News & Updates

The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.

CoreWeave Stock Rises As Meta Expands $21 Billion Agreement And Anthropic Adds AI Workloads, Driving Shar

CoreWeave Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) saw a sharp surge in momentum as its AI infrastructure score jumped from 54.6 to 89.86 on a week-over-week basis. CoreWeave Expands AI Deals With Meta And Anthropic The following day, the company said it signed a separate multiyear contract with Anthropic to run its Claude AI models at production scale. The company described the rapid expansion of its customer base as evidence of its growing role in AI infrastructure. CoreWeave stated that nine of the 10 leading AI model providers are currently running workloads on its platform, underscoring its growing role in the AI infrastructure ecosystem, reported Forbes. Industry analysts say the deals reflect an accelerating race for computing power among AI developers as demand for GPUs continues to outpace supply. The Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings indicate a full structural shift in CRWV's price trend, with CoreWeave showing positive momentum across short-, medium- and long-term timeframes. Analysts See CoreWeave Growth Amid AI Deal Risks Futurum Equities strategist Shay Boloor said CoreWeave's CEO believes the company can manage heavy infrastructure costs and debt because they are supported by long-term contracts with major customers. He added that CoreWeave is taking on heavy infrastructure spending because it expects to efficiently run GPUs, service its debt and still generate a profit. JP Morgan analyst Mark R Murphy said CoreWeave's expanded Meta deal was a major step in scaling AI infrastructure, supporting long-term revenue visibility but also carrying execution and capacity risks. He noted the size of Meta's commitment and said it strengthened CoreWeave's growth outlook while shifting focus toward real-world AI inference workloads. Price Action CoreWeave closed at $117.20, up 6.28% on Tuesday, with pre-market trading down 3.78% on Wednesday. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Anthropic
Benzinga10d ago
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CoreWeave Stock Rises As Meta Expands $21 Billion Agreement And Anthropic Adds AI Workloads, Driving Shar

Elon Musk's Retail Playbook: The Secret Plan to Give Retail Investors a Slice of the SpaceX IPO

Sometime in late March, SpaceX CFO Bret Johnsen was presenting the architecture of what the company plans to be the biggest initial public offering (IPO) in history to representatives from twenty-one banks in a virtual conference room. The majority of what was discussed remained within the meeting. However, only one sentence survived. "Retail is going to be a critical part of this," Johnsen stated, "and a bigger part than any IPO in history." He was discussing the proposal to give individual investors up to 30% of SpaceX's shares; these investors would not be hedge funds, sovereign wealth funds, or private equity clients, who usually take up the majority of a hot deal's float. ordinary people. Those who have owned Tesla since before it became apparent and who follow Elon Musk on social media. Retail investors typically receive 5 to 10 percent of the shares offered, if any, according to the standard IPO playbook. The majority of the book-building work is done by institutional investors, such as asset managers, pension funds, and family offices, who receive the majority of the allocation in return. According to reports, Musk's plans for SpaceX deviate from that model in a way that, if true, would be truly unprecedented at this scale. A $75 billion raise with a 30% retail allocation would result in approximately $22.5 billion in shares going to individual buyers, which is more than the total proceeds of the majority of recent initial public offerings. It's a figure that causes conventional investment bankers to subtly reevaluate their presumptions regarding who is eligible to take part in such a moment. According to Johnsen, the strategic logic is surprisingly straightforward. Those who have followed Musk's businesses for a long time, such as those who supported Tesla during periods of stock volatility and loud short sellers, subscribed to Starlink during its early and costly stages, and supported reusable rockets prior to Falcon 9 landing upright on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean, are reportedly less likely to sell as soon as the stock begins trading, according to Musk. Institutional investors are subject to quarterly pressure, investment committees, risk limitations, and mandates. Conviction is what distinguishes retail believers, at least the devoted ones. Although it is genuinely unclear if this conviction will result in stable stock prices after the IPO, the theory makes sense. Unusual intentionality is being used in the construction of the retail component. SpaceX is organizing an event for about 1,500 retail investors on June 11, 2026, two days after analyst briefings start on June 7. Although the location has not been disclosed, the idea is noteworthy. Before the roadshow ends, big companies that are going public typically don't host special events for retail investors. Retail investors receive any shares that remain after the book is constructed, while institutional investors receive the in-person pitch. By incorporating the retail investor event into the official marketing calendar rather than treating it as an afterthought, SpaceX is partially reversing that. Additionally, the offer is being made to investors in the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea, which significantly increases the number of potential retail investors outside of the US market. It has been amazing to follow the valuation trajectory. The combined company was worth $1.25 trillion when SpaceX and xAI merged in February 2026. By the end of March, $1.75 trillion was the amount under discussion. Bloomberg reported a $2 trillion target by the beginning of April. For a company that hasn't yet released a prospectus or made its books available to the public, that represents a $750 billion increase in valuation over the course of about six weeks. SpaceX made between $15 and $16 billion last year, mostly from Starlink subscriptions and US government contracts with the Department of Defense and NASA. According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst George Ferguson, the company will make about $20 billion this year, with the xAI division contributing about $1 billion. Even the most optimistic tech investor would have to carefully consider the multiple implied by a $2 trillion valuation on $20 billion in revenue. As all of this develops, it seems as though the SpaceX IPO is being developed as much as a commercial deal. Many analysts have drawn comparisons to Google's 2004 debut, which used a Dutch auction partially intended to give more individual investors access and lessen Wall Street's control over allocations. These comparisons aren't entirely positive. The pricing was lower than anticipated, Google's auction process was infamously chaotic, and the stock first faltered before going on one of the biggest runs in market history. That episode's lesson isn't straightforward. However, it does imply that during the initial days of trading, there is little to no correlation between the structure of an IPO and the long-term performance of the underlying company. Musk appears to recognize, or at least be wagering on, that the SpaceX narrative has a devoted following that genuinely believes in the mission rather than just the market capitalization. It is genuinely unclear whether 30% retail ownership facilitates a smoother post-IPO trading experience than 10% retail ownership. If enough retail investors are momentum traders rather than long-term believers, it's possible that they are more volatile overall than institutional holders. However, there is no mistaking the signal being sent here. Musk wants a seat at the table for those who have supported him thus far. The market will find out this summer whether that's a clever IPO marketing tactic, an act of true community building, or both.

