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Women outperform men in Wealthyhood’s latest investor report

22 October 2026 at 13:26

Greek retail investors are increasingly turning to stock markets with relatively small starting amounts and a long-term investment approach, according to a new report by Wealthyhood, the investment platform that partnered with the Bank of Cyprus to expand access to investing in Cyprus.

The report, titled ‘Greek Investor Pulse 2026: The New Greek Investor‘, marks the first anniversary of Wealthyhood’s launch in Greece in October 2025 and draws on anonymised, aggregated data from more than 35,000 registered users.

It found that the typical new investor is 34 years old and starts investing with €100, while more than eight in 10 investors are currently in profit.

The findings also point to growing interest in domestic shares, with one in five investors now holding Greek stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) following the introduction of Greek shares to the platform in July 2026.

The report is also relevant to Cyprus, where Wealthyhood launched a co-branded investment platform with the Bank of Cyprus earlier this year, making investing available to residents regardless of whether they bank with the lender.

The Wealthyhood x BoC platform subsequently introduced trading in Cypriot and Greek shares, allowing retail investors to access companies listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange and Euronext Athens through a single application, with fractional investing available from €1.

“We thank our clients for their trust in our first year in Greece, and we make a promise that our app will keep getting better, day by day, to make investing easy, affordable and safe for everyone,” said Alexandros Christodoulakis, co-founder and chief executive of Wealthyhood.

Younger investors and broader participation

The report describes an investor base spanning different age groups, regions and income brackets, consisting mainly of employees and self-employed professionals on everyday incomes.

The median age is 34, with 34 per cent of investors under 30 and 31 per cent aged between 35 and 44.

Women account for approximately one in six new investors, although their returns were higher than those of men, at 23.8 per cent against 20.9 per cent on an annual basis.

Wealthyhood said increasing women’s participation remained one of the most important challenges for Greece’s investment market.

The figures also suggest that investing is no longer confined to high earners, with 58 per cent of investors declaring annual incomes below €20,000.

Around 66 per cent work full-time, while 17 per cent are self-employed.

Geographically, investors using the platform live in 458 towns across 73 of Greece’s 74 regional units.

Attica accounts for 51 per cent of investors, leaving 49 per cent living elsewhere in the country, while Thessaloniki follows with 11.7 per cent.

Other cities with notable investor populations include Patras, Heraklion, Chania, Larissa and Volos.

ETFs dominate first investments

Exchange-traded funds are the most common starting point for new investors, with 56 per cent making an ETF their first investment.

These funds provide exposure to a collection of stocks through a single investment, offering a way to diversify without buying each share individually.

The most popular first investment is the Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, which tracks the performance of 500 of the largest US companies and was chosen by 18 per cent of new Greek investors.

The S&P 500 is also the most popular investment overall, while NVIDIA is the favourite individual stock across generations.

Trading activity is concentrated around the opening of US markets, with the busiest hour falling between 5pm and 6pm, often after the working day.

Weekdays account for 91 per cent of orders, compared with 9 per cent at weekends.

Recommendations from friends also play a significant role in bringing new investors to the market, with 23 per cent saying they began investing following a referral.

Greek shares gain ground

Since Greek stocks became available on the platform in July, one in five investors has added Greek shares or ETFs to their portfolio.

The report found that 21 per cent of every euro invested since July went into Greek stocks and ETFs, while Public Power Corporation (PPC) rose to become the eighth most popular stock of the year within just three months of the market becoming available.

The findings suggest that access through a digital platform has encouraged investors to diversify beyond international markets and consider domestic companies.

The report also examined investor behaviour during the March 2026 market sell-off, finding that users bought €1.82 for every €1 they sold.

Almost half of Greek investors had not sold any of their investments, a finding Wealthyhood said pointed to a relatively long-term approach despite market volatility.

Most investors in profit

Overall, 82.8 per cent of investors were in profit, with an average annualised return of 21.1 per cent.

The report also found that investors who traded less frequently achieved higher returns than those who made more frequent trades.

Those making fewer moves and avoiding selling recorded annualised returns of 23.3 per cent, compared with 18.5 per cent among more active traders.

