paid-only post Mar 09, 2026 Memo

Memo: Iran's new leader

Here’s the news you need to know today.

Hi ZipLawyer! Here’s the news you need to know today.

Latest from the Iran war

The conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US has entered its 10th day, with no signs of de-escalation.
Iran has appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, as the country’s new Supreme Leader, signalling continuity of the regime’s hardline stance toward the US and Israel.
Oil markets reacted dramatically: crude surged as much as 29% intraday, the biggest jump since 2020, as Gulf producers cut output and fears grew of supply disruption in the region.
Prices eased slightly after reports that G7 finance ministers may coordinate a release of emergency oil reserves with the International Energy Agency to stabilise markets.
The US is reportedly considering deploying special forces to seize Iran’s near-bomb-grade uranium stockpile, amid fears it may have been moved to undisclosed locations.

Business News

🇩🇪 Germany’s ruling Christian Democrats suffered a setback in a key state election in Baden-Württemberg, one of the country’s richest regions and home to industrial giants like Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Bosch and SAP. Chancellor Friedrich Merz had hoped to reclaim the 11-million-person state to strengthen his grip on power ahead of tougher regional votes later this year. Losing ground there is politically symbolic: Baden-Württemberg is Germany’s manufacturing heartland, so weak results could signal trouble for Merz as economic concerns dominate voters’ priorities.

🇨🇳 China signalled it is “positive and open” about a planned visit by Donald Trump later this month, which could become the first trip to Beijing by a US president in nearly a decade. Foreign minister Wang Yi emphasised the need for dialogue between the US and China, even as tensions simmer over trade and geopolitics. The potential summit shows both sides still see value in diplomacy — especially as disputes over tariffs, technology and global security keep relations fragile.

💻 Private-equity giant KKR is aiming for a 10-fold return from a potential sale of CoolIT Systems, a company that builds liquid-cooling technology for data centres. Originally founded in 2001 to cool gaming computers, the firm pivoted to AI infrastructure as demand for powerful chips exploded. With the AI boom pushing data-centre valuations sky-high, investors are betting cooling systems — essential to stop AI hardware overheating — could become one of the industry’s most valuable hidden pieces.