SpaceXxAI
ABC Money10d ago
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Elon Musk's Retail Playbook: The Secret Plan to Give Retail Investors a Slice of the SpaceX IPO

Bitget Launches New Pre-IPO Product With SpaceX as First Listing | Al Bawaba

Bitget, the world's largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched IPO Prime, introducing a new market structure that enables users to access and trade pre-IPO exposure to global unicorn companies such as SpaceX. Powered by Republic, the launch marks an expansion beyond traditional secondary market trading, enabling participation in value creation before companies enter public markets, a phase historically limited to institutional investors and private capital networks. Through IPO Prime, Bitget extends its Universal Exchange framework into primary market access, bridging a long-standing gap between private and public market participation. IPO Prime operates through a subscription-based model, where eligible users can apply for allocations in tokenized offerings tied to specific companies. Allocation limits are determined based on user tier, with higher participation thresholds available to elevated VIP levels. Following the subscription phase, these digital assets transition into an over-the-counter market on Bitget, enabling continuous pricing, trading and circulation within a structured environment. The first offering under IPO Prime is preSPAX, a digital asset designed to mirror the economic performance of SpaceX following its potential public listing. As one of the most closely watched private companies globally, SpaceX represents the type of high-growth opportunity that has traditionally remained inaccessible to retail investors. "Since the beginning of financial markets, access to pre-IPO opportunities has been defined by exclusivity," said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. "IPO Prime allows users to participate earlier in a company's growth cycle, with the flexibility of continuous trading. This shifts how and when investors can engage with emerging companies, which gives retailers and new investors a chance to buy-in early. This is part of our greater shift towards building an UEX, democratizing access to financial equality." To mark the launch, Bitget will introduce two rounds of preSPAX token airdrops for eligible VIP users, on April 13, 2026 at 10:00 (UTC), providing early participants with additional exposure as the platform begins onboarding its first offering. The official preSPAX token launches on April 21, 2026 at 12:00 (UTC), with the commitment period starting April 18, 2026, 18:00 and ending April 21, 2026, 18:00 (UTC). Distribution period runs from April 21, 2026 18:00 till April 21, 2026, 22:00 (UTC). The introduction of IPO Prime is a new route to traditional financial opportunities being structured and accessed. As boundaries between asset classes continue to blur, platforms are expanding beyond traditional and crypto trading to include early-stage market participation. Within Bitget's Universal Exchange model, IPO Prime moves towards integrating diverse financial opportunities into a single, unified environment. To find out more about IPO Prime and further details on preSPAX, visit here. Disclaimer: This content is for reference only and does not constitute investment advice or an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any assets. This product may not be suitable for your jurisdiction. This product represents only a mirrored economic interest in the potential upside of SpaceX upon a qualifying event, and does not constitute a direct investment in SpaceX. SpaceX has not endorsed, approved, or authorized this Product in any capacity. Digital asset trading involves significant risks and price fluctuations, and you may lose all investment principal without any guarantee of return. Please ensure compliance with local laws and regulations and seek independent professional advice before investing.

SpaceX
Al Bawaba10d ago
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Bitget Launches New Pre-IPO Product With SpaceX as First Listing | Al Bawaba

Anthropic Rebuilds Claude Code Desktop App Around Parallel Sessions

Anthropic has released a redesigned Claude Code experience for its Claude desktop app, bringing in a new sidebar for managing multiple sessions, a drag-and-drop layout for arranging the workspace, and more. The new sidebar displays every active and recent session in one place, and users can filter by status, project, or environment, with the option to group sessions by project. A new side chat shortcut (Command + ;) also lets users branch a question off a running task without feeding extra context back into the main thread. Anthropic has also dropped more of the developer workflow into the app itself. There's now an integrated terminal for running tests and builds, an in-app file editor for spot edits, a rebuilt diff viewer aimed at large changesets, and an expanded preview pane that handles HTML files and PDFs alongside local app servers. Each pane is also drag-and-drop friendly, so the layout can be arranged to suit. In addition, the desktop app now matches Claude Code's CLI for plugin support, while SSH sessions are supported on Mac as well as Linux. Lastly, there are three view modes (Verbose, Normal, and Summary) that let users decide how much of Claude's tool-call activity they want to see. The Claude desktop app update is rolling out now to Claude Code users on Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans. Routines run on Claude Code's web infrastructure rather than a local machine, but Anthropic has put in place daily run caps that scale by plan. Routines are available in research preview to Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users with Claude Code on the web enabled. For further details, check out Anthropic's blog post.

Anthropic
MacRumors10d ago
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Anthropic Rebuilds Claude Code Desktop App Around Parallel Sessions

Market Updates: Bitcoin Devs Push BIP-361 to Freeze Quantum-Vulnerable Coins; Bitwise CIO Sees BTC Overtaking Gold in Market Cap; Deutsche Börse Takes 1.5% Stake in Kraken Parent

Latest Market Updates: As of 15th April 2026. Developers Propose Freezing Quantum-Vulnerable Bitcoin A group of Bitcoin developers led by Jameson Lopp has introduced a draft proposal to secure the network against emerging quantum computing threats. The proposal, known as BIP-361 and published on GitHub earlier this week, is part of a broader three-step roadmap focused on strengthening Bitcoin's defenses in a post-quantum world. Specifically, the proposal highlights risks tied to older Bitcoin addresses. Early Pay-to-Public-Key (P2PK) wallets are not resistant to quantum attacks. Estimates suggest roughly 1.7 million BTC are stored in such addresses. To mitigate this risk, the authors propose freezing these coins before quantum computers can exploit them. Notably, this category includes dormant holdings linked to Bitcoin's creator, currently valued at around $74 billion. According to developers, this preemptive move would help contain systemic risk. While removing dormant coins from circulation could marginally increase scarcity, a large-scale theft enabled by quantum computing could severely undermine trust in the network. Bitcoin's Market Potential Could Surpass Gold: Bitwise CIO Meanwhile, alongside these technical discussions, market analysts are increasingly optimistic about Bitcoin's long-term trajectory. For instance, in a recent X post, Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, argues that Bitcoin's total addressable market could eventually surpass that of gold. He attributes this outlook to shifting global financial dynamics and Bitcoin's expanding real-world utility. As an example, Hougan pointed to reports that Iran is exploring the use of crypto payments for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. This development suggests Bitcoin is evolving beyond a store of value into a functional tool for cross-border transactions, particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions. Furthermore, he noted that Bitcoin is gaining recognition as a neutral financial alternative, which could significantly broaden its use case. Based on this thesis, Hougan reiterated his earlier projection: if Bitcoin captures just 17% of the global store-of-value market, its price could approach $1 million per coin over time. For context, Bitcoin is currently trading near $74,500, with a market capitalization of approximately $1.4 trillion, according to CoinGecko. Gold, by comparison, trades at around $4,854 and commands a market cap of roughly $33.7 trillion. Kraken Signals IPO Intent Despite Earlier Doubts In the corporate sector, crypto exchange Kraken appears to be moving forward with long-discussed plans to go public. Specifically, speaking at the Semafor World Economy 2026 conference, Co-CEO Arjun Sethi confirmed that the company has confidentially filed for an IPO with U.S. regulators. Although earlier reports suggested a potential delay due to unfavorable market conditions, Sethi did not directly address those claims. Nevertheless, his confirmation indicates that Kraken has not abandoned its IPO ambitions, thereby keeping the prospect of a major crypto listing firmly on the table. Deutsche Börse Invests $200M in Kraken Parent At the same time, Kraken has secured fresh backing from traditional finance. In particular, Deutsche Börse Group has invested $200 million in Payward, Kraken's parent company, acquiring a 1.5% stake. The deal values Kraken at $13.3 billion, representing a notable decline from its $20 billion valuation in November 2025. Kraken stated that the investment is strategically focused on bridging the gap between crypto and traditional financial systems. Ultimately, the goal is to develop a unified infrastructure tailored to institutional clients. US Lawmakers Struggle to Resolve Stablecoin Yield Dispute On the regulatory front, uncertainty continues to weigh on the industry's outlook. U.S. lawmakers remain divided over how to handle stablecoin yield, a key issue that has stalled progress on broader crypto legislation. In response, Senator Thom Tillis is reportedly preparing a draft proposal to address the matter. The debate centers on whether third parties should be allowed to offer yield on stablecoins. On one side, traditional banks favor restrictions, citing concerns about deposit outflows. On the other hand, crypto firms strongly oppose such limits, as yield products are central to their business models. According to Politico, Tillis acknowledged that disagreements persist, noting that some stakeholders have yet to review the full draft. He also confirmed that there has been partial progress on anti-evasion measures. However, key questions around enforcement and yield provisions remain unresolved. So far, the White House has hosted three meetings between industry participants and regulators. If consensus remains elusive, a fourth session may be scheduled to reach a compromise.

