News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model, FT reports
April 12 (Reuters) - UK financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cyber security agency and major banks to assess risks posed by the latest artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Officials at the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury are in talks with the National Cyber Security Centre to examine potential vulnerabilities in critical IT systems highlighted by Anthropic's latest AI model, the newspaper said. Representatives from major British banks, insurers and exchanges are expected to be briefed on the cyber security risks posed by the model, Claude Mythos Preview, at a meeting with regulators in the next fortnight, it said, citing two people briefed on the talks. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Anthropic did not respond to Reuters' request for comment while the BoE declined to comment and the Treasury, NCSC and FCA were not immediately available for comment. The move follows a meeting called by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with major Wall Street banks on the model's cyber risk potential, Reuters reported on Friday, citing two sources. The AI startup has said the model is being deployed as part of "Project Glasswing", a controlled initiative under which select organizations are permitted to use the unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model for defensive cyber security purposes. In a blog post earlier this month, the startup said the model had already identified "thousands" of major vulnerabilities across operating systems, web browsers and other widely used software. (Reporting by Mihika Sharma in Bengaluru Editing by Bernadette Baum and Christina Fincher)
UK Regulators Assess Risks of Anthropic's New AI Model
UK regulators -- including the Bank of England, FCA, Treasury and NCSC -- are urgently convening with major banks to assess cyber and systemic risks posed by Anthropic's powerful new AI model, Claude Mythos. This follows high-level concern over its unprecedented capabilities. UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model, FT reports Urgent Regulatory Response to Anthropic's AI Model April 12 (Reuters) - UK financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cyber security agency and major banks to assess risks posed by the latest artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Collaboration Among UK Financial Authorities Officials at the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury are in talks with the National Cyber Security Centre to examine potential vulnerabilities in critical IT systems highlighted by Anthropic's latest AI model, the newspaper said. Engagement with Major Financial Institutions Representatives from major British banks, insurers and exchanges are expected to be briefed on the cyber security risks posed by the model, Claude Mythos Preview, at a meeting with regulators in the next fortnight, it said, citing two people briefed on the talks. Verification and Official Responses Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Anthropic did not respond to Reuters' request for comment while the BoE declined to comment and the Treasury, NCSC and FCA were not immediately available for comment. International Context and Project Details The move follows a meeting called by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent with major Wall Street banks on the model's cyber risk potential, Reuters nL4N40T024 reported on Friday, citing two sources. Project Glasswing and Model Deployment The AI startup has said the model is being deployed as part of "Project Glasswing nL4N40Q0LK", a controlled initiative under which select organizations are permitted to use the unreleased Claude Mythos Preview model for defensive cyber security purposes. Early Findings and Vulnerability Identification In a blog post earlier this month, the startup said the model had already identified "thousands" of major vulnerabilities across operating systems, web browsers and other widely used software. (Reporting by Mihika Sharma in BengaluruEditing by Bernadette Baum and Christina Fincher)
Anthropic: $200 Million Investment Planned In Private Equity AI Venture (Report)
Anthropic is in talks to invest approximately $200 million into a new private equity-backed venture aimed at accelerating the adoption of its artificial intelligence tools across enterprise customers, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal. The proposed venture is expected to raise around $1 billion in total and would include participation from major private equity firms such as General Atlantic, Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman. The initiative is designed to function as a consulting and implementation arm, helping portfolio companies of these firms integrate Anthropic's AI technologies, including its Claude chatbot and coding tools, into business operations. The effort reflects a broader push by Anthropic to expand its enterprise footprint and drive revenue growth through deeper adoption of AI across corporate environments. Private equity-backed companies are seen as attractive customers due to their focus on operational efficiency and their ability to deploy technology changes across entire portfolios. The new venture would provide hands-on support, including training and technical expertise, to help businesses implement AI solutions at scale. The move comes amid intensifying competition between Anthropic and rivals such as OpenAI, which is pursuing a similar strategy through its own planned joint venture targeting enterprise AI adoption. Both companies are increasingly investing in services and partnerships that go beyond software, aiming to embed AI directly into business workflows. Anthropic already derives the majority of its revenue from enterprise customers and is seeking to further capitalize on growing demand for AI-driven productivity tools. The company has also been expanding its support ecosystem, including committing additional funding to help consulting firms deploy its technology more effectively. The discussions remain ongoing, and final terms of the investment and structure of the venture have not yet been finalized.
