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President Donald Trump announced Friday that the U.S. government now owns 10% of tech giant Intel, turning $11.1 billion in government funds and commitments into a major stake in the struggling chipmaker. The deal comes just weeks after Trump publicly criticized Intel’s CEO, questioning his loyalty and leadership. Trump declared the move in a post, saying: “The United States of America now fully owns and controls 10% of INTEL, a Great American Company that has an even more incredible future.” The government acquired 433.3 million non-voting shares at $20.47 each — below Intel’s closing price of $24.80 — giving it an immediate paper profit of $1.9 billion. This investment makes the U.S. government one of Intel’s largest shareholders, just as the company is undergoing significant restructuring, including laying off over 20,000 employees, to recover from years of decline and strategic missteps. Intel’s CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, who took the helm just five months ago, faced pressure earlier this month after lawmakers raised concerns about his previous financial ties to Chinese firms. Trump initially demanded his resignation but reversed course after Tan wrote a letter affirming his loyalty to the U.S. and visited the White House. On Friday, Trump praised Tan as a “highly respected” CEO. Tan thanked Trump for the investment, calling it a vote of confidence in Intel’s future and a boost to American tech leadership. Intel’s stock has barely moved since Tan took over in March and remains over 60% below its all-time high of around $75. The company’s current market value is approximately $108 billion — far behind Nvidia, now worth $4.3 trillion. Investment Tied to CHIPS Act, Despite Prior GOP Criticism The 10% stake comes largely from funding tied to the CHIPS and Science Act, originally passed under President Joe Biden to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Despite Trump and his administration previously criticizing the CHIPS Act as excessive government spending, they have now used it to secure a financial stake in Intel — aiming to turn it into a profitable venture. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick justified the move by saying: “It’s obvious that it’s the right move to make. America should benefit from this investment.” Of the $11.1 billion, around $7.8 billion had already been pledged to Intel, but only $2.2 billion had been disbursed so far. Another $3.2 billion came through a different program called “Secure Enclave.” While the government will not hold voting power or board seats at Intel, critics warn the move could blur the lines between public policy and private enterprise. Some fear it could distort the market — for example, tech firms may feel pressure to favor Intel’s products to stay on good terms with the administration. Scott Lincicome of the Cato Institute warned that the deal could damage the U.S. tech sector and overall economy, calling it a “horrendous move.” The new stake may also increase scrutiny on Tan, particularly if Trump begins to focus on Intel’s performance or stock price, as he’s known for highlighting his own business successes. Nancy Tengler, CEO of Laffer Tengler Investments, expressed skepticism, saying the deal doesn’t appear beneficial to taxpayers or the chip industry. She warned against political interference in corporate affairs and emphasized the private sector should remain independent. Not Without Precedent While rare, government stakes in large corporations have happened before — notably during the 2008 financial crisis when the U.S. invested nearly $50 billion in General Motors, acquiring a 60% stake. The government later sold its shares at a loss of about $10 billion. Strategic Goals: AI, Chips, and China Trump’s move aligns with his broader effort to bring manufacturing back to the U.S. and reduce reliance on foreign chip production — a key concern amid competition with China over artificial intelligence and advanced tech. The administration has already imposed a 15% commission on U.S. chipmakers like Nvidia and AMD for sales in China, linking export licenses to compliance with the policy. Even before the Intel deal, Trump had been actively reshaping the chip sector’s global operations — and with this new stake, the government now has a more direct interest in one of America’s oldest and most iconic tech companies.

Robolink, one of Inc. 5000’s fastest-growing private companies in 2025, has teamed up with Texas Instruments (TI) Education Technology to launch a new way of teaching coding and STEM skills—allowing students to program drones directly from Python-capable TI-Nspire™ CX II graphing calculators. Starting this school year, students will be able to control Robolink’s award-winning CoDrone EDU in math and science classrooms nationwide, combining flight, physical computing, and core instruction through a tool already familiar to teachers and learners. Robolink, known for its strong presence in coding, robotics, and aerial drone education, has been the official drone partner of the REC Foundation’s annual Aerial Drone Competition for three consecutive years, engaging more than 10,800 students last season. “By partnering with Texas Instruments, we’re making hands-on drone coding accessible to tens of thousands of classrooms,” said Hansol Hong, CEO and Founder of Robolink. “This collaboration integrates the excitement of drone flight with core subjects, helping schools keep students engaged while teaching future-ready skills.” Ukrainian startup develops long-range drones and missiles to strike deep into Russia Harshal S. Chhaya, TI’s Product Manager for K-12 STEM and robotics, said the initiative will transform STEM learning. “Programming drones through the TI-Nspire CX II brings real-world applications of coding and math into classrooms in a way that’s both fun and practical,” he added. Educators can access a step-by-step guide at education.ti.com/codrone, while CoDrone EDU and required USB connectors are available at robolink.com. Source: Agency 

