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Lichen International Ltd is a financial and taxation service provider in China. The company provides financial and taxation solution services; education support services; and software and maintenance services in the PRC under its Lichen brand. The financial and taxation solution services comprise financial and taxation related management consultation, internal control management consultation, annual or regular consultation, and internal training and general consultation. The education support services comprise the provision of marketing, operational and technical support and the sales of teaching and learning materials. The software and maintenance services comprise the sales of financial and taxation analysis software and sales of financial and taxation training software.

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The past week has been a whirlwind of political and economic developments. President Donald Trump&#8217;s approval ratings took a hit following an attack on Iran, while he hinted at potential changes to the July tariff deadline. The Supreme Court handed Trump a significant victory, limiting judges&#8217; power to block presidential directives. Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the GOP&#8217;s budget reconciliation bill, and Trump&#8217;s defense budget signaled a strategic shift towards advanced missile systems and unmanned warfare capabilities.
Trump&#8217;s Approval Ratings Drop After Iran Attack
President Donald Trump&#8217;s approval ratings have dipped in the wake of an attack on Iran, as revealed by a recent Morning Consult poll. The president&#8217;s approval among voters has been negatively impacted on several key campaign issues.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46129934/trump-approval-ratings-drop-after-attack-on-iran-tie-for-worst-since-second-term-started">Read the full article here.</a>
Trump Hints at Flexibility on July Tariff Deadline
President Trump has suggested that the early July deadline for reinstating significant U.S. tariffs on various countries may not be set in stone. &#8220;We can do whatever we want,&#8221; he told reporters at the White House.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46156587/trump-says-july-tariff-deadline-not-set-in-stone-we-can-do-whatever-we-want">Read the full article here.</a>
See Also: <a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46133937/boeing-787-dreamliner-crash-india-shuts-door-on-un-aviation-expert-probing-plane-accident" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Boeing 787 Dreamliner Crash: India Shuts Door On UN Aviation Expert Probing Plane Accident</a>
Supreme Court Limits Judges&#8217; Power to Block Presidential Directives
The Supreme Court has made a ruling that alters how birthright citizenship policies can be challenged in court. The decision restricts judges' ability to block President Trump's policies across the nation.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46156417/supreme-court-hands-trump-a-monumental-victory-as-it-limits-judges-power-to-block-presidents-birthright-citizenship-order">Read the full article here.</a>
Schumer Criticizes GOP&#8217;s Budget Reconciliation Bill
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer launched a scathing attack on the Republican Party's budget reconciliation bill, calling it "flawed" and "irredeemable." He criticized the bill for its extensive cutbacks on welfare and tax breaks for the wealthy.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/macro-economic-events/25/06/46132709/chuck-schumer-slams-gops-big-beautiful-bill-as-flawed-it-guts-healthcare-kills-jobs-to-fund-tax-breaks-for-billionaires">Read the full article here.</a>
Trump&#8217;s Defense Budget Shifts Focus to Missiles, Drones
President Trump&#8217;s fiscal 2026 defense budget request indicates a strategic pivot towards advanced missile systems and unmanned warfare capabilities while reducing traditional fighter jet procurement.
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/06/46111024/trumps-defense-budget-shifts-focus-to-missiles-drones-f-35-orders-cut-by-31">Read the full article here.</a>
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<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46135230/trumps-5-million-gold-card-draws-global-elite-but-lawyers-warn-many-high-net-worth-individuals-will" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Trump&#8217;s $5 Million &#8216;Gold Card&#8217; Draws Global Elite, But Lawyers Warn &#8216;Many High-Net-Worth Individuals Will Not Apply&#8217; Without Tax Clarity</a></li>
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Photo courtesy: Shutterstock
This story was generated using <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro">Benzinga Neuro</a> and edited by <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/Rounak-Jain" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rounak Jain</a>

Politics

Trump's Approval Ratings, Tariff Deadlines, Schumer's Criticism, And Defense Budget Shifts: This Week In Politics

Mark Cuban may have a net worth north of $5 billion, but when it came time to split the check with his dad, the math didn't matter.
In a 2019 appearance on "<a href="https://youtu.be/t3DQciFECoY?si=vRlE43Fabbb6sMoI">The Dan Patrick Show,</a>" Cuban shared that his father, Norton Cuban, "did upholstery on cars and I don't think he ever made more than $40,000 in a year." Still, that never stopped him from grabbing the dinner bill—even after his son became one of the richest entrepreneurs in America.
"He was dad," Cuban said plainly. "If we went out to dinner, he was pulling out the credit card no matter what. The minute I said, ‘Dad,' he just looked at me with a death stare like, ‘Don't even think that you're going to pay for dinner.'"
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And he meant it.
The billionaire investor admitted it felt "weird" out-earning his father by tens of millions, but the old-school respect never faded. Norton wasn't interested in who had more zeros in their bank account—he was interested in being dad.
Cuban's respect for his father runs deep. At 14, he spent time working with Norton in auto upholstery—not to learn the craft, but to learn that punching a clock for someone else meant giving up your time. "His time was never his own," Cuban recalled in a <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/28/mark-cuban-built-his-career-using-advice-his-dad-gave-him-at-age-14.html">CNBC interview</a>. "He wanted me to create my own path."
So Cuban did. And when he eventually pulled in $100,000 in a single year, he shared the milestone with his dad, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/topics/25/06/46042314/when-mark-cuban-hit-100000-he-told-his-dad-whod-never-earned-even-half-that-he-just-started-crying">who immediately started crying</a>.
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Still, Cuban said the best thing he ever bought his dad wasn't a fancy car or house—it was a trip. That's what stuck.
"My dad is 87. He's going strong, he's a machine," Cuban told the <a href="https://youtu.be/TE4JsAahB2w?si=XKhNcRag7BQzuwCy">crowd at SXSW in 2014</a>. Then he shared Norton's favorite piece of advice:
"Today's the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/45775192/mark-cuban-wanted-to-get-rich-enough-to-retire-by-35-not-to-quit-working-but-for-freedom-today-is-the-youngest-youll-ever-be-live-like-it">youngest you're ever going to be</a>. You've got to live like it. You've got to live young every day."
Norton Cuban passed away in 2018 at 92, but clearly, his lessons didn't go anywhere.
Billionaire or not, Mark Cuban's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45553078/mark-cuban-says-you-dont-need-to-have-life-figured-out-by-22-he-got-fired-slept-on-the-floor-partied-like-a-rockstar-and-still-became-rich">still trying to live young</a>, and maybe—just maybe—pick up the check once in a while. Though if his dad were around, that stare might still shut it down.
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Personal Finance

Mark Cuban Says His Dad Made $40K A Year But Still Paid For Dinner—Even After He Became A Billionaire: 'Don't Even Think That You're Going To Pay'