Kraken
The Crypto Basic - Bitcoin, Cryptocurrency, DeFi Topics And News10d ago
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Market Updates: Bitcoin Devs Push BIP-361 to Freeze Quantum-Vulnerable Coins; Bitwise CIO Sees BTC Overtaking Gold in Market Cap; Deutsche Börse Takes 1.5% Stake in Kraken Parent

OpenAI faces investor pressure as Anthropic growth surges - Diaspora Digital Media (DDM News) - Nigeria Breaking News, Africa and World News and Updates

Investors express caution over OpenAI's high valuation as Anthropic reports massive revenue growth OpenAI currently faces a difficult period as some investors begin to question its massive $157 billion valuation. This skepticism grows because the company must now pivot quickly toward enterprise customers while fighting off fierce competition from Anthropic. Recent reports suggest that several backers are looking at the market with fresh eyes and newfound caution. Consequently, the landscape of artificial intelligence investment is shifting rapidly toward newer players. Competition for enterprise AI revenue Anthropic has seen its annualized revenue skyrocket from $100 million at the end of 2023 to a projected $1 billion by the end of 2024. This growth is largely driven by a massive demand for its advanced coding tools and secure enterprise features. Furthermore, many developers now prefer Anthropic's Claude models over OpenAI's GPT series for specific technical tasks. Because of this, Anthropic is becoming a major threat to OpenAI's market share in the corporate world. https://diasporadigitalmedia.com/nigerian-developer-builds-bitcoin-quantum-defence-prototype/ Meanwhile, some investors who hold stakes in both firms are comparing the relative costs of their investments. One prominent backer told the Financial Times that Anthropic looks like a bargain compared to the high price of OpenAI shares. This means that justifying a new round for OpenAI requires assuming a future public valuation of over $1 trillion. Therefore, the financial risks associated with the ChatGPT creator are becoming harder for some to ignore. Shifting trends in the secondary market The secondary market for private tech shares is also showing a clear preference for Anthropic at this moment. Demand for Anthropic stock has become nearly insatiable among institutional buyers who missed earlier rounds. On the other hand, OpenAI shares are currently trading at a discount in some private exchanges. This shows that the initial hype surrounding Sam Altman's company is meeting the reality of high maintenance costs. https://youtu.be/Eslr8IBTWQE?si=tdJ0CLoH5_RLI8gD Despite this pressure, OpenAI Chief Financial Officer Sarah Friar remains very confident in the company's path. She pointed out that their recent $6.6 billion fundraising round was the largest in private history. Moreover, she argued that this influx of cash proves that the biggest investors still have deep faith in the brand. Nevertheless, critics like Jai Das of Sapphire Ventures compare OpenAI to Netscape, suggesting it might eventually be overtaken by more agile rivals. The future of generative AI leaders. Ultimately, the battle between these two companies will likely be decided by who can provide the most reliable tools for businesses. OpenAI is working hard to reorient its entire structure to serve large-scale corporate clients. However, Anthropic's focused approach on safety and coding has given it a significant head start in several key industries. This competition is forcing both companies to innovate at a breakneck pace to stay relevant. "OpenAI is at a crossroads where it must prove its valuation through massive profit, not just potential." Jai Das, President of Sapphire Ventures In conclusion, the AI industry is entering a more mature and critical phase of financial scrutiny. While OpenAI remains the most famous name in the field, Anthropic is proving to be a formidable and more affordable alternative for many. Investors will likely continue to watch these revenue numbers closely as the market stabilizes. Shortly after these financial reports, we expect to see even more movement in the private tech sector.

Anthropic
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM News) - Nigeria Breaking News, Africa and World News and Updates -10d ago
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OpenAI faces investor pressure as Anthropic growth surges - Diaspora Digital Media (DDM News) - Nigeria Breaking News, Africa and World News and Updates

Stranded mum, 23, can't return to UK for days after new border rules chaos

A 23-year-old mum left stranded in Italy for days has spoken out after she was among dozens of travellers caught up in mayhem caused by new border regulations. Lily Mae Bridgehouse was one of around 100 passengers whose easyJet flight to Manchester Airport from Milan departed without them on Sunday (April 12). She had been due to return from Italy's Linate Airport on a 10.30am flight. However, owing to enormous queues at the airport's border control, she was among those left behind. The chaos follows the UK government updating its guidance for those travelling to the European Schengen area, meaning travellers may now be required to register biometric data upon arrival. The EU entry and exit system (EES) is an electronic system that replaces the physical stamping of passports at border controls. However, enormous queues left vast numbers of passengers stranded at the airport, with flights departing without them. This included the easyJet service bound for Manchester. EasyJet confirmed it held the aircraft for nearly an hour beyond its scheduled departure time but was ultimately forced to leave owing to restrictions on crew working hours. Mum-of-two Lily, from Shaw, Oldham, said she had flown out to Italy on Friday to spend the weekend with her partner, who was working over there. She was due to fly back on Sunday morning, in time for work on Monday. However, despite arriving at the airport with hours to spare, the whole experience quickly became a nightmarish "fever dream". Lily told the M.E.N.: "I got through security within like five minutes. So I wandered about the airport for a bit, I kept checking the screen and the screen kept saying 'Gate information at 9.30am'. So I sat down, read my book for a bit, and then when it was 9.30am, looked at the screen, because there was no information on the easyJet app". Lily said there was no information about delays on the app, so she went to gate B25 and saw a massive queue of passengers. She was told to join the queue, where she says she waited for an hour and a half, before she and a couple who had been standing behind her decided to go to the front desk. The pharmacy worker said she was told by an airport staff member that someone would call them through when their flight was ready. However, after standing in the queue for a total of about three and a half hours, they looked at the departure screen to see their Manchester flight was no longer on there. Half an hour later, Lily said they were told their flight had taken off without them, along with around a hundred other passengers who were still in the queue. Lily said: "We were like, 'What do you mean it's gone?' She said, 'The flight's gone, it's left.' And so we're all stood there like, 'What do you mean it's gone? We're here, how has it gone?' "And then she was like, 'You all need to come out of the queue.' So about a hundred of us stepped out of this queue and lined up against this wall like we was on a fire drill at school or something." She added: "Honestly, it was like a fever dream, it was so weird." After being removed from the queue, Lily said she and the other confused and angry passengers were then told they were being led out of the airport. "Because I suffer with severe anxiety, so I was crying anyway, this was massively out of my comfort zone," she said. "I was absolutely inconsolable at the time. Everyone was like, 'Are you okay?' I'm like, 'No, I just want to go home!'" Instead of leaving the airport, Lily said she and the other passengers went to the easyJet desk to ask what was going on. Lily said they were then given a piece of paper stating that their flights had been cancelled and that they needed to book a new one; however, the only flights available back to any UK airport were later in the week. After about nine hours at the airport, Lily said she eventually managed to book a flight back to the UK for Thursday. She also had to contact her employer to explain what had happened and arrange for her mum and dad to continue looking after her children, who are six and three years old. "The worst of it was the fact that it got to the point where we were so hungry, we were so thirsty. But luckily my partner's here for work. So I booked a new flight whilst I was there. The only flight available was Thursday at 8am in the morning." 'I am literally washing my clothes in the sink with shower gel' After booking the flight, Lily then travelled the two hours back to her partner's hotel. But when she got back to the hotel room and called easyJet, there was more bad news. "I've had to spend 300 Euros on a new flight. I was on the phone to easyJet for about two hours, saying, 'I've paid for a new flight, are you going to reimburse me that money?' And they're going, 'There's nothing we can do. All we can do is put you on the next flight.' "And I was like, 'But I booked the next flight because your groundwork people told me to book the next flight on my own, which I did. And now you're telling me that you could have put me on it for free even though the next flight is on Thursday, four days' time.' I have kids at home I need to get back to. I had work on the Monday. I had work this morning." Lily said she has since received a refund for the flight she booked on Thursday from EasyJet. She added: "This two-day trip has now turned into a seven-day trip and I've packed two outfits. So I am literally, as we speak, washing my clothes in the sink with shower gel." However, Lily says she has had to fork out more money for a change of clothes and food while being forced to stay in Italy until Thursday. She also fears the same thing is going to happen when she's due to fly out from Malpensa Airport on her flight booked for Thursday morning. "I am so nervous," said Lily. "I keep going through phases where like I'm like, I'm fine, it'll be fine, it won't happen again. But then I go through the phases where I start getting emotional, I start getting upset and I'm like - I have kids at home. What about if I can't get back to them and that's it and I'm just stuck here?" In an earlier statement to the M.E.N., easyJet said passengers affected have now been offered a 'free flight transfer' and urged them to arrive at the airport in plenty of time due to longer wait times. It has also slammed the EES waits that affected passengers as 'unacceptable'. An easyJet spokesperson said: "We are aware that some passengers departing from Milan Linate today experienced longer than usual waiting times at passport control and we advised customers due to fly to allow additional time to make their way through the airport. "We held flight EJU5420 from Milan to Manchester for nearly an hour to give passengers extra time but it had to then depart due to crew reaching their safety regulated operating hours. Customers who missed the flight have been offered a free flight transfer. "We continue to urge border authorities to ensure they make full and effective use of the permitted flexibilities for as long as needed while EES is implemented, to avoid these unacceptable border delays for our customers. While this is outside of our control, we are sorry for any inconvenience caused." According to the Gov.uk site, passengers travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay using a UK passport, may be required to register biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, upon arrival. Travellers do not need to take any further action and there is no cost for EES registration. "EES registration is replacing the current system of manually stamping passports when visitors arrive in the EU," it said. "EES may take each passenger extra time to complete so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border."

