THE STRAIGHT OF HORMUZ satellite image (Shutterstock).

The United States and Iran have agreed to the wording of an agreement that could end their on-again, off-again conflict, according to the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif.

The Associated Press is reporting that Sharif said the two nations have concluded a “final, agreed-upon text.”

“Peace has never been this close as it is now,” said Sharif in a social media post.

If peace does come from this latest announcement, it will take place after several announcements of “cease-fires” which have ended in violence.

The war began on Feb, 28 when the United States and Israel began their military actions over alleged development of nuclear weapons by Iran and, later, the closing of the Straight of Hormuz, a major highway for shipping of petroleum. The result has been a spike in the price of oil products, including gasoline.

Paramount-Warner Bros. merger OK’d

The consolidation of the Hollywood movie industry moved a step closer on Friday with the Justice Department’s approval of the merger of Paramount and Warner Bros.

According to The New York Times, the $11 billion deal would join two major movie studies; two major streaming services, Paramount+ and HBO Max and two major television networks.

The Justice Department stated in its conclusion on anti-trust issues that “the film industry is highly dynamic and the proposed transaction is not likely to harm competition or American consumers.”

Legal challenges may nevertheless follow. There are ties between President Donald Trump and members of the leadership of Paramount.

SpaceX IPO launches past $2 trillion

The initial public offering of stock in SpaceX on Friday began trading at $150 a share and has gone as high as $176.

ELON MUSK (Flickr/Steve Jurevtson).

United Press International is reporting that the result was a $2 trillion market cap. Late in the trading session, the stock was at $176.52.

“I love the incredible people of SpaceX beyond words,” said Elon Musk in a social media post. He is now considered the world’s first trillionaire.

SpaceX has become a key part of America’s space program and is expected to provide the rocket for the Artemis III mission to the moon in 2027.

Great Quotations

“Autumn seemed to arrive suddenly that year. The morning of the first September was crisp and golden as an apple.”
– Ray Bradbury

“Nostalgia in reverse, the longing for yet another strange land, grew especially strong in the spring.”
– John Steinbeck

“I know I am but summer to your heart and not the full four seasons of the year.”
– Edna St. Vincent Millay

Weather: Warm with chance of rain

We in the West Orange County cities are in for a bit of a change of pace this coming weekend and for a few days, a chance of rain. Each day will be partly cloudy. Saturday is expected to have an afternoon high of 82 with an overnight low of 64 and with a 19 percent chance of rain. Sunday will be similar with the chance of rain falling to 6 percent. Monday will cool to 81 and 64 with the chance of rain also at 6 percent. Tuesday will see the chance of rain rise to 18 percent with a high of 80 and to a low of 64.