Elon Musk becomes world's first trillionaire as SpaceX soars in Nasdaq debut
Elon Musk has become the world's first trillionaire after shares in his SpaceX rocket company surged on their stock market debut in New York. The company listed on the Nasdaq exchange on Friday in what was described as the biggest-ever stock market debut, briefly lifting Musk's paper wealth above $1tn. SpaceX closed the day with a valuation of $2.2tn, after trading opened above the offer price and climbed further during the session.The company said shares would be offered at $135 each, but trading opened at $150 and briefly reached $176.50 before ending the day at $160.95. The initial public offering... [Continue Reading]
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SpaceX blocks China and Hong Kong investors from landmark IPO
SpaceX has barred investors from mainland China and Hong Kong from taking part in its public offering, a rare country-level restriction in a major share sale. The move affects a wide range of potential buyers, including mutual funds, private equity firms, sovereign funds, family offices and high-net-worth individuals from the two jurisdictions. The company is going public on Friday, and the exclusion has drawn attention because of the scale of the offering and the sensitivity of the sectors involved.The restriction was reported to have taken effect quickly after first being disclosed last week. People in Hong Kong or mainland China... [Continue Reading]
Iran threatens SpaceX and Starlink-linked assets in West Asia
Iran's military has said it will consider Elon Musk's companies, including SpaceX's Starlink internet service, as potential targets in West Asia, according to Iranian state media. The warning was framed as part of Tehran's retaliation against renewed US attacks. A regional Starlink ground station was specifically mentioned as a possible target.The report said Iran was targeting "all interests related to economic holdings managed by Elon Musk in West Asia". It cited an "informed source" saying the Islamic Republic reserves the right to attack facilities linked to Musk-managed holdings in the region and in occupied territories. The warning appeared around the... [Continue Reading]
OpenAI confidentially files for US initial public offering
OpenAI has confidentially filed for a United States initial public offering, according to the supplied report, but has not disclosed the size or terms of the offering. The company also said a timeline has not yet been determined. The filing places the ChatGPT-maker among a growing group of artificial intelligence firms moving towards public markets as investor interest in the sector remains strong.The company said in a statement that it may remain private for some time because there are things it wants to do that are likely easier as a private company. The report says Reuters previously reported that OpenAI... [Continue Reading]
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Shipping through Strait of Hormuz goes dark amid regional conflict
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is continuing at a reduced and unsettled pace after weeks of regional strikes and a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. Vessels are still moving through the narrow waterway, but many are doing so with their marine tracking transponders switched off, a practice known as dark transit. The pattern has raised fresh concern over one of the world's most important energy chokepoints, where traffic has become dependent on negotiated passage and shifting military pressure.Marine traffic observers say more than 80 commercial ships have crossed the Strait of Hormuz and left the Persian... [Continue Reading]
Fear the Shia, Arm the Sunnis: The Uncomfortable Numbers Behind America’s War Narrative
“When fear is managed carefully enough, a nation can be taught to look away from the blood on the floor and stare instead at the shadow on the wall.” A friend of mine, whose name I will not reveal because he asked me not to, sat across from me over dinner and placed a question on the table that would not leave me alone. He was born into a Muslim Shia background, and for the angle of this article, that detail matters, not because I wish to reduce a man to a sect, but because sect has become one of... [Continue Reading]
Shadows of Fire: The Long Arc of Iran–United States Tensions
A Region on Edge: The Latest Escalation In recent months, tensions between Iran and the United States have intensified once again, fueled by disputes over regional security, nuclear development, maritime incidents in the Persian Gulf, and the broader strategic balance in the Middle East. Officials in Washington have expressed renewed concern over Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, while leaders in Tehran have accused the United States of economic warfare through sanctions and diplomatic isolation. The fragile equilibrium that followed earlier rounds of indirect negotiations appears increasingly strained, with both sides engaging in sharp rhetoric at the United Nations, reinforcing military postures... [Continue Reading]


