News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
How cluster warheads give North Korea new ways to create chaos | NK PRO
Kim Jong Un, his daughter and senior military officials watch a test of the Hwasong-11D close-range ballistic missile | Image: Rodong Sinmun (April 20, 2026), edited by NK Pro North Korea's test of ballistic missiles fitted with cluster munitions and fragmentation warheads point to a shift in how Pyongyang intends to fight, giving it new options short of nuclear strikes in the opening stages of a conflict. On April 19, leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a launch of "improved" Hwasong-11D close-range ballistic missiles equipped with cluster and mine warheads, following earlier April launches of Hwasong-11A short-range ballistic missiles carrying cluster munitions and so-called blackout bombs. Experts told NK Pro that the tests reveal a move toward high-volume conventional strikes that can degrade
Evil Dead Burn teaser drops: Franchise returns with blood, grief and demonic chaos; release date revealed
Evil Dead Burn teaser is out now. The new chapter of the horror franchise releases in cinemas on July 10 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. The Evil Dead universe is officially back, and it looks more savage than ever. Makers of Evil Dead Burn have unveiled the first teaser for the upcoming horror film, offering a chilling glimpse into a new chapter packed with blood-soaked terror, grief-driven horror and relentless Deadite mayhem. Set to release in cinemas on 10 July, the film will arrive in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu, expanding the cult horror franchise for Indian audiences as well. A family gathering turns into a nightmare According to the official synopsis, Evil Dead Burn follows a grieving widow who retreats to a secluded family home with her in-laws after the death of her husband, hoping to heal in peace. But the quiet mourning soon spirals into horror when members of the household begin transforming into Deadites one by one, turning the reunion into a brutal fight for survival. What begins as emotional recovery quickly becomes a descent into possession, violence and chaos. The film promises to blend the franchise's trademark gore with a more intimate story rooted in pain, trauma and loss. Teaser hints at brutal new direction The newly released teaser wastes no time in setting the tone. It delivers unsettling imagery, ominous silences, sudden bursts of violence and the familiar dread that _Evil Dead_ fans expect. Rather than relying only on jump scares, the footage suggests a darker psychological edge, with grief and family tension becoming part of the terror. If the teaser is any indication, Evil Dead Burn could be one of the franchise's most emotionally charged instalments yet. Watch the teaser here: Who is behind the film? Evil Dead Burn is directed by Sébastien Vaniček, the French filmmaker who gained international attention for his intense horror sensibilities. His involvement has already raised expectations among genre fans looking for a fresh but faithful take on the iconic series. The film stars Souheila Yacoub in the lead role, alongside Tandi Wright, Hunter Doohan, Luciane Buchanan, Errol Shand, Maude Davey, George Pullar and Greta Van Den Brink. Why fans are excited The _Evil Dead_ franchise has long been celebrated for mixing gruesome horror with dark humour, inventive violence and unforgettable demonic lore. From Sam Raimi's original cult classic to recent revivals like Evil Dead Rise, each entry has reinvented the formula while keeping the chaos intact. With Evil Dead Burn, the makers appear to be pushing into even darker territory, using bereavement and family dynamics as fuel for terror. Release date in India Sony Pictures Entertainment India will release Evil Dead Burn in cinemas on 10 July 2026 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu. For horror lovers, the summer just got bloodier.
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France probes weather data glitch after surge in Polymarket bets
PARIS - France's forecasting office flagged suspected tampering with weather sensors at the country's largest airport and referred the case to the police, after detecting unusual readings alongside heavy betting on a popular prediction market. Automated temperature readings taken at Meteo France's weather station at Charles de Gaulle International Airport spiked 4 deg C and 5 deg C unexpectedly in the evenings of April 6 and April 15, respectively, reaching the highest temperature recorded at the site on those days, data from the installation show. Readings from the site are important for the safe operation of the airport. They are also used to settle contracts for daily high temperatures on Polymarket, according to information on the website where traders place bets on real-world outcomes. Weather betting has boomed on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi, where individual traders and weather experts have flocked to put money behind their predictions for temperatures, or the amount of rain or snowfall in particular areas on specific dates. Boosters say prediction markets create economic and social value by providing better information about what will happen in the world. Detractors call them glorified gambling vulnerable to manipulation, insider trading and other shenanigans. Concerns have emerged for other contracts on prediction markets, including claims from an Israeli journalist that Polymarket users pressured him to change a story about missile strikes outside Jerusalem. Prediction market traders and independent meteorologists in a French weather discussion forum flagged the data irregularities and questioned the results of the contracts, which attracted roughly US$1.4 million (S$1/8 million) in combined bets, according to Polymarket data. Total betting for each was more than double the typical volume for other daily Paris temperature contracts in April. A spokesman for Meteo France, Mr Laurent Becler, said technicians examined sensor data and inspected the weather station, and the forecasting office subsequently filed a complaint for tampering with the operation of an automated data processing system to airport police. Mr Becler declined to answer additional questions about the possible tampering and data irregularities. The airport police declined to answer questions about the complaint and referred questions to court officials, who declined to answer a request for more information. Charles de Gaulle International Airport declined to comment. Representatives for Polymarket did not respond to questions about the weather contracts. Betting on Paris temperatures switched to using data collected at Paris-Le Bourget Airport instead of Charles de Gaulle on April 19, according to Polymarket's website. Meteorologist Ruben Hallali, chief executive officer and co-founder of Paris-based weather intelligence firm HD Rain, said he was among those who reported the anomalous data to Meteo France, where he previously worked. Dr Hallali said he closely monitors the airport weather station because his firm certifies parametric insurance - policies that do not require proof of loss and pay out when specific conditions are met - for clients there. "That's why I was able to spot very quickly the fact that there was a data manipulation," he said. The April 15 data are particularly unusual, Dr Hallali said. On that day, temperatures hit 18.8 deg C in the late afternoon and started to taper off before surging from 16.9 deg C to 21.9 deg C in 12 minutes, data from the weather station show. Humidity levels also plunged abruptly around this time, he said On Polymarket, one trader made more than US$21,000 betting that 18 deg C would not be the highest temperature recorded that day, data from the prediction market show. The consequences of tampering with sensors at an airport could be severe, Dr Hallali said. The data give pilots and air traffic controllers critically important readings on temperature, wind, visibility and other conditions. Those data are used for take-offs and landings, to determine which runways are used and helping air traffic controllers set routes and spacing between aircraft. Weather station data are also used to calibrate altitude and fuel use for other aircraft, Dr Hallali said. "If there is a mistake in this data, it can be dangerous," he said. BLOOMBERG
How a Hair Dryer Was Used to Reportedly Manipulate Polymarket
Météo France has filed charges, Polymarket swapped sensors, but the oracle flaw remains. A suspected manipulation of weather data tied to a prediction market payout has renewed scrutiny around the "oracle problem" in blockchain systems. The case centers on temperature readings from the Météo France temperature sensor at Charles de Gaulle Airport, which was reportedly used by Polymarket to settle bets on daily weather outcomes in Paris. The Polymarket Manipulation No One Anticipated According to media reports, on April 6, the station recorded a sudden spike to 21°C in the evening, an anomaly inconsistent with surrounding data. The move enabled a bettor to win approximately $14,000. A similar pattern emerged on April 15, when the sensor briefly jumped from 18°C to 22°C. Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens Speaking to BFMTV and Le HuffPost, Météo-France confirmed on April 21 that it had filed a complaint for "tampering with the operation of an automated data processing system" with the air transport gendarmerie in Roissy. Following the incidents, Polymarket reportedly shifted its data source to Le Bourget Airport station (LFPB). Crypto's Oracle Problem Moved Off the Blockchain and Onto a Paris Runway In a post on X, podcast host Aakash Gupta argued that the core vulnerability remains unresolved despite reported changes to the data source. He noted that shifting to another nearby weather station does little to mitigate risk, describing it as replacing one exposed data point with another of similar security standards, effectively maintaining a single point of failure. "Every crypto whitepaper for the last decade has warned about the oracle problem. Someone finally demonstrated it for $34,000 using a hair dryer," he said. Gupta contrasted the sophistication of blockchain infrastructure with the fragility of its real-world inputs. While the underlying system executing these markets reflects years of technical development, he pointed out that the outcome still hinges on "airport equipment in a plastic box." He further suggested that this issue extends beyond weather-based contracts on Polymarket. According to Gupta, many prediction markets rely on a single authoritative data source for sports results, election outcomes, and other events. This structure, he argued, creates a repeatable attack surface: identify the weakest link in the reporting chain, influence the input, and benefit from the resulting market imbalance. "The hardest part of crypto is the chain. The weakest part is the thermometer," Gupta added. The episode reveals a persistent challenge for decentralized systems. While blockchain infrastructure can ensure deterministic and tamper-resistant execution, it remains only as reliable as the external data it consumes. BeInCrypto has reached out to Polymarket for comment.