Wealthyhood said five broad conclusions emerged from the first year of data, including wider access to investing, a long-term investment horizon, resilience during the March sell-off, growing interest in Greek shares and positive returns across much of its investor base.

The findings indicate a gradual change in how Greek retail investors approach financial markets, with smaller initial investments, diversification through ETFs and increasing participation in domestic stocks.

Wealthyhood said its aim was to contribute to public discussion about retail participation in capital markets, using real-world anonymised data to examine who invests, what they choose and how they react during periods of uncertainty.

Qatari business leaders, French minister explore industrial partnerships

22 October 2026 at 12:49
RIYADH: The Qatari Businessmen Association discussed expanding mutual investment and industrial partnerships with French Foreign Trade Minister Nicolas Forissier, seeking joint projects that support economic diversification. The meeting, hosted by the association, was attended by its chairman Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani as well as other board members, Qatar Financial Centre CEO Mansoor Rashid Al Khater, and a delegation of major French companies. The discussions come as Qatar seeks to deep

CSE thanks public for tributes to Nikos Trypatsas

22 October 2026 at 12:37

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) has thanked those who attended the funeral of its late deputy general manager Nikos Trypatsas, and those who sent condolences, laid wreaths or made donations in his memory.

In an announcement issued on Thursday, the exchange’s council and staff expressed their gratitude to everyone who paid tribute to Trypatsas, honouring his long-standing contribution to the organisation, his integrity and his character.

Trypatsas passed away on Monday following a prolonged battle with cancer, having served the CSE for 32 years after joining the organisation in 1994.

The exchange announced three days of mourning following his death, with flags flown at half-mast in his memory.

In its initial tribute, the CSE described his death as an irreplaceable loss to the organisation and to those who had worked alongside him.

It praised his professional career, dedication and contribution to the exchange’s work and mission, saying he had left an enduring mark on the organisation.

The CSE also paid tribute to his personal qualities and relationships with colleagues, describing him as an exceptional co-worker and a valued friend.

“The CSE family is saying goodbye to an exceptional colleague, but above all, a precious friend,” the exchange said.

Tax online sales more heavily to save high streets, Burnham urged

Exclusive: British Chambers of Commerce president calls for overhaul of business rates and greater powers for local leaders

Andy Burnham has been urged by one of his most senior former advisers to tax internet sales more heavily than in-store purchases to help “level the playing field” for struggling high streets.

As the prime minister and his chancellor, John Healey, prepare for their first budget next week, Andy Haldane joined calls for action to stop more shops closing across the UK.

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© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

© Composite: Guardian Design

Cyprus banks warn public about online scams

22 October 2026 at 12:28

The Association of Cyprus Banks (ACB) is taking part for the sixth consecutive year in the ASPIS awareness campaign, urging the public to remain vigilant against online scams and protect their personal and banking information.

The campaign is being run in cooperation with the Office of the Commissioner of Electronic Communications and Postal Regulation and the Cyprus Police, with the aim of protecting citizens from electronic fraud and strengthening security in digital transactions.

In an announcement, the association urged people to be “particularly careful” when dealing with suspicious text messages, emails and telephone calls requesting personal or banking details, passwords or transaction verification codes.

“A sense of urgency, suspicious links and requests for immediate confirmation of details are warning signs that should raise concerns among citizens,” the association said.

“As electronic transactions and digital communication become an integral part of everyday life, the methods used by fraudsters are constantly evolving,” it added.

“Awareness and prevention are therefore essential tools for protecting citizens and their property,” the association said.

The banking association stressed that the security of data, information and transactions remains a constant priority for the banking sector and the association itself.

“Banks invest in the security of their systems and transactions, while informing citizens about risks and protective measures remains crucial,” it pointed out.

The ASPIS campaign also underlines the importance of cooperation between the relevant authorities and the active participation of the public in efforts to create a safer digital environment, the association said.

Information on avoiding online scams, together with key warning signs that can help people identify attempted fraud, is available on the association’s website.

The association added that raising awareness and adopting simple digital security practices could make a substantial contribution to preventing fraud.

“Protection against online scams is everyone’s responsibility,” the association stressed.

“Awareness, vigilance and the responsible use of digital services are the first line of defence,” it concluded.

