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After Tehran announced a two‑week ceasefire in the Iran war, financial markets breathed a noticeable sigh of relief. Oil prices tumbled by more than 10% on Wednesday, stock indices rallied, and optimism about the global economic outlook resurfaced. However, the reprieve is far from complete.For six weeks the world’s economy has been under pressure as Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that handles roughly one‑fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The closure sparked what analysts have called the worst energy crisis of the modern era, driving oil to historic highs.Any progress toward re‑opening Hormuz would ease fears of a supply crunch that could otherwise trigger a cascade of recession risks. Yet the situation remains volatile: Tehran and Washington continue to send mixed signals about the waterway’s status, and Israel’s ongoing strikes in Lebanon add further uncertainty.Consumers already feel the strain. Despite the recent price dip, Brent crude remains above $90 a barrel, a sharp contrast to the sub‑$73 levels recorded before the conflict began. While this is an improvement from the period when prices hovered above $100, it still represents a significant premium over pre‑war benchmarks.Most economists expect oil to stay above its pre‑war price throughout 2026. In its baseline forecast, consultancy Capital Economics projects Brent to settle around $80 per barrel by year‑end. Under that scenario, headline inflation in the United States and Europe would hover between 3% and 4% year‑on‑year, while GDP growth is likely to decelerate across major economies.The lingering uncertainty is amplified by the unpredictable stances of both Iran and the United States, as well as the broader geopolitical turbulence involving Israel. Prior to the conflict, few analysts believed Tehran would actually close Hormuz, a threat it has floated intermittently since the 1979 revolution.Given the strait’s pivotal role in the world economy, any prolonged disruption could add a costly premium to global business operations. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned in a recent report that wars since 1946 have left “economic scars” lasting more than a decade. The IMF cautioned that even after a ceasefire, persistent political and economic uncertainty can depress investment returns, fuel capital outflows, and constrain both investment and labor supply.In short, while the ceasefire has delivered a short‑term boost to markets, the underlying energy‑price pressures and geopolitical risks mean that the relief is far from absolute.

Anthropic, a San Francisco-based AI startup, has announced that its latest AI model, Claude Mythos, has proven highly effective in exposing software weaknesses. The model has identified thousands of vulnerabilities in commonly used applications, many of which have no patch or fix available.According to Mike Krieger of Anthropic Labs, the company has decided not to release Mythos to the public due to concerns about its potential misuse by hackers. Instead, Anthropic is collaborating with cybersecurity specialists and engineers in the open-source community to utilize the model as a defensive tool.The oldest vulnerability uncovered by Mythos dates back 27 years, and none were previously noticed by their creators. Anthropic has shared a version of Mythos with cybersecurity companies CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks, as well as with Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft, in a project dubbed “Glasswing”.“AI models have reached a level of coding capability where they can surpass all but the most skilled humans at finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities,” Anthropic said in a blog post. “The fallout – for economies, public safety, and national security – could be severe.”The project aims to protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats, with approximately 40 organizations involved in the design, maintenance, or operation of computer systems. Anthropic is providing about $100m worth of computing resources for the mission.

