Earnings Call Insights: Arq, Inc. (ARQ) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Robert Rasmus announced a significant strategic shift, stating the company will pause its granular activated carbon (GAC) production project to "conduct a comprehensive engineering and production process optimization review." He clarified, "There will be no GAC production in 2026," with the review aiming to determine a path forwar...
Earnings Call Insights: Arq, Inc. (ARQ) Q4 2025 Management View CEO Robert Rasmus announced a significant strategic shift, stating the company will pause its granular activated carbon (GAC) production project to "conduct a comprehensive engineering and production process optimization review." He clarified, "There will be no GAC production in 2026," with the review aiming to determine a path forward for resuming material GAC output. Rasmus attributed the pause to original design flaws, unresolved technical challenges, and recent testing that revealed the current off-gas system cannot support scaling to target production levels. Rasmus highlighted, "We are also taking a $45 million write-down on our Corbin assets this quarter. This is an accounting measure that reflects our decision to idle Corbin operations given our decision to switch our GAC feedstock to purchase bituminous coal. The write-down is a noncash charge." The CEO stressed the ongoing strength of the PAC business, reporting "Full year revenues reached approximately $120 million, up 10% year-over-year, while reported adjusted EBITDA was $13 million, representing a 26% improvement over 2024." Multiple management changes were announced: Eric Robinson was appointed Senior Vice President of Operations, replacing the COO role, and Anthony Nathan was named VP Finance. Rasmus explained, "We've appointed Eric Robinson as Senior Vice President of Operations...Eric's expertise specifically addresses the types of plant ramp-up challenges we've encountered." Chief Accounting Officer Stacia Hansen stated, "Revenue grew 10% year-over-year for the second year running to approximately $120 million. This was driven primarily by solid improvements in our average selling price and volumes. Gross margin for the year was 27.9%, representing a negative impact of GAC ramp-up costs." Outlook Management issued 2026 financial guidance for the first time, projecting revenue in the range of $120 million to $125 million and adjusted E...
"The fact that [Princess Catherine] was pregnant with their first child would have been big news and St James's Palace only confirmed it the following Monday because she had to be admitted to hospital. I decided to keep it to myself.
"The fact that [Princess Catherine] was pregnant with their first child would have been big news and St James's Palace only confirmed it the following Monday because she had to be admitted to hospital. I decided to keep it to myself.
is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years. Thirty years ago, Nintendo struck gold with the release of the original Pokémon games. Soon, kids across the world were introduced to dozens of magical creatures that they could befriend and learn more about using sophisticated electroni...
is a reporter focusing on film, TV, and pop culture. Before The Verge, he wrote about comic books, labor, race, and more at io9 and Gizmodo for almost five years. Thirty years ago, Nintendo struck gold with the release of the original Pokémon games. Soon, kids across the world were introduced to dozens of magical creatures that they could befriend and learn more about using sophisticated electronic encyclopedias known as Pokédexes. The first Pokédexes were reflections of how the Pokémon world was shaped by advanced technology. And with each subsequent generation, Pokédexes evolved; by 2019 they stopped being dedicated devices and became applications on phones powered by disembodied spirits. Rotom Phones could do more things than their predecessors, but many players have continued to think of the handhelds as Pokédexes because that’s their primary function. And that nostalgia is part of what led to Nintendo releasing its latest (fictional) pocket-sized smart device. Rather than debuting a new generation of Rotom Phone, Pokopia introduces an updated version of the original ’Dex that has been tricked out with a bevy of thoughtful updates. The new clamshell might look like an antique when you first get it into your hands, but when you start using it, you can see that Nintendo and its collaborators — The Pokémon Company, Game Freak, and Omega Force — have engineered this device with the present day in mind. Unlike the past few Rotom Phones, which took cues from modern smartphones, the new Pokédex goes back to the basics with a focus on identifying wild monsters and explaining interesting things about them. Aesthetically, the device is very much a throwback to the Kanto days with its small screens, durable hinge, and array of physical buttons. But once you power this Pokédex on and begin tinkering with its applications, it becomes clear how much more full-featured it is compared to the original. One of the bigger changes here is the addition of new front- and back-facing ...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Yann LeCun, the former top AI scientist at Meta Platforms (META, Financials), has secured $1.03 billion for his new AI business, Advanced Machine Intelligence. He is working on AI systems that can reason and plan in complicated settings. The investment round, which was co-led by investors including Cathay Innovation, Greycroft, Hiro Capital, HV Capital, an...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Yann LeCun, the former top AI scientist at Meta Platforms (META, Financials), has secured $1.03 billion for his new AI business, Advanced Machine Intelligence. He is working on AI systems that can reason and plan in complicated settings. The investment round, which was co-led by investors including Cathay Innovation, Greycroft, Hiro Capital, HV Capital, and Bezos Expeditions, puts the company's valuation at around $3.5 billion before the fresh money comes in. LeCun believes that today's big language models aren't very good at reasoning and understanding the actual world, therefore he started the company. Instead, Advanced Machine Intelligence is working on systems based on "world models," which are meant to help AI understand its surroundings better and make judgments across several phases. LeCun joined Meta in 2013 to start Facebook AI Research, which is now known as FAIR. He was one of the company's most important AI executives until he left at the end of 2025. The startup will first focus on business clients who run complicated systems, such manufacturers, aerospace corporations, automakers, and pharmaceutical businesses. As time goes on, the technology might be used in consumer products like smart gadgets and robots.