Oil prices jump to five-month high as attacks threaten global supply

22 October 2026 at 12:28

Iran’s IRGC says it hit four vessels in the northern Gulf and three more struck mines near the strait of Hormuz

Oil prices jumped to a five-month high on Thursday after ​attacks in Saudi Arabia and hits to tankers in the strait of Hormuz threatened further disruptions to the world’s crude supply.

Brent crude, the international benchmark for oil prices, rose by 3% to hit $112 a barrel for first time since 18 May.

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© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

© Photograph: Reuters

Faster reforms could triple Pakistan’s incomes by 2050, says World Bank

22 October 2026 at 12:19

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s incomes could triple by 2050 if the country ensures faster implementation of structural reforms, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Pakistan Development Update, titled Attaining Escape Velocity.

The report says that following progress on macroeconomic stabilisation, Pakistan has an opportunity to achieve faster and sustained economic growth and create more jobs.

Sound macroeconomic policies in recent years have helped stabilise the economy and preserve growth despite the impact of the Middle East conflict.

Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth increased to 3.7 per cent in FY26 from 3.2pc in FY25.

Revenue growth and expenditure restraint supported record primary fiscal surpluses, which reached 2.9pc of GDP in FY26, while strong remittances enabled the country to rebuild its foreign exchange reserves.

These improvements were recognised through upgrades by two major international rating agencies, S&P and Moody’s, and enabled Pakistan to return to international debt markets with the issuance of a $3 billion Eurobond.

“Pakistan has made real progress in restoring stability, and markets have taken notice,” World Bank Country Dir­ector Bolormaa Amgaa­baz­­ar said.

“But real per capita growth — the rate at which the income of the average Pakistani increases — remains stuck at around 1.6pc. Reforms to drive faster growth are now urgently needed,” she added.

The report finds that higher growth is possible if Pakistan follows the path taken by other successful countries in pursuing ambitious economic reforms. Upgrading policies and institutions to the standards of the average middle-income country could drive sustained annual growth of 6.2pc to 6.9pc, allowing Pakistan to reach Vietnam’s current income level by 2050.

“With macro stabilisation achieved but fiscal resources and foreign exchange still tightly constrained, structural reform to encourage private investment is the necessary next step towards higher living standards,” said Sebastian Essl, the report’s lead author.

“Achieving this kind of private-sector-led growth requires a plan, coordination, and committed reform implementation,” he added.

The report outlines an ambitious set of reforms that could enable Pakistan to attain by 2050 the per capita income levels of countries currently at the upper-middle-income threshold.

Many of the proposed measures build on reforms already underway. These include timely adjustments to power-sector tariffs, which helped reduce energy subsidies from 1.1pc of GDP in FY25 to 0.8pc in FY26, continued trade liberalisation under the National Tariff Policy and the recent privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

Building on these measures, sustained progress will depend on further reforms to improve the business environment, overhaul the tax system, reduce the state’s presence in the economy and expand access to finance.

Emirates showcases new accessible travel initiatives including Larnaca airport rehearsals

22 October 2026 at 12:11

Emirates showcased new accessibility initiatives at the AccessAbilities Expo 2026 in Dubai, highlighting technologies and services designed to help passengers with disabilities travel with greater independence, including its travel rehearsal programme, which has also been held at Larnaca airport.

The airline presented its latest concepts at an interactive stand at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where the expo took place from October 19 to 21, bringing together accessibility solutions and inclusive innovation.

The exhibition was opened by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline and Group and patron of AccessAbilities Expo.

Among the concepts presented by Emirates were an aircraft cabin familiarisation experience for passengers with partial or total vision loss, an accessible lounge suite for people with limited mobility, and biometric boarding gates designed to accommodate passengers with accessibility needs.

“Our ambition is to help shape a more inclusive future for aviation by placing accessibility at the heart of the passenger experience,” said Mostafa Karam, divisional senior vice-president for customer affairs and service audit at Emirates.

“We are not limiting ourselves to individual services, but working with our partners to examine accessibility at every stage of the journey, from planning and the airport environment to the onboard experience and destinations,” Karam added.

“Guided by passengers’ needs and personal experiences, we are focusing on practical improvements that reduce barriers, widen choice and enable everyone to travel with greater clarity, confidence, independence and dignity,” he said.