A union representing roughly 2,000 food‑service employees at Los Angeles Stadium has formally appealed to FIFA to ensure that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stays away from World Cup activities in the city. Unite Here Local 11, which covers cooks, servers and bartenders at the Inglewood venue, warned that a strike could become imminent if its concerns are ignored. The union highlighted that its members are still without a labor contract as the tournament approaches, and outlined three core demands for FIFA and stadium owner Kroenke Sports & Entertainment: A public pledge that ICE and Border Patrol will have no role in any World Cup‑related operations. Guarantees protecting union jobs, working conditions, and a ban on the use of artificial intelligence or automation that could displace workers. Support for a workforce‑housing fund, stricter short‑term‑rental rules, and tax measures aimed at financing affordable housing and protecting immigrant families. ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons has indicated that the agency would play a “key part” in the event, a prospect the union says threatens the safety of both workers and visitors in Los Angeles. “FIFA and its corporate sponsors will pocket billions from Los Angeles while refusing to even acknowledge the cooks, servers, and stand attendants who make this event possible,” said Kurt Petersen, co‑president of Local 11 in a statement. Local 11 also noted that it has repeatedly sought meetings with FIFA since the city was awarded hosting duties, but its requests have been ignored. The venue, known globally as SoFi Stadium, has been temporarily rebranded as Los Angeles Stadium for the World Cup due to sponsor conflicts. The stadium is slated to host eight matches, with the opening game – the United States versus Paraguay – scheduled for June 12. The union’s broader housing demands reflect rising living‑cost pressures in Inglewood and the surrounding Los Angeles area, underscoring the intersection of labor rights, immigration policy, and urban affordability ahead of the global tournament.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents are not armed while working in Canada, the agency said in a statement released as the 2026 FIFA World Cup draws near. The clarification comes amid public anxiety that U.S. officers might be deployed at tournament venues in Toronto and Vancouver.According to an ICE spokesperson quoted by CBC, the agency’s personnel collaborate with Canadian law‑enforcement partners on joint investigations into narcotics, weapons smuggling and human trafficking. However, they do not perform operational duties such as executing search warrants or making arrests on Canadian soil.ICE maintains five offices across Canada, including locations in the World Cup host cities of Toronto and Vancouver, which together will host 13 matches. Despite this presence, a spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree emphasized that ICE has no legal jurisdiction in Canada.Federal law grants U.S. immigration agents the power to arrest and detain individuals suspected of violating U.S. immigration statutes, but those powers do not extend beyond American borders. The distinction is crucial as Toronto’s city council recently passed a motion opposing any deployment of U.S. agents at World Cup venues.The clarification follows earlier protests, such as the February demonstration in Milan where hundreds rallied against ICE’s presence ahead of the Milano‑Cortina Winter Games. Those events underscore the sensitivity surrounding foreign law‑enforcement agencies operating in host nations of major sporting events.By confirming that its agents are unarmed and lack enforcement authority in Canada, ICE aims to allay concerns and preserve the collaborative spirit between the United States and Canada as they prepare for a tournament expected to draw millions of visitors.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has suspended medical evacuations from Gaza to Egypt after a contract worker was killed by Israeli fire. The incident occurred on Monday, and WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus expressed his devastation over the confirmation of the worker's death.The WHO did not elaborate on the incident but stated that it was under investigation by the relevant authorities. Two staff members who were present during the incident were not injured. The medical evacuation of patients from Gaza via Rafah to Egypt, which had been planned for Monday, was suspended, and further evacuations will remain suspended until further notice.The Rafah crossing, which is the only crossing in Gaza that does not link to Israel, was reopened in February after a long closure by the Israeli military. This crossing is crucial for the entry of humanitarian supplies and for those in need of medical aid to leave and seek treatment abroad. The WHO has been overseeing coordination between Egypt and Israel since the opening of the Rafah crossing to facilitate those evacuations.However, crossing numbers have been far below expectations due to intense checks during the process by the Israeli authorities. Israel has also continued to limit the entry of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory and shut the crossing in the early days of the United States-Israeli war on Iran. Israel has repeatedly violated the ceasefire that came into force on October 10 after two years of devastating war.Referring to the incident on Monday in which a driver of a WHO car was killed, Israel's mission in Geneva said troops identified an unmarked vehicle approaching them and posing an immediate threat and they fired warning shots in response. The vehicle continued to accelerate towards the troops, who then responded with additional fire, and a hit was identified. The incident is under review.

