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.
Arizona State Appoints Sean Dudley as Deputy CIO for Research to Steer AI and Quantum Strategy
Arizona State University has named long‑time technologist Sean Dudley Deputy Chief Information Officer for Research. The role consolidates AI‑driven discovery, quantum initiatives and digital science platforms under the university’s Enterprise Technology organization, signaling a strategic push to embed cutting‑edge computing in academic research.
Mind Robotics Secures $400 Million to Deploy AI‑Powered Factory Robots
Mind Robotics, the industrial‑robotics spin‑out founded by Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe, announced a $400 million funding round led by Kleiner Perkins. The capital will accelerate deployment of AI‑powered robots that can handle complex, judgment‑based tasks on factory floors, marking the startup’s total...
Resideo Posts $1.9 B Q1 Revenue as CFO Carlet Pushes Cost‑Control Amid Freight Inflation
Resideo (REZI) posted $1.9 billion in first‑quarter revenue, an 8% year‑over‑year rise, and CFO Michael Carlet detailed a suite of cost‑control actions aimed at mitigating inflation‑driven freight expenses and funding a pending ADI Global Distribution spinoff.
WSO2 Founder Sanjiva Weerawarana to Step Down as CEO, CRO Devaka Randeniya Named Acting Head
WSO2 said founder and chief executive Dr. Sanjiva Weerawarana will relinquish the CEO role in June 2026. The board appointed chief revenue officer Devaka Randeniya as acting CEO while it searches for a permanent replacement. The move raises questions about succession planning...
Sift Appoints Co‑Founder Austin Spiegel as CEO and Opens San Francisco Office
Sift announced that co‑founder Austin Spiegel will serve as chief executive officer while the company opens a new office in downtown San Francisco. The move expands its 80‑person team, adds senior hires from Meta, Anduril and other hardware leaders, and...
BET Partners with aTwist on Vertical Microdramas as COL Group Hires Ex‑Paramount and Disney Execs
BET announced a partnership with microdrama studio aTwist to produce vertical‑video series for cable and a new mobile app, while Shanghai‑listed COL Group hired former Paramount and Disney executives to expand its U.S. operations. Both moves underscore the accelerating race...
Sweden Unveils $0.9 B Plan to Scale Sustainable Aviation and Maritime Fuels
Sweden’s government has released a national action plan that allocates SEK 10 bn (about $0.9 bn) to accelerate domestic production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and sustainable maritime fuel (SMF). The plan combines green credit guarantees, risk‑sharing tools and pilot auctions to address...
Pentagon Reports No New Munitions Contracts as Iran War Drains Stockpiles
The Pentagon has not signed any new munitions contracts despite dangerously low stockpiles caused by the ongoing war with Iran. At the same time, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker praised a fast‑track effort to buy new strike weapons,...
Visa Rolls Out AI Suite to Cut 35% Surge in Global Payment Disputes
Visa unveiled a six‑tool AI suite to streamline dispute resolution after processing 106 million cases in 2025—a 35% jump since 2019. The new services target banks, merchants and acquirers, promising faster decisions and lower fraud‑related costs.
KPMG Survey Finds 75% of Finance Functions Using AI for Governance
KPMG’s global survey of senior finance executives reveals that 75% of finance functions now actively use AI for governance, up from 30% a year earlier. The study links stronger AI performance to assurance readiness and highlights gaps in data quality...
Dremio Secures Representative Vendor Spot in Gartner 2026 Agentic Analytics Guide
Dremio has been named a Representative Vendor in Gartner’s 2026 Market Guide for Agentic Analytics, joining roughly 37 platforms shaping the nascent category. The recognition spotlights Dremio’s Agentic Lakehouse Platform as a key foundation for AI‑driven data workflows.
RNA‑ROS Nanoplatform Cuts Skin Inflammation in Preclinical Tests
Researchers led by Cui, Lu and Cai unveiled a multifunctional nanoplatform that simultaneously delivers double‑stranded RNA and scavenges reactive oxygen species, achieving marked reductions in TNF‑α, IL‑6 and IL‑1β in skin inflammation models. The study, published in Nature Communications, signals...
