Trump’s California Gains: A Win for Him, but a GOP Loss

Image: Alex Parkin / The Verge If you could guarantee you’d have plenty of power and super-fast Wi-Fi, where would you work? You might pick the backyard instead of the office. Or you might throw your laptop and some clothes in the car, and take your Zoom calls in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Just for the day. Maybe the year. Maybe forever. That dream is becoming increasingly possible — and The Verge’s Thomas Ricker is starting to live it. On this episode of The Vergecast, Thomas joins to tell us about his latest vanlife adventures, including converting a Sprinter van into the perfect mobile apartment / office setup. He’s been testing the Starlink Mini, has lots of ideas about solar panels and batteries and how to keep everything charged an online, and even has strong feelings about the new Peak Design backpack that promises to make it all portable. As he prepares for a long trip out of civilization, Thomas takes us inside his new setup. After that, The Verge’s Andru Marino joins for another mic test. This time, instead of earbuds or fancy headphones, he’s testing the wearable mics from companies like DJI and Rode, which promise better audio for your social videos with almost no additional work. Andru... Read the full story at The Verge.

Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge China has imposed new limits on the sale of chip-making materials to the US, a move that comes just one day after the Biden Administration announced sanctions that will make it harder for Chinese companies to produce advanced semiconductors, as reported earlier by CNN. On Tuesday, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said it will no longer allow the sale of gallium, germanium, antimony, and other key minerals with potential military applications to the US to safeguard national security. The country will also closely scrutinize the export of graphite. The US Department of Commerce introduced new rules on Monday to “further impair” China’s ability to produce semiconductors for AI and weapons systems. The rules put new limitations on the equipment and software used to manufacture semiconductors, along with high-bandwidth memory chips. It also began barring exports to 140 new Chinese companies. “This action is the culmination of the Biden-Harris Administration’s targeted approach, in concert with our allies and partners, to impair the PRC’s ability to indigenize the production of advanced technologies that pose a risk to our national security,” US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement. Over the past several months, China has started tightening control over its supply of rare materials. It started limiting the export of antimony — a mineral used for chipmaking and to create military equipment — in September and later began requiring exporters to explain in detail how they’ll be used in Western supply chains, according to The New York Times. Things could get even more heated in the coming months, with President-Elect Donald Trump vowing to impose additional tariffs on Chinese goods.

Israel threatened Tuesday to return to war in Lebanon if its truce with Hezbollah collapses, and said this time its attacks would go deeper and target the Lebanese state itself, after the deadliest day since the ceasefire was agreed last week.

Japan's defense ministry said Tuesday it has confirmed a Russian navy submarine sailed through the waters between southwestern Yonaguni Island and Iriomote Island for the first time.

Seven Hamas terrorists who participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel's northwestern Negev were killed in Israel Defense Forces operations in central Gaza in recent weeks, the military announced on Tuesday.

Meta Tuesday said fears that artificial intelligence would unleash a torrent of misinformation to deceive voters around the world did not come true as elections played out around the world this year.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in an unannounced late night address broadcast live on YTN television.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has urged U.S. officials to investigate whether European governments have tried to unduly influence the country's laws around artificial intelligence.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned President-elect Donald Trump against forcing Ukraine to accept a peace deal favorable to Russia.