News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
Aer Lingus chaos: 'Grateful we lost power on the ground' says passenger
A passenger has spoken about their Aer Lingus flight being cancelled after "the plane lost power" Passengers on board Thursday afternoon's Belfast bound Aer Lingus flight from East Midlands airport sat in their seats for about an hour after their plane lost power shortly after boarding. Flight EI 3681 crew were about to conduct their safety demonstration when the power went out on the 76 seat Alenia ATR 72 aircraft. The plane was due to fly to George Best Belfast City Airport. The pilot attempted to restart the twin-engine turboprop airplane but it shut back down "after about a second." "I'm just grateful we lost power on the ground and not in the air," said one passenger who wishes to remain anonymous. "The flight attendants were walking down the aisle saying the pilot couldn't do an announcement because there was no power. They said he was talking to an engineer about the problem. "After about an hour the pilot came out and shouted that he couldn't get the plane to run and an engineer would have to come out." They added that passengers were then disembarked from the aircraft where they waited in the terminal for about another hour before the flight was cancelled. Aer Lingus was approached for reply but had not responded by time of publication.
Microsoft shares slip as Texas AI project with Crusoe boosts infrastructure development
The development highlights Abilene's growing role as a key location for large-scale AI projects. Microsoft shares saw a 1.69% decline, closing at $359.80 after the unveiling of a new 900 megawatt AI campus project in Texas. The market response followed revelations of intensified AI infrastructure partnerships between Microsoft and Crusoe, a technology company specializing in designing and deploying modular data centers and advanced computing infrastructure, with a focus on sustainable AI and cloud solutions. Major expansion in Texas adds 900 megawatt data center campus Crusoe, headquartered in Denver, announced plans to construct a vast AI-focused data center complex in Abilene, Texas, directly aiming to meet Microsoft's increasing computational needs. This new campus is set to feature two large-scale data center buildings as well as an integrated power generation facility, specifically engineered for enhanced reliability and grid stability. Once completed, the combined capacity is expected to reach 2.1 gigawatts, making it one of the largest AI computing projects currently underway. ContentsMajor expansion in Texas adds 900 megawatt data center campusInfrastructure design targets energy efficiency and scalable deployment Site preparation and land development have begun, with the first data center scheduled to go online by mid-2027. The timeline aligns with a broader trend in the AI computing sector, where competition for infrastructure capable of handling expansive large language models and AI workloads has accelerated. Crusoe's latest project follows a sequence of rapid expansions in Abilene. What started as a 200 megawatt facility has grown substantially as demand from large technology firms looking for custom AI solutions has increased. The current phase consolidates the region's reputation as a critical location for high-capacity AI infrastructure. Infrastructure design targets energy efficiency and scalable deployment The new Texas campus will incorporate 900 megawatts of on-site power generation complemented by battery storage, supporting a dense concentration of GPU-based AI workload processing. Both data center buildings will utilize advanced liquid cooling systems to minimize water usage and efficiently manage the heat produced by intensive computation. In addition to improved operational efficiencies, Crusoe's modular infrastructure design aims to reduce deployment timeframes for clients like Microsoft. The company is concurrently building a factory dedicated to the production of modular data center components, which is intended to standardize and speed up large-scale infrastructure projects. Abilene's geographic and logistical advantages -- ample power supply and land availability -- have been cited as decisive factors influencing this expansion. Local authorities and industry stakeholders are responding to a surge of interest from technology companies seeking secure, long-term access to AI computing power in the region. Through its partnership with Crusoe, Microsoft has secured around 700 megawatts of campus capacity in and around Abilene, positioning it as a critical player in the emerging competition for AI infrastructure dominance. You can follow our news on Telegram, Facebook, Twitter & CoinmarketcapDisclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Google nears deal to help finance multibillion-dollar data centre leased to Anthropic - FT
This super composite rating is the result of a weighted average of the rankings based on the following ratings: Fundamentals (Composite), Global Valuation (Composite), EPS Revisions (1 year), and Visibility (Composite). We recommend that you carefully review the associated descriptions. This composite rating is the result of an average of the rankings based on the following ratings: Fundamentals (Composite), Valuation (Composite), Financial Estimates Revisions (Composite), Consensus (Composite), and Visibility (Composite). The company must be covered by at least 4 of these 5 ratings for the calculation to be performed. We recommend that you carefully review the associated descriptions.
