News & Updates
The latest news and updates from companies in the WLTH portfolio.
IRCTC Responds After Tatkal Booking Chaos Leaves Users Frustrated
The promise of convenience is what made online train ticket booking a game-changer in India. Platforms like Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) turned long queues into a few clicks. But when the system fails at the most crucial moment, that convenience quickly turns into chaos, and that is exactly what happened during the recent Tatkal booking window. What should have been a routine process turned into a frustrating experience for thousands of users across the country. Tatkal booking is not just another feature -- it is a lifeline for people who need urgent travel. The window opens, and within seconds, lakhs of users rush in to secure limited seats. This high-pressure environment demands speed, stability, and precision. Instead, users reported the exact opposite. Many faced app crashes, endless loading screens, and sudden errors just as they were about to complete their bookings. Payments failed midway, and in some cases, money got deducted without ticket confirmation. That is not just a technical glitch. That is a breakdown of trust. The core issue is not new. Every time the Tatkal window opens, the system faces an enormous surge in traffic. Millions of users attempt to book tickets at the exact same time, putting immense pressure on the servers. When systems are not prepared for such load, they crash. And when they crash during payments, the consequences are worse. Users lose time, money, and most importantly, the chance to travel. Reports suggest that the glitches led to failed transactions, delayed responses, and bookings slipping into waitlist status within seconds. This is not just a one-off incident. It is a recurring problem. After widespread complaints and social media outrage, IRCTC responded to the situation. The platform acknowledged the issues and the disruption caused to users during the booking process. While the response is necessary, it also raises an important question -- why does it take chaos for action to happen? "This being a temporary issue, user may please try logging out and force closing the application, then restart it. Additionally, ensure to use the latest version of the app. Connection issues may arise due to various factors such as network, service, device connectivity, etc. We appreciate your cooperation and hope this resolves the issue," IRCTC wrote. Users do not expect perfection. But they do expect reliability, especially when money is involved. Among all the issues, payment failures hit the hardest. Imagine completing all steps, selecting your seat, entering details quickly -- and then the payment fails. Worse, the amount gets deducted, and the ticket is not booked. This is where frustration turns into anger. To address this, IRCTC has introduced features like "Resume/Retry Booking," allowing users to complete bookings without paying again if money has already been deducted. It is a step in the right direction. But it feels more like damage control than a permanent solution. The Tatkal system has always been competitive. Tickets disappear within seconds. But competition should not be confused with technical failure. A system designed for millions should be able to handle millions. The fact that users still face crashes, errors, and failed payments shows that the infrastructure needs serious upgrades. Server overload cannot remain a permanent excuse. Because for users, this is not about technology. It is about real-life plans -- emergencies, family visits, job commitments.
Scott Galloway Says the SpaceX IPO Has 'No Anchor.' Here's Why I Think He's Wrong.
This post may contain links from our sponsors and affiliates, and Flywheel Publishing may receive compensation for actions taken through them. Scott Galloway has made a pointed case against the SpaceX IPO. His core argument deserves a fair hearing before I explain why I think he lands wrong. Galloway's Case, Fairly Stated SpaceX's valuation has run from roughly $350 billion in May 2025, to $800 billion in December 2025, to $1.25 trillion in February 2026, now targeting roughly $1.8 trillion at IPO. That's roughly a 5x move in under a year. Drawing on NYU Stern's Aswath Damodaran, Galloway argues that "investors have already decided they want SpaceX and are now working backwards to justify the price." Wall Street bankers have cycled through Boeing, AT&T, Palantir, GE Vernova, and Vertiv as peer candidates without landing on a clean comp. Galloway's conclusion: "When bankers can't find a peer, it usually means the valuation has no anchor, and this one doesn't appear to have an anchor." He flags the 30% retail allocation as a signal of institutional skepticism, points to Saudi Aramco as a cautionary tale, and notes the empirical pattern of IPO underperformance over one to three years post-listing. These are real concerns. Valuation discipline matters. Founder worship is not an investment thesis. Where I Think He's Wrong I've been studying category-defining businesses for over a decade, and the "no peer" problem Galloway identifies is actually the strongest argument for SpaceX's uniqueness, not against its valuation. Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL | GOOGL Price Prediction) had no clean search peer at its IPO. Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN) had no peer for its e-commerce-plus-cloud combination. Today, Alphabet carries a market cap of roughly $4.1 trillion and Amazon sits at roughly $2.7 trillion. Comp-table resistance turned out to be a feature of their structural uniqueness, not evidence of unanchored pricing. SpaceX is three businesses stacked into one: dominant reusable heavy-lift launch, an operational global broadband constellation with paying subscribers in Starlink, and national security work through Starshield and DoD contracts. No single public company does all three. That's why bankers cycled through comps. The sum of the parts doesn't fit neatly into any existing column. The valuation jumps tracked real operational milestones, not just sentiment. Starship development progress, Starlink reaching profitability inflection, and expanding government contracts drove each markup window. That's different from pure narrative inflation. On the Aramco comparison: Aramco was a slow-growth, politically controlled oil producer with limited optionality. SpaceX is a growth compounder with genuine platform optionality across launch, broadband, and national security. The businesses share a record-IPO headline and nothing else structurally. Prediction markets currently put a 74.5% probability on IPO by June 30, 2026, with the consensus valuation range landing between $1.5 trillion and $2.5 trillion. That's not irrational exuberance. That's a market pricing a genuinely unique infrastructure business. Galloway's warning about discipline is worth hearing. His conclusion about SpaceX is too pessimistic. At $1.8 trillion, SpaceX is expensive. The question is whether SpaceX can grow into that price, and I think the answer is yes, with the absence of a clean comp being exactly why.
