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  • Singapore Gulf Bank Launches Stablecoin Service

    Singapore Gulf Bank has introduced a new stablecoin mint and redeem service for corporate and high-net-worth clients. The product allows users to convert fiat currencies into stablecoins and back directly from their bank accounts.

    To support adoption, the bank announced a temporary waiver of gas and banking fees for operations on the Solana network. Clients will also receive rewards based on transaction volume during the promotional period.

    The service is integrated into SGB Net, the bank’s internal clearing system. This allows funds to move between blockchain networks and traditional accounts without additional intermediaries.

    At launch, the service supports USD Coin transactions starting from 100,000 US dollars. The bank plans to expand the offering by adding Tether, USDe, and Global Dollar in future updates.

    Image: Freepik

  • Philadelphia airport assembles world’s longest line of cheesesteaks

    Philadelphia airport assembles world’s longest line of cheesesteaks

  • Ryan Reynolds Says Deadpool Will Be a ‘Supporting Character’ Moving Forward and ‘I’ve Got Stuff Written’ for His Return: ‘I Don’t Think I’m Ever Going to Center Him Again’

    Ryan Reynolds Says Deadpool Will Be a ‘Supporting Character’ Moving Forward and ‘I’ve Got Stuff Written’ for His Return: ‘I Don’t Think I’m Ever Going to Center Him Again’

    Ryan Reynolds confirmed in a “Sunday Today” interview that he’s got some stuff already written when asked about Deadpool‘s return in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While there’s no information on what the actor is cooking up for his foul-mouthed superhero, it appears it will not be a standalone “Deadpool 4” movie.

    “I have some stuff kind of written, but I don’t think I am ever going to center him again,” Reynolds said, revealing Deadpool’s life as a big screen main character might be over as far as Reynolds’ iteration of the character is concerned. “He is a supporting character. He is a guy who is great in a group.”

    Speculation has run rampant on social that Reynolds will be back as Deadpool in a secret role in this December’s “Avengers: Doomsday,” although the actor has downplayed such rumors. Reynolds said in an interview with THR in December 2024 that he’d love for the character to cross paths with the Avengers or the X-Men without having to join either group.

    “If he becomes either, we’re at the end,” Reynolds said. “Deadpool works so well appearing with the X-Men and Avengers, but he always needs to stay an outsider. His ultimate dream is to be accepted and appreciated. But he can’t be accepted. His coping mechanism of deflecting shame through humor works only when used to pave over his many inadequacies. If and when he does become an Avenger or X-Man, we’re at the end of his journey.”

    Reynolds also explained at the time that he was leaning towards not making another standalone “Deadpool” movie because “centering Deadpool works best if you take everything away from him and put his back against the wall. I can’t really do that again. A fourth time feels a little iterative and redundant. That doesn’t mean sacrificing fun. There is still an arc for Deadpool which is fulfilling and powerful.”

    Reynolds’ Deadpool officially entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2024’s smash hit “Deadpool and Wolverine,” which earned $1.3 billion at the worldwide box office to become the highest grossing R-rated movie in history. The first two “Deadpool” movies were released in 2016 and 2018 and each grossed in the $780 million range worldwide.

    Watch Reynolds’ latest interview with “Sunday Today” in the video below.

  • The Mandalorian and Grogu director used Apple Vision Pro to preview the film in IMAX

    Director Jon Favreau (Iron Man, The Jungle Book) hasn’t been shy about embracing new technology for filmmaking. While producing The Mandalorian for Disney+, he was one of the first filmmakers to use ILM’s massive LED screens, AKA “The Volume,” to produce more realistic lighting and backgrounds on studio sets. For the feature film The Mandalorian and Grogu, which hits theaters May 22, Favreau recently revealed that he had Disney build an Apple Vision Pro app to preview its full IMAX scope during filming.

    “So I’m making an IMAX movie, and I’m looking at a TV screen, and no matter how big your TV screen is it’s not an IMAX screen,” Favreau said in a recent episode of The Town podcast. “We built software so that I can pop on my Apple Vision Pro and be sitting in an IMAX movie theater and see the full aspect ratio when we’re lining a shot up. And I can watch that take and see what people will see.”