Available for over a year Today, President Trump has told reporters Iran war will be over “very soon”, but not this week. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says this will be the “most intense” day of US strikes on Iran so far. So how close is the war to ending? Alex and James are joined by Caitríona Perry, Chief Anchor of BBC News in Washington, to try to decode what Trump might mean. M...
Available for over a year Today, President Trump has told reporters Iran war will be over “very soon”, but not this week. Meanwhile, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says this will be the “most intense” day of US strikes on Iran so far. So how close is the war to ending? Alex and James are joined by Caitríona Perry, Chief Anchor of BBC News in Washington, to try to decode what Trump might mean. Meanwhile, Trump has also threatened Iran with "death, fire, and fury" if it continues to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries around a fifth of global oil supplies. Michelle Wiese Bockmann, senior maritime intelligence analyst at Windward, joins Alex and James to explain why the Strait is so vital. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://bbc.in/newscastdiscord Get in touch with Newscast by emailing newscast@bbc.co.uk or send us a WhatsApp on +44 0330 123 9480. New episodes released every day. If you're in the UK, for more News and Current Affairs podcasts from the BBC, listen on BBC Sounds: https://bbc.in/4guXgXd Newscast brings you daily analysis of the latest political news stories from the BBC. The presenter was James Cook and Alex Forsyth. It was made by Jack Maclaren with Anna Harris and Harry Craig. The social producer was Sophie Millward. The technical producer was Philip Bull. The assistant editor is Chris Gray. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham. Programme Website
HABesen The U.S. Department of Justice released a department-wide corporate enforcement policy (CEP) for criminal matters that's meant to promote uniformity, predictability, and fairness in how it pursues white-collar cases, it said on Tuesday. The policy " creates incentives for companies to come forward and do the right thing when misconduct occurs so that we may hold accountable the individual ...
HABesen The U.S. Department of Justice released a department-wide corporate enforcement policy (CEP) for criminal matters that's meant to promote uniformity, predictability, and fairness in how it pursues white-collar cases, it said on Tuesday. The policy " creates incentives for companies to come forward and do the right thing when misconduct occurs so that we may hold accountable the individual wrongdoers," said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. The DOJ says that well-intentioned businesses will be rewarded when they self-disclose wrongdoing, cooperate with the Justice Department's investigations, and remediate the misconduct. "But for those that do not, make no mistake — we will not hesitate to seek appropriate resolutions against companies and individuals alike that perpetrate white-collar offenses that harm American interests," Blanche said. Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said the division has long promoted disclosure, cooperation, and remediation, but the new policy applies them uniformly across the DOJ. For companies that do self-report, cooperate, and remediate, absent certain limited aggravating circumstances, the DOJ will decline to prosecute the company, it added. Dear readers: We recognize that politics often intersects with the financial news of the day, so we invite you to click here to join the separate political discussion. More on the US Government The Iran War Is Far From Over Anthropic fires back at Pentagon with lawsuits over 'supply chain risk' designation: report Trump says he won't sign any bills until Senate passes SAVE America Act White House says U.S. has enough munitions for Iran war, but pushing for more
zhengzaishuru/iStock via Getty Images The thesis around Devon Energy Corporation ( DVN ) has played out remarkably over the last few months. The domestic energy producer was down in the dumps without a lot of positives, yet the stock has jumped as oil prices unexpectedly soared due to conflicts in Venezuela and Iran. My investment thesis is Bullish on the stock due to the ongoing cheap valuation, ...
