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Elon Musk's SpaceX is preparing its Starship spacecraft for its first orbit around Earth, according to a report from NewsNation. The fully reusable rocket system, designed for missions to the Moon and Mars, has undergone earlier test flights, and reaching orbit would mark a major milestone in its development programme.

Reuters reports that Democrats are preparing to investigate lucrative business deals involving Donald Trump and his family if they win control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections. The move signals that oversight of the former president's financial dealings would become a priority should the party take committee power, with potential subpoenas and hearings into the family's commercial ventures.

A company owned by Donald Trump filed trademark applications on Friday for "MAGA" and "45-47", covering streaming apps, television broadcasting, and news and commentary on politics and current events, according to US Patent and Trademark Office records. The filing fuels speculation that Trump is preparing to launch his own media operation, following his earlier ventures into digital platforms.

Four environmental organizations filed a petition Thursday urging the Federal Communications Commission to reverse its approval of a startup's plan to beam on-demand sunlight from space to Earth. The groups argue the agency failed to consider the project's potential impacts on wildlife and astronomy. The case highlights growing friction between commercial space ventures and environmental concerns.

Elon Musk says SpaceX's AI effort, dubbed SpaceXAI, could reach GPT-6-level capability within three months and take the 'pole position' in artificial intelligence within six, backed by plans for a massive expansion of GPU computing power. The comments land amid fierce competition among AI labs and Musk's own xAI venture, drawing skepticism and attention in equal measure.

Autonomous driving software firm Momenta and Stellantis' Chinese joint venture with Dongfeng have agreed to co-develop intelligent driving technology. The partnership will focus on bringing advanced driver assistance systems to vehicles sold in China, one of the world's largest but most competitive auto markets. The move underscores how global automakers are pairing with local tech suppliers to stay relevant against fast-moving Chinese competitors.

The secondary market for venture capital has grown sharply this year, with annual transaction volume reaching roughly $152 billion, according to estimates from Jefferies and Evercore. Reports from William Blair and Preqin project the market could grow to as much as $250 billion. The surge reflects investors seeking liquidity in an environment where traditional exits through IPOs remain limited, making share sales a bigger part of the venture ecosystem.

SpaceX has reported $7.8 billion in revenue alongside a quarterly loss of $541 million. The figures, disclosed through reporting on the privately held company's finances, offer a rare glimpse into the economics of Elon Musk's space venture, which continues heavy spending on Starship development, Starlink expansion and launch operations while remaining one of the world's most valuable private companies.

Foxconn and Alter have formed a new joint venture, Beijing Futekang, to build a mass production platform for humanoid robots. The move ties Foxconn's large-scale manufacturing capability to the fast-growing humanoid robotics sector, positioning the partners to industrialise robot assembly much as Foxconn did for consumer electronics. Industry watchers see it as a signal that humanoid robots are moving from prototypes toward volume production in China.

Venture investors, including figures linked to Andreessen Horowitz, are funding a new academy designed as an alternative to traditional college, according to the Wall Street Journal. The project reflects growing skepticism in Silicon Valley about the value and cost of a four-year degree, and has sparked debate over whether elite-funded programs can replace established higher education pathways.

A businessman who built his fortune selling stickers has won Donald Trump's endorsement and is now positioned to win a seat in Congress. Reporting has focused on his unconventional path to politics, with coverage highlighting the strange twists in his career and how a niche novelty-products venture became a springboard toward national office.

A chip fabrication plant run as a joint venture between Vanguard International Semiconductor (VIS) and NXP Semiconductors has entered its initial production stage. The facility marks a key milestone for the partnership, which focuses on expanding chip manufacturing capacity, and is being followed closely by industry watchers tracking global semiconductor supply.

Elon Musk, speaking in his capacity as SpaceX chief, said Anthropic is the 'clear AI leader' and pledged not to interfere with or sabotage its compute deal, despite the rivalry between his xAI venture and the Anthropic-backed camp. The comments are drawing attention given Musk's own massive AI ambitions and his history of feuding with competitors over data centers, chips and talent in the intensifying race for computing power.

A satellite company backed by a venture fund connected to US Vice President JD Vance has won a Pentagon contract award, according to reporting by Sludge. The story is drawing attention because it highlights potential conflicts of interest between the vice president's financial ties and defense procurement decisions made under the Trump administration. Critics are questioning whether the award reflects merit or political connections.

TechCrunch has announced the next five venture capitalists who will judge the Startup Battlefield 200 competition at Disrupt 2026. The judges will evaluate pitches from 200 selected startups competing at the event. More judge announcements are expected as the conference lineup is rolled out ahead of next year's gathering.

Venture capitalist Vinod Khosla says valuations for most robotics startups will fall by 2030, according to The Information. The prediction from the prominent Khosla Ventures founder is drawing attention as investors reassess how much of the current enthusiasm around robotics and AI reflects durable business value versus hype-driven pricing.

Bob Chapek, the former Disney chief executive, is advising startups and says he is open to launching or joining a private equity fund, according to Bloomberg. The move marks a new chapter for Chapek after his high-profile exit from Disney in 2022, and signals continued interest from former media executives in early-stage ventures and investment vehicles.

Efforts to pass the Clarity Act, a bill to set clear US rules for crypto markets, have stalled amid political tensions tied to the Trump family's growing crypto ventures. Critics say the family's financial interests in digital assets have complicated negotiations, giving Democrats reason to resist and Republicans reason to defend, leaving the legislation in limbo on Capitol Hill.

Israeli businessman Ofer Yannay is seeking $200 million for the legacy solar energy business of Nofar Energy, according to Calcalist. The reported fundraising effort centers on the company's original solar assets, distinct from its newer ventures. The move comes as Nofar has been reshaping its portfolio amid pressure in the renewable energy sector, and market watchers are assessing what a sale or investment round would mean for its valuation.

Idan Nurik, co-founder of the Israeli company Paragon, is leaving the firm to launch a new startup focused on AI infrastructure. The news, reported by Calcalist, marks the latest move by a founder stepping away from an existing venture to build in the fast-growing artificial intelligence sector. Details about the new company's products, funding or team have not yet been disclosed.

South Korea's government under President Lee is restructuring its small and medium enterprise support programmes, directing more funding toward technology and startup ventures while cutting back on traditional loans and employment subsidies. The policy shift signals an effort to prioritise innovation-driven growth over broad-based business aid, sparking debate over whether conventional small businesses will be left behind.

Former Stripe employees are founding a series of new payments companies, continuing a pattern in which alumni of the payments giant go on to build their own ventures in the sector. The trend highlights how Stripe's workforce has become a breeding ground for fintech entrepreneurship, with ex-employees applying what they learned there to new payments plays.

Yahoo Finance UK asks whether the enthusiasm around SpaceX is distracting investors from the core reasons they bought into Tesla, namely its electric vehicle business, margins and growth outlook. The piece reflects a debate over whether attention has shifted to Elon Musk's other ventures at the expense of Tesla's fundamentals.

A startup founder has shut down his artificial intelligence company even though it was showing early signs of success. In an interview with Tech in Asia, he explained the reasoning behind the decision, offering a rare candid account of why a promising AI venture was deliberately wound down rather than scaled.