CHAOS
accrington10d ago
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Stranded mum, 23, can't return to UK for days after new border rules chaos

NAACP Sues xAI Over Data Centre Air Pollution - IT Security News

The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.

xAI
IT Security News - cybersecurity, infosecurity news10d ago
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NAACP Sues xAI Over Data Centre Air Pollution - IT Security News

Deutsche Börse deepens Kraken partnership with $200m investment

Deutsche Börse Group has invested $200m in Payward, the parent company of crypto trading platform Kraken, through a secondary share purchase. In a statement, Deutsche Börse said the transaction gives Deutsche Börse a 1.5% fully diluted stake in Payward. Bloomberg reported that the deal values Kraken at about $13.3bn. Deutsche Börse's investment follows a partnership between the two companies announced last December. The exchange operator said the latest investment "deepens the strategic partnership". The two firms said they aim to use their combined capabilities to connect traditional financial markets with the digital asset sector. Covering trading, custody, settlement, collateral management and tokenised assets, the partnership is expected to support new products and services. The companies said these offerings will provide access to both ecosystems for institutional clients. Deutsche Börse said: "This investment highlights Deutsche Börse Group's commitment to its digital asset strategy, which involves the development of a comprehensive, hybrid market infrastructure. "This infrastructure will be capable of processing assets of any technical form, including traditional securities and blockchain-native tokens, within a unified liquidity pool." The deal is subject to standard closing conditions, including relevant regulatory approvals. Deutsche Börse said it expects the transaction to close in the second quarter of this year. Kraken is one of the longest-operating cryptocurrency exchanges. As of May 2025, Kraken clients can trade more than 300 digital assets and six national currencies. In June last year, Kraken launched Krak, a peer-to-peer payments app designed to support cross-border transfers in both fiat currency and crypto.

Kraken
Electronic Payments International10d ago
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Deutsche Börse deepens Kraken partnership with $200m investment

Rushing to keep up with Anthropic's Mythos, OpenAI also releases cybersec-focused AI model

The White House, banking executives, and cybersecurity professionals, already spooked by the capabilities of Anthropic's AI model Mythos, now have even more on their plate. OpenAI is also releasing a new model focused on cybersecurity. Just like Mythos, OpenAI's new model, GPT-5.4-Cyber, is designed to autonomously find flaws and bugs in software, allowing cyber pros to fix issues before they are exploited by bad actors. "The progressive use of AI accelerates defenders - those responsible for keeping systems, data, and users safe - enabling them to find and fix problems faster in the digital infrastructure everyone relies on," OpenAI said in a press release. The company, though, adds: "Similarly, AI is being used⁠ by attackers looking to cause harm." Release is limited to a small set of clients That's why, similarly to Anthropic, OpenAI has so far limited the release of its model to a select group of customers. Indeed, it looks like both AI labs are concerned that these powerful new models could help bad actors and render many current cybersecurity defenses obsolete. AI systems are inherently dual-use: bad actors can repurpose technologies developed for legitimate applications to their own advantage and achieve malicious goals. The cause for concern is, of course, the fact that AI systems are inherently dual-use: bad actors can repurpose technologies developed for legitimate applications to their own advantage and achieve malicious goals. In these specific cases, attackers could invert the models fine-tuned for software defense to detect and exploit vulnerabilities in widely used software before they can be patched, exposing users to significant risks. Anthropic says Mythos has already detected thousands of severe vulnerabilities, including in "every major operating system and web browser," some of which had been undetected for decades. According to The Wall Street Journal, a software bug capable of crashing almost any OS went undetected for 27 years, but Mythos managed to catch it and is marketed as a tool capable of finding bugs at a rate never seen before. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell even convened an urgent meeting with bank CEOs last week to warn of the cyber risks posed by Mythos and similarly sophisticated AI models. Both OpenAI and Anthropic seem to understand the risks they're bringing to the world of cybersecurity - even though they could, of course, have simply shelved the models. "Cyber risk is already here and accelerating, but we can act. Digital infrastructure has already been vulnerable for years, before advanced AI even came along," OpenAI said in its blog rather defensively. Anthropic has meanwhile pre-emptively announced a big-tech exclusive initiative dubbed "Project Glasswing," providing access to Mythos to twelve major tech firms such as Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia in an effort to protect the most critical software. Part of AI hype? Jack Clark, Anthropic co-founder & head of Public Benefit, doesn't seem particularly worried, telling the Semafor World Economy forum this week that Mythos is "not a special model." "There will be other systems just like this in a few months from other companies. And in a year to a year and a half later, there'll be open weight models from China that have these capabilities," said Clark. "So the world is going to have to get ready for more powerful systems that are going to exist within it." Maybe it's just part of the AI hype, anyway. Marcus Hutchins, a cybersecurity researcher best known for helping to stop the global WannaCry ransomware attack, questioned Anthropic's narrative in a viral video. "Bugs aren't going unpatched because no one can find bugs. It's because no one is being paid to find bugs," said Hutchins before reiterating that there's no evidence whatsoever that AI systems are more cost-effective than human cyber researchers. So why are Anthropic, OpenAI, and (soon) other AI firms doing this? Well, a healthy cynic would most probably conclude that they want big companies to feel the heat and pay for their amazing tools.

