KKR and SK Inc. are launching a 2 trillion won ($1.3 billion) renewable energy platform in South Korea to supply clean power to AI data centers and semiconductor manufacturers. The venture will scale from 1.7 gigawatts to 10 gigawatts of capacity, integrating wind, solar, and fuel cell assets from across the SK Group. What energy … Read more
China’s industrial sector reported a 21.1% year-over-year profit increase in May, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). This growth, while slowing from April’s 24.7% pace, highlights a deepening divide in the Chinese economy, where a global surge in artificial intelligence investment currently offsets persistent domestic weaknesses like the property sector downturn … Read more
Airwallex secured $320 million in Series H funding, propelling its valuation to $11 billion. The company intends to use the capital to accelerate the development of AI-native financial software, specifically targeting autonomous finance and the emerging “agentic commerce” sector, according to company statements. How much has Airwallex’s valuation increased? The company’s valuation saw a 38% … Read more
Anthropic is aggressively expanding its AI compute footprint into the Asia-Pacific region to meet surging global demand for its enterprise and consumer AI products. The U.S.-based AI lab is currently recruiting for 13 specialized data center roles, with eight positions specifically located in Australia and Japan. This international push aims to bolster infrastructure reliability as … Read more
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned shipowners on Wednesday that any transit through the Strait of Hormuz established without coordination with Tehran is “unacceptable and dangerous.” This threat follows proposals for alternative southern routes, potentially complicating global oil flows despite a recent U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding intended to reopen the waterway. Why did the … Read more
Ukraine’s recent long-range drone strikes on the Gazprom Moscow refinery and increasing pressure on Crimea signal a strategic effort to cripple Russian energy revenues. While these successes revive hopes for a shift in the war’s momentum, analysts warn that approaching an “end game” increases the risk of significant escalation. Why are Ukrainian drone strikes targeting … Read more
Beijing has shifted toward a targeted regulatory strategy for its technology sector, prioritizing economic stability and AI competitiveness over the sweeping crackdowns that defined 2021. While officials have recently launched antitrust probes into industry leaders like Trip.com and summoned major firms over pricing practices, analysts from Evercore and DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group suggest these measures are … Read more
The Japanese yen rose on Monday following comments from Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda suggesting the possibility of near-term interest rate hikes. Despite the central bank raising rates to a three-decade high and the government deploying 11.7 trillion yen ($72.8 billion) in foreign reserves to support the currency, the yen remains near the 160 … Read more
Chinese artificial intelligence startup DeepSeek has mandated that investors in its latest $7.4 billion funding round refrain from poaching its staff, according to a report from a 36Kr-owned outlet. The Hangzhou-based company, now valued at over $50 billion, implemented this non-solicitation clause to stabilize its workforce as competition for top-tier AI engineering talent intensifies among … Read more
India is currently re-evaluating its artificial intelligence strategy as U.S. export controls and sudden access restrictions from major AI providers threaten the nation’s reliance on foreign foundational models. While India has focused on building an application layer atop established global platforms, recent directives—such as Anthropic’s decision to limit model access for foreign nationals—have exposed a … Read more