MCD House meeting ends amid chaos; AAP holds protest over 'LPG shortage'
New Delhi, Mar 27 (PTI) The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) House meeting on Friday ended amid chaos within a few minutes as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) staged a protest alleging shortage of LPG cylinders in the national capital. The House meeting, which barely lasted for a few minutes, saw the passing of several proposals related to the renaming of parks and roads and AAP councillors raising slogans and holding placards with pictures of LPG cylinders written 'LPG Gayab'. Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh said that similar to previous meetings, some AAP councillors attempted to disrupt the proceedings of the House during this meeting as well. "The AAP councillors often avoid meaningful discussions on public welfare issues and create unnecessary disturbances during proceedings. Despite this, the House continued its work, and several important proposals concerning civic issues were discussed seriously and passed," the mayor said. The mayor welcomed the provision of Rs 11,412 crore allocated for the MCD in the Delhi government's budget. He described it as a significant increase compared to previous years and said that the enhanced budget will greatly assist the Corporation in strengthening civic infrastructure, improving the quality of public services and accelerating environmental conservation efforts. AAP Councillor and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Ankush Narang said that the BJP mayor did not even allow a discussion on this serious issue. "In haste, he passed the agenda, adjourned the House and left the premises. This is not only a matter of gas cylinder shortage but also a major crisis connected to the daily lives of the common people. Kitchens are going cold, and the BJP government is running away from its responsibility," Narang said "Under the BJP government, inflation, unemployment and the lack of basic facilities have made life difficult for the common man. The public is now demanding answers and answers must be given," he said. One of the proposals passed in the House was for inviting bids to develop a facility of a minimum of 800 tonnes per day on a five-acre plot at the Ghazipur site to process the fresh waste and disposal of by-products. According to the proposal, the proposed rate for concessionaires is Rs 749/MT and will be built on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. PTI VBH VBH KSS KSS
Google nears deal to help finance multibillion-dollar data centre leased to Anthropic
Google plans to throw its financial support behind a multibillion-dollar data centre project in Texas, leased to Anthropic, as it builds out its infrastructure deal with the AI lab. Backing from Google, expected to be finalised in the coming weeks, would include the search giant offering construction loans for Nexus Data Centers, the site's operator, according to people familiar with the matter. A consortium of banks was meanwhile competing to provide financing by mid-year for the initial phase of the project, which could total more than $5bn, the people said. Support from Google's parent Alphabet should allow the project to raise the financing at a lower cost, given its strong credit rating, the people added. The 2,800-acre data centre campus was part of Google's partnership with Anthropic, which signed a lease with Nexus earlier this month, the people said. The deepening of partnership comes despite Anthropic's stand-off with the Trump administration over the terms for military use of its technology. The Pentagon had tried to bar the AI start-up from doing business with partners that have military contracts, but has faced legal setbacks. Google and Anthropic declined to comment. Nexus did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Construction is already under way at the Texas site, which received early-stage debt from asset manager Eagle Point. It is expected to deliver about 500 megawatts of capacity as soon as late 2026, equivalent to the power consumption of half a million homes. The campus could eventually expand to about 7.7 gigawatts, the people added. A significant benefit of the location is its proximity to several major gas pipelines operated by companies, including Enterprise, Energy Transfer and Atmos, which could allow Nexus to power the site with its own gas turbines. This should allow the data centre to avoid surge pricing from one energy source during peak hours, one of the people said. Data centre developers are increasingly focused on reducing their reliance on grid connections, which can be time-consuming and expensive to secure. So-called behind-the-metre power is growing in popularity among Big Tech groups amid pressure from local communities and politicians, who worry that large data centres will strain power and water supply and raise utility prices. Elon Musk's Colossus data centres in Tennessee and Mississippi use off-grid gas turbines, and hyperscalers such as Microsoft and Amazon are also attached to large behind-the-meter projects. According to research provider Cleanview, data centre developers announced 50 gigawatts of behind-the-meter projects in 2025. Meta on Friday announced a deal with energy company Entergy Louisiana to pay for seven new gas power plants and other infrastructure to support the social media company's vast data centre project in the state. However, critics note that data centres still contribute to overall demand for power and fuel even when companies have their own generating capacity. Most data centre developers ultimately seek a grid connection for reliability and cost reasons. Behind-the-meter power with gas turbines, renewables and technologies such as fuel cells are seen as a bridge solution until new power plants and transmission lines are built, and grid operators can clear large interconnection backlogs. Energy usage from data centres in Texas could reach 78GW by 2031, or about 36 per cent of the state's total power demand, according to estimates by the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Enterprise, Energy Transfer and Atmos did not respond to requests for comment. Additional reporting by George Hammond
Sam Bankman-Fried Pardon Odds Fall to 11% on Polymarket and 9% on Kalshi - FinanceFeeds
The probability of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried receiving a presidential pardon in 2026 has declined slightly, according to data from leading prediction markets. Polymarket currently places the likelihood at 11%, while Kalshi shows a lower estimate at 9%. The shift follows a March 21 CNN interview featuring Bankman-Fried's parents, Joseph Bankman and Barbara Fried, who publicly challenged the fraud conviction and outlined their ongoing appeal efforts. Odds declined by 2 percentage points on Polymarket and 1 percentage point on Kalshi after the interview aired. While the movement is modest, it reflects how event-driven narratives can influence pricing in prediction markets, where sentiment and perceived political feasibility often drive short-term fluctuations. In the interview, Bankman and Fried disputed key elements of the prosecution's case. Bankman stated, "There's an appeal on the case, but we don't think it's fraud." He added that while Alameda Research borrowed customer funds from FTX, those funds "were not used improperly." The appeal also challenges the assumption that FTX was insolvent at the time of its collapse and disputes claims that customer funds were irrecoverable. Court filings argue that additional testimony could have contradicted central allegations about the exchange's financial condition. Fried said, "All the money was turned over by Sam voluntarily when there was a liquidity crisis," adding that "all the assets ended up in the estate in FTX." Bankman separately claimed that "the money was always there" and that Alameda "always had more than enough security to cover everything." These arguments directly counter the narrative established during the original trial, where prosecutors framed the case around misuse of customer funds and systemic financial misrepresentation. The appeal strategy has also introduced a political dimension, with Bankman-Fried's parents framing the prosecution as politically motivated. Fried said, "Sam's prosecution was essentially political," adding that parts of the Biden administration sought to undermine the crypto sector. They also attempted to reposition Bankman-Fried's political alignment, noting his financial contributions extended beyond Democratic candidates. Bankman said, "To think of Sam as just a liberal Democrat was never true." The messaging appears aimed at increasing the plausibility of a pardon under a Republican administration. However, recent public comments suggest limited support. Senator Cynthia Lummis told Politico, "I hope the president doesn't fall for that. [...] He hurt a lot of people." Separate reporting indicates that former President Donald Trump has also signaled reluctance to grant clemency in this case. Prediction markets such as Polymarket and Kalshi have become reference points for tracking probabilities tied to political and legal outcomes. These platforms aggregate trader expectations into implied probabilities, offering a real-time view of market sentiment. However, their pricing is influenced by liquidity, narrative shifts, and participant bias, particularly in events where outcomes depend on discretionary political decisions. In the case of Bankman-Fried, odds remain low despite increased public advocacy and legal appeals. Comparatively, other geopolitical contracts show significantly higher probabilities. For example, markets pricing a potential US-Iran ceasefire by year-end currently imply a substantially higher likelihood than a presidential pardon for Bankman-Fried. The divergence highlights how markets differentiate between macro-level geopolitical scenarios and individual legal outcomes, where decision-making authority is concentrated and less predictable.