VettaFi Accelerates Into the New Space Age: Pioneering "Day-One" Index Inclusion for SpaceX and Industry Titans
With this update, VettaFi establishes itself as one of the first index providers to target immediate, day-one exposure to mega-cap IPOs, setting a new standard for agility in thematic indexing. As the commercial space industry transitions from experimental ventures to a trillion-dollar global industry, the VettaFi Space Index is evolving to ensure investors have exposure to the most influential players driving us deeper into the final frontier. Capturing Industry Leadership: The SpaceX Integration The most significant update to the index methodology is the expansion of the index's "Fast-Track Inclusion" rule. This allows the index to bypass traditional waiting periods for private companies that have recently transitioned to public markets, ensuring the index includes the most cutting-edge companies in the industry. "The space industry is no longer just about 'what if'-it is about 'what is happening now,'" said Jane Edmondson, Head of Index Product Strategy at VettaFi. "By fast-tracking the inclusion of dominant forces like SpaceX, we are ensuring that the VettaFi Space Index accurately reflects the leaders of the orbital economy, providing a more precise benchmark for the next generation of space innovation." Key Highlights of the Methodology Update: * Mega-Cap Accessibility: Accelerated entry for high-valuation leaders with increased index weight potential for mega-cap companies in launch services, satellite communications, and deep-space exploration. * Pure-Play Focus: Refined filters to ensure constituents derive significant revenue or strategic value from space-based activities. * Dynamic Rebalancing: Increased agility in responding to the fast-paced M&A and IPO activity within the space ecosystem. A New Era for the SPACE Index The rebranding marks the full integration of the index into VettaFi's robust suite of thematic benchmarks. While the ticker SPACE remains unchanged, the index will now benefit from VettaFi's enhanced data capabilities and a more aggressive approach to capturing market leadership. The VettaFi Space Index continues to serve as the underlying benchmark for the Procure Space ETF (NASDAQ: UFO), now refined to proactively meet the scale of the next generation of interstellar innovation. About VettaFi VettaFi is a differentiated index provider, helping asset managers across the globe build and grow their product suites. With an industry-leading index platform, it partners with issuers to develop innovative investment solutions and bring them to market. Beyond that, its modern distribution solutions help clients scale products and achieve success. For more information, please visit: www.VettaFi.com VettaFi LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of TMX Group Limited (TMX Group). For more information about TMX Group, please visit: www.tmx.com Source: VettaFi To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/293200
Column-Amid Middle East Chaos, China Changes Tactics on Taiwan and Japan
April 17 (Reuters) - As U.S. Vice President JD Vance returned to Washington last weekend after unsuccessful peace talks in Pakistan over the crisis in the Gulf, China's Foreign Ministry was preparing for a bumper slate of visitors including Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and the leaders of Spain, Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates. With the U.S. this week declaring its own military "blockade" of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran continuing to demand cryptocurrency payments to guarantee vessels' safe passage, Beijing is stepping up diplomatic efforts to present itself as a wider global power broker. That includes presenting itself as a global voice of sanity and stability against a "regression to the law of the jungle", as Xi put it on Tuesday as he met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. But it also includes tough military and diplomatic messaging in Beijing's immediate environment, where it has further escalated growing tensions with Japan, moving vessels to prevent the Philippines from reaching a long-disputed shoal, and an assertive and very public outreach to Taiwan's opposition Kuomintang party ahead of 2028 elections. In the process, Beijing has subtly but swiftly redefined its primary Taiwan narrative and, perhaps even more importantly, its timescale for potential future action. Whereas U.S. officials have warned for years that Beijing has been building up its military with the explicit goal of being ready to invade by 2027, China's new narrative has refocused attention on Taiwan's election the next year, pushing harder than ever the concept that a Kuomintang victory would avert conflict and offer much closer relations. If the incumbent Democratic Progressive Party wins again, Beijing is now setting the tone for further confrontation - on one hand, pushing any future U.S. administrations to abandon the island to its fate; on the other, tearing up relations with Japan over its comments on the future of Taiwan. The reasons are not difficult to see. Official Chinese statements have blamed new Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi, particularly for comments in November that a Chinese takeover of Taiwan might constitute a "survival-threatening" situation for Japan. Chinese officials and news outlets are also expressing concern that Tokyo might look to acquire nuclear weapons - something that might make it almost impossible for China to risk an attack against Taiwan or indeed Japan itself. Takaichi's government says it remains committed to Japan's non-nuclear status. But it is keen to strengthen international relationships wherever possible, inviting more than 30 ambassadors from NATO and other nations to Tokyo from Wednesday to step up cooperation in defence and a host of other areas. On almost every other front, however, Beijing is making diplomatic inroads. In a heavily promoted meeting in Beijing last week, new Kuomintang leader Cheng Li-wun pledged to invite Xi to Taiwan if she wins the 2028 election. Meanwhile, the DPP government is working on its own defences, nervously eyeing a repeatedly postponed Trump-Xi summit for signs that the Chinese leader might press the U.S. to dial down its support for Taiwan, perhaps in return for help in calming the Gulf. BEIJING SEEKS 'CAREFUL LISTENERS' Exactly what Beijing is up to when it comes to Iran remains vague; Chinese officials and media outlets have so far angrily denied CNN reports that Beijing has given Tehran weapons in the current crisis. Other analysts note that, as when supporting Russia in Ukraine, China prefers to deliver "dual use" civilian components that can be used in arms manufacture rather than delivering whole weapons or systems. U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to impose new tariffs on Beijing if arms shipments are proven, a move that would further damage already dwindling global growth. The prospect of letting the rest of the world blame the U.S. for the current global mayhem, meanwhile, is something China is grabbing with both hands. U.S. behaviour, not only in the Middle East but also over Greenland, has made much of Europe reappraise its relationship with Washington. European Union foreign policy supremo Kaja Kallas described U.S. actions in the Middle East as second only to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in its damage to the international system. Whether that prompts European and other nations to embrace Beijing, however, is an open question. Britain criticised Russia and China together for vetoing a U.N. Security Council resolution from Bahrain condemning Iran's obstruction of ships in Hormuz and demanding the strait be reopened. Trump's decision to impose his own blockade this week, however - with its implication that U.S. warships will intervene to stop Chinese and other vessels carrying Iranian and other energy - seems to have played into Beijing's hands, just as his import tariffs did, by allowing China to grab the agenda as a supporter of free trade. Some Chinese pundits now enthusiastically predict more of this to come: the Trump administration grabbing the headlines while, behind the scenes, a whole new architecture of international relations takes shape in which nations work around the U.S. to try to secure their vital interests. It is an environment in which many incidents and confrontations of considerable importance go almost unreported, from Pakistan's military clashes