search
DC
Trends
- 1Kids turn NPR podcast comments into a group chat●Kids turned the comment section of an NPR podcast into a group chat https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/1001056/this-
Children have taken over the comment section of NPR's This American Life podcast, using it like a group chat with messages aimed at each other rather than the show. The phenomenon, reported by The Verge, has amused observers online as an example of young internet users repurposing adult spaces for their own social lives.
- 2
Coinbase has introduced USDC lending in the United Kingdom, allowing customers to borrow against Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings. The move expands the exchange's credit products to British users, letting them access liquidity in the USDC stablecoin without selling their crypto. It marks another step in Coinbase's international growth push as it brings US-style borrowing services to European markets.
- 3Bank of Korea Governor Backs CBDCs, Silent on Stablecoins●Bank of Korea's New Governor Backs CBDCs, Skips Stablecoins
Bank of Korea's newly appointed governor has voiced support for central bank digital currencies while avoiding any clear position on stablecoins. The remarks signal the country's monetary authority remains focused on a state-issued digital won rather than privately issued tokens, leaving Korea's approach to stablecoin regulation an open question for markets and crypto firms.
- 4U.S. Stocks Rise to End a Volatile Week●U.S. Stocks Rise To End Volatile Week https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/u-s-stocks-rise-to-end-volatile-week-c8b2dc82?m
U.S. stock markets closed higher on Friday, wrapping up a week marked by sharp swings in share prices. The rally offered relief to investors after days of turbulence, though the specific drivers behind the volatility and the size of the gains were not detailed in the report. Traders and analysts are weighing what the choppy trading signals for the outlook.
- 5Hong Kong deepens economic ties with Central Asia●# HongKong is stepping up efforts to deepen # economic and professional # ties with # CentralAsia . The # HKTDC and # HK
Hong Kong is stepping up efforts to strengthen economic and professional links with Central Asia. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council, together with the city's Department of Justice, led the Collaborate2Win campaign across Xinjiang, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, promoting Hong Kong's financial, legal and professional services to businesses in the region as trade and investment between the two sides grow.
- 6Midcentury exits stealth with $15 million seed round●Midcentury emerged from stealth with a $15 million seed round to address the data bottleneck in robotics. Source: Ventur
Robotics startup Midcentury has come out of stealth, announcing a $15 million seed round to tackle one of the field's biggest obstacles: the lack of usable training data for robots operating in the physical world. The company, focused on physical AI, says it will use the funding to build solutions that ease this data bottleneck as demand for capable real-world robotics grows.
- 7
Midcentury, a startup focused on physical AI training data, has raised $15 million in seed funding. The company is betting that robotics and embodied AI systems will need large amounts of real-world data, beyond what text and image models rely on. The funding news has been picked up by startup and deal-tracking outlets, adding to investor interest in the physical AI supply chain.
- 8Giggly Squad Podcast Reportedly Fielding $150M Bids●Inside the ‘Giggly Squad’ Podcast Bidding War — $150M Offers, 3 Suitors
The comedy podcast Giggly Squad is reportedly at the center of a bidding war, with three suitors said to have made offers worth up to $150 million. According to a report by The Ankler, the deal would rank among the biggest podcast acquisitions to date, underscoring how much major buyers are still willing to pay for proven, popular hosts with loyal audiences.
- 9EFF urges court to vacate drone restriction on filming immigration agents●Vacate a drone restriction that criminalized recording immigration agents
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is pressing the DC Circuit to strike down a drone flight restriction that effectively criminalized recording immigration agents from the air. The group argues the ban shields federal immigration operations from public accountability and violates First Amendment protections for documenting government activity. The case has drawn attention from civil liberties advocates concerned about transparency in immigration enforcement.