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Dave McMenaminApr 2, 2026, 11:47 PM ETCloseLakers and NBA reporter for ESPN. Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.Multiple Authors Nightmare in OKC: Doncic Injury Compounds Lakers’ Crushing Defeat and Playoff Doubts OKLAHOMA CITY – The air hung heavy with a sense of foreboding in the Paycom Center on Thursday night, a feeling that intensified with every passing minute of what quickly devolved into a Lakers’ nightmare. What began as a pivotal late-season clash against the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder, a supposed MVP showdown,…

Key Takeaways The Audacious “No”: Airwallex founder Jack Zhang famously rejected a $1.2 billion acquisition offer from Stripe, a decision driven by an unwavering long-term vision and the desire to fully realize his entrepreneurial dream. Path of Maximum Resistance: Airwallex’s strategic strength lies in its painstaking, multi-year investment in acquiring nearly 90 financial licenses across 50 markets and building deep, end-to-end financial infrastructure, a “slow build” approach that creates formidable competitive moats. Global Local Operation: By holding licenses and controlling the payment workflow, Airwallex enables businesses to operate globally as if they were local entities, offering significant foreign exchange savings…

The U.S. Air Force recently conducted significant tests of its “Angry Kitten” electronic warfare pod, demonstrating its versatility by integrating it with an HC-130J aircraft during Exercise Bamboo Eagle. This integration revealed the pod’s capability to transform the rescue platform into a crucial command-and-control node while simultaneously providing protection against enemy radar systems. This development marks a notable advancement in the modular application of electronic warfare technologies across diverse military aircraft. The latest tests follow earlier indications that the Angry Kitten pod may have seen its first combat deployment. A U.S. Central Command-released photograph showed an Air Force F-16 Fighting…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the UK energy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. **Key Takeaways:** * **Imminent Price Shock:** UK motorists are poised to face £2 a litre diesel prices within days, a direct consequence of escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and a tightening global supply chain for refined products. * **Inflationary Headwinds:** The sharp surge in diesel costs acts as a potent inflationary accelerant, feeding directly into the cost of transporting goods and services across the UK economy, thereby exacerbating the ongoing cost of living crisis and complicating monetary policy decisions.…

Stay informed with free updatesSimply sign up to the EU energy myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. **Key Takeaways:** 1. **Prolonged Energy Shock:** The EU is bracing for a “long-lasting” energy crisis stemming from Middle East geopolitical tensions, signalling sustained high energy prices and increased market volatility for the foreseeable future. 2. **Contingency Planning:** Brussels is actively assessing extreme measures, including fuel rationing and further releases from strategic oil reserves, indicating a heightened level of concern that could impact commodity markets and specific sectors like aviation and logistics. 3. **No Immediate Russian LNG Shift:** Despite the crisis, the…

Key Takeaways Castlery blends timeless mid-century modern design with superior functionality and durable, sustainably-minded materials, making it ideal for the modern home. A robust ecosystem of discounts, from sitewide sales and bundle deals to first-order incentives and a rewarding loyalty program, significantly enhances affordability. With options like white-glove delivery, flexible financing through Affirm, and performance fabrics designed for real life, Castlery prioritizes a seamless and worry-free furniture acquisition experience. Since its inception in 2013, Castlery has rapidly ascended as a direct-to-consumer pioneer in the furniture market, carving out a niche defined by an exquisite blend of design sophistication and unparalleled…

Strikes on Tehran Spark Global Market Jitters, Elevating Geopolitical Risk Premium Key Takeaways: **Oil Price Volatility Escalates:** Strikes in Iran’s capital significantly heighten fears of supply disruption in the critical Middle East, pushing global crude benchmarks higher and adding a notable geopolitical risk premium to energy markets. **Flight to Safety Intensifies:** Investor sentiment shifts rapidly towards risk-off positioning, driving capital into traditional safe-haven assets such as gold, the U.S. dollar, and government bonds, while emerging market equities and riskier assets face downward pressure. **Regional Instability & Sanctions Loom:** The escalation underscores the fragile security landscape in the Gulf, threatening vital…

In a market saturated with high-end audio gear that often comes with an equally high price tag, **Skullcandy** has carved out a distinctive niche. Known for blending vibrant aesthetics with accessible pricing, the brand frequently offers compelling alternatives to its more conservative competitors. While they might not always target the audiophile elite, Skullcandy headphones consistently deliver on style, functionality, and, crucially, affordability. Right now, savvy shoppers have an excellent opportunity to dive into Skullcandy’s diverse lineup with significant price cuts across a range of their most popular products. Whether your preference leans towards immersive over-ear cans, innovative open-ear earbuds, or…

Prediction Markets: A New Frontier for Retail, or a High-Stakes Arena for the Pros? Prediction Markets: A New Frontier for Retail, or a High-Stakes Arena for the Pros? Key Takeaways: Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are attracting a surge of retail participants drawn by accessible, event-driven trading, mirroring the broader trend of democratized finance. The nascent and often unregulated nature of these platforms creates significant information asymmetry, exposing new bettors to sophisticated trading firms wielding superior capital, data, and algorithmic strategies. While offering potential as powerful aggregators of crowd intelligence, their current structure necessitates robust regulatory oversight and enhanced…

Michael VoepelApr 17, 2026, 04:45 PM ET Close Michael Voepel is a senior writer who covers the WNBA, women’s college basketball and other college sports. Voepel began covering women’s basketball in 1984, and has been with ESPN since 1996. Multiple Authors **A Seismic Shift: Sporting Icons Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe Announce Separation** In a move that sent ripples through the sporting world and beyond, two of the most iconic and influential athletes of their generation, Sue Bird and Megan Rapinoe, announced Friday via social media that their decade-long relationship has come to an end. The joint statement, a testament…