    Favreau isn’t the first director to use the Apple Vision Pro — Wicked filmmaker Jon Chu also used it to handle post-production work — but he’s the first to specifically mention using the headset for IMAX production. That’s still a relatively limited use case for the Apple Vision Pro, but it’s one that could be useful to future filmmakers. With its large field of view and sharp micro-OLED screens, the Apple Vision Pro is one of the only ways to replicate the experience of watching a large IMAX screen at home. (The Meta Quest 3 comes in as a close second.)

    In general, Favreau says he’s more excited about using existing consumer technology in the filmmaking process than AI. He mentions using the Unreal Engine to previsualize special effects on The Mandalorian and his previous films, and he believes the quality from game engines could be good enough to make it into final productions down the line.

    “This is what the animation industry has understood from the beginning,” he said. “Get it right before you ever paint a cel.”

  • Coinbase, Bybit said to be working together on tokenization, custody and distribution of U.S. stocks

    Coinbase, Bybit said to be working together on tokenization, custody and distribution of U.S. stocks

    Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) is working with Bybit, one of the largest crypto trading platforms, to explore ways to tokenize, custody and distribute assets such as U.S. public and pre-IPO stocks, a person familiar with the plans told CoinDesk.

    The talks, which are ongoing, do not involve any sort of stake acquisition or similar deal for Bybit to enter the U.S., said the person, who asked to remain anonymous because they are directly involved in the discussions, dismissing a report of an investment publicized last month.

    It makes sense for Bybit to partner with an American company, the person said, because the U.S. is home to certain assets that global users want. Bybit is international, while Coinbase is U.S.-focused.

    Working together, the two can bring U.S. assets to a wider market in, for example, Asia, according to the person. Within five years, tokenization will bring any asset to users globally through a single app.

    “Even if Coinbase becomes a super app in the U.S., they are still only in the U.S,” the person said.

    The two companies’ explorations into tokenized stocks come as other market participants explore similar link-ups. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, in March announced it was taking a stake in crypto exchange OKX. Just last week, Deutsche Boerse, made a $200 million strategic investment into Kraken.

    Bybit’s plan to enter the U.S. market does involve a local partner, but it’s not Coinbase, the person said.

    The new U.S.-focused joint venture, said to be spearheaded by former Bybit co-CEO Helen Liu, will involve an unidentified “local partner who is going to provide license and compliance.” Bybit will to provide tech, product and liquidity.

    Bybit and Coinbase both declined to comment.

  • Big Bull Michael Saylor Announces $2.5 Billion Bitcoin (BTC) Deal! “Biggest in Recent Weeks!”

    Big Bull Michael Saylor Announces $2.5 Billion Bitcoin (BTC) Deal! “Biggest in Recent Weeks!”

    Continuing its weekly purchases, Strategy completed its weekly Bitcoin ($BTC) purchase and announced that it bought 34,164 $BTC last week.

    Accordingly, Strategy purchased 34,164 $BTC, worth $2.54 billion, at an average price of $74,395.

    Strategy founder Michael Saylor announced the news via a post on his X account.

    “Strategy purchased 34,164 $BTC for approximately $2.54 billion, at approximately $74,395 per Bitcoin, and achieved a 9.5% $BTC return by YTD 2026.”

    As of April 19, 2026, we hold 815,061 $BTC, purchased for approximately $61.56 billion at approximately $75,527 per Bitcoin.

    This purchase is one of the largest the company has made recently, and with this latest acquisition, the amount of Bitcoin held by the company has exceeded 800,000 $BTC.

    Based on Bitcoin’s fixed supply, the amount held by the company represents more than 3.8% of the final total of 21 million, and at current prices, this translates to a loss of approximately $400 million.

    It was also stated that the recent purchases were made using proceeds from sales of Class A common shares (MSTR) and perpetual Stretch preferred shares (STRC) at market price.

    Michael Saylor once again hinted at the company’s latest purchase. This time, Saylor gave his usual Sunday hint, updating Strategy’s Bitcoin purchase announcement by saying, “Think bigger.” This announcement suggested a larger purchase than the previous week’s 13,927 $BTC.

