18-08-2026
Hello and welcome back to the Tech Download. More than a month on from U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran sparking a major regional conflict, headlines on CNBC are still dominated by the war and its impact on the global economy. This week, one of our most read stories was coverage of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard threatening attacks on a number of U.S. tech giants with operations in the Middle East, including Nvidia, Apple, Microsoft and Google. It follows attacks on AWS data centers at the start of March, which caused outages for a number of apps and digital services in the United Arab Emirates, as tech facilities have become targets in the conflict. Also on the agenda today: |
- Defense techs eye Iran war windfall;
- Mistral raises $830 million in debt;
- OpenAI’s record raise.
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— Kai Nicol-Schwarz, reporter |
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The World's Top Fintechs 2026 |
Applications are now open for CNBC’s World’s Top Fintech Companies list, produced in partnership with market research firm Statista. Find out more and apply below. |
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Defense techs eye Iran war windfall
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Once considered a taboo sector to funnel money into by venture capitalists, defense tech has seen a remarkable shift over the past few years. It raised just $869 million globally in 2020, according to deal-counting platform Dealroom — a figure that rose more than tenfold to hit $11.2 billion in 2025. A lot can change in five years. Rising geopolitical tensions across the world have led states scrambling to modernize militaries and increasing commercial opportunities for new defense startups. Russia’s war in Ukraine has given rise to a new kind of drone warfare. It also provided a test bed for new defense technology developed by startups, and now tech companies have their sights set on opportunities brought about by the conflict in the Middle East. Over the past week, defense tech startups in the U.S. and Europe have told reporters at CNBC that they’re seeing increased demand and are eyeing commercial deals as a result of the conflict. |
The Iran war is the “moment defense tech and Silicon Valley have been waiting for,” my colleague Samantha Subin wrote last Saturday. For years, the sector has sought to compete with primes for a chunk of the ballooning Pentagon budget, and the U.S. campaign in the Middle East has provided an opening, startups told CNBC. Several defense tech startups Subin spoke with for the story said demand had risen from Department of Defense customers since the U.S. and Israel first struck Iran at the end of February. Many of those customers have offered to buy out capacity or asked firms to increase production, the businesses said. In Europe, defense tech execs told me they’ve been ramping up commercial discussions with Middle East governments since the start of the war. Another defense CEO said interest from Gulf states was “skyrocketing” as they raced to bolster measures to counter drone and missile attacks. More than 3,000 drones and missiles have been fired on the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait since the start of the conflict, according to data compiled by think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Meanwhile, staff numbers in the Middle East at European headquartered defense startups are set to rise. Estonian drone and missile interceptor startup Frankenburg technology and Ukrainian-UK Uforce both told me they were stepping up hiring plans in the region as a result of the Iran war. |
But hurdles remain. The U.S. government hasn’t offered a steady enough flow of contracts to rationalize scaling for some of the businesses trying to sell into the DoD, Subin wrote. “That’s leaving defense tech firms divided over whether to hike capacity to win deals and risk profitability, or hold off and potentially miss opportunities,” she said. In Europe, where startups are typically more capital constrained than their U.S. counterparts and therefore have fewer resources to play with, decisions will have to be made over whether to double down on the opportunity in the Middle East. That risks pulling resources from markets in Europe and the U.S. to meet potential demand in the Gulf. Time will tell whether that turns out to be the right bet. |
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Elon Musk’s SpaceX has confidentially filed for an IPO with the Securities and Exchange Commission, sources told CNBC’s David Faber on Wednesday, bringing the rocket company one step closer to what’s expected to be a record public offering. OpenAI announced it closed a record-breaking funding round on Tuesday, at a post-money valuation of $852 billion. Oracle started telling employees that it’s cutting thousands of jobs, CNBC confirmed on Tuesday, as the software maker deals with a plummeting stock price tied to hefty capital commitments for building out AI infrastructure. French AI startup Mistral said Monday it has secured $830 million in debt financing on to fund a data center powered by thousands of Nvidia chips. Chinese artificial intelligence company Zhipu saw shares surge on Wednesday, after posting strong revenue growth in its first earnings report. |
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Defense isn’t the socially-awkward investment area it once was in VC — and megarounds continue to roll in. This week autonomous ship startup Saronic announced a $1.75 billion funding round and the week before drone company Shield AI said it had picked up a $2 billion raise. |
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BREAKING: Lebanon reopens key roads in south in bid to reconnect country after Israeli attacks targeted infrastructure
🔴 LIVE updates: aje.news/4h6pbo?update=…
https://x.com/i/status/2045545467837132950
🇭🇺 Orbán hints at a "Reformation" of the Fidesz party after this Election Defeat.
