A Chinese woman accused of spying for Beijing during an alleged affair with Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang entered Taiwan using a Hong Kong passport, the island’s immigration authorities have confirmed.   Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency Director-General, Lin Horng-en, disclosed the information on Wednesday while responding to questions about the ongoing investigation involving Alice Huang. He said the government was aware of her entry and exit records, adding that relevant agencies had been fully informed of the details. Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, is a former executive of Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. US officials reportedly believe she was working for Chinese intelligence, although Beijing has rejected the allegations. The controversy has attracted attention following reports of her alleged relationship with Jensen Huang, Nvidia’s chief executive and co-founder. Jensen Huang has reportedly admitted to having an affair. Taiwan’s Interior Minister, Liu Shyh-fang, confirmed that Alice Huang entered the island but said she was currently overseas. Speaking to lawmakers, Liu said Taiwan would not have allowed her entry if authorities had known she was a suspected spy. She also announced plans to review the country’s immigration screening procedures, including preliminary checks, random inspections, interviews and post-visit monitoring. According to Liu, Alice Huang’s entry permit has been revoked, meaning she can no longer enter Taiwan. Taiwan’s national security agencies are also actively investigating the matter. Hong Kong passport holders generally face fewer restrictions when travelling to Taiwan than mainland Chinese passport holders, who must obtain special permission to visit the island. The difference reflects the complicated relationship between Taiwan and China, which claims sovereignty over the self-governed island and has repeatedly vowed to bring it under its control. Alice Huang was previously seen attending a dinner hosted by Jensen Huang at a Chinese restaurant in Taipei on May 22, 2025, during Computex, Taiwan’s major technology exhibition. Video footage showed the woman, dressed in pink, mingling with other guests. At one point, Jensen Huang was seen putting his arm around her before she kissed him on the cheek. Meanwhile, Nvidia’s board announced on Sunday that it had opened an investigation into Jensen Huang following the reports.

Nvidia shares have plunged after the chipmaker launched an independent investigation into reports that its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operation.   Shares in Nvidia fell sharply on Monday after the company’s board launched an independent investigation into reports that its chief executive, Jensen Huang, was targeted by a suspected Chinese intelligence operation. The development followed reports linking Huang to Alice Huang, a Chinese business executive suspected by US intelligence officials of gathering information for Beijing. Nvidia shares dropped by nearly nine per cent at one point during Monday’s trading session before recovering some losses. By 1610 GMT, the stock was down 5.5 per cent. According to a report by The New York Times, Alice Huang, also known as Huang Le, is a former executive linked to Singapore-based data centre company Megaspeed. The newspaper reported that she had developed a close relationship with the Nvidia chief, potentially giving her access to sensitive information about US artificial intelligence policy and developments. Alice Huang is not related to Jensen Huang, who was born in Taiwan and is 63 years old. In a message to employees, the Nvidia chief acknowledged being unfaithful to his wife and apologised for the impact of his actions on his family. “I was unfaithful to my wife,” Huang said. “My actions hurt her and our children. There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.” Nvidia Board Opens Independent Investigation Nvidia’s board announced on Sunday that it had opened an independent investigation following reports that its founder and chief executive had been the target of a foreign intelligence operation. The board said it had no reason to believe that national security or Nvidia’s confidential information had been compromised but would examine all available information. The investigation has raised concerns about the potential implications for Nvidia, a global leader in producing semiconductors used to train and operate artificial intelligence systems. Megaspeed has also reportedly faced scrutiny over allegations that Nvidia’s advanced AI chips were being redirected to China, in violation of US export restrictions. China Rejects Espionage Allegations China has dismissed the allegations linking Alice Huang to an intelligence operation, describing them as unfounded. Speaking at a regular briefing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the narrative of a Chinese spy was an attempt to vilify and smear the country. The allegations come amid growing technological competition between Washington and Beijing, particularly over access to advanced semiconductor technology. US restrictions have limited China’s access to some of the world’s most sophisticated AI chips. Jensen Huang has also maintained close informal ties with US President Donald Trump and has been involved in discussions surrounding American technology policy. The New York Times reported that Alice Huang’s relationship with the Nvidia chief could have provided her with insights into Trump’s thinking on artificial intelligence. Trump, speaking to reporters on Sunday, described Huang as a fine and honourable person, adding that he hoped everything would be fine. US Lawmakers Seek Briefing The controversy has also attracted attention from US lawmakers. The House Select Committee on China reportedly invited Huang to Washington for a closed-door briefing on November 18 to discuss Nvidia’s security protocols. Technology analyst Dan Ives of investment bank Yorkville Ives described the situation as a major reputational setback for Huang. He predicted that the controversy could trigger several congressional inquiries and put additional pressure on Nvidia’s shares. Meanwhile, George Chen, a partner and chair of digital practice at The Asia Group, cautioned against reaching conclusions about Huang’s potential national security implications before the facts were established. Nvidia remains one of the world’s most valuable companies, with its chips playing a central role in the global artificial intelligence industry. The outcome of the board’s investigation could have significant implications for the company’s leadership, reputation and relationship with US policymakers.