Investing is one of the common paths to long-term wealth, but it can feel complex if you are just getting started. Luckily, financial guru Vincent Chan recently revealed the simplest way to get started.
Not only is it easy to start investing based on Chan's advice, but <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@vincentchanco/video/7519112459018325281?lang=en">his strategy</a> has a proven track record of multiplying your money in the long run.
The Easiest Things To Invest In Are Low-Cost Index Funds&#8217; Chan explained in the video.
It sounds basic, but that doesn't make it a bad suggestion. Here's why index funds remain one of the most popular ways for people to invest.
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</ul>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Why Index Funds Are Easy For Beginners</h2>
Index funds offer investors exposure to a basket of companies. Some index funds contain a few dozen companies, while other index funds contain hundreds of publicly traded corporations. A couple of index funds even have well over 1,000 stocks, offering broad exposure to the market.
You don't have to get the most diversified index fund to get good results. Some funds with 100 stocks perform better than funds with 500 stocks. The main strength of index funds is that they enable automatic portfolio diversification and streamline investing.
You don't have to research a bunch of stocks, know what to look for in a good stock or follow the news every day. A portfolio manager can do all of those things for you as your money grows in an index fund.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Start With Your Tax-Advantaged Accounts</h2>
You can accumulate index funds in any investment account that lets you trade stocks. However, Chan suggests giving preference to tax-advantaged accounts like your 401(k), HSA, and Roth IRA when you make investments.
These accounts let you reduce your tax bill as you grow your investments. Traditional retirement accounts let you reduce your taxes right now, while you won't have to pay any taxes on withdrawals from your Roth IRA.&nbsp;
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Chan suggests investing any remaining money into a brokerage account once you have maxed out your tax-advantaged accounts. Investors should also monitor any changes the IRS makes to the maximum amount they can contribute to retirement accounts. You also get to make catch-up contributions to your retirement accounts the moment you turn 50.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What To Look For In An Index Fund</h2>
Chan recommends looking for index funds that have low expense ratios. This ratio reflects the cost of holding the fund and having an investment firm manage it on your behalf. Passively managed ETFs that mirror benchmarks like the S&amp;P 500 typically have low expense ratios. It's realistic to find passively managed ETFs that have expense ratios below 0.10%.&nbsp;
Investors can further explore index funds by analyzing their total returns. You can look at how much a fund has returned over the past five and ten years to gauge if it's consistent or volatile. It's also good to look at a fund's asset allocation to see if most of the stocks are in the tech sector or another industry.
Some investors also look at a fund's yield to see how much cash flow they will receive just by holding on to shares. While most investors shouldn't prioritize a fund based on its yield, receiving passive income from investments becomes more valuable as you get closer to retirement.
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</ul>

New To Investing? Vincent Chan Says Low-Cost Index Funds Are the Easiest Way to Get Started

Doctors used to be the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44481583/bill-gates-thinks-you-might-only-work-2-3-days-a-week-thanks-to-ai-but-also-says-legitimately-people-are-like-wow-this-is-a-bit-scary">gold standard of job security</a>. After all, you can't outsource a heart transplant to a chatbot… right?
But according to Elon Musk, even the most elite surgeons might want to start looking over their scrub-covered shoulders.
"Robots will surpass good human surgeons within a few years and the best human surgeons within ~5 years," he <a href="https://x.com/elonmusk/status/1916573094367625556">posted on X in April</a>.
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</ul>
That might sound like a stretch — but Musk pointed to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46012959/elon-musks-neuralink-implants-brain-chip-in-6th-patient-enables-paralyzed-man-to-move-cursor-play-game-with-his-mind">real-world experience at Neuralink</a>. "It was impossible for a human to achieve the required speed and precision," he said, referring to why his neurotechnology company had to rely on a robot to insert brain-computer electrodes.
Neuralink's surgical robot is designed to place ultra-thin threads into the brain, a job too delicate for even the steadiest hands. Musk wasn't just speculating — he was citing the kind of tech already in use.
And the broader field of robot-assisted surgery has been gaining momentum. Around the same time as Musk's post, Medtronic (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MDT#NYSE">MDT</a>) in April <a href="https://news.medtronic.com/2025-04-26-Medtronic-Expand-URO-U-S-clinical-trial-meets-safety-and-effectiveness-primary-endpoints-for-Hugo-TM-robotic-assisted-surgery-system">released results</a> from 137 live surgeries using its Hugo robotic system. The complication rate was just 3.7% for prostate procedures, with the system exceeding success benchmarks by a wide margin.
So what's the problem? According to actual surgeons: nuance, context — and a reality check.
One American neurosurgeon responded directly to Musk's claim on X, <a href="https://x.com/DrSAdusumilli/status/1916612237558419743">saying</a>:
"This is false. As a neurosurgeon, I promise you that no &#8220;robot&#8221; surgeon can EVER autonomously perform brain and spine surgery or likely any surgeries effectively, appropriately or safely. Too many variables require critical thinking."
Another <a href="https://x.com/dr_francisco79/status/1916600843987546183">surgeon chimed in writing</a>: "The problem is that the human body is not a machine and, in surgery in particular, the unexpected happens all the time."
He added, "At this point, the surgeon needs to use creativity to solve problems, and that is what separates the best from the average."
Another robotic surgeon, who claims to have&nbsp; performed more than 2,400 procedures, <a href="https://x.com/DrSAdusumilli/status/1916612237558419743">posted</a>:
"Misleading!! Robots are not actually doing the surgery; the surgeon is doing it with the console. They are great tools, but not surgeons."
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Leaders in outpatient surgery centers echoed those concerns to<a href="https://ascnews.com/2025/04/ai-surgery-debate-heats-up-after-elon-musks-robot-prediction/"> Ambulatory Surgery Center News</a>.
Wes Battiste, CEO of Destin Surgery Center, pushed back diplomatically:
"I admire Elon Musk as an exceptional entrepreneur and visionary. But I would beg to differ with him in regard to his recent post referencing AI replacing surgeons in the next five years."
Battiste emphasized that while AI excels at analyzing patterns, surgery involves subjective decisions and unpredictable anatomy — the kind that doesn't always match textbook diagrams.
"Medicine is called an art and not a science for a reason," he said.
Others, like Michael McClain of Left Coast Healthcare Advisors, warned of regulation lagging behind AI's capabilities:&nbsp;
"There is a ton of work to do in terms of safety, reliability, liability and governance before truly autonomous surgery is a remote possibility."
Robotic systems will absolutely keep playing a bigger role in operating rooms. But for now, most experts agree they're still just tools — not replacements.
Joan Dentler, founder of Avanza Healthcare Strategies, summed up what many doctors were thinking when she told ASCN:
"I'm not sure that the technology will fully replace human surgeons. Perhaps it will augment their abilities."
There are still a few years to go before we find out whether Musk's prediction is prophetic, premature, or just another bold headline. But either way, the conversation isn't just theoretical anymore. Robots are already in the operating room—and the question now is how much further they're allowed to go.
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Elon Musk Says Robots Will Outperform 'Best Human Surgeons' in 5 Years — But Doctors Beg To Differ: Humans Aren't Built Like Car Parts

"Blaze a new trail," singer-songwriter Usher Terry Raymond IV urged Emory University's Class of 2025 during his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLEzw6D69-g">commencement address</a> on May 12 in Atlanta, stressing that "it's the person who animates the degree."&nbsp;
The <a href="https://www.grammy.com/artists/usher/16167">eight-time Grammy winner</a> received an <a href="https://news.emory.edu/stories/2025/05/er_commencement_honorary_degree_usher_07-05-2025/story.html">honorary doctor of humane letters</a> during the speech, where he recalled being "misunderstood and passed over" in school yet still amassing an estimated $200 million fortune through music, tech bets, and sports ownership.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Off-Key To On Top</h2>
"A diploma still matters, yes of course it matters, but it's not the paper that gives the power, it's you," Usher said, urging graduates to match credentials with "ambition, integrity, hustle and heart." Emory highlighted the address in a campus recap.
Cut from a middle-school chorus for singing off-key, Usher signed his first record deal at 14. Decades later,<a href="https://fortune.com/2025/05/16/multimillionaire-music-icon-usher-gen-z-advice-degrees-important-but-show-up/"> </a><a href="https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/richest-rappers/usher-net-worth/">Celebrity Net Worth</a> values his net worth near $200 million, crediting chart-toppers, a minority stake in the NBA's, and early tech investments.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Degrees vs. Grit</h2>
Graduates now face a chillier market than when "Yeah!" vaulted up the charts in 2004. The<a href="https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/empsit.pdf"> Bureau of Labor Statistics</a> shows unemployment for workers ages 20-24 hit 8.2% in May while the national rate held at 4.2%. Hiring freezes widen that gap.&nbsp;
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<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-tech-entry-level-job-market-2025-6">Business Insider </a>reported this month that entry-level openings at Big Tech names such as Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GOOG#NASDAQ">GOOG</a>, GOOGL)) and Apple (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AAPL#NASDAQ">AAPL</a>) have fallen more than 50% since 2019.&nbsp;
The 2025<a href="https://www.signalfire.com/blog/signalfire-state-of-talent-report-2025"> SignalFire State of Tech Talent Report</a> echoes the downturn, which shows new-grad hiring now accounts for just 7% of Big Tech additions, down from 15% pre-pandemic.
Students are reassessing the return on that diploma. According to an<a href="https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/news/college-degree-value-generational-divide"> Indeed Hiring Lab survey</a> published in May, 51% of Gen Z professionals believe their degree was a "waste of money" as employers pivot to skill-first criteria and use generative AI for junior tasks.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Dream Big, Even If It Sounds Crazy</h2>
Commencement stages nationwide echoed the mindset message. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_jRzPV7kc0">told </a>Washington University graduates in St. Louis the same day that "the world doesn't need you to be perfect—it needs you to be bold."&nbsp;
Those remarks align with Usher's closing challenge to Emory's class: "Be a little unrealistic—be a little delusional" when pursuing fulfillment, yet stay patient with the process.&nbsp;
As he reminded graduates, obstacles can "make you or break you," but a relentless mindset can still turn classroom setbacks into platinum records—or whatever success looks like after the mortarboards land.&nbsp;
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AAPL