Rigetti Launches 108‑qubit Modular Quantum Computer at 99.1% Fidelity, Sparking Scaling Debate
Rigetti Computing announced the general availability of its 108‑qubit modular quantum computer, Cepheus‑1‑108Q, achieving a median two‑qubit gate fidelity of 99.1%. The figure falls short of the 99.5% benchmark the company set for fault‑tolerant scaling, igniting debate over the viability...
Patriotic Investors Deploy $49 B in Defense‑Focused VC Funds, Still Far Short of $1.5 T Military Gap
Patriotic investors have pooled roughly $49 billion into new defense‑oriented venture funds, aiming to accelerate war‑fighting technology. The effort arrives as the U.S. Department of War seeks a historic $1.5 trillion FY2027 budget, a gap that private capital alone cannot bridge.
LandSpace’s Stretched Zhuque‑2E Returns to Flight, Deploys Qianfan Megaconstellation Satellites
China’s private launch firm LandSpace successfully flew its stretched Zhuque‑2E Y5 on May 13‑14, inserting a 2,800‑kg test payload into a 900‑km polar orbit and deploying a fresh batch of Qianfan megaconstellation satellites. The flight demonstrates the company’s heavy‑lift readiness...
Xero Posts NZ$2.8 Billion Revenue and Launches Live Claude AI Integration
Xero disclosed revenue of NZ$2.8 billion in its latest results and unveiled a live integration with Anthropic's Claude AI assistant. The move gives more than 4.5 million subscribers real‑time access to financial data through conversational AI, signaling a deeper push into AI‑enhanced...
Adyen and SAP Unveil SAP Unified Payment, Embedding Global Payments Into ERP
Adyen and SAP announced SAP Unified Payment, an embedded payment platform that integrates Adyen’s global network directly into SAP Commerce Cloud and S/4HANA. Powered by AI trained on more than $1 trillion of transaction data, the solution promises real‑time settlement, automated...
Foxconn Confirms Ransomware Attack on North American Plants, 8TB Stolen
Foxconn disclosed that a suspected ransomware attack by the Nitrogen group compromised several North American manufacturing sites, with the hackers claiming to have exfiltrated more than eight terabytes of data. The breach highlights the growing vulnerability of mid‑size supply‑chain operators...
Wall Street Crypto Groups Press SEC for Clearer Digital Asset Registration Rules
On May 13, the SEC’s Crypto Task Force held separate meetings with the Wall Street Blockchain Alliance and Copper Technologies. Both groups pressed the agency for clearer registration guidance on tokenized securities, stablecoins, and collateral‑mobility platforms, arguing that current rules...
FDA Approves First All‑Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine + Venetoclax Regimen for Older AML Patients
Taiho Oncology announced that the U.S. FDA has approved Inqovi (decitabine/cedazuridine) combined with venetoclax for newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia patients aged 75 or older, or those unsuitable for intensive induction chemotherapy. The approval, based on a Phase 2 trial showing...
Celonis Acquires MIT‑Linked Ikigai Labs to Power Real‑Time Enterprise AI Context Model
Celonis announced the acquisition of MIT‑affiliated decision‑intelligence startup Ikigai Labs, integrating its large‑graphical‑model technology into a new “Context Model” that creates a real‑time digital twin of customer operations. The move targets the persistent blind‑spot problem in enterprise AI and bolsters...
Magen David Adom Launches First Dedicated Mental‑Health Emergency Unit
Magen David Adom (MDA) announced the creation of a dedicated mental‑health emergency response unit in partnership with Israel’s Health Ministry, moving mental‑crisis calls to specially trained dispatchers. The move follows a pilot program and a 45% surge in mental‑health emergency...
New Zealanders Flood China After Visa‑Free Deal Spurs Record Bookings
China’s decision to allow visa‑free visits for New Zealanders has triggered a wave of outbound trips, with tens of thousands entering China in the first three quarters of the program. Aggressive airline pricing and a strong New Zealand dollar are...
Rajinikanth Says His Ego Was Crushed at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's Art of Living Celebration
Superstar Rajinikanth revealed that his ego was shattered when, despite thousands of devotees at Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's 45‑year Art of Living celebration, no one acknowledged his presence. The incident underscores the growing appeal of spiritual gatherings that transcend celebrity...
