Syrian spadefoot toad rediscovered in Syria – thanks to FacebookDecember 22, 2013: After months of false starts, Apple finally secures a deal with China Mobile to bring the iPhone to the world’s largest telecom company. With 760 million potential iPhone customers in the offing, the deal shapes up as Apple’s most important yet for growing its brand in China. In fact, Apple CEO says the country soon will become the company’s biggest market. The move had been long in the making. Apple had been negotiating with China Mobile since the . Talks reportedly collapsed over Apple’s terms, which required revenue sharing. Demand from Chinese customers certainly existed, though. As early as 2008, a year after , reported that 800,000 to 1 million iPhones had . It was later claimed that 400,000 of those iPhone were being used, unlocked via hacks, on China Mobile. Provided these figures were accurate, they represented around 10% of iPhones sold at that point. The number even surpassed all iPhones used in Europe at the time. Still, negotiations between Apple and China Mobile dragged on. They finally started moving in 2013, when Cook met with China Mobile chairman Xi Guohua to discuss “ ” between the two companies. “China is an extremely important market for Apple and our partnership with China Mobile presents us the opportunity to ,” Cook said in a statement when news of the deal broke. “iPhone customers in China are an enthusiastic and rapidly growing group, and we can’t think of a better way to welcome in the Chinese New Year than getting an iPhone into the hands of every China Mobile customer who wants one.” Apple: Big in China, thanks to China Mobile deal The deal that brought the iPhone to China Mobile coincided with a renewed push into China on Apple’s behalf. Cook revealed that Apple designed new devices . This was arguably most obvious with Apple’s decision to start making larger iPhones. The company turned its back on Apple co-founder ‘ dislike of big phones (which Jobs complained “ “). Apple released the 5.5-inch — which fell into the phablet category popular among Asian smartphone buyers — in 2014. In addition, Apple committed to an astonishingly rapid expansion of its retail stores in China. The company set an ambitious (and successful) goal of in the country by 2016. (It opened its 56th store in China, , in November 2023.) Not everything has been smooth sailing for Apple in China, of course. No doubt, 760 million possible iPhone buyers after the China Mobile deal sounds like a giant number. But only a fraction of those people find themselves in the position to be able to afford an iPhone. Battle for the low-end Chinese smartphone market The iPhone 5c, and now the , were nods to the lower end of the market. However, Apple never truly embraced the idea of creating a phone to combat cheap Android devices. As a result, Apple continues to duke it out with a variety of Android makers in China, none of which currently command even 25% of the smartphone market, . Apple also continues to run into various problems with the Chinese government. , national security concerns raised in the state-controlled Chinese media resulted in Apple switching to China Telecom’s servers instead of its own to power iCloud for Chinese customers. Apple also was that it run network safety evaluations on all Apple products before they can be imported into the country. Apple gear additionally got in 2015, in favor of Chinese-made products. And in 2023. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic created severe supply chain problems that exposed the fragile nature of Apple’s reliance on Chinese manufacturers. And over working conditions in a Foxconn factory complex in Zhengzhou nicknamed “iPhone City.” For these reasons and more, Cupertino continues to accelerate plans to . China and Apple: A ‘symbiotic’ relationship Not all the news has been bad, though. The China Mobile deal got more iPhones into people’s hands as planned. And Cook reportedly struck a secret deal with the country’s leaders in 2016 to and “technological prowess.” In early 2023, Cook touted the “ ” that Apple enjoys with China. The country now makes up worldwide. More than a decade after the deal that brought the iPhone to China Mobile, it seems China will continue to provide a major opportunity (and occasional headache) for Apple.Why we love to list: it’s a lifeline out of chaos Another year turns, and stock-taking lists are popping up everywhere: best of, worst of, top tens, wraps, roundups and highlight reels. What’s with this list-mania? What explains the irresistible urge to compile and rank? Because it’s how we have always tried to understand anything. It’s only human to try and make sense of the terrifying feeling of time rolling on, or to impose pattern on chaos. We make lists to ‘to make infinity comprehensible’, said Umberto Eco. Lists are intuitive and useful. A mess of information? We can sort the mess into buckets. It’s easier to take in, too – chunks of information are better transmitted than run-on text. To-do lists are used to focus the mind. To externalise our tasks and tick them off reduces stress. Bullet-points, listicles and easy bites have taken over much of the news and information around us. We know it’s a fiction, an artefact: a complex issue in the world does not conveniently break down into ten points as it does in the news primers. But the clickbait still works. Whether it’s tech tips or packing lists, self-improvement manuals or lists of the richest, sexiest and most powerful, our minds are compelled to go down each item. And then, of course, there’s assessment: the need to classify, to rank as greater than or or less than. With lists like top films of the century or the canon of great books or essential songs, it’s reassuring to submit to someone else’s better judgment. We’re relieved that a trusted tastemaker or expert has scoured everything and selected the best, saving us the bother. But even while media list-making creates conventional wisdom, there’s nothing definitive about the picks or the ranks. They’re just the list-maker’s preferences, and quibbling over them is the whole point.
