Author: i2wtc

Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO, speaking on CNBC’s Squawk Box outside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Jan. 21st, 2025.Gerry Miller | CNBCAnthropic on Tuesday announced it has closed a $13 billion funding round at a $183 billion post-money valuation, roughly triple what the artificial intelligence startup was worth as of its last raise in March.The most recent funding round was led by Iconiq, Fidelity Management & Research Company and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Other investors including Altimeter, General Catalyst and Coatue also participated, Anthropic said.”This financing demonstrates investors’ extraordinary confidence in our financial performance and the strength of their collaboration with…

Starbucks’ new protein-packed beveragesSource: StarbucksStarbucks plans to tap into consumers’ protein obsession by launching protein-packed cold foam and lattes starting Sept. 29.From “gym bros” to users of GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, many Americans are trying to consume more protein, with the goal of building or maintaining their muscle mass and feeling more satiated after meals. Roughly a third of U.S. consumers said they loved high protein in the second quarter of 2025, up from 24% three years ago, according to Datassential, which tracks restaurant menus and consumer preferences.Customers who add Starbucks’ protein cold foam to their grande beverages can expect…

Afghanistan won the toss and chose to bat first in their T20 tri-series match against Pakistan in Sharjah on Tuesday. Pakistan brought in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf in place of Hasan Ali and Salman Mirza — the latter duo having played against the UAE in the previous encounter for the Green Shirts. In the tournament being played as a warm-up ahead of the Asia Cup — which starts on September 9 — Pakistan have started with thrashings of Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, thanks to several players chipping in with impactful contributions. The tournament’s final is set…

Lisa Cook, governor of the Federal Reserve, speaks during a Fed Listens event in Washington, D.C., on March 22, 2024.Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesNearly 600 economists signed an open letter Tuesday warning that President Donald Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook threatens the central bank’s independence and erodes trust in a key pillar of the U.S. financial system.”Good economic policy requires credible monetary institutions. Credible monetary institutions, in turn, require the independence of the Federal Reserve,” they wrote in the letter addressed to Trump, members of Congress and the American public.”We stand with Governor Cook…

TIANJIN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday used his presence at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State summit to deliver a wide-ranging address, raising the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) issue and calling for a dialogue on all outstanding disputes. Shehbaz told the leaders from the 10-member Eurasian bloc, including India, that Pakistan remained committed to peace, dialogue, and regional integration, but stressed that its rights under international treaties and its sacrifices against terrorism must be respected. “Uninterrupted access to due share of water as per existing treaties among SCO members will strengthen the SCO working smoothly…

A mockup of Tesla Inc.’s planned humanoid robot Optimus on display during the Seoul Mobility Show in Goyang, South Korea, on Thursday, March 30, 2023. The motor show will continue through April 9. Photographer: SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesBloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesTesla CEO Elon Musk predicted that Optimus robots, which have yet to hit the market, will eventually make up more than three-quarters of his automaker’s value.In a post on X on Monday, Musk wrote, “~80% of Tesla’s value will be Optimus.” In mid-2024, Musk predicted that Optimus robots would someday turn Tesla into a $25 trillion company,…

McDonald’s Meal Deal photographed in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 26, 2024.Scott Suchman | The Washington Post | Getty ImagesMcDonald’s on Tuesday announced that it is expanding its value offerings in a bid to reach price-conscious diners.Starting Monday, the fast-food giant is bringing back its Extra Value Meals, which were last promoted before the Covid-19 pandemic. Customers will save 15% on the combo meals compared with buying the entree, fries and a drink separately, the company said.For more than a year, McDonald’s and its rivals have been relying on discounts and deals to lure customers back to their restaurants. Traffic to…

ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel was told on Monday that four out of five companies that submitted statements of qualification (SOQs) for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) have been declared eligible. Secretary for Privatisation informed the Senate Standing Committee that site visits and conferences were underway, after which the bidding phase will begin. During the committee meeting, chaired by Senator Afnanullah on Monday, the privatisation of PIA, Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), as well as power generation companies (GENCOs) and distribution companies (DISCOs) came under discussion. Members of the committee suggested removing PMDC from the privatisa-tion list, while the committee also summoned…

BERLIN: Algeria’s Olympic gold medallist Imane Khelif has appealed to sport’s highest court against a World Boxing decision barring her from upcoming events unless she undergoes genetic sex testing, CAS said on Monday. The appeal seeks to overturn the ruling and allow Algeria’s Khelif to compete at the 2025 World Boxing Championships without having the test, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement, adding that it had dismissed her request to suspend the decision while the case is heard. “The parties are currently exchanging written submissions and, with their agreement, a hearing will be scheduled,” CAS added.…

The National Guard, police and protesters stand off outside of a downtown jail in Los Angeles following two days of clashes with police during a series of immigration raids on June 08, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Spencer Platt | Getty ImagesA federal judge on Tuesday barred President Donald Trump from deploying National Guard and other military troops in California to execute law-enforcement actions there, including making arrests, searching locations, and crowd control.The ruling came in connection with a lawsuit filed in early June by the state of California challenging Trump’s and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s deployment of the Guard…