Anthropic
Cybernews10d ago
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Rushing to keep up with Anthropic's Mythos, OpenAI also releases cybersec-focused AI model

Anthropic Cofounder Jack Clark Says 'Knowing The Right Questions To Ask' Beats Coding Skills As AI Reshap

On Monday, Anthropic cofounder Jack Clark said asking the right questions is now more important than coding skills as artificial intelligence reshapes jobs and reduces demand for entry-level tech work. AI Shift Elevates Question-Driven Skills Over Coding During the Semafor World Economy Summit, Clark said his background in English literature and creative writing unexpectedly proved useful in AI development. "I'm a literature graduate, and I don't think you'd put that as a cofounder of a frontier AI company," he said. He added, "But what turned out to be useful is that I got to learn a lot about history and a lot about the kind of stories that we tell ourselves about the future." He also added that studying narratives and history helped him think about how societies imagine the future. Clark said the most important skill in an AI-driven economy is "knowing the right questions to ask" and combining ideas across disciplines. He cautioned against focusing heavily on "rote programming," arguing that technical execution is becoming easier for machines while human judgment and synthesis grow more important. AI Job Displacement Warnings Grow Earlier, Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook said AI had already started disrupting the labor market, with early signs of job pressure appearing in coding roles and among recent graduates. She warned that AI could displace workers before creating new opportunities, even as companies invest heavily in AI systems and infrastructure. He said software development was among the most exposed fields as AI rapidly expanded what machines could do, comparing the shift to the early personal computer era. Investor Vinod Khosla predicted an even more dramatic transformation, saying AI and robotics could eventually perform most jobs and sharply reduce the cost of goods and services. He argued that automation could significantly reshape economic output tied to labor and potentially make traditional work less central to future generations. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

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Benzinga10d ago
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Anthropic Cofounder Jack Clark Says 'Knowing The Right Questions To Ask' Beats Coding Skills As AI Reshap

Saudi Energy, Kraken to expand in MENA via JV

SAUDI ENERGY 5110 -0.85% 17.48 -0.15 Riyadh - Mubasher: Saudi Energy Company has finalized agreements with Kraken Technologies Limited to establish a joint venture (JV) headquartered in Riyadh, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Under the partnership agreement, Saudi Energy will acquire a minority equity stake in Kraken, backing its AI-driven digital innovation strategy to develop advanced operating platforms for the energy and utilities sectors. The Tadawul-listed group aims to enhance operational efficiency, back organizational resilience, and drive long-term sustainable growth. The new JV will serve as the exclusive distributor of Kraken's operating platform across the MENA region. It will focus on developing regional expertise, creating job opportunities in energy and digital technology, and accelerating digital transformation within the sector. This partnership reflects Saudi Energy's commitment to integrating advanced digital technologies and enhancing the readiness of the electricity system both domestically and regionally. Kraken is a cloud-based platform tailored for utility providers, offering end-to-end capabilities across customer management, billing, service operations, data analytics, and smart systems. The platform currently serves over 70 million accounts worldwide and is active in more than 27 countries. In 2025, Saudi Energy logged profits attributable to shareholders valued at SAR 12.97 billion, up 88.95% year-on-year (YoY) from SAR 6.86 billion.

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english.mubasher.info10d ago
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Saudi Energy, Kraken to expand in MENA via JV

OpenAI Counters Anthropic with Release of GPT-5.4-Cyber AI Model | ForkLog

OpenAI grants limited access to GPT-5.4-Cyber for software vulnerability detection. OpenAI has granted a limited number of users access to its new AI model, GPT-5.4-Cyber, which is positioned as an effective tool for identifying software vulnerabilities. OpenAI is expanding its Trusted Access for Cyber program, launched in February. The initiative involves verifying individuals and collaborating with a select group of organizations to provide models with "more liberal cybersecurity restrictions." Additional access tiers have been added for users wishing to verify their qualifications as cybersecurity specialists. Clients with the highest status will have access to GPT-5.4-Cyber, a specialized model with enhanced functionality and fewer basic restrictions. "This is a version of GPT-5.4 that lowers the threshold for legitimate work in cybersecurity and unlocks new capabilities for advanced defensive workflows," the announcement states. Among the additional features of the neural network is reverse engineering of binary files. This allows experts to analyze compiled software for vulnerabilities and malicious code, as well as assess the overall level of protection without direct access to the source code. The tool was introduced a week after the high-profile announcement of Mythos. Anthropic declined to release the model publicly due to its advanced vulnerability-finding capabilities and high security risks. To use GPT-5.4-Cyber, users must verify their identity, and organizations must request access through their representative. In April, OpenAI introduced a plan aimed at strengthening child safety systems amid the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence and technology misuse.

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ForkLog10d ago
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OpenAI Counters Anthropic with Release of GPT-5.4-Cyber AI Model | ForkLog

Kraken officially files IPO, plans to be listed on Wall Street by Q3 - Cryptopolitan

Deutsche Börse invested $200 million in Kraken's parent company for a 1.5% stake. Kraken has taken its next big step toward Wall Street after confidentially filing for an IPO late last year, with the crypto exchange now targeting a public listing by Q3. Back in April, an investment round valued Kraken at $13.3 billion, which was lower than its $20 billion high in late 2025. On Tuesday at the Semafor World Economy event in Washington, DC, co-CEO Arjun Sethi said fears that AI will badly damage SaaS companies are too extreme, and he doesn't agree with them. Kraken opens up advanced trading tools for regular investors Arjun said Kraken wants users to get access to the same kind of trading options that major institutions already use. He said, "What they want at the end of the day is what Citadel and Jane Street have, or JPMorgan has, and they want it accessible to them." He then added, "That's our mission: How do we make all these products open? We want to be able to help enable what you want to do with your own capital." Meanwhile, Deutsche Börse AG agreed to invest $200 million in Payward Inc., the parent company of Kraken, by buying existing shares. The deal gives the German exchange operator a 1.5% fully diluted stake. It is expected to close in the second quarter, pending regulatory approval. The identity of the seller was not disclosed. The transaction also put a new number on Kraken's value. Based on Bloomberg calculations, the company is worth about $13.3 billion in this deal. That is below the $20 billion valuation tied to a November share sale, but it still places Kraken among the biggest companies in crypto as it works toward going public as soon as this year. The Deutsche Börse investment followed a partnership the two companies announced in December. It also came as more old-school financial companies increased their bets on digital assets. Earlier this year, Intercontinental Exchange Inc., the owner of the New York Stock Exchange, invested about $200 million in crypto exchange OKX. That shows how major market operators are now putting real money into crypto platforms instead of treating the sector like a sideshow. Thomas Book, a member of Deutsche Börse's management board, said, "It's a perfect partner for us to further accelerate on this path of creating a fully hybrid market infrastructure." He also said, "Irrespective of what is now the form of an asset whether it's tokenized or fully digital we want to create one integrated value chain." Kraken has direct access to Fedwire after cutting out partner banks Back in March, Kraken received a limited purpose account from the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. That made it the first digital asset bank with direct access to the US central bank's payment infrastructure. The account lets Kraken move money on rails that have usually been reserved for licensed banks. That matters because crypto companies and fintech companies have usually needed partner banks for this kind of access. Those banking partners also tend to handle important compliance systems such as anti-money laundering monitoring. With this approval, Kraken can now settle directly on Fedwire without using an intermediary bank. The company said Kraken Financial will roll this out in phases, starting with support for institutional client activity. The approval also landed during a broader fight. Crypto companies seeking access under US banking rules have faced pushback from lenders, which argue that crypto and fintech groups should not get direct entry to payment systems like Fedwire. That has turned into a bigger battle over who controls access to the core of the US payments system. Kraken operates under a Wyoming Special Purpose Depository Institution charter, also known as an SPDI, which was introduced in 2019 for the digital asset industry. SPDIs are full-reserve banks that take deposits and can handle custody, asset servicing, and asset management. In 2022, the Federal Reserve Board created a tiered framework for reviewing master account applications. Kraken Financial is listed as a Tier 3 applicant, which faces the strictest level of review.