    Strategy has acquired 34,164 $BTC for ~$2.54 billion at ~$74,395 per bitcoin and has achieved $BTC Yield of 9.5% YTD 2026. As of 4/19/2026, we hodl 815,061 $BTC acquired for ~$61.56 billion at ~$75,527 per bitcoin. $MSTR $STRC https://t.co/ifGXjMeIZH

    — Michael Saylor (@saylor) April 20, 2026

    *This is not investment advice.

  • Jay Mohr: Why You Need to Watch Netflix’s ‘Love on the Spectrum’

    Jay Mohr: Why You Need to Watch Netflix’s ‘Love on the Spectrum’

    “You need to watch …”

    This sentence has been a constant my entire life with interchangeable titles. The Sopranos. Deadwood. Seinfeld (I’m old). Breaking Bad. Game of Thrones. Year after year, decade after decade, someone has attempted to guilt me for what I have been missing in my leisure time.

    Upon hearing this admonition, I have always smiled and acted politely as my insides filled with dread, annoyance and disappointment at the messenger for wasting my time. (People and their stupid shows, amiright?)

    That said, you need to watch Love on the Spectrum.

    Unlike the iconic leads in the above mentioned shows, the main characters on LOTS haven’t been brought to life through the alchemy between writer and actor.

    The leads on LOTS are everyday human beings who are living brilliantly and beautifully with autism. They’re brought to life by the magical alchemy of unconditional love and family. None of the cast are playing a character. They are the character. The only character they know how to be. In this TikTok, quick fix world, Netflix finds themselves filming people who have waited their entire lives to simply be embraced as themselves. The result is nothing short of glorious. 

    The conceit of the show is simple and, at first review, a bit cruel. Take a few people on the autism spectrum and film them going on a date. Almost always their first date. Ever.

    Admittedly, I was so uncomfortable watching these first dates. The conversations are halting and awkward. There’s a great deal of silence. There’s social anxiety. Things are said that are inappropriate. There are panic attacks. It’s honestly tough to watch.

    But then there’s … something. That thing that lives dormant in most of us a nostalgic memory. That thing is a connection. An impossible, long shot, snow in July-type connection. Then, for the viewer, there’s an almost selfish feeling of relief.

    We’re not comfortable with too much silence. When we have social anxiety we tend to flee. When the LOTS cast find that divine spark, that connection, they are unknowingly and mercifully letting us all off the hook from the hang ups we brought in the door with us. Watching people on the spectrum find their soul mate is like watching flowers grow through concrete.

    It can take a while. For our cast it’s taken a lifetime.

    While watching Love on the Spectrum, I realized I was feeling something that I have never felt before watching television. Victory. Sobbing while I cried tears of gratitude. Victory. No one but my new heroes could ever have walked me to that destination. And I am deeply humbled to have had the honor of watching them.

    You need to watch Love on the Spectrum.

    Jay Mohr is a writer, actor, stand-up comedian and host of the podcast series Mohr Stories. A recent episode, which can be seen here, found Mohr sitting down with Love on the Spectrum star Connor Tomlinson.

  • Starting 5: Sunday’s thrills cap epic opening to 2026 Playoffs

    Wemby makes history in postseason debut, Magic steal Game 1 in Detroit and more from Sunday’s slate.

    What does the opening weekend of Playoff basketball look like?

    What does the Spurs’ first postseason win in seven years look like?

    What does Victor Wembanyama’s record-setting Playoff debut look like?

    This.

    Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell

    5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

    Opening Fireworks: Everything from the Playoffs’ opening weekend in two minutes

    Alien Arrival: Wemby passes Duncan in historic postseason debut as Spurs beat Blazers

    Opening Magic: No. 8 Orlando outmuscles No. 1 Detroit to take a 1-0 series lead

    Sunday Statements: Thunder and Celtics’ stars shine bright in big Game 1 wins

    Monday On NBC & Peacock: Why tonight’s three Game 2s are pivotal, and what’s next this week

    BUT FIRST … ⏰

    Scores & Schedule

    Three Game 2s tip off tonight across NBC and Peacock, with all three road teams looking to even the series, while Cleveland, New York and Denver look to go up 2-0.