with Afghanistan to suspected Iranian drone strikes on energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan, a nation that has become increasingly critical to European energy supplies in recent years. "China is increasingly seen by many as a major country that has consistently emphasised peace, development, sovereignty and dialogue," Chinese international relations academic Mabel Miao Lu wrote in the Communist Party-run Global Times this week, after returning from the Baku Global Forum in Azerbaijan. "That does not mean all concerns about China have disappeared. It does mean that more people are listening carefully when China speaks." LESSONS TO LEARN FOR CHINA AND OTHERS The lesson Beijing would most like the rest of the world to learn might be that when or if China's military moves to take control of Taiwan - either because it has been invited in by the Kuomintang or because Xi's patience has finally run out - the rest of the world should not get involved, whatever Japan or the U.S. might do. At the same time, many countries will have concluded that action such as that taken by the U.S. in Iran, or Russia in Ukraine, triggers massive and immediate global dislocation - and, although the energy shock of conflict in the Gulf has been profound, the supply shocks of a major war in the Pacific could be far worse. While the U.S. may not have gained what it wanted from Operation Epic Fury, as with strikes on Tehran's nuclear programme last June, the Pentagon has delivered a lesson to other potential foes that the U.S. military retains a level of expertise in complex operations that Beijing has never trialled in anger. Xi's confidence in his own military may only be mixed, at best, judging by the number of senior military commanders removed in recent months and years - although China's sheer manufacturing capacity may still keep Pentagon planners up at night, their worries compounded by recent high usage of limited precision weapons stocks. Beijing's other major problem is that, so far at least, Taiwan's always complex politics may not move in the direction that it wishes. It is far from clear whether KMT leader Cheng's embrace of Beijing will win over voters - and even if it does, her language of rapprochement still stops well short of calling for annexation by China. Nor is it clear that Beijing will do better in its efforts to isolate the new government in Tokyo, where for now it looks to be making little if any progress. European and Pacific nations' worries about future U.S. policy have, if anything, made many of them more enthusiastic than before about working with Japan or South Korea. Beijing has also yet to find its own way through the Gulf situation. Chinese-owned and -flagged oil tankers have periodically made it through Hormuz - but at nowhere near the pre-crisis rate. And the global supply chains on which China also depends are already looking rocky. Beijing may yet have to reach some kind of deal with Washington as it struggles to extricate itself from another Middle East war - perhaps even through the so-far deadlocked U.N. system - to pressure Iran to let more ships through. The Middle East crisis has without doubt created opportunities for China, but also delivered warnings for an ambitious coming superpower. (Writing by Peter Apps; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Explainer-What do we know about Anthropic's Mythos amid rising concerns? By Reuters
April 20 (Reuters) - Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date, equipped with sophisticated capabilities and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks. Mythos' vast capabilities have sparked fears about the threat to traditional software security after the AI startup said the preview had uncovered "thousands" of major vulnerabilities in "every major operating system and web browser." HOW WAS THE MODEL LAUNCHED AND WHO HAD ACCESS TO IT? Anthropic has rolled out Claude Mythos Preview through a controlled initiative called "Project Glasswing", granting access to tech majors including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple. The company also extended access to a group of more than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AROUND MYTHOS? Experts warned that the model can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities faster than companies can repair them. Its advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could dramatically accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly in sectors such as banking that rely on complex, interconnected and often decades-old technology systems, they have said. While debuting Mythos, Anthropic said the model's ability to find software flaws at scale could, if misused, pose serious risks to economies, public safety and national security. U.S. software stocks tumbled on April 9 after the Mythos launch on April 7 reignited fears that advances in AI could disrupt traditional firms. WHAT HAS THE WHITE HOUSE AND REGULATORS SAID ABOUT MYTHOS? The White House has held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about Mythos, with officials saying they talked about collaboration, cybersecurity and balancing AI innovation with safety. The talks were held despite the Pentagon slapping a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic. The U.S. government is planning to make a version of Mythos available to major federal agencies, Bloomberg News has reported. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a meeting with CEOs of major U.S. banks to brief them on the potential risks from the model. The model also raised alarm bells in Britain, with authorities holding talks with major banks and cybersecurity officials to assess possible risks. Banks are in close contact with their European regulators regarding Mythos, Christian Sewing, president of the German banking association and CEO of Deutsche Bank, said.
Explainer-What do we know about Anthropic's Mythos amid rising concerns?
April 20 (Reuters) - Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date, equipped with sophisticated capabilities and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks. Mythos' vast capabilities have sparked fears about the threat to traditional software security after the AI startup said the preview had uncovered "thousands" of major vulnerabilities in "every major operating system and web browser." HOW WAS THE MODEL LAUNCHED AND WHO HAD ACCESS TO IT? Anthropic has rolled out Claude Mythos Preview through a controlled initiative called "Project Glasswing", granting access to tech majors including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple. The company also extended access to a group of more than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AROUND MYTHOS? Experts warned that the model can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities faster than companies can repair them. Its advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could dramatically accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly in sectors such as banking that rely on complex, interconnected and often decades-old technology systems, they have said. While debuting Mythos, Anthropic said the model's ability to find software flaws at scale could, if misused, pose serious risks to economies, public safety and national security. U.S. software stocks tumbled on April 9 after the Mythos launch on April 7 reignited fears that advances in AI could disrupt traditional firms. WHAT HAS THE WHITE HOUSE AND REGULATORS SAID ABOUT MYTHOS? The White House has held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about Mythos, with officials saying they talked about collaboration, cybersecurity and balancing AI innovation with safety. The talks were held despite the Pentagon slapping a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic. The U.S. government is planning to make a version of Mythos available to major federal agencies, Bloomberg News has reported. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a meeting with CEOs of major U.S. banks to brief them on the potential risks from the model. The model also raised alarm bells in Britain, with authorities holding talks with major banks and cybersecurity officials to assess possible risks. Banks are in close contact with their European regulators regarding Mythos, Christian Sewing, president of the German banking association and CEO of Deutsche Bank, said. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru)
Explainer-What do we know about Anthropic's Mythos amid rising concerns?
