Pulse
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.
Delphi Financial Boosts Ellington Financial Stake by $8.7 Million
Delphi Financial Group bought an additional 686,639 shares of Ellington Financial for an estimated $8.73 million, raising its ownership to 0.97% of the REIT and representing 7.5% of Delphi’s reportable assets. The move underscores Delphi’s confidence in Ellington’s mortgage‑backed portfolio and its steady dividend record.
Leapmotor Leverages Stellantis Deal to Accelerate European Market Entry
Stellantis deepened its joint venture with Chinese EV maker Leapmotor, adding production lines for Leapmotor’s B10 SUV at its Zaragoza plant and earmarking the Villaverde, Madrid site for future models. The move gives Leapmotor a European manufacturing base and a...
Turkey's Beylikova Rare‑Earth Deposit Triggers Strategic Supply‑Chain Tug‑of‑War
Turkey announced plans to develop the Beylikova rare‑earth deposit, estimated at 694 million tons of ore and potentially yielding 12.5 million tons of critical minerals. The move has ignited a strategic contest between the United States and China for control of a...
Pet Supplies Plus Franchisee Files Chapter 11, Highlighting Strain on Specialty Pet Retail
Florida‑based PSP TS LLC, the sole Pet Supplies Plus franchisee in Holiday, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, listing $100,000‑$500,000 in assets against $1 million‑$10 million in liabilities. The filing arrives as the U.S. pet market posts a 3.7% sales rise in 2025, but franchisees...
FDA Authorizes Lenire® Device, Expanding Non‑Invasive Treatment for Chronic Tinnitus
The Tinnitus & Hearing Center of Arizona announced that Lenire®, a bimodal neuromodulation system, received FDA authorization as a non‑invasive treatment for chronic tinnitus. The device combines sound and tongue stimulation to retrain neural pathways, providing a drug‑free alternative for...
EBay's $1.2 B Depop Deal Fuels Fashion‑Focused Turnaround
eBay agreed to acquire Depop for $1.2 billion, sharpening its focus on fashion and luxury resale. CEO Jamie Iannone’s vertical strategy, authenticity services and high‑profile collaborations have driven a 19% revenue rise and a 30% stock gain this year.
Critical Metals Raises $48.6 M in Equity Amid Volatile Stock Swing and Geopolitical Scrutiny
Critical Metals (UAMY) closed a $48.6 million equity offering at $11.57 per share and received a $12.8 million Department of War grant, pushing its shares into heightened volatility. The funding comes as the company reports an $11.3 million net loss, rising inventory and...
Trump’s $1.7 B IRS Settlement Proposal Sparks Bipartisan Outcry
A proposed $1.7 billion settlement to end Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS has ignited bipartisan condemnation. Critics say the deal would create a taxpayer‑funded slush pool for political allies and could halt audits of the former president’s finances.
Elon Musk Pledges up to $119 B for Massive AI Chip Fab, Sparking Industry Debate
Elon Musk announced plans to pour up to $119 billion into a vertically integrated chip‑making operation, dubbed “Terafab,” to supply AI compute for Tesla, SpaceX and xAI. The proposal pits Musk’s ambition against entrenched players like TSMC and raises questions about...
Doosan to Acquire 100% of SK Siltron, Expanding Semiconductor Footprint
Doosan Group has been named the preferred bidder to acquire 100% of SK Siltron, the world’s third‑largest semiconductor wafer supplier. The deal, expected to close by early 2026, would give Doosan a direct foothold in wafer production, silicon carbide (SiC)...
Amazon’s AI‑focused RTO Push Follows $1.8 T U.S. Infrastructure Bet
Amazon is intensifying AI integration and enforcing a five‑day return‑to‑office policy after a year of layoffs, while the company’s cumulative $1.8 trillion U.S. infrastructure spending—spanning data centers, delivery stations and rural projects—redefines its engineering roadmap for CTOs.
Hackett Group Posts Higher Q1 Net Income, Deepens IBM AI Partnership
The Hackett Group announced Q1 2026 results featuring lower revenue yet higher year‑over‑year net income, an unchanged dividend and continued share repurchases. The firm also highlighted an expanded generative‑AI partnership with IBM aimed at scaling its consulting and benchmarking platform.
