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Original reporting by Pulse, synthesizing breaking news from multiple sources with AI-powered analysis. Each story combines insights from leading publishers, expert commentary, and real-time data.

Toyota Seeks $2 B Texas Plant Approval, Pledges 2,000 Jobs by 2030
NewsMay 18, 2026

Toyota Seeks $2 B Texas Plant Approval, Pledges 2,000 Jobs by 2030

Toyota Motor Corp. has filed with Texas officials to build a $2 billion assembly line—codenamed Project Orca—at its San Antonio complex. The plan calls for construction to start by the end of 2026, production in 2030 and the creation of roughly...

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Tecomet and Orchid Orthopedic Solutions Merge to Form Global MedTech Manufacturing Platform
NewsMay 18, 2026

Tecomet and Orchid Orthopedic Solutions Merge to Form Global MedTech Manufacturing Platform

Tecomet and Orchid Orthopedic Solutions have finalized a cross‑border merger, creating a unified global manufacturing platform for orthopedic devices. The deal, announced today, combines Tecomet’s European production base with Orchid’s North American footprint, positioning the new entity as a major...

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EY Releases Six Boardroom Priorities for MENA in 2026, Spotlighting AI, ESG and Geopolitics
NewsMay 18, 2026

EY Releases Six Boardroom Priorities for MENA in 2026, Spotlighting AI, ESG and Geopolitics

EY has published a report that outlines six boardroom priorities reshaping the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market in 2026. The guidance calls for integrated AI governance, cyber assurance, sustainability and geopolitical risk management, signaling a shift in how...

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S&P 500 Breaks 6,500 on $2.6 Trillion Call Surge and Gamma Squeeze
NewsMay 18, 2026

S&P 500 Breaks 6,500 on $2.6 Trillion Call Surge and Gamma Squeeze

On April 1 the S&P 500 jumped roughly 100 points to clear the 6,500 mark, propelled by a $2.6 trillion notional surge in call‑option buying that forced market makers into a textbook gamma squeeze. The swing moved dealers from short‑gamma to long‑gamma, a...

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Nationwide Retirement Solutions Reshuffles Sales Leadership to Boost Growth
NewsMay 18, 2026

Nationwide Retirement Solutions Reshuffles Sales Leadership to Boost Growth

Nationwide Retirement Solutions announced a senior‑level sales reorganization, naming longtime executives Diane Dunlap, Karen Anderson and Jeff Archer to new vice‑president roles. The changes are designed to deepen plan‑sponsor relationships, expand the public‑sector footprint and accelerate revenue growth across government...

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Ex‑Zillow Leaders Warn AI Upskill, Criticize Exclusive Listings Amid Affordability Crisis
NewsMay 18, 2026

Ex‑Zillow Leaders Warn AI Upskill, Criticize Exclusive Listings Amid Affordability Crisis

At the 2026 T3 Leadership Summit, former Zillow executives warned that AI can multiply real‑estate productivity while decrying the industry's preoccupation with exclusive listings amid a deepening housing‑affordability crisis. Their remarks highlight both the promise of AI‑driven startups and the...

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Gondim Law Expands Federal Immigration Litigation Monitoring Service for 2026
NewsMay 18, 2026

Gondim Law Expands Federal Immigration Litigation Monitoring Service for 2026

Gondim Law Corp announced on May 16, 2026 that it is broadening its 2026 federal immigration litigation monitoring and client advisory program. The firm will devote additional legal resources to track court decisions, agency policy shifts and USCIS processing trends,...

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WHO Launches Three‑year Digital Health Wallet Partnership to Standardize Vaccine Records
NewsMay 18, 2026

WHO Launches Three‑year Digital Health Wallet Partnership to Standardize Vaccine Records

The World Health Organization announced a three‑year partnership with the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research and Temasek Foundation to pilot interoperable digital health wallets in selected ASEAN nations. The effort aligns with the amended International Health Regulations that,...

