Good day valued readers,

We hope this week's carefully curated selection of news finds you well. In this edition, we cover the latest developments across investing, finance, crypto, AI, and other topics to help you stay informed.

As always, our goal is to provide you with a professional, unbiased roundup of noteworthy news to augment your understanding of what's happening in the world. We take pride in hand-selecting articles from trustworthy sources across a diverse range of industries.

Please enjoy this week's newsletter. We're grateful for the opportunity to share these insights with you and look forward to continuing to be a valuable resource.

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Investing and Finance

This week, we delve into the latest business and economic headlines. Sequoia Capital doubles down on Elon Musk's xAI start-up, while Alphabet announces its first-ever dividend after a strong quarterly revenue report. Concerns arise over potential stagflation in the U.S. economy, even as Alphabet reclaims its spot in the prestigious $2 trillion market cap club. We offer 14 random yet practical tips to save you money amidst rising global tensions that have depleted U.S. emergency oil reserves to near four-decade lows.

A cautionary tale about having too much cash on hand is shared, while Domino's Pizza boasts strong results thanks to its loyalty program and Uber Eats marketing. Regulators investigate Ford over fatal accidents involving its self-driving feature, and the Euro-zone emerges from recession but grapples with sticky inflation. Finally, we examine the "systemic problem" plaguing the stock market.

1. Sequoia commits to backing Elon Musk’s xAI start-up - Read more

2. Alphabet plans first dividend after strong quarterly revenue - Read more

3. Is The U.S. Economy Headed For A Bout Of Stagflation? - Read more

4. Alphabet Reclaims Spot in $2 Trillion Market Cap Club - Read more

5. 14 Ridiculously Random Tips That Could Save You Lots Of Money - Read more

6. US Emergency Oil Reserves Remain at Near Four-Decade Low Amid Rising Global Tensions - Read more

7. Yes, You Can Have Too Much Cash - Read more

8. Domino's Pizza Posts Strong Results on Loyalty Program, Uber Eats Marketing - Read more

9. Regulators Investigating Ford for Fatal Accidents Involving Self-Driving Feature - Read more

10. Euro-Zone Speeds Out of Recession But Inflation Proves Sticky - Read more

11. The stock market has a 'systemic problem' - Read more

Crypto News

This week, we unpack the latest crypto industry developments. Consensys takes legal action against the SEC over "unlawful seizure of authority" regarding Ethereum. In a pivotal move, Stripe brings back crypto payments, this time embracing stablecoins. Pantera Capital aims to raise an impressive $1 billion for a new crypto fund, while the Bitcoin ETF frenzy extends to Australia after a $53 billion haul in the US. Coinbase and Uniswap executives praise Consensys for taking on the SEC, even as Bitcoin ETFs see $120 million in outflows, ending BlackRock's 71-day inflow streak.

A solo Bitcoin miner defies the odds by solving a valid block and winning the 3.125 BTC lottery. Stripe integrates Avalanche's C-Chain, enabling direct AVAX purchases through its platform. Circle's USDC surpasses Tether's USDT in stablecoin transactions facilitated by Visa. Hong Kong's spot bitcoin and ether ETFs generate over $6.3 million in half-day volume upon debut, while Franklin Templeton lists its spot Ethereum ETF on DTCC.

1. Consensys Sues SEC Over ‘Unlawful Seizure Of Authority’ Over Ethereum - Read more

2. Stripe bringing back crypto payments, this time with a stablecoin - Read more

3. Pantera Capital Seeks to Raise $1 Billion for a New Crypto Fund - Read more

4. Bitcoin ETF Bandwagon Heads to Australia After $53 Billion Haul in US - Read more

5. Coinbase, Uniswap Execs Praise Ethereum Giant Consensys for Taking On SEC - Read more

6. Bitcoin ETFs See $120 Million Outflows, BlackRock's IBIT Ends 71-Day Inflow Streak - Read more

7. Solo Bitcoin miner wins the 3.125 BTC lottery, solving valid block - Read more

8. Stripe integrates Avalanche C-Chain, enables direct AVAX purchases through its platform - Read more

9. Circle’s USDC overtakes Tether’s USDT in stablecoin transactions - Read more

10. Hong Kong’s spot bitcoin, ether ETFs see over $6.3 million in half-day volume upon debut - Read more

11. Franklin Templeton lists its spot Ethereum ETF on DTCC - Read more

Artificial Intelligence

This week, we explore the profound impact of AI across various sectors. The head of Tata Consultancy Services warns that AI could disrupt most call centers. Microsoft's profits soar 20% as its bet on OpenAI starts paying dividends. Toyota and Nissan team up with Tencent and Baidu in China's AI arms race. Oracle boosts its generative AI capabilities amidst heated cloud competition. Experts express terror over Mark Zuckerberg's human-tier AI ambitions, while Microsoft invests $1.7 billion in Indonesia for AI and cloud initiatives.

