WASHINGTON, United States — Billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is nearly halfway to becoming the planet’s first trillionaire, Forbes magazine reported Wednesday.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO became the first person to achieve a net worth of $500 billion, albeit briefly, as the shares in his electric vehicle company rebounded following a clumsy stint.
https://business.inquirer.net/550439/elon-musk-halfway-to-becoming-worlds-first-trillionaire-report
The Philippines is aiming to host its first-ever Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament, with plans currently underway to hold the event early next year.
This initiative was discussed during a meeting on September 29 between Navotas Mayor and Philippine Tennis Association secretary-general John Rey Tiangco, and Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio.
The potential hosting of the WTA 125 tournament marks a significant step in promoting tennis in the country and providing local players with greater exposure to international competition. Further details about the event are expected to be announced as preparations progress.
https://sports.inquirer.net/642662/philippines-in-talks-to-host-first-wta-125-tennis-event
**Basis Bay’s Green Commitment Predates Today’s Mega Trend of Sustainability**
Engineered to Tier-4 standards, the new Cyberjaya centre ensures no single point of failure.
Basis Bay is putting the finishing touches on a new eco-premium, Tier-4 infrastructure, world-class data centre in Cyberjaya, slated to go live in October. Speaking at the MDX Summit 2025 fireside on 17 September, Dinesh Manoharan, Data Centre Project Lead at Basis Bay, outlined three core value propositions: fault-tolerant resilience, designed-in sustainability, and the critical guarantee of data sovereignty in a single Malaysian-owned facility.
### Where Uptime is the Baseline, Not a KPI
Every minute of downtime hurts, but for financial services, insurers, and government workloads—sectors where Basis Bay has nearly two decades of experience—it can be existential. This is why the new Cyberjaya data centre is engineered with no single point of failure, mirroring Tier-4 design principles where each critical system has a full redundant pair.
“It may be Tier-4, yet our data centres are built above and beyond the industry standards,” said Dinesh, adding, “Maximum uptime isn’t a target; it’s table stakes.”
He was quick to share a remarkable record: since 1996, Basis Bay has not lost a single client due to a service-level agreement (SLA) breach—a bar it intends to carry into its new generation of facilities.
### Green by Design, Not by Afterthought
Basis Bay’s green commitment predates today’s mega trend of sustainability. Proof lies in the fact that in 2009, it built Asia’s first purpose-built green data centre in Cyberjaya. That site, and the experience of running it for almost two decades for demanding world-class clients, led to what Dinesh calls an eco-premium approach—merging environmental considerations into form, fabric, and operations from day one.
The new Cyberjaya DC2 extends Basis Bay’s green DNA under an eco-premium banner. Clarifying what this means, Dinesh explains:
“When we say eco-premium, it is the amount of effort and thought process that is put in before even building. That shows up in EIA-led site planning, transplanting trees, sourcing local, lower-impact materials, and hydrology features.”
Dinesh is specific about cooling logic: “We have a bathtub rooftop design that drops shadow on the roof, which enhances cooling. Every degree Celsius of cooling power that you save translates into energy saved, and energy saved is income saved.”
Not surprisingly, the design input for the new facility involved the best consultants—local and global—with 17 consultants engaged.
### Key Highlights Include:
– A unique bathtub rooftop that channels rainwater to improve cooling efficiency.
– A BioSwell pond to support local ecosystems.
– Relocating trees and flora during construction to preserve local biodiversity.
– Sourcing eco-friendly building materials from local suppliers.
“It’s about designing with the environment in mind, not just the data,” he explained. “In today’s world, both matter equally.”
### Selling White Space is Not Basis Bay’s Game
Plenty of data centre providers sell white space. That is not Basis Bay’s approach. Instead, the company focuses on pushing its service layer as the differentiator.
A 24/7 ‘Smart Hands’ team acts as an on-site extension of client operations, handling installs, swaps, and triage without waiting for off-site engineers. This is reinforced by preventive lifecycle management, which aims to keep assets running past vendor end-of-life labels through checks and maintenance cycles.
### Sovereignty by Design
With global hyperscalers expanding across ASEAN, control over where data lives has re-entered board agendas. Dinesh stresses that Basis Bay’s facilities are Malaysian-owned and operated, offering enterprises and public sector clients a sovereign alternative with a single point of accountability across design, build, operations, and management.