Could SpaceX's $1.75T Valuation Make It the Biggest Public Offering in History?
Its debut price would be frothy, but it might deserve its premium valuation. SpaceX, the aerospace and AI company founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly getting ready to go public. According to The Information and CNBC, the company could raise as much as $75 billion and seek a valuation of up to $1.75 trillion. Let's see how those rumored figures would make SpaceX the largest initial public offering in history -- and if investors should buy it. Image source: Getty Images. 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 " SpaceX generates most of its revenue from selling Starlink satellites and internet services, as well as from launch services using its Falcon rockets. Its main customers include NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, international space agencies, and commercial satellite companies. That makes it comparable to AST SpaceMobile (NASDAQ: ASTS), which sells satellites for cellular communications, and Rocket Lab (NASDAQ: RKLB), which provides reusable orbital rockets and launch services. However, SpaceX is much larger than both companies. Based on analysts' estimates at Payload and the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX's revenue doubled from $2.3 billion in 2021 to $4.6 billion in 2022, then rose 90% to $8.7 billion in 2023. According to Sacra, its revenue increased 51% to $13.1 billion in 2024 and 18% to $15.5 billion in 2025. SpaceX is still growing at an impressive rate, but its business is clearly maturing. Over the long term, SpaceX expects Starship -- its long-distance rocket and passenger spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars -- to drive its growth beyond orbital launches. Its recent acquisition of xAI, Musk's smaller AI company that created the Grok generative AI platform, could also boost its sales and strengthen its core satellite and rocket businesses. At $1.75 trillion, SpaceX would surpass Saudi Aramco's record-setting $1.7 trillion market debut in 2019. However, that would value the company at 113 times its 2025 sales. It would also be more than double its last known valuation of $800 billion in late 2025. It isn't unusual for high-growth space stocks to trade at high valuations. AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab trade at 142x and 44x their projected 2026 sales, respectively. But if the market hype drives SpaceX's stock even higher out of the gate, it could become too hot to handle. According to Reuters, SpaceX could allocate up to 30% of its IPO shares to retail investors -- so we could see it initially skyrocket before plunging back to more sustainable levels. SpaceX looks like an interesting investment, but I'd wait to review its actual filing before deciding whether it's a better space stock than AST SpaceMobile or Rocket Lab. I'd also probably avoid its IPO and wait for it to pull back before accumulating any shares. When our analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is 898%* -- a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
ICE Expands $1.6B Stake in Polymarket Despite Ongoing Regulatory Scrutiny
The move highlights growing interest from infrastructure providers, even as regulatory uncertainty remains unresolved. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, has invested an additional $600 million in prediction market platform Polymarket, bringing its total stake to approximately $1.6 billion. Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!) The investment comes as prediction markets face increasing scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers and state regulators, particularly around sports-related contracts and their classification under existing gambling and derivatives frameworks. The decision to complete the investment follows ICE's earlier commitment in October 2025 to invest up to $2 billion in Polymarket, as part of a broader push by established financial institutions into prediction markets. It highlights how some market infrastructure providers are approaching the sector: increasing exposure while regulatory questions remain unresolved. In parallel with ICE's investment, policymakers have introduced bipartisan legislation to restrict certain types of event contracts, and several states have taken legal or administrative action against platforms operating in this space. At the same time, Polymarket is working to establish a U.S.-regulated entity that would operate under Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight. For ICE, the investment expands its presence in a segment that sits between financial markets and event-based trading. Rather than launching its own platform, the company is taking an equity position in an existing operator, while Polymarket develops pathways toward regulatory alignment and broader institutional access. ICE is also expanding its role beyond investment. The company has launched a Polymarket Signals and Sentiment tool, packaging prediction market data into normalised analytics for institutional clients. This reflects a broader shift, with providers positioning prediction markets as a source of signals and sentiment for trading and risk workflows. The move contrasts with calls from some traditional exchange operators for tighter restrictions on prediction markets, highlighting differences in how incumbents are approaching the sector.