Invest in chaos: Suffocation in the oil market, Barclays warns of
Barclays recommends that investors "take advantage of recent weakness to build positions" in anticipation of higher oil prices in the coming months. Suffocation prevails in the oil market, with Barclays warning of an "underestimated shock" to the markets, urging investors to invest in chaos. The extension of the ceasefire by the US with Iran has done little to restore the flows of oil and natural gas through the Strait of Hormuz, with analysts warning that the extent of the disruption remains significantly underestimated in both oil contracts and energy stocks. Analyst Lydia Rainforth stated in a note to clients that the Straits remain closed to oil and gas flows for over 50 days, with more than 600 million barrels blocked and over 10 million barrels per day taken off the market. The ongoing American blockade of Iranian ports has kept physical markets in a state of suffocation, with "limited to zero transit allowed from the Iranian side as well," according to Barclays. The bank added that it is estimated that approximately 20,000 sailors remain trapped on ships within the Persian Gulf, while vessels continue to face severe security threats. A container ship reported coming under fire from an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps vessel on Wednesday, sustaining severe damage to its bridge. The ongoing blockade of Iranian ports by the US exacerbates the situation, with the physical market remaining "tight," meaning limited cargo availability and increased transportation costs. According to Barclays, ship transit from the Iranian side is near zero. The UAE Minister of Industry and head of ADNOC, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, warned of the situation, calling for safe passage and stating that "the Strait of Hormuz belongs to the world. It must be returned to the world," he emphasized. The importance of the region is immense, as not only oil but also liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through there, particularly from Qatar, one of the largest exporters globally. For Barclays, the market has not yet fully priced in the disruption. The bank estimates that energy stocks currently price in a long-term oil price of just $60-$65 per barrel and recommends that investors "take advantage of recent weakness to build positions" ahead of higher oil prices in the coming months. Oil prices continued to move upward. West Texas Intermediate contracts gained 1.60% to $92.96 a barrel, while Brent recorded a 1.35% rise to $103.84. At least three container ships were hit by fire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, according to maritime security sources and United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Major commodity traders rely on billion-dollar credit lines to finance the vast quantities of oil, gas, and other commodities they move. In times of crisis, such as the current geopolitical tension in the Middle East, pressure increases dramatically as they may face higher margin calls if positions move against them, according to a Financial Times report. Indicatively, a single supertanker can carry over 2 million barrels of oil, worth over $200 million at current prices, reflecting the scale of financing required for each cargo. Trading houses spoke to the FT following Donald Trump's decision to extend the ceasefire indefinitely to allow time for negotiations. However, tension in the Strait of Hormuz has not subsided. Navigation remains essentially frozen, both due to Iranian threats and the US naval blockade. Oil prices surged again above $100 per barrel following Iran's claims that it seized two container ships in the Gulf. Investors are now preparing for a scenario of prolonged conflict, which may keep energy markets in a state of intense instability. Although all companies state they hope for a quick de-escalation, they are simultaneously preparing for the worst. Stephan Jansma, CFO of Trafigura, emphasized that the company seeks to become "anti-fragile," increasing its liquidity compared to the pre-conflict period. "The way we must manage the company is based on this long war scenario," he said. Similarly, Jay Ng from Vitol pointed out a less visible but critical dimension: trader exhaustion. After seven weeks of extreme volatility, mental and physical fatigue increases the risk of errors. "We must be careful with the mental health and physical strength of our colleagues," he stated. Despite the challenges, executives appear cautiously optimistic about their profitability, as volatility often represents an opportunity for major traders. During the energy crisis of 2022-2023, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, trading houses recorded historically high profits, taking advantage of sharp price fluctuations. Bill Reed, head of Castleton Commodities International, was clear: "From a profit perspective, these types of events are positive." Richard Holtum stated he was "extremely pleased" with his company's performance this year, while Marco Dunand of Mercuria estimated that return on equity would range between 25% and 50%, translating to profits of $2.3 to $3.2 billion, nearly double from last year. At Gunvor, first-quarter gross profits already exceeded the $1.6 billion recorded in the entire previous year. Several traders believe that the next two months will be decisive, as the true intensity of the energy crisis and its impact on financial markets will become apparent. Oil prices initially touched $120 per barrel before being restrained by White House interventions, such as the release of hundreds of millions of barrels from strategic reserves. However, the market remains fragile. "We will see a sudden repricing at some point," warned a senior trader. Governments and banks are preparing for a prolonged crisis, avoiding mass interventions for now, such as fuel subsidies or new reserve releases. Guillaume Vermersch stated that he "sees no immediate end," while Richard Dolcetti emphasized that traders must plan for scenarios that could last "days, months, or even years." At the same time, banks are pushing for faster payment processes, as in an environment of limited supplies, the speed of transaction execution can determine who will secure oil or gas cargoes. "You have to pay fast. Otherwise, you lose deals," a banking source noted. As the war enters its third month, markets have definitively abandoned the discussion of an immediate restart of flows. This scenario is considered essentially dead. Any expectation of a quick return to normalcy has vanished, while across the Gulf region, production is not flowing freely but is being gradually restricted, well by well. Forced production shutdowns are spreading through the system, and even in the best-case scenario, the restoration of capacity is not a matter of an immediate restart but a slow, technically demanding process that could take months, if not longer, to approach pre-war levels. This leads the market to a more difficult question: Iran, which for years used flow disruption as a lever of pressure, is now faced with the same reality. With the noose around its exports tightening, the question is how much time remains before Tehran is forced to