Category: Semafor

Chinese humanoid robot maker Linkerbot is seeking investment at a $6 billion valuation, double the level it raised money at only last week, highlighting investor appetite to enter the fast-growing industry. Beijing has made dominating the humanoid robot sector a national priority, committing almost $140 billion in state venture capital ...

A small group of Senate Republicans are still working behind the scenes on an authorization of military force for Iran that they can move on if President Donald Trump reprises strikes, according to several people briefed on the matter. Republicans expect to receive a fresh notification if hostilities resume, after ...

The News DR Congo’s cobalt export quotas have forced the metal’s largest producers to adopt new strategies as the central African country seeks to capture more value from its natural resources and curb illegal flows. DR Congo, which accounts for over 70% of global cobalt mine supply, introduced export caps ...

The News George W. Bush had the hawkish Charles Krauthammer to explain his hawkish presidency to the public and advise him in private. Barack Obama liked talking to The New Yorker’s David Remnick. And Donald Trump has increasingly, improbably turned to a former Bush speechwriter best known for defending the ...

Taiwan’s president made it to Eswatini, much to Beijing’s chagrin. The island’s leader, Lai Ching-te, had planned to visit his lone African ally last month but said he canceled his trip because China had pressured neighboring countries to close their airspace. Berlin and Prague also reportedly denied Taiwan’s requests to ...

The US’ planned withdrawal of 5,000 troops from Germany is symptomatic of a widening transatlantic rift that risks leaving Europe with drastic security gaps. Berlin looked to downplay the impact of the drawdown, announced Friday, though US President Donald Trump said Washington would cut troop numbers “a lot further.” The ...

A Chinese court ruled that companies can’t use AI as a justification for getting rid of employees. The ruling last week sided with a tech worker who was fired after refusing to accept a demotion when his job was automated by AI. The decision, which legal scholars said is a ...

Ukraine is increasingly playing the role of global security provider — rather than recipient — as US allies question the extent of Washington’s security guarantees, experts said. Kyiv has become an arms powerhouse by building up its drone capabilities and bolstering defense partnerships that give it additional geopolitical leverage, an ...

The demise of American budget carrier Spirit Airlines reflects how the jet fuel crisis stemming from the Iran war is imperiling the global travel industry, analysts said. The company abruptly shut down on Saturday after talks for a government bailout fell apart, stranding passengers and leaving 17,000 people out of ...

The News President Donald Trump notified Hill leaders on Friday, the 60th day of the Iran war, that US hostilities with Tehran are over — for now — and thus don’t need congressional authorization. It’s a significant message to Republican lawmakers who have grown increasingly anxious and, in some cases, ...