    Catch Up Quick: From the bracket, to schedules, to the latest news from every single series, tap here for the NBA Playoffs hub.

    Award Finalists: The finalists for seven regular-season awards, including the Kia NBA MVP, were unveiled yesterday. See Section 1 for more ⬇️

    NBA Playoff bracket

    1. WHAT’S TRENDING: PLAYOFFS OPENING WEEKEND IN TWO MINUTES

    Frost Bank Center

    Playoff basketball hits different.

    From the atmosphere to the stakes to the stars — to how every moment goes up a level — there’s nothing like postseason hoops.

    And as the First Round tipped off this weekend with eight Game 1s, we got eight reminders of exactly that:

    • Victor Wembanyama breaking records – and the Jackals shattering decibels – in the Spurs’ first Playoff win in seven years
    • Orlando pulling off magic against the top-seeded Pistons
    • The past two champs, OKC and Boston, opening with eye-popping wins
    • A 41-year-old LeBron James igniting the Lakers – with some timely help from Luke Kennard
    • Nikola Jokić & Jamal Murray doing what they do best
    • East beasts collecting big dubs behind their star tandems

    Weekend Rewind: Before we dive into Sunday’s highlights, let’s relive opening weekend in two minutes, starting with last night’s spectacle in San Antonio.

    • Wemby Wows: With Frost Bank Center shaking, Wemby announced his Playoff arrival with 35 points – the most by any Spurs player in a postseason debut – to lift San Antonio over Portland
    • Magic Stun Pistons: Hours earlier, Orlando beat top-seeded Detroit in a win that hasn’t been matched in the play-by-play era
    • OKC & Boston Roll: The Thunder and Celtics each took a 1-0 series lead with 30+ point wins, powered by their championship cores

    Nikola Jokić, LeBron James, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns

    Saturday Shine: The opening day of the Playoffs saw four duos electrify their respective home buildings, resulting in four wins by the higher seeds:

    LeBron & Luke Lead Lake Show: With Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) out, LeBron James (19 pts, 8 reb, 13 ast) and Luke Kennard (27 pts) lifted the Lakers past the Rockets.

    Denver Duo Takes Over: After going down 12 in the 1st half, Denver stormed back behind another Nikola Jokić triple-double (25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) and 30 points from Jamal Murray, as the Nuggets surged past the rival Wolves.

    Brunson & KAT Boost Knicks: New York outlasted Atlanta at a raucous MSG, as Jalen Brunson (28 pts, 7 ast) and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 pts, 8 reb) combined for 53.

    Spida & Beard Ball Out: The Cavs’ star duo of Donovan Mitchell (32 pts) and James Harden (22 pts, 10 ast) also shined, propelling Cleveland to a 126-113 win over Toronto.

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, Victor Wembanyama

    Award Finalists: The finalists for seven awards honoring top performers from the regular season were announced Sunday, led by Kia MVP candidates Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama. Find the full list here.

    • Announcement Schedule: Award Week begins tonight with the Kia Defensive Player of the Year announced at 6 ET on Peacock ahead of Raptors-Cavs (7 ET)

    2. WEMBY DAZZLES IN PLAYOFF DEBUT AS SPURS BEAT BLAZERS

    Victor Wembanyama

    It was the Spurs’ first postseason home game since April 25, 2019.

    It was the first Playoff game of Victor Wembanyama’s NBA career.

    It was well worth the wait.

    Spurs 111, Blazers 98: In an otherworldly atmosphere, Wemby’s alien arsenal was on full display as he scored 21 in the 1st half en route to 35 points, 5 3s and 2 blocks, propelling San Antonio past Deni Avdija (24 pts, 9 reb, 5 ast) and Portland. | Recap

    • Wemby 🤝 Timmy: With Tim Duncan in the building, Wemby’s 35 points set a Spurs record for a postseason debut, topping Duncan’s 32 from 1998
    • All-Time Arrival: Wembanyama also became the first player ever to post 35+ points and 5+ 3s in a Playoff debut
    • “It’s not that much,” said Wemby of his 35 points. “So it really reflects the spirit of the team.”

