News

Allianz Life Confirms Major Data Breach Affecting Majority of U.S. Customers

Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America has confirmed a significant data breach that compromised the personal information of the majority of its 1.4 million U.S. customers, along with financial professionals and select employees.

The breach occurred on July 16, when a “malicious threat actor” infiltrated a third-party cloud-based system used by the company. According to Allianz Life, the attackers used a social engineering technique to access personally identifiable information (PII). While the company emphasized that its own internal systems were not breached, the scale and sensitivity of the data accessed have raised serious concerns.

“We took immediate action to contain and mitigate the issue and notified the FBI,” Allianz Life said in an official statement. The company has also reported the incident to several other regulatory authorities, including the Maine Attorney General’s Office. Continue reading Allianz Life Confirms Major Data Breach Affecting Majority of U.S. Customers →

Artificial Intelligence, Business, News, Technology

Mayo Clinic Deploys NVIDIA SuperPOD to Accelerate GenAI in Healthcare

In a major leap toward AI-driven medicine, Mayo Clinic has announced the deployment of NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD infrastructure, integrating the powerful DGX B200 systems to support foundation model development for clinical applications. The announcement marks a critical step in Mayo Clinic’s broader strategy to build a scalable, platform-based approach to healthcare innovation.

The NVIDIA-powered setup, featuring the latest Blackwell architecture, enables Mayo Clinic to dramatically reduce the time required to train complex AI models. According to internal estimates, foundational pathology model development that once took four weeks can now be completed in just one week, significantly accelerating research and development timelines. Continue reading Mayo Clinic Deploys NVIDIA SuperPOD to Accelerate GenAI in Healthcare →

Finance, Investing

Edward Papier Reveals a Little-Known Method to Unlock More Income, Avoid Capital Gains Tax, and Leave a Lasting Legacy

What if there were a way to sell your highly appreciated assets—like a business, real estate, or stocks—without paying any capital gains tax, while also receiving a steady stream of income for the rest of your life, slashing your income tax bill today, and creating a meaningful legacy your children can continue after you’re gone?

That’s exactly what a powerful, little-known strategy can do for you.

Known as the Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT), this strategy is more than just a tax tool—it’s a comprehensive financial solution. It provides income, tax relief, and estate planning benefits all in one elegant package.

The CRT can transform a daunting tax bill into a lifetime income stream, reduce millions from your taxable estate, and set your family up to give generously for generations—while your heirs receive a tax-free inheritance through a clever insurance play. Continue reading Edward Papier Reveals a Little-Known Method to Unlock More Income, Avoid Capital Gains Tax, and Leave a Lasting Legacy →

Business, Finance

PayPal Enables U.S. Merchants to Accept Over 100 Cryptocurrencies, Including Bitcoin, Ethereum—and Even Fartcoin

PayPal has significantly expanded its crypto payment capabilities, now allowing small and medium-sized businesses in the U.S. to accept over 100 digital assets as payment. The update includes major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as well as more novel tokens such as the Trump-themed TRUMP memecoin and the humorously named Fartcoin.

The new functionality is now available to all merchants using PayPal’s online payment platform, the company confirmed today. As part of the rollout, PayPal is offering a promotional transaction fee of 0.99% for the first year, with a flat 1.5% fee applying thereafter—still lower than the average 1.57% U.S. merchants paid for credit card transactions in 2024, according to the Nilson Report. Continue reading PayPal Enables U.S. Merchants to Accept Over 100 Cryptocurrencies, Including Bitcoin, Ethereum—and Even Fartcoin →

Artificial Intelligence, Technology

Microsoft Launches AI-Powered ‘Copilot Mode’ in Edge Browser

Microsoft has unveiled a major artificial intelligence upgrade to its Edge browser with the launch of “Copilot Mode,” a new AI-powered experience designed to enhance web browsing through smart assistance, task automation, and streamlined navigation.

The new feature introduces an AI overlay that combines chat, search, and navigation into a single input box, aiming to simplify how users interact with the internet. Users will be able to carry out tasks, organize information into topic-based queries, compare results across open tabs, and even navigate using voice commands—all without leaving their current browser window. Continue reading Microsoft Launches AI-Powered ‘Copilot Mode’ in Edge Browser →

Finance

Brown University Secures $500M Private Loan Amid Mounting Financial Pressures

Brown University has entered into a new $500 million private loan agreement as it grapples with what officials describe as “deep financial challenges.” The Ivy League institution disclosed the deal in a securities filing on Friday, just months after taking out a separate $300 million loan in April.

