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• 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.