“Everything is done by us in-house,” he emphasized.
Its value proposition is clear: “We are offering world-class compliance certainty, reduced supply-chain ambiguity, and data residency on home soil.”
In other words, one accountable Malaysian owner-operator for design, build, operations, and facilities management.
https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/digital-economy/malaysias-data-centre-pioneer-basis-bay-takes-it-next-level-its-eco-premium-tier-4
Good evening, Shacknews readers! It’s nighttime, which means it’s time for Evening Reading. Let’s officially close out our day of posting with the latest news, updates, and interesting tidbits from around the web.
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**In Case You Missed It at Shacknews:**
– *Fallout 76: Burning Springs* expands to post-nuclear Ohio and adds bounties.
– *Digimon Story Time Stranger* review: Grinding across time and space.
– Frictional Games teases its next project.
– Facebook and Instagram to get ads based on users’ AI chats.
– Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gets a $10 price increase.
– BioWare employees express concerns about closure following EA’s sale.
– KPop Demon Hunters come to Fortnite this week.
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**Other Stuff From The Internet!!!**
– **Rest in Peace Jane Goodall**
One of the all-time great human beings and a true champion of our world and the creatures who inhabit it. Her memory and impact will live on.
– **Merriam-Webster’s New Large Language Model**
Now this is how you market!
– **Sliced Ghost of Yotei Posters in the U.K.**
Awesome stuff. Can’t wait to jump in tomorrow!
– **Happy October!**
The best time of the year is officially upon us. Time to get spooky!
– **Quentin Johnston’s Catch, But Art**
This guy doesn’t miss.
– **So Many People Tried to Cancel Their Game Pass Subs That It Broke the Website**
Whoops!
– **Cronos: The New Dawn Gets Native Steam Deck Build**
Hoping to see more of this!
—
There you have it, Shacknews — your Evening Reading for tonight.
Please consider subscribing to Shacknews Mercury to support our site for as little as $1/month.
Thanks for reading, and have a great night!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/146182/evening-reading-october-1-2025
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https://www.ft.com/content/bb92cadf-2274-4de4-a579-cbeee3c0df92
While Tesla’s shares stumbled earlier this year, they are currently on a steady climb. This positive shift has been linked to Elon Musk’s renewed focus on his companies.
Elon Musk, the owner of Tesla, has become the first person to reach a net worth of nearly USD 500 billion. This milestone is credited to a strong rebound in Tesla’s stock and soaring valuations of his other ventures. According to the Forbes Billionaire Index, Musk’s total wealth touched USD 500.1 billion as of 4:15 PM ET on Wednesday, making him the richest individual in the world, far ahead of other business leaders.
Musk’s fortune remains closely tied to Tesla, where he owns a stake of more than 12.4 percent as of mid-September. Despite facing challenges in sales, the electric carmaker’s shares have gained more than 14 percent this year. On Wednesday alone, Tesla stock closed 3.3 percent higher, adding more than USD 6 billion to Musk’s wealth.
Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm recently noted that Musk is now “back front and center” at the company after months of distraction related to his activities at the White House. Supporting this renewed focus, Musk purchased nearly USD 1 billion worth of Tesla shares last month.
Tesla is currently racing to transform itself from a traditional carmaker into a leader in artificial intelligence and robotics. However, the company still faces pressure from weak car sales and shrinking profit margins, which have placed its stock among the laggards of the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants.
In response, Tesla’s board has proposed a USD 1 trillion pay package for Musk. This package ties his rewards to ambitious financial and operational goals, while also granting him the larger stake he has been seeking.
Musk’s growing empire outside Tesla has also fueled his wealth. His artificial intelligence venture, xAI, was valued at USD 75 billion in July, with reports suggesting it could aim for a USD 200 billion valuation in the near future. Musk, however, has denied plans to raise fresh funds for xAI.
Meanwhile, SpaceX, Musk’s rocket company, continues its expansion. Bloomberg News reported in July that SpaceX was considering a funding round that would value the firm at around USD 400 billion.