April 20 (Reuters) - Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date, equipped with sophisticated capabilities and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks. Mythos' vast capabilities have sparked fears about the threat to traditional software security after the AI startup said the preview had uncovered "thousands" of major vulnerabilities in "every major operating system and web browser." HOW WAS THE MODEL LAUNCHED AND WHO HAD ACCESS TO IT? Anthropic has rolled out Claude Mythos Preview through a controlled initiative called "Project Glasswing", granting access to tech majors including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple. The company also extended access to a group of more than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AROUND MYTHOS? Experts warned that the model can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities faster than companies can repair them. Its advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could dramatically accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly in sectors such as banking that rely on complex, interconnected and often decades-old technology systems, they have said. While debuting Mythos, Anthropic said the model's ability to find software flaws at scale could, if misused, pose serious risks to economies, public safety and national security. U.S. software stocks tumbled on April 9 after the Mythos launch on April 7 reignited fears that advances in AI could disrupt traditional firms. WHAT HAS THE WHITE HOUSE AND REGULATORS SAID ABOUT MYTHOS? The White House has held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about Mythos, with officials saying they talked about collaboration, cybersecurity and balancing AI innovation with safety. The talks were held despite the Pentagon slapping a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic. The U.S. government is planning to make a version of Mythos available to major federal agencies, Bloomberg News has reported. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a meeting with CEOs of major U.S. banks to brief them on the potential risks from the model. The model also raised alarm bells in Britain, with authorities holding talks with major banks and cybersecurity officials to assess possible risks. Banks are in close contact with their European regulators regarding Mythos, Christian Sewing, president of the German banking association and CEO of Deutsche Bank, said. (Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese in Bengaluru)
What do we know about Anthropic's Mythos amid rising concerns?
Anthropic unveiled Mythos, a powerful AI for cybersecurity. This advanced model can find thousands of software flaws. Concerns are rising that it could speed up cyberattacks. Governments and banks are discussing potential risks. The US plans to make a version available to federal agencies. Authorities in Britain and Europe are also assessing the impact. Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date, equipped with sophisticated capabilities and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks. Mythos' vast capabilities have sparked fears about the threat to traditional software security after the AI startup said the preview had uncovered "thousands" of major vulnerabilities in "every major operating system and web browser." How was the model launched and who had access to it? Anthropic has rolled out Claude Mythos Preview through a controlled initiative called "Project Glasswing", granting access to tech majors including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple. The company also extended access to a group of more than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. What are the concerns around Mythos? Experts warned that the model can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities faster than companies can repair them. Its advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could dramatically accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly in sectors such as banking that rely on complex, interconnected and often decades-old technology systems, they have said. While debuting Mythos, Anthropic said the model's ability to find software flaws at scale could, if misused, pose serious risks to economies, public safety and national security. U.S. software stocks tumbled on April 9 after the Mythos launch on April 7 reignited fears that advances in AI could disrupt traditional firms. What has the White House and regulators said about Mythos? The White House has held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about Mythos, with officials saying they talked about collaboration, cybersecurity and balancing AI innovation with safety. The talks were held despite the Pentagon slapping a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic. The U.S. government is planning to make a version of Mythos available to major federal agencies, Bloomberg News has reported. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a meeting with CEOs of major U.S. banks to brief them on the potential risks from the model. The model also raised alarm bells in Britain, with authorities holding talks with major banks and cybersecurity officials to assess possible risks. Banks are in close contact with their European regulators regarding Mythos, Christian Sewing, president of the German banking association and CEO of Deutsche Bank, said.
Anthropic launches Claude Design to create visual content from simple prompts The Mainstream
Expanding its presence in the design space, Anthropic has introduced a new AI-powered tool aimed at generating visual content with ease. The product, called Claude Design, can create website mockups, design prototypes, slides, one-pagers, and more using a single natural-language prompt. Announced on Friday, the tool marks Anthropic's entry into the design platform segment, placing it in competition with tools like Figma. The company has been gradually adding visual capabilities to its ecosystem. Its Claude Code already supported frontend generation for websites and apps, and recently added interactive charts and visualisations. With Claude Design, Anthropic now offers a dedicated tool focused on design tasks. It can handle frontends, presentations, pitch decks, and design mockups. The feature is currently available in research preview for Claude Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise users, with no confirmation yet for free-tier access. The tool is powered by Claude Opus 4.7 and can generate an initial design draft from a single prompt. Users can then refine the output through additional prompts, inline comments, direct edits, or custom sliders. The platform also supports collaboration, allowing multiple users within an organisation to view and edit designs. According to the company, Claude Design can generate interactive prototypes from static mockups, create product wireframes, explore different design styles, and produce branded presentations, marketing material, and social media assets. Users can start with text prompts, upload images or documents, or even build designs based on their existing codebase. The final output can be shared via an internal URL, saved as a folder, or exported in formats such as Canva, PDF, PPTX, or standalone HTML files. Projects can also be handed over to Claude Code, which can generate backend code using the design context with a single instruction. Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat Do Follow: The Mainstream LinkedIn | The Mainstream Facebook | The Mainstream Youtube | The Mainstream Twitter About us: The Mainstream is a premier platform delivering the latest updates and informed perspectives across the technology business and cyber landscape. Built on research-driven, thought leadership and original intellectual property, The Mainstream also curates summits & conferences that convene decision makers to explore how technology reshapes industries and leadership. With a growing presence in India and globally across the Middle East, Africa, ASEAN, the USA, the UK and Australia, The Mainstream carries a vision to bring the latest happenings and insights to 8.2 billion people and to place technology at the centre of conversation for leaders navigating the future.