Kraken
Cryptopolitan10d ago
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Kraken officially files IPO, plans to be listed on Wall Street by Q3 - Cryptopolitan

Anthropic hits $800 billion pre-IPO valuation as Federal agencies ignore Trump Pentagon's blacklist - Cryptopolitan

Federal agencies and congressional staff are still engaging with Anthropic and testing Claude Mythos despite the Trump Pentagon blacklist. Anthropic is being pulled in two directions. On one side, venture capital firms are circling the Claude maker with investment offers that value the company at as much as $800 billion, according to a Tuesday report from Business Insider. That figure is more than double Anthropic's current valuation. The company closed a funding round in February led by GIC and Coatue at a valuation of $380 billion. Last month, OpenAI closed a round at $852 billion. Another signal is coming from secondary markets. On Caplight, where investors trade shares of private companies, Anthropic is valued at $688 billion, up 75% in three months. That jump tracks the company's growth around Claude Code, its AI coding product. Last week, Anthropic said its annualized revenue run rate had climbed to $30 billion, up from $9 billion at the end of last year. It also said more than 1,000 enterprise customers are now spending over $1 million a year, and that count has doubled in less than two months. Venture firms push Anthropic toward an $800 billion price tag The new valuation talk is hitting as Anthropic gets even more attention for a new model called Claude Mythos. The model came out last week and drew attention inside security circles because it can uncover serious software flaws that human researchers had not found. Even with President Donald Trump's ban on federal use of Anthropic technology, officials across Washington are still dealing with the company. Staff from at least two large federal agencies recently contacted Anthropic about using Mythos in cyber defense work, according to a former senior U.S. technology official with direct knowledge of the talks. The Commerce Department's Center for AI Standards and Innovation is also actively testing Mythos, according to a Politico report that cites four people familiar with the matter. Those people allegedly included one current cybersecurity official, one former cybersecurity official, a former Trump administration official, and a former senior national security official. The center evaluates U.S. and foreign AI models for risks and opportunities. On Capitol Hill, staff on at least three congressional committees have either held or requested briefings from Anthropic over the past week to learn more about Mythos and its cyber scanning abilities, according to three congressional aides working on AI policy. Federal agencies keep testing Anthropic despite Trump's Pentagon ban The clash started in late February, when Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's technology after CEO Dario Amodei opposed letting the Pentagon use its models for autonomous lethal attacks or mass surveillance against Americans. Last month, Hegseth formally labeled Anthropic a supply chain risk. That move was unusual for a U.S. company and effectively blocks its AI models from use on Defense Department contracts. Even so, parts of the federal government appear to be moving around that order as interest in Mythos grows. The same tension showed up on Wall Street. On Tuesday, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon said AI tools may help defend companies someday, but right now, they are opening more weak spots. He said JPMorgan is testing Anthropic's Mythos preview as part of the bank's push to use AI without giving attackers an edge. "AI's made it worse, it's made it harder," Jamie said on the bank's earnings call. "It does create additional vulnerabilities, and maybe down the road, better ways to strengthen yourself too." Asked later about Mythos, Jamie pointed to Anthropic's warning that the model had already found thousands of vulnerabilities in corporate software. "It shows a lot more vulnerabilities need to be fixed," he said. Jamie added that JPMorgan, the world's largest bank by market value, spends heavily on cybersecurity, keeps top experts on staff, and stays in constant contact with government agencies. Still, he said, banks remain connected to exchanges and other outside systems that add more layers of risk.

Anthropic
Cryptopolitan10d ago
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Anthropic hits $800 billion pre-IPO valuation as Federal agencies ignore Trump Pentagon's blacklist - Cryptopolitan

NAACP Sues xAI Over Data Centre Air Pollution | Silicon UK Tech'

US civil rights group sues xAI over Colossus 2 data centre's use of polluting gas-powered turbines before it obtained permits Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... US civil rights group the NAACP has sued xAI and subsidiary MZX Tech over a claim they illegally operated more than two dozen gas turbines in Mississippi to power xAI's Colossus 2 data centre, posing health risks to local residents. In the lawsuit filed on Tuesday the NAACP, represented by Earthjustice and the Southern Environmental Law Centre, argued the two companies violated the Clean Air Act by running the 27 gas-fired turbines before obtaining the necessary permits. The facility and others power xAI's Grok chatbot. 'Shameful' Abre' Connor, director of the Centre for Environmental and Climate Justice at the NAACP said xAI's actions followed a "shameful, familiar pattern" of "asking Black and frontline communities to bear the toxic brunt of 'innovation'." The permits, which were granted in March, are being challenged in a separate legal action filed earlier this month by the SELC on behalf of the NAACP and other groups, arguing the approval was carried out in an "extremely hurried fashion" that limited input from local communities. Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality staff members "commented on the pressure they were under to issue this permit in an extremely expedited manner", the SELC claimed. 'Careful consideration' The MDEQ said it issued the permits after "careful consideration". The Colossus 2 facility in Southaven, Mississippi, and xAI's Colossus facility nearby in Memphis have been heavily criticised by local communities for their use of gas-fired turbines that emit particulate matter, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, contributing to poor local air conditions.

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Silicon UK10d ago
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NAACP Sues xAI Over Data Centre Air Pollution | Silicon UK Tech'

US agencies are ignoring Trump's Anthropic ban: Has Claude Mythos sparked a policy clash?

