Markets Roundup
🏦 ECONOMY
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Alert Warns Iran Could Attack California with Drones (ABC)
IEA agreed to release an "unprecedented" 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves. (FOX)
Three more foreign vessels were struck in the Persian Gulf overnight, with Tehran warning oil could hit $200 a barrel as Brent surges to $97. (CNBC)
The Trump administration announced new Section 301 tariff investigations, targeting industrial overcapacity and forced labor. (WSJ)
U.S. CEOs' economic confidence hit a 13-month high in Q1, with the Business Roundtable’s CEO Economic Outlook Index rising to a 13-month high. (BBG)
🏢 INDUSTRY
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Iran Expands War With Major Cyberattack Against U.S. Company (IM)
Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz moved out of Seattle, buying a Florida penthouse for $44 million. (FBN)
McDonald’s plans to launch new discount-menu, including items priced at $3 or less. (WSJ)
Apple’s forthcoming foldable iPhone will include updates to the iOS operating system that enable iPad-like layouts and side-by-side apps for the first time. (BBG)
💰 PERSONAL FINANCE
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Your Cell Phone Bill Is Likely $30 Too High — Cut It in 10 Minutes (GBR)
Nearly 1 in 5 eligible filers miss this "valuable" tax credit — here’s how it can boost refunds. (CNBC)
How Social Security recipients can boost their benefit checks. (FBN)
US News ranked the cheapest average annual homeowners insurance provider in Texas for 2026. (USN)
📈 HOT STOCK TIPS
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Meet the Super Semiconductor Stock Obliterating Nvidia (MF)
7 stock winners Jefferies said are sitting “in the discount bin” after the AI-disruption panic. (BI)
Investing.com highlighted 9 high-yield dividend stocks as defensive plays to protect against geopolitical volatility. (INV)
Insider Monkey listed 11 best robotics stocks to buy now. (IM)
🌕 CRYPTO
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Binance Sues the Wall Street Journal (TG)
Mastercard launched a Crypto Partner Program with industry heavyweights to integrate digital assets into payment systems and scale stablecoin adoption. (BBG)
Utah is set to expand the state's strict gambling ban to block proposition bets on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi. (AP)
Ripple launched a $750 million share buyback tender offer valuing the company at $50 billion. (TB)
Crypto-friendly digital bank Revolut launched fully licensed UK bank operations (CP)
Tech Roundup
🧠 AI
⭐ Editor’s Pick: 5 AI Tools to Run a 1-Person Business While You Sleep (ENT)
Elon Musk unveiled a joint Tesla-xAI project dubbed "Macrohard" or "Digital Optimus," pairing xAI's Grok model as a high-level navigator with a Tesla AI agent. (RTS)
Perplexity announced Personal Computer, an OpenClaw-like AI agent that can run on a Mac. (AX)
NVIDIA released its Nemotron 3 Super open model, boosting throughput fivefold for agentic AI workloads. (SA)
Canva launched Magic Layers, an AI-powered tool that converts flat PNG or JPG images into fully editable layered designs. (PP)
🤖 ROBOTS & DRONES
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Rise of the Robot Soldiers (TM)
U.S. Marines plan to deploy a full-body camouflage cloak designed to shield soldiers from drone attacks. (IE)
Iran built a drone terror machine — America just hacked it. (FOX)
China's XGSynBot debuted its ‘blue-collar’ humanoid robot that switches tools in six seconds. (IE)
🤝 VENTURE CAPITAL
⭐ Editor’s Pick: Meet The AI Company Reimagining Vibe Coding That Was Just Valued at $9 Billion (FOR)
Cursor is in early discussions to raise up to $5 billion in new funding at a post-money valuation as high as $60 billion. (NC)
Israeli cybersecurity startup Onyx Security emerged from stealth with a $40 million funding round led by Conviction. (CALT)
Brain-computer interface startup Gestala raised $21.6 million in a round co-led by Guosheng Capital and Dalton Venture. (TC)
Freedom Roundup
🏛️ POLICY & CULTURE
⭐ Editor’s Pick: DC Bar Moves to Sanction Ed Martin for Anti-DEI Push (POL)
Two brothers in Pennsylvania stole millions from Medicaid, issued fake visas to immigrants. (WTRF)
The Free Speech Union launched a legal challenge against the UK government's definition of "anti-Muslim hostility," warning it could chill free speech. (GN)
Republican AGs pressed the Trump administration to cut funding for National Academies over radical climate activism. (DW)
That's a wrap! You're officially caught up on all things tech, markets and freedom.
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