GOOG

Usher Says He Was Misunderstood And Passed Over In School — Now He's Worth $200 Million And Tells Gen Z 'Blaze A New Trail'

Earlier this week, Quantum Computing, Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QUBT#NASDAQ">QUBT</a>) announced a $200 million private placement and Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSFT#NASDAQ">MSFT</a>) CEO said quantum computing could take scientific advancements to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/etfs/new-etfs/25/06/46080190/quantum-volatility-tradrs-new-etfs-qubx-rgtu-are-built-for-it-says-matt-markiewicz">the next level</a>.
Here&#8217;s a look at this week's highlights, lowlights and news catalysts in the quantum computing sector.&nbsp;
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Highlights: In a fireside chat with Gary Tan at Y Combinator&#8217;s AI Startup School that was posted on YouTube on Wednesday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said that<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46111393/ai-is-already-speeding-up-discoveries-in-chemistry-and-physics-but-satya-nadella-says-the-real-breakthrough-will-come-when-we-add-quantum-computing-to-the-mix"> it will be</a> a game-changer when quantum computing is integrated with AI.&nbsp;
&#8220;If you want to understand the language of nature, which is simulation, I think the best way to do it is through a quantum computer because, after all, physics and nature are quantum,&#8221; Nadella said.&nbsp;
&#8220;What we are seeing is pretty good advances in using basically HPC+AI as a way to accelerate advances in Chemistry, in Physics, in Material Science and so quantum would be the next step in it."
"But we're very excited about what AI+quantum and HPC in a loop can do,&#8221; he added.
Lowlights: Quantum Computing shares<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/movers/25/06/46060567/quantum-computing-qubt-shares-slide-following-200m-private-placement-announcement"> fell on Monday</a> after the company announced a $200 million private placement with institutional investors.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The quantum photonics and optics firm disclosed it had entered into securities purchase agreements with institutional investors to sell approximately 14 million shares of common stock at $14.25 per share.
Quantum Computing shares were 10% lower on the week.&nbsp;
D-Wave Quantum, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QBTS#NYSE">QBTS</a>) shares fell 12% over the past five days, while IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IONQ#NYSE">IONQ</a>) and Rigetti Computing Inc. (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RGTI#NASDAQ">RGTI</a>) ended the week mostly flat.&nbsp;
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Quantum Stocks Surge And Stumble: Here's What Happened This Week

In a recent <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/1laxdo4/true_or_false/">Reddit post</a> on r/SocialSecurity, a user shared a dilemma that stirred up plenty of advice — and some confusion. The poster's friend is 67, still working full-time, and just sold his house. He hasn't started collecting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46056038/still-working-at-69-eligible-for-social-security-should-he-keep-waiting-or-claim-now">Social Security</a> yet, but a bank advisor told him he should claim now — or risk "losing money" because of a so-called "look back" tied to his high income.
Commenters quickly weighed in, but let's break down what's really going on — and whether the advisor's warning holds up.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">At 67, Is It Too Late to Wait?</h2>
No — in fact, he's right on time to make a smart decision.
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Because the man is already 67, he's reached his full retirement age, or FRA, under <a href="https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf">Social Security rules</a>. That means he can earn as much as he wants from working — or from selling his home — and it won't reduce his monthly benefit at all.
Claiming now is an option, but not a requirement. And waiting a bit longer will actually increase his benefit thanks to delayed retirement credits, which add about 8% per year up to age 70.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Will Selling the House Hurt His Benefits?</h2>
This is where the bank advisor's claim gets shaky.
Social Security only cares about earned income — money from working or self-employment — when it comes to calculating any reductions in benefits before FRA. Once you hit FRA, those limits go away entirely.
On top of that, profits from a home sale are considered capital gains, not earned income. They don't affect your Social Security benefit calculation — and there's no "look back" rule in Social Security that would penalize him later.
Trending: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-company-may-have-found-a-way-to-treat-cancer-by-tricking-the-bodys-immune-system-and-early-studies-show-some-promise-find-out-how-you-can-invest-in-the-future-of-cancer-treatment">Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Wait, Is There Any "Look Back" Rule at All?</h2>
As some of the commenters on the thread mentioned, the "look back" the advisor mentioned probably comes from <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/management/25/06/46044386/ill-lose-my-marriage-72-year-old-man-asks-if-hes-a-bad-son-for-applying-for-medicaid-to-place-his-broke-94-year-old-mom-in-a-nursing-home">Medicaid</a>, not Social Security. Medicaid has a five-year look-back period to see if applicants transferred assets below market value in an attempt to qualify for long-term care coverage.
That rule has nothing to do with claiming Social Security benefits.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Could Medicare Costs Go Up?</h2>
Here's the one area where income from a house sale might have an impact: Medicare.
If the sale significantly increases his taxable income this year — with the sale of his property, his annual income this year went from $87,000 to $300,000 — he could get hit with higher Medicare premiums in a couple of years. Medicare uses a two-year income "look back" to determine whether someone owes Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount, or IRMAA, surcharges on their premiums.
But this doesn't affect whether or not he should claim Social Security — it's a separate issue.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Reddit Gets It Right — Mostly</h2>
Many Reddit commenters correctly pointed out that claiming Social Security right now is a choice, not an urgent requirement. There's no penalty for waiting once you hit <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45534539/social-security-full-retirement-age-shift-means-filing-at-62-could-chop-your-check-by-30-what-every-worker-born-in-1960-or-later-must-know">full retirement age</a>, and in this case, there's no financial downside to holding off — especially if he doesn't need the money yet.
The takeaway? It's worth getting advice, but make sure it's from someone who understands the rules — not just a bank advisor trying to be helpful.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>

He's 67, Still Working, And Just Sold His House — His Bank Advisor Says Claiming Social Security Now Or Lose Money Later. Is That True?

President Donald Trump revealed a peace agreement on June 27 between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, aimed at halting long-standing violence in eastern Congo and unlocking U.S.-backed economic <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/commodities/25/06/46157422/trump-ally-eyes-500-million-deal-in-peace-plan-for-dr-congo" rel="noreferrer noopener">development in the region</a>.
The treaty announcement follows rising international concern over Rwanda&#8217;s alleged support of rebel forces destabilizing mineral-rich parts of eastern Congo.
The agreement comes as part of the Trump administration&#8217;s broader strategy to end global conflicts and facilitate American investment in strategic regions, USA Today <a target="_blank" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2025/06/27/trump-basks-in-another-peace-deal-this-one-in-africa/84383556007/?tbref=hp" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
Also Read: <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/46043222/pakistan-will-nominate-genuine-peacemaker-trump-for-nobel-peace-prize" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pakistan Will Nominate &#8216;Genuine Peacemaker&#8217; Trump for Nobel Peace Prize</a>
Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a pivotal role in securing the deal, hosting a formal signing ceremony with Congolese Foreign Minister Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner and Rwandan Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe at the State Department before bringing both diplomats to the Oval Office.
Eastern Congo has suffered decades of unrest, fueled by territorial disputes and competition over valuable natural resources like cobalt and copper, USA Today adds.
The DRC government blames the M23 rebel group—which the U.N. says is backed by Rwanda—for thousands of deaths and the displacement of more than 450,000 civilians this year alone. Rwanda denies any involvement.
Senior administration adviser Massad Boulos, who is also connected to Trump&#8217;s family, is reportedly in talks to secure mineral supply deals that could channel billions of dollars into the DRC&#8217;s economy.
The Trump administration sees peace as a pathway to stabilizing the region and boosting access to critical minerals essential for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and national security.
This latest agreement builds on Trump&#8217;s efforts to broker ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine.
According to State Department officials, the treaty covers a ceasefire, respect for borders, refugee return, and a regional economic framework—though they caution that real peace will depend on actual implementation on the ground.
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Equities

