Global

China And Iran Hold Meeting Days Before Trump's Beijing Visit— Experts Call It 'Deeply Strategic' As Tehran Shows It Is Not 'Isolated'

Namrata Sen — Wed, 06 May 2026 07:59:35 +0000

China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, held a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, on Wednesday. This is their first meeting since the Iran war, and it comes just days before President Donald Trump’s scheduled visit to Beijing.

According to the official statement, Araghchi would discuss bilateral ties and regional and global developments with Wang Yi.

Amir Handjani, a board member at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, called the China-Iran meeting “deeply strategic,” reported CNBC. Handjani said that Tehran and Beijing are “aligning their interests” as they prepare for Trump's potential May summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Handjani also pointed out China's stake in preserving stability in the Persian Gulf to secure uninterrupted trade and energy flows. China's leadership aims to keep oil tankers moving and ensure continued trade from the Persian Gulf to Asian markets, he said.

Meanwhile, Danny Russel from the Asia Society Policy Institute said that for Tehran, the ...

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POET Technologies Stock Climbs As Oil Slides And Ceasefire Holds

Evette Mitkov — Tue, 05 May 2026 18:55:19 +0000

POET Technologies Inc (NASDAQ:POET) shares are skyrocketing on Tuesday as semiconductor and chip stocks rally across the board. The sector is catching a bid from a pullback in oil prices and renewed optimism around U.S. efforts to address the global memory chip shortage. Here’s what you should know.

POET Technologies stock is charging ahead with explosive momentum. Why is POET stock surging?

Easing Geopolitical Tension Boosts Risk Appetite

A major driver of today's move is the sharp drop in oil prices after comments from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured markets that the ceasefire with Iran remains intact. According to CNBC, Brent crude fell more than 2% and WTI dropped ...

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Wybotics Revives Hong Kong IPO Plans As Growth Story Gains Traction

Bamboo Works — Tue, 05 May 2026 13:08:56 +0000

The maker of robotic pool cleaners has updated its Hong Kong IPO prospectus after an earlier application from last September lapsed

image credit: Bamboo Works

Key Takeaways:

Wybotics' updated Hong Kong IPO application shows it ranks third globally in robotic pool cleaners and holds the top spot for cordless models
The company's gross profit margin has risen steadily over the last three years as it builds up its own brands and downplays its legacy ODM business

The race is on. Robotic pool cleaner maker Wybotics Co. Ltd. applied to float shares in Hong Kong late last month, beating out a similar filing from rival pool equipment maker Fairland Corp. by just days.

Wybotics is the world's third largest maker of robotic pool cleaners with 9.2% of the market in 2024, according to third-party research in its listing document. But the company is better positioned in cordless products — an area where it is the top name globally – positioning it to challenge the industry leaders over the long run.

Established in 2006, Wybotics jumped into cordless product development and made related patent applications as early as 2009, launching its first products in 2014. Those items accounted for nearly all of its revenue last year, around 97.5% of the total. In terms of cordless robotic pool cleaners, Wybotics is the clear leader with 19.7% of the global market.

Robotic pool cleaner shipments reached 4.9 million units last year, with the market growing at an average annual rate of 11.3% between 2020 and 2025. The annual growth rate is expected to slow but still be brisk at about 7.6% from 2025 to 2030. Notably, cordless robotic pool cleaners recorded far higher average annual growth of 67.9% from 2020 to 2025, with their market penetration climbing above 50% for the first time in 2025 to 51.5%. That rate is forecast to rise to 71% by 2030, underscoring the steady displacement of models connected via ...

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Stock Market Today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq Futures Rise As Traders Monitor US-Iran Ceasefire— Duolingo, Pinterest, AMD In Focus (UPDATED)

Rishabh Mishra — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:34:09 +0000

(Editor’s note: The future prices of benchmark tracking ETFs, and the headline were updated in the story.)

U.S. stock futures rose on Tuesday after Monday’s lower close, following the announcement of "Project Freedom” by President Donald Trump.

The U.S. military said on Monday that it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as Tehran tried to disrupt President Trump’s new effort to reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump told Fox News on Monday that if Iran attacks American vessels, they will be “blown off the face of the Earth.” Asked on “The Hugh Hewitt Show” whether the ceasefire was over or a U.S. attack was imminent, Trump replied, “Well, I can’t tell you that.”

Meanwhile, the 10-year Treasury bond yielded 4.42%, and the two-year bond was at 3.93%. The CME Group's FedWatch tool‘s projections show markets pricing a 95.9% likelihood of the Federal Reserve leaving the current interest rates unchanged during June’s meeting.