NYSE Parent Company Finalizes Polymarket Investment, Totaling $1.6 Billion - Decrypt
Prediction markets face mounting regulatory pressure, with lawmakers moving to ban insider trading on the platforms. New York Stock Exchange parent company Intercontinental Exchange has completed its investment into prominent prediction market platform Polymarket, with the final total landing at $1.6 billion. ICE said the new funding is part of an equity capital fundraising by Polymarket, and that the firm intends to purchase up to $40 million worth of Polymarket securities from existing holders. The NYSE parent company made a commitment of up to $2 billion to Polymarket in October 2025 that valued the company at $9 billion. Back then, the company made a $1 billion initial investment. The additional $600 million and the plan to purchase securities from existing investors mean that the firm's obligations to Polymarket have now been fulfilled. Polymarket has been locked in a heated competition with rival platform Kalshi, even when it comes to fundraising. Kalshi just raised $1 billion earlier this month in a round led by Coatue Management, at a $22 billion valuation -- double its $11 billion valuation from a December round backed by Paradigm, Andreessen Horowitz, Ark Invest, and Sequoia. Kalshi has been on a rapid fundraising tear since winning a CFTC court battle in May 2025. That cleared the way for its election contracts to be offered and the company to scale from a $2 billion valuation in June 2025 to its current $22 billion in under a year. Polymarket recently put together a 3-day Washington D.C. pop-up experience, the Situation Room, which was billed as the world's first brick-and-mortar destination for monitoring global prediction markets. It got mixed reviews from journalists in attendance -- tech outlet Wired called it "a disaster," due to the screens being off on opening night thanks to technical difficulties. The investment comes as prediction markets face growing regulatory scrutiny in Washington and in multiple states. Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton banned his staff from trading on platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi this week, citing concerns about insider trading. The additional funding for Polymarket arrives a few weeks after bipartisan lawmakers introduced the PREDICT Act to extend similar restrictions to members of Congress, senior officials, and their families. Separately, senators have proposed bans on sports contracts and war-related markets, following controversy over profitable bets tied to U.S. strikes on Iran and the capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Also on Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order to ban state officials and governor appointees from betting on prediction markets using insider info.
Could SpaceX's $1.75T Valuation Make It the Biggest Public Offering in History? | The Motley Fool
Its debut price would be frothy, but it might deserve its premium valuation. SpaceX, the aerospace and AI company founded by Elon Musk, is reportedly getting ready to go public. According to The Information and CNBC, the company could raise as much as $75 billion and seek a valuation of up to $1.75 trillion. Let's see how those rumored figures would make SpaceX the largest initial public offering in history -- and if investors should buy it. SpaceX generates most of its revenue from selling Starlink satellites and internet services, as well as from launch services using its Falcon rockets. Its main customers include NASA, the U.S. Department of Defense, international space agencies, and commercial satellite companies. That makes it comparable to AST SpaceMobile (ASTS 8.23%), which sells satellites for cellular communications, and Rocket Lab (RKLB 7.20%), which provides reusable orbital rockets and launch services. However, SpaceX is much larger than both companies. Based on analysts' estimates at Payload and the Wall Street Journal, SpaceX's revenue doubled from $2.3 billion in 2021 to $4.6 billion in 2022, then rose 90% to $8.7 billion in 2023. According to Sacra, its revenue increased 51% to $13.1 billion in 2024 and 18% to $15.5 billion in 2025. SpaceX is still growing at an impressive rate, but its business is clearly maturing. Over the long term, SpaceX expects Starship -- its long-distance rocket and passenger spacecraft for missions to the Moon and Mars -- to drive its growth beyond orbital launches. Its recent acquisition of xAI, Musk's smaller AI company that created the Grok generative AI platform, could also boost its sales and strengthen its core satellite and rocket businesses. At $1.75 trillion, SpaceX would surpass Saudi Aramco's record-setting $1.7 trillion market debut in 2019. However, that would value the company at 113 times its 2025 sales. It would also be more than double its last known valuation of $800 billion in late 2025. It isn't unusual for high-growth space stocks to trade at high valuations. AST SpaceMobile and Rocket Lab trade at 142x and 44x their projected 2026 sales, respectively. But if the market hype drives SpaceX's stock even higher out of the gate, it could become too hot to handle. According to Reuters, SpaceX could allocate up to 30% of its IPO shares to retail investors -- so we could see it initially skyrocket before plunging back to more sustainable levels. SpaceX looks like an interesting investment, but I'd wait to review its actual filing before deciding whether it's a better space stock than AST SpaceMobile or Rocket Lab. I'd also probably avoid its IPO and wait for it to pull back before accumulating any shares.