The Mythos Preview: A New Frontier in AI‑Powered Cyber DefenseOn Tuesday, April 7, 2026, Anthropic announced a limited rollout of Mythos, its latest frontier model, to a curated cohort of partner organizations. Branded as part of Project Glasswing, the initiative aims to harness Mythos for "defensive security work" and to harden critical software against emerging threats.Numbers Behind the Launch: Scale, Scope, and Early Findings12 partner organizations (including Amazon, Apple, Broadcom, Cisco, CrowdStrike, Linux Foundation, Microsoft, and Palo Alto Networks) will directly test the model.40 organizations in total will receive preview access.Mythos has already identified thousands of zero‑day vulnerabilities, many classified as critical and dating back one to two decades.Anthropic’s recent mishap exposed ~2,000 source‑code files and over 500,000 lines of code in its Claude Code 2.1.88 release.Strategic Implications: AI Meets Defensive CybersecurityThe deployment marks a significant pivot for AI labs: moving from general‑purpose assistants toward specialized, high‑stakes security tooling. By scanning both proprietary and open‑source codebases, Mythos could accelerate vulnerability remediation cycles that traditionally take months. The collaboration model—where partners share insights back to the broader tech ecosystem—promises a collective uplift in defensive capabilities.Regulatory and Market Outlook: Risks, Rewards, and the Road AheadAnthropic is already in "ongoing discussions" with U.S. federal officials, a dialogue complicated by an existing legal battle with the Pentagon over supply‑chain risk concerns. While the company emphasizes defensive use, the leaked internal memo warned that a weaponized version of Mythos could become a powerful tool for threat actors. This dual‑use tension is likely to attract heightened scrutiny from policymakers and may shape future AI‑security standards.Future Trajectory: From Limited Preview to Industry‑Wide AdoptionIf Mythos delivers on its early promise, Anthropic could expand access beyond the initial 40 organizations, positioning the model as a de‑facto security layer for software development pipelines. Success would also reinforce Anthropic’s claim of having the "most powerful" AI model to date, potentially spurring competitors to accelerate their own security‑focused AI research.

The metal music scene has witnessed a surge in popularity of masked bands, with many notable acts donning elaborate masks as part of their stage presence. This trend is not only visually striking but also allows the bands to create a sense of mystery and anonymity. For bands like Imperial Triumphant, Gaerea, Sleep Token, Ghost, and Gwar, their masks have become an integral part of their image and artistry.Imperial Triumphant, an avant-garde metal band from the US, chose to wear striking gold masks modeled after 1920s art deco architecture. These masks brought their own set of problems, including getting lost in transit. The band's singer/guitarist, Zachary Ezrin, notes that the masks add a layer of complexity to their music, allowing them to tap into different parts of their personalities.Gaerea, a Portuguese black metal band, has also adopted the trend of wearing masks. Lead singer Alpha notes that the mask allows him to get into a different mode in his psyche, similar to how athletes get into a trance-like state during intense physical activity. The band's masks are not just for show; they also help to create a sense of anonymity, allowing the band to focus on their music rather than their individual identities.The use of masks in metal music is not a new phenomenon. Bands like Gwar and Slipknot have been using masks for decades, and their influence can be seen in many modern metal bands. However, the current trend of masked bands goes beyond just shock value; it's about creating a sense of mystery and artistry.The masks also allow bands to create elaborate mythologies and universes that fans can engage with. For example, Ghost poses as a subversive, devil-worshipping church, while Sleep Token's songs are ostensibly about their devotion to a god called Sleep. These mythologies help to create a sense of depth and complexity, drawing fans into the band's world.Despite the challenges of performing in masks, many bands find that it allows them to access new parts of their personalities and create a more immersive experience for their fans. As Ezrin notes, "I love the presentation of Imperial Triumphant... Even in 2026, when there are a million masked bands out there, I'd say we're still unique."