    Victor Wembanyama

    That spirit was everywhere Sunday. The entire Spurs roster arrived at Frost Bank Center dressed in black suits. The crowd answered in bright color-coded shirts. And in the franchise’s first home Playoff game in 2,551 days, the whole building moved as one.

    • Supporting Stars: De’Aaron Fox (17 pts, 5 reb, 8 ast) and Stephon Castle (17 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast) stuffed the stat sheet, while Devin Vassell scored 15
    • Spark Plugs: Keldon Johnson nailed an electric 1st-quarter buzzer-beater, while Vassell jolted the crowd with a double-block, double-3 sequence amid a key 3rd-quarter swing
    • “Are You Kidding Me?!”: Wemby joined the party with a pair of early alley-oop jams, before splashing a ridiculous fallaway 3 that had Reggie Miller in disbelief
    • Early Eruption: He entered the break with the most 1st-half points by any player in a postseason debut since play-by-play data was first tracked in 1997-98
    • Final Roar: He finished the night with a standing ovation – then joined the applause as the Spurs’ postgame drumbeat rolled on
    • “The first time I stepped on the court, even for warmups, I felt the atmosphere was different,” said Wemby. “It’s probably the most excited I’ve seen this arena.”
    • Game 2: Tuesday, 8 ET on NBC & Peacock

    Spurs

    3. SUNDAY MAGIC: NO. 8 ORLANDO OUTMUSCLES NO. 1 DETROIT

    Magic

    On Friday, the Magic were staring at elimination, needing a win over the surging Hornets in the SoFi Play-In Tournament finale to keep their season alive.

    Now, they hold a 1-0 First Round series lead over the East’s top seed.

    Magic 112, Pistons 101: Orlando kept rolling on Sunday, overcoming a huge night from Cade Cunningham (39 pts, 5 reb, 4 ast) with a complete team effort as they staved off a late push to take Game 1 in Detroit. | Recap

    • Banchero Buckets: Paolo Banchero (23 pts, 9 reb) scored 17 in the 1st half as Orlando never trailed, entering the break up 55-51
    • 3rd-Quarter Swings: After the lead grew to 11, Cunningham sparked a 13-2 run to tie the game midway through the 3rd, but Orlando regained control with a 14-5 burst before the 4th
    • Then, Franz: As Detroit looked to make another push, Franz Wagner (19 pts, 4 ast) took over, dropping 11 points and 4 assists in the 4th, capped by three straight dimes in the final 2:13 to seal it

    Franz Wagner

    “There’s a physicality to this game that’s going to be real. There’s going to be a lot of aggression. There’s going to be a lot of physicality. It’s going to be a dogfight.”

    Those were the words of Magic coach Jamahl Mosley heading into Game 1 against Detroit.

    And when the fight arrived, Orlando answered the bell.

    • Owning The Inside: The Pistons posted an NBA-best 57.9 ppg in the paint in the regular season. On Sunday, Orlando outscored them inside 54-34
    • Board Battling: The Magic also owned the glass, outrebounding Detroit 45-39, with an 11-6 edge in offensive boards
    • Strong Finish: Detroit cut the lead to four in the 4th, but Orlando answered with a 16-9 closing run, with five of their next seven buckets coming at the rim – capped by Wendell Carter Jr.’s exclamation hammer
    • The Result: Orlando earned its first road Playoff win in six years – and became the first No. 8 seed in the play-by-play era to win a Playoff opener over a No. 1 seed without ever trailing
    • Game 2: Wednesday, 7 ET on ESPN

    4. SUNDAY STATEMENTS: THUNDER & CELTICS ROLL IN GAME 1 WINS

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    The defending champion Thunder closed the regular season as the West’s top seed (again) – and excellence everywhere you look:

    • A Kia MVP & Clutch POY Finalist: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
    • A Kia Defensive POY Finalist: Chet Holmgren
    • The NBA’s best record: 64-18
    • The NBA’s best point differential: +11.1

    On Sunday, to open their title defense, that all-around excellence was on full display.

