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Today’s topics

• President Trump's endorsement of cryptocurrencies propels markets upward.

• Instagram Desperately Wants to Be TikTok—Again

• Another Private Company Touches Down on the Moon

• Oscar Recap: Milestones Achieved, Emotions Overflow

  and more…

President Trump's endorsement of cryptocurrencies propels markets upward.

Trump declared that the U.S. would stockpile crypto, sending the market into a frenzy. He unveiled a “Crypto Strategic Reserve” stocked with Bitcoin, Ether, and a mix of altcoins like XRP, Solana, and Cardano—because why not? Prices skyrocketed instantly, with Bitcoin surging to $95K after struggling around $80K last week. Altcoins followed suit. But soon, reality kicked in, and the hype faded.

Prada Wants Versace—at a Discount

Prada is eyeing Versace for €1.5 billion, which might seem impressive—until you remember that Michael Kors (now rebranded as Capri Holdings, because rebrands fix everything) bought it for $2.1 billion in 2018. Bad investment? It’s looking that way.

Versace has been struggling, with declining revenues and rising losses. Unlike Louis Vuitton, it doesn’t have an endless supply of overpriced luggage to keep sales afloat. Meanwhile, Donatella Versace’s future with the brand remains uncertain.

If the deal goes through, it would bring Versace back to Italian ownership under Miuccia Prada, who has been steering Prada since the 1970s. She acknowledged the talks in a typically understated fashion during Milan Fashion Week, calling the deal “on everyone’s table.” Very casual for a billion-euro acquisition.

Rolls-Royce Hits Record High

Rolls-Royce stock just soared to a record high after the company raked in an eye-watering £2.46 billion in profit last year—57% more than before. They smashed targets two years ahead of schedule and are now setting their sights on up to £3.9 billion.

To celebrate, they’re splashing £1 billion on a stock buyback and, after five long years, finally tossing shareholders a modest 6p dividend. Citi analysts called the results “very strong.” No kidding, Sherlock.

Instagram Desperately Wants to Be TikTok—Again

Instagram might be yanking Reels out of its main app and turning it into a standalone app—because copying TikTok once wasn’t enough. Now, they’re doing it all over again.

If this happens, the new app would be a straight-up TikTok clone—full-screen scrolling, endless short videos, the same old formula. Just with a Meta logo slapped on it. Reels now stretch up to 3 minutes, so maybe Instagram thinks that’s enough to justify a whole new app. Or maybe it's just having yet another identity crisis.

Meta Wants Its Own ChatGPT

Meta is turning its AI chatbot into a standalone app—because cramming it into Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp just wasn’t enough. Dropping later this year, the app is part of Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to make Meta the AI king before 2025.

Meta AI first launched in 2023, then invaded search bars in April like an uninvited guest. Now, Zuckerberg wants a billion people using it—because in his world, bigger is always better.

Another Private Company Touches Down on the Moon

Texas-based Firefly Aerospace just delivered its Blue Ghost lander to the Moon—because, apparently, private companies run space now. Launched on a SpaceX rocket in January, it spent weeks drifting through space, snapping photos before finally touching down Sunday morning. Its onboard tech gathered data on radiation and magnetic fields—crucial intel for future missions hoping to avoid frying their computers in deep space.

Jeff Bezos Is Sending Katy Perry to Space

Blue Origin is launching an all-female crew into space this spring—because, why not? The lineup includes singer Katy Perry, CBS host Gayle King, ex-NASA engineer Aisha Bowe, research scientist Amanda Nguyen, film producer Kerianne Flynn, and Lauren Sánchez—aka Jeff Bezos’ fiancée.

The trip lasts just 11 minutes, crossing the Kármán line (aka the edge of space). No pilots, no space training—just vibes. This marks the first time in 62 years that women are heading to space without a man tagging along. The last solo female mission? Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova in 1963. Took six decades, but here we are.

AI Revolutionizes Glaucoma Care with Specialist-Level Screening System

Researchers have developed an AI-driven screening tool that matches specialist-level accuracy in detecting glaucoma. This advancement promises earlier detection and treatment of the condition, potentially preserving vision for many individuals. Read more

Supreme Court Limits EPA's Authority Over Water Pollution

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favor of San Francisco, narrowing the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority under the Clean Water Act. The decision exempts local governments from maintaining overall water quality in bodies receiving discharged pollutants, focusing only on limiting specific pollutant amounts. Critics argue this weakens pollution control measures.Read more

Executive Order Boosts Logging in National Forests

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase logging in national forests and public lands, aiming to reduce foreign timber dependence. This directive affects 280 million acres, allowing the bypassing of regulations protecting endangered species. Environmental groups express concern over potential habitat destruction and increased wildfire risks. Read more

Jessica Pegula's Generous Gesture

Jessica Pegula, the world's wealthiest tennis player, demonstrated remarkable generosity by offering fellow players a ride on her private jet to the upcoming tournament in Indian Wells. Following her title win in Austin, Pegula invited Zhang Shuai, Anna Blinkova, Yuan Yue, and McCartney Kessler to join her, sparing them lengthy travel times. Yuan expressed her gratitude on social media, praising Pegula's selflessness. Pegula, benefiting from her family's wealth, including her father’s ownership of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres, has earned around £13.5 million in prize money. She enters Indian Wells as the fourth seed, having received a bye in the first round. Read more

Oscar Recap: Milestones Achieved, Emotions Overflow

The 97th Academy Awards were nothing short of historic, with Anora dominating the night, claiming five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director. The film’s creator, Sean Baker, matched a longstanding record by winning four Oscars in a single night, all for the same film, tying Walt Disney’s legendary achievement.

Emilia Pérez led the pack with 13 nominations but only secured two wins.

Zoe Saldaña etched her name in history as the first Dominican-American to take home an Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez. Meanwhile, both Wicked and The Brutalist garnered 10 nominations each, but left the ceremony with fewer awards than they had hoped for.

Adrian Brody bagged his second Best Actor Oscar for The Brutalist, preventing Timothée Chalamet from breaking the record for the youngest-ever winner in that category. Sebastian Stan, who could have made history as the first actor to win Best Actor for portraying a sitting U.S. president, fell short as the Academy passed on this bold move.

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