Tesla Q1 Earnings Preview: Robotaxi Delays and SpaceX Merger Speculation Grow - EconoTimes
Tesla's upcoming first-quarter earnings report, expected Wednesday, may do little to ease investor concerns about the company's long-promised robotaxi strategy. According to analysts at Jefferies, the widening gap between Tesla's ambitious vision and its current execution could intensify speculation about a potential merger with SpaceX. Jefferies analysts, led by Philippe Houchois, noted that unless Tesla delivers a strong and credible update on its robotaxi rollout, doubts around funding and long-term strategy could increase. This uncertainty may revive discussions about whether combining Tesla with SpaceX could create strategic advantages. The firm maintained a Hold rating on Tesla stock while raising its price target from $300 to $350. For the first quarter, Jefferies forecasts Tesla revenue at $21.2 billion, reflecting a 10% year-over-year increase but a decline from the previous quarter. Operating margins are expected to fall below 3%, alongside an estimated cash burn of $1.9 billion. Looking ahead, the outlook remains challenging, with projections of negative free cash flow reaching approximately $5.5 billion by 2026 as capital expenditures rise sharply to around $19-20 billion annually. Tesla's robotaxi ambitions remain a key focus for investors. The company has suggested it could launch services in 25% to 50% of potential U.S. markets by year-end. However, analysts believe this timeline is overly optimistic due to regulatory hurdles and ongoing concerns about Tesla's lidar-free Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology. As a result, Jefferies does not expect meaningful robotaxi revenue until at least 2027. Similarly, Tesla's humanoid robot initiative faces long-term challenges, with increasing competition and uncertain commercialization timelines. Despite these hurdles, Tesla's vertically integrated model and ability to scale production remain competitive advantages. In terms of valuation, analysts emphasize that Tesla stock continues to be driven more by market sentiment and confidence in innovation than by traditional financial metrics, making its future performance highly dependent on execution and technological breakthroughs.
Special Report: No Petrol, No Diesel! Sundargarh In Chaos As War Impacts Fuel Supply
ଓଡ଼ିଶାରେ ପେଟ୍ରୋଲ୍-ଡିଜେଲ୍ ସଙ୍କଟ! ଗ୍ୟାସ୍ ପରେ ଏବେ ଚିନ୍ତା ବଢ଼ାଇଲା ତେଲ ସୁନ୍ଦରଗଡ଼ରେ ମଧ୍ୟପ୍ରାଚ୍ୟ ଯୁଦ୍ଧର ପ୍ରଭାବ The devastating impact of the Middle East conflict is now visible in Odisha's Sundargarh district. In a shocking turn of events, a severe shortage of petrol and diesel has left the city paralyzed. Out of the three major petrol pumps in Sundargarh town, two have completely shut down due to zero stock. The remaining pump is witnessing massive crowds and mile-long queues as panicked citizens rush to fuel their vehicles. With global crude oil prices soaring, the common man is facing the heat of rising costs and scarcity. From daily commuters to transport workers, everyone is living in uncertainty. Watch the full ground report from Sundargarh. #OdishaNews#PetrolCrisis#SundargarhNews#MiddleEastWarImpact#FuelShortage#BreakingNewsOdisha#PetrolPriceHike#OdishaAlert#GlobalCrisisLocalImpact#DieselShortage#OdishaEmergency#KanakNews#FuelPriceIndia#SundargarhDiaries#NewsAlert Kanak News is Odisha's leading 24x7 news and current affairs TV channel from Eastern Media Limited. Odisha's largest media house that also publishes daily 'Sambad'. Get latest updates on news, politics, sports, business, current affairs, entertainment, technology, health updates from Kanak News. Breaking News, Live news updates, Odia News Live, Live Odia News, odisha news, latest odisha news, odisha news today, odisha politics, odisha latest updates Join us on WhatsApp to get latest updates : https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9qLIDAYlUKjL5iF90c For the latest Odisha News Follow us: Website :- https://kanaknews.com/ Instagram :- https://www.instagram.com/kanaknewsofficial/ LinkedIn :- https://www.linkedin.com/company/kanak-news Facebook :- https://www.facebook.com/KanakNews App Kanak :- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kanak__news.app&hl=en Twitter :- https://twitter.com/kanak_news Telegram :- https://t.me/kanaknewsofficial WhatsApp :- https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9qLIDAYlUKjL5iF90c
NSA Confirms Use of Anthropic's Mythos Despite Pentagon Blacklist
The National Security Agency is reportedly deploying Anthropic's advanced AI model, Mythos Preview. Meanwhile, the Department of Defense has labeled the company a "supply chain risk," highlighting an internal contradiction. The conflict between Anthropic and the Pentagon dates back to early 2026. In July 2025, Anthropic had signed a $200 million contract with the Department of Defense with explicit contractual restrictions prohibiting the use of its Claude AI for mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons systems. The Pentagon-Anthropic Rift The arrangement worked smoothly until January 2026, when Defense Secretary Hegseth issued a memo requiring "any lawful use" language across all DoD AI contracts, effectively demanding Anthropic remove those safety guardrails. Anthropic refused. In response, the Pentagon designated the company a "Supply-Chain Risk to National Security" in late February 2026, directing all contractors and suppliers doing business with the U.S. military to immediately cease commercial activity with Anthropic. President Trump separately ordered all federal agencies to halt the use of Anthropic's technology, with a 6-month phase-out window for systems already integrated. Despite this sweeping ban, a new Axios report published April 19, 2026, revealed a striking contradiction. The NSA, which itself operates under the Department of Defense, has been actively using Mythos Preview, Anthropic's newest and most powerful AI model. According to two sources cited by Axios, Mythos Preview is being used "more widely" within the NSA, with usage extending across other parts of the department. Anthropic has tightly restricted access to Mythos, limiting availability to approximately 40 organizations due to concerns over its offensive cybersecurity capabilities. Of those, only 12 have been publicly acknowledged, and the NSA is reportedly among the unnamed organizations granted access. A central concern driving both the secrecy and controversy around Mythos is its advanced offensive cyber potential. Anthropic itself has acknowledged fears that the model could supercharge cyberattacks if misused, a key reason why access has been so tightly controlled. This makes the NSA's deployment particularly significant: the agency is the nation's premier signals intelligence and cybersecurity body, operating under U.S. Cyber Command. In the U.K., the NSA's counterparts reportedly access Mythos through the AI Security Institute, suggesting that allied intelligence communities are also quietly integrating the model. Legal Battle Continues Anthropic filed a lawsuit in March 2026 in San Francisco, characterizing the Pentagon's supply-chain designation as "unprecedented and unlawful" and alleging violations of free speech and due process rights. The case is ongoing, even as the military simultaneously argues in court that using Anthropic tools poses a national security threat while internally deploying those very tools. On April 17, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss the government's use of Mythos, security protocols, and a potential roadmap for broader adoption by other federal departments. The NSA's quiet use of Mythos while the Pentagon battles Anthropic in court signals that operational necessity is overriding official policy within the U.S. intelligence community. As AI capabilities advance, the gap between institutional bans and ground-level adoption is widening, raising serious questions about governance, oversight, and accountability in the deployment of advanced AI within national security agencies.