Cabin familiarisation and accessible airport technology

One of the main attractions at the Emirates stand was an immersive experience designed to simulate key aspects of travelling in an aircraft cabin for passengers with partial or total vision loss.

Combining audio, tactile exploration of the seat and guided interaction with staff, the experience recreates important moments onboard in a calm, carefully designed environment.

Visitors could try it while seated in a genuine Emirates A350 aircraft seat fitted with a U-Dream headrest.

Audio narration describes features of the surrounding cabin, demonstrating how thoughtful design can help passengers understand their surroundings, build confidence and travel more independently and comfortably.

The airline also presented its Emirates Biometric Path system, used at its main hub in Terminal 3 of Dubai International Airport.

The accessible boarding gates are designed without physical barriers and use biometric technology to help passengers with accessibility needs move through the airport more smoothly and independently.

The area now features flexible camera coverage, with cameras automatically adjusting their height and angle without restricting the movement of passengers using specialised wheelchairs.

Emirates has also upgraded its self-service check-in kiosks with text-to-speech functionality, improved touchscreen usability, Braille and tactile features, headphone connectivity for audio access and height-adjustable screens.

New accessible lounge suite

The airline unveiled a prototype of a dedicated lounge suite designed for wheelchair users and passengers with limited mobility, offering a private and comfortable space to rest before a flight.

Emirates first introduced its lounge suites in first-class lounges in 2024, combining premium finishes with features such as wireless charging and entertainment screens, alongside space to relax, work and dine.

The new accessible version is intended for wheelchair users, older travellers and people who need additional room, assistance transferring into and out of a seat, or support with posture.

Following the design of Emirates lounges, it incorporates wood, leather and marble finishes, together with an electrically adjustable armchair offering lift, swivel and recline functions, as well as support handles.

A dedicated wheelchair storage area and sufficient transfer space are also included, allowing passengers to use the suite independently or with assistance from a companion.

The prototype is being developed for first class, with the possibility of extending the concept to other cabin classes in the future.

Travel rehearsals include Larnaca

Emirates also highlighted its existing Travel Rehearsals programme, which works with airports worldwide to help autistic children and young adults, together with their families and support networks, familiarise themselves with the airport journey before taking a real flight.

The sessions are intended to reduce travel-related anxiety and build confidence by allowing participants to practise the different stages of moving through an airport in advance.

More than 35,000 Emirates employees have received training to support passengers on the autism spectrum and help facilitate both their journeys and their participation in the rehearsals.

The airline’s teams work with airport authorities and other partners to create a supportive and positive environment for families taking part.

Emirates has so far completed 80 Travel Rehearsals across six continents, benefiting more than 400 families.

The programme has been held at airports including Larnaca, Athens, Amsterdam, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Paris, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Delhi, Tokyo and Hong Kong, among many others.

Online travel support and sensory products

The airline also directs passengers to its Accessible and Inclusive Travel Hub on Emirates.com, which provides information about accessibility services and assistance to help them plan their journeys.

Passengers can browse information according to their needs, including mobility assistance, visual or hearing difficulties and other non-visible support requirements.

They can also search by journey stage, covering preparation before a flight, departure from Dubai, the onboard experience, connections in Dubai and arrival in the city.

Other resources include information on requesting special assistance, a travel guide for passengers on the autism spectrum, maps and sensory guides for Dubai International Airport, and access to Emirates support through the Be My Eyes app for people with vision loss.

The hub also provides information on applying for Dubai’s Sanad tourist card, which offers access to useful services in the city.

Dedicated sections cover travelling with wheelchairs and mobility aids, as well as medical travel. These include the Frequent Traveller Medical Card, known as FREMEC, for eligible passengers with stable medical needs, alongside guidance on carrying medicines and medical devices.

Family travel information covers flying with children, travelling during pregnancy and arrangements for unaccompanied minors.

Emirates has also developed sensory products and activity toys for passengers of all ages, available onboard across all cabin classes.

The items are intended to provide familiar tactile activities that may help some neurodivergent passengers manage sensory input, concentrate or feel more comfortable during a flight.