    Thunder 119, Suns 84: The Thunder struck early and often, building a 15-point 1st-quarter lead that they never relinquished as SGA (25 pts, 7 ast), Holmgren (16 pts, 7 reb) and Jalen Williams (22 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast) powered OKC to a commanding Game 1 win. | Recap

    • Two-Way Chet: Holmgren scored all 16 points in the 1st half and added 2 steals and 2 blocks hours before being named a Kia DPOY finalist
    • Stops On Stops: SGA (2 blk) got in on the block party as OKC held Phoenix to 34.9% shooting while winning the turnover battle 17-6
    • “We don’t have a great defense if we don’t have our highest-minute player being as good as he is, and as impactful as he is,” said coach Mark Daigneault of Shai defensively. “But it’s one game. It’s the beginning of the series, not the end.”
    • Suns Spotlight: Devin Booker (23 pts, 6 reb) led Phoenix, which will look to even the series Wednesday on ESPN (9:30 ET)

    Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Bronw

    One C’s win, another Jays masterclass.

    Celtics 123, 76ers 91: Jaylen Brown (26 pts, 11-21 FG) and Jayson Tatum (25 pts, 11 reb, 7 ast) were in complete control – and so were the Celtics – as Boston jumped out to a 64-46 halftime lead and rolled to a 1-0 series lead over Philly. | Recap

    • Opening, Closing: Tatum dropped 21 in the 1st half, before Brown scored 16 in the 3rd quarter to slam the door
    • Historic Jays: It’s Tatum & Brown’s 50th Playoff game where they’ve each scored 20+ points, becoming the eighth duo in NBA history to reach the mark
    • Special C’s: The only other Celtics tandem to do it? Larry Bird & Kevin McHale
    • Boston Ball: Four more C’s scored in double figures, including Sam Hauser (12 pts, 7 reb, 4 3s), as Boston hit 16 treys, while holding Philly to 4-of-23 from deep
    • “That was Celtics basketball,” said Brown postgame. “Winning the fight – being the harder-playing team, and just guarding.”
    • Sixers Shine: Tyrese Maxey led Philly (21 pts, 8 reb), which will look to bounce back in Game 2 on Tuesday (7 ET, Peacock)

    5. WHAT’S NEXT: THREE GAME 2s TONIGHT ACROSS NBC & PEACOCK

    Anthony Edwards, Nikola Jokić

    Teams that go up 2-0 at home in a best-of-seven First Round series are 283-23 all-time. That’s the opportunity in front of Denver, New York and Cleveland tonight.

    All three higher seeds opened with Game 1 wins and now have an opportunity to take control before they hit the road for Games 3 & 4.

    Will they tighten their grip, or will the Wolves, Hawks and Raptors answer back and turn up the pressure?

    Wolves at Nuggets (NBC/Peacock, 10:30 ET): In the regular season series (won 3-1 by Denver), Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray averaged a combined 67.3 points, 19.8 rebounds and 18.6 assists against Minnesota.

    The duo continued to cook in Saturday’s Game 1, combining for 55/18/18 in a Nuggets win – the latest example of Denver’s elite two-man engine elevating in big spots.

    • Scorching In Sync: Of the 40 duos to log 1,500+ minutes this season, Jokić & Murray have the best OffRtg (127.8) by 7.7 points
    • Rolling In: That chemistry has fueled 13 straight Nuggets wins dating back to March 20, with Denver posting 129 ppg in that span
    • When It Matters Most: Saturday marked the 20th Playoff game where Jokić & Murray each scored 25+ pts – the most of any active NBA duo. In those games, Denver is 13-7
    • Ant Ignition: In his first game since April 10, Anthony Edwards posted a team-high 22 points and 7 dimes for the Wolves, but shot 7-of-19 from the field. Now, he’s eager to turn up in Game 2…
    • “My shot just didn’t fall,” said Edwards after Game 1. “They did their job, got the first game on their floor – we’re gonna do our job the next game.”

    Jalen Brunson, Jalen Johnson

    Hawks at Knicks (NBC/Peacock, 8 ET): Jalen Brunson set the tone in Game 1 with 19 1st-quarter points, before Karl-Anthony Towns finished the job, dropping 11 in the 4th to stamp a Knicks dub at MSG.

    Now, Atlanta will try to answer in a building where New York has been dominant all season.

