- NZ chase 275 to win first Sri Lanka Test after Patel bags six
- Ashwin bags six wickets as India hammer Bangladesh in first Test
- Nascent French government under pressure on multiple fronts
- Angry French cognac makers see red over Chinese tariffs threat
- Protect the prosciutto: Italy battles swine fever
- UN holds 'Summit of the Future' to tackle global crises
- Marxist leader set to become Sri Lanka's next president
- From blades to pull-up bars: UK charity tackles knife crime
- Swiss vote on pensions and environment protections
- No pain, no gain: Chinese pro wrestlers fight for recognition
- UAE leader seeks to deepen 'strategic' ties in US visit during Mideast crisis
- Hezbollah takes heavy hits but still fighting Israel
- Floods, landslides hit central Japan months after major quake
- All Blacks coach Robertson demands better finishing
- Argentina edge South Africa to keep title hopes alive
- Biden says China 'testing us,' in hot mic remarks to Quad allies
- Dubois destroys Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Guardiola says critics want Man City wiped 'from face of the Earth'
- Biden says 'Quad' is 'here to stay' despite challenges
- Dubois knocks out Joshua to retain IBF world heavyweight crown
- Vinicius helps 'faster' Madrid overturn stubborn Espanyol
- Zelensky to press US on long-range missile strikes inside Russia
- PSG drop first points in draw at Reims
- Vinicius, Mbappe on target as Madrid crush plucky Espanyol
- Jeeno leads Ko by two at LPGA Queen City Championship
- Bottega Veneta goes for 'E.T.' chic as Madonna pops into D&G
- Messi, Miami frustrated by New York late leveler
- Musk's X platform takes first step toward lifting Brazil ban
- 'Business as usual' for Australia match-winner Carey amid boos
- Israeli jets pound Lebanon after deadly Beirut strike
- Ten Hag bemoans Man Utd's lack of killer instinct in Palace stalemate
- France's Macron appoints new government in shift to right
- Cheika proud of Leicester grit after winning start as boss
- Profligate Man Utd pay price in 0-0 draw at Palace
- Kane, Olise run riot as Bayern thump Bremen
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Man Utd held at Palace
- LIV champion Rahm out of LIV Team semis with severe flu
- Slot surprised by tearful Nunez's moment of magic
- Title rivals Norris, Verstappen on 'cool' front row for Singapore GP
- Biden talks China with 'Quad' leaders in hometown summit
- Juve and Napoli play out goalless draw in early Serie A title tussle
- Alcaraz fears tennis tour grind will 'kill us'
- Carey sparks recovery as Australia thrash England in 2nd ODI
- Leclerc, Sainz lament 'disappointing' Saturday in Singapore
- Bottega Veneta holds investors' aces as Madonna pops into D&G
- Beirut digs for victims at building flattened in Israeli strike
- Verstappen stages protest over 'ridiculous' swearing punishment
- Bayern boss Kompany lauds 'special talent' Olise
- Diaz fires Liverpool top of Premier League, Spurs bounce back
- Heavy fire over Israel-Lebanon border after deadly Beirut strike
Musings and missteps mark Musk on Twitter
Elon Musk's $44 billion deal to buy Twitter will make the world's richest person the master of a global platform where he has grabbed the spotlight with musings, quips, and barbs.
Here is a look back at some attention-grabbing Musk moments on Twitter, where he is followed by more than 85 million people.
- Titter?-
In the week leading up to his unsolicited campaign to take the one-to-many messaging service private, Musk fired off tweets joking about removing the "w" from Twitter's name and turning its San Francisco offices into housing for the homeless since "no one shows up."
He also conducted a Twitter poll asking whether there should be a button for editing tweets already posted -- a change that many tweeters have long demanded.
Musk has used Twitter as a stage to ask whether the social media network was "dying" and to call out users such as singer Justin Bieber, who are highly followed but rarely post.
He quipped during an on-stage interview at a recent TED conference in Vancouver that his tweets are "stream of consciousness," often authored while on the toilet.
- The real Musk -
Musk made his official Twitter debut on June 4, 2010, evidently to thwart others from tweeting in his name.
"Please ignore prior tweets, as that was someone pretending to be me," he wrote. "This is actually me."
Musk follows just 114 people, according to his profile.
Many of his tweets have been about Tesla and his private space exploration enterprise SpaceX, with some devoted to topics such as politics, cryptocurrency and the environment.
- 'Pedo guy' gaffe -
In July of 2018, Musk used Twitter to insult British caver Vernon Unsworth, who was part of a dramatic effort to rescue boys trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand.
Musk had sent a self-designed submarine that Unsworth had mocked as a publicity stunt not useful in the effort.
Musk's tweet, which included the unsubstantiated accusation calling the diver a "pedo guy" was deleted, but Unsworth filed a defamation lawsuit that ended with a jury ruling in favor of Musk in Los Angeles at the end of 2019.
- US regulators -
Musk found himself in the crosshairs of regulators at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in August 2018 after he tweeted he might take Tesla private.
"Am considering taking Tesla private at $420," Musk said in the tweet, which some took to include a playful reference to "4-20" jargon used to refer to cannabis.
"Funding secured."
The market reacted to Musk's surprise comment, which he never followed through on or provided proof to support.
A settlement with US regulators, who accused Musk of misleading investors, resulted in him stepping down as chairman of the Tesla board and paying a $20 million fine.
Musk was also required to have tweets directly related to Tesla's business be pre-approved by legal counsel at the car maker.
His clashes with US regulators include him tweeting that SEC actually stands for "Shortseller Enrichment Commission," inferring they were on the side of those betting against Tesla.
Offbeat products Musk has sold include red "short shorts" to mark Tesla shares climbing to the chagrin of those who tried to make money from the stock going down.
- Tax time -
In November of 2021, Musk used Twitter to poll his followers regarding whether to sell 10 percent of his Tesla shares. The query came thanks to a controversy over whether unrealized gains are a way to dodge taxes.
He vowed to abide by the outcome of the vote, which was in favor of selling the shares.
The SEC is investigating whether Musk told his brother, Kimbal, about the plan ahead of time to allow him to make favorable moves with Tesla shares, according to the Wall Street Journal.
- Challenge to Putin -
Musk challenged Russian President Vladimir Putin to "single combat" in a tweet fired off on March 14, 2022.
He said the winner would get Ukraine, which Russia invaded weeks earlier.
- Free speech -
Musk recently posted the results of a poll asking whether his Twitter followers think the platform "rigorously adheres" to the principle that free speech is essential to a functioning democracy.
The more than two million votes resulted in the majority saying "no."
When his purchase of Twitter was announced, Musk tweeted "I hope that even my worst critics remain on Twitter, because that is what free speech means."
E.Schubert--BTB