Explainer-What do we know about Anthropic's Mythos amid rising concerns?
April 20 : Anthropic earlier this month debuted Mythos, its most advanced AI model to date, equipped with sophisticated capabilities and designed for defensive cybersecurity tasks. Mythos' vast capabilities have sparked fears about the threat to traditional software security after the AI startup said the preview had uncovered "thousands" of major vulnerabilities in "every major operating system and web browser." HOW WAS THE MODEL LAUNCHED AND WHO HAD ACCESS TO IT? Anthropic has rolled out Claude Mythos Preview through a controlled initiative called "Project Glasswing", granting access to tech majors including Amazon, Microsoft, Nvidia and Apple. The company also extended access to a group of more than 40 additional organizations that build or maintain critical software infrastructure. WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS AROUND MYTHOS? Experts warned that the model can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities faster than companies can repair them. Its advanced coding and autonomous capabilities could dramatically accelerate sophisticated cyberattacks, particularly in sectors such as banking that rely on complex, interconnected and often decades-old technology systems, they have said. While debuting Mythos, Anthropic said the model's ability to find software flaws at scale could, if misused, pose serious risks to economies, public safety and national security. U.S. software stocks tumbled on April 9 after the Mythos launch on April 7 reignited fears that advances in AI could disrupt traditional firms. WHAT HAS THE WHITE HOUSE AND REGULATORS SAID ABOUT MYTHOS? The White House has held discussions with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei about Mythos, with officials saying they talked about collaboration, cybersecurity and balancing AI innovation with safety. The talks were held despite the Pentagon slapping a formal supply-chain risk designation on Anthropic. The U.S. government is planning to make a version of Mythos available to major federal agencies, Bloomberg News has reported. Reuters reported that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell held a meeting with CEOs of major U.S. banks to brief them on the potential risks from the model. The model also raised alarm bells in Britain, with authorities holding talks with major banks and cybersecurity officials to assess possible risks. Banks are in close contact with their European regulators regarding Mythos, Christian Sewing, president of the German banking association and CEO of Deutsche Bank, said.
TUI, easyJet, Jet2 and BA issue updates as new EU rule causes airport chaos
Major airlines, including TUI, easyJet and Jet2, have released updates and guidance for passengers following the introduction of the European Union's (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES), encouraging travellers to get to the airport as early as possible. British holidaymakers travelling overseas have encountered significant disruption since the full rollout of the European Union's (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES). Significant border control queues have been reported at both European and UK airports, alongside missed flights, as thousands of passengers navigate the new digital border system for the first time. The EES, which became fully operational on Friday, 10 April, requires all Brits travelling to the Schengen zone to "create a digital record" and register their biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph. This is necessary upon their initial arrival at an airport border within the Schengen zone, and following the first registration, the EES remains valid for three years. The government acknowledged that the EES "may take each passenger extra time to complete, so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border." However, passengers have reported exhausting delays of up to three hours and missed departures, prompting airlines to issue crucial guidance as travellers contend with the new digital border system, reports the Mirror. In a travel advisory regarding the EES, TUI informed passengers: "At some airports, you might still find longer queues, particularly at busy travel periods. We know this isn't the travel experience you want before, or after your holiday - and it's certainly not the one we want for you - so please know we're doing all we can to support. "To help your journey run as smoothly as possible, please allow a little extra time when passing through border control. Keep any essential medication in your hand luggage in case of delays, and when departing the EU, head straight to passport control after dropping your bags to avoid hold‐ups. Bringing some extra water for comfort is also a good idea." In an "important update" issued earlier this month, easyJet cautioned: "Airports across Europe may experience longer queues at passport control whilst the new European Entry /Exit System (EES) border checks are being completed. "This will mean you may need to have your biometrics taken, including your face and fingerprints scanned." The airline recommended passengers plan their journey to and through the terminal as they might "experience longer queues". Those needing to check in luggage should "go there as soon as it opens", before proceeding through "security as early as possible". The carrier also warned that there could be additional checks at passport control before the gate, urging passengers to proceed to the gate or boarding area "as soon as it's announced". easyJet also urged passengers to ensure they carry all necessary documentation for travel, though Brits do not need to make any preparations prior to reaching the border for the EES. The airline additionally cautioned that "longer queues" may be expected upon arrival. Regarding anticipated delays resulting from the EES and its potential impact on holidaymakers, Jet2 stated: "There may be longer wait times at Border Control at some EU Airports, especially at busy times. Once you start your EES registration, it should take around 1-2 minutes per person to complete. "There may be longer wait times than usual when you arrive in destination and before your flight back to the UK. Unfortunately, this is outside of our control. But remember, there's nothing you can prep before you travel." In response to a passenger reporting delays at Faro Airport, Jet2 advised via X: "We kindly recommend customers arrive to the airport as early as possible, to allow plenty of time to make it through." Concerning the return journey to the UK, Jet2 stated: You'll also need to pass through EES when leaving the EU in the same way you do on arrival. Depending on how busy the airport is, this may result in longer wait times at passport control before boarding your flight to the UK. After checking in for your flight, please head straight to security and passport control in order to arrive at your gate in plenty of time." On general information about the new digital system, British Airways explained on their website: "You should allow extra time to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, the first time you enter the EU. There is no cost for EES registration, and your digital record will last three years before you need to register again." In reply to a query posted on X concerning airport arrival times, a British Airways representative stated: "Hi there. We ask customers travelling on our European short-haul flights to be there two hours prior to departure. It would be three hours if you're travelling on a long-haul flight and one if you're travelling on a domestic flight within the UK." For further details regarding the new EES system, visit the government website.
