Jensen Huang reportedly had close relationship with Chinese businesswoman accused of passing information to Beijing. Plus, tennis legend Billie Jean King tells all
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Good morning. Nvidia’s chief executive, Jensen Huang, has been placed under “independent investigation” by the tech company after reports emerged he had been “the target of a foreign intelligence effort”, namely a close relationship with a Chinese businesswoman who is accused of passing information to Beijing. Nvidia stock is down 5% in pre-market trading as a result.
The company’s board said in a statement that while it had no reason to believe that either US national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised, its inquiry would examine all available information. Republican lawmakers have expressed alarm, asking Huang to give the House foreign affairs and intelligence committees a closed-door briefing next week on Nvidia’s “security protocols against foreign adversary espionage”.
Cop31 climate talks open in Turkey in need of ‘tangible outcome’
More than 90 heads of state and government, along with officials from close to 190 countries, are expected in Antalya this week for the latest round of UN climate talks. Against a backdrop of rapidly rising temperatures and extreme weather, with fractious geopolitics made worse by soaring inflation driven by the US-Israel war on Iran, the fortnight-long meeting will focus on “implementation” of the world’s targets to cut greenhouse gas emissions and help those stricken by the climate crisis.
Chris Bowen, Australia’s climate and energy minister and president of negotiations for Cop31, which his country is co-hosting with Turkey, told the Guardian: “We need a tangible outcome … that people can see is real. We need progress, it needs to be a step forward on previous Cops.”
The Guardian will have extensive coverage of the Cop31 conference, including a daily live blog, and these explainers on what is at stake and what the talks can achieve, and who the key players are. Find all of our Cop31 coverage here.
Trump poised to lurch further right, claiming US took ‘giant step back’ in elections
Donald Trump set the stage this weekend to push his administration further right, claiming the US took a “giant step back” after voters widely rejected his party. Despite Republicans losing both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterms – with voters repudiating key policies from sweeping tariffs to the war with Iran – the administration appears set to double down.
Yet Trump struck a contradictory note on immigration. Speaking on Sunday, he admitted his deportation policy was “too tough” and politically damaging, offering to negotiate a deal with Democrats to let some undocumented immigrants remain. That olive branch, however, clashed directly with his decision to elevate Stephen Miller, the architect of the crackdown, to White House chief of staff.
What are Democrats planning to do with control of Congress? While party leaders say their exact strategy remains under discussion, all signs point to the Democrats embarking on aggressive campaigns of both investigating and lawmaking. “We made a promise to the country that we would fight for an affordable America, and we intend to keep it,” said Hakeem Jeffries, who is expected to become speaker of the House.
Why are the midterms results a threat to Pete Hegseth? Jeffries said he strongly supports impeaching the defense secretary, saying Hegseth “has abused his power, undermined our national security, and engineered this reckless and costly war of choice in Iran. Pete Hegseth has got to go.” The departing Kentucky Republican representative Thomas Massie has moved to revive his impeachment effort against Hegseth.
Kraków shooting suspect has died, say Polish police
A gunman suspected of killing six people and injuring 16 others in a market square in Kraków, Poland, has died in hospital, police said on Monday. The suspect, a 24-year-old who authorities said was probably inspired by far-right ideologies, had been in a critical condition after being wounded in a shootout with police. Polish prosecutors opened a terrorism investigation after the man opened fire on Saturday afternoon in an attack that shocked the country.
Gadi Eisenkot reaches out to Netanyahu allies as he strives to form government
Israel’s former military chief Gadi Eisenkot has started the tough task of forming a government, reaching out to Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies and saying the long-serving prime minister had brought the country to a historic crisis. Eisenkot, 66, formally received a mandate from Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who gave him 28 days to form a government despite his bloc lacking a majority.
In other news …
Kyle Larson has joined Nascar’s all-time greats with his third Cup title in six years. The 34-year-old becomes the first repeat champion since 2010.
Donald Trump has said he was “only kidding” about making UFC’s Dana White his next press secretary.
Pope Leo has delivered a stinging critique of the Argentinian president Javier Milei’s austerity measures in a speech met with rapturous applause in Buenos Aires.
Godzilla Minus Zero has taken the US box office by storm in its opening weekend. The foreign-language film topped the box office in the US and Canada with $31.6m in takings.
Stat of the day: Cruise ship pianist rescued after nine hours treading water miles from shore
A pianist for a Royal Caribbean cruise ship is expected to survive after two fishers discovered him treading water in the Pacific Ocean nearly 20 miles offshore. The unidentified man was taken to hospital after the rescue, according to the US Coast Guard, which is investigating how he went overboard. Authorities believe the man may have been in the ocean for approximately nine hours.
Don’t miss this: Billie Jean King at 82 on coming out, tearing up tennis – and her one big regret
Lucy Knight interviews the tennis legend who is as competitive as ever in her ninth decade, and discusses sexuality, tenacity and what it was like to finally graduate from college this year.
… or this: Ukraine’s new frontier – how space has become critical to balance of the war
In a war driven by drones and battlefield sensors, access to space is essential. After Starlink speed restrictions and Russian Oreshnik missile strikes, Kyiv is racing to develop its own space capabilities. Senior international correspondent Peter Beaumont reports.
Climate check: ‘A new age of climate extremes’ – Earth accumulating heat at accelerating rate
Heat is accumulating in Earth’s systems at an accelerating rate, the UN’s weather agency has reported, with 2026 on track to be one of the four warmest years on record. The imbalance between incoming energy from the sun and energy leaving Earth reached its highest level since monitoring began, which will supercharge extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, droughts and tropical cyclones.
Last Thing: Nasa seeks next generation of astronauts to live and work on the moon
Nasa has launched a callout for a new generation of astronauts as it searches for explorers who could live and work on the moon. If you fancy it, applications are due by 3 December. Good luck!
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