Footballer thrown off plane in handcuffs after 'bomb threat' chaos leads to widespread airport delays
The left-back was travelling with his squad to Buenos Aires ahead of their Primera Nacional fixture against Agropecuario. Video footage captured stunned passengers watching as the player was removed from the aircraft, with one witness claiming he had told fellow travellers "they were all going to explode". Security protocols were immediately triggered following the alleged threat, with the Airport Security Police taking charge of the situation. All passengers were required to leave the aircraft so that specialist explosives officers could conduct a comprehensive search of the plane and the surrounding facilities. The inspection ultimately found no suspicious devices on board.
UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model, FT reports
April 12 (Reuters) - UK financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cyber security agency and major banks to assess risks posed by the new artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. (Reporting by Mihika Sharma in BengaluruEditing by Bernadette Baum)
UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model, FT reports
April 12 (Reuters) - UK financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cyber security agency and major banks to assess risks posed by the new artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Reporting by Mihika Sharma in Bengaluru Editing by Bernadette Baum Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
'Anthropic is eating Palantir's lunch': Michael Burry's latest warning sent PLTR down 6% -- if you own AI stock, here's what he's seeing
Michael Burry, most famous for shorting the housing market ahead of the 2008 financial crisis, said that 'Anthropic is eating Palantir's lunch' in a now-deleted post on X (1). Since sharing that thought on April 8, Palantir has fallen rapidly -- over 13% in the last five days. Although, the stock has recovered slightly after President Donald Trump made a Truth Social post in support of the company on April 10. Burry first announced he had put options on Palantir in the fall of 2025, which allow holders to sell a stock for a set price as long as it is sold by a certain date. A put is helpful if you think a stock is going to crash soon. In his newest Substack post, he says he's maintained puts on Palantir ever since, and he's not planning on selling them despite Trump's recent posts (2). Here are some reasons he might be shorting the company and why he thinks Anthropic is a better bet. Elsewhere in his deleted post, Burry said, "Anthropic went from $9B to $30B in months, it took $PLTR 20 years to get to $5 Billion." He says that's because Anthropic's product is the "easier, cheaper, intuitive solution for businesses." In comparison, he says that Palantir's government contracts don't set them up for the same quick growth. His post says that "PLTR can have government, which is low margin and small." He also says "Anthropic is taking 73% of all new enterprise spending per Ramp." But that's not quite accurate: The Ramp report says that 73.3% of new businesses choose Anthropic over OpenAI when they spend on AI for the first time (3). The cited numbers don't include companies that chose other AI options, such as Google or xAI. According to Ramp's report, OpenAI is still the company with the most adopted model overall, with 34.4% of U.S. businesses having a paid subscription with the company. Anthropic is in second place at 24.4%. Still, Anthropic's comfortable second-place seat, along with new companies showing preference for it over the market leader, means that the company is in a good place to take over more of the AI market. This is especially true now that it's announced Project Glasswing (4), which is an initiative to use the company's new Claude model, Claude Mythos, to protect against AI-driven cyberattacks. Read More: Almost 50 with no retirement savings? Here's why you shouldn't panic Burry's been betting against Palantir long before Anthropic rose to its current place in the AI market. On October 30, Burry posted "Sometimes, we see bubbles (5)," which many understood as a. dig at AI. On November 3, Scion Asset Management, Burry's hedge fund, filed a form with the SEC showing puts against both Palantir and NVIDIA, another huge player in the AI space (6). Given how highly he praised Anthropic, he might not be as bearish on AI as a whole anymore. But he doesn't appear to have changed his mind on Palantir and NVIDIA. In addition to his ongoing puts on Palantir, Burry has warned against going all in on NVDA stock as recently as February. In a February 21 post on X (7), Burry said, "In the 1920s there was a radio mania focused mostly on one stock, RCA. The stock fell peak to trough about 98% during early 1930s, and yet radio's growth never slowed for many more decades." He ends the post with "$NVDA," implying that he thinks something similar might happen to the chip company soon. Anthropic isn't publicly traded, so neither you nor Burry can buy stocks in it at the moment. But it doesn't seem like Burry reveres some of the other big, publicly traded AI names currently in the market. If you trust Burry's perspective, you might prefer to shift your portfolio away from these companies. Join 250,000+ readers and get Moneywise's best stories and exclusive interviews first -- clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now. We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our editorial ethics and guidelines. Business Insider (1); Substack (2); Ramp (3); Anthropic (4); X (5, 7); The Securities and Exchange Commission (6)
What are the cyber risks posed by Anthropic's latest AI model? | Newstalk
One of the world's leading AI companies has abruptly withdrawn a powerful new tool over concerns it could be exploited for large-scale hacking. It's the latest sign of just how quickly this technology is advancing, and the risks that come with it. So what exactly triggered this decision, and how seriously is the cybersecurity world taking it? I'm joined now by Kevin O'Loughlin of Nostra, one of Ireland's leading cyber security firms, to unpack the story and what it could mean for the future of online security.