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Twelve Questions For Philanthropists
Waitrose Christmas advert 2024: who stole the bauble dessert - how to watch part twoMumbai, Dec 22 (IANS): Former Rajya Sabha member and Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Sunday said that the Bombay High Court's decision on the Adani Group on the 'Dharavi Redevelopment Project' is a slap on the Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), asserting that the Adani Group has the capability of completing the work related to the project. Nirupam's reaction came two days after the Bombay High Court upheld the decision of the Maharashtra government to award the tender to the Adani Group for the 'Dharavi Redevelopment Project' in Mumbai, saying there was nothing unfair or irregular in the decision. In an interaction with IANS on Sunday, Nirupam said: "The High Court's decision is a tight slap on the Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT. Both parties kept making accusations, claiming that there were irregularities in the government's decision and blamed it for favouritism while handing the project to the Adani Group. However, the High Court's decision makes it clear that nothing is illegal and there are no irregularities." Further slamming the Congress and the Shiv Sena-UBT, Nirupam said that the two parties need to understand that Dharavi is a key residential area of Mumbai. "In Dharavi, there are thousands of shanties and people are compelled to live a poor standard of life. An effort is being made to provide them with a better quality of life," Nirupam said. He said that though plans to redevelop Dharavi have been in the pipeline for years, no government could successfully undertake the project. "Adani Group has shown interest in the redevelopment project, and it has the strength and capacity to complete the project," Nirupam said, adding that Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT should now back off their stances and the redevelopment project has to be completed so that people residing in Dharavi can get a good life. Citing weak grounds for a challenge, the Bombay High Court on Friday dismissed a petition against the Maharashtra government’s decision on the Dharavi slum redevelopment project in Mumbai and upheld the tender awarded to Adani Properties Private Limited. A division bench of Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar dismissed the petition filed by UAE-based Seclink Technologies Corporation, saying: "The grounds raised in the petition lack force and effort. The challenge to the government's action of cancelling the earlier tender and issuing a fresh tender award fails." The Adani Group had emerged as the highest bidder for the 259-hectare Dharavi Redevelopment Project and bagged it with its Rs 5,069-crore offer in the 2022 tender process. In the first tender issued in 2018, the petitioner company emerged as the highest bidder with its Rs 7,200-crore offer. The Eknath Shinde government had cancelled the 2018 tender and issued a fresh one in 2022 with additional conditions. The state government decided to include 45 acres of railway land in the project for slum rehabilitation, an element not included in the original proposal. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni had recommended that the state government issue a new tender to reflect the changes and incorporate factors like the costs of acquiring this land. The state government had opposed the petitioner’s claim and maintained that the revised tender conditions were not arbitrary but were important for ensuring that the development was financially viable. Referring to the changed economic landscape between 2019 and 2022, the state government justified its decision to cancel the 2018 tender and issue a fresh one in 2022.
