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Taiwan’s TSMC stops shipments to client after chips sent to Huawei

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TSMC said it discovered on October 11 that chips made for a specific customer had ended up with Huawei. Photo: Sam Yeh / AFP Source: AFP
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Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC halted shipments to a customer this month after its semiconductors were sent to China’s Huawei, a Taipei government official told AFP, potentially breaching US sanctions.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company is the world’s largest contract manufacturer of chips used in everything from Apple iPhones to Nvidia’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence hardware.

Huawei, the world’s leading equipment maker for fifth generation mobile internet networks, has been embroiled in a tech war between Beijing and Washington.

The United States slapped sanctions on Huawei in 2019, and expanded them the following year, over fears its technology could be used for Beijing’s espionage operations. Huawei denies the allegations.

The sanctions cut Huawei off from global supply chains that gave it access to the US-made components and technologies crucial to manufacturing powerful AI systems.

The restrictions prevent TSMC from selling semiconductors to Huawei.

But, TSMC discovered on October 11 that chips made for a “specific customer” had ended up with the Chinese company, a Taiwanese official with knowledge of the incident told AFP on the condition of anonymity.

TSMC “immediately activated its export control procedures”, halting shipments to the customer and “proactively” notifying US and Taiwan authorities, the official said.

In a statement on Wednesday, TSMC said it was a “law-abiding company” and had not supplied Huawei since mid-September 2020 in compliance with export controls.

“We proactively communicated with the US Commerce Department regarding the matter in the report,” TSMC said, apparently referring to media reporting of the incident.

“We are not aware of TSMC being the subject of any investigation at this time.”

Taiwan’s economic ministry told AFP on Thursday that TSMC had informed them about the incident, but had not identified their client.

“There was already an interaction and a contractual partnership in place, so it’s an old client,” the ministry said.

They had been a client since before the 2020 deadline for companies to comply with the export controls, and “no shipments have been made since October 11”, it said.

Self-sufficiency

Bloomberg reported Tuesday that Canadian research firm TechInsights had found an advanced processor made by TSMC inside Huawei’s latest AI chip.

Huawei did not respond to AFP’s request for comment.

The company told Bloomberg that it hadn’t “produced any chips via TSMC after the implementation of the amendments made by the US Department of Commerce” to its trade restrictions targeting Huawei in 2020.

In response to US export restrictions, Beijing has turbo-charged a drive for self-sufficiency in chips, with plans to pump billions of dollars into the sector.

Huawei last year unveiled the Mate 60 Pro, a high-performance smartphone equipped with a chip that experts say would be impossible to produce without foreign technologies.

That sparked debate about whether attempts to curb China’s technological advancements have been effective.

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Detailed comparison between the 2014 Mercedes-AMG G63 and the 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63:

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Detailed comparison between the 2014 Mercedes-AMG G63 and the 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63:
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1. 2014 Mercedes-AMG G63

-Engine: 5.5L twin-turbocharged V8

-Power: 536 hp @ 5,500 rpm

-Torque: 760 Nm (560 lb-ft) @ 2,000-5,000 rpm

-Gearbox: 7-speed automatic

-Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

-Weight: Approximately 2,550 kg (5,622 lbs)

Performance:

-0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 5.4 seconds

-Top Speed: Limited to 210 km/h (130 mph)

-Ex-Showroom Price: Starting around $150,700 USD

Other Features: Live axle suspension, premium interior with fewer modern tech amenities compared to newer models.

2. 2022 Mercedes-AMG G63

-Engine: 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8

-Power: 577 hp @ 6,000 rpm

-Torque: 850 Nm (627 lb-ft) @ 2,500-3,500 rpm

-Gearbox: 9-speed automatic

-Drivetrain: All-Wheel Drive (AWD) with advanced 4×4 capabilities

-Weight: Approximately 2,560 kg (5,644 lbs)

Performance:

-0-100 km/h (0-62 mph): 4.5 seconds

-Top Speed: 240 km/h (149 mph) with the optional AMG Driver’s Package

-Ex-Showroom Price: Starting around $179,000 USD

Other Features: Modern tech, including MBUX infotainment, updated suspension for improved ride quality, and luxurious interior refinements Differences:

1. Engine and Performance: The 2022 model offers more power and quicker acceleration due to its updated engine and gearbox.

2. Technology: The 2022 G63 benefits from the MBUX system, better connectivity options, and driver-assistance features, lacking in the 2014 version.

3. Suspension and Comfort: The newer G63 has independent front suspension for a smoother ride, compared to the rigid live axle setup of the 2014 model.

