**Ramp's surging $32 billion valuation and Sakana AI's significant Series B funding underscore a booming market for innovative startups, alongside Jeff Bezos co-leading a new AI venture and Google expanding its AI travel tools. Cisco's acquisition of EzDubs further signals consolidation, while PowerLattice and Luminal secure investments for cutting-edge chip and GPU tech, and fintech platforms Aspora and Flatpay** achieve notable growth and unicorn status.

• Ramp hits $32B valuation, just 3 months after hitting $22.5B — TechCrunch -
• Cisco acquires translation startup EzDubs — TechCrunch -
• Sequoia-backed fintech Aspora will let Indian diaspora pay bills back home — TechCrunch -

• Google rolls out its AI ‘Flight Deals’ tool globally, adds new travel features in Search — TechCrunch -
• PowerLattice attracts investment from ex-Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger for its power-saving chiplet — TechCrunch -
• Jeff Bezos reportedly returns to the trenches as co-CEO of new AI startup, Project Prometheus — TechCrunch -
• Luminal raises $5.3 million to build a better GPU code framework — TechCrunch -
• MCP AI agent security startup Runlayer launches with 8 unicorns, $11M from Khosla’s Keith Rabois and Felicis — TechCrunch -
• Bone AI raises $12M to challenge Asia’s defense giants with AI-powered robotics — TechCrunch -
• Sakana AI raises $135M Series B at a $2.65B valuation to continue building AI models for Japan — TechCrunch -
• Danish startup Flatpay joins the club of European fintech unicorns to track — TechCrunch -

Jeff Bezos is re-entering the CEO role with a new company, as Meta launches a tool to protect Reels creators and Ford partners with Amazon for used car sales. Meanwhile, Blue Origin plans its next steps after a successful landing, but Apple's Mac Pro is reportedly delayed, Oracle faces a Wall Street sell-off due to its AI bet, and Luminar is battling a major customer amid bankruptcy concerns.

• With a new company, Jeff Bezos will become a CEO again — Ars Technica -
• Meta releases a new tool to protect reels creators from having their work stolen — TechCrunch -
• Ford turns to Amazon to give used cars sales a boost — TechCrunch -

• After last week’s stunning landing, here’s what comes next for Blue Origin — Ars Technica -
• Luminar is fighting with its biggest customer as bankruptcy threat looms — TechCrunch -
• Report claims that Apple has yet again put the Mac Pro “on the back burner” — Ars Technica -
• Oracle hit hard in Wall Street’s tech sell-off over its huge AI bet — Ars Technica -

The Trump administration's decision to axe numerous clinical trials, impacting thousands of participants, faces scrutiny, while UCLA faculty secured a win against government funding threats. A Texas AG's attempt to block Tylenol ads was rejected by a judge, highlighting ongoing legal battles around health and free speech.

• Trump admin axed 383 active clinical trials, dumping over 74K participants — Ars Technica -
• UCLA faculty gets big win in suit against Trump’s university attacks — Ars Technica -
• Judge smacks down Texas AG’s request to immediately block Tylenol ads — Ars Technica -

A laptop farm and ID theft scheme aiming to secure US IT jobs for North Koreans resulted in guilty pleas, while DoorDash confirmed a data breach affecting user contact information. Surveillance tech provider Protei was hacked, leading to data theft and a website defacement.

• 5 plead guilty to laptop farm and ID theft scheme to land North Koreans US IT jobs — Ars Technica -
• DoorDash confirms data breach impacting users’ phone numbers and physical addresses — TechCrunch -
• Surveillance tech provider Protei was hacked, its data stolen, and its website defaced — TechCrunch -

The trailer for "Wake Up Dead Man" features Benoit Blanc tackling a new mystery, while fans reverse-engineering servers for Sony's defunct Concord face potential trouble. There's also news of a **"mutual" breakup between Cities: Skylines developer and publisher, and an enthusiastic review of a "Steam Machine" experience**.

• Benoit Blanc takes on a “perfectly impossible crime” in Wake Up Dead Man trailer — Ars Technica -
• Fans’ reverse-engineered servers for Sony’s defunct Concord might be in trouble — Ars Technica -
• Cities: Skylines upheaval: Developer and publisher announce “mutual” breakup — Ars Technica -

• I’ve already been using a “Steam Machine” for months, and I think it’s great — Ars Technica -

A study indicates ancient Egyptians regularly used opiates, shedding light on historical practices, while an attempt to recreate a famous SUV stunt in China went wrong, causing damage.

• When recreating a famous SUV stunt in China goes wrong — Ars Technica -
• Ancient Egyptians likely used opiates regularly — Ars Technica -