China blocks Nvidia H200 AI chips that US government cleared for export – report
Suppliers of parts for Nvidia’s H200 have paused production after Chinese customs officials blocked shipments of the newly approved artificial intelligence processors from entering China, according to a report.Reuters could not immediately verify the report, which appeared in the Financial Times citing two people with knowledge of the matter.Nvidia did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment made outside regular business hours.Nvidia had expected more than one million orders from Chinese clients, the report said, adding that its suppliers had been operating around the clock to prepare for shipping as early as March.Chinese customs authorities this week told customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, Reuters reported.
Sources have also said government officials summoned domestic tech firms to warn them against buying the chips unless it was necessary.The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said authorities had not provided any reasons for their directives and had not given any indication if this was a formal ban or a temporary measure.The H200, Nvidia’s second most powerful AI chip, is one of the biggest flashpoints in US-Sino relations.There is strong demand from Chinese firms, but it remains unclear if Beijing wants to ban the chips outright to encourage domestic chip companies to develop their own; whether the Chinese government is still mulling restrictions; or if it is all a bargaining tactic.If the import ban is confirmed, it adds to a convoluted situation that includes the Trump administration allowing the US-designed, Taiwanese-manufactured H200 chips to be exported to China, with the US government reportedly to take a share of the profits.
The US government then decreed that instead of the completed chips being sent directly to China from Taiwan, they instead first go to a US laboratory for testing, allowing a 25% tariff to be imposed as they pass through the US,The tariff was also applied to chipmaker AMD’s MI325X processor,Experts and analysts are split on whether selling the H200 to China is strategically a good idea,Those in favour say its availability might slow China’s progress developing similar chips and keep Chinese companies dependent on US technology; those against say the H200 is, for example, powerful enough to be used in weapons systems that China’s military might one day deploy against the US or its allies,With Reuters
UK supermarkets go all out for ‘Jab-uary’ with food for those on weight-loss drugs
Veganuary and dry January are among the new year health kicks enthusiastically endorsed by supermarkets, but this year the buzz is around “Jab-uary” as pricey diet foods aimed at people on weight-loss drugs hit the shelves.Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Asda, Ocado and the Co-op are among the big names targeting shoppers who use weight-loss injections, known as GLP-1 agonists, but better known by brand names such as Wegovy and Mounjaro.Ocado’s new virtual “weight management” aisle includes a “curated range of GLP-1-friendly products” that runs the gamut from tiny (100g) portions of steak costing £3.50 to a trendy “powdered greens” supplement, AG1, at £107 a pack.The online supermarket said it was seeing strong demand for protein-rich staples such as steak, chicken, cottage cheese, health drinks and vitamins and supplements
Shelling out? Easter eggs in the UK are smaller but pricier this year
Chocolate eggs are looking smaller than ever this year and it is not just because Easter is still so far away.Many of the Easter eggs already out on supermarket shelves this month not only cost more, but have been reduced in size or weight as the price of cocoa has driven a new wave of shrinkflation.Maltesers is living up to its “the lighter way to enjoy chocolate” slogan with its XL egg rather less large this year at 194g in many shops, down from 231g in 2025, while the price charged by Tesco has risen by £1 to £7.The weight loss is largely down to there being one fewer mini pack of Maltesers inside the box, according to trade journal the Grocer, meaning the price per gram is up 39% to 3.6p
China blocks Nvidia H200 AI chips that US government cleared for export – report
Suppliers of parts for Nvidia’s H200 have paused production after Chinese customs officials blocked shipments of the newly approved artificial intelligence processors from entering China, according to a report.Reuters could not immediately verify the report, which appeared in the Financial Times citing two people with knowledge of the matter. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment made outside regular business hours.Nvidia had expected more than one million orders from Chinese clients, the report said, adding that its suppliers had been operating around the clock to prepare for shipping as early as March.Chinese customs authorities this week told customs agents that Nvidia’s H200 chips were not permitted to enter the country, Reuters reported
ChatGPT to start showing ads in the US
ChatGPT will start including advertisements beside answers for US users as OpenAI seeks a new revenue stream.The ads will be tested first in ChatGPT for US users only, the company announced on Friday, after increasing speculation that the San Francisco firm would turn to a potential cashflow model on top of its current subscriptions.The ads will start in the coming weeks and will be included above or below, rather than within, answers. Mock-ups circulated by the company show the ads in a tinted box. They will be served to adult users “when there’s a relevant sponsored product or service based on your current conversation”, according to OpenAI’s announcement
Easier start for Alex de Minaur as Matteo Berrettini withdraws from Australian Open
Alex de Minaur has received an early boost to his Australian Open chances after the withdrawal of his tough first-round opponent, former world No 6 Matteo Berrettini.Tens of thousands have filled Melbourne Park on a sunny Sunday marking the first day of the main draw, which has already seen Perth product Talia Gibson secure passage to the second round.Even before a ball had been hit, however, there was reason for Australian optimism. Berrettini announced he had suffered a recurrence of the abdomen problems which had plagued his 2025 season, forcing him to miss the French and US opens, and would not take the court against De Minaur.“Unfortunately I’ve felt discomfort in my obliques once again and I won’t be ready to perform at my best level for five sets,” the Italian posted on Instagram
JD Vance to lead US presidential delegation at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics
US vice-president JD Vance will head the American presidential delegation to the opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, the White House confirmed Saturday.Vance is scheduled to attend the ceremony on 6 February, when the Milan-Cortina Games officially get underway. He will be accompanied by second lady Usha Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio and US ambassador to Italy Tilman Fertitta.Also joining the delegation are several former Olympic champions, including twin sisters Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson and Monique Lamoureux-Morando, members of the US women’s ice hockey team that won gold at the 2018 Games. The group will also include figure skater Evan Lysacek, the 2010 Olympic champion, and Apolo Ohno, a two-time gold medalist in short track speed skating
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