With Musk’s diversified portfolio and Tesla’s resurgence, his position as the world’s richest individual looks firmly secured for the foreseeable future.
https://www.news18.com/world/elon-musk-becomes-worlds-1st-person-to-hit-500-bn-net-worth-shows-forbes-list-9609384.html
**Shilpa-Raj’s Plea to Travel Abroad Denied by Bombay HC**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | Oct 01, 2025, 05:45 PM*
The Bombay High Court has denied interim relief to actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and businessman Raj Kundra in their plea seeking suspension of the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them. The LOC pertains to a ₹60 crore fraud case linked to their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd.
### Plea for Travel Abroad Denied
The couple requested permission to travel to Phuket from October 2 to 5 for a leisure trip. However, the court rejected this request, maintaining the LOC in place.
### Legal Arguments from the Couple’s Lawyers
Advocates Niranjan Mundargi and Keral Mehta representing the duo stated that although the case was filed in 2021, Shilpa and Raj Kundra have traveled abroad multiple times since then. They have consistently returned to cooperate with the ongoing investigation and argued that the couple should be allowed to travel despite the charges.
The court has directed Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh to file a reply to their plea by October 8.
### Upcoming International Travel Plans
In their petition, the couple informed the court of several upcoming international trips:
– **Los Angeles (October 21–24, 2025):** For professional work commitments.
– **Colombo and Maldives (October 26–29, 2025):** Related to the expansion of their hospitality venture, Hotel Bastian.
– **Dubai and London (December 20, 2025 – January 6, 2026):** To visit Raj Kundra’s parents.
They have requested the court’s permission to undertake these trips as planned.
### Details of the Cheating Case
The case was filed following a complaint by Deepak Kothari, Director of UY Industries Pvt Ltd. Kothari alleges that between 2015 and 2023, the couple persuaded him to invest in their venture. According to him, he invested ₹60.48 crore as a loan under an investment agreement, with Shilpa Shetty Kundra providing a personal guarantee.
The investigation into this alleged ₹60 crore fraud remains ongoing, with the court closely monitoring the situation.
—
*Stay tuned for further updates on the case and the court’s next hearing scheduled post-October 8.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/court-denies-shilpa-shetty-s-travel-plea-amid-fraud-case/story
**Shilpa-Raj’s Plea to Travel Abroad Denied by Bombay High Court**
*By Apoorva Rastogi | October 1, 2025, 5:45 PM*
The Bombay High Court has rejected the interim relief sought by actor Shilpa Shetty Kundra and businessman Raj Kundra in their plea to suspend the Look Out Circular (LOC) issued against them. The LOC was issued in connection with a ₹60 crore fraud case involving their now-defunct company, Best Deal TV Pvt Ltd.
The couple had requested permission to travel to Phuket from October 2 to 5 for a leisure trip. However, the court denied their request, maintaining restrictions on their international travel for the time being.
**Legal Plea and Arguments**
Represented by advocates Niranjan Mundargi and Keral Mehta, Shilpa and Raj argued that although the case against them was filed in 2021, they have traveled abroad multiple times since and have always returned to cooperate with the ongoing investigation. Their lawyers contended that the couple should be allowed to travel abroad despite the open case.
The court has directed Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh to submit a reply to their plea by October 8.
**Upcoming Travel Plans**
In their petition, the couple disclosed several upcoming international trips. They mentioned a planned business trip to Los Angeles from October 21 to 24. Following that, they intend to visit Colombo and the Maldives from October 26 to 29 to further their hospitality venture, Hotel Bastian.
Additionally, they have requested permission to travel to Dubai and London between December 20, 2025, and January 6, 2026, to visit Raj Kundra’s parents.
**Details of the Fraud Case**
The cheating case stems from a complaint filed by Deepak Kothari, Director of UY Industries Pvt Ltd. Kothari alleged that between 2015 and 2023, Shilpa and Raj persuaded him to invest in their business venture. According to the complaint, Kothari invested ₹60.48 crore as a loan under an investment agreement, with Shetty Kundra providing a personal guarantee.
The matter is still under investigation, and the court’s decision to deny their travel plea underscores the seriousness of the allegations.