Police arrested 18 people Wednesday during worker-led protests at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, headquarters as the company vowed an “urgent” review of the Israeli military’s use of its technology amid the ongoing war in Gaza. The demonstrations, which followed a similar protest the day before, demanded that Microsoft immediately sever business ties with Israel. Unlike Tuesday, when around 35 protesters left after being asked by the company, Wednesday’s demonstrators “resisted and became aggressive,” the Redmond Police Department said. Protesters also splattered red paint resembling blood over a landmark Microsoft sign. “We said, ‘Please leave or you will be arrested,’ and they chose not to leave so they were detained,” police spokesperson Jill Green said. Microsoft said last week it hired a law firm to investigate allegations reported by The Guardian that the Israeli Defense Forces used Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform to store phone call data obtained through mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. “Microsoft’s standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage,” the company said, calling the report “precise allegations that merit a full and urgent review.” Earlier, The Associated Press revealed Microsoft’s close ties with Israel’s Ministry of Defense, including a nearly 200-fold increase in military use of its AI products after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack. While Microsoft acknowledged military applications, a company-commissioned review reportedly found no evidence that Azure or its AI technologies were used to target or harm people in Gaza. Microsoft said the latest review, conducted by Covington & Burling, will be shared when completed. Israel approves E1 settlement, risking West Bank split The employee-led No Azure for Apartheid group, which has long protested Microsoft’s technology supply to the Israeli military, said Wednesday that the tools are “being used to surveil, starve and kill Palestinians.” Microsoft previously fired employees who protested CEO Satya Nadella’s speeches and the company’s 50th anniversary celebration. Tuesday, protesters called for a “worker intifada,” invoking language from the Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation. The Redmond Police Department said the 18 detainees face multiple charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction. It was unclear how many are Microsoft employees. No injuries were reported. Microsoft said after the arrests that it “will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others.”   Source: Agency

A Ukrainian-made drone attack on a Russian ammunition depot last September highlighted Kyiv’s ability to target deep behind enemy lines and underscored the rapid growth of its defense industry. The drones, manufactured by Fire Point, flew over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), temporarily limiting Russia’s capacity for similar glide bomb attacks. “Air power is our main asymmetric advantage,” said Iryna Terekh, head of production at Fire Point, noting Ukraine’s resource constraints compared to Russia. She oversaw production of the “deep-strike drones” used against ammunition depots, oil refineries, and other key Russian targets. Spurred by necessity and limited Western military aid, Ukraine has emerged as a hub for defense innovation. Fire Point operates several covert factories producing FP-1 exploding drones that can travel up to 1,600 kilometers (994 miles). The company is also developing the FP-5 cruise missile, capable of reaching 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles), with plans for mass production by year-end. Ukraine now buys roughly $10 billion in domestically produced weapons annually, but officials say domestic industry could supply triple that amount, with European exports potentially boosting capacity further. Founded by a group of friends with backgrounds in architecture, construction, and gaming, Fire Point initially sought to create cost-effective drones to match Iranian-made Shahed drones used by Russia. Starting with a production goal of 30 units per month in 2023, the company now produces about 100 drones daily at $55,000 each. Delivery drones set to expand into more U.S. neighborhoods after sluggish rollout The FP-1, with a 60-kilogram (132-pound) explosive payload, accounts for about 60% of Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory, slowing advances along the 1,000-kilometer front in eastern Ukraine. The conflict has also turned Ukraine into what defense entrepreneurs call the “Silicon Valley of defense,” with startups rapidly testing and adapting innovations on the battlefield. Fire Point, for example, developed its own software after Western navigation systems were disrupted by Russian electronic warfare. Despite security risks, the company operates partially underground, with civilian areas providing cover. Drones are delivered to the front within 72 hours. The FP-5 missile, nicknamed Flamingo, delivers a 1,150-kilogram (2,535-pound) payload with high precision, and production is expected to scale from one to seven units per day by October. Terekh said Ukraine continues to prepare for prolonged conflict, even as leaders seek diplomatic solutions. “We are preparing for a bigger, much scarier war,” she said. Source: Agency 