Index	Performance (+/-)
Dow Jones	0.28%
S&P 500	0.34%
Nasdaq 100	0.55%
Russell 2000	0.54%

The SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust (NYSE:SPY) and Invesco QQQ Trust ETF (NASDAQ:QQQ), which track the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100, respectively, were higher in premarket on Tuesday. The SPY was up 0.50% at $721.57, while the QQQ advanced 0.74% to $677.87.

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Stocks In Focus

Duolingo

Duolingo Inc. (NASDAQ:DUOL) dropped 12.77% in premarket on Tuesday as it beat analyst estimates on the top and bottom lines but issued a disappointing revenue guidance.

Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that DUOL maintains a strong price trend in the short term but a weak trend in the medium and long terms, with a solid growth score.

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China's Robotaxi Race Hits A Safety Pause

Bamboo Works — Tue, 05 May 2026 12:25:47 +0000

Baidu's Wuhan outage, Hello's Zhuzhou injury accident and a reported pause on new permits suggest China's autonomous taxi drive is shifting focus to safety

image credit: Bamboo Works

Key Takeaways:

China's robotaxi story is transitioning from one of ride volume, city coverage and vehicle cost to one of safety after two recent incidents
Baidu still offers the biggest scale in China, but Pony AI, WeRide, XPeng, Caocao and U.S. rivals like Waymo and Tesla are turning robotaxis into a crowded global contest

China's robotaxi sector was supposed to be entering an era of scale, as operators put more of their vehicles on the road after years of testing. Instead, it's now getting a safety audit – which some may argue was overdue.

A February report from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology described 2025 as a turning point for autonomous driving as robotaxis and autonomous delivery vehicles moved from pilots toward commercialization. It framed autonomous driving as a strategic part of global technology competition, and not simply another transport business.

But now China has reportedly tapped the brakes on its own robotaxi program – an important piece of the autonomous driving story – after a couple of recent incidents, including one that left the streets of a major city clogged with stalled driverless cars. The pause is likely to set back China's robotaxi program, perhaps by up to a year or more. But the move is also likely to help over the longer term by building public trust in a system that still feels strange and slightly uncomfortable to many ordinary riders.

From vehicle safety to system safety

On March 31, multiple robotaxis from Baidu's (BIDU.US; 9888.HK) fleet of Apollo Go robotaxis suddenly stopped on the roads in Wuhan, capital of Central China's Hubei province. Local police assigned preliminarily blame to a system failure, with no injuries reported. Reuters reported that at least 100 vehicles were affected, while local media said some passengers were trapped inside stalled vehicles for nearly two hours.

The incident stood out from single-vehicle cases of the past because it appeared to reflect a fleet-level failure. One robotaxi malfunction is a product problem. A hundred robotaxis stopped in traffic begins to resemble an infrastructure problem.

China paused new autonomous-vehicle licenses following the outage, according to several foreign media reports, ...

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Iran's Nuclear Weapon Timeline Remains Unchanged Despite Weeks Of Strikes: Report

Namrata Sen — Tue, 05 May 2026 11:34:30 +0000

The latest U.S. intelligence reports suggest that Iran’s timeline to build a nuclear weapon remains unchanged since last summer, even after two months of war initiated by President Donald Trump to prevent the Islamic republic from developing a nuclear bomb, Reuters reported on Monday.

The unchanged timeline implies that to significantly hinder Tehran’s nuclear program, it may be necessary to destroy or remove Iran’s remaining stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU), according to Reuters.

Before the June 12-day war, U.S. intelligence estimated that Iran could produce enough weapons-grade uranium and build a bomb within three to six months. After the U.S. strikes on its nuclear facilities, that timeline was extended to roughly nine months to a year, as per the report.

Former U.S. intelligence analyst Eric Brewer told the publication that recent U.S. strikes likely didn't target Iran's nuclear material, meaning Iran may still retain its stockpile, potentially stored in deeply buried sites unreachable by current U.S. weapons. He noted that options like risky ground raids have been considered.

White House did not immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comments.

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Apple Eyes US Chip Production With Intel, Samsung To Reduce TSMC Reliance: Report

Sweta Killa — Tue, 05 May 2026 08:42:38 +0000

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is exploring potential partnerships with Intel Corp. (NASDAQ:INTC) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (OTC:SSNLF) to manufacture its processors in the United States, according to a report.

The talks are part of the company’s effort to diversify its chip supply chain beyond its reliance on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Ltd. (NYSE:TSM), according to a Bloomberg report.

Early-Stage Talks, Site Visits

Apple executives have reportedly visited a Samsung facility being built in Texas and also had early conversations with Intel about using its foundry services. None of the talks has produced orders, and the work is still described as preliminary.