—
*Stay tuned for further updates on the case and the couple’s legal proceedings.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/entertainment/court-denies-shilpa-shetty-s-travel-plea-amid-fraud-case/story
**Zoho’s Arattai Still Missing Key Privacy Feature Available on WhatsApp**
*By Akash Pandey | Oct 01, 2025, 06:20 PM*
Zoho Corporation’s homegrown messaging app, Arattai, has been gaining traction in the Indian market and is being positioned as a potential competitor to the Meta-owned WhatsApp. However, privacy-conscious users have identified a significant shortcoming: Arattai currently lacks default end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for standard messages. This gap could prove to be a major disadvantage compared to WhatsApp and other popular messaging platforms that offer comprehensive encryption.
### Privacy Commitment: Partial Encryption Available
Despite missing E2EE for regular messages, Zoho promotes Arattai as a privacy-first service with all user data stored securely within India. The app does offer end-to-end encryption for voice and video calls, and there is also a ‘secret chat’ feature designed for secure messaging. Zoho has indicated that full E2EE implementation for all messages is forthcoming.
### User Concerns and Response
Many users have expressed frustration over the absence of default E2EE for standard chats, highlighting that it leaves a large portion of conversations vulnerable. Addressing these concerns, Arattai’s official account on X acknowledged the issue and assured users that the team is actively working to roll out end-to-end encryption for all chats soon.
### What Is Arattai?
Developed by Chennai-based Zoho Corporation, Arattai is a free-to-use, cross-platform instant messaging app. It offers a variety of features including text and voice messaging, audio and video calls, media sharing, story posting, and group chats. The app supports up to five linked devices per account, allowing messages, contacts, and settings to sync seamlessly across smartphones, tablets, and desktops.
### Challenges Ahead: Competing with WhatsApp
Since its launch in 2021, Arattai has recently climbed to the top of app charts on both the App Store and Google Play Store. Nonetheless, maintaining this momentum could be challenging. WhatsApp remains deeply embedded in Indian life, with over 500 million users relying on it daily for personal communication, commerce, and government services. Its vast network effects and expanding business platform provide a significant competitive advantage over emerging rivals like Arattai.
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While Arattai is making strides as an Indian alternative to WhatsApp, addressing key privacy features like default end-to-end encryption will be crucial for winning users’ trust and sustaining growth in a highly competitive market.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/zoho-s-arattai-missing-this-key-whatsapp-privacy-feature/story
**Zepto in Final Stages of $450M Funding at $7B Valuation**
*By Mudit Dube | Oct 01, 2025, 06:07 PM*
Zepto, a leading player in the quick commerce sector, is close to securing $450 million (approximately ₹3,900 crore) in a new funding round, according to sources cited by Moneycontrol. This capital infusion is a strategic move aimed at expanding Zepto’s offerings and scaling its operations amidst intensifying competition.
**Funding Round and Key Investors**
The funding round is being co-led by the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), a prominent US-based pension fund, along with General Catalyst (GC), an existing investor in Zepto. Besides these two, several current investors—including Avenir, Avra, Lightspeed, Glade Brook, The Stepstone Group, and Nexus Venture Partners—are expected to participate to maintain or possibly increase their stakes in the company.
**Valuation Soars to $7 Billion**
With this fresh round, Zepto’s valuation is set to leap to $7 billion, marking a 40% increase from its $5 billion valuation last year. The company’s growth has been propelled by over a 20% rise in order volumes, reflecting strong market demand and operational expansion.
**Use of Funds: Primary Capital and Secondary Deals**
The majority of the funds raised will be primary capital, directly bolstering Zepto’s financial resources to fuel growth initiatives. Additionally, between $70 million and $100 million of the total funding will come from secondary share deals. These involve early investors selling portions of their holdings to new investors, enabling some liquidity for early backers while keeping them engaged through ongoing investments.
**Market Strategy and Competitive Outlook**
Zepto plans to leverage the new capital to boost its spending and increase its market share in the quick commerce space. This comes at a time when the sector’s rapid growth has somewhat cooled, with competitors such as Blinkit (by Eternal) and Instamart (by Swiggy) shifting their focus toward profitable growth.
By strengthening its financial backing, Zepto aims to regain momentum and secure a stronger position in this highly competitive market, responding proactively to evolving industry dynamics.
—
*Stay tuned for more updates on Zepto and developments in the quick commerce industry.*
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/zepto-seeks-450-million-funding-at-7b-valuation/story
