News

Did Elon Musk “cosy up” to Donald Trump?

Published

2 years ago

August 17, 2023

ticker NEWS

A federal judge has brought attention to the possibility of Elon Musk’s involvement in trying to establish a rapport with former President Donald Trump during a criminal probe.

The revelation emerged from a court transcript released on Wednesday.

During a hearing on February 7, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell probed Twitter’s legal team about the delay in providing data related to Trump’s Twitter account to special counsel Jack Smith, who held a search warrant for the ex-president’s account.

At the time of the hearing, Twitter, now known as X, was resisting compliance with the warrant, citing legal arguments and its intention to notify Trump about the investigation.

Suspended account

Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, acquired Twitter in late 2022 and reinstated Trump’s account, which had been suspended following the January 2021 Capitol riot.

Concerned about the delay in compliance, Judge Howell commented, “Twitter has had quite some time to comply with the warrant and have everything prepared to turn over, so I am a little bit concerned about where we are,” as per the transcript.

Subsequently, Twitter provided the necessary data related to Trump’s Twitter account to Smith’s team on February 9. The company was then fined $350,000 as part of a contempt sanction.

91 charges

Former President Trump is currently facing 91 felony charges across four criminal cases related to his efforts to overturn his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.

During the February hearing, Judge Howell engaged in a detailed exchange with Twitter’s legal team, questioning their understanding of the warrant’s scope and the nature of the information sought by the government.

Addressing the possibility of Musk’s involvement, Judge Howell inquired, “Is it because the CEO wants to cozy up with the former president, and that’s why you are here?”

Search material

The conversation between the judge and the defense team revolved around the search for material and the interpretation of rights related to the First Amendment and executive privilege. Twitter claimed that these rights could limit its ability to provide materials to the government.

In response to Judge Howell’s query about Twitter’s motivations, George Varghese, Twitter’s lawyer, stated, “Twitter has no interest other than litigating its constitutional rights, your honor.”

News

Iran at a crossroads as White House weighs nuclear talks and military action

White House considers Iranian nuclear talks proposal amid rising tensions, balancing military options with diplomacy.

Published

16 minutes ago

January 13, 2026

Harvey Vargas

White House considers Iranian nuclear talks proposal amid rising tensions, balancing military options with diplomacy.

The White House is considering an Iranian proposal to restart nuclear talks, opening the door to a possible diplomatic breakthrough after months of rising tension. The move signals that negotiations may still be on the table, even as uncertainty dominates Washington’s next steps.

President Trump has indicated talks could be on the horizon, but he is also openly weighing strong military options. That dual-track approach highlights the high stakes of the moment and the pressure on US leadership to balance deterrence with dialogue.

Trump is expected to meet with senior aides to discuss strategy and decide the best course of action on Iran, as global markets and allies closely watch every signal coming from the administration.

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#Iran #WhiteHouse #USPolitics #NuclearTalks #Trump #Geopolitics #GlobalTensions #TickerNews

News

Sendle shuts down, small businesses left scrambling

Sendle’s sudden closure leaves small businesses reeling as they scramble for shipping solutions

Published

17 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Ahron Young

Sendle’s sudden closure leaves small businesses reeling as they scramble for shipping solutions

In Short:
– Sendle has unexpectedly ceased operations, leaving small businesses without courier services and cancelled pickups.
– Customers are frustrated and searching for alternatives, while competitor firms are reaching out to fill the gap.

Aussie courier service Sendle has ceased operations unexpectedly, affecting many small businesses that relied on its services. Announced via email on January 11, the company warned customers that existing parcels would be delivered at the “discretion of the delivery partner.”

Additionally, all scheduled pickups from January 12 were cancelled.

Customers have been left confused and frustrated, lacking guidance on how to fulfill orders.

Sendle expressed regret for the disruption but did not provide a detailed explanation for the closure. A banner on their website confirmed the halt in services, with social media accounts disabled and customer inquiries no longer being monitored.

The shutdown comes as Sendle had recently merged with US logistics firms to create FAST Group, but that merger has now reportedly unraveled due to financial issues.

Small business owners, many of whom had turned to Sendle for better pricing compared to competitors like Australia Post, are now scrambling to find alternative delivery options.

Unexpected Closure

Many business owners shared their experiences on social media, highlighting the immediate need to find new courier services. One owner reported significant losses and mentioned having to repackage orders that were scheduled for shipment.

The collapse of Sendle has raised concerns about job losses, though the company has not disclosed the number of affected employees.

Competitors have begun reaching out to small businesses in response to the demand created by Sendle’s sudden exit from the market.

Aramex Australia says it “is aware that Sendle has halted all bookings for parcel pick-ups and deliveries in Australia with immediate effect. Aramex recognises that this development may create uncertainty for businesses that rely on Sendle to ship their goods.”

“While Aramex cannot comment on the specific circumstances surrounding Sendle’s operations, we are ready to support e-comm and B2B businesses that are seeking an alternative courier partner moving forward. Aramex has the infrastructure, global network, national coverage and local franchise expertise in place to assist customers who need ongoing delivery services without disruption. Our priority is providing certainty, reliability and continuity of service for Australian businesses.”

“Sendle is a tech platform that has enabled business customers to book courier services. Aramex has a long history of delivering for Sendle customers. Aramex operations continue as normal, providing reliable courier services to our customers.”

News

UK, Canada and Australia consider banning Elon Musk’s X over AI risks

UK, Canada, Australia discuss banning Elon Musk’s X over AI tool Grok’s potential for misuse; regulatory action may follow.

Published

23 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Harvey Vargas

UK, Canada, Australia discuss banning Elon Musk’s X over AI tool Grok’s potential for misuse; regulatory action may follow.

Downing Street has opened talks with Canada and Australia about a possible ban on Elon Musk’s social media platform, X. Concerns are growing over the platform’s AI tool, Grok, which could be misused to generate explicit images.

The scrutiny comes as government officials, including Sir Keir Starmer, voice serious worries about the platform’s impact and the potential for harm. Officials believe coordinated international action could send a clear message to Musk about the urgency of addressing these risks.

Ofcom is expected to release recommendations soon, potentially paving the way for regulatory action. How Musk responds could determine whether X faces restrictions in multiple countries.

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