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• The Nikkei 225 closed nearly flat at 63,484.10 on Tuesday as gains in AI stocks balanced out concerns over high oil prices and upcoming Bank of Japan rate decisions. • Guangzhou Auto shares surged 16% in Hong Kong on Monday following the announcement of a joint asset deal with FAW Group. • Market volatility for semiconductor firms like SK Hynix and Samsung, which fell over 4% on Monday, indicates investor anxiety regarding a potential slowdown in AI growth.

• The Nikkei 225 closed nearly flat at 63,484.10 on Tuesday as gains in AI stocks balanced out higher oil prices and caution regarding the Bank of Japan. • Guangzhou Auto shares surged 16% in Hong Kong on Monday following a joint asset deal with FAW Group. • The Kospi index rose 0.10% Wednesday morning after a 0.9% drop on Tuesday caused by semiconductor stocks like Samsung and SK Hynix falling over 4%.

• AI is rapidly transforming cybersecurity by enhancing traditional attack methods like phishing and credential theft while introducing new threats such as deepfakes and voice cloning. • These technologies are being used to accelerate the discovery of unique software vulnerabilities, creating a cycle where AI-driven exploits target AI-created weaknesses. • Tech defenders are deploying their own AI-based security solutions to counter these threats, though they face significant challenges in scaling.

• The U.S. Supreme Court is facing an all-time low in public reputation due to its perceived role in political conflicts rather than ordinary legal cases. • Recent examples of this trend include the restriction of COVID-era mail ballots and a ruling by six Republican appointees to strike down a 20-year-old campaign finance law. • These developments matter because they suggest the Court is increasingly operating as a political entity, undermining its impartiality in high-stakes electoral disputes.

• Pro-democracy activist Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission by the UK government to remain in the country as a visitor. • The move follows Wu's release from a Hong Kong prison, where he had been incarcerated for more than five years. • This development allows Wu to reunite with his wife and son, providing a safe haven for the activist after his long imprisonment.

• The Seoul Central District Court sentenced former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol to 18 months in prison, suspended for three years, for violating election laws via false statements during his 2022 campaign. • In Central America, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega announced that the country will no longer hold elections, effectively removing the possibility of an electoral challenge to his power. • These developments signal significant legal and political shifts, with Yoon facing judicial accountability and Ortega further entrenching the authoritarian rule he shares with his wife.

• IBM reported an earnings miss, attributing the shortfall to a failure to adapt and move quickly enough in the evolving AI market. • The results indicate a shift in enterprise spending, where companies are cutting traditional software budgets to prioritize expensive AI hardware investments. • This financial pivot is forcing development teams to rely on open-source tools and build custom integrations rather than purchasing proprietary software.

• South Korea issued its first-ever emergency heatwave alert under a new warning system launched this year, advising citizens to avoid outdoor activities. • Data from the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) reveals a significant rise in extreme temperatures, with heatwave days increasing from eight in the 1970s to 19 over the last five years. • Tropical nights have also surged during the same period, jumping from an average of four to 14.

• Zhipu AI, the developer of GLM-5.2, maintained its stability on Monday while other AI-related stocks in Hong Kong and mainland China experienced a broad plunge. • The market downturn significantly impacted the sector, with rival AI firm MiniMax seeing its value slump by nearly 20 per cent. • The decline extended across the broader supply chain, affecting chip designers, materials suppliers, and semiconductor-equipment makers.

• Michelle Turner launched Here Now Health, a mental health platform for foster children, by leveraging AI tools to accelerate the transition from concept to operation. • The company demonstrates how non-AI businesses use the technology to lower entry costs and scale faster by automating tasks that were previously too expensive or time-consuming. • This trend highlights a shift where traditional service-based entrepreneurs use AI to increase efficiency and hiring capacity, contrasting with the broader narrative of AI-driven job losses.

• Michelle Turner utilized AI tools to rapidly launch and scale Here Now Health, a mental health platform dedicated to supporting foster children. • The company leveraged AI to handle tasks that were previously too costly or time-consuming, allowing a traditional service provider to operate more efficiently. • This case highlights a shift where entrepreneurs use AI to lower barriers to entry and accelerate growth without being "AI companies" themselves.

• Small business owners are leveraging AI tools to eliminate high costs and time-consuming barriers that previously hindered early-stage growth. • Entrepreneurial success stories highlight how AI allows traditional service companies to scale faster and hire more staff by optimizing operational efficiency. • This trend contrasts with broader public debates regarding AI's potential to disrupt the labor market and cause tech industry layoffs.

• The UN released a report on Tuesday warning that the gradual re-opening of the Strait of Hormuz will not provide an immediate economic recovery for developing nations. • While the re-opening offers vital relief for global trade, many poorer economies remain burdened by significantly increased costs for essential food and fuel. • This situation highlights a systemic vulnerability where developing countries struggle to absorb price shocks even after geopolitical tensions ease.

• Nitin Pai argues that India must urgently refocus its diplomatic efforts on strengthening ties with Iran due to the shifting geopolitical landscape in West Asia following the Gulf war. • The proposed strategy suggests that New Delhi should prioritize providing aid followed by increasing trade to foster a mutually beneficial relationship. • This reset is critical because the evolving security and political dynamics in the region require India to secure its strategic interests and regional influence.

• Bengaluru-based spacetech startup QOSMIC has raised $3.33 million in a seed funding round led by Accel and Prosus. • The round also saw participation from South Park Commons, ARTPARK, and angel investor Manish Jain. • Founded in 2025, QOSMIC develops laser-based optical communication systems to enable the transfer of massive data volumes between ground stations and satellites.