Metaknowledge Awareness Seen as Key to Better Teaching and Learning
Researchers argue that most people overestimate their knowledge, and correcting this metaknowledge gap can make teachers and learners more effective. The Conversation piece explains why acknowledging ignorance is a cornerstone of personal growth and offers practical steps to develop the...
Nature Study Finds Obesity Rates Slowing in High‑Income Nations, Spain Sees Decline
A global analysis published in Nature, covering data from more than 232 million individuals, reports that obesity prevalence has slowed or stabilised in high‑income countries since the 1990s, with Spain even showing a modest reversal. The study contrasts this trend with...
Mental Health Awareness Month Spurs New Parenting Tools and Habit Guides
During May’s Mental Health Awareness Month, Sesame Workshop unveiled an expanded suite of videos and digital tools for parents, while Boys Town New England advocated small daily habits to build resilience in Rhode Island children. Both efforts target emotional well‑being...
Quang Binh Launches International TV Campaign to Boost Son Doong Cave Tourism
Quang Binh province announced an international television advertising campaign aimed at driving more visitors to Son Doong, the world’s largest cave. The effort seeks to position the remote limestone wonder as a premier adventure‑travel destination and to diversify Vietnam’s tourism...
WINGS Infant Center Opens in Santa Maria to Ease Childcare Shortage
A new WINGS Infant Center opened at 2861 Airpark Drive in Santa Maria, expanding high‑quality infant care for low‑income and working families. The center addresses a county‑wide shortfall of licensed infant spaces, a gap highlighted by CRR officials during the...
Halcyon Launches Highland Heather: Electric Restomod of 1970s Rolls‑Royce Corniche
Design studio Halcyon unveiled Highland Heather, its first fully electric restomod of a 1976‑79 Rolls‑Royce Corniche. The Surrey‑based outfit replaces the original V8 with a modern electric drivetrain, aiming at ultra‑luxury buyers on the US West Coast and in the...
Genesis Owusu Drops Maximalist Third Album ‘Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge’
Genesis Owusu has released his third studio album, ‘Redstar Wu & The Worldwide Scourge’, a 15‑track maximalist project that blends rap, rock, electronic and punk while skewering figures like Elon Musk, Donald Trump and Kanye West. Critics praise its ambition...
Madhavan’s ‘Indulge Him’ Rule: No Free Time Until 15, Says Bollywood Star
Bollywood actor R Madhavan told the 100 Year Life Project that he followed a single rule while raising his son Vedaant: keep the child occupied with passion‑driven activities and give no free time until age 15‑16. The approach, inspired by a...
The Mandalorian and Grogu Hit German Theaters May 20, Testing Theatrical Viability
Disney’s flagship series The Mandalorian and its fan‑favorite character Grogu will open in German cinemas on May 20, marking the first theatrical window for the franchise in Europe. The rollout is being watched as a barometer for whether premium streaming properties...
KCC Glass Rolls Out Home CCI Space Package for Targeted Apartment Renovations
KCC Glass announced on May 13 that its new Home CCI brand will offer a "Home CCI Space Package" allowing residents to remodel only selected rooms. The curated approach promises lower costs, designer‑grade materials, and a one‑year after‑sales guarantee.
Bengals DE Shemar Stewart Swaps Sugar for Protein to Extend NFL Career
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart announced a strict sugar‑free, protein‑heavy diet to rebound from a rookie season marked by injury and a league‑worst pass‑rush grade. The 22‑year‑old believes the dietary overhaul will help him stay healthier and more productive...
Cross‑Cultural Study Finds Safety, Belonging and Self‑Worth Trump Success as Core Human Needs
Researchers analyzing data from more than 60,000 participants across 123 nations identified safety, belonging and self‑worth as the primary drivers of life satisfaction, eclipsing traditional success metrics. The findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, challenge long‑standing...
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Turns 70, Claims Reach of 800 Million Through Global Meditation Programs
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar marked his 70th birthday by announcing that the Art of Living Foundation’s meditation and wellness programmes have reached more than 800 million individuals across 180 countries. The milestone underscores his expanding role in peace‑building, mental‑health relief,...
Michelin Chef Tsai Jui-Lang Launches Man Yue Lou, Sparking Hakka Food Renaissance in Hsinchu
Chef Tsai Jui-lang, former head of Taipei’s Michelin‑starred Mountain and Sea House, has opened Man Yue Lou at Hsinchu’s Lakeshore Hotel. The restaurant, created with the College of Hakka Studies, aims to elevate Hakka cuisine from “salty and oily” stereotypes...