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Josh Bersin Report Predicts AI ‘Superagents’ Could Cut HR Headcount 30%
NewsMay 18, 2026

Josh Bersin Report Predicts AI ‘Superagents’ Could Cut HR Headcount 30%

The Josh Bersin Company released a research report forecasting that AI‑powered “superagents” will slash core HR headcount by more than 30% and accelerate the rollout of AI‑driven recruiting and employee‑experience platforms. The analysis spotlights enterprise HCM suites and mid‑market all‑in‑one solutions...

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China Deploys 1.54‑Exaflop ARM‑Based 'LineShine' Supercomputer, Skipping US GPU Bans
NewsMay 18, 2026

China Deploys 1.54‑Exaflop ARM‑Based 'LineShine' Supercomputer, Skipping US GPU Bans

China’s National Supercomputing Center in Shenzhen launched the 1.54‑exaflop LineShine supercomputer, a CPU‑only machine built on custom Huawei‑designed Armv9 LX2 processors. The system, reported to contain roughly 2.4 million cores, demonstrates a strategic pivot away from US‑origin GPUs amid export bans.

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California Rolls Out Engaged California Platform to All Residents for AI Policy Input
NewsMay 18, 2026

California Rolls Out Engaged California Platform to All Residents for AI Policy Input

Governor Gavin Newsom announced the statewide expansion of Engaged California, a digital democracy platform that invites all Californians to share how artificial intelligence affects their lives. The two‑phase rollout aims to collect public input for future AI regulations and workforce...

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Gates Foundation and Anthropic Commit $200 Million to AI Public‑Goods Projects in Education
NewsMay 18, 2026

Gates Foundation and Anthropic Commit $200 Million to AI Public‑Goods Projects in Education

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and AI startup Anthropic announced a four‑year, $200 million partnership to fund public‑goods artificial‑intelligence projects in education and health. Each organization will contribute roughly half, with Anthropic providing Claude chatbot credits and technical staff, while...

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Five9 Adds AI Checklist and Real‑time Coaching to Boost Contact‑center Performance
NewsMay 18, 2026

Five9 Adds AI Checklist and Real‑time Coaching to Boost Contact‑center Performance

Five9 announced a suite of upgrades to its AI platform, including a new AI Checklist and expanded real‑time coaching tools in Agent Assist and VoiceStream. The enhancements are designed to lift agent productivity, shorten onboarding, and give managers deeper insight...

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Vercel Labs Unveils Zero, an AI‑Optimized Systems Language for DevOps Automation
NewsMay 18, 2026

Vercel Labs Unveils Zero, an AI‑Optimized Systems Language for DevOps Automation

Vercel Labs announced Zero, an experimental systems programming language whose compiler and toolchain are designed for AI agents rather than human engineers. The language adds structured repair IDs and capability‑based I/O to make automated debugging and deployment more reliable, a...

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Bradford Council Approves 5.6 MW Heat‑Recycling Data Centre
NewsMay 18, 2026

Bradford Council Approves 5.6 MW Heat‑Recycling Data Centre

Bradford Council has approved Deep Green's 5.6‑megawatt data centre, which will capture and reuse up to 95% of its waste heat for the new Bradford Heating Network. The project is expected to slash city emissions by 4,500 tonnes a year...

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UniUni to Go Public via $1B SPAC Merger with MAK Acquisition
NewsMay 18, 2026

UniUni to Go Public via $1B SPAC Merger with MAK Acquisition

Uni Express Inc. (UniUni) will become a publicly listed company on the Toronto Stock Exchange after a reverse takeover of MAK Acquisition Corp., valuing the logistics firm at roughly $1 billion. The deal includes a $100 million private placement to fund automation...

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NanoXplore Q3 Revenue Rises 6% as Operational Efficiencies Take Hold
NewsMay 18, 2026

NanoXplore Q3 Revenue Rises 6% as Operational Efficiencies Take Hold

NanoXplore posted third‑quarter fiscal 2026 revenue of CAD 32.3 million (about $24 million), up 6% year‑over‑year, while adjusted gross margin climbed to 22.9%. The company credited new Club Car shipments, Chevron Phillips Chemical contracts and the start‑up of its dry‑graphene process as drivers...