Thanks to rushed deadlines, financial pressure and overworked staff, titles are going to market before they’re ready – and then sliding from view immediatelyA Sydney author – I’ll call her Rebecca – vowed never to write another book after the deranging experience of publishing her first. She’s using a pseudonym because one day she might change her mind; the notoriously small Australian publishing industry does not tend to look with favour on authors who complain.When Rebecca was proofing her debut – a work of nonfiction published by one of the big five – she discovered that a pivotal chapter had been cut. “I thought it was a mistake, that it had somehow been left out of the papers they’d sent,” she says. “Turns out they’d deliberately excised it and thought I wouldn’t notice.” Continue reading...

After winning the Makerfield byelection, the returning Labour MP faces a number of scenarios in his bid to replace Keir Starmer• UK politics – live updates• Full report: Burnham wins by huge majorityAfter Andy Burnham’s seismic victory in Makerfield, his prospects of becoming prime minister in short order look significantly higher than they did 24 hours ago.But there are many variables in that process – from whether he faces a rival such as Wes Streeting in a leadership contest, to whether Keir Starmer is quickly ready to accept the likelihood of his political demise. Continue reading...

Short story collection All Around the World will be available for £1 in bid to widen access to quality fictionAn initiative that aims to widen access to Booker prize-winning authors is set to launch this week, as research finds that more than a third of UK adults find it hard to read books through to the end.The Booker Prize Foundation is launching a short story collection entitled All Around the World, including works by the Booker prize winners Anne Enright, David Szalay and International Booker prize nominee Nadifa Mohamed. The collection was curated by another former winner, Roddy Doyle. Continue reading...

• DMK President MK Stalin has launched a sharp attack on the TVK-led government, claiming the ruling alliance only survives due to the DMK's mercy and support. • Stalin revealed that he previously refrained from objecting to post-election political developments to prevent state instability and avoid the imposition of President's rule by the central government. • The DMK chief has now vowed to act quickly to bring down the current administration, signaling a shift toward more aggressive political opposition.

Joy turned to panic as Sarah and her dog sank quickly. She thought ‘this is not how I’m going to go’Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast“I’ve literally had my real, live Indiana Jones moment,” Sarah Darbyshire says of the frightening moment she and her dog stumbled into quicksand.The Holdfast Bay council has put up signs warning about the treacherous, liquefied patch on Glenelg North beach in South Australia. Continue reading...

Saffron Cole-Nottage became stuck headfirst and might have lived had ambulance service alerted fire service immediately, coroner says A woman who drowned after getting stuck headfirst in sea defence rocks might have been saved if the ambulance service had alerted the fire service quicker, a coroner has said.Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, was with her daughter, walking their dog at the seafront in Lowestoft, Suffolk, when she fell as the tide was coming in on 2 February 2025. Continue reading...

Results suggest radiotracer maraciclatide can ‘light up’ condition on scan and reduce need for investigative surgeryA non-invasive scan for endometriosis has shown promising results in a trial, boosting hopes for far quicker diagnosis.The trial, which included 19 women with the condition, suggests that an experimental radiotracer, called maraciclatide, can “light up” endometriosis on a scan. The current need for a surgical investigation is seen as a major obstacle to timely diagnosis, with women in England typically waiting nearly a decade. Continue reading...

• California Democrats are urging swift action to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by former Rep. Eric Swalwell following his resignation. • Party leaders emphasize the need for a special election to maintain Democratic representation in the competitive district. • The vacancy heightens midterm stakes, with Republicans eyeing gains in the state amid shifting voter dynamics.

• Cole Reinhardt scored his second goal with 1:50 left to lead the Florida Panthers to a 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers on Monday night. • Reinhardt and Mackie Samoskevich scored in the first period for a 2-0 lead, with Quick making 14 saves in his retirement finale after 19 seasons and three Stanley Cups. • The win spoils Jonathan Quick's last NHL appearance as the three-time champion announced his retirement beforehand.

Bank of England survey in March shows chief financial officers foresee 3.7% increase over coming yearBusiness live – latest updatesCompanies in the UK expect to raise their prices more rapidly over the coming months as the war in the Middle East drives up costs, Bank of England research shows.The Bank’s regular survey of more than 2,000 chief financial officers conducted last month, after the Iran conflict began, shows they now expect to raise their prices by 3.7% over the coming year. Continue reading...

• Samsung began rolling out Quick Share with AirDrop interoperability on Galaxy S26 devices and additional models on March 24, 2026, enhancing cross-platform sharing for U.S. users. • The update improves file transfer compatibility between Android and iOS ecosystems. • This move strengthens Samsung's position in the competitive U.S. smartphone market.

Republicans almost certain to push through appointment following the ousting of Noem amid public backlash to her aggressive immigration approachSign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inboxHello and welcome to the US politics live blog.A Senate committee later today is expected to give a quick confirmation to Markwayne Mullin, a first-term Republican senator from Oklahoma, to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).A top counter-terrorism official in the Trump administration resigned over the ongoing war on Iran. Joe Kent, who reported to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, said in his resignation letter that he “cannot in good conscience” support the conflict.Gabbard responded in a statement that did not refer to Kent directly, but argued that Trump “is responsible for determining what is and is not an imminent threat”.The House oversight committee subpoenaed attorney general Pam Bondi to appear for a deposition on the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein investigation.The Senate passed a measure to start debate on the legislation to restrict voting in US elections in a number of ways, by a vote of 51-48, along mainly partisan lines, with only Lisa Murkowski, the Alaska Republican, crossing party lines.During the annual St Patrick’s Day Shamrock ceremony at the White House, Ireland’s prime minister, Micheál Martin, gently made the case for free trade and a rules-based order before presenting Trump with a bowl of shamrocks.While Trump and his aides spent much of Tuesday deriding Kent, critics of the administration pointed out that Kent’s ties to rightwing extremists meant that he was never fit for the role in the first place. Continue reading...