Trump Brokers Peace Deal Between DR Congo And Rwanda — Now Eyes Billions In US Investment

"So wild to see her reaction," Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian said on the <a href="https://www.possible.fm/podcasts/ohanian/">"Possible" podcast</a> last month, after ChatGPT vaulted his childhood pencil sketches into vivid starships for his&nbsp; 7-year-old daughter, Olympia Ohanian.&nbsp;
The venture capitalist added that super-intelligence is becoming a commodity. "I want her to understand this is a superpower that she should have," framing generative <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/02/43903135/ais-19-9-trillion-impact-could-create-the-first-trillionaire-but-mark-cuban-says-it-wont-be-musk-or-bezos">artificial intelligence</a> as a creative engine kids can wield daily. His real-time demo spotlights how quickly AI is shifting from lab curiosity to home art supply for young creators.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Classroom Superpowers Or Caution Signs</h2>
In the same conversation, Ohanian explained that he photographed "half-finished" cartoon rockets he drew as a kid and let ChatGPT return "full-color illustrations" in seconds.&nbsp;
"I want Olympia using it every day," he said, arguing that access to super-intelligence will soon be table stakes for homework. "It was just so wild to see her reaction to it," he said when the new drawings appeared. Ohanian recalled how the second-grader immediately asked to "make it fly through space."&nbsp;
"I still need her to know the fundamentals of reading and writing and arithmetic," Ohanian said, "but I want her to know that the raw intelligence part has been solved." Beyond art, he points to the AI-powered tutoring platform <a href="https://www.synthesis.com/tutor">Synthesis</a> as Olympia's homework helper—a tool that drills math and logic while still encouraging her to practice traditional pencil skills.
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Washington began laying the groundwork for that vision in April, when a White House <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/advancing-artificial-intelligence-education-for-american-youth/">executive order</a> created a task force to train teachers, fund AI-literacy curricula, and stage a nationwide "Presidential AI Challenge" for K-12 students. The directive also asks the Education Department to publish funding guidance within 90 days and calls for public-private partnerships to stock classrooms with vetted AI tools.
Classroom adoption is already accelerating. A nationally representative survey released in April by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, and <a href="https://www.foundry10.org/news/press/uci-news-uc-irvine-leads-national-survey-of-artificial-intelligences-role-in-education">nonprofit Foundry10</a> found 69% of teens said AI helped them learn something new, while less than 6% said they had experienced negative social or academic impacts from their use of AI.
Still, caution resonates in Washington. During a <a href="https://www.techpolicy.press/transcript-sam-altman-testifies-at-us-senate-hearing-on-ai-competitiveness/">Senate Commerce Committee hearing</a> last month, OpenAI CEO <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44590350/courtroom-clash-no-thank-you-sparks-lawsuit-as-altman-shuts-down-musks-97-4b-bid">Sam Altman</a> told lawmakers that children require "a much higher level of protection" before forging chat-based friendships.&nbsp;
Altman urged age gates and independent safety audits, warning that unsupervised AI companions could mold identity development. Ohanian contends safeguards and exploration can coexist. "I want her to understand this is a superpower that she should have," he said.
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'So Wild To See Her Reaction' — Alexis Ohanian, Co-Founder Of Reddit, Uses AI To Turn Childhood Doodles Into Space Adventures With His Kid

The Federal Reserve announced on Friday that all 22 of the nation&#8217;s largest banks successfully passed its 2025 stress test, maintaining adequate capital buffers even under a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/insights/analyst-ratings/25/06/46125160/expert-outlook-bank-of-america-through-the-eyes-of-15-analysts" rel="noreferrer noopener">hypothetical recession scenario</a>. However, analysts noted that this year&#8217;s exam was less demanding than previous iterations, CNBC <a target="_blank" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/27/big-banks-all-pass-less-vigorous-federal-reserves-stress-tests.html" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.
The central bank&#8217;s simulated downturn included milder assumptions compared to 2024—featuring smaller declines in housing and commercial real estate prices, a more moderate unemployment spike, and reduced overall market disruption.
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The report adds that these factors likely contributed to the more favorable outcomes for major financial institutions.
Michelle Bowman, the Fed&#8217;s newly appointed vice chair for supervision and a President Donald Trump appointee, said in a statement, &#8220;Large banks remain well capitalized and resilient to a range of severe outcomes,&#8221; CNBC adds
The scenario estimated roughly $550 billion in total losses across the tested firms, yet all remained above regulatory minimums.
Unlike last year&#8217;s exam, which included steeper declines and more severe economic pain points, the 2025 version omitted deeper stress on private equity holdings and did not evaluate exposure to private credit markets—a rapidly growing $2 trillion segment.
Fed officials offered limited explanation for the shift, only citing past volatility in test outcomes and a plan to seek public input for future revisions.
Notably absent from the 2025 methodology was any direct testing of bank vulnerabilities to private credit. Despite recent warnings from Fed researchers—including the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston—about the systemic risks private credit could pose in a sharp downturn, the Fed&#8217;s stress test documents made no reference to the sector.
Top-tier institutions such as JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/GS#NYSE">GS</a>), Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/C#NYSE">C</a>), and Bank of America Corp. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BAC#NYSE">BAC</a>) were among those that cleared the exam.
Their solid performance positions them to resume capital return programs, including dividend payouts and share buybacks, with announcements expected next week, the report adds.
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Big Banks Pass Fed's 2025 Stress Test With Ease—But Some Say It Was Too Easy

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/retirement-income-calculator">Retiring early </a>could be a dream for many. Allison Esposito Medina was one of many who was able to retire early.
Before re-entering the workforce years later, Medina wanted to make sure that she focused on a work-life balance that fit her new lifestyle.
What Happened: Medina lasted only <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-retirement-plans">five months in retirement,</a> but a decision to re-join the workforce needed to accommodate the new hobbies and activities the then 40-year-old had taken up.
&#8220;I worked at Foursquare and Google, and in 2014, I started my business, Tech Ladies. My goal was to help women in the industry find jobs, negotiate and network,&#8221; Medina wrote for&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2024/02/15/40-year-old-who-retired-and-only-lasted-5-months-it-was-boring.html?forYou=true" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CNBC</a>.
Median sold Tech Ladies in 2021, which came after a decade working in the New York tech scene.
After the sale of the company, helping with the transition and realizing she had enough saved, Medina decided to retire early at the age of 40.
Medina&#8217;s retirement lasted only five months. During retirement, Medina worked on a flower garden, started exercising, did volunteer work and went for walks with new friends made during a move from New York City to New Jersey.
&#8220;Five months in, my quality of life had vastly improved. But I had mixed feelings, and at time it felt boring.&#8221;
Medina decided to re-join the workforce with her business idea to launch an online community for Gen Z and Millenial pet owners.
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Why It&#8217;s Important:&nbsp;Medina&#8217;s trip back to the workforce this time around has been different, putting an emphasis on work-life balance while founding&nbsp;<a href="https://www.juniperpet.co/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Juniper</a>.
&#8220;I was proud of the mission, but I never exercised or took a vacation, and I rarely saw friends,&#8221; Medina recalled of her previous time working before retirement.
Medina shared the most valuable lesson she has learned, thanks to previously having an obsession with time and energy while running Tech Ladies.
&#8220;The most valuable lesson I learned is that you shouldn&#8217;t wait to do the things you dream about in retirement.&#8221;
Medina&#8217;s three questions she asked herself before founding Juniper were:
<ol start="1" class="wp-block-list">
<li>If you didn&#8217;t have to work, what is on your list of things you&#8217;d do that brings you joy?</li>
<li>How many hours a week would it take to actually do it?</li>
<li>What can you take off your plate to give yourself more time and energy to do it?</li>
</ol>
Medina said it&#8217;s important to &#8220;push yourself to be honest&#8221; about how much time you have.
Juniper was launched by Media in November 2023 after she started working on it in August of the same year.
Now, Medina works 40 hours instead of 80 in her past life. Her non-negotiables for work-life balance include having time to walk her dog, exercising and cooking every day, not skipping vacations and having weekends off.
&#8220;I want to build another successful company, but my definition of success now is accomplishing my goals without sacrificing my health, or the things that bring me joy and purpose.&#8221;
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If you enjoyed this story, check out more coverage on entrepreneurship and stories of success&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/benzinga-inspire" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">with Benzinga Inspire.</a>
This article was previously published by Benzinga and has been updated.