Food and fuel prices are rising globally as the effects of an exceptionally strong El Niño combine with economic disruptions caused by the ongoing war in Iran, the United Nations has warned.   The Chief Economist of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Maximo Torero, said the climate phenomenon was disrupting weather patterns worldwide, bringing heavy rainfall to some regions and severe drought to others. Speaking to AFP, Torero explained that both extreme rainfall and drought could damage agricultural production, affect harvests and reduce supplies of crops used for animal feed. He warned that flooding could be particularly destructive, as it can destroy stored food and damage roads, transportation networks and other infrastructure required to move agricultural products to markets. According to him, the combined effects of extreme weather and rising production costs were already contributing to higher food and fuel prices. “Markets react to expectations of future shortages and uncertainty itself can generate volatility,” Torero told AFP. He added that the situation had been worsened by price shocks linked to the war in Iran, which had increased the cost of fuel and fertiliser for farmers while putting additional pressure on household spending. Torero warned that vulnerable households would bear the greatest burden, particularly low-income families that spend a significant proportion of their earnings on food. “For vulnerable households, even moderate food price increases can have huge consequences,” he said. He explained that rising food prices could force poorer families to reduce their food consumption, settle for lower-quality diets and face increased risks of food insecurity and malnutrition. In September, the FAO disclosed that it had received only one-fifth of the $202 million it requested to prepare for an El Niño-related food crisis across 22 high-risk countries. 2026 Could Become Second-Hottest Year The climate crisis is also raising concerns about global temperatures, with the European Union’s climate monitoring service warning that 2026 is on course to become the second-hottest year on record. Samantha Burgess, strategic lead for climate at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which operates the Copernicus climate monitoring service, said October recorded remarkable global warmth, including record temperatures across the global surface and oceans. “An exceptionally strong El Niño is adding further heat to a climate already warmed by human activities,” she said. El Niño is a natural climate phenomenon characterised by unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. It influences weather patterns across the world, increasing the likelihood of droughts, floods and extreme temperatures. Scientists have warned that the current episode could contribute to making 2027 the hottest year on record. Peru Declares State of Emergency In South America, Peru declared a state of emergency across large parts of the country over the threat of flooding associated with El Niño. The decision followed Bolivia’s declaration of a national emergency over the effects of the weather phenomenon. Heavy rainfall has already affected parts of Peru’s northern Tumbes and Piura regions, with authorities warning that more than nine million people, representing nearly a third of the country’s population, were at risk of flooding and landslides. Sri Lanka Faces Future Drought Concerns In Asia, El Niño-related drought conditions have raised concerns about possible shortages in hydropower generation due to hotter and drier weather. Sri Lanka’s state-owned electricity company recently withdrew a proposed electricity tariff increase after heavy rainfall associated with El Niño improved water levels in hydroelectric reservoirs. However, officials expect severe drought conditions during the first half of 2027, potentially forcing the country to rely more heavily on expensive and highly polluting thermal electricity generation. Renewable energy, mainly hydropower and solar, currently accounts for approximately 70 per cent of Sri Lanka’s electricity supply. Philippines Sets Aside $980m for El Niño Response Meanwhile, the Philippines has announced more than $980 million for an El Niño response plan aimed at reducing the impact of climate-related risks on agriculture. Agriculture contributes approximately eight per cent of the country’s gross domestic product and provides employment for one in four Filipinos. The country’s Agriculture Department reported that unmilled rice production declined by 18 per cent in the three months leading to September, partly due to El Niño and increased fuel and fertiliser costs linked to the Iran war. The country’s weather service also forecast below-normal to significantly below-normal rainfall for November. Global Climate Concerns Intensify According to an AFP analysis of Copernicus data, 33 countries recorded their highest October temperatures on record. Scientists also reported an unprecedented early disruption to the polar vortex in November, an event that has occurred only three times during the same period since records began in the 1950s. The disruption could increase the risk of cold spells and is believed to be linked to El Niño. The latest developments highlight growing concerns about the combined effects of climate change, extreme weather and geopolitical conflicts on global food security, energy costs and vulnerable populations.

The burial of Nigerian gospel singer Olayemi Bolaji, popularly known as Toluwanisings, is scheduled to take place on Monday, November 9, in Ibadan, Oyo State, weeks after his death.   The singer died in the early hours of October 14, 2026, with his death later triggering disagreements among members of his family and associates over his burial arrangements. According to the funeral programme shared on the late singer’s official Instagram page, the lying-in-state will hold between 9am and 10am, while the burial service is scheduled for 10am to 11am. The ceremony will take place at Banjola Event and Conference Centre, No. 20, Hope Road, Alakia, Ibadan. The funeral poster carried the inscription, “Forever in our Hearts, always in our Lives”, but did not disclose the location of the singer’s interment. Before the burial arrangements were finalised, disagreements reportedly emerged between the deceased’s father and his wife over where he should be laid to rest. His father had reportedly suggested that the singer be buried at the house he built or beside his late mother in Osun State. However, his wife was said to have opposed the proposal to bury him at their residence. The family also called for an investigation into his death and the suspension of the planned burial. The disagreement prompted the intervention of the Oyo State Police Command after the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Abimbola, received information about the dispute on October 28. PUNCH had earlier reported that the police brokered peace between the parties following tensions and public exchanges over the burial arrangements. On November 3, the singer’s widow, Mrs Elizabeth Damilola Olayemi; his father, Mr Muniru Olayemi; and some of his friends and associates, including Oyindamola Esther, Babadunni Gbolabo and Lawal Ademola Rafiu, signed a peace undertaking before the commissioner. Under the agreement, the parties pledged to stop public exchanges, interviews and social media publications concerning the disagreement. The burial ceremony is expected to bring together family members, friends, associates and admirers to pay their final respects to the late gospel singer.