    • Home Sweet Home: The Knicks went 30-10 at MSG this season while boasting a 120.8 OffRtg – the best home mark in the NBA
    • Garden Bloom: It starts with Brunson, who posted 27 ppg at MSG this year (compared to 24.7 on the road), while six other Knicks averaged 10+ ppg
    • ATL Engine: Atlanta will look to rebound behind Jalen Johnson, who now has his first career Playoff game under his belt and is ready for Game 2
    • “It was everything I anticipated, being in this environment and this atmosphere – especially it being New York,” said Johnson on his first taste of Playoff ball. “You have to play physical.”

    Scottie Barnes, James Harden

    Raptors at Cavaliers (Peacock, 7 ET): James Harden is now 20-7 as a Cav – and 1-0 in the Playoffs – after he and Donovan Mitchell dissected Toronto to take Game 1. But the Raptors have reason for optimism.

    • Cavs Cooking: In Saturday’s win, Mitchell (32 pts, 4 ast) and Harden (22 pts, 10 ast) were responsible for 90 of Cleveland’s 126 points
    • Strus Juice: Adding to the attack? Max Strus, who dropped 24 (8-10 FG) in just his 13th game this season after returning from foot surgery
    • Raps Recipe: The Raptors will look to cool Cleveland’s attack tonight to even the series – and they’ve done it before, going 3-0 vs. the Cavs in the regular season while holding them to 104.3 ppg

    What’s Next: Three more Game 2s tip off Tuesday across NBC & Peacock, followed by two more Wednesday on ESPN:

    • Tuesday (7 ET, Peacock): 76ers at Celtics (BOS leads 1-0)
    • Tuesday (8 ET, NBC): Blazers at Spurs (SAS lead 1-0)
    • Tuesday (10:30 ET, NBC): Rockets at Lakers (LAL lead 1-0)
    • Wednesday (7 ET, ESPN): Magic at Pistons (ORL leads 1-0)
    • Wednesday (9:30 ET, ESPN): Suns at Thunder (OKC leads 1-0)

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  • From Local Producer to Global Player: How Chile’s Fabula Scaled Across Borders

    From Local Producer to Global Player: How Chile’s Fabula Scaled Across Borders

    It was one of the most anticipated events of the 41st Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG) where Chile is the country guest of honor.

    On April 19, director Pablo Larraín and his producing partner brother Juan de Dios Larraín, founding partners behind Chile’s most successful production company, Fabula, sat down with Netflix’s Francisco Ramos, VP of Latin American Content, to discuss how their company has grown into the international player that it is now, with offices in Santiago, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Madrid and perhaps Bogota, Colombia, in the not so distant future.

    Throughout the conversation, they reflected on how Chilean and Latin American cinema has grown from a small, resource-limited industry into a globally visible creative force.

    Ramos asked a question in many people’s minds, how a country so remote and relatively small could have such a strong creative output. “We’ve got you here, Maite Alberdi, Sebastián Lelio —but beyond that, there are so many other filmmakers who’ve emerged over the past 30 years. And it’s really interesting to ask why. Why are there so many compelling voices coming out of Chile?

    He went on: “It makes you wonder about the kind of environment that fosters that level of talent. Because it’s not just directors—there are producers, cinematographers, designers, writers… all these roles branching out and feeding into each other, forming that ecosystem you need for an industry to really grow and thrive.”

    The question stumped them, but only to some extent. Pointing to Chile’s rich culture of painters, poets, writers and more recently, its growing cinematic sensibility, Juan de Dios said: “I do think the visual side – the graphic sensibility—plays a big role. Chile is almost like an island: on one side you’ve got the Andes, on the other the Pacific, and then the desert up north. It’s a pretty isolated place. Growing up there, any time you wanted to do something or go somewhere, it usually meant getting on a plane. We grew up in a much more remote environment, and I think that creates this urge to go out into the world, to be seen, to be validated abroad. That pushes you, it shapes you, gives you an extra drive.”

    “But honestly, that’s just a theory – I’m not even sure I fully believe it myself,” he added, drawing laughs from the audience.