zhengzaishuru/iStock via Getty Images The thesis around Devon Energy Corporation ( DVN ) has played out remarkably over the last few months. The domestic energy producer was down in the dumps without a lot of positives, yet the stock has jumped as oil prices unexpectedly soared due to conflicts in Venezuela and Iran. My investment thesis is Bullish on the stock due to the ongoing cheap valuation, though volatile energy prices could impact Devon. Source: Finviz Coterra Deal About a month ago, Devon Energy announced a near merger of equals with Coterra Energy ( CTRA ). The merger establishes Devon as a leader in the Delaware Basin and sets the companies up with large capital returns boosted by the $1 billion in cost synergies. Coterra Energy shareholders will receive 0.70 shares of Devon Energy common stock for each share owned. Devon will own ~54% of the new company, with the headquarters moving to Houston from Oklahoma City. The big benefit is the $1 billion in pre-tax synergies, along with integration of technology platforms expected to materially enhance capital efficiency. Importantly, management has committed to a fixed quarterly dividend of $0.315 per share and a new $5 billion share buyback on a stock with a combined market value around $50 billion. The company forecasts pro forma 2025 production of 1.6 million barrels of oil equivalent (Boe) per day. The new Devon Energy will obtain over 50% of production from the Delaware Basin with pro forma Q3'25 production of 863,000 Boe in the basin. The merger is expected to close in Q2'26 after obtaining regulatory approvals. Oil Surge Devon Energy rallied the last couple of months as oil prices have risen. The U.S. conflicts in energy-producing countries like Venezuela and Iran contributed to oil trading above $120 in overnight trading over the weekend. The stock jumped to $45 in February, but Devon Energy was a nearly $80 stock back in 2022 when oil surged with Russia invading Ukraine. When oil prices hit $90/bbl bac...
IPX Power, a carve-out of Intersect, is a large-scale clean energy producer with assets across California and Texas AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenbelt Capital Partners ("Greenbelt") today announced it has completed the sale of Intersect Power to Google for $4.75 billion plus the assumption of debt, representing a landmark transaction in the evolution of one of the...
IPX Power, a carve-out of Intersect, is a large-scale clean energy producer with assets across California and Texas AUSTIN, Texas and NEW YORK, March 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenbelt Capital Partners ("Greenbelt") today announced it has completed the sale of Intersect Power to Google for $4.75 billion plus the assumption of debt, representing a landmark transaction in the evolution of one of the nation's leading clean energy platforms. Concurrent with the closing, IPX Power ("IPX" or "the Company") has launched as an independent power producer carved out of certain Intersect assets and backed by Greenbelt Capital Partners alongside TPG Rise Climate and Climate Adaptive Infrastructure. IPX is led by a seasoned management team and begins operations with a substantial portfolio of clean energy assets across California and Texas, including approximately 4.4 GW of solar PV and 8.8 GWh of battery storage in construction or operation, as well as a multi-gigawatt development pipeline. The Company will continue to develop, own, and operate utility-scale clean energy projects serving utilities, community choice aggregators, corporate buyers, and other energy customers. "Today marks an important milestone for Intersect, IPX, and the broader clean energy ecosystem. We are extremely proud of the leading role Greenbelt has played in helping build and scale the Intersect platform since its inception in 2020," said Glenn Jacobson, Managing Partner of Greenbelt Capital Partners. "The successful closing with Google underscores the strength and strategic value of the Intersect franchise and the dynamic leadership of its CEO, Sheldon Kimber. As a standalone company, IPX can focus on scaling its operating fleet and development pipeline as a well-capitalized independent power producer with a premier portfolio of solar and storage assets. We look forward to continuing to support IPX as it delivers reliable, affordable clean power at scale." Sheldon Kimber, Founder and CEO of Intersect P...
There was a definite tremor in the voice of Rich Ricci, belying the image of the hard-nosed former banker, after his grey mare, Lossiemouth, had galloped to an authoritative success in the Champion Hurdle here on Tuesday. “It’s a privilege to have a horse like this,” Ricci said. “This game continues to excite me, to entice me and to make me spend stupid money.” The accountant in Ricci had probably...