Anthropic has clarified that it wants to ensure responsible deployment by limiting access to select entities and collaborating with government officials on evaluations. Back in February, the US Department of Defense and Anthropic had a fallout over the usage of its Claude AI in defence applications. At the time, the US marked Anthropic as a supply chain risk, banning the company's products from involvement in defence applications and several federal departments. US federal agencies, however, have reportedly been eager. to test the new Claude Mythos model for its advanced cybersecurity capabilities. Claude Mythos was unveiled last week as Anthropic's most powerful AI model to date, with capabilities so advanced that it had to be restricted from the public. Anthropic clarified that the advanced capabilities of the AI model made it suitable for cybersecurity strengthening purposes, helping infrastructure companies identify and exploit unknown software flaws in existing platforms. The model has impressed and alarmed researchers with its advanced hacking and vulnerability-detection prowess. Now, according to a report from Politico, it is said that staff from at least two large federal agencies have contacted Anthropic expressing interest in using Mythos for cyber defence. The Commerce Department's Center for AI Standards and Innovation (CAISI) is already conducting active evaluations, including "red teaming" exercises to assess the model's capabilities and national security risks. US government agencies bypassing Trump's restrictions on Anthropic Experts have warned that Mythos represents a significant leap in AI-driven cybersecurity, capable of finding flaws in major browsers and operating systems far faster than human teams. Anthropic has clarified that it wants to ensure responsible deployment by limiting access to select entities and collaborating with government officials on evaluations. Former national security officials have expressed concern that political tensions could undermine US cyber defences at a critical time. "It's ironic that the US government tried to ban US government use of Anthropic products -- and then a few weeks later, there's this revolutionary Anthropic product that's very important for cybersecurity," said Charlie Bullock of the Institute for Law and AI. The Pentagon has "shot itself in the foot by giving the middle finger to the most capable AI provider," said another one of the three aides, as mentioned in the report. Anthropic has confirmed it is making Mythos available for government testing and evaluation. The company has clarified that other advanced models with similar capabilities are expected within the next two years, which could affect the country's cyber defences in the meantime. However, the pressure is mounting for clearer guidelines on how the US government can safely harness these powerful tools without compromising security or principles. Will Trump administration lift ban on Anthropic? In late February, Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered government agencies to stop using Anthropic's models after CEO Dario Amodei opposed using AI for autonomous lethal weapons or mass domestic surveillance. The Pentagon later designated Anthropic a "supply chain risk," effectively barring its use on Defense Department contracts. Anthropic has since then sued the government over this designation, resulting in split court rulings. Despite these restrictions, congressional staff from at least three committees have requested briefings on Mythos, and Treasury Department IT officials are also exploring its use for patching network vulnerabilities. The White House stated it continues to engage with AI companies to secure software vulnerabilities and protect Americans as its topmost priority. However, critics argue the ban has hindered the government's ability to utilise cutting-edge domestic AI technology against rising cyber threats from adversaries like Russia and China - something which Anthropic can only help in today's scenario. What remains to be seen is whether the Trump administration relaxes the 'supply chain risk' designation in the interests of utilising the most cutting-edge technology for strengthening its cyber defences.

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The Financial Express10d ago
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US agencies are ignoring Trump's Anthropic ban: Has Claude Mythos sparked a policy clash?

Arms race a major contributor to climate chaos | Countercurrents

As the temperature around the globe is rising, melting of glaciers, ever increasing typhoons, irregular & untimely rains leading to increase in sea level effecting our day to day life, the climate change has entered to climate crisis and now climate chaos. Hasan Abdullah author of the 'Climate Chaos How Violence Drives It - And The Best Bet For Change'has very aptly described the present situation not merely as a climate crisis, but as "climate chaos." In the book release ceremony on 10th April 2026 he explained the philosophy behind the whole issue and highlighted the arms race as a major contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions. The term climate chaos captures the reality we are living in today. This is not a distant or abstract threat. It is a lived experience -- of extreme weather events, rising temperatures, ecological destruction, and deepening inequality. But what makes this crisis even more alarming is that it is unfolding alongside another devastating reality: the persistence and expansion of wars, militarism, and the global arms race. But unfortunately, this aspect has been ignored in various international conferences, agreements and discussions. Major international agreements such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement have played a crucial role in shaping global climate action. However, they largely ignored military emissions and the environmental impact of wars. The Conference of Parties (COP) on climate change to be held in Antalya, Turkey in November 2026 must take cognizance of this and highlight the need for check on the proliferation of small arms and complete abolition of nuclear weapons. The relentless greed to control natural resources, combined with the pursuit of a life of excessive luxury, leads to wasteful consumption and a rising carbon footprint. At the global level, it is the imperialist drive for geopolitical dominance that fuels war, conflict, and violence across the world. There is persistent effort to portray certain groups to be responsible for the problems of society -- on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, language, or nationality. Such thinking distances us from our shared humanity. It creates divisions, breeds mistrust, and ultimately becomes a source of conflict at multiple levels. History offers clear examples. During the Cold War, the United States viewed the Soviet Union as the "other," leading to decades of sustained hostility. The cold war period was followed by imperialist and neo-colonial powers to construct new "enemies," often targeting sections of the Islamic world. Today, wars are raging across multiple regions of the world. From the ongoing devastation in west Asia, repeated attacks on Lebanon, and rising tensions involving Iran, the prolonged war in Ukraine and the deeply troubling internal conflicts in Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and across the Sahel region -- including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger -- the world is witnessing a dangerous escalation of violence. These are not isolated or accidental conflicts. They are deeply connected to struggles for geopolitical dominance, economic control, and access to natural resources. Powerful nations and global forces often act -- directly or indirectly -- as aggressors or instigators, fueling instability for strategic gain. The consequences, however, are borne by ordinary people, by fragile ecosystems, and by the future of our planet. While we are rightly concerned about the human cost of wars -- the deaths, injuries, displacement, trauma and mental health crisis, we must also recognize an equally serious but often ignored dimension: the environmental and climatic impact of militarism and armed conflict. It is now increasingly acknowledged that military activity is a significant contributor to climate change. The global military sector is estimated to account for nearly 5 to 6 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions. If the world's militaries were treated as a country, they would rank among the largest emitters globally. Modern militaries are among the most energy-intensive institutions on Earth. Fighter jets, warships, tanks, and military vehicles consume enormous quantities of fossil fuels. For example, the United States Department of Defense is often cited as one of the largest institutional polluters in the world. Every military exercise, every deployment, every war operation leave behind a massive carbon footprint. But emissions from fuel consumption are only one part of the problem. The production of weapons -- from conventional arms to missiles and nuclear warheads -- is itself highly energy-intensive. Industries that manufacture steel, explosives, chemicals, and advanced electronics contribute significantly to carbon emissions. At the same time, they generate toxic waste, pollute air and water, and degrade ecosystems. Then comes the impact of war itself. Armed conflicts destroy forests, agricultural lands, water systems, and infrastructure. Forests -- our vital carbon sinks -- are burned or cleared. Agricultural systems collapse. Oil wells are set on fire. Cities are reduced to rubble. The environmental damage is immense and long-lasting. War does not end when the fighting stops. The process of reconstruction -- rebuilding cities, infrastructure, and economies -- is itself carbon-intensive, adding further to emissions. Thus, militarism contributes to climate change in multiple ways; Direct emissions from military operations; Industrial pollution from arms production; Environmental destruction during war; Carbon-intensive reconstruction after conflict. Yet, despite this overwhelming evidence, there is a striking and troubling silence on this issue in global climate policy. In some cases, military emissions have been explicitly exempted or inadequately reported, often in the name of national security. The result is a serious gap in our understanding and accounting of global emissions. This is not a minor oversight -- it is a structural blind spot in global climate governance. At a time when the world urgently needs resources for renewable energy, climate adaptation, sustainable development, and public health, vast financial and technological resources are being diverted into arms production and military expansion. Global military expenditure 2025 was 2.6 trillion dollars. USA alone spent more than $997 billion. Imagine if even a fraction of this was invested in clean energy, resilient agriculture, healthcare systems, and climate mitigation. The progress we could achieve would be transformative. Instead, we are witnessing an intensifying arms race, including the modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals. Studies supported by organizations such as the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) and ICAN point out the catastrophic consequences of even a limited nuclear war. The study titled 'Nuclear Famine -Even a "limited" nuclear war would cause abrupt climate disruption and global starvation' carried out by physicists, biologists, climatologists and other scientists highlight the concept of nuclear winter is no longer theoretical speculation. It shows that even a regional nuclear conflict -- for example, involving a small fraction of the global arsenal -- could inject massive amounts of soot into the upper atmosphere. This would block sunlight, cause a sharp drop in global temperatures, disrupt rainfall patterns, and lead to widespread crop failure. The result would be global famine on an unprecedented scale, potentially affecting billions of people. In such a scenario, the majority of deaths would not occur from the immediate blasts, but from hunger, disease, and societal collapse in the months and years that follow. A large-scale nuclear war would be even more devastating -- posing an existential threat to human civilization and many forms of life on Earth. This is why the issue of nuclear disarmament is not only a matter of peace and security -- it is fundamentally a climate and public health imperative. The medical community understands this clearly. Just as we emphasize prevention in public health, we must recognize that there is no cure after a nuclear war. Prevention is the only option. And prevention means moving towards the elimination of nuclear weapons and reducing our dependence on militarized systems. If we are serious about addressing climate change, we must broaden our perspective. Climate change is not only about emissions from industries, transport, or agriculture. It is also about the systems of power, conflict, and exploitation that drive environmental destruction. We cannot achieve climate justice without addressing militarism; we cannot speak of sustainability while ignoring war; we cannot demand emission reductions from civilians while allowing one of the largest emitters -- the military sector -- to remain outside accountability; therefore, there is an urgent need for policy change. Inclusion of military emissions in national and global climate reporting; Transparency and accountability in defence-related environmental impacts; Recognition of war and conflict as drivers of climate change; Reduction in military expenditure and reallocation of resources towards climate action and public welfare; Strengthening of international efforts towards disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament. The path forward requires courage -- political courage, moral courage, and collective action. We must build a global movement that connects the struggles for peace, climate justice, and public health, because ultimately, these are not separate issues. They are deeply interconnected. A world at war cannot be a world at peace with nature. A world investing in destruction cannot simultaneously invest in sustainability. A world divided by conflict cannot effectively confront a global crisis like climate change. The climate crisis is not only a scientific or environmental challenge -- it is a reflection of the choices we make as a global society. If we continue on the path of militarism, competition, and exploitation, we will deepen the crisis. But if we choose cooperation, peace, and justice, we can still build a sustainable future. There can be no climate solution without peace. There can be no sustainable future without disarmament. The choice is ours -- and the time to act is now. It is important to develop global outlook and local responsibility. We must raise our voice where ever we are; organize movements to change the mindset and educate the society. Dr Arun Mitra is a Practicing ENT Surgeon in Ludhiana, Punjab. He is also the President of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) www.idpd.org