SpaceX Could Be the Ultimate Meme Stock. Investors Should Avoid This Unprecedented IPO.
The SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is coming, and it's going to be massive. Media reports indicate that SpaceX has confidentially filed for its IPO, seeking to raise as much as $75 billion at a valuation that could be in the range of $1.75 trillion to $2 trillion, which would make it the largest IPO in history and instantly put in an elite group of stocks with over a $1 trillion market cap. SpaceX is a one-of-a-kind company. It uses reusable rockets to help launch astronauts into space, and has also set up a low-orbit network of satellites called Starlink that can provide high-speed internet anywhere on Earth. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue " While its potential is immense, SpaceX could at least start out as the ultimate meme stock. I would recommend investors avoid this unprecedented IPO. Meme stocks tend to be driven by retail investors, trade at massive valuations, and deviate from their fundamentals. The meme stock era really began with GameStop during the pandemic, but has become almost normal amid a multiyear bull market, driven by artificial intelligence that has led to some astounding valuations on the belief that AI could change everything. Image source: Getty Images. While SpaceX, founded by Tesla CEO and Founder Elon Musk, has much more potential than GameStop, it will likely make its public market debut at an enormous valuation. Earlier this year, Reuters reported that SpaceX made a profit of $8 billion in 2025 on revenue of roughly $16 billion. Assuming SpaceX goes public at a valuation of $1.75 trillion, the stock would trade at nearly 219 times trailing earnings and over 109 times trailing revenue. Even for a company with as much potential as SpaceX, which has talked about colonizing Mars one day, this valuation seems mind-boggling. SpaceX also plans to allocate as much as 30% of its raise to retail investors, three times the typical amount, so there's going to be a lot of opportunity for retail investors to drive trading activity, which makes the environment for short sellers that much more difficult. Plus, Musk has a cult-like following, which some argue has led to Tesla's monstrous valuation of 165 times forward earnings, down from a high of 300 not long ago. On the idea of SpaceX becoming a meme stock, Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza recently told MarketWatch that the company "clearly has some of the ingredients: a massive narrative, a founder with a loyal following, and a valuation likely driven in part by future potential rather than just current fundamentals." As the IPO approaches, there will be serious hype, and investors will be tempted to buy shares at whatever price they are offered. However, I would actually caution against buying this IPO. Space is a new sector, and SpaceX could grab a controlling share of the market. However, nobody knows how the sector or the company will develop, and investors are being asked to pay a huge premium out of the gate. But even if you are gung-ho on the stock and believe SpaceX is the real deal, I still strongly suspect that the stock will be much cheaper for patient investors who can wait three to six months. That's because most IPOs have lock-up provisions that prevent insiders and early investors, often those who own large blocks of shares, from selling right out of the gate. Lock-up provisions typically range from 90 to 180 days. Insiders and early investors are often tempted to sell at least a portion of their shares because they have likely held them for years and could be worth billions, or even tens or hundreds of billions, in the case of SpaceX. If you look back at big IPOs in 2025, many opened big and then sold off after a few months, as the hype faded or lock-up provisions expired. I expect SpaceX will be no different, and potentially in a more magnified way, given the valuation and hype surrounding the IPO. When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is 968%* -- a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&P 500. Bram Berkowitz has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Tesla. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model, FT reports
April 12 (Reuters) - UK financial regulators are holding urgent talks with the government's cyber security agency and major banks to assess risks posed by the new artificial intelligence model from Anthropic, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. Reuters could not immediately verify the report. (Reporting by Mihika Sharma in Bengaluru Editing by Bernadette Baum)
Tropical Cyclone Vaianu Brings Massive Waves and Chaos to New Zealand - News Directory 3