Apple targets Google staff to build its artificial intelligence team. GitHub's Copilot now assists in starting new projects, not just completing them. China unveils Vidu, its answer to OpenAI's text-to-video generator. Samsung reports a tenfold profit increase driven by AI's impact on memory chip markets. However, AI also faces its "Oppenheimer Moment" amid an arms race for killer robot development.

1. AI could kill off most call centres, says Tata Consultancy Services head - Read more

2. Microsoft profits jump 20% as OpenAI bet begins to pay off - Read more

3. Toyota and Nissan pair up with Tencent and Baidu for China AI arms race - Read more

4. Oracle boosts its generative AI capabilities as cloud competition heats up - Read more

5. Experts Terrified by Mark Zuckerberg's Human-Tier AI Plans - Read more

6. Microsoft to Invest $1.7 Billion in Indonesia for AI, Cloud - Read more

7. Apple targets Google staff to build artificial intelligence team - Read more

8. GitHub Copilot can now help start a project with AI, not just complete it - Read more

9. Meet Vidu: China’s answer to OpenAI’s text-to-video generator Sora - Read more

10. Samsung reports a 10-fold increase in profit as AI drives rebound in memory chip markets - Read more

11. AI Faces Its Oppenheimer Moment Amid Killer Robot Arms Race - Read more

Top Article Picks this week

This week, we explore thought-provoking insights on personal growth, productivity, and self-acceptance. We learn how not to care when people don't like us and uncover the hidden micro-stresses ruling our lives—and how to stop them. We delve into 27 words you should never use to describe yourself and 12 shocking revelations from a former butler at the Plaza Hotel.

Discover why walking is the key to being more productive and how to be more realistic about the time you have. Gain perspective on how Europe became so rich and "7 ways I've become fitter that have nothing to do with running or going to the gym." Embracing mediocrity and being happy with yourself is explored, along with 6 phrases adult children want to hear from their parents. Finally, we revisit the day Dostoyevsky discovered the meaning of life in a dream.

1. How Not to Care When People Don’t Like You (Reading time: 9 min) - Read it here

2. The Hidden Micro-Stresses Ruling Your Life - and How to Stop Them (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

3. 27 Words You Should Never Use to Describe Yourself (Reading time: 6 min) - Read it here

4. 12 Shocking Things I Learned by Working as a Butler at the Plaza Hotel (Reading time: 9 min) - Read it here

5. Why Walking is the Key to Being More Productive (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

6. Be More Realistic About the Time You Have (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

7. How Europe Became So Rich (Reading time: 10 min) - Read it here

8. “7 Ways I’ve Become Fitter That Have Nothing to Do With Running or Going to the Gym” (Reading time: 7 min) - Read it here

9. How to Be Mediocre and Be Happy With Yourself (Reading time: 5 min) - Read it here

10. 6 Phrases Adult Children Want To Hear From Their Parents (Reading time: 9 min) - Read it here

11. The Day Dostoyevsky Discovered the Meaning of Life in a Dream (Reading time: 12 min) - Read it here

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Book of the week

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the psychology of influence and persuasion. Cialdini outlines six key principles of influence - reciprocation, commitment/consistency, social proof, liking, authority, and scarcity. Through engaging examples and scientific research, he illustrates how these principles work and how they can be ethically applied.

The reciprocation principle shows that people are obliged to repay favors, which can be used strategically for influence. Commitment and consistency drive people to behave in line with their prior commitments. Social proof demonstrates how people look to others' behaviors to guide their own actions. The liking principle explains how people are more likely persuaded by those they like.

Authority figures can leverage their perceived expertise and credibility to increase persuasiveness. And scarcity enhances the perceived value and demand for limited resources or opportunities. While incredibly insightful, the book also warns about defending against unethical uses of these principles. Cialdini's engaging writing style makes this an easy but thought-provoking read. Whether for business, relationships, or everyday life, this book provides invaluable lessons on the subtle art of ethical influence.

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