Entrepreneurship

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She Retired At 40, Got Bored, And Came Back Smarter: Her 3 Millionaire Rules For A Life That Actually Works

Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, could have been the world&#8217;s first trillionaire if he had retained his original company stock.
What Happened: The Forbes projection comes in light of Gates&#8217; public commitment to donate nearly all of&nbsp;his remaining wealth and wind&nbsp;down the Gates Foundation by&nbsp;2045. 
Gates, along with his ex-wife Melinda, have already donated $60.2 billion to the foundation since its inception in 2000, making them the second-largest philanthropists in America. 
Despite their philanthropic efforts, they remain among the world&#8217;s wealthiest, with an estimated net worth of&nbsp;$113 billion and $30.4 billion, respectively.
According to Forbes&#8217; <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/mattdurot/2025/05/09/bill-gates-would-be-a-trillionaire-if-hed-kept-all-his-microsoft-stock/">calculations</a>, if the Gates had not embarked on their philanthropic journey and retained all their Microsoft shares,&nbsp;their combined fortune would be&nbsp;a staggering&nbsp;$1.5 trillion. 
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/22/10/29194457/melinda-gates-on-divorce-with-bill-gates-unbelievably-painful-i-just-couldnt-stay-in-that-marriage-2">Melinda Gates On Divorce With Bill Gates: &#8216;I Just Couldn&#8217;t Stay In That Marriage&#8217;</a>
In this hypothetical&nbsp;scenario,&nbsp;Gates alone would likely be&nbsp;the first trillionaire, with a fortune of $1.2 trillion&nbsp;even after his 2021 divorce.&nbsp;
This sum would be over&nbsp;triple Elon Musk&#8216;s peak net&nbsp;worth. Melinda would be worth&nbsp;an estimated $300 billion, potentially&nbsp;making her the world&#8217;s third-richest person.
In reality, Gates has&nbsp;systematically sold and donated shares,&nbsp;diversifying his portfolio. Currently,&nbsp;his Microsoft ownership is an&nbsp;estimated 0.9 percent stake, valued&nbsp;at $28 billion. Melinda&#8217;s Microsoft&nbsp;shares are an estimated $&nbsp;380,000.
Why It Matters: The Gates have made significant contributions to global health and poverty alleviation through the Gates Foundation, distributing an estimated $47.7 billion.&nbsp;
Melinda has also launched Pivotal&nbsp;Philanthropies and committed an additional&nbsp;$12.5 billion for women's and&nbsp;girls' rights. Both remain committed&nbsp;to the Giving Pledge, which&nbsp;they co-founded with Berkshire Hathaway&#8217;s&nbsp;chairperson Warren Buffett in 2010.&nbsp;
Their philanthropic efforts have had a significant impact on global issues, despite the potential personal wealth they could have amassed.
Read Next
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Image: Shutterstock/Alexandros Michailidis

Bill Gates Could've Been The World's First Trillionaire — and Richer Than Elon Musk — If He'd Kept His Microsoft Stock

At 55, one school bus driver is weighing a tough decision that many people approaching <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/06/46024300/is-your-retirement-plan-just-a-hope-and-a-401-k">retirement</a> can relate to: Should she stick with a job she enjoys, or switch to a new one that offers a pension and free health insurance?
She shared her dilemma in a <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/retirement/comments/1lexwqs/struggling_with_new_job_offer_for_retirement/">Reddit forum</a>, explaining that the job she's considering offers something her current employer doesn't — a pension.&nbsp;
"The pension will take me 7 years to become fully vested," she wrote, adding that after 10 years, she'd qualify for a higher payout. "That would put me right at 65, and I could retire with the small pension and [Social Security]."
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The catch? Switching jobs means starting over. And while the new job offers a lifetime pension, it also requires a longer commute, working summers, and losing some financial benefits she currently depends on.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What She Has Now</h2>
Right now, she drives a school bus part time. The pay is higher per hour, and the job comes with some perks that aren&#8217;t always obvious — like unemployment benefits during school breaks. She also contributes to a 401(k) and relies on her husband's <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/health-care/25/06/46013434/dave-ramsey-asks-why-does-this-dang-medicare-feel-so-confusing-blames-government-then-offers-seniors-a-clear-path-forward">health insurance</a>.
Importantly, she enjoys her current role and isn't looking to leave because of dissatisfaction. "I enjoy my job and have nothing against my current employer at all," she said. "What pulls me toward this other employer is the pension and free health insurance for me, which means the hubby can drop me from his health insurance plan."
Trending: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-company-may-have-found-a-way-to-treat-cancer-by-tricking-the-bodys-immune-system-and-early-studies-show-some-promise-find-out-how-you-can-invest-in-the-future-of-cancer-treatment">Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What the New Job Offers</h2>
The new job would still involve driving a bus, but with a few key changes. She'd go from guaranteed four-hour days to six-hour days. Even though the hourly pay is lower, the increased hours could mean a slightly higher paycheck overall.
The real draw is the pension and free health coverage. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43432805/workers-long-for-the-day-pensions-make-a-comeback-83-say-everyone-deserves-a-pension-not-just-public-employees">Pensions</a> can be hard to come by these days, especially ones that offer a fixed monthly payment for life. But to earn that benefit, she'd need to stay for at least seven years. To maximize it, 10 years. That would mean working full time, through summers and breaks, until she's 65.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">What Others Are Saying</h2>
Comments on her post were mixed. Some encouraged her to take the pension while she still has time to vest, pointing out that "pensions are incredibly scarce these days, especially ones that have a lifetime payout." Others urged caution. "If it were me… I think I'd stay at the job I love and just try to max my 401(k) contributions."
See Also: GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/meet-the-company-seeking-to-give-americans-energy-independence-and-learn-how-you-can-become-an-early-investor">Become an Investor in This $41.3M Clean Energy Brand Today</a>
One user raised a practical concern: pensions may not always be as secure as they seem. "They depend on the stability of your company and their competency level to keep your, and others, contributions safe," they said.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">No Easy Answer</h2>
This isn't a straightforward financial decision — it's a personal one. It involves weighing <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44459879/suze-orman-warns-the-absolute-worst-thing-that-you-can-be-doing-right-now-is-panic-because-it-hurts-long-term-security">long-term security</a> against current comfort, and guaranteed income against the flexibility of a 401(k). While a pension sounds appealing, she's also aware that switching jobs at this stage of life comes with trade-offs.
For now, it seems that she's leaning toward staying where she is and increasing her retirement contributions. But as she put it, "I have time to think it over… but not forever."
Read Next: Many are using retirement income calculators to check if they&#8217;re on pace —<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-do-i-calculate-my-retirement-income-adv"> here&#8217;s a breakdown on what&#8217;s behind this formula.</a>

Should She Start Over For A Pension? A 55-Year-Old School Bus Driver Weighs Guaranteed Retirement Pay Against Job Comfort