Prior to the peak of the storm, surfers found small windows of opportunity to tackle the rising swells. Tropical Cyclone Vaianu brought extreme ocean conditions to New Zealand's North Island on April 12, 2026, creating a high-risk environment that offered rare, massive swells for the surfing community amidst widespread regional devastation. The storm system generated immense energy in the water, with buoy readings recording wave heights reaching 11 meters, or approximately 32.8 feet. These conditions created a brief window of opportunity for experienced surfers before the storm's full impact made the coastline too dangerous for activity. Prior to the peak of the storm, surfers found small windows of opportunity to tackle the rising swells. Reports from Surfline New Zealand indicated that waves in some areas were ranging between 8 and 12 feet during these early openings. As the cyclone neared the North Island, the energy intensified significantly. Surfline New Zealand specifically highlighted the Bay of Plenty region, noting that the swell peaked around midday on April 12, 2026, coinciding with an approaching high tide. TC Vaianu is having severe impacts into the BOP region now. Here's Mount Maunganui just a few hours ago. Swell is peaking through midday with recorded heights of 11m. This is also coinciding with an approaching high tide. The intensity of the water was described as serious energy, with warnings issued that the conditions were not typical and required surfers to know their limits due to the extreme risks involved. While the swell provided moments of brilliance for the sport, the broader meteorological impact was severe. Cyclone Vaianu triggered widespread power outages, flooding, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people across the North Island. The danger extended beyond the surf zone, as the storm surge was expected to be significant. New Zealand's Civil Defense had issued warnings as early as April 11, 2026, urging residents to prepare for wind damage, landslides, and potential flooding. Prepare now. Have a plan to shelter at home, deal with potential power outages, or evacuate if necessary. Follow forecasts and do not wait for official warnings. Wind damage, flooding and landslides can occur at any time. The cyclone's reach was extensive, impacting not only New Zealand but also causing disruptions in Fiji. In Fiji, surfers on Tavarua Island were forced to evacuate and shelter in place on the main island as the storm passed. The sporting and tourism sectors faced significant hurdles due to the weather. The cyclone grounded flights and disrupted tourism operations in both New Zealand and Fiji, leading to massive travel delays and leaving thousands of travelers stranded. Maritime conditions were equally volatile. Reports indicated wind speeds consistently reaching 35-40 knots as the storm crept closer to the coast, further complicating any attempts to monitor the swells safely from the water. The combination of an 11-meter swell and a significant storm surge created a chaotic environment at Mount Maunganui and Mangawhai Heads, the latter of which was identified as a key area to monitor for wave activity.
Khalwale condemns violent chaos at Mukoyani burial ceremony
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has strongly condemned the violence that broke out during the burial of Madam Caroline Khamete in Mukoyani Village, Ikolomani Constituency, describing the incident as shameful and unacceptable. The funeral, held on April 11, 2026, was disrupted by clashes that turned a solemn occasion into chaos. According to reports, groups of youth fought openly during the ceremony, using crude weapons and causing panic among mourners. Several people were injured, including one man who was stabbed in the arm and taken to hospital for treatment. Witnesses said the situation worsened as mourners fled for safety, with parts of the ceremony interrupted. In his statement on Sunday, April 12, 2026, Senator Khalwale said the incident showed a worrying decline in respect for public order, even during burials. "What should have been a peaceful farewell to a dedicated public servant was turned into a scene of violence and fear," he said. "It is shameful that such acts can happen in the full view of security officers." Calls for swift justice Khalwale further claimed that the violence was linked to supporters aligned to some senior county officials, amid ongoing political tensions in the county. The two leaders mentioned have not publicly responded to the specific claims made in the statement. He also called on security agencies to act quickly. "I urge the National Police Service and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to arrest and prosecute those who turned a funeral into a battleground," he said. "We cannot allow goons to control our public gatherings." He warned that continued political rivalry risked deepening divisions in Kakamega. The senator also appealed for calm and urged leaders to take responsibility for their supporters. He extended condolences to the family of Madam Khamete and wished those injured a quick recovery. He further called for a thorough investigation into earlier claims surrounding her death, which he said should be handled by relevant authorities without interference.