proceed with its own production shutdowns and what this means for a system not designed to remain inactive. Natasha Kaneva of JPMorgan attempts to map this scenario, approaching it not as a sudden shock, but as a gradual deterioration. The longer the restrictions last, the higher the risk that Iran's own production system will become the next "victim" of the conflict. Events in the Strait of Hormuz capture the instability of the situation. Saturday saw the largest movement of ships since the start of the conflict, with more than 20 tankers passing after a temporary easing of restrictions. However, on Sunday, the passage was closed again, with Tehran reinstating restrictions and allegedly opening fire on passing ships, claiming the American naval blockade constitutes an act of war. The result was a nearly total collapse of transits, which fell to about 4% of normal levels. Despite official reports, data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows that part of the "shadow fleet" continues to move, with at least 26 ships bypassing restrictions, though US authorities dispute these figures. The emerging picture is not a complete stoppage, but a gradual strangulation of flows. Exports have not hit zero, but have been drastically reduced, with less than half of March's levels reaching international markets. For the market, the difference is small: supply decreases sharply and pressure mounts. Unlike sanctions, which work through restrictions on access and pricing, a physical blockade works through reality itself: ships do not travel and cargoes do not leave. Traditional methods of bypassing are beginning to fail. This pressure is not limited to trade but is transferred to the fields themselves. If the blockade is maintained, it does not just limit exports but sets them at a ceiling, leading to forced production cuts. The same tool that Iran used in the past as a lever of pressure is now returning as a threat to its own system. Despite the pressure, Iran possesses a temporary economic "cushion," thanks to cargoes already sold at higher prices and quantities already in transit. However, this breathing room depends on the duration and intensity of the blockade. If the pressure is not maintained, the effect weakens before gaining critical momentum. The blockade does not aim for complete economic isolation. Imports of basic goods, such as food and medicine, continue. However, the trading system becomes slower, more rigid, and less efficient, leading to a gradual erosion of flows. According to JPMorgan, Iran's reserves amount to about 86 million barrels, with about half available. This offers a margin of about three weeks in the event of a complete export stoppage, which can be slightly extended by using floating storage. However, production does not wait for this margin to be exhausted. The first cuts are estimated to begin at approximately 16 days, and by the 30th day, production may have decreased drastically, approaching a total export halt. Despite the pressure, there is a floor. Domestic demand, approximately 1.8 million barrels per day, imposes a minimum production level. Historically, Iran's production has rarely fallen below this level, except during periods of major political unrest. The loss of about 2 million barrels per day entails losses of approximately $150 million per day. Since hydrocarbons account for over 80% of exports, the blow is directly transferred to the economy, affecting public revenue, monetary stability, and liquidity. Iran still has significant quantities of oil in transit, much of which is already outside the immediate blockade zone. However, as it moves away from choke points, surveillance becomes more difficult but not impossible. Tehran is expected to intensify the use of alternative routes and networks, leveraging third countries and "shadow" practices. However, every transaction becomes more complex and costly, reducing the system's efficiency. The reduction in dependence on fuel imports offers a degree of resilience. However, pressure is now shifting to the core of production, where risks are greater. A total shut-in is not just a temporary interruption, but can cause permanent damage to infrastructure and fields, particularly in a system with aging facilities. The market is now watching the "clock" of reserves, exports, and production. Everything converges in a critical time window of approximately 25 days. Beyond this point, the crisis may transform from a flow problem into a crisis of deep and lasting impacts for Iran and the global energy market.
Polymarket Traders Profit $37K From Paris Weather Glitch
Ruben Hallali, a meteorologist, told French media outlet BFMTV the sudden temperature fluctuation recorded at a weather station at the Charles de Gaulle Airport was unlikely to be a natural event. Two Polymarket accounts have attracted suspicion after making $37,000 betting on the temperature readings of a weather station located in a major airport in France, which produced two unusual readings leading to their win. The two weather-focused prediction markets focused on the highest temperature in Paris on April 6 and 15, using the highest temperature recorded at the Charles de Gaulle Airport Station in degrees Celsius, according to Polymarket. French media outlet BFMTV reported on Monday that the temperature suddenly climbed to over 21 degrees Celsius on April 6, before dropping again immediately. The market resolved with the winner taking over $16,000. Meanwhile, blockchain analytics tool Bubblemaps reported a similar glitch for the April 15 market. The weather station showed 18 degrees Celsius most of the day, then suddenly spiked to 22 degrees Celsius before dropping back. Some have questioned whether foul play was involved. Prediction markets are already facing growing scrutiny over insider trading and possible violations of gambling laws. "That spike didn't show on nearby stations," Bubblemaps analysts said, adding that "Just before the spike, one trader started buying NO shares on "18°C," before exiting with over $21, 000. Ruben Hallali, a meteorologist, told BFMTV the temperature glitch was unlikely to be a natural event. Related: Charles Schwab, Citadel Securities are eying prediction markets "Such temperature variations seem very unlikely, especially on these two dates, and over such a short period. We can imagine that an individual with a good understanding of how the sensors work intervened, resulting in temperatures rising by two degrees at the right time, to validate a bet," he added. Météo France, the official government weather agency of France, has reportedly made a complaint with the police unit, the Roissy Air Transport Gendarmerie Brigade, for alleged tampering with the operation of its automated data processing systems.
Anthropic valuation nears $1 trillion in secondary markets amid investor frenzy: Business Insider Africa - The Economic Times
Investor frenzy is propelling AI firm Anthropic's valuation towards a staggering $1 trillion in secondary markets, surpassing rival OpenAI. Despite OpenAI's higher primary valuation, Anthropic's shares are in high demand, fueled by rapid revenue growth and a perceived competitive edge. This surge, however, appears driven by FOMO as much as fundamentals.