There was a definite tremor in the voice of Rich Ricci, belying the image of the hard-nosed former banker, after his grey mare, Lossiemouth, had galloped to an authoritative success in the Champion Hurdle here on Tuesday. “It’s a privilege to have a horse like this,” Ricci said. “This game continues to excite me, to entice me and to make me spend stupid money.” The accountant in Ricci had probably been telling him to stick to a tried-and-trusted path at the festival as he and Willie Mullins, Lossiemouth’s trainer, were deciding last week whether to attempt a third straight win in the Mares’ Hurdle on Thursday, or roll the dice in the main event two days earlier. The gambler prevailed, however, putting a hugely popular seal on the festival’s opening day as Lossiemouth, the 7-5 favourite came home six and a half lengths clear of Brighterdaysahead (7-2), with The New Lion, at 3-1, another half-length away in third. There had already been one bloodcurdling roar earlier in the afternoon, rolling down from the stands as Old Park Star, the 15-8 favourite, surged into the lead halfway up the hill in the opening Supreme Novice Hurdle. The acclaim for Lossiemouth was louder still, as doubles were landed and the favourite obliged in the feature event at the biggest betting meeting of the year. This was the 18th run of Lossiemouth’s career, her 14th win, and also her fourth win at the festival, a winning streak here that began in the Triumph Hurdle in 2023. It followed a slightly limp defeat behind Brighterdaysahead in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown last month, but back at the course she adores, with cheekpieces applied and on much better ground, there was simply no stopping her. View image in fullscreen Lossiemouth gallops clear to win the Champion Hurdle on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian “She has that mare’s pedigree which gives her that bit of speed and the cheekpieces, I think, just made a huge difference,” Mullins said. ...
May NY world sugar #11 (SBK26) is down -0.21 (-1.44%), and May London ICE white sugar #5 (SWK26) is down -2.40 (-0.57%). Sugar prices are trading lower due to today's -11% plunge in crude oil prices. The sell-off in crude oil prices undercuts ethanol prices, encouraging the world's sugar mills to divert cane crushing away from ethanol production and towards sugar, thereby boosting sugar supplies. ...
May NY world sugar #11 (SBK26) is down -0.21 (-1.44%), and May London ICE white sugar #5 (SWK26) is down -2.40 (-0.57%). Sugar prices are trading lower due to today's -11% plunge in crude oil prices. The sell-off in crude oil prices undercuts ethanol prices, encouraging the world's sugar mills to divert cane crushing away from ethanol production and towards sugar, thereby boosting sugar supplies. Don’t Miss a Day: Crude oil prices plunged today, reversing part of the upward spike over the past 1-½ weeks sparked by the Iran war. Oil prices fell today after President Trump said the war will be over "very soon" and as G-7 countries are planning the coordinated release of oil stockpiles if needed. On February 12, sugar prices plunged to 5.25-year nearest-futures lows on concern that a global sugar surplus will persist. On February 11, analysts from sugar trader Czarnikow said they expect a global sugar surplus of 3.4 MMT in the 2026/27 crop year, following an 8.3 MMT surplus in 2025/26. Also, Green Pool Commodity Specialists said on January 29 that they expect a 2.74 MMT global sugar surplus for 2025/26 and a 156,000 MT surplus for 2026/27. Meanwhile, StoneX said February 13 that it expects a global sugar surplus of 2.9 MMT in 2025/26. The International Sugar Organization (ISO) on February 27 forecasted a +1.22 MMT (million metric ton) sugar surplus in 2025-26, following a -3.46 MMT deficit in 2024-25. ISO said the surplus is being driven by increased sugar production in India, Thailand, and Pakistan. ISO is forecasting a +3.0% y/y rise in global sugar production to 181.3 million MMT in 2025-26. Signs of lower sugar output in Brazil are supportive of sugar prices, after Unica on February 18 reported that sugar production in Brazil's Center-South in the second half of January fell by -36% y/y to only 5,000 MT. However, cumulative 2025-26 Center-South sugar output through January rose +0.9% y/y to 40.24 MMT. The Indian Sugar and Bio-energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA)...
Arrow Electronics ARW shares have surged 30.1% in a year, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s appreciation of 36.1%. The company’s expanding portfolio is expected to boost prospects. On March 4, 2026, Arrow Electronics and Infineon Technologies introduced a new 240W USB-C power reference design, called REF_ARIF240GaN, for battery-powered motor control applications that requi...