They include an aircraft-shaped tactile stress-relief item, two types of fidget cube and a stretchy, aircraft-shaped popper toy.

The products may be offered to neurodivergent passengers, people experiencing difficulties during a flight and those who feel anxious about flying, where appropriate.

Accessibility features in onboard entertainment

Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system offers more than 850 films with closed captions for deaf and hard-of-hearing passengers, alongside 200 films with audio description for passengers with vision loss.

The airline’s headphones are also compatible with hearing aids when the devices are switched to the T setting.

For passengers seeking relaxation or help managing anxiety, the entertainment system includes 12 wellbeing television channels and 31 channels featuring podcasts and playlists of meditation content and calming sounds.

On its Airbus A350-900 aircraft, Emirates has developed a new user interface in collaboration with Thales and organisations supporting people with vision loss.

The interface includes audio navigation cues, voice announcements and support for touch and swipe gestures, allowing passengers with partial or total vision loss to browse and select entertainment more independently.

Accessible chauffeur-driven vehicles in Dubai

Emirates has made 10 wheelchair-accessible branded vehicles available to passengers in Dubai through its Chauffeur Drive service.

The vehicles are Mercedes V-Class models modified with lowered floors for easier and safer access, increased interior height, an electrically operated passenger entry and exit mechanism, and adaptable seating arrangements.

Additional restraint systems are fitted to improve safety for passengers with significant mobility limitations.

Chauffeur Drive staff receive training in mobility assistance and in serving passengers with accessibility needs.

For now, the vehicles are available to eligible first-class and business-class passengers whose Chauffeur Drive service is based in Dubai, with plans to expand availability in the future.

Emirates’ wider accessibility commitments

The airline said it was continuing to develop accessible travel solutions gradually, prioritising innovation while focusing on measures it considers appropriate and responsible.

It is also working with international partners, including regulators, airport operators, specialist organisations, communities and passengers, to improve accessibility throughout the travel experience.

Emirates aims to strengthen accessibility through greater international standardisation of procedures and a consistent passenger experience across online services, call centres, airports and aircraft.

The airline began operating in Cyprus in 1994 and has served more than 2.1 million passengers in the Cypriot market over the past 32 years.

Founded in 1985 with two aircraft, Emirates has grown into the world’s largest international airline.

Its ice entertainment system offers more than 6,500 channels, while the airline also highlights the hospitality and personalised service provided by its multicultural cabin crew.

Saudi Arabia’s construction costs rise 2.2% in September: GASTAT 

22 October 2026 at 12:10
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s construction costs rose 2.2 percent year on year in September, driven by higher equipment rental, labour, material and energy costs, official data showed. According to the latest report by the General Authority for Statistics, construction costs in the residential sector increased 2.1 percent year on year, while costs in the non-residential sector climbed 2.6 percent. This comes as regional conflict threatens to disrupt supply chains and raise logistics costs. In its Oct

Pakistanis Could Become 3 Times Richer in next 20 years, World Bank predicts

22 October 2026 at 11:36

ISLAMABAD – Imagine earning three times as much as today in next two decades. What sounds like distant dream could be reality by 2050, according to the World Bank, but the country must undertake sweeping economic reforms and accelerate growth to nearly 7% annually, or risk missing a historic opportunity for prosperity.

In fresh assessment, the global lender offered ambitious vision for Pakistan’s economic future, suggesting that the country could reach income levels comparable to those currently enjoyed by Vietnam within the next 24 years. However, behind the optimistic projections lies a serious warning: despite improvements in Pakistan’s financial position, the average citizen’s real income is growing by just 1.6% annually, raising questions about how quickly the country’s economic recovery is benefiting ordinary households.

The report suggests Pakistan could achieve sustained annual GDP growth of between 6.2% and 6.9% if it undertakes ambitious reforms to modernise its institutions, improve economic governance and remove obstacles to private investment. Under this scenario, Pakistan could potentially triple its per capita income by 2050, bringing living standards closer to those currently found in more successful developing economies.

The World Bank specifically identified Vietnam as a benchmark, suggesting Pakistan could reach its present income level if the proposed reforms are implemented consistently. The lender also outlined a pathway towards income levels associated with countries currently entering the upper-middle-income category.