West Bengal Elections 2026 who will win? US-based Polymarket betting site shows BJP 52%, TMC 47%; bets cross $2 million
As voting begins for the first phase of West Bengal's Assembly election, an unusual trend has surfaced far beyond the state's borders: global traders are pouring money into predicting the outcome. More than $2 million has already been wagered on West Bengal election results contract on an online prediction platform, making it the most actively traded Indian state poll on such markets. Even as these platforms remain off-limits for Indian users under current law, the platform has registered strong interest from bettors. What makes this election stand out is not just the scale on the ground, but the attention it has drawn online. On Polymarket, a US-based prediction platform, the West Bengal election has seen trading volumes cross $2.3 million, far ahead of other Indian state elections. According to widely shared screenshots on social media, traders currently give the BJP a slight edge with a 52 per cent chance of winning, while Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress follows closely at 47 per cent. The CPI is barely in the picture, trading at under one per cent. A personal finance account on X highlighted this surge, noting that Bengal now leads all Indian state elections in trading activity on the platform. Prediction markets work differently from opinion polls. Instead of answering surveys, participants put real money behind their expectations. Prices fluctuate in real time, reflecting what traders believe is the likelihood of an outcome. For instance, if a party's contract trades at around 53 cents, it implies a perceived 53 per cent chance of victory. If the prediction turns out correct, traders earn the difference. Supporters of such markets argue that financial stakes make them sharper than traditional surveys. Some platforms even claim high accuracy rates well before results are declared. Here is where things get complicated. India banned prediction markets in 2025 under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA). The law prohibits platforms that allow betting on real-world events, including elections, from operating in the country or accepting Indian users. This means the heavy trading seen in the West Bengal election is almost entirely driven by users outside India, mainly from the US and Europe. Any participation by Indian citizens would violate the law. Among ongoing state elections, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, West Bengal has clearly attracted the most attention. Tamil Nadu, for example, has seen comparatively lower trading volumes of around $370,000. This difference signals something deeper. Higher trading activity often points to uncertainty. When outcomes appear predictable, markets tend to be quieter. But when a contest looks tight, participation increases as traders try to anticipate the result. That uncertainty mirrors the situation on the ground. The ruling Trinamool Congress continues to rely on its strong grassroots network and welfare programmes, which have helped it stay in power since 2011. At the same time, the BJP has steadily expanded its presence in the state, especially after the 2019 general elections, turning the race into a direct contest. Local issues such as employment, rural distress, and governance are expected to play a key role in influencing undecided voters. While prediction markets offer an interesting lens, they are not foolproof. The participants are largely global and may not fully grasp local dynamics, caste equations, or last-mile campaigning. Still, they reflect one clear sentiment: this election is wide open. The first phase of polling is underway, covering 152 constituencies across 16 districts. Voting is scheduled between 7 am and 6 pm. A total of 1,478 candidates, including 167 women, are contesting in this round. Around 3.6 crore voters are eligible to vote, with polling being conducted at 44,376 booths. Among these, nearly 3,000 are auxiliary booths, and 5,444 are being managed entirely by women. The remaining seats will go to polls on April 29, with counting set for May 4. (ET.com does not endorse, encourage, or facilitate participation in prediction markets. Such platforms are banned in India under PROGA.)
Tax hikes were FINALLY offsetting Labour spending... before Iran chaos
Labour's massive tax hikes had finally started bringing down Government borrowing - but only before the Middle East crisis hit. Official figures showed another £132billion was borrowed in the 12 months to the end of March - £19.8billion lower than the previous financial year. Hugely increased revenues from Rachel Reeves' tax raids partly offset a spending bonanza, including on more benefits and public sector pay settlements. However, the picture is likely to shift dramatically in the coming months with the Iran war expected to fuel inflation and squash economic growth. The ONS said borrowing fell to £12.6billion in March, down by £1.4billion year-on-year and the lowest borrowing for the month since 2022 - although slightly higher than analysts had anticipated. The full-year borrowing was below the £132.7billion forecast by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), and the lowest since 2022-23. Official figures showed another £132billion was borrowed in the 12 months to the end of March - £19.8billion lower than the previous financial year Hugely increased revenues from Rachel Reeves' tax raids offset a spending bonanza, including on more benefits and public sector pay settlements Central government tax receipts increased by £54.7billion to £845.4 billion over the 12 months. That included £34.6billion more income tax, £8.8 billion VAT and £5.4billion of corporation tax. The notorious hike in employer National Insurance, which took effect in April last year, saw social contributions rise by £33billion to £206.8billion. Meanwhile, central government departmental spending on goods and services increased by £27.9billion to £461.6billion, driven by pay rises and inflation. Benefits paid by central government increased by £20.7billion to £327.3 billion, largely due to upratings - including to state pensions. The interest on the Government's debt mountain was also up by £12.2billion to £97.6billion, reflecting more anxiety in markets. Tom Davies, ONS senior statistician, said: 'Borrowing was almost £20 billion lower than in the previous financial year, and broadly in line with the OBR's forecast. 'As a proportion of gross domestic product, it fell to its lowest level since 2019-20, just prior to the pandemic. 'Although spending has risen this financial year, this was more than offset by increased receipts. 'The figures also show borrowing for last month on its own was 10 per cent less than in March last year.' Since becoming Chancellor in July 2024, the OBR watchdog's historical database shows Ms Reeves has imposed an astonishing £75billion a year of extra tax on Britons. Much of that has gone on spiralling welfare costs, with Labour MPs forcing the government to abandon efforts to curb spending and scrap the two-child benefits cap. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The staggering tally makes her the biggest tax-raising Chancellor in the last six decades, far ahead of her nearest competitor for the dubious distinction. That was fellow Labour politician Gordon Brown, whose fiscal statements added up to an extra £62.1billion. Figures released alongside the Spring Statement in March showed the tax burden is on track to reach never-before seen mark of 38.5 per cent of GDP in 2030-31. Treasury chief secretary James Murray said: 'Our deficit is down £19.8billion because of our plan to cut borrowing. In a volatile world the decisions we are taking are the right ones to keep costs down, take back our energy security and cut borrowing and debt.'
Outsiders are already accessing Anthropic's new AI model, but is Claude Mythos really that powerful?
By becoming a member, I agree to receive information and promotional messages from Cyber Daily. I can opt out of these communications at any time. For more information, please visit our Privacy Statement. According to reporting by Bloomberg, a small number of people who are members of a private Discord channel dedicated to researching unreleased AI models have had unofficial access to Mythis since it was first announced. Getting in was apparently simple, too. "To access Mythos, the group of users made an educated guess about the model's online location," Bloomberg said in an article published on April 21. "They based this on knowledge about the format Anthropic has used for other models, the person said, adding that such formatting details were revealed in a recent data breach from Mercor, an AI training startup that works with a number of top developers." Anthropic said it was aware of the access and was investigating the report. Shane Fry, Chief Technology Officer at RunSafe Security, said it was an example of how easily exploited AI models commonly are. "Unauthorised users were able to access Anthropic's Mythos model, reportedly by just changing a model name. Even if their intent is just to explore, it shows how easily these systems can be exposed," Fry said. "The reality is these AI capabilities are already out there, 'hacked' or not, and they're going to accelerate how quickly vulnerabilities are found and exploited. Software teams will need to look at how to harden their code so those vulnerabilities can't be used in the first place." Germaine Tan Shu Ting, VP Security & AI Strategy and Field CISO at Darktrace, expressed similar concerns. "It shows that the frontline remains identity," Tan Shu Ting said. "If Anthropic itself can be accessed using traditional hacking methods (reportedly coopting existing third-party access and 'internet sleuthing'), then it highlights how critical it is to assume the threat is already inside the walls." However, while analysts and industry insiders have reacted to Mythos with something like awe, the actual capabilities of the model may, in reality, fall far short of Anthropic's claims. Don't believe the hype? Doug Britton, EVP and chief strategy officer of RunSafe Security, referred to Mythos and Project Glasswing earlier in April as a "watershed moment for AI's runaway zero-day discovery and exploitation". "AI is now uncovering memory safety bugs at massive scale, including vulnerabilities that have been hiding in production code for over 25 years - the problem isn't just that these bugs exist, it's that they're being found faster than organisations can fix them," Britton said. But the question is - are they being found that fast? Davi Ottenheimer, security engineer and president of security consultancy flyingpenguin, has some serious doubts. "The supposedly huge Anthropic 'step change' appears to be little more than a rounding error. The threat narrative so far appears to be ALL marketing and no real results," Ottenheimer said in a blog post around the time Mythios and Glasswing were announced. "The Glasswing consortium is regulatory capture dressed up poorly as restraint." Ottenheimer based his observations - rather caustic ones, it must be said - on Anthropic's own Claude Mythos Preview System Card, a "whoppingly inefficient 244-page document that devotes just seven pages to the claim that the model is too dangerous to release". According to Ottenheimer, only seven of those pages do not mention the acronyms one might expect: CVSS, CWE or CVE. "The flagship demonstration document turns out to be like the ending of the Wizard of Oz, a sorry disappointment about a model weaponising two bugs that a different model found, in software the vendor had already patched, in a test environment with the browser sandbox and defence-in-depth mitigations stripped out. Anthropic failed, and somehow the story was flipped into a warning about its success." Ottenheimer has many issues with Anthropic's - and, it must be said, the wider media's - claims that Mythos found "Thousands of zero-day vulnerabilities in every major operating system and every major web browser", and he pulls no punches. Referencing that claim, Ottenheimer points out that the word 'thousands' is "used once, in reference to transcripts reviewed during the alignment evaluation". "It is never used to describe vulnerabilities. The cyber security section (Section 3, pages 47-53) contains no count of zero-days at all," Ottenheimer said. "With no CVE list, no CVSS distribution, no severity bucket, no disclosure timeline, no vendor-confirmed-novel table, no false-positive rate, why are you teasing us with the claims about vulnerabilities at all?" Cyber Daily has reached out to Anthropic for comment.