Michael Intrator, the CEO of AI startup&nbsp;CoreWeave, has seen his net worth double to a whopping $10 billion in a mere 12 days. This rapid wealth accumulation is unprecedented in the tech industry.
What Happened:&nbsp;CoreWeave&#8217;s stock has skyrocketed by nearly 300%&nbsp;in the last two months. This followed a rather unimpressive initial public offering (IPO) in March. 
The stock&#8217;s surge has greatly enriched its shareholders, including Intrator, a 56-year-old former hedge fund manager.
Bloomberg notes that Intrator&#8217;s net worth has soared&nbsp;from $5 billion to $10&nbsp;billion in less than two weeks. This is an extraordinary achievement, given that it usually takes a billionaire over three years to double their wealth.
Despite CoreWeave&#8217;s initial lackluster performance on the stock market, Intrator remained steadfast in his belief in the company&#8217;s potential to &#8220;generate enormous value.&#8221;
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/crypto/cryptocurrency/25/06/45712312/michael-saylor-called-scaramucci-from-a-yacht-and-it-changed-the-ending-of-his-book">Michael Saylor Called Scaramucci From a Yacht and It Changed the Ending of His Book</a>
CoreWeave&#8217;s other co-founders have also seen their wealth grow significantly. Bloomberg reports that the company&#8217;s chief strategy officer, Brian Venturo, is now worth $6.4 billion, while chief development officer, Brannin McBee, is worth $4.7 billion, <a href="https://fortune.com/2025/06/27/billionaire-ai-company-coreweave-ceo-double-wealth-five-to-ten-billion-michael-intrator-no-tech-background/">reports</a> Fortune.
The company&#8217;s success can be attributed to securing major&nbsp;tech companies as clients and&nbsp;partners,&nbsp;including Nvidia, OpenAI, and Microsoft.&nbsp;
Interestingly, all three founders come from finance backgrounds, not tech, highlighting that breaking into AI does not necessarily require a tech background.
Why It Matters: CoreWeave&#8217;s success story is a testament to the immense potential of AI technology and its ability to generate wealth rapidly. 
The company&#8217;s ability to secure partnerships with major tech companies, despite its founders&#8217; non-tech backgrounds, underscores the importance of strategic alliances and business acumen in the tech industry. 
This could potentially inspire more finance professionals to venture into the tech industry, particularly AI, thereby fostering greater diversity and innovation in the sector.
Read Next
<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/entertainment/25/06/46042368/telegram-ceo-pavel-durov-to-leave-his-13-9-billion-fortune-to-his-100-children">Telegram CEO Pavel Durov To Leave His $13.9 Billion Fortune to His 100+ Children</a>
Image: Shutterstock/Odu Mazza

Markets

Here's How This AI CEO Just Doubled His Net Worth To $10 Billion—In Just Only 12 Days

Legendary Investor Warren Buffett had an extreme fear of public speaking in his younger days. If it weren&#8217;t for a $100 college course he took when he was 20 years old, the &#8220;Oracle of Omaha&#8221; might have shorted his own success.
What To Know: Buffett had an extreme fear of public speaking up until the age of 20, according to <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/21/billionaire-warren-buffett-says-a-100-dollar-course-had-the-biggest-impact-on-his-success.html?utm_content=makeit&amp;utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Facebook&amp;fbclid=IwAR214Hln3Hmu8MUDHCWsWv1Ogxu7wi-TK9fQr8Yo3_bw1ds91gwRc5W4COk#Echobox=1675694538">CNBC</a>.
"Just the thought of it made me physically ill.&nbsp;I would literally throw up,"&nbsp;Buffett told CNBC contributor and&nbsp;"Getting There" author&nbsp;Gillian Zoe Segal.
In his early college days, Buffett, chair and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>) (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BRK#NYSE">BRK</a>), would select certain classes to avoid having to present in front of his classmates. Furthermore, he designed his schedule so he wouldn't have to be in front of crowds.
He told Segal that he could barely even introduce himself whenever he found himself in a situation where he was required to speak in front of others. 
Buffett set out to change that when he saw an ad for a Dale Carnegie public speaking course at Columbia's Business School. He signed up and even wrote a check to cover the costs, but shortly after, he called it off.
"I just couldn&#8217;t do it. I was that terrified," the Berkshire CEO&nbsp;said.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/tech/25/06/46047056/ben-horowitz-once-told-columbia-grads-dont-follow-your-passion-but-contribution-instead-something-that-doesnt-coincide-with-the-opinion-of-elon-musk-kevin-oleary-jeff-bezos-and-warren-bu">Ben Horowitz Once Told Columbia Grads, &#8216;Don&#8217;t Follow Your Passion&#8217; But Contribution Instead: Something That Doesn&#8217;t Coincide With The Opinion Of Elon Musk, Kevin O&#8217;Leary, Jeff Bezos And Warren Buffett</a>
Not long after Buffett graduated, he came across the exact same ad in the paper and set out to sign himself up again, with one key difference in his approach.
"This time, I handed the instructor $100 in cash. I knew if I gave him the cash I&#8217;d show up," Buffett&nbsp;said.&nbsp;
He did show up, and he discovered that about 30 other people had the same problem&nbsp;he did, he said: "We all had trouble saying our&nbsp;own names."
By the time he finished the 12-week course, he was ready to put his skills to the test. He applied for a teaching position at the University of Omaha right away, knowing that if he didn't keep at it, he would risk giving up&nbsp;the progress he had made in the public speaking class.&nbsp;
"I just kept doing it, and now you can&#8217;t stop me from talking,"&nbsp;Buffett told Segal with a laugh.
The report indicates that the Berkshire CEO&nbsp;credits much of his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/large-cap/23/02/30740695/how-warren-buffetts-fund-manager-turned-70k-into-264m-in-a-perfect-world-nobody-would-know-about-t">success</a>&nbsp;to the public speaking class, which is&nbsp;a lot of praise for someone as successful as the Oracle himself.
According to <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/billionaires/">Bloomberg</a>, Buffett is the eighth-richest person in the world, with an estimated net worth of $152 billion at the time of writing. His fund has historically outperformed the S&amp;P 500, delivering nearly 20% compounded annual returns since Buffett took control of Berkshire in 1965.
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/financial-advisors/25/06/46067598/bill-gates-kids-were-stunned-to-find-warren-buffett-chowing-down-on-oreos-for-breakfast-after-a-sleepover-naturally-they-demanded-some-too">Bill Gates&#8217; Kids Were &#8216;Stunned&#8217; To Find Warren Buffett Chowing Down On Oreos For Breakfast After A Sleepover—Naturally, They Demanded Some Too</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/25/06/45995200/when-the-skies-rain-gold-warren-buffett-says-to-carry-a-washtub-heres-where-its-pouring-right-now">When The Skies &#8216;Rain Gold&#8217; Warren Buffett Says To Carry A Washtub – Here&#8217;s Where It&#8217;s Pouring Right Now</a></li>
</ul>
Some elements of this story were previously reported by Benzinga and it has been updated.
Image: Kent Sievers/Shutterstock.

General

Warren Buffett Would Probably Still 'Literally Throw Up' When Speaking In Front Of Crowds If He Didn't Take This $100 College Course