'Duck Dynasty' star Phil Robertson diagnosed with Alzheimer's, family confirmsJames Earl Carter Jr., the 39th and longest-lived U.S. president, died Sunday at the age of 100. Here are some of the statements released by Virginia officials about the late president: From left to right, Virginia House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert, a Shenandoah Republican, listens to Gov. Glenn Youngkin speak, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, at the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond. "Suzanne and I join our nation to mourn the passing of Jimmy Carter, a devoted public servant and 39th president. He served our country in the Navy, as Georgia state senator and as the governor of Georgia. We are praying for the Carter family during this difficult time. His faith was always inspiring to others, may he rest in peace.” Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears presides over the state Senate during a reconvened session in the Virginia Capitol on Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. "We pray for the peace of the Lord to be with former President Jimmy Carter and his family. We are deeply grateful for his years of sacrifice, including his tireless work building homes through Habitat for Humanity and his dedication to supporting the incarcerated. We also honor his service to our country, especially his years in the United States Navy." U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat and chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, attends a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new National Security Data and Policy Institute at the University of Virginia, Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, inside the Rotunda at UVa. “Jimmy Carter blazed a trail from the peanut fields of Plains, Georgia, to the Navy, the governor’s mansion, the White House, and to a remarkable post-presidential career – modeling leadership, philanthropy, and love of country every step of the way. We lost a giant." U.S. Sen Tim Kaine speaks to the press after a roundtable discussion on prescription drug prices with the Jefferson Area Board for Aging, Friday, June 21, 2024, in Charlottesville. “President Carter dedicated his life to public service – from the Navy to the Georgia governorship and White House and countless causes, including the construction of affordable housing, after his presidency. America is better for his service, and I’m praying for his family.” Speaker of the House Don Scott, a Portsmith Democrat, speaks to a crowd during a gun safety rally at the state Capitol in Richmond on Lobby Day, Monday, Jan. 15, 2024. “President Carter’s commitment to human rights, his tireless work for peace, and his deep sense of moral clarity were not just hallmarks of his presidency, but of his entire life. He lived by a standard that showed us all what it means to be filled with kindness, to act with empathy, and to give without expecting anything in return." U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Virginia Democrat, speaks during an interview at Libbie Mill Library in Henrico County, Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, after she announced she will run for governor. "President Jimmy Carter led a life of service. He donned the U.S. Navy’s uniform, dedicated himself to his home state, ascended to the Oval Office, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his commitment to global human rights. May his legacy continue to inspire generations." Democratic state Sen. Creigh Deeds meets with The Daily Progress, Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Common House in downtown Charlottesville. "RIP President Jimmy Carter, the best ex President we’ve had and an honest, honorable man." Del. Katrina Callsen, a Charlottesville Democrat, speaks during a press conference in support of the Affordable Care Act, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at a Democratic campaign office just north of Charlottesville. "RIP President Carter. Thank you for all that you've given to the United States." U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, a Democrat who represents Virginia's 4th Congressional District, waits to greet voters at Main Street Station in Richmond where voting takes place, on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. "Today, we mourn the loss of President Jimmy Carter, a true embodiment of servant leadership. A veteran, human rights champion, and philanthropic leader, he helped move our nation forward ... He will be sorely missed." U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott is a Democrat who represents Virginia's 3rd Congressional District in Congress. "I join those across our nation and the world mourning the passing of President Jimmy Carter. A deeply principled and family man, he dedicated his life to public service — not only to his fellow Americans, but to humanitarian causes around the world. Through the Carter Center, his work with Habitat for Humanity, and his advocacy for democracy and human rights at home and abroad, President Carter redefined how former presidents can continue to serve and positively impact the world years after their presidency. His accomplishments as president live on, but so will his vast contributions to society he made after his term in office.” U.S. Rep. Don Beyer, a Virginia Democrat, attends a news conference about the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, in Washington, Tuesday, May 18, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. "Jimmy Carter lived a life of kindness, compassion, and decency. He never forgot his roots as a Navy veteran and peanut farmer, never stopped fighting racism and oppression, and never stopped helping others or working to make the world a better place. A great human being." U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, a Virginia Democrat, listens at an event in Fairfax on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2020. "Jimmy Carter was the best of us. An exemplary human being and a committed public servant, he was an underappreciated president who got consequential things done in his one term. I wish his family peace as they grieve this loss. A nation mourns with them." State Sen. Aaron Rouse, a Virginia Beach Democrat, walks through the Senate chambers at the Capitol in Richmond. Susan Swecker is the chairwoman of the Democratic Party of Virginia. "My first paid campaign job in politics was for Jimmy Carter's re-election campaign in 1980 as a field organizer for the 6th Congressional District in Virginia. As a bright-eyed young American eager to get involved in politics, I saw President Carter embody the qualities we needed — courage, empathy, and integrity —both then and still, now. ... On behalf of a grateful Democratic Party of Virginia, I offer our deep condolences to President Carter’s children, grandchildren, and extended family. For generations to come, his memory will serve as a driving force for how we can do good in our communities. We thank him for his service to this country and for leaving the world a better place." Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney poses for a photo outside of City Hall on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023. "My deepest condolences go out to President Carter's family. President Carter was the embodiment of public service, and, as a nation, we mourn his passing. May his memory be a blessing. Thank you for everything, Mr. President." Daily Progress staff contributed to this story. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Freshman Ian Jackson scored a season-high 26 points, RJ Davis added 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and North Carolina beat Campbell 97-81 Sunday night in the Tar Heels' final nonconference game of the season. Elliot Cadeau added 12 points and a career-high 12 assists, Drake Powell also scored 12 points and Jalen Washington added 10 for North Carolina (8-5). Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a week
Will Howard put the rose in his mouth, smiled, flexed for the cameras and ran to his offensive line for a picture. After thanking the unit for keeping him upright throughout the game — Ohio State did not allow a sack — the Buckeyes quarterback ran to do an interview with ESPN. Then, he had one more stop before heading to the locker room — the student section to celebrate Ohio State’s 42-17 win over Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff. It was pure joy and excitement for the Kansas State transfer who came to Ohio State to play in games like this. He came to Ohio State to win a national championship, raise his NFL Draft stock and share the moments with his family along the way. GO DEEPER Mandel's Final Thoughts: Are CFP first-round blowouts the committee's fault? He had plenty of reasons to celebrate. In the biggest game of his short Ohio State career, he completed 24 of 29 passes for 311 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was one of Howard’s best games of the season, and the seventh time he completed at least 80 percent of his attempts — an Ohio State record. Advertisement Howard was one of many Buckeyes who shined on the big stage. Jeremiah Smith , the national freshman of the year by many outlets, caught six passes for 103 yards and two touchdowns. Emeka Egbuka had five receptions for 81 yards. And running backs TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each had two rushing touchdowns. Chess not Checkers. pic.twitter.com/chf6OEtiZR — Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 22, 2024 After weeks of hearing how bad the offense was in the 13-10 loss to Michigan , Ohio State let everything loose against Tennessee and showed exactly why it has been referred to as the most talented team in the country. Ohio State had four receivers catch a pass on Saturday, all of them former five-star recruits — Smith, Egbuka, Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss , who had a 6-yard reception with the backups. Henderson, too, was a five-star recruit, and Judkins has turned into one of the best running backs in the country. Bottom line: Ohio State was more talented than Tennessee, but for the first time this season — in a big game — the Buckeyes took advantage of their talent gap and left no doubt about the result. It was clear from the start that the coaching staff was punching all of the right buttons. “We called this game more aggressively, there’s no doubt about that,” coach Ryan Day said. “But we also did some things in this game that maximized what we had in our strengths and minimized our deficiencies.” Howard was thrilled with the game plan. “You saw. It was a pretty good game,” he said when asked what excited him about the coach’s plan to attack Tennessee. It was more than “pretty good.” It was Ohio State’s best offensive game since the loss to Oregon . Ohio State scored 42 points and averaged 7.4 yards per play and 4.7 yards per rushing attempt against a Tennessee defense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in all three categories. Advertisement Ohio State jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter, scoring on its first three possessions — drives of 75 68 and 58 yards. The start made people wonder where this offense was in the last game against Michigan, and also the week before that against Indiana , when the Buckeyes had their two lowest yardage outputs of the season. Day knew they didn’t play well in those games and something had to change. “We got the punt return and a turnover in the red zone, but we really didn’t play great on offense against Indiana, to be honest,” Day said. “Then (we) went into the last game and we still didn’t know the ramifications with what was going on based on what we had going on up front.” What changed? Well, Ohio State was much more aggressive, both in its play calling and also its play on the field. Ohio State has been criticized for being soft and a team that plays uptight at times. That wasn’t the case on Saturday, and it was evident from the start. “For three weeks, everyone in the world was telling us we sucked,” offensive lineman Donovan Jackson said. “Half the fan base was telling us we sucked. Almost every analyst, expert and anyone with a podcast was telling us we sucked. We took it personally. That’s not how we were going to go out. ... We went out there and played with our hair on fire, that was the message all week.” The Buckeyes scored on a 75-yard drive to open the game. Four of the five plays were passes, including a 37-yard touchdown toss to Smith. That