Leaked Anthropic Model Presents 'Unprecedented Cybersecurity Risks,' Much to Pentagon's Pleasure
There are two groups that seem absolutely thrilled by the recent revelation that Anthropic is working on a top-secret AI model: the Department of Defense and Anthropic's fundraising team. On Thursday, Fortune reported that Anthropic left a slew of not-yet-public information accessible on its website, leading to the reveal of a supposedly super-powerful, yet-to-be-released model called Claude Mythos. The modelâ€"which is supposedly “by far the most powerful AI model we’ve ever developed," per the text of a leaked, unpublished blog post from Anthropicâ€"blows away benchmarks set by the company's current public model, Claude Opus 4.6. The company confirmed the model's existence to Fortune and called it "a step change and the most capable model we've built to date." The company also basically said it's holding back the model because it might actually be too dangerous to release to the public at this point. Per Fortune, Anthropic said the model is “currently far ahead of any other AI model in cyber capabilities," and presents unprecedented cybersecurity risks that the company seems to want to get out in front of. That revelation has the Pentagon doing victory laps, even though it never gave any indication of having concerns about this type of thing before. The Department of Defense is still carrying a grudge against Anthropic after the company refused to agree to allow its model to be used for domestic surveillance or fully autonomous military weapons. And while it seems the Pentagon is losing its legal caseâ€"a ruling handed down from a judge Thursday temporarily blocked the DoD from labeling Anthropic a security riskâ€"it's still looking to win in the court of public opinion. Following the reveal of Claude Mythos, Under Secretary of War and chief Anthropic antagonist Emil Michael posted, "Ummâ€|hello? Is it not clear yet that we have a problem here?" Michael has been hammering Anthropic for weeks now, calling the company's CEO Dario Amodei a "liar" with a "god complex" who wants to "personally control the US military," and now he's treating the leak as proof that Anthropic can't be trusted. Michael's position is almost certainly not coming from a place of genuine concern. Anthropic was given the green light to handle classified material from the federal government, and most of the military applications for the model are operating within secure environments (or they are supposed to be). The fight has been about the Pentagon wanting to use Anthropic's models even more than the company wants, which doesn't seem like the thing you'd fight for if you thought the models presented security risks. Michael has significant financial ties to other AI firms that are competitors of Anthropic, so it's hard to take his view of the matter at face value. Also, this is the same Pentagon that added a journalist to a Signal group chat where war plans were being shared, so let's not pretend like their security protocols are airtight. Regardless, if we take the leak at face value, it seems like Anthropic is sitting on a big release, though who knows when or if we'll ever see it. It's reportedly very expensive to train and operateâ€"so expensive, in fact, that the company seemingly isn't sure how to deploy it at this point. There's little reason to believe that Anthropic left this information out in the open with the intention of someone finding it. Frankly, it's a pretty embarrassing oversight to leave your content management system accessible without requiring a password, which is how this information all became public. But it's also hard to ignore the fact that this whole situation plays right into the classic AI company playbook of talking up the dangers of a model to highlight how powerful and capable it is. So, it's fitting that around the same time as the leak about the extremely powerful model that blows everyone else away, The Information reported that Anthropic was eyeing going public later this year. That secret, super-powerful model does seem like the kind of thing Anthropic would like potential investors to know about ahead of an IPO. Read More:
Johnson slams Democrats as House appears reluctant to pass Senate bill to fund DHS, end TSA chaos
House Speaker Mike Johnson slammed Democrats and blamed them for the lapse in funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This comes as the Senate approved most funding for DHS, and as the House now has to weigh how to act on the matter. CBS News' Taurean Small reports.
Passengers braced for chaos as Spanish ground handlers set to walk out over East
Brits hoping for a getaway to Spain over Easter may find themselves caught up in travel chaos as thousands of airport workers are set to go on strike. Ground handlers at two major firms are walking out next week at more than a dozen airports, including in the Canary Islands, in a dispute over pay. More than 3,000 workers at Groundforce are set to stage an indefinite walkout at major hubs including Madrid, Alicante and Malaga, El Pais reported. A separate strike called by handlers at Menzies is expected to causefurther disruption at seven airports across Easter, including Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. Spanish airports are expecting to handle some 70,000 flights over the Easter week. Menzies counts airlines including EasyJet and British Airways among its customers, while Groundforce provides services primarily for Spanish carrier Air Europa. While planned action over this weekend was called off, a breakdown in talks between the handling companies and transport union UGT means strikes planned from next week are still going ahead as of this afternoon. On strike days, Groundforce employees will walk out at staggered times from 5 to 7am, 11am to 5pm and then 10pm until midnight. Menzies handlers are set to stage 24 hour strikes every day between April 2 and April 6 inclusive. For the Groundforce dispute, UGT has threatened to continue strikes every weekend until the end of the year, potentially disrupting travel across the summer holidays as well. Ground handlers include staff who help turn around aircraft, from ramp services to baggage handling and boarding and checking in passengers. A significant number of flights are still set to operate, but passengers on are likely to face delays particularly at peak times. While minimum service levels have been set for both domestic and international journeys, flights of less than five hours will be the worst affected. The minimum number of international short-haul flights guaranteed depends on the airport, ranging from 60 per cent at Valencia to just 49 per cent at Ibiza. It comes as holidaymakers have already been warned to expect queues of up to four hours at European airports as the EU Entry and Exit system is implemented. The Home Office has advised travellers to allow time at both sides of the journey as non-EU citizens will be required to have their fingerprints taken the first time they enter the Schengen area. Once fully operational on April 10, the system will eradicate the need for physical stamping in passports. As of October last year, airports began to be kitted out with self-service kiosks where passengers can enter their information. The extra checks will also be carried out at the EU borders at the Port of Dover, St Pancras International and at Folkestone. Will passengers be compensated for delayed or cancelled flights? Under EU regulations, airlines are usually obliged to cover expenses caused by delays of more than two hours, including providing food and drink vouchers and accommodation. For delays of more than three hours passengers can normally opt to either take a replacement flight or request a full refund of their ticket. However airlines are exempt from providing compensation to passengers when the cause of delay is down to a factor outside of their control, such as a strike by third-party staff. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected]. For more stories like this, check our news page.