But these projections come with a major condition: economic reforms must continue over the long term rather than being abandoned after short periods of financial improvement.

Are Pakistanis Getting Richer?

Pakistan’s economic indicators shown considerable improvement, according to the report, despite financial pressures and disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.

Real GDP growth accelerated to 3.7% in FY26, compared with 3.2% in FY25. Stronger revenue collection and government spending restraint also helped Pakistan achieve a primary fiscal surplus equivalent to 2.9% of GDP during FY26.

Overseas Pakistanis continued to play a crucial role in supporting the economy, with remittance inflows helping rebuild foreign exchange reserves. The improvement in economic fundamentals also attracted international recognition. Two leading credit rating agencies, S&P Global Ratings and Moody’s, upgraded Pakistan’s sovereign ratings, while the country returned to international debt markets through a $3 billion Eurobond issuance.

These developments signalled renewed investor confidence in Pakistan’s financial outlook. However, the World Bank cautioned that restoring economic stability is only the beginning of a much larger challenge.

While Pakistan’s overall economy has expanded, the report revealed that real per capita income growth remains stuck at approximately 1.6%. This means that the pace at which the average Pakistani’s inflation-adjusted income is increasing remains significantly below the level needed for rapid improvements in living standards.

World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Bolormaa Amgaabazar acknowledged that the country had made meaningful progress in restoring economic stability and rebuilding market confidence. However, she stressed that Pakistan now urgently needs reforms capable of producing stronger and more sustained economic growth.

Pakistan’s return to international debt markets emerged as another major highlight of the World Bank assessment. The issuance of a $3 billion Eurobond demonstrated the country’s renewed ability to access international financing following improvements in macroeconomic management.

The report also highlighted credit rating upgrades from Moody’s and S&P, reflecting stronger confidence in Pakistan’s economic stabilisation efforts. The recovery has been supported by fiscal discipline, improved revenue performance and foreign exchange inflows. World Bank warned that Pakistan still faces significant constraints in government finances and foreign currency availability.

The report identified private-sector expansion as one of the most important drivers of Pakistan’s future prosperity. WB lead author stressed that the country must now focus on structural reforms that create opportunities for businesses to invest, expand and generate employment.

With fiscal resources limited and foreign exchange pressures continuing, the World Bank believes private-sector-led growth offers Pakistan a more sustainable route towards higher incomes. However, achieving this transformation would require effective coordination between government institutions, a clearly defined economic strategy and sustained implementation of reforms.

Without these changes, the report suggests Pakistan could struggle to maintain the pace of growth required to achieve its long-term income targets.

The World Bank’s latest findings present both an opportunity and a warning for Pakistan’s policymakers.

The country of nearly 250 million made measurable progress in restoring financial stability, rebuilding reserves, improving fiscal management and regaining international market confidence. On the other, the benefits of that recovery have yet to translate into sufficiently rapid income growth for the average Pakistani.

The contrast between the country’s current 1.6% real per capita income growth and its potential to sustain GDP growth of nearly 7% highlights the scale of the transformation required.

 

The post Pakistanis Could Become 3 Times Richer in next 20 years, World Bank predicts appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.

Elon Musk is trying to make himself more powerful than the government

22 October 2026 at 11:00

Elon Musk is arguably the most powerful man in the world — and increasingly he is using that power in deeply dangerous ways.

The Wall Street Journal, citing “U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter,” reported earlier this week that Musk ordered the slowdown of “a military-grade version” of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite system. Ukraine relies upon the system to intercept incoming Russian missiles and fire its drones against Russian targets.

One sentence in the Journal’s reporting speaks volumes about Musk’s increasingly malign influence on politics at home and foreign policy abroad: “With a seeming flick of a switch, Musk has the power to alter the course of a deadly conflict.” (SpaceX didn’t respond to the Journal’s request for comment.)

Since the beginning of the war, Russia has directly targeted civilians with missile and drone strikes. Thousands have been killed and injured. Just this week, a Russian drone attack in a central park in the city of Nova Vodolaha killed two women and four children. The dead included Inna Mariukhna, a 28-year-old school teacher, and her one-year-old daughter Anhelina, who was still strapped into her stroller as the bombs fell.

