Focus

• OpenAI is finalizing an advanced cybersecurity product designed to defend critical systems, planning to release it first to a limited set of partners as reported by Axios. • The move represents a strategic shift for frontier AI firms to demonstrate their ability to support defensive security infrastructure amid growing concerns about offensive AI misuse. • AI companies face mounting pressure to prove their models can protect critical systems rather than enable attackers, reshaping how they frame commercial opportunities in the security sector.

Divisions between Washington and European capitals fuels concern over US commitment to peace dealAs a ceasefire was declared in the Middle East, Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to draw attention to the war in his own country, posting on social media that Ukraine had consistently pushed for a ceasefire in the war “being waged by Russia here, in Europe”.Efforts to end the war in Ukraine have largely stalled since the Iran war began, with trilateral talks between Kyiv, Moscow and Washington, which had already yielded little, frozen since February 2026. The war, meanwhile, has continued with air attacks on Ukrainian cities and heavy fighting on the battlefields as Russia launches a new spring offensive. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Taskforce led by former Treasury official Anthea Long will advise on cost-cutting options for $52bn programGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastLabor has quietly established a razor gang to drive budget savings in the national disability insurance scheme, as it works to further rein in costs ahead of next month’s federal budget.An NDIS Sustainability Taskforce was established within the health department earlier this year, with instructions from the federal government and national cabinet to advise on cost-cutting options for the $52bn program. Continue reading...

Federal government chases supply guarantees from countries including Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan amid Iran warGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAsian trading partners have reassured Australia that the “normal supply” of fuel will continue amid the Middle East conflict, as the government prepares to intensify efforts to avert shortages of petrol and diesel.The federal government has been chasing supply guarantees from countries including Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan as the Iran war and closure of the strait of Hormuz wreaks havoc on the global oil market. Continue reading...

The party, whose parliamentary leader is Jeremy Corbyn, will back 250 candidates, focusing on urban areasYour Party is to focus its local election efforts on a number of urban areas with large Muslim populations where Labour support has weakened, throwing its support behind supporting independent candidates and community groups.Party insiders have intentionally narrowed their focus to key targets including the London boroughs of Tower Hamlets, Newham and Redbridge, where locally rooted independent campaigns are already braced to challenge Labour. Continue reading...

• Latino-focused neobank DNERO is gearing up for its U.S. market launch, highlighted among March 2026's top five fintech product debuts. • The platform aims to serve underserved Latino communities with tailored digital banking services amid rising demand for inclusive finance. • DNERO's entry reflects surging investment in niche fintech startups targeting demographic-specific needs in the competitive U.S. landscape.

PM will also cite Iran war as reason to stick with Labour, as party adopts new slogan: ‘Pride in Britain’ Keir Starmer will say that a vote for Reform UK will put at risk progress Labour is making on the cost of living, arguing that Britain’s values are being tested in a volatile world.Launching the party’s local elections campaign with a new slogan: “Pride in Britain”, Starmer will urge voters to stay the course with Labour. A dire set of results are predicted for the party in Wales, Scotland and English councils, especially in the north-east of England and London. Continue reading...

• AI pioneer Geoffrey Hinton warns Big Tech prioritizes quick profits and narrow research goals like image recognition over long-term superintelligence implications. • Hinton advocates AI safety measures like video/image provenance to combat deepfakes, noting each AI risk requires distinct solutions amid cybersecurity concerns. • He proposes modeling superintelligent AI as protective 'mothers' to humans as 'babies,' urging regulation beyond current industry practices.

Move will put national security and lives overseas at risk, critics say, as overall UK aid budget is slashed to 0.3% of gross national incomeClimate aid to developing countries from the UK will be cut by about 14% to roughly £2bn a year under government plans, in a move critics said would put national security and lives overseas at risk.The move follows bitter rows with the Treasury, which wanted deeper cuts owing to pressure on spending resulting from the war in Iran. Continue reading...

Leader uses first major economic speech to prioritise public services and reduction of inequality over growthA government led by the Green party would not set targets for GDP growth but would instead focus on people’s mental health, social cohesion and community welfare, Zack Polanski has said in a major speech to set out his plans for the economy.In his first policy address since taking over as leader of the Greens in England and Wales six months ago, Polanski condemned what he called “rip-off Britain”, where a minority of asset owners benefited at the expense of people obliged to pay unaffordable sums for housing and other basics. Continue reading...

• Micron Technology (MU) is set to report earnings this week as investors monitor semiconductor sector performance amid broader concerns about AI-driven disruption and competitive dynamics in memory chip markets. • Morningstar research highlights which tech companies possess durable economic moats resistant to AI disruption, with analysis suggesting Microsoft maintains strong competitive advantages while others like Adobe and Salesforce face pressure. • The earnings season context reveals downward revisions to profit estimates across sectors, particularly for companies exposed to elevated energy costs and consumer spending weakness tied to oil price shocks.

• Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is unveiling new chips and software at the GTC conference to solidify the company's position as the industry shifts from training giant foundation models to inference workloads that power real-world applications. • The strategic pivot targets lower-cost, high-throughput AI deployments within enterprise workflows, autonomous systems, and product integrations rather than just headline-grabbing training clusters. • Nvidia's next moves will shape the cost, speed, and competitive structure of the global AI software and infrastructure market as the industry enters a new phase of AI economics.

• Advanced Machine Intelligence raised over $1 billion in a major funding round on March 16, 2026, targeting AI systems specialized in reasoning, planning, and world models. • Investors are shifting capital toward alternative AI architectures beyond traditional large language models, prioritizing deep tech with strategic advantages. • This deal highlights the growing emphasis on startups with access to computational power and proprietary data in the US venture market.

Verizon Communications emerged as a key stock to watch on March 13, 2026, following the major indexes' rally failure with Nasdaq down 0.9% below its 200-day line. Analysts highlight Verizon's defensive qualities amid S&P 500 and Dow approaching key support levels near their 200-day moving averages. The telecom giant could benefit from heightened volatility as investors seek stability post-oil surge. Next week's trading will test if telecoms lead any market recovery.

Verizon shares drew attention on March 13, 2026, as investors assessed positioning following a broader market rally failure amid index declines. The telecom giant held relative strength near key technical levels despite Nasdaq dropping below its 200-day line. Analysts highlight Verizon's defensive appeal with stable dividends in volatile conditions. Upcoming earnings could drive further movement if subscriber growth beats estimates.

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center has dramatically improved staff retention by reducing nursing turnover from 46% to approximately 4% through enhanced recruitment and community engagement strategies, as reported by CEO Rodney Reider on March 14, 2026. The health system hired 93 new providers and 40 additional nurses while adding nearly 160 beds to expand capacity and reduce emergency department wait times to 11–14 minutes on average. These infrastructure investments include new anesthesia machines, advanced imaging technology, and newly opened Cancer and Cardiovascular Centers, addressing critical workforce challenges that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic when many nurses pursued travel opportunities. The improvements demonstrate how hospitals can retain staff by reinforcing community connections and workplace belonging beyond physical facilities.