Signal

Good evening. The Middle East ceasefire that briefly calmed global markets is already showing serious cracks, with Iran halting oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz after Israel launched massive strikes on central Beirut. Iran's military is now threatening to withdraw from the agreement entirely and has started demanding cryptocurrency payments for ships that do manage to pass through the critical shipping route. While this pause in the broader conflict provided temporary relief, analysts are warning that the economic damage is already baked in, and it could take months for fuel and food prices to return to normal levels. In the tech world, Meta is making another big play in the AI race with their new model called Muse Spark, positioning it as a step toward "personal superintelligence." Meanwhile, several countries including Greece are moving to block social media access for children under 15, joining Australia and Spain in what's becoming a global trend. The timing is interesting given growing concerns about AI's impact on young people, though the enforcement mechanisms remain unclear across different jurisdictions.