Crusoe confirms Microsoft as customer at campus in Abilene, Texas
Crusoe has officially confirmed that Microsoft has signed on to take the remaining capacity at its Abilene, Texas, campus. Microsoft has signed an agreement for 900MW of capacity, including two new buildings and an on-site power plant. Each of the two new buildings will offer 336MW of IT capacity. The existing Crusoe campus in Abilene - OpenAI/Stargate The lease will bring the total projected capacity at the site to 2.1GW. Microsoft's data centers will sit on land adjacent to the existing Abilene campus, being used by OpenAI and Oracle. Land works are already underway, and the first building is expected to be energized in mid-2027. Reports that Microsoft was set to take over capacity at the site emerged earlier this week, though the cloud giant was at the time only expected to lease 700MW. "We're excited to welcome Microsoft to the Abilene community. Crusoe's existing data center campus has already contributed thousands of direct jobs to Abilene and fueled the local economy," said Weldon Hurt, Mayor, City of Abilene. "This new project will further strengthen our local economy; supporting our restaurants, our home builders, while creating high-paying jobs for Abilene citizens. We're proud to be growing alongside partners who are committed to doing this right for Abilene." "As customer demand for AI continues to grow, Microsoft is focused on ensuring access to reliable and responsible infrastructure at scale," added Noelle Walsh, president, Cloud Operations & Innovation at Microsoft. "Crusoe's Abilene facility reflects the type of large-scale infrastructure that supports next-generation AI while contributing long-term value to the local community." The onsite power plant will provide 900MW of behind-the-meter energy to Microsoft, paired with an MV BESS system. Oracle and OpenAI were previously expected to take up all the capacity at the campus, but scaled back their plans earlier this year, instead opting to call it quits at 1.2GW - or around eight data center buildings. OpenAI said of the decision that they would be putting the additional capacity in other locations. Microsoft has been expanding its footprint rapidly and brought 1GW of data center capacity online in the last quarter alone. In 2025 as a whole, 2GW were stood up by the company. Last week, Microsoft revealed it would no longer be seeking nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) for its data center projects, citing a need for improved transparency with local communities. More in Colocation & Wholesale
US Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Pentagon Ban on Anthropic
A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Pentagon's effort to designate AI company Anthropic as a supply chain risk, ruling that the government's actions likely violated the company's constitutional rights. US District Judge Rita Lin granted Anthropic's request for a preliminary injunction on Thursday, barring federal agencies from carrying out President Donald Trump's directive against the AI company. The order is paused for seven days to allow the administration to appeal. In a 43-page ruling, Lin wrote that the broad punitive measures taken against Anthropic appeared arbitrary, capricious, and could effectively cripple the company. "Nothing in the governing statute supports the Orwellian notion that an American company may be branded a potential adversary and saboteur of the U.S. for expressing disagreement with the government," Lin wrote. The judge noted that the supply chain risk designation is typically reserved for foreign intelligence agencies and terrorists, not American companies. She emphasized that it was not until Anthropic raised concerns about how its technology could be used that the government announced a plan to blacklist the company. The conflict between Anthropic and the Pentagon emerged after the company refused to allow its Claude AI model to be used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance of Americans, citing safety and responsibility concerns. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued the supply chain risk designation in late February, which required the Pentagon and its contractors to discontinue use of Anthropic's commercial AI services across all defense-related operations. "This appears to be classic First Amendment retaliation," Lin wrote, pointing to officials' heated comments about Anthropic, including a post by Hegseth that called the company "sanctimonious" and said it "delivered a master class in arrogance." An Anthropic spokesperson said the company was grateful for the court's swift action. "We're grateful to the court for moving swiftly, and pleased they agree Anthropic is likely to succeed on the merits. While this case was necessary to protect Anthropic, our customers, and our partners, our focus remains on working productively with the government to ensure all Americans benefit from safe, reliable AI," the spokesperson said. A separate challenge by the company to other authorities invoked to make the supply chain risk designation is still pending before a federal court in Washington, DC. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Gary Black Sounds Alarm On Sell Side Bias In SpaceX IPO Buzz - Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA)
Black cautioned shareholders to remain skeptical of "overly positive" analyst takes regarding Elon Musk's aerospace venture. "Be wary of sell-side analysts' overly positive opinions about SpaceX, a TSLA/SpaceX merger, or the merits of any specific IPO," Black wrote on X. He highlighted a fundamental conflict of interest, noting that sell-side analysts are paid on commissions rather than the accuracy of their investment ideas. The Massive SpaceX IPO Payday The warnings come as reports suggest SpaceX could file for its initial public (IPO) offering as early as this week. The space giant is reportedly targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation and aims to raise up to $75 billion. Black noted that at an expected $50 billion to $75 billion IPO size, SpaceX represents the "biggest payday for TSLA analysts in years." He suggested that analysts, eager for a slice of the deal underwritings and retail allocations, may feel pressured to align with management's goals rather than investor interests. The "Insurance Salesman" Analogy Black used a pointed comparison to describe the current analyst landscape. "Quoting a TSLA sell-side analyst on the merits of SpaceX or a SpaceX/TSLA merger would be like quoting your insurance salesman on whether you need more insurance," Black stated. While some analysts, like Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, have suggested a merger is "likely in 2027" and could offer a 55% upside to a $600 price forecast for Tesla. Dilution and Conglomerate Discounts The Future Fund managing director previously warned that a merger could trigger a "20-25% reduction" in Tesla's stock value. He argues that combining the entities would lead to a "conglomerate discount," where stocks trade at the lowest common multiple. "A TSLA/SpaceX merger is a solution looking for a problem," Black concluded on Sunday. TSLA Stock Price Activity: Tesla shares were down 1.80% at $365.42 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data. Photo Courtesy: Wirestock Creators on Shutterstock.com This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.