Dalmia Bharat Sugar Names Tej Narayan Singh Head of Ramgarh and Gangapur Units
Dalmia Bharat Sugar and Industries Limited has installed Tej Narayan Singh as unit head for its Ramgarh and Gangapur sugar plants in Uttar Pradesh, effective May 15, 2026. Singh brings 31 years of operational experience, positioning the company to scale...
Martha Stewart’s AI Startup Secures $10 Million to Power Home‑Management Platform
Martha Stewart’s AI‑focused PropTech startup announced a $10 million financing round to launch a suite of home‑management tools. The capital, sourced from undisclosed investors, will fund product development, AI training and go‑to‑market efforts, underscoring rising investor appetite for consumer‑oriented real‑estate technology.
Deep Care Launches Isa Desk Gadget to Boost Posture and Wellness for Remote Workers
German startup Deep Care introduced Isa, a desk‑mounted health‑tech gadget that tracks posture, hydration, light, sound and air quality without a camera. The device uses a Time‑of‑Flight sensor and a 5.5‑inch IPS screen to nudge remote workers toward better ergonomics,...
DOL Launches VFCP Webinar to Guide Employers on Fiduciary Corrections
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Employee Benefits Security Administration will hold a one‑hour webinar on May 19 to explain its Voluntary Fiduciary Correction Program. The session targets plan officials, fiduciaries, service providers and advisers seeking to correct ERISA violations without...
Nvidia Launches Open‑source Ising Toolkit to Boost Quantum Error Correction
Nvidia released the open‑source Ising toolkit, a suite of AI models that run on its GPUs to automate quantum processor calibration and accelerate error correction. The toolkit claims up to 2.5× faster correction and three‑fold accuracy gains, positioning Nvidia’s hardware...
Massachusetts House Pushes Forward Cellphone Ban and Social Media Age‑Verification Bills
The Massachusetts House approved a 129‑25 vote on H.5366, which bans student cellphone use in schools and restricts social‑media access for users under 14, while a companion Senate bill (S.2581) already limits cellphone use. Lawmakers face pushback from LGBTQ+ advocates...
Rootstack Panama Unveils Free Career‑Clarity Checklist to Combat Workplace Burnout
Rootstack Panama introduced a free Career Clarity Checklist designed to help professionals navigate rapid skill changes and chronic workplace overload. The self‑audit tool, built on the company’s own growth lessons, aims to give users a three‑step, 15‑minute process for identifying...
Appian Launches AI‑Assisted Development and Model Context Integration for Enterprise Low‑Code
Appian announced new AI‑assisted spec‑driven development tools and Model Context Protocol (MCP) integration for its low‑code platform, while striking a partnership with Snowflake to embed trusted data into AI agents. The upgrades aim to eliminate fragmented data and governance hurdles...
OpenAI’s $4 B Deployment Company Triggers 700% Surge in Forward‑Deployed Engineer Demand
OpenAI unveiled a $4 billion Deployment Company to staff enterprises with forward‑deployed engineers, while Google Cloud announced hundreds of openings for the same role. The combined hiring push has lifted demand for forward‑deployed engineers by more than 700% in the past...
Growth Catalyst Group Hires Maia Benson as CCO to Steer AI‑powered Sales Expansion
Growth Catalyst Group of Companies announced the appointment of Maia Benson as chief commercial officer. Benson, who helped build Shopify's fulfillment network into a multi‑billion‑dollar operation, will lead GCG's go‑to‑market and AI‑driven growth strategy across its supply‑chain portfolio.
Trump's Brokerage Sells $5‑$25 M of Hyperscalers, Buys Energy and Chip Stocks Amid Iran Conflict
A Fortune‑reported Office of Government Ethics filing shows Donald Trump’s private brokerage dumped $5‑$25 million each of Microsoft, Amazon and Meta on Feb. 10, while buying energy and AI‑chip makers. The moves coincided with heightened geopolitical risk from the Iran war, sparking...
Rwandan Genocide Financier Félicien Kabuga Dies in UN Custody, Ending Decades-Long Trial
Félicien Kabuga, the alleged chief financier of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, died on Thursday in a The Hague hospital while in UN tribunal custody. His death closes a case that had lingered for nearly 30 years after the 100‑day slaughter...
Harvard Endowment CIO Narvekar Starts Exit Talks, Raising Questions for Hedge‑Fund Allocations
Harvard University’s chief investment officer, N.P. “Narv” Narvekar, has opened succession discussions with Harvard Management Company about leaving the $56.9 bn endowment. His tenure saw major restructurings, including higher private‑equity exposure, and his departure could reshape the fund’s hedge‑fund partnerships.
