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

In today’s edition, we are tackling the following:

🕵️ FBI warns Iranian hackers are using Telegram to steal victims' data.
🎰 A bipartisan bill aims to ban sports betting on prediction market platforms.
🕊️ U.S. & Iran send mixed signals as war peace talks remain unclear.
🚗 DoorDash launches relief payments for drivers amid soaring gas prices.
💥 A large explosion at a Texas oil refinery forces residents to shelter.

TECHNOLOGY

• FBI warns Iranian hackers are using Telegram to steal victims' data (NewsBytes)
  ^{_{More: FindArticles, TechCrunch}}

  • Iranian state hackers pose as trusted contacts to trick targets into installing malware.

  • Malware connects infected devices to Telegram bots, giving hackers full remote control.

  • The FBI links the attacks to Iran's Ministry of Intelligence & Security, advancing its agenda.

• A bipartisan bill aims to ban sports betting on prediction market platforms (WSJ)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Business Insider, ESPN}}

  • Senators Schiff & Curtis introduced a bill targeting sports wagering on Kalshi & Polymarket.

  • The bill wouldn't affect FanDuel & DraftKings, which operate under state gambling laws.

  • Kalshi's Super Bowl trading volume hit over $1B this year, a 2,700% year-over-year increase.

• An exploit kit targeting millions of iPhones has been leaked publicly (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Tech Buzz, Gigazine}}

  • A newer version of the DarkSword hacking tool was leaked & published on GitHub last week.

  • Hundreds of millions of iPhones & iPads running older iOS versions are now potentially vulnerable.

  • Experts warn that the simple HTML & JavaScript files can be repurposed by criminals within hours.

BUSINESS

• U.S. & Iran send mixed signals as war peace talks remain unclear (NY Times)
  ^{_{More: The Guardian, Bloomberg}}

  • Trump claimed "very strong talks" were underway, while Iran's parliament denied any negotiations.

  • Both sides exchanged messages through intermediaries, aiming to avoid attacks on energy infrastructure.

  • Fighting continued on multiple fronts, with U.S. & Israeli strikes on Iran ongoing Monday.

• DoorDash launches relief payments for drivers amid soaring gas prices (AOL)
  ^{_{More: The Independent, TechCrunch, FOX}}

  • DoorDash is offering weekly payments to U.S. & Canadian drivers through April 26.

  • Dashers driving 125+ miles weekly can receive payments, saving up to $1.50 per gallon.

  • Crimson debit card users get 10% extra cash back, saving up to $1.90 per gallon.

• A large explosion at a Texas oil refinery forces residents to shelter (AP)
  ^{_{More: NY Post, Economic Times, Yahoo!}}

  • An explosion struck Valero's Port Arthur refinery, about 90 miles east of Houston, on Monday.

  • No injuries were reported, with firefighters quickly dispatched to contain the blaze.

  • The blast comes amid rising gas prices driven by uncertainty over global oil supply.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Japan's headline inflation eased for a fourth straight month in February (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: Economic Times, Firstpost, Investing.com}}

  • Japan's headline CPI fell to 1.3% in February, its lowest level since March 2022.

  • Core inflation, excluding fresh food, came in at 1.6%, missing analyst forecasts of 1.7%.

  • 'Core-core' inflation, stripping out fresh food & energy, moderated slightly to 2.5% in February.

• Air Street Capital raises $232M fund, becoming Europe's largest solo VC (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: FindArticles, MEXC, Yahoo!}}

  • London's Air Street Capital raised $232M for Fund III, targeting early-stage AI companies.

  • Check sizes range from $500k to $15M, with growth investments reaching up to $25M.

  • The firm now manages $400M in assets, up from $121M in its previous fund.

• Grab to acquire Foodpanda's Taiwan business from Delivery Hero for $600M (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Reuters, Forbes, TechCrunch}}

  • Grab will pay $600M cash for Foodpanda Taiwan, marking its first move outside Southeast Asia.

  • The deal, pending regulatory approval, is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

  • Grab would capture just over 50% of the market share, competing directly with Uber Eats in Taiwan.