UN climate chief: "Clean energy is the antidote to fossil fuel cost chaos"
The following is a transcript of a video address delivered by UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell at the start of Green Transformation (GX) Week on Monday 20 April 2026, in tandem with UN Climate Week 3 (CW3), which kicks off on Tuesday 21 April. Both events - focused on helping drive forward practical climate solutions - are being held in Yeosu, Republic of Korea. Green Transformation - or GX - Week could not be more timely. Conflict in the Middle East has unleashed a fossil fuel cost crisis in global energy markets, holding economies around the world in a chokehold. National sovereignty and security ripped away, replaced by vulnerability and instability, with households and businesses paying the price. War has - once again - revealed the soaring costs of fossil fuel dependency. Asia is particularly hard hit. Including the Republic of Korea - which imports so much of its fuel. Yet, amidst the chaos, President Lee is clear-eyed - saying that this crisis shows: "The major shift to renewable energy, is no longer a national and historical task that can be postponed." I couldn't agree with him more. Clean energy is the antidote to fossil fuel cost chaos, because it is cheaper, safer and faster-to-market. Wars don't disrupt the supply of sunlight for solar power, and wind power does not depend on vulnerable shipping straits. Renewables allow governments to regain control of their economies and their national security. So, it is common sense to accelerate the transition to clean energy... Taking care not to lock-in fossil fuels - particularly coal - when addressing immediate impacts of the crisis. And at the same time, building resilience to the climate disasters - mega-floods, powerful storms and extreme heat - which are hammering economies and driving inflation, ruining lives and breaking businesses all around the world. Strong climate action will be central to countries' competitiveness. The market for climate solutions will only grow. All the biggest Asian economies have signalled that clean energy is now central to their economic growth and security strategies. The current crisis will create massive opportunities for energy and construction firms to create clean infrastructure all across Asia. So, the global shift to clean energy can drive a multi-generational economic boom for the Republic of Korea, leveraging your high skilled workforce and prowess in technological innovation. The faster the Republic of Korea meets and exceeds its climate targets, and the more Korean businesses invest in cleantech, the bigger the boom will be. Promoting growth here in Korea. And building new markets all around the world... You can lead global efforts by aligning public finance with the energy transition... By contrast, countries that move too slowly on clean energy risk their economies becoming relics of a polluting past. Through its GX strategy, the Republic of Korea is seizing the vast benefits of climate action, harnessing decarbonisation for growth, jobs and competitiveness. I applaud its leadership. Together, we can turn climate commitments into projects on the ground - faster. GX Week supports these efforts. Likewise, UN Climate Week, happening in Yeosu this week - is about helping to drive forward real-world climate solutions. Happening in tandem with Korea's GX Week, this UN Climate Week will bring together negotiators and policy-makers with leaders, implementers, and innovators from business, governments, and civil society. UN climate weeks are just one way we are working to help translate COP decisions and pledges into concrete outcomes in communities, bringing our process closer to the real economy. It's part of a wider effort to help spread the vast benefits of climate action to far more people all around the world: stronger economies, more jobs, better health, and more affordable and more secure energy and food, among many others. This week and every week beyond, I urge you to seize the opportunities on offer. Do what you can to build clean and resilient societies, industries, and economies. Bank the immense dividends on offer from global decarbonisation and resilience-building. And build a path to prosperity and security for all. I thank you.
Polymarket Seeks $15B Valuation as It Raises Capital Ahead of U.S. Regulatory Outcome
Major investors are backing the company before regulatory clarity, pricing legal risk into the valuation. Polymarket is in talks to raise an additional $400 million, which would bring its current round to $1 billion and value the company at roughly $15 billion, according to The Information. Singapore Summit: Meet the largest APAC brokers you know (and those you still don't!). The new capital would be added on top of a $600 million investment already made by Intercontinental Exchange, the parent company of the New York Stock Exchange. ICE had previously announced plans to build a strategic stake of up to $2 billion in the platform. The fundraising comes as Polymarket prepares for two simultaneous fights. On the regulatory front, the company is working its way back into the U.S. market through a recently acquired CFTC-regulated entity, while state authorities push to classify its products as illegal gambling. On the competitive front, it is racing against Kalshi, which is also heavily funded and currently leads in U.S. market share, while Polymarket holds the stronger position in international and crypto-native markets. The capital is meant to cover the costs of prolonged legal proceedings, user acquisition, and the infrastructure buildout required to attract institutional participants in the U.S. ICE's willingness to anchor the round despite unresolved regulatory questions is a meaningful signal. Traditional finance institutions rarely move ahead of regulatory clarity on products this contested. The bet appears to be that the legal risks are manageable and that prediction markets represent a durable, large-scale asset class rather than a regulatory experiment. For the brokerage and fintech sector, the more relevant takeaway is structural: the leading platforms are not waiting for the regulatory environment to settle. They are raising capital now, pricing in the legal risk, and positioning for a market that may look very different in three to five years.
Anthropic MCP Hit by Critical Vulnerability Enabling Remote Code Execution - IT Security News
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VettaFi Accelerates Into the New Space Age: Pioneering 'Day-One' Index Inclusion for SpaceX and Industry Titans
If you are a Home delivery print subscriber, online access is included in your subscription. Activate your Online Access Now With this update, VettaFi establishes itself as one of the first index providers to target immediate, day-one exposure to mega-cap IPOs, setting a new standard for agility in thematic indexing. As the commercial space industry transitions from experimental ventures to a trillion-dollar global industry, the VettaFi Space Index is evolving to ensure investors have exposure to the most influential players driving us deeper into the final frontier. Capturing Industry Leadership: The SpaceX Integration The most significant update to the index methodology is the expansion of the index's "Fast-Track Inclusion" rule. This allows the index to bypass traditional waiting periods for private companies that have recently transitioned to public markets, ensuring the index includes the most cutting-edge companies in the industry. "The space industry is no longer just about 'what if'-it is about 'what is happening now,'" said Jane Edmondson, Head of Index Product Strategy at VettaFi. "By fast-tracking the inclusion of dominant forces like SpaceX, we are ensuring that the VettaFi Space Index accurately reflects the leaders of the orbital economy, providing a more precise benchmark for the next generation of space innovation."