Anthropic Mythos fear-based marketing sparks fierce backlash
Anthropic Mythos fear-based marketing is under intense scrutiny after OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman accused the company of using alarmist tactics to promote its latest cybersecurity AI model. His remarks have reignited a wider debate over how tech firms should communicate the risks and benefits of powerful artificial intelligence systems. Anthropic recently unveiled Mythos, a specialised model designed to uncover software vulnerabilities and help defend against cyberattacks, but chose to restrict access to a small set of enterprise partners. The firm argued that Claude Mythos is so capable at finding high‑severity flaws that a broad public release could allow cybercriminals and even state actors to weaponise it. Speaking on the Core Memory podcast, Altman suggested the rollout relied on Anthropic Mythos fear-based marketing rather than sober risk communication. "There are people in the world who, for a long time, have wanted to keep AI in the hands of a smaller group of people," he said, adding that such a stance "can be justified in a lot of different ways." He compared the pitch to a company declaring "we have built a bomb, we are about to drop it on your head... we will sell you a bomb shelter for 100 million dollars." Anthropic insists its decision is grounded in safety research rather than Anthropic Mythos fear-based marketing. Internal testing found the model could help non‑experts discover and exploit serious security weaknesses overnight, and in some cases bypass sandbox safeguards intended to constrain it. As a result, Mythos is being deployed only within a limited "defensive cybersecurity" programme for a small group of organisations while additional safeguards are developed. Altman's comments underscore an escalating rivalry between OpenAI and Anthropic over how frontier AI systems should be governed, sold and messaged to the public. Critics of Anthropic say dramatic warnings risk overstating current capabilities, while supporters argue that highlighting worst‑case scenarios is essential to prevent misuse. The clash over Anthropic Mythos fear-based marketing goes beyond a single product launch and cuts to a central question for the AI sector: should companies lead with fear or with evidence when talking about powerful models. As firms race to secure customers and set norms for cybersecurity AI, the balance they strike between caution, transparency and competitive hype will shape how much trust governments, businesses and the public ultimately place in their technology.
Anthropic Mythos AI shock: disturbing leak claim sparks urgent probe
Anthropic Mythos AI is at the centre of a growing security storm after reports that a small group of unauthorised users quietly gained access to the powerful cybersecurity model via a third-party vendor. Anthropic recently unveiled Mythos as a specialised Claude-based AI model designed to help major organisations detect software vulnerabilities and respond to cyber threats more quickly than human teams. The system is being trialled under Project Glasswing, an initiative that gives select partners, including Apple and other large technology and financial firms, access to the Anthropic Mythos AI preview for defensive security work. Anthropic has said Mythos can find thousands of high‑severity bugs across major operating systems and web browsers, underscoring why tight control over Anthropic Mythos AI access is seen as critical. According to Bloomberg and other outlets, a small private group on the Discord platform began using Anthropic Mythos AI on the very day it was publicly announced. Members reportedly combined credentials linked to a contractor working with Anthropic and open internet sleuthing tools to locate and access the Claude Mythos Preview environment. Bloomberg's reporting suggests the group shared screenshots and even a live demonstration of Anthropic Mythos AI to support their claims, while avoiding overtly cybersecurity‑related prompts in an apparent effort not to trigger alarms. Anthropic has confirmed it is investigating the incident, telling TechCrunch: "We're investigating a report claiming unauthorised access to Claude Mythos Preview through one of our third‑party vendor environments," and adding that there is currently no evidence its own systems have been compromised. The company also says there is no sign that activity went beyond the affected vendor, but the Anthropic Mythos AI scare is likely to intensify scrutiny of how unreleased, high‑risk AI models are tested and secured before wider deployment. For now, Anthropic Mythos AI remains in restricted preview, yet the alleged leak shows that even tightly controlled frontier systems can be probed and exposed at the edges, a warning that defensive AI may only be as strong as the weakest partner handling it.
RBI Said to Evaluate Cybersecurity Risks Linked to Anthropic's Mythos
Any deployment needs to comply with RBI's data localisation requirements The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is said to be holding talks with global regulators, domestic lenders, and government officials to assess potential risks linked to Anthropic's new artificial intelligence (AI) model, Mythos. According to a report, RBI's preliminary assessment points towards Mythos potentially raising cybersecurity concerns by expediting the discovery and exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The development comes following reports of unauthorised personnel gaining access to Anthropic's Mythos, which is touted to be "so powerful that it could enable dangerous cyberattacks". RBI Evaluating Mythos-Linked Cybersecurity Risks Citing sources familiar with the matter, Reuters reports that the RBI, over the past two weeks, has held consultations with counterparts around the world. This reportedly includes the Federal Reserve and the Bank of England, intending to understand the emerging risks and safeguards. "Globally, we are discussing with other countries and other regulators on what are the developments and what safeguards need to be taken," the publication quoted one source as saying. The report states that the RBI may also pursue direct engagement with Anthropic. Further, regulators across Asia, Europe, and the US are said to have advised banks to review their cybersecurity preparedness. The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which facilitates payment services like UPI in the country, is said to be exploring early access to Mythos alongside a small group of banks, too. Citing a source, Reuters reported that this is to identify potential "day-zero" vulnerabilities before any wider rollout, although any such access could be restricted. Mythos is said to be hosted on tightly controlled servers in the US. Consequently, running any tests on local datasets in foreign jurisdictions could pose regulatory and technical challenges. The RBI is also said to be working on broader guidelines for banks entering enterprise partnerships with advanced AI models, including Anthropic's Mythos and Claude family. However, any deployment involving Indian user data would need to comply with the RBI's data localisation requirements, the publication noted a source as saying. Concerns Over Unauthorised Access to Mythos The regulatory discussions come shortly after reports that a small group of unauthorised users had gained early access to Mythos. According to Bloomberg, the model, which Anthropic itself has described as highly powerful, was accessed via a private Discord group on the same day it was announced for limited testing. While the group reportedly did not use the model for malicious purposes, the incident has raised concerns about potential misuse. At the time, screenshots appearing to show a Mythos dashboard were shared by the group. These included user management panels, AI experiment interfaces, and detailed analytics for model performance and costs. Anthropic is currently probing the matter. We're investigating a report claiming unauthorised access to Claude Mythos Preview through one of our third-party vendor environments," the company said in a statement.