4. Price: The 2022 model is significantly more expensive due to its advancements and luxury improvements.

Both models retain the iconic boxy design and off-road prowess, but the 2022 version represents a modernized and more luxurious iteration of the classic G-Class.

 

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Australia nears social media ban for children after heated debate

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FILE PHOTO: A 3D printed Facebook's new rebrand logo Meta is seen in front of displayed Google logo in this illustration taken on November 2, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo © Thomson Reuters
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Australia nears social media ban for children after heated debate

By Renju Jose and Byron Kaye

SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia moved closer on Wednesday to banning social media for children under 16 after the parliament’s lower house passed a bill even as Alphabet’s Google and Facebook-owner Meta pressed the government to delay the legislation.

Marking some of the toughest social media controls in the world, Australia’s House of Representatives passed the bill 102 votes to 13 after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor government secured bipartisan support for the ban.

The Senate is expected to debate the bill later on Wednesday, with the government keen to ensure it is passed by the end of the parliamentary year on Thursday.

Albanese, trying to lift his approval ratings ahead of an election expected in May, has argued that excessive use of social media poses risks to the physical and mental health of children and is looking for support from parents.

The planned law would force social media platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure age-verification protections are in place. Companies could be fined up to A$49.5 million ($32 million) for systemic breaches.

Australia plans to trial an age-verification system that may include biometrics or government identification to enforce the ban.

A Senate committee backed the bill this week, but also inserted a condition that social media platforms should not force users to submit personal data such as passport and other digital identification to prove their age.

The committee added that the government must “meaningfully engage” with youth when framing the law.

“Young people, and in particular diverse cohorts, must be at the centre of the conversation as an age restriction is implemented to ensure there are constructive pathways for connection,” committee Chair Senator Karen Grogan said.

In submissions to parliament, Google and Meta said the ban should be delayed until the age-verification trial finishes, expected in mid-2025. Bytedance’s TikTok said the bill needed more consultation, while Elon Musk’s X said the proposed law might hurt children’s human rights.

IMPACT ON FAMILIES

The ban was first announced during an emotionally charged parliamentary inquiry into social media, which included testimony from parents of children who had self-harmed due to cyber bullying.

It has fuelled vigorous debate with youth advocates arguing it robs children of a voice and parent groups saying under-16s are too young to navigate the digital world.

Teenagers have said the law could cut them off from their most important social and family connections, arguing a ban is not the solution.

“I understand that using social media a lot is not a good thing and I’m working on it,” said Sydney high-school student Enie Lam, 16. “But a ban is not going to work,” she said.

Albanese’s party, which does not control the Senate, won crucial support from the opposition conservatives for the bill, but has failed to win over the left-leaning Greens and some far-right lawmakers on civil liberties and privacy grounds.

One conservative lower house member broke from their party and voted against the bill on Wednesday, a rare event in Australian politics, and two conservative senators said they also would vote against it, arguing the law should be delayed until the age-verification trial was complete.

Even the Australian Human Rights Commission, an independent statutory authority, opposed the ban saying it violated children’s rights to self-expression and to participate in society.

Still, polling shows public support overwhelmingly in favour of the move. A YouGov survey released this week showed 77% of Australians backed the ban, up from 61% in August.

Australian media, from the publicly owned Australian Broadcasting Corp to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp, also support the ban. An editorial campaign by News Corp, the country’s biggest newspaper publisher, pushed for the ban under the banner “Let Them Be Kids”.

“Our members feel that this is one of the biggest issues impacting on themselves and their families at the moment,” said Jenny Branch-Allen, president of the Australian Parents Council, an advocacy group.

“Big companies have to start taking responsibility. Let’s try and reduce the incidents we’re hearing involved with social media and young people in Australia.”

($1 = 1.5451 Australian dollars)

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JUSTIN: NERC Orders DisCos To Replace Obsolete Meters At No Cost

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Ekwutosblog has gathered that the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has directed electricity distribution companies (DisCos) to replace obsolete meters for their customers at no cost.

The mandate was outlined in a statement released by the regulatory body’s management on Monday.

The directive came after some electricity companies required customers to replace Unistar brand prepaid meters.

Following the directive, Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) and the Eko Electric Distribution Company (EKEDC) announced that the Unistar prepaid meters which were first deployed over 10 years ago, would no longer be supported from November 14, due to technological upgrades and the token identifier (TID) rollover issue.

NERC emphasised that the cost of meter replacement falls solely on the distribution companies and reiterated that no customer should be subjected to estimated billing.

“The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission is aware that some Distribution Companies (DisCos) have instructed customers to apply and pay for the replacement of faulty and obsolete meters within their franchise areas.

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