While these moves could provide Apple with additional manufacturing flexibility, the company is said to have concerns about adopting non-TSMC production technologies, particularly around reliability and the ability to scale output efficiently.

The report said Apple's internal discussions are still in an early phase.

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Pete Buttigieg Rebuts Sean Duffy On Spirit Collapse, Says Gas Prices Won't Drop By 'Blurting Out' Names Of Democrats

Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee — Tue, 05 May 2026 08:31:56 +0000

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed back Monday against Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's claim that the Joe Biden administration helped cause Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc.’s (OTC:FLYYQ) collapse by backing the successful legal challenge to JetBlue's proposed takeover.

Duffy Says Buttigieg Made Wrong Call

Duffy said Monday on Fox News's "Fox & Friends" that Buttigieg "made the wrong call" by supporting the Biden administration's opposition to JetBlue Airways Corp.’s (NASDAQ:JBLU) planned $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit. He argued that if Buttigieg had taken a closer look at the two carriers, he would have concluded that the merger would have been better for customers.

JetBlue abandoned the deal in 2024 after a federal judge in Massachusetts blocked it on antitrust grounds. The Justice Department and several state attorneys general sued in 2023 under Section 7 of the Clayton Act. When JetBlue dropped the bid, then-Attorney General Merrick Garland said the merger "would have caused tens of millions of travelers to face higher fares and fewer choices."

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'This Is Trump Country:' Chuck Schumer Blames Trump's Iran Policy As Gas Prices Reach $4.39 Per Gallon

Snigdha Gairola — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:26:31 +0000

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blamed rising gas prices on the Donald Trump‘s Iran policy, saying higher fuel costs are hitting American families as prices reach $4.39 per gallon.

Gas Prices Spark Political Clash Over Foreign Policy

In a post on X, Schumer highlighted high gasoline prices during a visit to an Upstate New York gas station, where he said he spoke with working families struggling with costs.

"GAS PRICES ARE $4.39 AND CLIMBING," Schumer wrote.

He added, "I stood at a gas station in Upstate NY with veterans, farmers, and families paying the price every time they fill up."

He added a political framing of the issue, saying, "This is Trump country. They don't want to pay for his reckless Iran war."

Schumer continued, "They're saying: enough. End the war. Stop the pain at the pump."

GAS PRICES ARE $4.39 AND CLIMBING

I stood at a gas station in Upstate NY with veterans, farmers, and families paying the price every time they fill up.

This is Trump country.
They don't want to pay for his reckless Iran war.

They're saying: enough.

End the war. Stop the… pic.twitter.com/yxL2A9ytOe

— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) May 4, 2026

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Scott Bessent Says 'Help Is On The Way' As Gas Nears $4.50—Calls Spike 'Temporary Aberration'

Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee — Tue, 05 May 2026 05:58:14 +0000

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that "help is on the way" for U.S. gasoline prices as the Donald Trump administration tries to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and ease an oil-market squeeze that has pushed regular gas close to $4.50 a gallon.

Bessent Says Fuel Relief Is Coming

"Help is on the way as of today," Bessent said on Fox News's "America's Newsroom." He said the conflict around the strait has left the market short by roughly 8 million to 10 million barrels a day.

Bessent said each crude carrier moving through the waterway can carry about 2 million barrels and argued that four or five carriers a day could begin clearing pent-up demand. He said more than 150 to 200 carriers may be able to move, making the market "very well supplied."

He also cast the price surge as temporary, saying the conflict will end and that other parts of the economy remain strong under President Trump. Bessent pointed to corporate earnings, employment and the stock market, saying the gasoline jump was a "temporary aberration" that could end within weeks or a month.

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Will Iran Close Its Airspace Again? Crypto Prediction Market Sees Over 50% Possibility After Hostilities Resume In Middle East

Aniket Verma — Tue, 05 May 2026 03:28:12 +0000

Cryptocurrency bettors are pricing in higher odds on Iran closing its airspace for commercial flights after renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz challenged the ceasefire.

Will Peace Be Short-Lived?

Polygon (CRYPTO: POL)-based Polymarket showed a 52% possibility that Iran initiates a “major closure” of its airspace, up from 42% the day before.

A "major closure" is defined as a broad closure, cancellation, or suspension of commercial flights transiting, arriving in, and departing from Iranian airspace or a major Iranian Airspace region. Limited cancellations, delays or other partial closures will not qualify.

Over $3.70 million has been wagered on the outcome, making it one of the most actively traded bets on Polymarket.