The latest financing, a five-year loan at a 4.44% interest rate, will require monthly interest payments. The lender’s identity was not disclosed in the filing.

Brown is one of several U.S. universities turning to the capital markets in response to growing fiscal strain, particularly as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of higher education funding. Continue reading Brown University Secures $500M Private Loan Amid Mounting Financial Pressures →

Technology

Nepal Quietly Becomes a Global Leader in EV Adoption, Surpassing 75% Market Share

While global attention often gravitates toward electric vehicle adoption in the U.S., Europe, and China, the small Himalayan nation of Nepal has quietly staged one of the most dramatic electric transitions in the world. According to a new report from The New York Times, 76% of all new passenger vehicles and 50% of light commercial vehicles sold in Nepal over the past year were electric—a figure nearly four times the global average.

The reasons for Nepal’s rapid electrification are as surprising as they are strategic. Following a 2015 fuel crisis with India, Nepal accelerated development of its hydropower infrastructure, capitalizing on the rivers that flow from the Himalayas. Today, nearly all of the country’s electricity is clean, domestic, and renewable, giving Nepal a rare energy advantage in the region.

Paired with aggressive import tax reforms—with EVs taxed as low as 40%, compared to 180% for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles—EVs have become not only cleaner but also cheaper. In many cases, an electric Hyundai SUV now costs less than its gasoline equivalent. Continue reading Nepal Quietly Becomes a Global Leader in EV Adoption, Surpassing 75% Market Share →

News

Delta Co-Pilot Arrested at SFO on Child Pornography Charges

Federal agents arrested a Delta Air Lines co-pilot Saturday afternoon moments after his flight landed at San Francisco International Airport, in what authorities confirm is a case involving child sexual abuse material.

The flight had arrived from Minneapolis when multiple federal agents boarded the aircraft, reportedly pushing through first class and into the cockpit. According to eyewitnesses, passengers were instructed to remain seated while Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officers entered the flight deck and removed the co-pilot in handcuffs.

Delta Air Lines has not publicly identified the crew member and referred all inquiries to law enforcement agencies. In a brief statement to media, the airline said it was cooperating with authorities. Continue reading Delta Co-Pilot Arrested at SFO on Child Pornography Charges →

Startups

French Startup Spiko Raises $22M as Tokenized Money Market Funds Take Off

Paris-based fintech startup Spiko has raised $22 million in a funding round led by Index Ventures, marking a major milestone for the fast-growing player in the tokenized money market fund (MMF) sector. High-profile angel investors in the round include Revolut co-founder Nikolay Storonsky, Kyriba founder Jean-Luc Robert, and Wise CTO Harsh Sinha.

Despite launching less than a year ago, Spiko has already amassed nearly $400 million in assets under management (AUM), placing it just outside the top five globally in tokenized MMFs. For comparison, fourth-ranked WisdomTree holds $489 million in AUM. Spiko’s stated goal of reaching $1 billion AUM by year’s end appears increasingly plausible given its rapid ascent. Continue reading French Startup Spiko Raises $22M as Tokenized Money Market Funds Take Off →

Finance

JPMorgan Sparks Industry Backlash with Plans to Charge Fintechs for Customer Data Access

NEW YORK — July 28, 2025 —
JPMorgan Chase has rattled the financial technology sector with its decision to begin charging fintech companies for access to customer financial data—an unprecedented move that critics say could destabilize business models and reshape the open banking landscape in the United States.

The country’s largest bank has already distributed rate sheets to data aggregators and fintechs that have long operated under the assumption that bank customer data would be freely accessible through APIs. The decision has prompted alarm across the industry, with many startups warning the new fees could exceed their annual revenues and force them to either shut down or pass costs onto consumers.

“This is a direct threat to competition,” said Steve Boms, executive director of the Financial Data and Technology Association. “The cost of accessing Chase data alone would account for 60% to over 100% of annual revenue for some of our members. That’s from just one bank.” Continue reading JPMorgan Sparks Industry Backlash with Plans to Charge Fintechs for Customer Data Access →

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