Good evening. A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US is already showing cracks just hours after taking effect, with Iran threatening to withdraw from the deal following Israeli strikes across Lebanon that killed at least 182 people. Iran has responded by halting oil tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz and demanding cryptocurrency payments from ships seeking transit, adding a volatile economic dimension to the standoff. JD Vance is heading to Islamabad to lead US diplomatic efforts, but negotiators face a massive challenge bridging the gap between competing 15-point American and 10-point Iranian peace proposals.
Meanwhile, the AI arms race is heating up with new concerns about Anthropic's latest model Mythos and its potential dangers, while the broader AI boom continues driving up costs across the tech sector - now even pushing SSD prices higher due to increased demand for AI-optimized hardware. Amazon has struck a deal to reduce its Postal Service package volume by 20 percent, and in an unusual move, ArcelorMittal is donating tens of millions in foreign steel for a new White House ballroom project.