Tech

Apple senior vice president of hardware technologies Johny Srouji dispelled rumors of his exit in an internal memo, reaffirming his commitment to the company. As the architect of the M‑series Macs and A‑series iPhone/iPad chips and leader of Apple’s custom silicon, modem, and sensor projects, Srouji’s role is pivotal for the firm’s design‑first strategy, supply‑chain resilience, and competitive edge. Amid recent high‑profile executive departures, his continued leadership reassures investors and analysts that Apple’s hardware roadmap—including upcoming Macs, AR/VR headsets, and new iPhones—will stay on track.

.Waymo, Alphabet’s robotaxi unit, now logs over 450,000 paid rides weekly—nearly double the April figure—highlighting its lead in autonomous driving. The surge follows 2024 expansions into freeway routes and new cities such as Miami, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and Orlando. Investors note Waymo’s safety record, reportedly ten times better than human drivers, and its advanced LiDAR and perception stack. With an estimated $20 fare per ride, weekly revenue could exceed $9 million, positioning Waymo for rapid profitability and broader “autonomy‑as‑a‑service” opportunities.

IBM announced an $11 billion all‑cash acquisition of data‑streaming platform Confluent, paying $31 per share. The deal, slated to close by mid‑2026, aims to integrate real‑time streaming into IBM’s hybrid‑cloud and AI portfolio, addressing data velocity, silos, and AI readiness for enterprise customers. Analysts view the move as a strategic boost to IBM’s “smart data” offering, complementing recent purchases of HashiCorp and Apptio. With Confluent’s 6,500+ clients and partnerships across major cloud and AI firms, IBM seeks to become a leading enabler of streaming‑driven AI solutions.

.Investors face a mixed backdrop as markets rally on softer core inflation and a high probability of a Fed rate cut, while the S&P 500 hovers near a key resistance level. Berkshire Hathaway announced leadership shifts, with Todd Combs moving to JPMorgan and Nancy Pierce taking GEICO’s helm. A proposed Netflix‑Warner Bros. deal confronts antitrust scrutiny, prompting potential bids from Paramount Skydance. Google must modify its Apple search‑default agreement and establish an oversight committee after a new antitrust ruling. The global denim industry tops $100 billion, driven by sustainability‑focused growth. Key data this week include the New York Fed survey, JOLT figures and the Fed’s decision, alongside major earnings from Oracle, Adobe, Lululemon, Costco and Broadcom.

words.Ben Powell, BlackRock’s Middle East‑APAC chief strategist, says AI‑related capital spending is far from peaked, with “picks‑and‑shovels” firms such as chipmakers, power generators and copper‑wire producers set to reap the biggest gains. He notes the ongoing capex surge, rising data‑center power demand and growing use of credit markets by tech giants, suggesting more funding will flow to hardware, energy and infrastructure suppliers rather than model developers, prompting “positive surprises” for those stocks.

words.The European Commission fined Elon Musk’s platform X €120 million for a deceptive blue‑verification badge, opaque advertising data, and denying researcher access, citing Digital Services Act breaches. Musk responded with hostile remarks, urging EU abolition, while U.S. officials condemned the penalty as regulatory overreach. X must submit a verification remedial plan within 60 days and address ad‑repository transparency within 90 days, facing further penalties for non‑compliance. The fine highlights mounting EU regulation, forcing X to revamp its identity‑management and ad‑tech systems, with broader trade‑policy ramifications.

words.Netflix announced a $72 billion all‑cash acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery’s film studio and HBO Max, aiming to create a content library that would command about 35 % of U.S. streaming hours. Netflix shares fell 2.9 % amid worries over debt and balance‑sheet strain, while Warner Bros. Discovery rose 6.3 % on the premium. The deal faces antitrust reviews in the U.S. and Europe, and analysts are split between its strategic upside and the financial and regulatory risks.

Netflix announced a $72 billion cash‑and‑stock deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s film studio and HBO Max, prompting a 2.9 % stock dip amid balance‑sheet and earnings‑dilution worries, while Warner Bros. shares rose over 6 %. The merger would give Netflix a vast legacy library, premium originals, and stronger ad‑tech, but faces antitrust scrutiny and integration challenges. Meanwhile, the U.S. market posted modest gains, inflation eased, and a peace push in Ukraine. In the UK, policymakers aim for nuclear power to supply 25 % of electricity by 2050, backing large projects and SMRs despite financing and public‑acceptance hurdles.

summary.Divorce cases are confronting the complexities of cryptocurrency, which can be hidden or transferred instantly via private keys. Lawyers must subpoena exchanges, trace blockchain transactions, and determine ownership dates, while courts grapple with valuation, custody, and volatility. Specialists like BlockSquared Forensics provide costly forensic services to uncover hidden assets. Courts generally treat crypto as property, offering options such as on‑chain splitting, sale for cash, or offset against other assets. The rapid growth of crypto holdings among millennials is driving a surge in these technically demanding divorce disputes.

Senator Mark Warner warned that China’s genomics giant BGI could surpass Huawei’s strategic impact by amassing vast DNA data worldwide, creating a “DNA arms race” with implications for surveillance, bio‑engineered soldiers and national security. He highlighted BGI’s global labs, links to the Chinese Communist Party and the PLA, and the U.S.’s slow intelligence response, urging bipartisan action such as the BIOSECURE Act. Warner also warned that China’s aggressive push in AI, quantum computing, biotech and standards‑setting threatens U.S. technological leadership and democratic values.