Accenture-Anthropic cybersecurity partnership seen strengthening AI thesis, says UBS
UBS analysts have highlighted the launch of a new AI-focused cybersecurity solution by Accenture PLC (NYSE:ACN) and Anthropic as supportive of their constructive view on Accenture's AI strategy. The partnership, called https://Cyber.AI, integrates Accenture's proprietary AI agents with Anthropic's Claude model, enabling automated decision-making across the security lifecycle -- from design and deployment to detection and response. Accenture has already deployed the platform internally to secure more than 1,600 applications and over 500,000 APIs, reportedly reducing scan turnaround times from three to five days to just one hour while expanding testing coverage by 70 percentage points. The launch coincides with RSAC 2026, the largest annual cybersecurity event, where Anthropic's Deputy CISO is presenting on hardening AI infrastructure for national security, a potential tailwind for Accenture Federal Services, UBS noted. UBS analysts believe emerging alliances, including Anthropic, Databricks, Mistral AI, NVIDIA, OpenAI, Palantir, and Snowflake, are contributing to Accenture's AI-driven bookings growth, which is on pace to more than double in 2026. Accenture's AI initiatives, they added, have delivered a compound annual growth rate of roughly 200% for generative AI revenue since fiscal year 2023, outpacing early cloud revenue growth. The analysts maintained a 'Buy' rating on Accenture with a 12-month price target of $320, citing long-term margin tailwinds from internal productivity gains and growing enterprise demand for secure AI solutions. Shares of Accenture traded hands at $193 on Friday afternoon, down 28% so far this year.
Anthropic leak reveals new model "Claude Mythos" with "dramatically higher scores on tests" than any previous model
The leaked blog posts have allegedly surfaced online; the information matches what Fortune shared in a follow-up article. There are two versions of the same blog post that only differ in the model's name: "Mythos" (v1) and "Capybara" (v2). Anthropic told Fortune the documents were simply "early drafts of content that were being considered for publication," suggesting the company was deciding between two name candidates for the same model. In the Capybara version, the name was swapped throughout the title and body text, but the subtitle still reads, "We have finished training a new AI model: Claude Mythos." Both versions also use the same justification for the name, saying it was chosen to evoke "the deep connective tissue that links together knowledge and ideas." According to the drafts, the model represents a new class above Anthropic's existing Opus line, described as "larger and more intelligent than our Opus models -- which were, until now, our most powerful," achieving "dramatically higher scores on tests of software coding, academic reasoning, and cybersecurity, among others" compared to Claude Opus 4.6. When asked for comment, Anthropic confirmed to Fortune that it's training and testing a new model. "We're developing a general purpose model with meaningful advances in reasoning, coding, and cybersecurity," a spokesperson said. "We consider this model a step change and the most capable we've built to date." According to the documents, Anthropic is planning a deliberately slower release than with previous models. The model is allegedly "currently far ahead of any other AI model in cyber capabilities," but "presages an upcoming wave of models that can exploit vulnerabilities in ways that far outpace the efforts of defenders." The rollout will start with a small group of early-access customers tasked with evaluating cybersecurity applications, with access through the Claude API expanding gradually. The drafts also acknowledge the model is "very expensive for us to serve, and will be very expensive for our customers to use." Anthropic says it's working to make it "much more efficient before any general release." Whether the model ultimately ships as "Mythos," "Capybara," or under a different name remains to be seen. Original short report: A data leak at Anthropic has exposed details about an unreleased AI model that internal documents call the company's most powerful to date. After Fortune broke the story, Anthropic confirmed it is already testing the model with select customers, claiming it marks a "step change" in reasoning, coding, and cybersecurity capabilities. The breach happened because of a misconfiguration in Anthropic's content management system. A default setting automatically made uploaded files public, leaving nearly 3,000 internal documents exposed for anyone to see. OpenAI is reportedly also gearing up for a major release. The company is preparing a new model codenamed "Spud," which has already finished pretraining. Similar to Anthropic, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has internally promised a massive jump in capabilities, saying the model can "really accelerate the economy," whatever that means. Both companies will likely time the release of their strongest models to ensure they are optimally positioned for their planned IPOs later this year.
Hardline Republicans throw DHS funding bill into chaos
Hardline House Republicans are revolting against Senate Republicans' plan to end the partial government shutdown and fund TSA, meaning US airports will remain in chaos. Their dissatisfaction could derail the proposal, which would fund TSA workers, who have gone without pay since the shutdown began on February 14. Early on Friday morning, the Senate passed a bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and more. Their bill notably did not provide funding for ICE, which House Speaker Mike Johnson and many House members have taken issue with. Democrats voted against DHS funding in February in opposition to providing more funds for Trump's immigration agenda. The Senate compromised by authoring a bill providing funding for the many branches of DHS except ICE. Florida Republican Congressman Byron Donalds told reporters Friday the legislation is akin to a 'turd sandwich.' Now Johnson is reportedly circulated a plan that would extend current funding levels for DHS for 60 days. Johnson's second in command, House Whip Tom Emmer, reportedly has said that President Donald Trump is on board with Johnson's plan. Congress appeared poised to pass funding for TSA workers on Friday before some hardline Republican's rejected their Senate counterpart's proposal Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has since begun circulating plans for a back up plan, though it will likely take at minimum several days to receive a vote in the House and Senate before it could be signed into law by President Trump US Airport wait times have exploded due to a shortage of TSA workers. Around 500 TSA workers have quit during the partial government shutdown, which began on February 14 On Thursday, Trump said he'd order newly appointed DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin to find cash to pay TSA workers in a gambit to calm US travelers. 'I am going to sign an Order instructing the Secretary of Homeland Security, Markwayne Mullin, to immediately pay our TSA Agents in order to address this Emergency Situation, and to quickly stop the Democrat Chaos at the Airports,' he posted on social media. But the DHS chief has yet to act, as Congress appeared poised to pass funding until House Republicans rejected the Senate's bill. Complicating the plan is the need for members of Congress to stay in DC and vote on the new proposal. Many members of the House and Senate have already fled Washington, DC, to return home for the Easter break, which is supposed to last until mid-April. Should the House vote on the 60-day proposal on Friday or over the weekend, the Senate would be forced to return to the capital to pass the House plan before the bill could be signed by Trump for the funding to be approved. It could take several days for the House's proposal to receive a vote; it could take even more time for the Senate to return to DC and then vote on the new proposal. Meanwhile, airport wait times are expected to remain long and TSA workers will continue to be unpaid.