What risk is posed by Anthropic's potential cyberweapon super-AI?
SAN FRANCISCO: Questions are being raised about the security precautions protecting a new AI model that is said to be extremely powerful at finding software vulnerabilities and could be used to launch major cyberattacks with a global impact. Financial news service Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that a small number of unauthorised people with knowledge of Anthropic systems gained access to the model known as Claude Mythos Preview. Anthropic said it was looking into the report. Earlier in April, Anthropic said it had developed an AI that was able to find security gaps in various major software programs, some of which had gone undetected for decades. In the wrong hands, the AI model could lead to the development of dangerous cyberweapons. Anthropic has no plans to release Mythos and has so far granted access to selected companies and organisations so they can fix vulnerabilities in their software. The developers of the Firefox web browser later announced that they were able to patch 271 security holes with Mythos. According to Bloomberg, an employee of an external Anthropic service provider who had access to the AI firm's systems was among the unauthorised users. The users were also helped by knowledge of how Anthropic stored previous models. The company told Bloomberg it had so far seen no evidence that there had been access to the model outside the service provider's systems. Announcing Mythos, Anthropic said it could discover "thousands" of serious vulnerabilities in widely used operating systems and web browsers. In the video software FFmpeg, the model tracked down a loophole that had been left unpatched for 16 years. AI-built software exploits in a few hours Mythos Preview was also able, within a few hours, to develop programmes to exploit these vulnerabilities, which experts said would have taken them several weeks. In a test, an early version of the software was given the task of breaking out of a shielded computer environment and reporting this to the tester. According to Anthropic, the software bypassed the security precautions, gained broader internet access for itself and sent the employee an email that surprised him while he was sitting in the park with a sandwich. The company did not specifically train the model to do all this, it said. With rapid progress in artificial intelligence, such capabilities could soon be available to online attackers, Anthropic warned. In a partnership called Project Glasswing, companies are being given access to Mythos to find security flaws. Partners include Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, NVIDIA. the Linux Foundation, the IT security firms CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks and the network specialist Cisco. Worries among finance industry News of an AI that can find and exploit weaknesses in major software previously considered secure has caused concern in the financial industry, among others. Joachim Nagel, the president of Germany's central bank, the Bundesbank, warned of significant risks to the financial sector, pointing to new and complex threats from autonomous AI agents engaging in harmful behaviour. "Early identification and containment of such risks is of crucial importance for financial stability, as the current discussion about Anthropic's Mythos makes clear," Nagel said. The AI model appeared to be a double-edged sword because it could be used not only to improve digital security systems but also to exploit their vulnerabilities for malicious purposes. "We must prevent the misuse of this technology." At the same time, all relevant institutions would have to have access to the technology in order to avoid distortions in competition. Anthropic is best known for the AI software Claude, which competes with OpenAI's ChatGPT. The company recently made headlines over a dispute with the Pentagon: Anthropic denied the use of its AI in autonomous weapons or for mass surveillance in the US. The Defense Department then declared Anthropic a supply chain risk, largely blocking the company's path to doing business with the US government. Anthropic is taking legal action against this. - dpa
What Israel's #1 Ranking on the Anthropic AI Usage Index Means for Every PR Practitioner
For thirty years, the Israeli PR industry has operated on a unique rhythm. Small country, global markets, bilingual workforce, and a domestic tech sector that produced category-defining brands -- Check Point, Wix, Mobileye, Fiverr, Wiz, CyberArk -- at a rate disproportionate to the country's size. A joint research study released this week by 5WPR and Louder suggests that rhythm is about to accelerate. Thestudy finds that Israel ranks first in the world on Anthropic's AI Usage Index at 4.9x -- ahead of Singapore (4.19x), the United States (3.69x), and every other country measured. The ranking itself is notable. The implications for PR, brand-building, and corporate communications are more consequential. The information layer is where first impressions are now formed When 4.9x the expected share of Claude usage per capita is happening inside one country, the audience of any brand operating in that market is increasingly forming its first impression of that brand from an AI answer -- not from a website, not from a press release, not from a LinkedIn post. Israeli buyers, journalists, analysts, and investors are getting summarized by LLMs faster than they are reading source material. This changes what a brand's "owned assets" actually are. The traditional list -- website, blog, press center, executive social accounts, case studies -- is now joined by a new one: how the brand is described inside AImodels. How accurately? How prominently? With what framing? Against which competitors? Most companies have never audited their AI-layer presence The basic exercise -- open Claude, open ChatGPT, open Gemini, ask what each says about your company -- takes thirty minutes. Few companies have done it systematically. Fewer still have reacted to what they found. That is a competitive gap that is open for the next 12-18 months. The companies actively managing their AI-layer presence are doing three things. They publish primary-source material -- research, original data, executive commentary, documented case studies -- in formats designed to be cited. They keep that material consistent across owned properties so LLMs compress it into accurate summaries instead of garbled ones. And they measure what models actually say, not what they hope models say. Small teams are changing what PR support looks like The study cites Above Security, an Israeli cyber startup that raised a $43 million Series A with 10 employees at eight months old. That team size a decade ago would have been pre-Series A, pre-GTM, pre-PR. Today it's raising significant capital and attracting global press. The practical implication for PR practitioners is that agency and in-house models built for 50-person client teams are being asked to support 10-person teams that operate at 50-person velocity. The answer isn't to downsize the service model. The answer is to embed strategic thinking earlier -- narrative, positioning, and media architecture at seed stage, not Series B. Bilingual communications are no longer optional for Israeli companies Frontier LLMs have improved sharply on Hebrew in the past 18 months. Israeli buyer journeys that used to happen entirely in English now happen across both languages, frequently in the same week. For Israeli companies, a brand operating only in English is missing a significant share of its own domestic surface area. Forglobal brands entering Israel, a brand operating only in Hebrew is missing the AI-layer reach that increasingly drives discovery. The strongest Israeli brands now publish primary-source content in both languages from day one. This is especially important for research and executive commentary, where LLMs draw heavily from owned properties. The Israel Innovation Authority and Brookdale Institute's November 2025 survey found that 95% of Israeli tech workers use AI tools regularly and 78% use them daily -- the domestic audience consuming content through AIis already the majority, not the edge case. Five practical implications for PR teams Israel's 4.9x AUI score isn't an abstract statistic. It's a preview of what every knowledge-economy market will look like in 18 months. The PR firms and teams that internalize that now will be positioned for what comes next. The full research study, released jointly by 5WPR and Louder, is available in English and Hebrew at 5wpr.com/research.