Zambia’s 2‑MW Solar‑by‑Constituency Plan Serves as Blueprint for Kenya’s Energy‑Poverty Fight
At a Nairobi parliamentary forum, Zambia’s senior research officer Slyvester Kaonga unveiled a government‑backed scheme to build 2‑megawatt solar plants in each of the country’s constituencies, turning local communities into power producers. Delegates see the model as a template for...
Travelzoo Cuts 47% Off South Place Hotel Stay, Adds Champagne Breakfast
Travelzoo announced a new Club Offer giving members a 47% discount on an overnight stay at the 5‑star South Place Hotel in London, priced at £199 ($253) including a champagne breakfast. The limited‑inventory deal, available for summer dates, also provides...
Tesla Robotaxi Rollout Stalls as Firm Discloses 17 Crash Incidents
Tesla announced a delayed rollout of its robotaxi service to Dallas and Houston while simultaneously releasing NHTSA filings that detail 17 incidents, two of which involved low‑speed crashes under remote teleoperation. The disclosures highlight safety challenges that are slowing the...
BASF Job Cuts in Ludwigshafen Signal Trouble for German Industrial Stocks
BASF announced the elimination of roughly 2,500 positions in its Ludwigshafen plant, reflecting a broader shift toward China and a weak domestic market. The cuts fuel anxiety in Germany's export‑driven equity market, where BASF is a bellwether for industrial health.
Tempe Council Sends 0.5% Sales‑Tax Hike to Voters to Bridge $24 M Deficit
The Tempe City Council voted 6‑1 to place a 0.5 percentage‑point sales‑tax increase on the November ballot, a move projected to generate about $50 million a year and close a $24 million budget gap. Councilmembers split over the proposal, with fiscal chief...
HealthSplash Founder Convicted in $1 Billion Medicare Fraud Scheme
A federal jury in Florida convicted Brett Blackman, the founder of HealthSplash, of orchestrating a scheme that billed Medicare more than $1 billion for unnecessary medical equipment. The verdict underscores growing scrutiny of telemedicine platforms and durable medical equipment (DME) fraud.
Alec Newman Says Video‑Game Acting Finally Earns Respect as Crimson Desert Hits 5 Million Sales
Alec Newman told Fall Damage that his work on Crimson Desert’s protagonist Kliff has shifted from a “dirty secret” to a respected craft, as Pearl Abyss reports 5 million copies sold and $178.8 million in March revenue. The actor’s comments highlight a...
Valens Semiconductor Beats Q1 Guidance with $16.9M Revenue, Highlights AV and Auto Chip Momentum
Valens Semiconductor reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $16.9 million, topping the $16.7 million guidance ceiling, and reaffirmed its full‑year outlook. Executives highlighted strong adoption of its VS3000 and VS6320 audio/video chips and continued progress on the VA7000 automotive chipset.
Viking Cruises Appoints Leah Talactac as CEO, Founder Torstein Hagen Shifts to Executive Chairman
Viking Cruises announced Leah Talactac as its new President and CEO, while founder Torstein Hagen moves to Executive Chairman. The transition follows a period of robust demand, with 92% of 2026 cruises already booked, and underscores a focus on stability...
EEOC Proposes Ending Mandatory Workforce Demographic Reporting for U.S. Employers
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has submitted a proposal to stop the mandatory annual collection of sex, race and ethnicity data from private employers with 100 or more workers. Twelve former EEOC and Department of Labor officials have publicly opposed...
Trade Desk’s Q1 Margin Squeeze Dampens Connected TV Outlook
The Trade Desk posted a first‑quarter earnings miss, citing a sharp decline in net income despite revenue growth. The company completed a $2.43 billion share buyback that retired 45.94 million shares, but analysts warned that tighter margins could curb its Connected TV...
Malaysia’s Overland Logistics Hubs Projected to Add 3.8% to GDP and Create 12,000 Jobs
Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link and the new Perlis Inland Port are expected to lift the nation’s GDP by 3.8% and create 12,000 jobs, while providing an alternative land route to the Strait of Malacca. The projects could expand the...