Vercel breach leaves DeFi frontends dangling on a $2M ransom
Users have been advised to stop interacting with any DeFi application for a few days after Vercel, the creator of Next.js and cloud provider for a large number of crypto's user-facing platforms, admitted that attackers breached its internal systems. According to Vercel CEO Guillermo Rauch, the attack happened when one of its employees "got compromised via the breach of an AI platform customer called Context.ai that he was using." The attackers, who Rauch says were "significantly accelerated by AI," apparently escalated through the employee's Google Workspace account into Vercel's corporate environment. A BreachForums seller claiming to be extortion crew ShinyHunters is demanding a $2 million ransom via a listing that allegedly includes GitHub tokens. For DeFi, the incident is a nightmare. A user interacting with a poisoned Next.js package via a website can sign a transaction straight into an attacker's wallet. Vercel disclosed the incident in a Sunday security bulletin, saying that it had found "unauthorized access to certain internal Vercel systems" and had already engaged law enforcement. Following the disclosure, X user and Cork Protocol CTO "Pybast," who is also former CTO of DeFi cybersecurity company Nefture, warned users to stop interacting with "any DeFi application," adding that "a lot of DeFi is hosted on Vercel and crypto users are a prime target for such attack." Comically, he suggested eth.limo, which also had its own security incident on the same day, as a safer alternative. Next.js cleared 520 million downloads in 2025, according to Rauch. DeFi dashboards, crypto wallet connectors, and token launchpads use it. Members of the crypto community were concerned that the hacker could use Vercel credentials to push malicious code to dependencies pulled by thousands of downstream projects. Rauch has named Mandiant, Google's incident-response arm, as the firm assisting with incident response. Only a "limited subset of customers" was affected, Rauch claimed, and services remained operational. Read more: 'Decentralized' apps suffer after Ledger Connect Kit attack A screenshot of the ransom notice, published by BleepingComputer, advertises multiple employee accounts, internal deployments, API keys, and GitHub tokens. The vendor attached hundreds of employee records, a screenshot of Vercel's internal Linear instance, and what appears to be an internal enterprise dashboard. BleepingComputer couldn't verify their authenticity. Curiously, threat actors tied to the actual ShinyHunters extortion crew told BleepingComputer that they had nothing to do with this particular caper.
TUI, easyJet and Jet issue updates for passengers amid new EU rule travel chaos
Brits have faced travel chaos amid the new border control system(Image: Getty Images) Major airlines including TUI, easyJet and Jet2, have issued guidance and travel warnings following the launch of the European Union's (EU) new Entry/Exit System (EES), advising passengers to get to the airport as early as possible. British travellers heading overseas have been hit with significant disruption since the introduction of the EES. There have been reports of lengthy queues at both European and UK border controls, with thousands of holidaymakers passing through the new digital border system for the first time, resulting in numerous missed flights. The EES, which was fully rolled out on Friday, 10 April, requires all Brits travelling to the Schengen area to "create a digital record" and submit their biometric details, including fingerprints and a photograph. Registration is required upon their first arrival at the border in the Schengen area, and once completed, it remains valid for three years. The government acknowledged that the EES "may take each passenger extra time to complete, so be prepared to wait longer than usual at the border." Nevertheless, passengers have reported exhausting delays of up to three hours and missed departures, prompting airlines to issue urgent advice as travellers navigate the new digital border system, reports the Mirror. In a travel alert regarding the EES, TUI advised passengers: "At some airports, you might still find longer queues, particularly at busy travel periods. We know this isn't the travel experience you want before, or after your holiday - and it's certainly not the one we want for you - so please know we're doing all we can to support". "To help your journey run as smoothly as possible, please allow a little extra time when passing through border control. Keep any essential medication in your hand luggage in case of delays, and when departing the EU, head straight to passport control after dropping your bags to avoid hold‐ups. Bringing some extra water for comfort is also a good idea." In an "important update" issued earlier this month, easyJet cautioned: "Airports across Europe may experience longer queues at passport control whilst the new European Entry /Exit System (EES) border checks are being completed. "This will mean you may need to have your biometrics taken, including your face and fingerprints scanned." The airline urged passengers to factor in additional time when travelling to and through the airport, as they may "experience longer queues". Those needing to drop off luggage were told to "go there as soon as it opens", before proceeding through "security as early as possible". easyJet further warned that supplementary checks may take place at passport control prior to the gate, and that travellers should head to the gate or boarding area "as soon as it's announced". easyJet also urged passengers to ensure they have all the necessary documentation for their journey, though Brits are not required to take any action prior to reaching the border for the EES. The airline also cautioned that "longer queues" may be expected at arrival airports. Addressing anticipated disruption from the EES and its potential impact on holidaymakers, Jet2 stated: "There may be longer wait times at Border Control at some EU Airports, especially at busy times. Once you start your EES registration, it should take around 1-2 minutes per person to complete. "There may be longer wait times than usual when you arrive in destination and before your flight back to the UK. Unfortunately, this is outside of our control. But remember, there's nothing you can prep before you travel." In the meantime, responding to a passenger following hold-ups at Faro Airport, Jet2 advised on X: "We kindly recommend customers arrive to the airport as early as possible, to allow plenty of time to make it through." Regarding the return journey to the UK, Jet2 added: "You'll also need to pass through EES when leaving the EU in the same way you do on arrival. Depending on how busy the airport is, this may result in longer wait times at passport control before boarding your flight to the UK. After checking in for your flight, please head straight to security and passport control in order to arrive at your gate in plenty of time." Regarding general guidance on the new digital system, British Airways outlined on their website: "You should allow extra time to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, the first time you enter the EU. There is no cost for EES registration, and your digital record will last three years before you need to register again." In reply to a query posted on X regarding airport arrival times, a British Airways representative stated: "Hi there. We ask customers travelling on our European short-haul flights to be there two hours prior to departure. It would be three hours if you're travelling on a long-haul flight and one if you're travelling on a domestic flight within the UK." For further details on the new EES system, visit the government website.