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Countercurrents10d ago
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Arms race a major contributor to climate chaos | Countercurrents

Anthropic Briefed Trump Administration on Mythos Cyber Capabilities | eWEEK

eWeek content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More Anthropic briefed senior Trump administration officials on its new Mythos model before giving outside organizations access, highlighting how seriously the company views the system's cybersecurity implications. The model is not being released publicly, and Anthropic has positioned it as powerful enough to provide defensive value while also carrying clear risks of misuse. Mythos is at the center of a much bigger AI security debate: what happens when a model can help defenders find dangerous software flaws faster, but could also help attackers exploit those same weaknesses at scale? Anthropic's answer, at least for now, is to keep access tight and make sure officials understand what the model can do before that access expands further. Why Anthropic briefed officials early According to a TechCrunch report on Jack Clark's remarks, the Anthropic co-founder said the company briefed the administration on Mythos and expects to continue discussing future models with government officials. Clark described Anthropic's Pentagon conflict as a narrow contracting dispute, while arguing that the government still needs visibility into frontier AI systems with national security implications. Anthropic's own Project Glasswing announcement explains the company's caution more clearly. It says Mythos Preview has already found thousands of zero-day and other high-severity vulnerabilities, including flaws in major operating systems and web browsers, and that the model can help identify and exploit software weaknesses at a level beyond that of most human researchers. Anthropic says that risk is exactly why the model is being deployed through a restricted program instead of a public release. That restricted rollout is already shaping the broader story around Project Glasswing, Anthropic's program that lets selected organizations use Mythos for defensive security work, rather than opening the model to broad public access. Anthropic says the partner group includes AWS, Apple, Cisco, JPMorganChase, Microsoft, Nvidia, and Palo Alto Networks, with more than 40 additional organizations also receiving access to help secure critical software. A restricted model with wider consequences The administration briefing also lands against a politically awkward backdrop. Anthropic is still caught in a dispute over Pentagon access and military AI terms, which leaves the company in a strange position: fighting with one part of government while still sharing sensitive model information with officials elsewhere. That tension is part of what makes the Pentagon-Anthropic dispute more than a side plot here. There is also fresh pressure on Anthropic to prove it can handle a model it says is too risky for general release. Earlier concerns about the Mythos leak episode had already put pressure on Anthropic to show it can safely handle a model it says is too risky for general release. Briefing officials before wider access helps make that case, but it also underscores how much of the governance burden still rests with the company itself. For now, Anthropic appears to be drawing a hard line around Mythos: limited access, selected partners, and early government awareness. Whether that becomes a standard playbook for frontier AI releases may depend on how quickly policymakers catch up to the models now arriving at the edge of cybersecurity.

Anthropic
eWEEK10d ago
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Anthropic Briefed Trump Administration on Mythos Cyber Capabilities | eWEEK

Saudi Energy signs final agreements with Kraken for Riyadh JV

Saudi Energy (SE) and Kraken announced the signing of definitive agreements for a strategic partnership with Kraken Technologies (Kraken), a global provider of an AI-powered operating system for the utilities sector. Under the agreements, SE and Kraken will establish a joint venture headquartered in Riyadh to accelerate digital transformation across the energy and utilities sectors in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena). The joint venture will serve as the exclusive reseller of the Kraken operating system across the Mena region. It will also focus on: The JV will also have the rights to deploy Kraken to 11.5 million SE customer accounts, supporting SE's AI-driven digital innovation strategy and its ambition to enhance operational efficiency, organisational resilience, and long-term sustainable growth. As part of the agreements, SE will also acquire a minority strategic equity stake in Kraken, reinforcing long-term alignment between the two companies. Kraken's platform is a fully cloud-based, AI-enabled operating system designed specifically for utility companies. It enables end-to-end digital operations, including customer experience, billing, service management, data analytics, and intelligent system optimisation. The platform currently supports more than 90 million customer accounts on behalf of leading global utilities and operates in over 15 countries. -OGN/TradeArabia News Service

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Gulf Daily News Online10d ago
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Saudi Energy signs final agreements with Kraken for Riyadh JV
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