FUTURISM

• Apple announces WWDC 2026 for June 8-12, focusing on AI advancements (TechCrunch)
  ^{_{More: Apple, MSN, Yahoo!}}

  • Apple's WWDC 2026 runs June 8-12, with sessions held online & at its Cupertino headquarters.

  • This year's conference will spotlight AI advancements alongside updates to iOS, macOS, & watchOS.

  • A revamped Siri with advanced AI capabilities is widely expected to debut at the event.

• MLB's new robot strike zone will reshape outcomes for pitchers & batters (AP)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, KSL, MSN}}

  • MLB's Automated Ball-Strike System makes its regular-season debut Wednesday, using Hawk-Eye technology.

  • Kyle Hendricks led the majors with 777 called strikes on pitches that should've been balls.

  • Pitchers who benefited most from human umpires, like Hendricks & Nola, face the biggest adjustments.

• Chinese startup ZYT's AI driver can already outperform its own CEO (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: MSN, Economic Times}}

  • ZYT, a DJI spin-off, will debut its 'mobility foundation model' at Beijing's auto show in April.

  • Unlike rivals, ZYT's AI learns to drive independently without relying on location-specific training modules.

  • The company is targeting a Hong Kong IPO in 2027 & has partnered with China's biggest trucking firms.

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CONTENT

• Northwood CEO Bridgit Mendler on fixing space's overlooked ground infrastructure bottleneck (a16z)

  • Mendler discusses how ground infrastructure remains the critical & overlooked bottleneck in space.

  • Northwood builds systems connecting satellites back to Earth, enabling faster & more scalable missions.

  • Modern ground networks could unlock the next wave of space economy innovation, from defense to commerce.

• Dr. Matthew Jones explores the psychology behind co-founder relationships & breakdowns (The Startup Podcast)

  • Jones explains why the co-founder relationship is the single most important variable in a startup.

  • Warning signs like 'negative sentiment override' can signal that a co-founder relationship is deteriorating fast.

  • Navigating conflict & power dynamics matters more than simply finding the 'right' co-founder pairing.

• Anduril's Matthew Steckman on why most drone companies will fail (20VC)

  • Steckman played a central role in securing Anduril's $20B contract with the U.S. military.

  • He argues most drone companies will die as defense requires scale, capital, & government trust.

  • Steckman says Anduril's defense products are a strategic necessity, not an ethics debate.

EXTRAS

• OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky has died at 43 after cancer (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: The Guardian, Business Times, TechCrunch}}

  • Radvinsky, a Ukrainian-born billionaire, passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 43.

  • He bought a 75% stake in OnlyFans' parent company in 2018, becoming the majority shareholder.

  • His death follows reports of negotiations to sell a 60% stake in OnlyFans, valuing the Company at $5.5B.

• Apple Maps may soon introduce ads for the first time (The Verge)
  ^{_{More: TechCrunch, Yahoo!}}

  • Apple plans to launch Maps ads as soon as this summer, sources say.

  • Businesses would bid to appear as top results for relevant searches in Maps.

  • The move mirrors Google Maps' long-running ad model & could boost Apple's revenue.

• NTSB investigates air traffic controller after deadly LaGuardia airport collision (CNA)
  ^{_{More: CNN, Reuters}}

  • Investigators want to interview the controller who was managing another emergency before the crash.

  • The collision killed both pilots & seriously injured nine others during an overnight shift.

  • The crash has reignited concerns about staffing shortages at air traffic control centers at major U.S. airports.

AND MORE

• Bernie Sanders' AI video flops, but the memes keep delivering.

• China maps ocean floors as it prepares for U.S. submarine warfare.

• Explore all the tools and more here to outperform the competition.*

• Elizabeth Warren calls Pentagon's decision to bar Anthropic 'retaliation.'

• Superhuman's CEO draws a clear line between AI attribution & impersonation.

• Vibe-coding startup Lovable is actively seeking acquisition targets.

• In-hub motors make this humble Hyundai a monster on ice.

• Russian authorities have blocked the paywall removal site Archive.today.