Although, its looking increasingly likely he will NOT be able to run again.
This puts his Fidesz party into a very difficult situation which could put an end for their dominance.
https://x.com/i/status/2044105906737295524
President Trump signed an executive order Saturday morning to ease restrictions on the psychedelic ibogaine, signaling the administration's willingness to further U.S. research into the drug, which is used in some countries to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
He jokingly asked “Can I have some, please?” after reading that the drug reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.
“I'll take some. I'll take whatever it takes,” he said as those in the Oval Office laughed. “I don't have time to be depressed. You know, if you stay busy enough, maybe that works, too.”
https://x.com/i/status/2045524688642666527
He is many things but Keir Starmer is not a liar.
https://x.com/i/status/2045048774813196462
مسؤول وكالة التعاون والتنسيق التركية "تيكا" عبد الله إيرين: تركيا تواصل برامجها الإنسانية رغم تراجع المساعدات العالمية
https://x.com/i/status/2045490781222220160
What’s with the disappearance or death of 10 government workers tied to sensitive nuclear or space technology? Read here: cbsnews.com/news/deaths-di…
https://x.com/i/status/2045456212083237222
It might actually be good manners to leave a party without saying goodbye, writes etiquette coach Alison M. Cheperdak. on.wsj.com/4cP7EZC
https://x.com/i/status/2045448484057190800
Cumhurbaşkanımız @RTErdogan, 5'inci Antalya Diplomasi Forumu kapsamında Komorlar Birliği Cumhurbaşkanı Assoumani Azali ile bir araya geldi.
https://x.com/i/status/2045447759839342907
They busted a "rape academy" Telegram group where men discussed how to drug and rape their spouses. Many men POSTED VIDEOS OF THEMSELVES DOING IT. It had 62 MILLION VISITS
I don't EVER want to hear from another man that "men are just as likely to be victims" bullshit. Thousands of men built a whole community around raping the women who trusted them most and millions, MILLIONS visited it. I feel sick
https://x.com/i/status/2044639227946615256
17-04-2026
Host of "The Pulse" on Newsmax......
https://x.com/DavidJHarrisJr
#Entretenimiento | 🎤🇸🇻 Así vivieron su debut en Coachella. Vocalistas de Los Hermanos Flores comparten su experiencia en uno de los escenarios más grandes del mundo.
Leé la nota completa 👇 elsalvador.com/entretenimient…
https://x.com/i/status/2044818107987063183
16-04-2026
MoNHSR&C
پولیو مطلب مستقل معذوری، لیکن اس سے بچاؤ ممکن ہے۔ پولیو ٹیمیں 13 اپریل سے گھر گھر آئیں گی، ان سے تعاون کریں، 5 سال تک کے بچوں کو پولیو کے قطرے لازمی پلوائیں۔
15-04-2026
@AACanli
#Canlı: TBMM Başkanı Numan Kurtulmuş, İstanbul’da “PAB 152. Genel Kurul Açılış Töreni”nde konuşuyor
https://x.com/i/status/2044457389152460919
@LeadingReport
Pentagon is being accused of covering up alien-related information after missing the deadline to release UFO videos.
https://x.com/i/status/2044457567254970675
@TRTArabi
الرئيس التركي رجب طيب أردوغان يجري اتصالاً هاتفياً مع رئيس الوزراء الكندي مارك كارني.
- ناقش الطرفان العلاقات الثنائية بين تركيا وكندا، بالإضافة إلى قضايا إقليمية وعالمية.
- أكد الرئيس أردوغان أن تركيا تولي أهمية بالغة لتعميق العلاقات بين البلدين، وأن إمكانات كبيرة متاحة للتعاون في العديد من المجالات، لا سيما في قطاعات الطاقة والصناعات الدفاعية والنقل الجوي.
- أشار الرئيس أردوغان إلى أن تركيا تواصل جهودها الدؤوبة لإرساء السلام والاستقرار في منطقتنا، وأن تركيا وحليفتها كندا تتشاركان وجهات نظر عديدة حول كثير من القضايا.
