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Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic takes first tourists to space

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Richard Branson’s long-anticipated venture, Virgin Galactic, achieved a significant milestone as it carried its first group of tourists to the edge of space.

The event marked Branson’s inaugural customer flight after facing years of delays, heralding the beginning of Virgin Galactic’s offering of monthly space rides. This achievement places Virgin Galactic alongside Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX in the competitive space tourism industry.

The successful flight saw the rocket soaring into space with a select group of passengers, including a former British Olympian and a mother-daughter duo from the Caribbean. This monumental step forward signifies the company’s readiness to offer its commercial space travel services to the public.

Jon Goodwin, a remarkable 89-year-old athlete who competed in canoeing during the 1972 Olympics, was among the first ticket buyers back in 2005 when the ticket prices were a modest $200,000. The cost of a ticket has since surged to a staggering $450,000. Accompanying Goodwin on this historic journey were Keisha Schahaff, a 46-year-old health coach from Antigua, and her 18-year-old daughter, Anastatia Mayers, a student at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Amid the cheers of onlookers at Spaceport America in the New Mexico desert, Goodwin shared his excitement, proclaiming, “That was by far the most awesome thing I’ve ever done in my life.” The mother-daughter duo made a triumphant return, exchanging high-fives and fist pumps with the elated crowd.

Gender balance

Remarkably, the flight marked a significant achievement in gender balance, with women outnumbering men onboard, a rare occurrence in spaceflight history.

The spaceplane’s journey extended approximately 15 minutes, reaching a height of 55 miles. Although this marked Virgin Galactic’s seventh space journey since 2018, it was the company’s first voyage with a paying customer. Notably, Richard Branson himself joined the first full-size crew ride in 2021, demonstrating his commitment to the venture.

Branson’s innovative company had previously held a virtual lottery to select its first 50 customers, known as the Founding Astronauts. Given his age and Parkinson’s disease, Jon Goodwin was designated as the first passenger.

Following the successful flight, Richard Branson expressed his elation on Twitter, congratulating the commercial astronauts and warmly welcoming them to the exclusive space-travel “club.”

With about 800 individuals currently on Virgin Galactic’s waiting list, the demand for such experiences remains strong. The company’s achievement is a testament to the growing allure of space tourism and the technological advancements driving it.

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Rate cuts ahead? US stocks bounce as inflation cools

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Investor sentiment is improving as fresh data out of the US and Australia shifts expectations for central bank action.

Stronger-than-expected labour market figures in Australia have raised questions about whether the Reserve Bank will move ahead with a rate cut next week. While the RBA has signalled it is watching data closely, the resilience in employment may force a delay.

Meanwhile, in the US, softer inflation data has lifted hopes that the Federal Reserve could cut rates later this year. That news helped spark a sharp turnaround in US equities, with the so-called “sell America” trade now unwinding as buyers return to Wall Street.

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Trump’s $600B Middle East Deal: What It Means for Global Stability

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President Donald Trump’s four-day Middle East tour during his second term has sparked global attention, locking in a monumental $600 billion investment from Saudi Arabia. From AI to defence, space to energy—this economic pact is reshaping U.S. foreign policy.

In an unprecedented move, Trump also lifted long-standing U.S. sanctions on Syria after meeting its new president, raising eyebrows among traditional allies.

Ticker News anchor Veronica Dudo speaks with Erbil “Bill” Gunasti, former Turkish PM Press Officer and Republican strategist, to break down the implications for national security, global diplomacy, and the path to peace in Ukraine.

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Trump’s AI deals raise concerns over China ties

Trump’s AI deals in the Middle East spark division over national security risks and concerns over China ties.

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Trump’s AI deals in the Middle East spark division over national security risks and concerns over China ties.

In Short:
Trump’s AI deals with Saudi Arabia and the UAE are causing internal conflicts in his administration over US national security. Officials are concerned that American technology supplied to the Gulf could ultimately benefit China, leading to calls for enhanced legal protections.

President Donald Trump’s recent AI deals in Saudi Arabia and the UAE are causing internal conflicts within his administration.

Concerns are rising among officials, particularly China hawks, about the implications for US national security and economic interests.

Agreements include shipments of vast quantities of semiconductors from Nvidia and AMD to the Gulf states, prompting fears that American technology could ultimately benefit China, given the region’s ties with Beijing.

While the accords include clauses to limit Chinese access to the chips, some officials argue that further legal protections are necessary.

Critics, including Vice President JD Vance, have suggested that maintaining US dominance in AI is crucial, and shipping chips abroad might undermine that goal.

Supporters of the deals, including AI Adviser David Sacks, argue the need for American technology in the Gulf to deter reliance on Chinese alternatives.

Despite this, internal discussions are underway to potentially slow down or reassess the agreements due to ongoing national security concerns.

Conversations have also included proposals for a significant chip manufacturing facility in the UAE, which many officials deem risky due to China’s influence.

Additionally, worries persist about G42, an AI firm in Abu Dhabi, which has historical ties to Huawei.

The agreements with Gulf countries promise to enhance their technological capabilities while necessitating careful oversight to address US security priorities.

 

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