France Probes Weather Data Glitch After Surge in Polymarket Bets
France's forecasting office flagged suspected tampering with weather sensors at the country's largest airport and referred the case to police, after detecting unusual readings alongside heavy betting on a popular prediction market. Automated temperature readings taken at Meteo France's weather station at Charles de Gaulle International Airport spiked 4C and 5C unexpectedly in the evenings of April 6 and April 15, respectively, reaching the highest temperature recorded at the site on those days, data from the installation show. Readings from the site are important for the safe operation of the airport. They are also used to settle contracts for daily high temperatures on Polymarket, according to information on the website where traders place bets on real-world outcomes. Weather betting has boomed on prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi Inc., where individual traders and weather experts have flocked to put money behind their predictions for temperatures, or the amount of rain or snowfall in particular areas on specific dates. Boosters say prediction markets create economic and social value by providing better information about what will happen in the world. Detractors call them glorified gambling vulnerable to manipulation, insider trading and other shenanigans. Concerns have emerged for other contracts on prediction markets, including claims from an Israeli journalist that Polymarket users pressured him to change a story about missile strikes outside Jerusalem. See also: How Prediction Markets Polymarket and Kalshi Are Gamifying Truth Prediction market traders and independent meteorologists in a French weather discussion forum flagged the data irregularities and questioned the results of the contracts, which attracted roughly $1.4 million in combined bets, according to Polymarket data. Total betting for each was more than double the typical volume for other daily Paris temperature contracts in April. A spokesperson for Meteo France, Laurent Becler, said technicians examined sensor data and inspected the weather station, and the forecasting office subsequently filed a complaint for tampering with the operation of an automated data processing system to airport police. Becler declined to answer additional questions about the possible tampering and data irregularities. Airport police declined to answer questions about the complaint and referred questions to court officials, who declined to answer a request for more information. Charles de Gaulle International Airport declined to comment. Representatives for Polymarket did not respond to questions about the weather contracts. Betting on Paris temperatures switched to using data collected at Paris-Le Bourget Airport instead of Charles de Gaulle on April 19, according to Polymarket's website. Meteorologist Ruben Hallali, chief executive officer and co-founder of Paris-based weather intelligence firm HD Rain, said he was among those who reported the anomalous data to Meteo France, where he previously worked. Hallali said he closely monitors the airport weather station because his firm certifies parametric insurance -- policies that don't require proof of loss and pay out when specific conditions are met -- for clients there. "That's why I was able to spot very quickly the fact that there was a data manipulation," he said. The April 15 data are particularly unusual, Hallali said. On that day, temperatures hit 18.8C in the late afternoon and started to taper off before surging from 16.9C to 21.9C in 12 minutes, data from the weather station show. Humidity levels also plunged abruptly around this time, he said On Polymarket, one trader made more than $21,000 betting that 18C would not be the highest temperature recorded that day, data from the prediction market show. The consequences of tampering with sensors at an airport could be severe, Hallali said. The data give pilots and air traffic controllers critically important readings on temperature, wind, visibility and other conditions. Those data are used for takeoffs and landings, to determine which runways are used and helping air traffic controllers set routes and spacing between aircraft. Weather station data are also used to calibrate altitude and fuel use for other aircraft, Hallali said. "If there is a mistake in this data, it can be dangerous," he said.
Iran War Boosts European Logistics Profits as Shipping Chaos Persists
By Amir Orusov and Anastasiia Kozlova April 23 (Reuters) - European logistics companies are expected to report higher first-quarter profits, benefiting from the turmoil created by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, but analysts said the conflict clouds their future outlook. While heightened supply‑chain complexity typically supports profitability for logistics companies such as DHL, DSV and Kuehne+Nagel, many analysts have warned that the longer‑term effects of the energy shock and broader economic fallout could weigh on demand later in the year. In a note to clients, Jefferies analysts said Kuehne+Nagel's management do not expect further yield pressure in sea or air business in the first quarter. That reinforced their view that earnings have stabilised and are set to improve, the brokerage said. Jefferies analysts also said periods of geopolitical turmoil have historically promoted sea-to-air spillover, where DHL is structurally advantaged. AIRFREIGHT VOLUMES RISING FASTER While airfreight volumes are expected to grow at a high single‑digit rate in the quarter, seafreight volumes are forecast to rise only at a low single‑digit pace year on year, Bernstein analysts said in a note. Seafreight volumes have been weighed down by tough comparisons after shippers front‑loaded cargo ahead of U.S. import tariffs in April 2025, they said. Attention is also turning to DSV's capital markets day on May 12, where analysts are looking for updated medium‑term financial targets. "The potential for upside surprises on the day is meaningful," Bernstein said. MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT IMPACT ON FREIGHT MARKETS Following a weekend escalation in the Middle East conflict, ships have largely been avoiding the Strait of Hormuz, deepening uncertainty along a major trade route that had already been disrupted by the conflict. The resulting strain on regional transport networks has also contributed to sharply higher air cargo costs, as strong demand collides with elevated jet fuel prices and tighter capacity linked to the prolonged disruption. The impact is being felt well beyond the Gulf. Heightened regional tensions have also reinforced risks in the Red Sea, delaying expectations for a near‑term resumption of transits through the Suez route. Rico Luman, senior economist at ING Research, said "full resumption is now pushed back multiple months and perhaps even until the end of the year," which should be supportive for logistics companies in the short term. Global shippers including Maersk and Hapag‑Lloyd have rerouted vessels around the Cape of Good Hope since the outbreak of the war, a shift that is keeping freight rates elevated and boosting margins as higher prices flow quickly through shipping lines' largely fixed cost bases, Morningstar analyst Ben Slupecki said. Even if the conflict is resolved, analysts do not expect global freight markets to normalise quickly. Freight rates may fall after a peace deal allows traffic to resume through the Strait of Hormuz, but any decline is likely to be gradual as supply chains have adjusted and congestion has abated, with shippers expected to continue exploring alternative routes and ports, suggesting pre‑conflict trading patterns may not fully return, Luman said. (Reporting by Amir Orusov and Anastasiia Kozlova; Editing by Matt Scuffham)
Truck Engulfed In Flames On Bhubaneswar's Palasuni Overbridge, Triggers 14-km Traffic Chaos
Bhubaneswar: A moving truck suddenly burst into flames on the busy Palasuni Overbridge along National Highway-16 (NH-16) in the Odisha capital on Wednesday afternoon, triggering a severe traffic gridlock that stretched over 14 km and left hundreds of commuters stranded for several hours. According to sources, the incident occurred around 3 pm as the truck, carrying raw materials for soap manufacturing from Paradip port to Gujarat, caught fire while entering the city limits. Eyewitnesses reported a loud explosion followed by rapid flames that quickly engulfed the vehicle, producing a thick plume of black smoke visible across the area. The blaze spread further when diesel leaked from the truck's fuel tank and spilled onto the overbridge, intensifying the chaos and bringing traffic to a complete standstill on both directions of the highway. Fire services with multiple vehicles rushing to the spot and successfully dousing the blaze, preventing it from spreading to nearby vehicles. However, the charred remains of the truck blocked the road, complicating clearance efforts. The Commissionerate Police deployed hydra cranes and mobilised additional equipment from the other side of the NH to secure and remove the wreckage, but initial attempts failed. An earthmover was eventually engaged to dismantle the vehicle. The disruption lasted well into the evening, with traffic moving at a snail's pace before halting entirely for over four hours. Commuters faced significant hardship, including one instance where an ambulance was unable to navigate through the jam. Police diverted vehicles toward Pitapalli and Balikuda from the Cuttack side and issued traffic advisories via FM radio and news channels, urging people to avoid the Palasuni stretch. The fire is suspected to have been triggered by a short-circuit, possibly exacerbated by the prevailing hot and humid weather conditions in the region. Fortunately, the truck driver and helper escaped unhurt.