WHOOP Launches Telehealth as Fitbit Becomes Google Health App
WHOOP announced a U.S. summer rollout of in‑app telehealth that ties continuous biometric data to medical consultations, and Fitbit’s consumer app will be rebranded as Google Health on May 19, 2026. The moves signal a decisive shift from pure fitness tracking...
H&M Launches Eclectic Summer 2026 Collection Centered on Scarf Prints and Sunset Hues
H&M unveiled its Summer 2026 collection on May 13, anchoring the line around scarf motifs, bold sunset‑inspired hues, and fluid silhouettes. The launch, available both online and in stores, aims to set the tone for mainstream summer fashion with travel‑ready...
Jongjin Park Wins 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize for Ceramic Sculpture
South Korean ceramic sculptor Jongjin Park was awarded the 2026 Loewe Foundation Craft Prize for his porcelain and paper installation Strata of Illusion. The win underscores the growing prominence of fine craft within the contemporary art market and signals a...
Amazon Upfront Greenlights Rebecca Yarros' 'Fourth Wing' TV Series for Prime Video
At Amazon's Upfront in New York, Michael B. Jordan announced that Rebecca Yarros' bestselling 'Fourth Wing' is officially ordered as a Prime Video series. The adaptation will be produced by Jordan's Outlier Society alongside Lisa Joy and showrunner Meredith Averill,...
TAVO Wealth Launches with $1.2 B AUM, Joins Concurrent Platform After Raymond James Exit
A Houston‑based advisory team managing $1.2 billion in client assets departed Raymond James to launch independent firm TAVO Wealth. The team joined Concurrent Investment Advisors, lifting Concurrent’s total assets under management to over $20 billion and signaling a broader shift toward platform‑based...
Chinese VLCC Yuan Hua Hu Clears Strait of Hormuz with 2 Million Barrels of Iraqi Crude
China’s state‑owned COSCO shipping vessel Yuan Hua Hu successfully navigated the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, delivering an estimated two million barrels of Iraqi crude. The transit marks only the third Chinese supertanker to cross the chokepoint since the U.S.–Iran...
Moses Tucker Partners Secures Leasing Role for $1 B Drake Farms Mixed‑Use Project in Fayetteville
Little Rock‑based Moses Tucker Partners was named the commercial leasing partner for the $1 billion, 165‑acre Drake Farms mixed‑use development in Fayetteville. The partnership signals a shift toward curated community building as the project moves toward its first phase completion in...
USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins Sued over Alleged Workplace Religious Coercion
The National Federation of Federal Employees and seven USDA staff have filed a lawsuit in California alleging that Secretary Brooke Rollins repeatedly injected Christian language into agency communications, violating the Establishment Clause. The case could force the department to reevaluate...
Ambition Launches Agentic Revenue Execution Platform to Power AI‑Driven Sales Ops
Ambition announced the early‑access launch of its reimagined, agentic revenue execution platform, featuring a unified Performance Graph, an always‑on AI Agent and configurable AI Skills. The overhaul aims to shift revenue teams from fragmented reporting to real‑time execution, addressing a...
Pros Deploy Short UK Gilts, China Tilt, and AI Power Plays in Volatile Markets
Jordan Rochester of Mizuho, Alexander Treves of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and Anastasia Amoroso of Partners Group outlined three tactical plays—shorting UK gilts, allocating marginal capital to China, and targeting AI‑related power assets—to navigate today’s market volatility.
Netflix Targets $3B Ad Revenue with AI Agents and 15 New Markets
Netflix announced its 2026 advertising upfront, revealing a reach of over 250 million monthly viewers, the rollout of AI agents to manage ad purchases, and expansion of its ad‑supported tier into 15 new countries. The company set a $3 billion advertising revenue...
UBS Strategist Joni Teves Stays Bullish on Gold and Silver as Prices Slip 16% and 26%
UBS metals strategist Joni Teves reaffirmed a bullish stance on precious metals, setting a $5,600 year‑end target for gold and $100 for silver even as gold has fallen 16% and silver 26% since their January peaks. She cited geopolitical tension,...