drive set the tone for the rest of the game and sent a message to Tennessee. “It was the execution,” Day said. “There were a lot of things in that last game we look back on that we didn’t execute very well. There were things we needed to do better (with) scheme, but we also needed to execute. ... There was a confidence coming out of that first quarter, but even in warm-ups you could feel it. There was a confidence that built in practice.” Advertisement When Ohio State plays with that level of confidence, and aggression, it’s not just an offense that’s hard to stop — it’s a complete team that has the potential to win a national championship. The defense, which had been an issue for some of Day’s previous teams, hasn’t given up more than two touchdowns in a game since the Oct. 12 loss to Oregon. There was pressure on the offense to step up and prove it could produce in a big game. Michigan might have been the wake-up call that this offense — and its coaches — needed. On Saturday, the Buckeyes reminded everyone that they possess the best set of skill players in the country. And when they are aggressive and play loose, they’re hard to stop. “Getting the ball in our playmaker’s hands is huge, in space,” Howard said. “Giving those guys opportunities to get in space and do what they do is huge. We did a heck of a job with that tonight.” (Photo: Joseph Maiorana / Imagn Images)
ROSEN, NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS, Encourages Light & Wonder, Inc. Investors to Inquire About ...Latrell’s $1m payback bid; big heat on four coaches: Who’s most under pressure at every NRL club
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Washington : Mexico and Canada have hit back at Donald Trump’s tariff plans, warning about the potential economic impact and urging the president-elect to choose cooperation over the prospect of retaliatory trade wars. In an ominous but unsurprising development on Monday, Trump announced on social media that he intended to slap heavy tariffs on America’s neighbours and top trading partners as soon as he returns to the White House in January. Donald Trump speaks on the southern border with Mexico in August. Only a fraction of his “beautiful wall” was built during his first term – and mainly to replace older dilapidated sections. Credit: AP Under the plan, Trump says a 25 per cent tariff would be imposed on Canada to the north and Mexico at the southern border unless they crack down on drugs and illegal immigrants coming into the US. In addition, he threatened that China would receive “an additional 10 per cent tariff” on top of tariffs already in place on Chinese goods unless the country implements the death penalty for drug dealers connected to the fentanyl trade. But as global markets digested the news, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum warned the tariff hike would fail to curb illegal migration or the consumption of illicit drugs in the US. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said the tariffs would hurt her country and the US. Credit: Getty Images She also described the plan as “unacceptable” and something that “would cause inflation and job losses in Mexico and the United States”. “One tariff will follow another and so on, until we put our common businesses at risk,” Sheinbaum said in a letter to Trump, which she read at her daily press conference and planned to send to the president-elect later in the day. “Dialogue is the best path to achieve understanding, peace and prosperity for our two countries ... I hope our teams can meet soon.” Mexico is currently the United States’ top trade partner, representing 15.8 per cent of total trade, followed by Canada at 13.9 per cent. But Trump made it clear during his election campaign that he would readily use tariffs as leverage to tackle the tide of illegal immigrants coming into America. After Trump’s social media post, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke to the president-elect as he sought to tamp down concerns about the potential impact on his country’s economy. Trevor Tombe, an economist who authored a report on the consequences of US tariffs on Canada’s economy, warned a recession was likely if Trump followed through on the 25 per cent tariff. The country’s premiers have warned a trade war would cause immense damage to their respective economies, while the Canadian dollar fell to its lowest level since May 2020. Trudeau, who has called an emergency meeting with worried provincial premiers for Wednesday (Thursday AEDT), told reporters he had a “good call” with Trump. Then-president Donald Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2019. Credit: AP “We obviously talked about laying out the facts, talking about how the intense and effective connections between our two countries flow back and forth,” he said. “This is a relationship that we know takes a certain amount of working on, and that’s what we’ll do.” In an echo of Trump’s politics, Trudeau initiated a U-turn on immigration, restricting flows of new migrants. He said last week Canada’s system had been exploited by “bad actors”. Trump’s vision for tariff hikes on Mexico, Canada and China were laid out in a Truth Social post on Monday night. “On January 20th, as one of my many first Executive Orders, I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25% Tariff on ALL products coming into the United States, and its ridiculous Open Borders,” he said. In a follow-up post, he also announced that the US “will be charging China an additional 10% Tariff, above any additional Tariffs, on all of their many products coming into the United States of America”. The reason, he said, was China’s failure to curb the number of drugs entering the US. China is a major producer of precursor chemicals that are acquired by Mexican drug cartels and others to manufacture fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that accounts for about 70 per cent of all drug overdoses in the US. “Representatives of China told me that they would institute their maximum penalty, that of death, for any drug dealers caught doing this but, unfortunately, they never followed through, and drugs are pouring into our Country, mostly through Mexico, at levels never seen before,” Trump said. Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .
