Nikkei plunges nearly 5 percent as Middle East tensions rattle Asia
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell sharply by nearly 5 percent on Monday, losing more than 2,600 points as escalating conflict in the Middle East triggered a broad selloff across Asian markets and intensified concerns over a prolonged energy-driven inflation shock. South Korea’s Kospi dropped more than 6 percent, prompting a circuit......
Dollar surges as Trump ultimatum to Iran nears deadline
The US dollar strengthened sharply as tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated ahead of the expiration of President Donald Trump’s ultimatum over the Strait of Hormuz, driving investors toward safe-haven assets and pressuring Asian currencies and equities. The dollar index rose to around 99.5, extending gains that began with......
Goldman Sachs raises oil forecasts as Hormuz crisis disrupts supply
Goldman Sachs has sharply increased its oil price outlook for 2026, citing what it describes as the largest supply shock in history driven by the near-total disruption of flows through the Strait of Hormuz. The bank now expects Brent crude to average $85 per barrel this year, up from a previous forecast of $77, while West Texas Intermediate......
KPMG introduces AI kill switches amid rising autonomous agent risks
KPMG has introduced a comprehensive safety framework for autonomous artificial intelligence agents, including emergency shutdown mechanisms, as companies accelerate deployment of AI systems across business operations. The firm’s approach treats AI agents as managed entities, each assigned a unique identity and tracked through internal......
Berkshire Hathaway buys $1.8 billion stake in Tokio Marine
Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a 2.5 percent stake in Japan’s largest insurer, Tokio Marine Holdings, in a deal valued at about $1.8 billion, marking a new strategic partnership between the two companies. Tokio Marine said it would sell treasury shares worth 287.41 billion yen to National Indemnity, Berkshire’s main reinsurance......
Bitcoin rally could trigger $5 billion short squeeze near $75,000
Around $5 billion in short cryptocurrency positions could face liquidation if Bitcoin rises to $75,000, highlighting a key pressure point in the derivatives market that could accelerate price gains. Bitcoin was trading near $69,000 on March 22 after retreating from a brief move above $75,000 earlier in the month. The $75,000 level has emerged......
“Like a woman” campaign promotes global recognition of female leadership
A global digital campaign titled “Like a Woman” has been launched to highlight and promote women’s leadership, coinciding with International Women’s Day 2026. Led by United Nations General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock, the initiative aims to reshape long-standing stereotypes and position women’s leadership......
IAEA chief says war cannot eliminate Iran nuclear program
The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog has warned that military action cannot fully dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, stressing that only diplomacy can address the long-term risks. Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told CBS News that no conventional war could erase Iran’s nuclear......
Avian flu outbreaks surge globally as spring migration begins
Avian influenza cases are rising across multiple regions as migratory birds begin their annual spring movement, triggering mass culling operations and tighter biosecurity measures in North America, Europe and Asia. In the United States, more than 14.3 million birds across 84 farms have been infected since the start of 2026, according to federal......
Laila Benjelloun Touimi drives inclusive leadership and sustainability strategy
Laila Benjelloun Touimi, chief executive of L’Oréal Maroc, promotes a leadership approach based on merit, adaptability and team impact rather than gender. In an interview with Les Échos, she said professional success depends on performance and the ability to lead effectively, reflecting wider progress toward workplace inclusion......
China urged to cut forex reserves and reduce US Treasury holdings
A Chinese academic report is calling for Beijing to scale back its massive foreign exchange reserves, including its holdings of US Treasury bonds, arguing that the rising global role of the yuan could replace many functions traditionally supported by large dollar reserves. The report, published by the International Monetary Institute at Renmin......
Global energy crisis surpasses 1970s shocks amid Iran standoff
The world is facing an energy crisis more severe than the combined oil shocks of the 1970s, the International Energy Agency warned, as tensions between the United States and Iran escalate over control of the Strait of Hormuz. The warning comes as US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum threatening to destroy Iranian power plants......
Nvidia CEO criticizes AI layoffs as lack of vision
Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang has criticized technology leaders who cut jobs in the name of artificial intelligence, arguing that such decisions reflect a lack of long-term thinking and creativity. Speaking to CNBC’s Jim Cramer during Nvidia’s annual GPU Technology Conference in San Jose, California, Huang said companies......
Helium shortage from Iran conflict disrupts global chip supply
A supply shock triggered by the conflict involving Iran is disrupting the global smartphone market, as a sharp reduction in helium supply threatens semiconductor production while a parallel shortage of memory chips continues to drive device prices higher and weaken shipment forecasts. The crisis intensified after damage to a major helium......
Brent oil hits highest level since 2022 amid Iran conflict
Oil prices have surged to their highest levels in nearly four years as the conflict involving Iran disrupts global energy supply, raising inflation risks and reviving concerns about stagflation. Brent crude closed at $112.19 per barrel on Friday, its highest level since July 2022. In the United States, the average price of regular gasoline......