Hongkong Land has introduced the Integrated Facility Management Control Tower (IFMCT), Hong Kong’s first AI-powered intelligent facility management platform, aiming to set new benchmarks for commercial property operations. The IFMCT consolidates more than 20 separate building systems into a unified command centre, integrating core functions such as the Building Management System (BMS), AI-driven heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), energy optimisation, thermal comfort, and soft services including cleaning, vendor management, procurement and tenant wellness monitoring. By shifting from reactive to predictive maintenance, the platform uses AI health analytics to identify early signs of equipment decline, preventing disruptions and reducing maintenance cycles. For example, air handling units (AHUs) are serviced only when performance issues arise, cutting maintenance effort by 16% within a year and reducing routine checks from monthly to twice annually. The system has also automated 66% of work orders and shortened asset documentation retrieval time by 80%, while significantly lowering the number of alarm notifications sent to tenants and vendors. Chinese robot sprints into Guinness record books Michael Smith, Chief Executive of Hongkong Land, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainable solutions. “This pioneering platform underlines our long-standing culture of innovation and our drive to create long-term value for stakeholders,” he said. Following a pilot at Alexandra House—which won an Industry Excellence Award—the IFMCT has already been expanded to Charter House and Exchange Square. Hongkong Land now plans to roll it out across its entire Central Portfolio by 2026. The platform also contributes to Hongkong Land’s decarbonisation efforts, using real-time monitoring and AI-driven energy management to balance demand, optimise efficiency, and adjust HVAC systems in line with forecast weather conditions. Beyond Hong Kong, the IFMCT is set for regional deployment, beginning with Westbund Central in Shanghai, which will feature premium retail, office, residential, hospitality, and cultural facilities. The platform’s standardised data structure enables seamless integration across multiple markets, strengthening Hongkong Land’s position as a leader in intelligent property management. Source: Agency 

Taiwan’s HOPE Foundation for Cancer Care and leading lung cancer specialists have called for stronger integration of early screening, precision diagnostics, and early treatment in lung cancer care, aiming to cut cancer deaths by one-third by 2030 and set a new global benchmark. At a recent press conference titled “Healthy Taiwan, Leading the World – Ushering in a New Era of Early Screening and Treatment of Lung Cancer,” government officials, 10 prominent lung cancer experts, and medical leaders from across Taiwan gathered to outline the next phase of prevention and control policies. Taiwan’s Lung Cancer Early Detection Program, launched in 2022, offers biannual low-dose CT (LDCT) screenings for high-risk groups. To date, more than 210,000 screenings have identified 2,506 lung cancer cases, with over 80% diagnosed early and late-stage cases reduced sevenfold. The program has drawn global recognition as a model for proactive cancer prevention. During his Taiwan visit, Dr. Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control, praised the nation’s comprehensive cancer care system and urged continued improvements in screening and access to treatment. Minister of Health and Welfare Dr. Chiu Tai-Yuan pledged policy innovation and cross-ministerial collaboration to strengthen early detection, while Legislator Wang Cheng-Hsu called for expanded resources and legislation to support early treatment. Medical leaders highlighted the importance of next steps. Dr. Yang Pan-Chyr of Academia Sinica noted LDCT screening could reduce lung cancer mortality by more than 50%. Dr. Chen Chien-Jen stressed the need to expand precision diagnostics and treatment for early-stage patients. Other experts emphasized the role of AI in risk prediction, early genetic testing, targeted therapies, and adjuvant treatment to prevent relapse and improve survival rates. Simple treatment could prevent 75% of stomach cancer cases: Study HOPE Foundation and its partners also urged reallocation of National Health Insurance (NHI) resources to support early diagnosis and therapy. Clinical data shows adjuvant targeted therapy for patients with EGFR mutations can reduce five-year mortality by 10%. Experts called for improved reimbursement policies, wider access to genetic testing, and alignment of treatment guidelines with international standards. Speakers including Dr. Wang Chin-Chou, Dr. Chang Wen-Cheng, and Dr. Chen Jen-Shi stressed the need for integrated care — combining surgery, adjuvant therapy, and long-term follow-up — along with diverse financing mechanisms to ensure patients benefit from advances in treatment. The united call underscored Taiwan’s determination to push forward a new era of early detection and comprehensive lung cancer care, strengthening its role as a global leader in cancer control. Source: Agency 