UK financial regulators rush to assess risks of Anthropic's latest AI model
UK financial regulators are holding urgent discussions with the government's main cyber security watchdog and the country's biggest banks to assess the risks posed by the latest AI model from Anthropic. Officials at the Bank of England, the Financial Conduct Authority and HM Treasury are in talks with the National Cyber Security Centre to explore potential vulnerabilities in key IT systems revealed by Anthropic's latest model. Leading British banks, insurers and exchanges will be warned about the cyber security risks exposed by Anthropic's latest model, Claude Mythos Preview, at a meeting with the regulators in the next fortnight, according to two people briefed on the talks. The response by UK authorities follows a summons by US Treasury secretary Scott Bessent to leaders of some of the largest Wall Street banks to discuss the latest AI model's advanced ability to detect cyber security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by bad actors. When Anthropic announced the release of Mythos to select customers last week, the company said it had already "found thousands of high-severity vulnerabilities, including some in every major operating system and web browser", some of which have gone undetected for decades. The $380bn San Francisco start-up said it would "not be long before such capabilities proliferate, potentially beyond actors who are committed to deploying them safely", adding: "The fallout -- for economies, public safety, and national security -- could be severe." The potential ramifications of the new AI system are on the agenda for the next meeting of the UK's Cross Market Operational Resilience Group, which brings regulators and financial services companies together to discuss threats to the sector. CMORG is co-chaired by Duncan Mackinnon, the Bank of England's executive director for supervisory risk, and David Postings, the head of the UK Finance trade body for banks. Other members include senior representatives from eight of the biggest UK banks, four financial infrastructure providers and two insurers, as well as the NCSC, the FCA and HM Treasury. The agenda of the CMORG meeting was first reported by The Telegraph. The BoE declined to comment. David Raw, managing director for resilience at UK Finance, said "We are aware of the press reports on the Anthropic AI development and the risks highlighted." He added: "UK Finance engages with our members and through our public/private partnerships on any significant operational risks that could affect the resilience of the UK financial services sector." The BoE could also convene a meeting with financial institutions within one to two hours via its separate Cross Market Business Continuity Group when confronted with an urgent threat to the sector. But it has yet to do so in this case. A number of major UK companies were targeted by hackers last year in cyber attacks that caused significant disruption to their operations, including retailers M&S, the Co-op Group and Harrods, in addition to Jaguar Land Rover. The UK's AI Security Institute, the government's frontier AI model testing and risk research unit, has been evaluating Anthropic's Mythos along with other leading models such as Claude and OpenAI's ChatGPT. But the government is weighing a plan to conduct standardised testing of the general-purpose AI models used by all UK lenders after the BoE warned them over their evaluation practices last year, the FT reported this month. The BoE's Prudential Regulation Authority, which regulates banks, told executives from lenders in two meetings last October that their AI model monitoring was "not frequent enough", according to slides from the events.
Polymarket removed from Google News after brief appearance
Polymarket briefly appeared in Google News results before Google removed the links, according to reports. The listings showed up beside articles from established news outlets during searches tied to live events. Google later said the appearance was a mistake. A spokesperson told The Verge, "This site briefly appeared in Google News in error, and it is no longer surfacing in News." Polymarket links appeared under mainstream news coverage for event-based searches. One example cited by Futurism involved the query "will ships transit the strait," which referred to the Strait of Hormuz. That search placed a Polymarket prediction market near reports from Reuters and The Guardian. Later search on Sunday did not show any Polymarket results for the same query. The episode drew attention because Google News usually features reports from publishers that cover current events. Polymarket, by contrast, offers betting markets based on possible outcomes tied to those events. Google has not announced any broader change to its News eligibility rules in relation to prediction market platforms. The available comments only said the listing appeared by error and was later removed. The brief Google News appearance came as Polymarket continues to secure distribution deals. Last year, Google partnered with Polymarket and Kalshi to bring their data into Google Finance. X also named Polymarket its official prediction market partner in June. That agreement aimed to connect market forecasts with discussions taking place on the social media platform. Other crypto and digital identity platforms have also added access to Polymarket. MetaMask said in October that it would integrate Polymarket, while World App also added the service during the same month. These partnerships show that prediction market platforms continue to push for wider visibility. Even so, the Google News issue suggests there are still limits around how these services appear inside news-focused products. Polymarket has gained attention as a growing crypto use case, but trader results remain uneven. Data shared by analyst Andrey Sergeenkov showed that only a small share of users posted strong and steady monthly profits. According to the data, about 1% of traders made more than $5,000 in profit in a single month. Only 0.015% managed to maintain that level for four straight months. The same findings showed that just 0.033% of wallets recorded more than $100,000 in total profits. The figures suggest that while prediction markets draw strong interest, consistent gains remain rare for most users.