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OnePlus Launches Ace 6 Ultra in China with Record 8,600 mAh Silicon‑carbon Battery
NewsMay 18, 2026

OnePlus Launches Ace 6 Ultra in China with Record 8,600 mAh Silicon‑carbon Battery

OnePlus introduced the Ace 6 Ultra in China on April 28, 2026, branding it as a gaming‑focused flagship powered by an 8,600 mAh silicon‑carbon battery and a clip‑on mechanical trigger. The launch coincided with Oppo’s merger of OnePlus and Realme into...

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Africa Re Says Weak Insurance Markets Are Slowing the Continent’s Industrialisation
NewsMay 18, 2026

Africa Re Says Weak Insurance Markets Are Slowing the Continent’s Industrialisation

Africa Re, Africa’s biggest reinsurer, warned that weak insurance markets are hampering the continent’s industrialisation agenda. The firm highlighted systemic capacity shortfalls and low penetration as a hidden drag on investment and growth, urging policymakers to address the gap.

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Brookfield Posts $1.6 B Q1 Earnings, Raises $21 B in Quarter, Boosts Hedge‑Fund Allocation Outlook
NewsMay 18, 2026

Brookfield Posts $1.6 B Q1 Earnings, Raises $21 B in Quarter, Boosts Hedge‑Fund Allocation Outlook

Brookfield (NYSE:BN) posted $1.6 billion in distributable earnings for Q1 2026 and raised $21 billion of new capital, bringing year‑to‑date fundraising to $67 billion. The results underscore the firm’s expanding asset‑management platform and its impact on hedge‑fund allocation decisions.

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Kenshoo Skai Debuts First Agent‑Native Marketing OS at ShopAble 2026
NewsMay 18, 2026

Kenshoo Skai Debuts First Agent‑Native Marketing OS at ShopAble 2026

Kenshoo Skai announced the industry's first agent‑native marketing operating system at its ShopAble 2026 conference in San Francisco. The launch bundles a new Studio environment for AI agent squads, an upgraded Celeste commerce media agent, and a strategic advisory practice,...

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Invesco AI & Next‑Gen Software ETF Logs Surge in Trading Volume as Institutions Boost Stakes
NewsMay 18, 2026

Invesco AI & Next‑Gen Software ETF Logs Surge in Trading Volume as Institutions Boost Stakes

Invesco's AI and Next‑Gen Software ETF (IGPT) experienced a sharp spike in trading activity on May 17, 2026, with several large institutions expanding their positions. LPL Financial added 39,155 shares, a 9.6% increase, while other firms such as Journey Strategic...

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BSP Leads ASEAN+3 Push for Deeper Financial Ties Amid Global Volatility
NewsMay 18, 2026

BSP Leads ASEAN+3 Push for Deeper Financial Ties Amid Global Volatility

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) chaired ASEAN+3 central banks and finance ministries in reaffirming a push for tighter financial cooperation at the 29th ASEAN+3 meeting on May 3, 2026. Leaders agreed on a three‑year disaster‑risk financing roadmap, expanded use...

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Runway Waiters Rolls Out Luxury Event Staffing to New York Hotel Venues
NewsMay 18, 2026

Runway Waiters Rolls Out Luxury Event Staffing to New York Hotel Venues

Runway Waiters, a boutique agency known for model waitstaff and bartenders, announced it is now providing luxury event staffing to New York hotel venues. The move lets hotels tap a visual‑first service model that blends hospitality with brand‑aligned presentation for...

