Iran Warns of Potential Strikes on Elon Musk’s Middle East Assets
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated as Iranian state-linked media warned that Elon Musk’s regional infrastructure—including Starlink ground stations—could be considered military targets. While Starlink is a commercial network, its critical role in modern communications and conflict zones has transformed it into a strategic asset.
This reported threat highlights the growing risks for private tech companies operating in high-stakes geopolitical theaters as they become central to global security.
BREAKING: The Trump administration will impose tariffs of up to 12.5% starting Friday on goods from 60 U.S. trading partners accused of failing to crack down on forced labor, it announced Thursday.
Most of the trading partners will face 12.5% tariffs, including Vietnam and China, but a lower 10% rate will apply to 17 countries that have some prohibitions on forced labor, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico.
Five other trading partners — including the European Union — will face some additional levy to get their total most-favored-nation tariff rate to either 10% or 12.5%.
A senior administration official described the measure as "the most sweeping international labor rights action the United States has ever taken, that any country has ever taken."
The official told reporters the Trump administration views forced labor as a problem not only because of human rights concerns, but also because countries that don't enforce bans on forced labor have an "unfair advantage" over the United States, which does enforce such bans.
The new tariffs will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, which is when a separate set of 10% levies on most imports is scheduled to expire.
BREAKING: Tesla (TSLA) shares plunged 14.52% on Thursday, marking their worst single-day decline since March 10, 2025. As a result, Elon Musk’s net worth fell by more than $19 billion.
However, a 2.59% gain in SpaceX offset some of those losses, reducing his net worth decline to about $6.2 billion for the day. Musk’s net worth now stands at $744 billion, according to Forbes estimates.
The selloff followed the automaker’s disappointing earnings report, which missed earnings estimates despite beating revenue expectations.
While Tesla posted revenue of $28.2 billion (beating Wall Street consensus estimates of $27.2 billion), its bottom-line profitability fell significantly short.
Earnings Per Share (EPS) came in at $0.33 per share, missing the expected $0.55 per share by a wide margin. Rising operational costs, automotive margin pressure, and demand challenges weighed heavily on overall profits.
During the earnings call, Tesla CFO Vaibhav Taneja reiterated that capital expenditure is projected to hit $25 billion this year, with spending continuing to ramp up in future quarters.
That brought some criticism from Wall Street. Morgan Stanley analysts said in a note that while Tesla’s spending is a “necessary investment,” the company will need to present “tangible” milestones for its robotaxi and Optimus programs.
What you think about Tesla’s 12-month price target.
🚨 OIL BREAKS ABOVE $100 — GLOBAL MARKETS ENTER A HIGH-RISK ZONE!
Crude oil has climbed above $100 per barrel, a milestone that could reshape the outlook for inflation, interest rates, and financial markets worldwide. Rising energy costs often ripple through the global economy, increasing uncertainty for both traditional and digital assets.
🌍 Why It Matters
🔥 Higher oil prices can fuel global inflation. 🏦 Central banks may delay interest-rate cuts. 📉 Stocks and other risk assets could face renewed selling pressure. ⚡ Market volatility may increase as investors react to macroeconomic uncertainty.
₿ Crypto Outlook
Bitcoin and major altcoins could experience higher short-term volatility as traders monitor inflation data, Federal Reserve policy, and geopolitical developments.