    Pablo, whose body of work has expanded from local stories of resistance like “No” to his English-language trilogy of three iconic women, Diana Spencer, Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas, concurred: “I think it’s amazing that we can be so diverse while being such a small country, and at the same time so hard to define. I don’t know if there’s a clear explanation for it. We’re also very close to it – we’ve been immersed in this world for so many years and we’re part of it ourselves.”

    He cited Chile’s revered documentarian Raúl Ruiz, who described it as “a country that resists classification, where categories don’t quite stick.” “And within that, there’s also a lot of internal tension – we challenge each other, there’s a kind of constant self-scrutiny, a restlessness.”

    Juan de Dios Larraín also pointed that it was precisely the size of Chile’s market that has forced them and their peers to look outward in order to make their films.

    “Co-production isn’t just helpful—it’s essential to Chilean cinema. There’s really no other way to do it. You can’t finance a film purely through the Chilean market; the numbers just don’t add up. So from early on, going out and seeking funding became a fundamental part of the process – it’s built into the system”

    “In a way, that limitation forces growth. It pushes you to adapt, collaborate and think beyond your own borders from the very beginning,” he noted.

    Pablo Larraín added: “We’ve produced a lot of films – close to 50 – with different directors. And looking at both the most successful ones and the ones that didn’t quite work, I keep coming back to the same idea: the key is supporting the director.” Fabula has backed the likes of Lelio who won Chile’s first International Feature Oscar for his transgender drama “A Fantastic Woman” and Alberdi, twice nominated for her documentaries.

    Juan de Dios also pointed to another key factor that has contributed to the company’s growth, television, with advertising still a strong pillar of support.

    He said: “The first 10 or 15 years, we were a very independent production company, with a strong editorial identity, working with directors from all over and driven by very auteur-led ideas. Then we gradually shifted into something more collective – almost like treating filmmaking as a shared sport, if you will. At the same time, there was this push to access larger budgets, which led to our first production with Lelio.”

    “Around that same time, television also entered the picture as a major force. And that combination created a kind of perfect storm for us as a production company. It pushed us to evolve, to expand from being a relatively small outfit operating in just a couple of countries into something more structured – more “corporate,” for lack of a better word. If it weren’t for television, the company probably wouldn’t have grown the way it did. And in a way, the Oscar gave us a kind of legitimacy or identity that helped us take that next step at exactly the moment when the opportunity was there.”

    The Guadalajara Film Festival (FICG) runs over April 17-25.

  • Crypto funds draw $1.4B in third straight week of inflows, strongest since January

    Crypto funds draw $1.4B in third straight week of inflows, strongest since January

    Digital asset investment products pulled in $1.4 billion last week, their strongest weekly haul since January and the third consecutive week of positive flows, according to CoinShares’ new report.

    The result was driven by recovering risk sentiment tied to US-Iran ceasefire extension talks and Bitcoin’s mid-week move above $76,000, its highest level since February, the report notes.

    Total assets under management reached $155 billion, with weekly flows representing 0.91% of AUM, the highest weekly intensity recorded year-to-date.

    March CPI data, which came in at 3.3% year-on-year with a benign core reading of 2.6%, appeared to have little dampening effect on investor appetite.

    Bitcoin and Ethereum led inflows, as altcoins diverged

    Bitcoin drew $1.116 billion in inflows, lifting year-to-date totals to $3.1 billion, as its break above $76,000 marked a meaningful technical development following two months of range-bound trading.

    Short-Bitcoin products saw just $1.4 million in inflows, indicating limited but residual hedging demand.

    Ethereum attracted $328 million, its best weekly performance since January, bringing year-to-date flows to $197 million.

    XRP and Solana recorded outflows of $56 million and $2.3 million, respectively, even as Bitcoin and Ethereum surged.

    Regional flows show mixed signals

    The regional breakdown is uneven. The US dominated with $1.5 billion in inflows and Germany chipped in $28 million, but Switzerland saw $138 million in outflows, the largest Swiss exit since November.

    Market updates

    Bitcoin traded at $75,249 at press time, up about 6% over the past seven days, while Ethereum gained more than 5% over the same period to top $2,300, per CoinGecko. Total crypto market capitalization stood at $2.6 trillion.