SpaceX's $60B Cursor AI Deal: A Three-Part Bet on Distribution, Colossus Supercomputer, and Human Talent - News Directory 3
Cursor's technology is used by engineers at 67% of Fortune 500 companies, according to the same source. SpaceX has agreed to a deal with AI coding startup Cursor that gives it the option to acquire the company for $60 billion later this year, according to multiple verified reports. The agreement includes an initial $10 billion collaboration to develop AI for coding and knowledge work, leveraging SpaceX's Colossus supercomputer and Cursor's engineering user base. The deal, reported by Forbes and confirmed by PCMag and the New York Times, positions SpaceX to deepen its AI capabilities through its subsidiary xAI ahead of a potential public offering. Cursor, founded in 2022 by four MIT students, has grown rapidly, reaching over one million daily users and achieving more than $1 billion in annualized recurring revenue with year-over-year growth exceeding 9,900%, as stated in the Forbes report. Cursor's technology is used by engineers at 67% of Fortune 500 companies, according to the same source. The startup previously raised funding that valued it at $400 million in mid-2024, $2.5 billion by January 2025, and $29.3 billion in a November 2025 Series D round. As part of the agreement, Cursor will gain access to xAI's Colossus supercomputer to train its AI models, reducing its reliance on external providers like OpenAI and Anthropic. PCMag reported that SpaceX stated the combination would allow the companies to "build the world's most useful models" by pairing Cursor's product distribution with Colossus's computing power. The deal also includes a fallback obligation: if SpaceX does not exercise its option to acquire Cursor, it will owe the company $10 billion for the collaborative work completed. This structure was described in both the PCMag and LinkedIn reports citing the agreement's terms. Cursor president Oskar Schulz said in a statement reported by LinkedIn that the partnership would help scale their model efforts, noting the strategic alignment between Cursor's engineering focus and SpaceX's AI ambitions through xAI. The timing of the deal comes weeks before SpaceX's anticipated IPO, which PCMag noted could value the company as high as $1.75 trillion. The move follows SpaceX's absorption of xAI in February 2026, which brought Grok developer xAI under its umbrella and integrated Elon Musk's AI ventures ahead of the public offering process. Analysts and observers have interpreted the deal as more than a simple acquisition play, emphasizing its three-part nature: a bet on Cursor's distribution among elite developers, access to the Colossus supercomputer for training, and the human expertise behind Cursor's code. The Forbes characterization highlighted that the real value lies not just in compute infrastructure but in the combination of user adoption, technical talent, and scalable AI model development.
SpaceX wins $57M Pentagon deal for military space comms
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., better known as SpaceX, has been awarded a $57.3 million contract by the U.S. Space Systems Command to develop and demonstrate a new space-to-space communications system built around the Link-182 waveform, a specialized communications protocol tied to the military's classified MILNET low Earth orbit satellite network. Work will be performed at SpaceX's headquarters in Hawthorne, California, and is expected to be completed by April 30, 2027. The contracting activity is Space Systems Command at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. The award is specifically scoped for the enhancement of U.S. warfighting capability through the acquisition, development, and demonstration of resilient space capabilities for proliferated low Earth orbit -- the densely populated band of orbital space roughly 100 to 1,200 miles above the Earth's surface where military and commercial satellite constellations increasingly operate. At the center of the contract is Link-182, a government communications waveform developed in connection with MILNET, a classified Space Force constellation of satellites reportedly manufactured by SpaceX and currently transitioning to operational control under Delta 8 at Schriever Space Force Base in Colorado. Unlike standard commercial communications links, Link-182 is designed to enable space-to-space communications -- meaning direct links between satellites themselves, rather than relying solely on ground-based relay infrastructure. That capability is considered critical for modern military space architecture, where latency and ground-station dependency can create vulnerabilities under combat conditions. The significance of this specific waveform became publicly visible in late 2025, when Space Systems Command issued a broad agency announcement seeking companies to build compact radio-frequency terminals compatible with Link-182 for use aboard mock space-based interceptors in support of Golden Dome -- the Trump administration's initiative to construct an orbital missile defense shield. That solicitation explicitly stated that the government considered Link-182 operating in the L- and S-band spectrum the preferred approach for low size, weight, and power communications terminals aboard interceptor satellites. Those frequency bands are favored by the military for their resilience in contested environments, including under jamming, severe weather, or during close-proximity satellite maneuvers. The newly awarded contract takes that work a step further. Rather than tasking a third party with building compatible radios, this contract places SpaceX directly in charge of developing and demonstrating the Link-182 system itself as a resilient space-to-space communications capability for proliferated LEO. The firm-fixed-price contract structure means SpaceX bears the financial risk of delivery -- the government pays a set amount regardless of what the program ultimately costs the company, a structure that incentivizes on-time, on-budget performance. SpaceX's role in U.S. military space infrastructure has expanded substantially in recent years. The company currently operates the MILNET constellation on behalf of the government -- a network of 480-plus satellites that will be overseen by a Space Force mission director communicating with contracted SpaceX operators. Beyond MILNET, SpaceX holds a portfolio of Space Force contracts including national security launch services under the National Security Space Launch program, Starshield satellite communications services under a proliferated LEO contracting vehicle, and a classified contract with the National Reconnaissance Office. The company's Hawthorne-based operations have become a central node in the Pentagon's commercial space strategy. The completion deadline of April 2027 reflects the urgency with which the Space Force is pursuing these capabilities. Golden Dome, directed by executive order, has placed significant pressure on military acquisition timelines to demonstrate orbital missile defense components well ahead of traditional procurement schedules. The six-offer competition, while not public in terms of competing firms, indicates a reasonably active industry pool pursuing this niche but strategically consequential segment of military satellite communications development.