A 35-year-old nurse from Montreal recently stunned listeners of &#8220;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MU9MAmr4VAQ">The Ramsey Show</a>&#8221; when he called in to share that he&#8217;s carrying a total of $1.8 million in debt, despite cutting out everything <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/06/46067665/the-real-budget-killer-isnt-big-purchases-its-the-20-here-20-there-habits-that-quietly-empty-your-account">from snacks to grooming</a>.
&#8220;I had my aha moment when I saw $22,000 going out in one month after doing a budget,&#8221; he told Dave Ramsey and co-host Rachel Cruze. With one child already and another on the way, he&#8217;s desperate to make changes, but feels stuck in a financial hole that&#8217;s quickly closing in.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Triplex, Two Hondas And A Cousin&#8217;s Loan</h2>
The caller said he owes $680,000 on a triplex currently listed for $950,000, and another $590,000 on his family home, which he says is worth about $750,000. On top of that, he has two electric Hondas, each with loans of nearly $70,000, plus $35,000 in credit card and student loan debt. But the most striking part is that he borrowed $350,000 from a cousin to use as a down payment and to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/what-is-flipping-houses">renovate both properties</a>.
His household brings in $110,000 to $120,000 a year before taxes. About half of that comes from his wife, who will be going on <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/02/43716980/i-think-you-could-probably-freaking-struggle-through-dave-ramsey-shocked-by-new-mom-whose-husband-makes-975000-but-wont-let-her-quit-job">maternity leave</a> in 12 weeks. She&#8217;ll be receiving 70% of her salary for a year.
&#8220;I cut out everything from potato chips to haircuts, literally anything I could to curb the expenses,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I wish I could do more jobs a day, but my doctor says that because I&#8217;m bipolar, I need to have a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/tech/25/03/44157414/mark-cuban-once-shared-a-powerful-yet-humbling-take-on-work-life-balance-here-are-5-more-eye-opening-statements-from-jeff-bezos-jamie-dimon-and-elon-musk-that-will-make-you-rethink-your-lif">healthy work-life balance</a>.&#8221;
Trending: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-company-may-have-found-a-way-to-treat-cancer-by-tricking-the-bodys-immune-system-and-early-studies-show-some-promise-find-out-how-you-can-invest-in-the-future-of-cancer-treatment">Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Ramsey And Cruze Push Back Hard</h2>
Ramsey and Cruze went straight to the point. &#8220;You sound like you&#8217;re walking around under a 400-pound weight,&#8221; Ramsey told him. &#8220;You sound scared to death.&#8221;
Ramsey urged the caller to sell the triplex immediately, ditch the expensive cars, and stop making financial decisions based on trying to keep his wife happy.
&#8220;You don&#8217;t get to be an investor in triplexes. That thing&#8217;s got to be priced in such a way that your real estate agent can sell it and get it gone,&#8221; Ramsey said. &#8220;We&#8217;re not worried about the environment right now. The environment I&#8217;m worried about is not being broke. Electric Hondas are gone. Bye-bye. We&#8217;re getting cheap cars.&#8221;
And regarding maternity leave, it&#8217;s a luxury they can&#8217;t afford: &#8220;I don&#8217;t really care what the Canadian government says. She gets to go to work. She&#8217;s broke. Broke people work.&#8221;
See Also: GoSun's Breakthrough Rooftop EV Charger Already Has 2,000+ Units Reserved — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/meet-the-company-seeking-to-give-americans-energy-independence-and-learn-how-you-can-become-an-early-investor">Become an Investor in This $41.3M Clean Energy Brand Today</a>
When the caller said his wife was only willing to sell everything except the house and the cars, Ramsey replied, &#8220;You've been running around trying to shovel things in her direction to keep her happy, like she's your child or something. That's not working.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Way Out Will Be Hard</h2>
Ramsey said that with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/01/42771996/this-is-unhinged-a-reddit-user-asks-others-for-extreme-acts-of-frugality-they-witnessed-and-the-replies-are-shockingly-entertaining">intense budgeting</a> and lifestyle changes, the couple could eventually dig out. &#8220;Mathematically, I can get you out if you did everything I told you to do. But I don&#8217;t know if you&#8217;ll do it or not.&#8221;
Cruze added that their entire life will have to look &#8220;completely different&#8221; in the next three to six months if they want to survive this.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/gbr-savings-by-age">If You're Age 35, 50, or 60: Here&#8217;s How Much You Should Have Saved Vs. Invested By Now</a>
Image: Shutterstock

Dave Ramsey Caller Is Trying To Beat $1.8 Million In Debt With No Chips Or Haircuts—'My Doctor Says I Need A Healthy Work-Life Balance'

"The purest NBA guy" is how Hall of Fame center Shaquille O'Neal described former Lakers teammate Mark Madsen on Fox Sports' "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81L2xNPdlf0">Fair Game</a>" in 2019.&nbsp;
He then quietly bought Madsen a custom $1,000 suit and arranged a discount on a pickup truck so the Stanford graduate could fit in among million-dollar wardrobes and luxury rides in the Lakers locker room.
The impromptu spree kicked off one of basketball's endearing mentor-rookie stories and still resonates in Berkeley two decades later.
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Rookie Pay To NBA Polish</h2>
According to <a href="https://hoopshype.com/player/mark-madsen/salary/">Hoopshype</a>, Madsen went 29th overall in the 2000 draft and signed a three-year contract worth more than $2.2 million, according to the <a href="https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-jul-06-sp-48591-story.html">Los Angeles Times </a>at the time. That sum barely covered rent in Los Angeles, let alone the four-figure suits most veterans wore. So O'Neal asked the team tailor to cap an outfit at $1,000 and slipped the bill under Madsen's locker.
"He's the purest guy I've ever met in the NBA. I had to protect that," O'Neal said, adding that party invitations for the rookie were off-limits. Instead, he sealed the makeover by steering Madsen to a trusted car dealership, where a modest pickup came at a discount "because rookies need reliable, not flashy."
Trending: Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/this-company-may-have-found-a-way-to-treat-cancer-by-tricking-the-bodys-immune-system-and-early-studies-show-some-promise-find-out-how-you-can-invest-in-the-future-of-cancer-treatment">Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential.</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mentor Magic and Championship Runs</h2>
The gesture cemented a bond as O'Neal and Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to league titles in 2001 and 2002. In 2001 alone, Los Angeles posted a 15–1 postseason, one of the most dominant runs in NBA history, according to <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2001.html">Basketball-Reference</a>.
Madsen <a href="https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/madsema01.html">averaged</a> just 2.2 points and 2.6 rebounds per game, but his sideline dance during the 2002 parade still loops on arena jumbotrons.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">From Hardwood to Head Coach</h2>
After retiring, Madsen joined Utah Valley and then the Lakers as an assistant. In April 2023, he became head coach at the University of California. In his first season, Cal improved by 10 wins to finish with 13, despite grueling cross-country trips, <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/45027724/acc-report-cards-grades-2024-2025">ESPN reported</a>.&nbsp;
According to the <a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/college/article/cal-men-earn-1st-acc-win-beat-virginia-behind-20017104.php">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, momentum peaked in January when Cal beat Virginia 75-61 for its first ACC win. "This is the opening of a new chapter," Madsen said afterward. He added Cal "is going to be a powerhouse in the ACC."
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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Extending the Legacy</h2>
O'Neal, meanwhile, has extended that mentorship beyond teammates. In February, Clark County, Nevada, commissioners approved plans for a $24 million <a href="https://www.shaqfuradio.com/2025/02/19/shaqs-vegas-youth-center-moving-ahead/">Shaquille O'Neal Youth Development Complex</a> in Las Vegas.&nbsp;
Groundbreaking is set for late March or early April. The facility will include a regulation gym, STEAM classrooms and free meals, aiming to guide 1,000 local youths toward college and careers each year.
Read Next: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/are-you-rich">Are you rich?</a> Here&#8217;s what Americans think you need to be considered wealthy.

Shaquille O'Neal Called Mark Madsen 'The Purest NBA Guy' — Then Got Him A $1,000 Custom Suit And Discounted Truck To Fit In On Rookie Pay