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Trump Warns Iran Will Be 'Blown Off The Face Of The Earth' If US Ships Are Hit As Washington Clears 'Effective Pathway' Through Iranian Mines

Shomik Sen Bhattacharjee — Tue, 05 May 2026 03:23:12 +0000

The U.S. military said Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as Tehran tried to disrupt President Donald Trump's new effort to reopen commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

US Says Iran Opened Fire First

Adm. Brad Cooper, head of Central Command, told reporters that Iran opened fire on U.S. warships in the Middle East and that American forces retaliated, destroying six Iranian small boats. Reuters reported that the clash came as Washington launched "Project Freedom," Trump's operation to restore commercial transit through one of the world's most important energy routes.

Cooper said he "strongly advised" Iranian forces to stay away from U.S. military assets as the Pentagon proceeds with the operation. He said the U.S. naval blockade, which bars vessels leaving Iranian ports from departing the region, remains in effect.

Project Freedom Clears Path Through Mines

Multiple U.S. Navy destroyers are positioned in the Persian Gulf, Cooper said. He added that U.S. forces have cleared an "effective pathway" through Iranian mines for commercial ships trying to cross the Strait of Hormuz.

Cooper said vessels from 87 countries are in the Persian Gulf and that the U.S. military has contacted dozens of ships and shipping companies over the past ...
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Bernie Sanders Says AI Extinction Risk Demands Global Cooperation After Kevin O'Leary Calls China Inclusion Threat: 'This Isn't About Competition...'

Ananya Gairola — Tue, 05 May 2026 02:15:32 +0000

On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for international cooperation on artificial intelligence safety, arguing that existential AI risks outweigh geopolitical rivalries even as investor Kevin O'Leary warned that involving China could jeopardize U.S. national security and technological leadership.

Sanders Pushes Global Action On AI Safety

Sanders argued that warnings from leading scientists and AI experts about the dangers of uncontrolled AI demand urgent global coordination.

"If the world's leading scientists say there's even a 10% chance humanity could be destroyed because of uncontrolled AI, shouldn't we do everything possible to prevent it?" Sanders said in a social media post.

He added, “This isn't about competition with China. It’s about coming together to prevent what might be a catastrophe.”

In a related video, Sanders stressed that even a relatively small chance of catastrophic outcomes should force policymakers to act aggressively.

If the world's leading scientists say there's even a 10% chance humanity could be destroyed because of uncontrolled AI, shouldn't we do everything possible to prevent it?

This isn't about competition with China. It's about ...
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Kevin O'Leary's $115 Billion AI Bet Has More Than One Problem

Stjepan Kalinic — Mon, 04 May 2026 19:51:25 +0000

Shark Tank star Kevin O'Leary isn't hunting for the small equity business in 2026. The TV personality has firmly turned toward what he sees as the ultimate commodity of the current tech revolution – the physical infrastructure required to keep it going.

When Geopolitics Meet Finance

O'Leary's key domestic project is the Stratos Project in Box Elder County, Utah. Spanning 40,000 acres, the site is designed to reach 9 GW of power—a figure the Wall Street Journal put as “equal to more than 20% of all data-center capacity currently operating in the U.S.”

Yet to avoid straining the national grid, O’Leary proposes burning natural gas on-site via the Ruby pipeline. The first phase would target 3GW, at a cost of roughly $45 billion.

"I think we're in a competition with the Chinese on economic superiority and military superiority," he noted, reasoning that the motivation is as much geopolitical as it is financial.

North of the border in his native Canada, O'Leary is doubling down with a proposed $70-billion, 7.5-gigawatt AI data center campus in Alberta. However, despite being exempt from provincial environmental impact assessment, the project still faces numerous local permits, including approval from the First Nation.

"The minute we get the permit, that triggers a whole bunch of other activities in terms of how we finance it, when we start engineering, design, everything ...
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Nvidia's Forbidden Fruit: Chinese Buyers Shell Out $1M Per B300 Server

Erica Kollmann — Mon, 04 May 2026 17:44:01 +0000

Chinese tech firms are paying roughly $1 million apiece for Nvidia’s (NASDAQ:NVDA) B300 servers — almost twice what U.S. buyers pay — as Washington’s export curbs and a fresh crackdown on chip smuggling choke off black-market supply, Reuters reported, citing four industry sources.

NVDA stock is moving. See the chart and price action here.

Double The U.S. Price Tag

The B300 is fetching about 7 million yuan (roughly $1 million) per server in China, the report said, versus around $550,000 in the U.S., where prices have crept up from about $500,000 late last year.

In China, prices were closer to 4 million yuan late last year before the squeeze took hold.

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Buyers priced out of an outright purchase are turning to rentals, which Reuters said are running as high as 190,000 yuan ...
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