Crusoe, Microsoft Expand Abilene AI Campus, Add 900 MW
An aerial shot of Crusoe's Abilene AI data center campus.Image: Crusoe Crusoe is expanding its presence in West Texas, announcing plans for a 900 MW AI data center facility in Abilene designed to support large-scale Microsoft workloads. The expansion - adjacent to Crusoe's existing Abilene development - will bring total planned capacity to roughly 2.1 GW, positioning the site among the largest AI-focused data center hubs in the US. It's the latest phase in one of the country's fastest-moving (and most closely watched) digital infrastructure builds. The scale of the project reflects how quickly expectations are shifting. "It's significant, but it's starting to feel less surprising than it would have even 18 months ago," Andy Cvengros, managing director at JLL, told Data Center Knowledge. "The hyperscalers and AI players have completely reset expectations around campus scale." "A few years ago, a 100 MW deal was a headline," he added. "Now we're seeing single-site programs that dwarf that." Related:Texas Gets Tough on Data Center Power - Who's Next? Crusoe began construction on its Abilene facility in mid-2024 at the Lancium Clean Campus, initially tied to the Stargate initiative with Oracle and OpenAI. However, recent reports suggest the companies have scaled back their expansion plans. The first phase - two buildings totaling about 200 MW - moved from groundbreaking to operations in roughly a year, an exceptionally fast hyperscale timeline. By early 2025, Crusoe secured billions in financing to scale the site into a 1.2 GW campus spanning eight buildings, with construction on the next phase soon underway. At the same time, tenant requirements have evolved. What began as a tightly aligned Oracle and OpenAI deployment has evolved amid changing capacity needs and financing conditions, with Microsoft stepping in to secure large blocks of capacity. The shift reflects a broader trend - large AI campuses are increasingly designed as flexible, multi-tenant "AI factories," rather than single-tenant deployments. Crusoe says the new campus reflects a fundamental shift in hyperscale design, one where power availability, not just compute, drives site selection. The project includes a 900 MW behind-the-meter power plant paired with battery storage, designed to enhance reliability and mitigate grid constraints. That approach aligns with what site selectors are seeing across the market. "It's the starting point of almost every conversation we have with clients right now," Cvengros said. "Land is available. Construction materials are available. Labor is manageable. Power is the constraint." Related:Could Texas Overtake Northern Virginia as the Data Center Capital? The Abilene site reflects that dynamic, building on access to abundant, low-cost energy, including wind, sufficient to meet AI's growing energy needs. "Crusoe is building a new AI factory campus in Abilene, purpose-built for next-generation AI," said CEO Chase Lochmiller. "By integrating 900 MW of on-site generation, we're laying the industrial foundation for American AI - at unprecedented speed." The inclusion of large-scale, behind-the-meter generation marks a shift in how hyperscale infrastructure is being deployed. "When you're talking about gigawatt-level demand, the grid simply can't absorb that cleanly in most markets," Cvengros said. "Behind-the-meter generation lets developers move faster and gives operators more control over their power profile." The approach - once considered niche - is increasingly being adopted to work around interconnection delays and grid constraints. For Microsoft, the deal expands a growing portfolio of large-scale infrastructure partnerships aimed at securing AI capacity. "As customer demand for AI grows, Microsoft is focused on ensuring access to reliable, responsible infrastructure at scale," said Noelle Walsh, president of cloud operations and innovation, in a statement. "Crusoe's Abilene facility reflects the type of infrastructure needed for next-generation AI." Related:Trump Admin's Ratepayer Protection Pledge: What It Means for Hyperscalers The move highlights a broader shift in which hyperscalers are increasingly turning to external developers with integrated power strategies to secure capacity quickly, particularly as core markets face power and permitting constraints. Local officials highlight the project as evidence of West Texas' emergence as an AI infrastructure hub. "West Texas has become the Silicon Prairie for AI," said Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-TX), in a statement. "This expansion underscores the region's role in ensuring America - not China - leads the next frontier of information technology." Crusoe's Abilene expansion highlights a broader shift toward power-driven site selection and gigawatt-scale campuses. As noted at a recent industry forum, "Texas is 15% of all the data center connectivity in megawatts in the US," underscoring the state's growing role in hyperscale development. Behind-the-meter generation is emerging as a central strategy, with estimates suggesting "50% to 65% of large-scale data centers will be running behind the meter" in the coming years. Together, these trends point to a new model - one defined by energy access, speed, and flexibility over proximity to conventional network hubs.