Anthropic Emerges as Silicon Valley's New Favorite
HumanX, a prominent AI conference, attracted thousands of attendees this week to downtown San Francisco. The event took place at the Moscone Center and showcased the growing preference for human interaction over AI agents. A significant takeaway from the conference is that Anthropic has emerged as Silicon Valley's new favorite in the AI space. Anthropic vs. OpenAI: A Shift in Favoritism Last year's HumanX conference was held in Las Vegas, where OpenAI was widely regarded as the frontrunner. However, this year's consensus among venture capitalists and industry leaders indicated a dramatic change in favor of Anthropic. "In Vegas last year, it felt like OpenAI was the clear winner, and now it seems like Anthropic is miles ahead," remarked Roseanne Winsek from Renegade Partners. Key Developments in AI Models Anthropic has made significant strides since last year. Notably, the release of its Claude Code and Claude 4 models has positioned the company as a leader in AI capabilities. Currently valued at $380 billion, Anthropic also announced its run-rate revenue has surged past $30 billion, a remarkable increase from $9 billion just three years ago. * Potential Valuations: * Revenue Growth: Notably, Jared Quincy Davis, CEO of Mithril, praised Anthropic's focus on enterprise and frontier capabilities, indicating these strategies were beneficial. Despite the positive commentary surrounding Anthropic, many attendees expressed reservations about OpenAI. Concerns Surrounding OpenAI Criticism toward OpenAI has emerged, particularly regarding CEO Sam Altman's recent decisions, including an acquisition involving the internet show TBPN. A growing concern among industry experts is a potential talent drain from OpenAI, fueled by dissatisfaction from former partners and employees. The Launch of Mythos Midway through HumanX, Anthropic unveiled its latest model, Mythos. Experts believe this model is exceptionally advanced and may not be ready for public release due to cybersecurity risks. "The Mythos model is a huge deal," stated Tomasz Tunguz from Theory Ventures. The model reinforces Anthropic's position as a leader in AI development. HumanX Conference Highlights This year's HumanX was markedly larger than last year, boasting around 6,700 attendees, many of whom paid $4,000 for admittance. The conference featured notable figures, including Anton Osika of Lovable and venture capitalist Vinod Khosla. The exhibition hall showcased numerous AI startups, which distributed branded merchandise as part of their marketing efforts. Attendees received AI-generated suggestions for networking and were amused by robot humanoids roaming the venue. However, a "HumanX Dog Park" attracted more visitors, highlighting the balance between technology and personal interaction. Reflections on AI's Rapid Evolution The mood at HumanX was both celebratory and apprehensive. Attendees expressed excitement about the future while grappling with existential concerns. "The mood I'm feeling is exuberance and existential terror," noted Stefan Weitz, HumanX co-founder. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, analysts agree that the momentum can shift quickly. Looking ahead to next year's HumanX in Las Vegas, there's speculation that OpenAI may regain its competitive edge. "These things change so fast," remarked Winsek. "OpenAI will probably be back."
Flight Chaos Strands Thousands Across Australia and New Zealand - News Directory 3
The most severe disruptions were concentrated at the region's busiest airports. Major aviation hubs across Australia and New Zealand experienced widespread operational disruptions on April 12, 2026, resulting in thousands of stranded passengers. The chaos centered on key gateways including Sydney Kingsford Smith, Melbourne Tullamarine, Auckland International, and Wellington, affecting a broad spectrum of domestic and trans-Tasman routes. The disruptions impacted several major carriers, including Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand, along with various regional and international partners. According to flight data and media reports, the instability led to 63 flight cancellations and approximately 370 delays across the region on April 12, 2026. The most severe disruptions were concentrated at the region's busiest airports. Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport bore the heaviest burden, with a significant portion of the 183 delays and multiple cancellations occurring within both its domestic and international operations. Melbourne Tullamarine and Brisbane airports also contributed heavily to the national tally of 29 outright cancellations in Australia. Secondary effects were reported at airports in Perth and Canberra, while in New Zealand, Auckland and Wellington served as primary hubs for the disruption. Estimates indicate that more than 30,000 passengers were affected when accounting for knock-on delays from earlier in the week. The disruptions were most acute during morning and early afternoon departures on April 12, 2026, leaving travelers facing lengthy waits in congested terminals and exhausted hotel capacity. The instability in Australia's aviation network stemmed from a combination of adverse weather conditions, air traffic control restrictions, and operational challenges that overwhelmed ground handling and scheduling. These factors created a ripple effect that impacted both domestic connections and international flights, including those operated by Cathay Pacific. The regional chaos coincides with a broader, multi-day disruption wave across Asia-Pacific hubs that began in late March and intensified through early April 2026. As of April 7, 2026, that larger wave had produced 264 cancellations and 3,829 delays, primarily affecting hubs in Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, Beijing, and Tokyo. The broader Asia-Pacific crisis was driven by three primary factors: Budget carriers such as AirAsia and Batik Air were noted as being particularly vulnerable during these events due to minimal spare aircraft and tight crew schedules, which left no buffer for cascading delays. Airlines including Qantas, Virgin Australia, and Air New Zealand scrambled to manage the fallout by adjusting schedules, issuing refunds, and attempting to rebook passengers. In Sydney, Qantas began preparing and equipping planes to facilitate the return of international flights. Despite these efforts, many travelers faced hours-long waits and missed connections. Some passengers reported sleeping on airport floors as rebooking options filled rapidly and local hotels reached capacity. For those affected by the broader Asia-Pacific hub disruptions, recovery is expected to take three weeks. Passengers with bookings through those hubs in the 48 hours following April 7, 2026, faced rebooking waits of five to seven days for routes to Australia and Europe due to limited spare capacity.