&#8220;How hard would it actually be for a millionaire to start from 0 again?&#8221; That was the question posed on Reddit&#8217;s <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1ljgcus/how_hard_would_it_actually_be_for_a_millionaire/">r/NoStupidQuestions</a> recently. The scenario: no money, no contacts, no LinkedIn. Just experience and mindset. Would it be enough?
The post resonated widely and sparked hundreds of thoughtful responses from users across all walks of life.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Connections Matter More Than Grit</h2>
Most agreed that without connections, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/03/44440238/can-you-guess-how-much-you-need-to-build-generational-wealth-some-say-its-less-than-what-it-takes-to-feel-rich">rebuilding wealth</a> would be extremely difficult, even for someone who had done it before. &#8220;Zero dollars, pretty easy for many of them. Zero rich friends and contacts, they&#8217;re probably f&#x2A;&#x2A;&#x2A;ed,&#8221; one user said without embellishing.
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Another top commenter wrote, &#8220;The biggest assets are your contact list and your reputation. If I know people, I can ask them for work, get credit, find buyers. Without that, you&#8217;re just another person.&#8221;
One Redditor argued that while a rich person might crash on a friend's guest bed, poor people often have no such help. &#8220;I was homeless for a brief but awful period&#8230; Within a month, I had exhausted all my options and was about to sleep on the sidewalk.&#8221;
Many pointed out that millionaire status often comes from owning a home and maxing out retirement accounts, not from running a successful company. &#8220;Millionaire at this point means HCOL homeowner,&#8221; one person said, referring to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/05/45685741/the-cost-of-living-crisis-hits-hard-in-these-8-cities-where-you-need-to-earn-at-least-100k-to-live-c">high-cost-of-living areas</a>. Another added, &#8220;I&#8217;m technically a millionaire—about $1.6M net worth. If I had to produce $1M in cash&#8230; I&#8217;d be permanently worse off.&#8221;
People who <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/asia/24/04/38359250/invest-for-the-decades-not-the-years">took decades to save and invest</a> wouldn&#8217;t have the time or energy to start over. &#8220;It took me 25 years with a high-paying job that let me save near 50%. I&#8217;d be dead before I could do it again,&#8221; one commenter said.
Trending: Tired of Grid Failures and Charging Deserts? This Startup Has a Solar Fix and $25M+ in Sales — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/meet-the-company-seeking-to-give-americans-energy-independence-and-learn-how-you-can-become-an-early-investor">Now Raising at $3/Share</a>
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Luck And Timing Play A Huge Role</h2>
Plenty of people stressed the importance of good fortune. To them, most millionaires did not start from zero. They had family support, education and safety nets. As someone noted, luck is a huge factor. Right place, right time, right idea. Without that, it&#8217;s just wishful thinking.
Even Mark Cuban, quoted by several Redditors, has said he believes he <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/44657251/mark-cuban-said-billionaires-who-claim-they-could-do-it-all-again-are-lying-their-a-off-youve-got-to-have-luck-and-timing-to-get-rich">could become a millionaire again but not a billionaire</a>. Becoming a billionaire often comes down to being in the right place at the right time and taking big risks that happened to pay off, more than it does to effort or ability.
One person, who supposedly went bust at 23, losing all of their $1.5 million and recouping their wealth by 30, and more so, said, &#8220;Ask any multimillionaire and they'll all tell you the same: The first million was the hardest to earn. What made it uniquely difficult is what they had to learn along the way. Everything after that is mostly copy and paste, while remembering past mistakes.&#8221;
In the end, while millionaire experience might help someone avoid common mistakes, it&#8217;s no substitute for capital, connections, and safety nets.&nbsp;
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Personal finance expert Suze Orman says she&#8217;s confident the stock market is headed higher, despite some alarming signs in the broader economy. In her recent <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoC3d8kt6e4">video</a>, she acknowledged that things feel unstable right now, but urged her audience to stay calm and take a long-term view.
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Unusual Economic Signals</h2>
&#8220;There is something going on in this economy that I really don&#8217;t like,&#8221; Orman said, citing how traditional patterns are breaking. Typically, when markets drop, investors move into bonds, causing bond prices to rise and interest rates to fall. But that hasn&#8217;t been happening. &#8220;Interest rates in <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/05/45654448/bond-market-caught-between-rate-cut-hopes-and-fed-cautionwhat-investors-can-do-now">bonds</a> went up and up and up,&#8221; she said. &#8220;That isn&#8217;t what you want to see in normal markets.&#8221;
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Another red flag: the U.S. dollar. Orman explained that during times of global uncertainty, foreign money usually flows into the dollar, strengthening it. But instead, &#8220;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/economic-data/25/06/45974992/everyone-now-hates-the-dollar-is-that-the-ultimate-buy-signal">the dollar has been getting weaker</a> and weaker and weaker.&#8221;
She suggested this could mean foreign investors are losing confidence in the U.S. &#8220;Maybe it&#8217;s that foreign countries don&#8217;t quite have the faith in us anymore that they used to. We haven&#8217;t exactly <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44131125/tariff-update">been nice to them</a>.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shifting Her Own Strategy</h2>
With her own treasuries maturing, Orman said she is now choosing dividend-paying stocks instead of rolling her money back into treasuries. &#8220;Many <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-dividend-paying-stocks">dividend-paying stocks</a> right now are paying more in a dividend than the Treasury is paying in interest rates,&#8221; she said.
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She emphasized the importance of dollar-cost averaging: investing smaller amounts over time. This way, if stock prices fall, investors can buy more shares. &#8220;Even if it goes down because the markets go down&#8230; [your] income is fixed in the dividend, [so] your interest rate also goes up in there,&#8221; she explained.
One example she gave was Pfizer (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PFE#NYSE">PFE</a>), which has been trading around $24 a share with a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/content/45601072/pfizers-7-5-dividend-income-haven-or-house-of-cards">dividend yield of about 7%</a>. &#8220;Now, is it possible that maybe they could cut the dividend? They&#8217;re not going to get rid of the dividend, as far as I&#8217;m concerned.&#8221;
<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Staying Invested In The Future</h2>
Orman advised investors to focus on sectors that reflect the future, particularly artificial intelligence and technology. She specifically recommended ETFs like VanEck Semiconductor ETF (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/SMH#NASDAQ">SMH</a>) and Invesco QQQ Trust (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/QQQ#NASDAQ">QQQ</a>). &#8220;I want you to be investing in the future, not in the past anymore,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Artificial intelligence has absolutely changed the face of money and the face of the future.&#8221;
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Despite today's economic uncertainty, Orman remains optimistic. &#8220;Believe it or not, I have total belief that these markets are going to continue up without a shadow of a doubt,&#8221; she said. Even if she turns out to be only half right, she advised investors to act accordingly: invest 50% now and the rest later if prices fall.
&#8220;I&#8217;m still a total believer in the stock market. I think it is very, very possible you could see the [<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/25/06/45932660/exclusive-sp-500-new-all-time-highs-again-2025">S&amp;P 500</a>] skyrocket. I am a total believer in dividend-paying stocks,&#8221; she said. And if you don't need the income now, she added, &#8220;it is essential that you are reinvesting those dividends.&#8221;
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Image: Shutterstock

Suze Orman Believes The Stock Market Will Continue Climbing 'Without A Shadow Of A Doubt'

According to a report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu utilized his son&#8217;s wedding as a smokescreen for war preparations against Iran.
What Happened: Netanyahu announced his intention to attend his son&#8217;s wedding on June 16, a move that was actually a diversion to conceal Israel&#8217;s inaugural&nbsp;attack on Iran on June&nbsp;13. 
The Prime Minister&#8217;s family was kept in the dark about his plans to call off the wedding.
The clandestine operation, codenamed &#8220;Red Wedding&#8221;, was orchestrated to create the illusion that Israel was pursuing&nbsp;a diplomatic resolution to the&nbsp;conflict with the United States. 
Simultaneously, a covert missile strike was initiated, resulting in the death of&nbsp;Iranian nuclear scientists in their&nbsp;residences.
Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/politics/25/06/45940786/israeli-strikes-kill-9-iranian-scientists-continuing-mossads-decade-long-targeting-of-nuclear-program">Israeli Strikes Kill 9 Iranian Scientists, Continuing Mossad&#8217;s Decade-Long Targeting of Nuclear Program</a>
As per the report <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/israel-iran-attack-operation-narnia-a2c38ace?mod=hp_lead_pos1">by</a> The Wall Street Journal, Netanyahu&#8217;s actions provoked a strong response from Israeli citizens. Detractors, including members of The Democrats party and journalists, accused him of being egocentric. This marked the second instance of his son&#8217;s wedding being deferred due to the war.
Subsequent to the attack, the U.S. carried out additional bombings on Iran&#8217;s nuclear facilities until a fragile ceasefire was negotiated on June 23. The condition of Iran&#8217;s nuclear apparatus and the longevity of the ceasefire are yet to be determined.
Why It Matters: This incident underscores the lengths to which political leaders may go to protect their national interests. 
The use of a personal event as a cover for military operations is a stark reminder of the complexities and deceptions that can be involved in international politics and warfare. 
The fallout from this operation and its impact on the region&#8217;s stability is yet to be fully understood.
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