⛵ Stripe Eyes PayPal Deal
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Stripe Eyes PayPal Deal
TL;DR: Stripe is reportedly exploring a deal to acquire some or all of PayPal Holdings, though discussions remain at an early stage and may not result in a transaction. The report surfaced alongside Stripe’s annual letter valuing the private company at $159 billion. PayPal, currently worth about $40 billion, saw its stock rise slightly on the news.
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OpenAI Wins Musk Legal Clash
TL;DR: A U.S. district judge dismissed xAI’s trade secrets lawsuit against OpenAI, finding the complaint failed to allege misconduct by OpenAI itself. The case focused on eight former xAI employees who joined OpenAI, with accusations of source code theft and retained internal chats. The court granted dismissal with leave to amend, allowing xAI to refile revised claims.
IRS Says Meta Owes $16B
TL;DR: The IRS says Meta underreported about $54 billion in income tied to a 2010 offshore intellectual property transfer and now owes nearly $16 billion in back taxes and penalties. The agency is using actual profit data rather than projections to reassess valuations. Meta is fighting in U.S. Tax Court, arguing the dispute was already settled and cannot be reopened.
Apple Expands Houston Manufacturing
TL;DR: Apple announced that Mac mini will be produced in the U.S. for the first time, with manufacturing moving to a new Houston facility later this year. The expansion also scales advanced AI server production and launches a 20,000-square-foot Advanced Manufacturing Center for workforce training, part of Apple’s broader $600 billion U.S. investment commitment.
Discord Pushes Back Age Checks
TL;DR: Discord announced it is delaying the global rollout of its age verification system from March to the second half of 2026 following user backlash. The company had planned to default all users into a teen experience unless verified as adults. After criticism, Discord paused the expansion and said it will refine the approach before launching worldwide.
Google Secures 1.9GW Clean Power
TL;DR: Google signed a 1.9-gigawatt clean energy agreement with Xcel Energy to support a new data center in Pine Island, Minnesota. The deal includes 1.4GW of wind, 200MW of solar, and a 300MW, 30GWh iron-air battery capable of delivering electricity for up to 100 hours, set to become the world’s largest battery installation.
Warner Reopens Talks With Paramount
TL;DR: Warner Bros Discovery reopened negotiations with Paramount Skydance after the rival bidder raised its all-cash offer to $31 per share and increased breakup protections. The move puts Warner’s pending deal with Netflix in doubt, though Netflix has four business days to match any superior proposal.
DJI Challenges FCC Import Ban
TL;DR: DJI has sued the Federal Communications Commission in a federal appeals court over its decision to block imports of the company’s China-made drones and components. The FCC added foreign-made drones to its Covered List last year, restricting new imports. DJI argues the agency overstepped its authority and is seeking to have the decision overturned.
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