International News 21 April 2026
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Asian Regulators Monitor Potential Banking Risks from Mythos Developed by Anthropic
Several Asian banking regulators said they are closely monitoring developments and the potential implications of Anthropic’s advanced AI model, Mythos, which has raised concerns in the U.S. and Europe over its potential misuse to disrupt banking systems. Mythos’ extensive high-level coding capabilities give it unprecedented potential to identify cybersecurity vulnerabilities, prompting heightened global scrutiny. According to Reuters on Monday (April 20, 2026), a spokesperson from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) stated that the agency is closely tracking the use of Mythos alongside other regulators to assess its possible implications for Australia’s financial markets.
Global Gold Prices Pressured by Stronger U.S. Dollar
Global gold prices declined in Monday’s (April 20, 2026) trading session, pressured by a stronger U.S. dollar and rising inflation concerns following the renewed closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered a surge in oil prices. According to Reuters, spot gold fell 0.8% to US$4,790.59 per troy ounce as of 11:03 GMT, after earlier touching its lowest level since April 13. Meanwhile, U.S. gold futures for June delivery dropped 1.4% to US$4,811 per troy ounce.
Kevin Warsh, a Candidate for Fed Chair, Has a Range of Bold Ideas
Kevin Warsh, reportedly the preferred candidate of Donald Trump to succeed Jerome Powell, is expected to introduce significant changes to the direction of U.S. central bank policy. Ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing, Warsh has outlined several key ideas for reforming the Federal Reserve, including lowering interest rates, shrinking the central bank’s balance sheet, revising its approach to inflation, and strengthening coordination with the U.S. Treasury Department.