Musk’s actions make it more difficult for Ukraine to stop these attacks — and increase the chances of a Russian victory against its neighbor. Never before in human history has a single individual not involved in the fighting exercised such extraordinary power over the direction of a major military conflict.

Why is he doing this? In the past, he’s expressed concern that the satellite-based network could play a role in offensive operations that could escalate the conflict into nuclear war. But that doesn’t explain why he’s now making it harder for Ukraine to defend itself.

The simpler explanation is that the world’s richest person is working in concert with President Donald Trump. Over the past two weeks, Musk has joined Trump in publicly attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — and blaming him for the continuation of the war.

Trump increasingly holds Zelenskyy and Ukraine responsible for higher global energy prices, which he says are a result of Kyiv’s attacks on Russian diesel refineries. In reality, gas prices are up because of the Iran war that Trump initiated.

Trump is also desperate for a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has been increasing pressure on Zelenskyy to capitulate to Russian demands. Hindering Ukraine’s ability to stop drone and missile attacks is consistent with that strategy.

Trump somehow believes that a peace agreement or an end to Ukraine’s attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure will save Republicans in the midterm elections.

But his obsession with the midterms mirrors that of Musk, who has already spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars supporting GOP candidates this year — which dwarfs the $200 million he spent in 2024.

Musk’s most astounding intervention is in the Texas Senate campaign. Musk, who lives in Texas, has bankrolled Republican candidate Ken Paxton to the tune of $150 million. That windfall has not only kept the state attorney general competitive but also allowed Republicans to spend more freely on non-Texas races.

It is obscene that a single American citizen can exercise so much influence over one election. While we can thank the Supreme Court for loosening campaign rules and allowing such excess, Musk’s profligate spending again speaks to his outsize influence. And now, in addition to millions in donations, Musk’s attempts to boost Republicans have extended to interfering directly in an overseas conflict.

Is America a true democracy when a single, unelected citizen can have such a big impact on an American election? Is it consistent with America’s founding ideals for one citizen, unelected and unaccountable, to have the power to influence the outcome of a foreign war in which vital U.S. national security interests are at stake?

This isn’t the first time Musk has gotten involved in matters of state and left behind a trail of damage. After Trump won back the White House in 2024, he rewarded Musk by putting him in charge of the Orwellian-named Department of Government Efficiency.

In its short, calamitous tenure, DOGE wreaked havoc on the federal government, needlessly firing hundreds of thousands of government employees, weakening the Social Security Administration, undermining decades of scientific research and saving very little money in the process.

Worst of all, in Musk’s own words, DOGE fed the U.S. Agency for International Development to “the wood chipper.” According to the Center for Global Development and researchers at Boston University, the global death toll from USAID’s shuttering is estimated at between half a million and 1 million people.

Musk’s defenders will point to his successful businesses. But clearly Musk is not content with merely being a successful entrepreneur. His net worth is now around a trillion dollars, and he’s using that fortune to exercise power that, in effect, trumps governments and politicians.

He wants vast, outsize domestic and global influence — and that influence is subverting democracy and quite literally leading to deaths around the world.

While once Musk might have played the part of a cartoon villain, he’s increasingly become an actual villain. If Democrats take control of Congress in two weeks, scrutinizing Musk’s business practices, his vast government contracts and his control of the Starlink system should be among the party’s top priorities.

Politico reported this week that senior House Democrats on multiple committees are planning to do just that should the House flip. But investigations are not enough. Making it harder for the obscenely wealthy to exercise such influence in American elections and on American statecraft should also be at the top of the Democrats’ agenda. Musk’s actions over the past two years provide firsthand evidence of the dangers of allowing one man to have so much influence and power.

Musk is increasingly a menace, and since we know Trump won’t rein him in, Democrats must.

The post Elon Musk is trying to make himself more powerful than the government appeared first on MS NOW.

Tavira cook wins Pine Cliffs charity cooking competition

22 October 2026 at 11:51
Winner Sandra Leal kneeling in the centre

Sandra Leal, representing Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Tavira, has been crowned the winner of the second edition of Missão D’Chef, a cooking competition aimed at improving the quality of

The post Tavira cook wins Pine Cliffs charity cooking competition appeared first on Portugal Resident.

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