Yazılar

Bangladesh to Secure Starlink Deal for Nationwide Internet Access

/in /tarafından

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, announced on Tuesday that the country expects to finalize a commercial agreement with SpaceX’s satellite internet network, Starlink, within three months. The deal aims to provide reliable, uninterrupted internet services across the South Asian nation, ensuring that future political upheavals will not disrupt access.

Yunus, who took charge of Bangladesh’s government in August following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, highlighted that Starlink’s satellite-based technology would make it impossible for any government to block internet access or restrict citizens from the digital world. This comes after widespread protests in July 2024, during which authorities suspended internet and text messaging services across the country.

“If Starlink is launched, no government will have the ability to shut down internet access or lock citizens out of the digital world,” Yunus stated in a televised speech ahead of Independence Day. He also noted that inflation remains the government’s top challenge, though it had dropped to 9.32% in February, the lowest in 22 months, with hopes of reducing it below 8% by June.

Yunus confirmed that national elections will be held between December 2025 and June 2026, aiming for the most free, fair, and acceptable election in Bangladesh’s history.

Italy’s Talks with Musk’s Starlink Stalled Over Geopolitical Tensions

/in /tarafından

Negotiations between the Italian government and Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, have stalled, according to Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto. The potential contract, which could have seen Starlink provide secure communications for Italy’s government and defense officials, has been delayed due to shifting discussions from technical issues to political concerns surrounding Musk’s statements and associations.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government had been exploring a deal with Starlink to guarantee encrypted communications for diplomats and defense officials in high-risk areas. The proposed deal, valued at 1.5 billion euros ($1.62 billion) over five years, would have seen Starlink’s satellite services expand in Italy, where the company has been operating since 2021 with around 7,000 low-orbit satellites in use globally. However, tensions have arisen due to opposition from Italian politicians questioning the appropriateness of granting a national security contract to a foreign businessman with strong ties to U.S. President Donald Trump.

Crosetto emphasized that discussions should return to a technical level once the political tensions subside, stating that the ultimate goal is to determine what is safest and most useful for Italy’s national security. He referred to Musk as a “visionary genius” but acknowledged the complex political context surrounding the deal.

The situation also reflects the broader geopolitical balancing act that Meloni’s government faces as it navigates Italy’s alliance with the United States. Meloni’s coalition partner, the far-right League, has continued to support both Musk and Trump, putting additional pressure on the government.

Meanwhile, Andrea Stroppa, a representative for Musk in Italy, suggested that while Italy and its European partners should consider developing their own satellite infrastructure, Starlink could offer the most viable solution in the short term to meet urgent operational needs.

Elon Musk Issued Summons in SEC Case Over Twitter Stake Disclosure

/in /tarafından

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a prominent adviser to former U.S. President Donald Trump, has been issued a summons in connection with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit against him. The summons and other legal documents were served on March 14 to a security guard at the Brownsville, Texas, headquarters of Musk’s company, SpaceX, according to a court filing on Thursday.

The SEC lawsuit, filed in January, accuses Musk of delaying the disclosure of his substantial stake in Twitter in 2022. The regulator claims Musk violated federal securities law by waiting 11 days past the required deadline to disclose his initial 5% purchase of Twitter’s common shares. Under SEC rules, investors are required to disclose any ownership stake that exceeds 5% within 10 calendar days, which in Musk’s case should have been by March 24, 2022.

Musk and his legal team have not yet responded to requests for comment, and a spokesperson for the SEC declined to provide additional details.