The state of Louisiana has filed a lawsuit against Roblox, accusing the widely-used online gaming platform of fostering an unsafe environment where child predators are able to target and exploit minors. Filed by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill in state court, the lawsuit alleges Roblox lacks sufficient safety measures to protect young users from adult predators. Murrill claimed the company prioritizes profit and growth over children’s safety. “Roblox is filled with harmful material and predatory individuals because it places revenue ahead of responsibility,” Murrill stated. “Its lack of proper safety systems puts Louisiana’s children at serious risk.” Roblox has previously faced legal and public scrutiny for allegedly failing to adequately protect minors. Just last month in Iowa, a 13-year-old girl was reportedly groomed by an adult on the platform, then abducted, trafficked across multiple states, and sexually assaulted. Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said his department has handled several Roblox-related cases, including one where a man allegedly used voice-changing software to impersonate a young girl. However, no arrests have been made in connection with Roblox so far. Murrill went as far as to say she believes Roblox should be taken offline entirely. Roblox Denies the Allegations Roblox rejected the claims, stating in a press release, “The suggestion that Roblox would knowingly endanger its users is completely false.” The company outlined its current safety features, including filters to block personal information, links, and image sharing between users. While acknowledging that no safety system is foolproof, Roblox emphasized its ongoing efforts to prevent users from being lured off-platform—where its safety standards don’t apply. Roblox, which boasts over 111 million monthly users, describes itself as a virtual universe where users can create, explore, and connect with others. It does not permit sharing of videos or images through chat and attempts to block personal data. However, like many platforms, users often find ways to bypass these restrictions. Despite advertising a “zero-tolerance policy for child exploitation,” critics argue the platform’s safety measures fall short. For example, Roblox only restricts under-13 users from chatting outside games with strangers if parental approval is given. Private chats are not encrypted, allowing the company to monitor and moderate them. Concerns Over Age Verification Murrill also criticized Roblox’s age verification, claiming it’s too easy for adults to pose as children since the platform lacks a robust process to verify users' ages. She pointed out that there is no reliable minimum age enforcement once someone creates an account. Roblox acknowledged that its age verification system is still in development. A recent update allows teens (13–17) to verify their age using a video selfie if they want to use certain chat features with trusted contacts. Recent Safety Enhancements Facing growing pressure, Roblox has introduced new safety tools in recent months. In August, the company announced a new AI system designed to detect early signs of grooming or exploitive language. It reported that this system led to the submission of 1,200 potential exploitation cases to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the first half of 2025.