- ودعا الرئيس أردوغان رئيس الوزراء مارك كارني لحضور قمة حلف شمال الأطلسي (الناتو) في أنقرة وقمة مؤتمر الأطراف الحادي والثلاثين (COP31)، التي تستضيفها تركيا، كما أعرب عن رغبة تركيا في استضافة رئيس الوزراء كارني في زيارة رسمية قبل نهاية عام 2026.
https://x.com/i/status/2044457622946906371
Building a world of amazing abundance
https://x.com/i/jobs/2035092303694766081
@RepMikeTurner
No one is willing to trade lower gas prices for Iran becoming a nuclear state.
https://x.com/i/status/2044143511902077086
Marijuana use by the FATHER now linked to miscarriage. If the father smokes pot just once a week, his wife’s miscarriage rate DOUBLES. But tell me more how weed just makes you “chill.”
https://x.com/i/status/2044116614740640131
14-04-2026
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/93471188/1747913040/1080x360
https://x.com/i/status/2043089177319805087
DupliKate would have been more useful to Sasuke in repopulating the Uchiha clan than Sakura.
https://x.com/i/status/2043802763281211476
Atom Eve vs Anissa, who’s actually the prettiest in Invincible? 
https://x.com/i/status/2043532126323388631
Quote this with anything that can go viral
https://x.com/i/status/2043370772329017514
https://x.com/i/status/2043297059336294513
I guess we should all just get on board with the whole Mein Trumpf= Jesus thing.
We could settle the whole thing right now. If he dies then rises in 3 days, I'll believe it.
https://x.com/i/status/2040266715930444128
In class today, we will be reviewing the 14 characteristics of fascism. I'll start at #14. Let's see if anyone comes to mind when reading these... a 
14. Fraudulent Elections:
Sometimes, elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times, elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.
https://x.com/i/status/1849441780707496388
Conversation
dont forget to imagine the best case scenario, too
https://x.com/i/status/2043597106649174294
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez says international law is being fundamentally violated by one country, Israel, as it continues to bomb Lebanon.
LIVE updates: http://aje.news/8xcc64
https://x.com/i/status/2043945956211630299
https://x.com/i/status/2043946355257933951
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_banners/1585389374715400192/1759498754/1080x360
https://x.com/i/status/2043141149007782392
A gorgeous sunset rainbow over Oxford yesterday 
Instagram | DrTSuleymanov
https://x.com/i/status/2043743620772094142
NATIONAL TITLE ON THE LINE 
No. 2 UConn vs. No. 1 Michigan. Who’s cutting down the nets? https://x.com/i/status/2041187536773747085
Iran has said its initial estimates of its war losses amount to $270bn, though a spokeswoman for the government cautioned the figure is preliminary, and the final cost is likely to be higher.
LIVE updates: http://aje.news/8io6qt https://x.com/i/status/2043952324737937434
Daji Alley is having its moment — Chinese-style décor, blooming magnolias, and that perfect spring energy drawing crowds this season. A picturesque pocket of the city made for wandering and photos. Getting there: Beijing Subway Line 4 → Caishikou Station, Exit C, 10-min walk.
https://x.com/i/status/2041689988115595326
The Sabrina Carpenter incident reminded me of this Atlantic article originally titled “Why do White People Love Quiet?”.
The author was shocked that when she went to an Ivy League school her classmates expected her not to blast music at 2 in the morning.
Instead of internalizing this is how normal people act she made it racial.
https://x.com/i/status/2043755931176202621
HAVE A TAX CUT, HAVE A BURGER!
https://x.com/i/status/2043807107502235694
New Trending Github: MiroShark
Multi-agent simulation engine: upload any document (press release, policy draft, financial report), and it generates hundreds of AI agents with unique personalities that simulate public reaction on social media — posts, arguments, opinion shifthttps://x.com/i/status/2043803689907786095
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright says that oil prices could peak in coming weeks as disruptions to shipping through Strait of Hormuz continue to drive energy costs higher http://v.aa.com.tr/3904571 https://x.com/i/status/2043954912212537514
https://www.patreon.com/posts/master-market-133466000?twclid=27ptnddnehnnvrucf5wk8wpmu1
https://x.com/i/status/2043516345841787189
https://x.com/i/status/2043516345841787189
I no longer have a My online identity exists in fragments spread across various platforms, most of which are walled gardens. https://x.com/i/status/2038969911456727538
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