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CIOs Unveil New Tools to Thwart Data Breaches and Cut Card Reissue Costs
NewsMay 18, 2026

CIOs Unveil New Tools to Thwart Data Breaches and Cut Card Reissue Costs

A panel of senior CIOs from banks, insurers, tech firms and payment providers presented a suite of security tools aimed at curbing data‑breach incidents and lowering the $5‑per‑card reissue expense. Their recommendations span tokenization, AI‑driven monitoring and upgraded authentication for...

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Nissan Unveils AI‑Powered ProPilot System with Wayve, 11‑Cam, 5‑Radar, 1‑Lidar Suite
NewsMay 18, 2026

Nissan Unveils AI‑Powered ProPilot System with Wayve, 11‑Cam, 5‑Radar, 1‑Lidar Suite

Nissan announced its next‑generation ProPilot system, co‑developed with UK‑based Wayve, that replaces rule‑based code with an end‑to‑end AI driver. The prototype Ariya EV carries 11 cameras, five radars and a lidar, positioning Nissan to compete directly with Tesla’s camera‑only approach.

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Standard Chartered Names Manus Costello Permanent CFO Ahead of Strategy Rollout
NewsMay 18, 2026

Standard Chartered Names Manus Costello Permanent CFO Ahead of Strategy Rollout

Standard Chartered has appointed Manus Costello as its permanent chief financial officer, moving from interim to full‑time status and joining the board as an executive director. The change comes as the bank prepares to unveil a refreshed growth strategy and...

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Ontario Audit Finds AI Scribes Hallucinate Conditions, Raising Safety Concerns
NewsMay 18, 2026

Ontario Audit Finds AI Scribes Hallucinate Conditions, Raising Safety Concerns

Ontario’s auditor general has flagged AI‑driven medical scribe platforms for fabricating diagnoses during testing, warning that the errors could jeopardize patient care. The report covers 20 approved vendors used by roughly 5,000 physicians, sparking a debate over regulatory oversight and...

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WethosAI CEO Stuart McClure Charts a ‘Meeting‑Light’ Future with Cognitive Twins
NewsMay 18, 2026

WethosAI CEO Stuart McClure Charts a ‘Meeting‑Light’ Future with Cognitive Twins

In a Serious Insights interview, WethosAI co‑founder and CEO Stuart McClure outlined how the company’s AI‑driven cognitive twins will let employees send autonomous agents to meetings, promising a “meeting‑light” organization. He stressed that the agents act as genuine cognitive partners, not...

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Intuit Schedules Q3 2026 Earnings Call, Sets Stage for TurboTax, QuickBooks Guidance
NewsMay 18, 2026

Intuit Schedules Q3 2026 Earnings Call, Sets Stage for TurboTax, QuickBooks Guidance

Intuit Inc. announced a conference call for its fiscal third‑quarter 2026 results on May 20 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific time. The call will feature executives discussing performance across TurboTax, QuickBooks, Credit Karma and other flagship products. Investors can listen live or...

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Greg Brockman Returns to Lead OpenAI Product Strategy, Unifies ChatGPT, Codex and API
NewsMay 18, 2026

Greg Brockman Returns to Lead OpenAI Product Strategy, Unifies ChatGPT, Codex and API

OpenAI announced that co‑founder and president Greg Brockman will now head product strategy, consolidating ChatGPT, Codex and the developer API under one umbrella. The reorg aims to speed integrated, agent‑centric features while signaling tighter platform controls for startups, as the company...

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Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Hopeful Rick Jackson Vows Statewide Ban on DEI
NewsMay 18, 2026

Georgia GOP Gubernatorial Hopeful Rick Jackson Vows Statewide Ban on DEI

Republican billionaire Rick Jackson, a candidate for Georgia governor, has pledged to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across state government and public education. The promise comes even as his own nonprofit, goBeyondProfit, previously promoted DEI initiatives for Georgia...

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Amazon MGM Pays $70 Million for Will Smith Thriller Supermax to Boost Prime Video
NewsMay 18, 2026

Amazon MGM Pays $70 Million for Will Smith Thriller Supermax to Boost Prime Video

Amazon MGM has secured worldwide rights to Will Smith’s upcoming action thriller Supermax for $70 million, planning an exclusive Prime Video debut. The deal reflects Amazon’s intensified content‑licensing push as it battles Netflix, Disney+ and other streaming rivals for premium titles.

