Category: Semafor

The chaos plaguing US airports deepened on Monday as travelers faced hours-long lines stemming from a partial government shutdown. As security officers work without pay, leading many to call out of work or quit, federal immigration agents were dispatched to airports across the country, ramping up a fight in Washington ...

The launch of a new venture capital fund focused on prediction markets underscores the rapid growth of the nascent industry. The founders of the two biggest platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket, are among the investors in 5c(c) Capital, which plans to raise up to $35 million, with some 20 companies in ...

Reduced oil flows from the Gulf could have some upsides for more nimble US shale producers, as a projected glut in oil supplies quickly evaporates. Analysis by JPMorgan suggests US shale companies and Canadian oil sands producers could emerge as “relative winners” as oil consumers seek alternative supplies in stable ...

Journeys to the airport have become a complicated undertaking for many Gulf travelers, often involving crossing into a neighboring country where airspace remains open. In the interests of keeping planes running and revenues coming in, some airlines are moving over the border too. Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways has started operating from ...

The war in Iran could soon disrupt the AI supply chain, upending the prospects for East Asian firms that drive chip manufacturing but which rely on the Middle East for energy imports. Two major South Korean companies dominate memory chip production, while Taiwan’s TSMC makes 90% of advanced semiconductors; both ...

Thousands of US marines are being deployed to the Middle East. While their mission hasn’t been disclosed, their ability to launch quick, small-scale operations is raising the profile of Gulf islands that could become central to the war in the weeks ahead. Kharg, hundreds of kilometers north of the Strait ...

The Iranian strike that destroyed liquefied natural gas facilities in Ras Laffan, Qatar, last week has set off ripples that will affect the global economy until the end of the decade. The attack knocked out two LNG trains and a gas-to-liquids unit, cutting about 12.8 million tons a year of ...

Israel attacked a key Lebanese bridge over the weekend as Israeli authorities approved an expansion of attacks, in what Lebanon’s president called a “prelude to ground invasion.” Israeli forces have been hitting crossings over the Litani River and homes close to the border since a ground assault targeting Hezbollah began ...

The market capitalization of China’s top battery manufacturers has soared by $70 billion since the start of the Iran war, as investors predict the conflict will boost clean energy growth. BYD, CATL, and Sungrow have all outperformed global oil majors since the conflict began, the Financial Times noted; batteries are ...

The Pentagon will reportedly adopt Palantir as its main AI system after a fallout with Anthropic. The firm’s Maven model is already deeply embedded in US defense: It gathers battlefield data and identifies targets. The new move designates it the “program of record,” which streamlines its adoption across the military, ...