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Daily news brief — 29 March 2026

10 stories · 9 sources · 5 minute read

01worldCovered by 3 outlets

Houthis Launch First Military Strikes Against Israel as Iran Conflict Escalates

Yemen's Houthis launched their first ballistic missile, drone, and cruise missile strikes on southern Israel, while Iran conducted retaliatory attacks on Israel and a US base in Saudi Arabia, injuring 10 American personnel.

Why it matters

The conflict is broadening beyond Israel and Iran, drawing in new actors and directly involving US forces, raising the risk of wider regional war.

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Sources

Euronews
ABC News
ABC News

02world

Nepal Arrests Former Prime Minister Over Deadly 'Gen Z Protests' Crackdown

Nepal has arrested its former Prime Minister and home minister over their alleged roles in a deadly crackdown on student-led protests. The demonstrations, linked to a global Gen Z movement, turned fatal amid a violent government response.

Why it matters

The arrests signal a rare instance of senior officials facing accountability for state violence against civilian protesters.

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Sources

Euronews

03world

Pope Leo XIV Calls for Justice and Peace During Historic Monaco Visit

Pope Leo XIV visited Monaco in a historic papal trip, using the occasion to call for justice and peace amid ongoing global conflicts. He addressed humanitarian concerns and urged international dialogue during his remarks.

Why it matters

Papal visits carry significant diplomatic weight, and his message reflects growing pressure on global leaders to prioritize peaceful resolution of conflicts.

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Sources

Euronews

“Why it matters” for the rest of today's stories is available in the Fivly app.

04businessCovered by 3 outlets

Fed Governor Outlines Plan to Shrink Balance Sheet by $1-2 Trillion

Fed Governor Stephen Miran outlined a plan to reduce the Fed's balance sheet by $1–2 trillion gradually, aiming to minimize market disruptions. The balance sheet currently stands at 84% of GDP. Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh is said to support a similarly measured approach.

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Sources

Bank Policy Institute
Bank Policy Institute
Bank Policy Institute

05techCovered by 2 outlets

Exclusive: Anthropic is testing 'Mythos' its 'most powerful AI model ever developed'

Anthropic is internally testing 'Mythos,' reportedly its most powerful AI model to date. Leaks flagging significant cybersecurity risks have rattled tech markets, coinciding with reports of a potential $60 billion IPO.

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Sources

Fortune
AI Clip Daily
QixNewsAI

06techCovered by 2 outlets

OpenAI Suddenly Axed Its Erotic Chatbot Plans

OpenAI has scrapped plans to develop an erotic chatbot feature for ChatGPT. The decision reflects growing ethical scrutiny around AI in sensitive contexts and signals a cautious shift in the company's product strategy.

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Sources

QixNewsAI
TechCrunch

07markets

Crypto Market Structure Agreement In Principle Reached on Stablecoin Yield Provisions

Senators Tillis and Alsobrooks reached a preliminary agreement with the White House on crypto market structure legislation, including stablecoin yield provisions. A Senate Banking Committee markup could follow as early as April.

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Sources

Bank Policy Institute

08aiCovered by 2 outlets

AI's Power Profile in March 2026: It's Not Just Speed

New research shows AI's growing dominance comes from a compound effect — speed, scale, consistency, and integration working together simultaneously. This multi-factor advantage is most pronounced in structured, data-rich environments where all four elements reinforce each other.

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Sources

ETC Journal

09markets

EU Seeks Agreement by Mid-June on Trading Book Rules Impact

The EU is working toward a mid-June agreement on measures to offset the impact of new trading book market risk rules on European banks. A temporary bank-based multiplier is among options under consideration to cushion the regulatory effect.

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Sources

Bank Policy Institute

10business

Bank of America Settles Epstein Victims Lawsuit for $72.5 Million

Bank of America has agreed to pay $72.5 million to settle a lawsuit brought by victims of Jeffrey Epstein, who alleged the bank benefited from his network and failed to report suspicious financial activity.

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Sources

Wall Street Journal