Arrow Electronics ARW shares have surged 30.1% in a year, underperforming the Zacks Computer and Technology sector’s appreciation of 36.1%. The company’s expanding portfolio is expected to boost prospects. On March 4, 2026, Arrow Electronics and Infineon Technologies introduced a new 240W USB-C power reference design, called REF_ARIF240GaN, for battery-powered motor control applications that require high performance and energy efficiency in a compact size. The design supports USB Power Delivery (PD) 3.2 and works with Infineon’s new EZ-PD PMGI-B2 USB controller, which can deliver up to 240W of power. It includes built-in buck-boost functionality, assisting developers in adding high-power USB-C charging to their products. The system supports fast charging for lithium-ion battery packs with two to 12 cells. It simplifies product design and reduces the number of required components. For motor control, the design uses Infineon’s PSOC C3 microcontroller and 100V CoolGaN G5 transistors, enabling efficient motor performance in compact battery-powered devices. The above introduction by Arrow Electronics and Infineon Technologies could positively could potentially benefit Arrow Electronics by driving component sales and engineering services revenues. Although the company did not announce an acquisition in the fourth quarter of 2025, management stated that acquisitions remain a key growth strategy. The company formed a notable partnership with Microsoft, where ARW was recognized as MSFT’s 2025 Distributor Partner of the Year. This recognition relates specifically to ARW’s ArrowSphere AI offerings, which include the ArrowSphere AI platform and the ArrowSphere Assistant. Arrow Electronics, Inc. Price and Consensus Arrow Electronics, Inc. price-consensus-chart | Arrow Electronics, Inc. Quote Arrow Electronics highlighted its role as a technology ecosystem partner that connects technology vendors, software providers, channel partners and enterprise customers. The company helps pa...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. A new artificial intelligence startup launched by former Meta (NASDAQ:META) Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun is already drawing serious investor attention. Advanced Machine Intelligence, or AMI, said it has raised $1.03 billion in seed funding, just months after the company was formed. The funding values the startup at about $3.5 billion before the new capita...
This article first appeared on GuruFocus. A new artificial intelligence startup launched by former Meta (NASDAQ:META) Chief AI Scientist Yann LeCun is already drawing serious investor attention. Advanced Machine Intelligence, or AMI, said it has raised $1.03 billion in seed funding, just months after the company was formed. The funding values the startup at about $3.5 billion before the new capital, according to Reuters. AMI says its goal is to build a new generation of AI systems that can better understand the world, retain long term memory, and reason and plan more effectively while remaining controllable and safe. The round was co led by venture firms Cathay Innovation, Greycroft, Hiro Capital, and HV Capital. The company also attracted strategic backing from major technology players including Nvidia (NASDAQ:NVDA), Toyota Ventures, and Samsung (SSNLF), highlighting the growing interest from industry leaders in next wave AI platforms.
"Bloomberg Crypto" covers the people, transactions, and technology shaping the world of decentralized finance. Today's guests: CBOE Global Markets CEO Craig Donohue, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, DTCC Digital Assets Global Head Nadine Chakar, Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Kraken’s Co-CEO Arjun Sethi. (Source: Bloomberg)
"Bloomberg Crypto" covers the people, transactions, and technology shaping the world of decentralized finance. Today's guests: CBOE Global Markets CEO Craig Donohue, CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, DTCC Digital Assets Global Head Nadine Chakar, Intercontinental Exchange CEO Jeff Sprecher, Kalshi CEO Tarek Mansour and Kraken’s Co-CEO Arjun Sethi. (Source: Bloomberg)
Kevin Warsh, former governor of the US Federal Reserve, speaks with CNBC on July 17, 2025. CNBC Kevin Warsh could face a buzzsaw when he takes over as Federal Reserve chair — a Hobson's choice between fighting inflation and protecting the labor market. The Fed is duty bound to support both sides of its sometimes conflicting dual mandate: stable prices and full employment. There essentially are thr...
Kevin Warsh, former governor of the US Federal Reserve, speaks with CNBC on July 17, 2025. CNBC Kevin Warsh could face a buzzsaw when he takes over as Federal Reserve chair — a Hobson's choice between fighting inflation and protecting the labor market. The Fed is duty bound to support both sides of its sometimes conflicting dual mandate: stable prices and full employment. There essentially are three ways to do that: raise interest rates to fight inflation by dampening demand, lower rates to support economic growth and hiring, or — most preferably — keep rates where they are to maintain a balance between the two. Brewing economic conditions suggest, however, that when Warsh takes office, presumably in May, central bank policymakers could be facing both a wobbly jobs picture and sticky inflation made worse by spiraling energy prices. "He's got a perfect storm awaiting him here," said Troy Ludtka, senior U.S. economist at SMBC Nikko Securities. "We've got some significant stagflationary pressures, particularly from the manufacturing and goods sectors of the economy. This is coming at a time when it seems like we're really beginning to see the consumer — I don't want to say break — but maybe begin to break." Stagflation, or high inflation and low growth , is a Fed official's worst nightmare. It can mean having to prioritize one side of the mandate over the other, and in turn risk losing both. In the current environment, the Iran war has pushed up energy prices sharply, with U.S. crude oil briefly soaring over $100 a barrel on Monday before slipping backward after President Donald Trump provided assurance that the conflict will be over soon. For Warsh, though, the stakes are particularly high. Tough choices Trump has made no secret that he expects Warsh to push for substantially lower interest rates. The president and other administration officials have been contending — at least before the war began — that inflation is no longer a significant threat to the economy and t...