A controversy has erupted in Toronto's affluent Rosedale neighbourhood over a proposed AI-powered surveillance system aimed at curbing the area's high property crime rates. The plan, championed by resident Craig Campbell, involves installing cameras that scan licence plates to identify suspicious vehicles.The system, developed by US-based company Flock, uses AI to learn which cars belong to residents and which are potentially suspicious. The technology has sparked concerns about privacy, bias, and surveillance. While some residents see it as a necessary measure to enhance safety, others are worried about the implications of such a system.Rosedale has experienced a significant rise in home invasions, with robbers targeting the neighbourhood at a rate more than double the city average. Crime rates in Toronto as a whole have been declining, but residents are seeking solutions to address their concerns. Campbell, who runs a security company and holds the Canadian licensing rights for Flock, proposed the plan as a way to create a 'virtual gated community.'The system would involve an initial group of 100 residents paying a C$200 monthly subscription to access the technology. The cameras collect licence plate data, which is retained for 30 days, and police can only access the data with legal authorization. While the system does not use facial recognition, concerns about AI bias and profiling have been raised.Flock claims its network of over 90,000 cameras has helped reduce crime by up to 70% in some communities. However, the company has faced scrutiny in the US for its collaboration with law enforcement and allegations of mass surveillance. In Canada, privacy laws are stricter, and regulators are likely to view the network as a data collection system subject to the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (Pipeda).The Toronto police have acknowledged residents' concerns about safety but have not commented on the legality of the proposed system. The city's privacy commissioner has emphasized the need for companies to inform individuals and obtain consent before collecting and using personal information.

Judith Rapoport, a leading child psychiatrist, passed away at 92, leaving a legacy defined by her groundbreaking work on obsessive‑compulsive disorder (OCD). Her 1989 book, The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing, translated into more than twenty languages, presented complex research in a clear, jargon‑free style that resonated with a broad audience. OCD is characterized by compulsive rituals—re‑tying shoelaces, repeatedly checking switches, or incessant hand‑washing—that can dominate a person’s daily life. Before Rapoport’s book, many sufferers concealed their symptoms out of shame, unaware that they were not alone. Rapoport’s research demonstrated that OCD has a neurological foundation and may affect up to 2% of the population, challenging prevailing beliefs that it stemmed from overly strict parenting. She proved that the disorder can be hereditary and responsive to medication. In a pivotal 1989 double‑blind trial, she showed that the antidepressant clomipramine significantly reduced OCD symptoms, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve its use for the condition—a landmark moment in psychiatric treatment. Patients and colleagues credit her work with reducing stigma. "Reading Rapoport’s book washed away my shame," recalled Charles Gentz, who lives with OCD, while Professor Gabrielle Shapiro of the Icahn School of Medicine noted that the book “reduced the stigma for these people.” Rapoport herself reflected, “If my work alleviated just part of their pain, then it was not wasted time.” Born in New York City to a schoolteacher mother and a businessman father, she grew up with a literary lineage—her grandfather translated Ibsen into Yiddish. She excelled academically, graduating magna cum laude from Swarthmore College in 1955** and earning her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1959, where she met her husband, Stanley Rapoport. After early positions at Mount Sinai and the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, she and her husband secured fellowships in Sweden, conducting research at Uppsala University and the Karolinska Institute on women seeking abortions abroad. Returning to the United States, Rapoport joined the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) in 1976. There she led the institute’s child psychiatry branch from 1984, steering American psychiatry away from Freudian models toward a **biology‑focused** approach. Beyond OCD, she made significant contributions to the understanding of attention‑deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and childhood schizophrenia. Her 1978 study revealed that amphetamine improved concentration in both hyperactive and control children, contradicting the notion that stimulants only calm hyperactivity. Using MRI, she showed that childhood schizophrenia is progressive, involving loss of brain matter—a finding that shifted the focus from parenting to neurobiology. Rapoport’s expertise reached mainstream audiences through appearances on shows hosted by Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, further amplifying her message. By the time she retired in 2017, she had authored over 300 scientific papers, several books, and earned prestigious honors, including fellowship in the Institute of Medicine (1991) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (2000). Colleague Gabrielle Shapiro described her as “a pioneer who turned child psychiatry into a modern, evidence‑based discipline.” Outside the laboratory, she enjoyed music, theatre, hiking, and gardening. She is survived by her husband, two sons, and four grandsons.