The ugly monoliths quietly desecrating America's most sacred sites… and driving locals to the brink
Today, America's most sacred battlefield sites face a different kind of invasion - one of cold, hulking mega-structures filled not with soldiers, but with servers.
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Reuters
29 minutes ago
- Reuters
Exclusive: Nvidia orders 300,000 H20 chips from TSMC due to robust China demand, sources say
BEIJING/SHANGHAI/NEW YORK, July 29 (Reuters) - Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab placed orders for 300,000 H20 chipsets with contract manufacturer TSMC ( opens new tab last week, two sources said, with one of them adding that strong Chinese demand had led the U.S. firm to change its mind about just relying on its existing stockpile. The Trump administration this month allowed Nvidia to resume sales of H20 graphics processing units (GPUs) to China, reversing an effective ban imposed in April designed to keep advanced AI chips out of Chinese hands due to national security concerns. Nvidia developed the H20 specifically for the Chinese market after U.S. export restrictions on its other AI chipsets were imposed in late 2023. The H20 does not have as much computing power as Nvidia's H100 or its new Blackwell series sold in markets outside China. The new orders with Taiwan's TMSC would add to existing inventory of 600,000 to 700,000 H20 chips, according to the sources who were not authorised to speak to media and declined to be identified. For comparison purposes, Nvidia sold around 1 million H20 chips in 2024, according to U.S. research firm SemiAnalysis. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said during a trip to Beijing this month that the level of H20 orders it received would determine whether production would begin again, adding that any restart to the supply chain would take nine months. The Information reported after Huang's trip that Nvidia had told customers it had limited H20 stocks available and it had no immediate plans to restart wafer production for the GPU. Nvidia needs to obtain export licenses from the U.S. government to ship the H20 chips. It said in mid-July it had been assured by authorities that it would get them soon. The U.S. Department of Commerce has yet to approve those licenses, one of the sources and a third source said. Nvidia on Monday declined to comment on the new orders or the status of its license applications. TSMC declined to comment. The U.S. Commerce Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Nvidia has asked Chinese companies interested in purchasing Nvidia H20 chips to submit new documentation including order volume forecasts from clients, said one of the sources and a fourth source. The Trump administration said the resumption of H20 sales was part of negotiations with China over rare earth magnets - elements essential for many industries and which Beijing had limited exports of as trade war tensions escalated. The decision drew bipartisan condemnation from U.S. legislators who are worried that giving China access to the H20 will impede U.S. efforts to maintain its lead in AI technology. But Nvidia and others argue that it is important to retain Chinese interest in its chips - which work with Nvidia's software tools - so that developers do not completely switch over to offerings from rivals like Huawei. Before the April ban, Chinese technology giants including Tencent ( opens new tab, ByteDance and Alibaba ( opens new tab substantially increased H20 orders as they deployed DeepSeek's cost-effective AI models as well as their own models. The popularity of Nvidia products in China, despite the advent of rival, albeit less powerful, offerings from Huawei, has been underscored by a boom in repair demand for its other banned GPUS - many of which have been smuggled into the country. After the April ban on H20 sales, Nvidia warned that it would have to write off $5.5 billion in inventories, while Huang told the Stratechery podcast that the company also had to forgo $15 billion in potential sales.
Auto Blog
3 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Best 7 Passenger EV? The Hyundai Ioniq 9 vs the Volkswagen ID Buzz
View post: Amazon Is Selling a 'Very Sturdy' $230 Workbench for Just $115, and Shoppers Say It's 'Definitely Worth the Price' The 1st-gen Porsche Cayenne GTS is legendary not for its power but for its manual transmission. Here's why it was so great, and why we want it to return. View post: The Porsche Cayenne GTS Manual Transmission is the SUV We Want to Come Back Despite the Lexus UX 300h being a hybrid, Acura's webpage for the ADX says its compact SUV is better. Is it? A small segment full of interesting competition There are only a handful of all-electric vehicles that can carry seven or more passengers. Models from BMW, Cadillac, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Rivian, Tesla, and Volvo offer that capacity, as does the Kia EV9, which shares its platform with the Hyundai Ioniq 9. Oddly enough, many forget that the Volkswagen ID Buzz can also seat seven—perhaps because it's technically a minivan, unlike the more SUV-shaped competitors. Still, in my estimation, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and the Volkswagen ID Buzz represent the most forward-thinking, family-friendly EVs on the market today. While both are pricey, neither is outrageous compared to luxury rivals. On paper, they have a lot in common—but in person, they're remarkably different. Hyundai Ioniq 9 (Starting at $58,995) 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 9 — Source: Hyundai Only the base S model is rear-wheel drive (RWD); all other trims—SE, SEL, Limited, Calligraphy, and Calligraphy Plus—come with all-wheel drive (AWD). All Ioniq 9s are powered by a 110 kWh lithium-ion battery (compared to the Kia EV9's 99.8 kWh pack) that supports both AC and DC fast charging, with 10% to 80% charging in 24 minutes on a 350kW charger. Powertrain Breakdown: S (RWD) – 160 kW (215 hp), 335-mile range S (RWD) – 160 kW (215 hp), 335-mile range SE, SEL (AWD) – 226.1 kW (303 hp), 320-mile range Limited, Calligraphy, Calligraphy Plus (AWD) – 314.6 kW (422 hp), 311-mile range The interior is outstanding across all trims. Tech features include a curved digital display with a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and 12.3-inch infotainment screen. While my SEL tester didn't include Hyundai's 'Relaxation Seats' (available in higher trims), front seats were still supremely comfortable. The second row offers excellent comfort, even with a bench seat, while the third row is best for smaller adults or kids due to limited headroom. Driving the Hyundai Ioniq 9 SEL Hyundai IONIQ 9 — Source: Hyundai The 303-horsepower AWD SEL trim delivers more than enough punch. Higher trims may be quicker, but I never felt the need for more. You even gain about 9 extra miles of range versus top trims, thanks to fewer gadgets and a lighter setup. Handling is solid for a nearly 6,000-lb vehicle—about the same curb weight as a Chevrolet Suburban 4×4. It reminded me of the Ioniq 5, only larger and higher. The independent five-link rear suspension soaks up rough roads impressively, and the MacPherson front struts help the Ioniq track true. No, it's not a sports car. When pushed hard, it will lean, plow, and shuffle. However, Hyundai's safety systems, especially lane-keeping and lane-centering, are among the best. Rear visibility is limited due to thick pillars and the vehicle's shape, but the cameras and sensors more than make up for it. Volkswagen ID Buzz (Starting at $59,995) VW — Source: Volkswagen The Volkswagen ID Buzz comes with a 91 kWh battery (86 kWh usable), powering either RWD or dual-motor AWD setups. RWD – 282 hp, 234-mile range AWD – 335 hp, 231-mile range DC fast charging is capped at 200 kW, good for a 10% to 80% charge in about 30 minutes. Level 2 charging (AC) takes 7.5–9 hours at 11 kW. The ID Buzz interior is modern, light-filled, and fun. You feel like you're piloting a boat—in a good way. The 12.9-inch center touchscreen and 5.3-inch digital cluster provide a futuristic look. All seats are comfortable, with third-row space that's surprisingly generous for adults. However, rear passengers get no dedicated cupholders—just bottle holders in the doors. Odd oversight. Driving the ID Buzz The ID Buzz also weighs about 6,000 lbs, but it hides that weight surprisingly well. It's not as quick or athletic as the Ioniq 9, but it's nimble and fun in its own right. The driver's seating position is a standout, with exceptional visibility thanks to the tall windows and elevated driving position. You can see over almost everything else on the road. Its multilink rear suspension is built for loads, which gives it a mixed ride. Full of passengers? Smooth. Nearly empty? You may notice some rear shuddering due to the stiff coils. That stiffness helps prevent tip-over behavior, though—it feels confident even when pushed. Final thoughts The Hyundai Ioniq 9 is the clear winner in performance, range, and overall usability. It's a brilliant all-rounder that asks for few compromises. While its slippery, teardrop profile might divide opinions, its tech, comfort, and refinement make it a standout. The Volkswagen ID Buzz, on the other hand, oozes character—which is rare in a minivan. It's fun to drive, highly maneuverable, and eye-catching. Sure, it could use better range, rear cupholders, and a slightly lower price, but it's a genuinely desirable people mover. Verdict? If you want top-tier tech, range, and comfort, go with the Ioniq 9. If you want charm, style, and to turn heads while hauling kids, go with the ID Buzz. Either way, you're ditching gas, hauling seven people, and driving something that dares to be different.
Finextra
3 hours ago
- Finextra
Trovata buys treasury management system Atom
Cash and liquidity management platform Trovata has acquired treasury management system (TMS) Atom and secured $9 million in investment. 0 Developed by Financial Sciences Corporation, Atom boast a deep treasury feature set, including support for debt and investment instruments, intercompany transactions, in-house bank support, credit facilities, FX hedging, full domestic and international payment workflow, bank fee analysis and bank account management. It will now be integrated into Trovata's cloud-native platform built on corporate banking APIs and AI, in what the firm claims makes it the first modern, viable TMS alternative to the legacy incumbents. In addition, Trovata has raised $9 million in a Series B extension from State Street and The PNC Financial Services Group. This brings the company's total funding to $80 million, with investors including JP Morgan, Wells Fargo, National Australia Bank, Capital One Ventures, and Mastercard. "There hasn't been a new TMS built in nearly three decades," says Brett Turner, CEO, Trovata. "We pioneered corporate banking APIs and the only true cloud-native treasury platform in the market with meaningful scale. Now, with ATOM, we have the firepower to compete directly with the legacy incumbents—and replace them. This isn't just expansion. It's a generational shift in treasury tech."
