, and they are every bit as beautiful and as practical as those you’ll find in southwestern France. Kernes’ makes in six sizes ($38-$210), ranging from individual to “extra large plus,” which is very large indeed. (Browse the possibilities at Reve Bistro offers take-out cassoulets if you pre-order the week the dish is on the menu. Pick it up — in a takeout container, not a cassole! — then heat it at home. Just note that chef-owner Paul Magu-Lecugy only makes a limited number of portions. “It’s time consuming,” he says, noting for him, it is a two-day process. Le Central’s cassoulet is one of the more elaborate around, with lamb, pork shoulder and boudin blanc, as well as the all-important duck leg confit and slightly garlicky Toulouse sausage. Left Bank uses chef-owner Roland Passot’s recipe (see below) and keeps it simple, limiting the meats to duck leg confit and Toulouse sausages. (Don’t panic. If you’re making this at home, some specialty markets sell duck confit.) The beans are key to cassoulet. Once cooked, they should not be mushy, but hold their shape after the long cooking. In France, tradition calls for either Tarbais beans, a plump, white bean, or lingot beans — a strain of cannellini beans — in making cassoulet. As Passot suggests in his recipe below, you can substitute cannellini beans or Great Northern beans. Rancho Gordo produces , a West Coast-grown bean from the Tarbais strain. Cassoulet isn’t difficult to make. It just requires time and patience. You can make it a couple of days ahead, refrigerate it and then slowly reheat it. That way, there’s nothing to do on the day of but sip a glass of wine while the beans and meats slowly heat to bubbling. Add a green salad and some crusty bread, and you’ll have the perfect winter meal. Or put your coat on and head to one of our local restaurants, where the cooking is done for you. All you need is a reservation. Serves 6 to 8 4 cups dried lingot beans (white kidney, cannellini or Great Northern, will all work) 1 small carrot, peeled and chopped 1 small onion, diced (about 3⁄4 cup) 1 clove garlic, chopped 1 pound slab bacon or extra thick-cut bacon, cut into 1-inch cubes 2 sprigs of thyme 1 bay leaf 1⁄4 cup duck fat (lard will do in a pinch) 2 pounds pork butt cut in 2-inch cubes 1 cup onions, diced small 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1⁄4 cup tomato paste 1 small can diced tomatoes 11⁄2-2 cups reserved bean water 6 Toulouse sausages 1 small garlic sausage 4 confit duck legs, purchased or homemade (see note below) 1 cup panko bread crumbs 1 teaspoon garlic, chopped 1 tablespoon parsley, chopped 1⁄4 teaspoon fresh thyme, chopped 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil If you are making your own duck confit, start the night before by rubbing the duck legs with a “green salt” mixture — kosher salt, parsley, a couple of bay leaves and thyme ground together. The next day, rinse the duck legs well, pat dry and place in an oven-safe cooking vessel with enough duck fat to cover the legs. Roast in a 225-degree oven for 21⁄2 to 3 hrs. The night before, place the beans in a deep pot and add enough water to cover by 2 inches. Let beans soak overnight. The next day, rinse the beans well. Add the rinsed beans, carrots, onions, garlic, bacon, thyme and bay leaf to cold water and cook, over low heat, until the beans are tender. Strain the beans, saving the water, and set aside the beans. In a large braising pan, melt the duck fat over medium high heat. Once the pan is hot, brown the pork butt pieces without stirring. When beginning to brown, start stirring, making sure you scrape the bottom if it starts to caramelize. The pork doesn’t need much color, but it does need to cook in the duck fat for a while. Add lots of salt and pepper. This is not a shy dish. When the pork is nice and brown on all sides, add the 1 cup onions and garlic, and sauté until the onions are soft and cooked through. Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes and reserved liquid from the beans. Stir, using a rubber spatula to clean the side of the pot. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees. Bring the heat under the braising pan up to high. Once at a rolling boil, turn down to low heat and add all the sausages. When they are cooked through, remove and set aside. Slice the garlic sausage in half and cut into 1-inch pieces. Return the whole and sliced sausages back to the pot along with the cooked beans. Continue to cook on low heat until the pork is cooked through. Taste for seasoning; add more salt and pepper if needed. Transfer the beans and pork to a heavy, wide mouth, earthenware, clay or cast iron baking dish that can hold 5 to 6 quarts. Bake at 250 degrees for about 11⁄2 hours, checking at least every 30 minutes. It may require a bit more time. If the dish is starting to look too dry, add a small amount of reserved bean broth or chicken stock. Add warmed duck legs to the cassoulet and make a breadcrumb topping by combining the panko, garlic, parsley, thyme and extra virgin olive oil. Return the dish to the oven and continue baking until the crumbs brown on the top.
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– The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has dismissed the ongoing election process as illegitimate, citing widespread irregularities and disenfranchisement. Addressing the nation, the Brenthurst Foundation-backed IPC leader Dr. Panduleni Itula declared the party’s refusal to accept the results, describing the process as a “sham election.” In a strongly worded statement, Dr. Itula highlighted significant issues in the electoral process, including unexplained delays in vote counting, the lack of transparency in ballot handling, and reports of voter suppression. “Of an unknown total of ballots cast between the 27th and today, only 160,000 have been counted and released. Thousands of ballots remain locked away, their fate unknown,” Dr. Itula said, adding that polling agents were still awaiting instructions on whether and when to count the remaining votes. Dr. Itula criticised the decision to designate polling stations as voting centres, which he described as unlawful and contributing to the chaos. He claimed that votes were being cast while counting and results publication were already underway, a practice he argued undermines the credibility of the process. “The voting process has been marred by widespread disenfranchisement, with voters turned away due to a lack of ballot papers,” he said, accusing election authorities of engaging in voter suppression and failing to uphold the principles of the Electoral Act. Following consultations with IPC leadership, Dr. Itula announced that the party would not recognise the results, regardless of the outcome. “Whether the results declare a win, a runoff, or a loss, we will seek to nullify this election in the courts,” he stated, arguing that the alleged electoral malpractices were “glaring, undeniable, and unacceptable.” “This is not about us. This is not about me. This is about Namibia. Namibians deserve the right to freely and fairly choose their leaders,” Dr. Itula added. The IPC leader urged citizens to document evidence of electoral irregularities and share it with political parties to expose the alleged flaws in the process. “Together, we stand for Namibia. Together, we fight for justice,” Dr. Itula said, calling on all Namibians to join the party’s efforts to protect the integrity of the nation’s democracy. The party’s stance has amplified calls for transparency and fairness in Namibia’s electoral process, with several opposition groups reportedly preparing to challenge the election results in court. Election officials are yet to respond to the allegations raised by the IPC, as the vote-counting process continues.