NRG Expands Data Center Role As LS Power Deal Reshapes Growth
Make better investment decisions with Simply Wall St's easy, visual tools that give you a competitive edge. * NRG Energy (NYSE:NRG) has expanded its data center power agreements, increasing its role as a supplier to energy intensive computing facilities. * The company is acquiring LS Power assets, which would double NRG's generation fleet and reshape its power portfolio. * NRG has created a Chief Growth and Policy Officer role and appointed Caroline Golin to lead growth, policy, and regulatory efforts. * The company also announced a partnership to fund educational and community initiatives in West Philadelphia. For investors watching NRG Energy at a share price of $164.07, these moves follow very large gains over 3 and 5 years and a 75.8% return over the past year. In the shorter term, the stock is up 7.5% over the past week and 7.3% over the past month. Year to date performance shows a 1.3% decline, indicating that recent trading has been more mixed. The expanded data center power activity, LS Power acquisition, and new growth and policy leadership provide several new areas to track as the company responds to changing energy demand and regulation. The West Philadelphia community partnership also adds a social and sustainability angle that some investors may watch alongside financial results and risk factors. Stay updated on the most important news stories for NRG Energy by adding it to your watchlist or portfolio. Alternatively, explore our Community to discover new perspectives on NRG Energy. 📰 Beyond the headline: 2 risks and 2 things going right for NRG Energy that every investor should see. For investors, this cluster of moves points to NRG leaning harder into large, long-duration relationships while trying to keep regulators and communities onside. The expanded data center agreements, with about 445 megawatts contracted and a 5.4 gigawatt pipeline, indicate that NRG is tying more of its generation to power-hungry computing customers. Doubling the generation fleet through the LS Power assets broadens the pool of plants that can serve those contracts and gives NRG a larger presence alongside peers such as NextEra Energy and Vistra in key US power markets. Creating a Chief Growth and Policy Officer role and putting Caroline Golin over both growth and regulatory affairs suggests management wants tighter coordination between contract growth, grid reliability and policy risk. The West Philadelphia partnership, funded with US$500,000 alongside Vivint, adds a community and brand piece that may help with stakeholder relationships as NRG leans on natural gas assets and smart-home offerings.
Polymarket Bets on Orban Loss Jump Further as Hungarians Vote
Contracts on Polymarket for the likelihood of opposition leader Peter Magyar becoming the next prime minister of Hungary exceeded 80% for the first time as voting was under way in Sunday's election. With turnout data from the morning showing Hungary potentially on track for record participation, contracts for Orban to be the next premier one point fell as low as 18%. Around $67 million has been traded on Polymarket for the question of Hungary's next prime minister as of Sunday. Election results are due to be released after voting ends at 7 p.m. local time. Two US Navy destroyers transited the Strait of Hormuz Saturday, laying the ground for the start of a mine clearing operation, US Central Command said. The USS Frank E. Peterson and USS Michael Murphy transited the Strait of Hormuz and operated in the Arabian Gulf, Centcom said in a statement posted to X, adding that more US forces, including underwater drones, will join the clearance effort in the coming days. "Today, we began the process of establishing a new passage and we will share this safe pathway with the maritime industry soon to encourage the free flow of commerce," said Centcom commander Admiral Brad Cooper. Since the start of the war on Feb. 28, Iran has asserted control over the strait through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically flows, effectively halting most commercial traffic. The country has sporadically attacked ships in and around the Persian Gulf and may have laid mines to deter shipowners and crews from attempting to traverse the narrow waterway. Several US navy ships crossed Hormuz on Saturday in an operation that wasn't coordinated with Iran, Axios reported earlier, citing a US official it didn't identify. The ships crossed the strait from east to west to the Gulf before making their way back to the Arabian sea, according to the report. However, a regional intelligence official said two US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers that attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday were forced to turn back after encountering threats from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which also launched a UAV in the direction of the vessels. The incident happened around noon Dubai time, as US and Iranian delegations were in Islamabad for negotiations, the official said, requesting anonymity to discuss confidential matters. The Centcom statement didn't mention any Iranian attempt to turn the vessels back. Iran's semi-official Fars news agency also reported earlier the nation's armed forces monitored a US destroyer seen moving from Fujairah toward the Strait of Hormuz and conveyed this to the US via Pakistani mediators. The US vessel returned from the strait after Tehran warned that it would be targeted, according to Fars. Pakistan is mediating in peace talks between the US and Iran in Islamabad amid a two-week ceasefire in the hostilities, now in their second month.
SpaceX Could Be the Ultimate Meme Stock. Investors Should Avoid This Unprecedented IPO.
