Octopus Energy Generation is investing nearly $1bn in Californian clean technology projects, deepening its exposure to the US energy transition and accelerating plans to deploy $2bn across the country by 2030. The funding, channelled through Octopus-managed funds, spans carbon removal, heat battery technology and solar-plus-storage infrastructure, reinforcing the company's strategy of backing next-generation decarbonisation assets in advanced markets. Octopus will support two California-based carbon removal companies focused on grassland restoration and reforestation, converting degraded land into high-quality carbon-absorbing assets.
The prime minister is hoping to keep the focus of the visit on an influx of American investment into the UK, all while both his government and the Trump administration are plagued by scandals related to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. Overnight, Starmer announced the prospect of some £150 billion flowing into the UK from big US firms such as Blackstone and Palantir. As Starmer and Trump meet at Chequers - the prime minister's estate in Buckinghamshire - they also plan to sign a technology prosperity deal, touted as offering major investment by US tech firms in Britain, that will help to develop its AI capabilities.
After years of being dominated by outsiders, the computer surveillance software industry is booming in the United States as investors rush into the ethically dodgy but highly lucrative field. The Atlantic Council think tank reported that US investment in surveillanceware rocketed in the last year and identified 20 new US investors, and noted the number of resellers is also rapidly increasing.
President Donald Trump convened some of Silicon Valley's most influential figures Thursday evening at the White House, hosting a high-profile dinner that underscored the tech industry's evolving relationship with his administration. The gathering in the newly renovated Rose Garden brought together 33 attendees, including CEOs from major technology companies, venture capitalists, and administration officials. With 13 billionaires in attendance and many others worth millions of dollars, the event was easily one of the wealthiest gatherings in the history of the White House.
Thus far, 2025 has been a good year for Hyundai. Earlier this month, J.D. Power named the automaker the top mass-market brnd when it comes to technology; testing earlier in the year also showed that Hyundai's Supercharger access resulted in faster charging speeds than one of Tesla's own vehicles. Even as Hyundai has gotten high marks for its line of vehicles, it also has bigger plans in mind, as a recent announcement over investment in the U.S. demonstrates.