Iran Conflict Risks 20% of Global Oil Supply, Fuels Sharp Price Surge
Iran's announcement of a toll system for ships in the Strait of Hormuz could restrict up to 20% of global oil supply, sending crude prices soaring. The move coincides with U.S. cargo aircraft leaving the region and heightened concerns over...
Israel Eliminates Hamas Qassam Brigades Chief Izz Al‑Din Al‑Haddad in Gaza Strike
Israel’s military said a precision airstrike in Gaza’s Rimal district killed Izz al‑Din al‑Haddad, the head of Hamas’ Qassam Brigades and one of the last senior planners of the Oct. 7 assault. The operation involved three fighter jets, 13 munitions and...
S&P 500 Extends Seven‑Week Streak, Then Slides 0.9% After Trump‑Xi Summit
The S&P 500 rose 0.13% for the week, marking a seventh consecutive weekly gain—the longest run since Dec. 2023. After the high‑profile Trump‑Xi summit, the index fell about 0.9% intraday, pressured by a jump in long‑term Treasury yields and lingering...
Analysts Warn Oil Prices Could Spike Non‑Linearly as Supply Tightens
Energy analysts cautioned that crude oil markets may experience a sudden, non‑linear price jump within a month as inventories dwindle and geopolitical risk mounts. Brent crude hovering around $110 per barrel has already pushed Indian fuel prices higher, raising inflation...
Rising Global Bond Yields and AI Profit‑Taking Set Tone for China A‑Shares Next Week
Higher U.S. Treasury yields and a sharp pull‑back in AI‑focused stocks are shaping expectations for China’s A‑share market next week. Analysts forecast heightened volatility with a tentative rebound from May 18‑19, while a breakout on ChiNext, led by Zhongji Xuchuang,...
Visa Launches Card‑tap Identity Verification Pilot in the Bahamas
Visa announced a pilot of its Tap to Confirm and Tap to Activate technology with fintech partner Keyno and Fidelity Bank (Bahamas) Limited. The solution lets cardholders verify their identity by tapping a Visa card to a mobile device, offering...
FAA Caps O’Hare Summer Flights at 2,708 Daily Operations, Slashing Peak Schedule by 12%
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a summer cap of 2,708 daily flight operations at Chicago O’Hare International Airport from May 17 to Oct. 24, 2026, cutting the peak schedule by roughly 12% from the originally planned 3,080 flights. The reduction...
U.S. Settles Adani Solar Bribery Lawsuits for $18 Million, Drops Criminal Case
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settled civil allegations against Gautam and Sagar Adani for $6 million and $12 million respectively, while the Department of Justice is poised to dismiss criminal fraud charges. The resolution removes a major compliance overhang for the...
AI‑Driven Job Titles Redefine Startup Hiring, From Claude Evangelist to Forward‑Deployed Engineer
Startups are creating a wave of AI‑specific positions—Claude Evangelist at Anthropic, Business Architect & AI Evangelist at Adobe, and Forward‑Deployed AI Engineers—offering salaries that top $200,000. The surge reflects firms’ race to embed generative AI, while also sparking debate over...
Korean Researchers Unveil Ultrathin Optical Transducer That Triples Light Output When Bent
A joint team from UNIST and Ajou University announced an ultrathin, flexible optical transducer that amplifies its second‑harmonic light signal up to three times when bent 1.2%, while surviving 190 bending cycles. The breakthrough leverages a 20‑nm metallic nanogap and...
Gap Inc. Shutters Final Oakland Store, Ending 26‑Year Local Run
Gap Inc. announced the closure of its last Oakland store, ending a 26‑year presence as the lease expires in summer 2026. The move follows a year in which the retailer closed 32 stores, boosted online sales to 39% of revenue...
WEF Report Says AI Will Upend Venture Capital Valuations and Liquidity
The World Economic Forum’s latest report warns that artificial intelligence is rewriting venture‑capital economics, rendering traditional SaaS valuation metrics obsolete and demanding new liquidity mechanisms. It cites AI‑native firms hitting $100 million ARR in under a year, five companies accounting for...
Fisker Bankruptcy Cuts OTA Updates, Owners Launch Open‑source Car Support
Fisker Inc. entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2024, halting over‑the‑air (OTA) updates for roughly 11,000 Ocean SUVs. Deprived of cloud‑based services, owners formed the Fisker Owners Association and began reverse‑engineering the vehicle’s software, creating a community‑driven support model. The effort...