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CGFS 2026 Report Flags Rising Foreign‑Currency Funding Risks
NewsMay 18, 2026

CGFS 2026 Report Flags Rising Foreign‑Currency Funding Risks

The Committee on the Global Financial System’s 2026 report warns that foreign‑currency funding remains a systemic vulnerability, with the U.S. dollar shouldering most cross‑border liquidity needs. The study draws on balance‑sheet data, confidential derivatives positions and a banking‑sector survey to...

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Ghana Posts Fastest Post‑IMF Recovery, GDP Hits $118 Bn as Inflation Falls to 3.2%
NewsMay 18, 2026

Ghana Posts Fastest Post‑IMF Recovery, GDP Hits $118 Bn as Inflation Falls to 3.2%

Ghana has completed its $3 bn IMF Extended Credit Facility, posting the quickest post‑program rebound in its history. GDP reached roughly $118 bn, inflation slid to 3.2% and the debt‑to‑GDP ratio fell to 45.3% after a series of fiscal and structural reforms...

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Hawaii Solar Industry Seeks Emergency Session to Halt Rooftop Tax Credit Rollback
NewsMay 18, 2026

Hawaii Solar Industry Seeks Emergency Session to Halt Rooftop Tax Credit Rollback

The Hawaii Solar Energy Association has asked the state legislature to reconvene an emergency session to undo Senate Bill 3125, a measure that would limit and eventually eliminate rooftop solar tax credits. The bill caps credits at $40 million and imposes...

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UK 30‑Year Gilt Yield Hits 5.86%, Highest Since 1998 Amid Political Turmoil
NewsMay 18, 2026

UK 30‑Year Gilt Yield Hits 5.86%, Highest Since 1998 Amid Political Turmoil

The 30‑year British gilt jumped 20 basis points to 5.86% intraday, its loftiest level since 1998. The surge coincided with heightened scrutiny of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s fiscal credibility, prompting investors to demand a steeper risk premium. Analysts warn the move...

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GEN Restaurant Group Stock Edges Higher After Quarterly Earnings Release
NewsMay 18, 2026

GEN Restaurant Group Stock Edges Higher After Quarterly Earnings Release

GEN Restaurant Group (NASDAQ:GENK) saw its stock climb $0.04 to $2.18 after reporting quarterly results. The company posted a market cap of $71.77 million, a negative P/E of -2.95, and mixed analyst sentiment, while major investors like Goldman Sachs increased their...

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ASX 200 Energy Stocks Jump 2.7% as Oil Shock Persists, Index Falls 1.3%
NewsMay 18, 2026

ASX 200 Energy Stocks Jump 2.7% as Oil Shock Persists, Index Falls 1.3%

Australian energy shares outperformed the broader market, rising 2.66% last week as the global oil shock continued. The S&P/ASX 200, however, fell 1.3% to 8,630.8 points after the federal budget introduced investment‑tax changes that sparked a sharp sell‑off in banking...

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EPC Unveils 2025 SEPA Instant Payments Rulebook, Lifting Caps and Adding Millisecond Timestamps
NewsMay 18, 2026

EPC Unveils 2025 SEPA Instant Payments Rulebook, Lifting Caps and Adding Millisecond Timestamps

The European Payments Council released the 2025 SEPA Instant Credit Transfer rulebook, set to become effective on October 5, 2025. The overhaul removes the €100,000 transaction ceiling, introduces millisecond‑level timestamps and other technical tweaks, forcing all Eurozone payment service providers...

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RTX Shares Jump 231% Since 2020, Outpacing Dow Peer Honeywell
NewsMay 18, 2026

RTX Shares Jump 231% Since 2020, Outpacing Dow Peer Honeywell

RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) has delivered a 231% total return since leaving the Dow Jones Industrial Average in August 2020, while Honeywell lagged with a 56% gain. The rally reflects robust defense and aerospace earnings that beat analyst expectations, underscoring...