Notice of Convening Hearing
ROSEN, NATIONAL TRIAL LAWYERS, Encourages Light & Wonder, Inc. Investors to Inquire About ...NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson is named head coach at MarshallAccording to wealth tracking group, Informa Connect Academy (ICA), several current industry titans will achieve trillionaire status before the end of this decade. Elon Musk leads the race but it depends on whose share price performs best over the intervening period. As the head of the electric carmaker Tesla, private rocket company SpaceX and social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk is currently the world’s richest man with a current net worth on paper of roughly $450 billion (€431.5 billion), according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index. His wealth is estimated to have jumped by more than $170 billion since the US election and his alliance with president-elect Donald Trump, largely on the back of Tesla’s share price. Since the November 5th election, Tesla’s stock has surged 70 per cent. On the basis of his current trajectory, the ICA predicts he will hit the trillion mark in 2027. But Telsa’s share price has been volatile and Musk appears to be driving X into the ground so things may change. India’s business mogul Gautam Adani is predicted to hit the trillion mark in 2028 followed by Jensen Huang, the chief executive of the AI giant Nvidia, and Prajogo Pangestu, the Indonesian energy and mining mogul, provided their current financial trajectories hold. $1 trillion is a hard quantum to hold in your head. Put it this way, it would comfortably buy every home Ireland. It was only six years ago that companies reached the trillion dollar milestone in terms of valuations (Apple became the first to cross the $1 trillion mark in August 2018) and we marvelled, or thought absurd, that a single company could be financially bigger than a developed economy. There are currently nine companies with trillion dollar valuations: Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, Saudi Aramco, Meta, Berkshire Hathway and Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC. Now we’re about to confront the notion that an individual could be as valuable as a developed nation and the millions of workers and their labour that comprise it. The Netherlands, one of Europe’s richest countries, has an annual GDP (gross domestic product) of roughly $1 trillion (€960 billion). So if the ICA is right, Musk will be richer than the Netherlands is now by 2027. What this acceleration in individual wealth says about the state of the world or modern capitalism is disturbing. On one level, it suggests that the current period of rapid technological transformation has outgunned the antitrust legislation designed to police it, creating behemoth monopolies and uber elites wielding too much economic power. According to UK economist Duncan Weldon, the wealth of these aspiring trillionaires is also tied into three more conventional but no less consequential economic trends: decades of low interest rates (which have boosted asset values); accelerated corporate profits; and a shift towards less progressive tax systems. Combined, these trends have accelerated global inequality. And this appears to be feeding into a breakdown in consensus politics, a throwback to the Rockefeller days when democracy in many countries fractured. According to Oxfam, this inequality trend has been supercharged by the pandemic. In a report earlier this year, the charity noted that almost five billion people had been made poorer by the pandemic while the wealth of the five richest people had more than doubled, from $405 billion in 2020 to $869 billion in late 2023. That’s an increase of $14 million an hour. The world’s richest 1 per cent now own 43 per cent of all global financial assets and emit as much carbon pollution as the poorest two-thirds of humanity, Oxfam says. Let’s not be naive, market capitalism depends on inequality and is, in part, driven by it (some people will work harder or take financial risks to get ahead), but when the gap between top and bottom gets too large, when a critical mass of citizens feel the system is rigged against them, we tend to get radical politics. That was surely the lesson of the 20th century. In the 1960s, the gap was modest by today’s standards. Expressed as the ratio of the boss’s salary to those on the factory floor, it was just 15-to-1 in the US. According to the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute, it is now 221-to-1. Other estimates suggest it is higher. Of course, salary is just one metric. In Ireland and other countries, an intergenerational divide on housing has become a major and ongoing source of grievance. Musk said once that he believed the effects of technology and artificial intelligence (AI) on employment would soon make it necessary for countries to provide citizens with a basic income as a guardrail against inequality. This was before he bought his way into the second Trump presidency (spending a reported $250 million on the campaign) and supercharging his wealth in the process.