The SpaceX initial public offering (IPO) is coming, and it's going to be massive. Media reports indicate that SpaceX has confidentially filed for its IPO, seeking to raise as much as $75 billion at a valuation that could be in the range of $1.75 trillion to $2 trillion, which would make it the largest IPO in history and instantly put in an elite group of stocks with over a $1 trillion market cap. SpaceX is a one-of-a-kind company. It uses reusable rockets to help launch astronauts into space, and has also set up a low-orbit network of satellites called Starlink that can provide high-speed internet anywhere on Earth. While its potential is immense, SpaceX could at least start out as the ultimate meme stock. I would recommend investors avoid this unprecedented IPO. Why SpaceX could start out as a meme stock Meme stocks tend to be driven by retail investors, trade at massive valuations, and deviate from their fundamentals. The meme stock era really began with GameStop during the pandemic, but has become almost normal amid a multiyear bull market, driven by artificial intelligence that has led to some astounding valuations on the belief that AI could change everything. While SpaceX, founded by Tesla CEO and Founder Elon Musk, has much more potential than GameStop, it will likely make its public market debut at an enormous valuation. Earlier this year, Reuters reported that SpaceX made a profit of $8 billion in 2025 on revenue of roughly $16 billion. Assuming SpaceX goes public at a valuation of $1.75 trillion, the stock would trade at nearly 219 times trailing earnings and over 109 times trailing revenue. Even for a company with as much potential as SpaceX, which has talked about colonizing Mars one day, this valuation seems mind-boggling. SpaceX also plans to allocate as much as 30% of its raise to retail investors, three times the typical amount, so there's going to be a lot of opportunity for retail investors to drive trading activity, which makes the environment for short sellers that much more difficult. Plus, Musk has a cult-like following, which some argue has led to Tesla's monstrous valuation of 165 times forward earnings, down from a high of 300 not long ago. On the idea of SpaceX becoming a meme stock, Roundhill Investments CEO Dave Mazza recently told MarketWatch that the company "clearly has some of the ingredients: a massive narrative, a founder with a loyal following, and a valuation likely driven in part by future potential rather than just current fundamentals." Why investors should avoid the IPO As the IPO approaches, there will be serious hype, and investors will be tempted to buy shares at whatever price they are offered. However, I would actually caution against buying this IPO. Space is a new sector, and SpaceX could grab a controlling share of the market. However, nobody knows how the sector or the company will develop, and investors are being asked to pay a huge premium out of the gate. But even if you are gung-ho on the stock and believe SpaceX is the real deal, I still strongly suspect that the stock will be much cheaper for patient investors who can wait three to six months. That's because most IPOs have lock-up provisions that prevent insiders and early investors, often those who own large blocks of shares, from selling right out of the gate. Lock-up provisions typically range from 90 to 180 days. Insiders and early investors are often tempted to sell at least a portion of their shares because they have likely held them for years and could be worth billions, or even tens or hundreds of billions, in the case of SpaceX. If you look back at big IPOs in 2025, many opened big and then sold off after a few months, as the hype faded or lock-up provisions expired. I expect SpaceX will be no different, and potentially in a more magnified way, given the valuation and hype surrounding the IPO.
KEKE CHAOS: Tension Hits Apo Bridge as Angry Riders Pelt Police with Stones
ABUJA -- Chaos erupted at the Apo Bridge today as commercial tricycle (Keke) riders launched a violent protest, pelting armed police officers and task force operatives with stones and sticks. The clash is the latest escalation in a series of crackdowns led by the FCT Police Command and "Operation Sweep" aimed at enforcing traffic bans on major highways. The Standoff Witnesses report that the confrontation began when security operatives attempted to impound several tricycles for allegedly plying restricted routes. In a display of accumulated anger, dozens of riders surrounded the officers, using stones to push back the armed team. The protest temporarily grounded activities at the busy Apo-Gudu axis, with riders reportedly burning tires to block traffic. Root of the Anger The violence stems from a long-running dispute between Keke operators and the FCT administration. Riders have accused the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) and the police of unprovoked harassment and damaging their source of income. Some operators allege that officers use these raids as an excuse for extortion, demanding high fees for the release of confiscated vehicles. While the FCT has designated suburbs for tricycle operations, riders often drift onto main corridors like the Apo bridge to find passengers, leading to frequent seizures. Current Status Police reinforcements have since been deployed to the area to restore order. While there were reports of gunshots fired into the air to disperse the crowd, no fatalities have been officially confirmed as of this afternoon. Commuters are advised to avoid the Apo-Gudu corridor as security forces remain on high alert.
