Welcome back to your daily memorandum talking tech, business, AI, markets, and more. 🗞️

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🗳️ Trump (probably) wins in historic victory, declaring new golden age.
🍎 Apple News will use Live Activities to track election results on iPhone.
📱 Samsung may launch a Galaxy S25 Slim to compete with the rumored iPhone 17 Air.
🛢️ Google partners with Saudi Arabia for an AI hub, raising ethical questions.
🚚 Amazon begins drone deliveries in Phoenix.

BREAKING

• Donald Trump wins 2024 presidential election

  • The Fox News Decision Desk has projected Donald Trump as the winner of the 2024 presidential election.

  • He defeats VP Kamala Harris after winning the key battlegrounds of Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia and Wisconsin.

  • Associated Press (AP) and other outlets are yet to call the election but victory is all but certain.

TECH

• Bitcoin breaks new all-time high above $74,000

  • Trump's early lead, and now pending victory on Election Day have seen major spikes in crypto prices.

  • Bitcoin has risen 9.5% over the past 24 hours to around $74,700, according to The Block’s price page.

  • Ether price went up 6.72% to trade at $2,562, and Solana jumped 13.29% to $179.

• Samsung could launch a Galaxy S25 Slim to compete with the rumored iPhone 17 Air

  • Samsung may release a slimmer Galaxy S25 model, potentially called the Galaxy S25 Slim, by April or May.

  • This new model could compete with Apple's rumored 2025 release of the iPhone 17 Air.

  • The S25 Slim might feature reduced thickness and could be released in limited quantities to test market interest.

• Meta extends political ad ban past Election Day

  • Meta continues its political ad ban beyond Election Day to prevent misinformation as votes are counted.

  • Ads run before October 29 remain active but cannot bealtered.

  • Google has also paused U.S. election ads, as spending on political ads approaches $1 billion.

BUSINESS

• Google is opening an AI hub in oil-rich Saudi Arabia

  • Google partners with Saudi Arabia for an AI datacenter, focusing on Arab language models and "Saudi-specific AI applications."

  • The initiative raises questions as it may intersect with AI use in oil and gas, despite Google's 2020 pledge to avoid such projects.

  • Aramco reports AI has enhanced oil field production by 15%, hinting at potential overlaps.

• Amazon begins delivering select products via drone in Phoenix

  • Drone deliveries now available in Phoenix for items up to five pounds, promising one-hour delivery from a local site.

  • The MK30 drone, approved for extended flights, flies twice as far as its predecessor and can handle rain.

  • Part of a cost-cutting strategy, Amazon is integrating drone deliveries into its same-day network for better efficiency.

• Nvidia Stock Surges To Regain Position as World's Most Valuable Company

  • Nvidia's shares rose 2.4%, pushing its market cap to $3.44 trillion, surpassing Apple's $3.37 trillion.

  • Nvidia, Apple, and Microsoft have been vying for the top spot, with all three holding market caps over $3 trillion.

  • Rising AI demand has driven Nvidia's stock and revenue to record levels, boosting investor confidence.

CONTENT

• Trump Declares Election Victory in Speech: ‘A Historic Realignment’

  • Donald Trump's speaks to supporters in West Palm Beach, as he declared victory.

  • Trump declared after winning battlegrounds Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia.

  • Fox News was first to call the election for Trump.

• The Joe Rogan Experience: Elon Musk's Pre-Election Visit

  • Musk reveals he's a top Diablo IV player and discusses the benefits of gaming; Rogan cites studies showing video gamers excel in surgery.

  • Musk talks about free speech advocacy post-Twitter acquisition, ongoing ad bans, and the DOJ's latest allegations involving Putin.

  • Discussion spans from Rogan's issues with YouTube censorship to Musk's future AI innovations and role should Trump wins.

• Bill Eddy: How to Deal With High Conflict People, Huberman Lab

  • Bill Eddy shares criteria for recognizing high-conflict personalities and strategies to avoid getting entangled in cycles of blame and drama.

  • Communication methods focusing on empathy and problem-solving to mediate conflicts involving high-conflict individuals.

  • Andrew Huberman podcast has over 6.15 million subscribers as of today.

WORLD

• Snow caps Japan’s Mount Fuji to end record lapse

  • Reported snowfall on iconic mountain is the latest in 130 years following autumn warmth.

  • Snow usually dusts the summit of Japan’s tallest mountain by early October.

  • This year’s snowless slopes marked the latest snowfall since record-keeping began in 1894.

• Benjamin Netanyahu fires Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant

  • Gallant's removal follows strategic disputes over Gaza, military policies, and ultra-orthodox conscription.

  • His firing has raised concerns among allies and prompted calls for protests amid rising tensions.

  • Israel Katz is appointed as the new defence minister as Israel continues its military actions in Gaza.

• UK introduces a bill that would eventually make the purchase of cigarettes illegal

  • New bill raises the minimum age for buying tobacco and plans banning cigarette sales to future generations.

  • Outdoor smoking and vaping near schools, hospitals, and playgrounds face restrictions; pub beer gardens exempted.

  • Bright vape packaging targeting children would be banned to curb youth nicotine addiction.

AND MORE…

• Mystery as four NASA astronauts are rushed to hospital without explanation after returning from space

  • Crew-8 astronauts, returning from a 235-day ISS mission, were hospitalized after their SpaceX capsule splashdown.

  • NASA has not detailed the health issues, but safety concerns were raised following minor parachute issues and previous SpaceX rocket incidents.

  • Former astronaut Kent Rominger stressed the importance of vigilance and safety amid SpaceX's rapid mission pace.

• Elon Musk’s misleading election claims have been viewed more than 2 billion times on X, analysis finds

  • Musk’s election-related posts on X, endorsing Trump and spreading false claims, amassed over 2 billion views this year.

  • Analysis valued Musk's disinformation reach as equivalent to $24 million in campaign ad spending.

  • Center for Countering Digital Hate highlighted X's shift under Musk as a major disinformation hub during the 2024 election cycle.

• Mozilla Foundation lays off 30% of staff, drops advocacy division

  • Mozilla Foundation announced layoffs of 30% of workforce, citing the need for "agility and impact" amid technological change.

  • Advocacy and global programs divisions have been eliminated as part of a strategic shift for more focused operations.

  • Executive Director Nabiha Syed emphasized the challenges of a fast-evolving tech landscape and the need for hard choices.