Sep 01, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
Humanoid robots need actuators and rare earth magnets, not just AI models. Actuators can make up 60% of a robot's cost, and China processes 90% of the magnets. Europe has set supply limits and labeling rules, but refining capacity is scarce. Schaeffler is both building robots and supplying the joints.
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Aug 03, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
DeepSeek's first external funding round could value the Chinese AI startup at $45 billion. The state-backed China Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund is in talks to lead the round. Tencent and Alibaba may also participate. The valuation has surged from an initial $10bn target discussed only weeks ago.
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Aug 03, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
DeepSeek, the Chinese AI startup backed by hedge fund High-Flyer, is raising external capital for the first time. The limited funding round aims to establish a market valuation and give employees clarity on stock options. The company plans to sell no more than 3% equity, prioritizing state-backed and industrial investors. DeepSeek's main constraint remains access to advanced chips amid US export controls.
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Jul 28, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
In China, a new market has emerged where individuals can license their facial likeness to AI platforms for use in microdramas and advertisements. Platforms such as ActID and New Claw connect contributors with studios, offering payments between $15 and $700. While these services provide virtual actors without traditional shoots, enforcement of usage rights remains a challenge. With over 95% of China’s 128,000 microdramas now using AI, the demand for licensable faces is skyrocketing.
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Jul 05, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
Apple is pushing for government approval to source DRAM chips from Chinese manufacturer CXMT, which is on the Pentagon's blacklist. The move comes after a mid-cycle price hike that wiped $263 billion from Apple's market cap. The request faces political backlash and could escalate tensions in the US-China tech war.
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Jun 22, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited North Korea for the first time in seven years, meeting with Kim Jong Un to call for strengthened strategic coordination and cooperation. The summit, marked by a grand welcome ceremony, underscores China's enduring alliance with North Korea as Pyongyang balances ties with Russia and China. Xi's visit comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions and North Korea's continued nuclear ambitions.
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May 18, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
Russian President Vladimir Putin will travel to Beijing for a two-day meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week, the Kremlin announced. The talks come less than 24 hours after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his own state visit to China. The leaders are expected to discuss economic cooperation and sign several bilateral documents.
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May 15, 2026Twila Rosenbaum
During a state visit to China, U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping reached a consensus on preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. The leaders also discussed trade deals, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and other global issues. The summit included a working tea and a closed-door lunch at Beijing’s Zhongnanhai compound.
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