Zhejiang University in east China on Tuesday said that its quadruped robot, named White Rhino, had completed a 100-meter sprint in 16.33 seconds, breaking the previous world record of 19.87 seconds set by a robot named Hound from the Republic of Korea. This achievement, notably, is a new Guinness World Record for the fastest 100 meters time by a quadruped robot. The current world record for 100-meter sprint by a human being is 9.58 seconds, set by Usain Bolt in 2009 in Berlin. White Rhino was developed jointly by the university's Center for X-Mechanics, School of Aeronautics and Astronautics, and the Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center. The record was set at a test site in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province. "This was a very demanding goal," said Professor Wang Hongtao, the project leader. He explained that the 100-meter sprint not only tests the robot's explosive power and speed, but also examines the robot's stability and precise control in conducting rapid movements. "More importantly, it allows us to determine if we are on the right research path." The core technological breakthrough of White Rhino lies in a comprehensive optimization methodology known as robot forward design. Conceptually, this approach involves a priori simulation of the dynamics across each joint and actuator within diverse operational contexts to identify a globally optimal solution -- rather than applying iterative, "patchwork" modifications to a pre-existing structural design. The research team established a precise dynamic model and employed multi-objective optimization algorithms to coordinately adjust the robot's geometric proportions, motor specifications and reduction systems. This "design-for-performance" philosophy from the ground up endowed White Rhino with a robust hardware foundation. Regarding its power system, the Center for X-Mechanics independently developed a set of high-power-density joint actuators capable of delivering both high torque output and rapid response -- akin to equipping White Rhino with a "racing-grade" muscular system. The robot's intelligent motion capabilities, meanwhile, are enabled by a dynamic control strategy derived from reinforcement learning. "Most notably, its maximum load is 100 kilograms, making it a quadruped robot capable of both high-speed running and heavy-load performance," said Dr. Cheng Shaowen, a team member. In the future, White Rhino is expected to be applied to a variety of fields -- ranging from disaster rescue to transportation in extreme terrain, thereby extending its capabilities from "running fast" to "running usefully," Cheng added.    

Australian clean energy innovation gets a boost as W Energy, a new energy technology firm, teams up with ASX-listed Simble Solutions (ASX: SIS) to introduce AI-powered energy forecasting and management solutions nationwide. Simble has also appointed W Energy founder Yongxin Sun, former AI Clean Energy GLOBAL lead, to provide technical support and strategic guidance. Sun brings experience in finance, large-scale energy project modelling, and applied AI. W Energy’s AI platform, developed in Australia, enhances solar and battery performance predictions while integrating financial modelling for investors and operators. Early trials in Southeast Asia—Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines—helped mature the system, providing diverse climate and grid data, near real-time forecasting, and proven commercial benefits like lower investment risk and optimized storage dispatch. Musk threatens legal action against Apple over exclusion of X, Grok from top apps list Now commercially ready, W Energy and Simble will roll out projects in New South Wales, expanding to Queensland and Victoria. Combining W Energy’s predictive AI with Simble’s energy monitoring tools, the partnership will support commercial buildings, industrial sites, and regional grids, enabling virtual power plants, dynamic pricing, and improved grid resilience. The platform uses IoT sensor data, historical weather, and market information to optimize storage and financial returns under various conditions, all in compliance with Australian data standards. Benefits include improved forecasting accuracy, direct integration of financial metrics, and scalability from small sites to utility-scale assets. Initial deployments will focus on NSW, alongside collaboration with universities to refine the AI with local data. Source: Agency 

Billionaire SpaceX, Tesla and X owner Elon Musk says he plans to sue Apple for not featuring X and its Grok artificial intelligence chatbot app in its top recommended apps in its App Store. Musk posted the comments on X late Monday, saying, “Hey @Apple App Store, why do you refuse to put either X or Grok in your ‘Must Have’ section when X is the #1 news app in the world and Grok is #5 among all apps? Are you playing politics? What gives? Inquiring minds want to know.” Grok is owned by Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI. Musk went on to say that “Apple is behaving in a manner that makes it impossible for any AI company besides OpenAI to reach #1 in the App Store, which is an unequivocal antitrust violation. xAI will take immediate legal action.” He gave no further details. In an emailed statement, Apple defended the fairness of its App Store. “The App Store is designed to be fair and free of bias,” it said. "We feature thousands of apps through charts, algorithmic recommendations, and curated lists selected by experts using objective criteria. Our goal is to offer safe discovery for users and valuable opportunities for developers, collaborating with many to increase app visibility in rapidly evolving categories.” The company has faced various allegations of antitrust violations in recent years. A federal judge recently found that Apple violated a court injunction in an antitrust case filed by Fortnite maker Epic Games. Regulators of the 27-nation European Union fined Apple 500 million euros in April for breaking competition rules by preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store. Last year, the EU fined the U.S. tech giant nearly $2 billion for unfairly favoring its own music streaming service by forbidding rivals like Spotify from telling users how they could pay for cheaper subscriptions outside of iPhone apps. As of early Tuesday, the top app in Apple's App Store was TikTok, followed by Tinder, Duolingo, YouTube and Bumble. Open AI's ChatGPT was ranked 7th.