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SolarEdge Shares Jump 49% as Tax Credit Deadline Looms and New CFO Takes Helm
NewsMay 18, 2026

SolarEdge Shares Jump 49% as Tax Credit Deadline Looms and New CFO Takes Helm

SolarEdge Technologies saw its shares climb to $61.76, a 49.5% gain over the past week, after investors priced in a pull‑forward of demand ahead of the July 4 solar investment tax credit deadline and the company's recent CFO appointment. The...

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GigaCloud Posts 32% YoY Revenue Rise as European B2B Marketplace Expands
NewsMay 18, 2026

GigaCloud Posts 32% YoY Revenue Rise as European B2B Marketplace Expands

GigaCloud Technology announced first‑quarter 2025 revenue of $660 million, a 32% year‑over‑year increase, propelled by an 86% jump in European sales and rapid expansion of its gigab2b.com marketplace. The debt‑free firm highlighted a $1.7 billion gross merchandise value and a growing network...

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Social Media Ad Spend Projected to Hit $640 Billion by 2030, Omdia Says
NewsMay 18, 2026

Social Media Ad Spend Projected to Hit $640 Billion by 2030, Omdia Says

Omdia’s new market landscape report projects global social‑media advertising revenue to reach $640 billion by the end of 2030, expanding at a 12% CAGR. The share of social in total online ads is expected to rise from 33% to 44%, underscoring...

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Anduril Secures $5 B Series H, Valuation Hits $61 B
NewsMay 18, 2026

Anduril Secures $5 B Series H, Valuation Hits $61 B

Anduril Industries announced a $5 billion Series H financing that lifted its valuation to $61 billion, doubling the figure from a year earlier. The round, led by Andreessen Horowitz and Thrive Capital, brings the company’s total capital raised to $11.4 billion and underscores...

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Space Force Grants Northrop Grumman $398 Million for Protected Tactical Satellite Prototype
NewsMay 18, 2026

Space Force Grants Northrop Grumman $398 Million for Protected Tactical Satellite Prototype

The U.S. Space Force awarded Northrop Grumman a $398 million contract to build a prototype communications satellite that will demonstrate anti‑jamming and cyber‑resilient technologies. The Enhanced Protected Tactical Satellite Communications‑Prototype (Enhanced PTS‑P) is slated for launch no earlier than 2030 and...

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BILL Posts 12% Revenue Growth, Announces $1 B Share‑Buyback Plan
NewsMay 18, 2026

BILL Posts 12% Revenue Growth, Announces $1 B Share‑Buyback Plan

BILL (NYSE:BILL) posted third‑quarter FY2026 revenue of $425‑$435 million, up 11%‑13% year‑over‑year, and announced a $1 billion share‑repurchase authorization. The results underscore the fintech‑SaaS firm’s expanding AI‑driven product suite and its commitment to returning capital to shareholders.

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Hubei Launches 29‑Character Digital ID System for Humanoid Robots
NewsMay 18, 2026

Hubei Launches 29‑Character Digital ID System for Humanoid Robots

The Hubei Humanoid Robot Innovation Centre in Wuhan has deployed a digital identification platform that assigns a 29‑character code to every humanoid robot. The system, the first of its kind nationwide, is designed to monitor robots from production through operation,...

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OpenAI Rolls Out Bank‑linked Finance Tools for ChatGPT Pro in U.S. Preview
NewsMay 18, 2026

OpenAI Rolls Out Bank‑linked Finance Tools for ChatGPT Pro in U.S. Preview

OpenAI has begun a U.S. preview of personal‑finance tools for ChatGPT Pro, letting subscribers link bank accounts through Plaid. The feature reaches more than 12,000 financial institutions and is aimed at the 200 million users who ask money‑related questions each month,...

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