Suphanat Khumsap/iStock via Getty Images Intro When I wrote the article back in January, titled Oil: The Supply Risks If Iran Escalates , I wrapped up with the final remarks: In a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz is shut down, it would be an unprecedented and highly disruptive event...Still, the chances of that happening are considered pretty low; otherwise, we’d probably already be seeing trip...
Suphanat Khumsap/iStock via Getty Images Intro When I wrote the article back in January, titled Oil: The Supply Risks If Iran Escalates , I wrapped up with the final remarks: In a scenario where the Strait of Hormuz is shut down, it would be an unprecedented and highly disruptive event...Still, the chances of that happening are considered pretty low; otherwise, we’d probably already be seeing triple-digit oil prices. Today, it is clear that risks considered "pretty low" just a month ago have now materialized. While oil prices have pulled back after yesterday’s comments by President Trump, triple‑digit prices have already become a reality. Even a small indication that the conflict will not ease in the coming days or weeks could potentially trigger another spike. And the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed at the time of writing. Strait Of Hormuz Real-Time Traffic (Hormuzstraitmonitor) What Happens If The Current Standoff Stays? This is an unprecedented situation with unpredictable consequences. As reported by CNBC: “There is no precedent for this. The sky is the limit,” Neil Atkinson, former head of oil at the International Energy Agency, told CNBC on Monday. The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s second‑most important chokepoint, surpassed only by the Strait of Malacca. In normal times, about 21 million barrels of oil pass through the strait each day—roughly 21% of global crude trade. Map Of Global Oil Transit Routes (EIA) Many Close Calls, Yet The Strait Has Never Been Closed Several times throughout history , the Strait of Hormuz has come close to being shut down. Threatening to close it has long been one of Iran’s strongest strategic levers when regional tensions reach a critical level. Yet even during the Iran–Iraq War, the strait ultimately remained open. The latest escalation began in July 2018 , when Iran threatened to close the strait in response to looming U.S. sanctions after the Trump administration withdrew from the nuclear deal. Another major flare...
SpaceX ’s Starship lunar lander for NASA still faces numerous technical challenges and likely more delays ahead of a planned 2028 moon landing, according to a new government audit released Tuesday. Elon Musk ’s company would have missed a June 2027 moon landing deadline, a target that NASA recently moved to 2028, and its ability to meet the new target is not yet clear, NASA’s Office of Inspector G...
SpaceX ’s Starship lunar lander for NASA still faces numerous technical challenges and likely more delays ahead of a planned 2028 moon landing, according to a new government audit released Tuesday. Elon Musk ’s company would have missed a June 2027 moon landing deadline, a target that NASA recently moved to 2028, and its ability to meet the new target is not yet clear, NASA’s Office of Inspector General said in a report. SpaceX and rival space company Blue Origin hold contracts worth billions of dollars to build spacecraft that can carry astronauts to and from the surface of the moon for the agency’s Artemis program. However, the OIG’s report found that SpaceX and NASA have postponed until August a major review of Starship’s design to determine if the company can move forward with building the vehicle that will carry astronauts to the moon, leaving little room to meet the current schedule. “Should SpaceX experience any technical issues commonly encountered during development and testing of new technologies or any additional flight test mishaps, the resulting schedule delays could impact” the moon landing date, the report said. The OIG also raised concern over missed opportunities for ways to reduce overall risk with the landers, noting that if something goes wrong with either vehicle, NASA’s options are limited. “While NASA is taking steps to prevent catastrophic events from occurring, ultimately, should the astronauts encounter a life-threatening emergency in space or on the lunar surface, NASA does not have the capability to rescue the stranded crew,” the report said. The biggest challenge facing Starship’s development, the OIG said, is demonstrating the vehicle’s ability to be refueled in orbit, a critical step that SpaceX must do repeatedly in order to reach the moon. SpaceX intends to refuel Starship in space for the first time this year, an operation that is “one of the most significant technical challenges” the company faces, OIG reported, since the technolog...