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A round-up of developments today ranges from policy and markets to culture and quirky human-interest stories: the UK posted an unprecedented January budget surplus—driven by higher self‑assessment and capital gains receipts—giving the chancellor unexpected fiscal headroom; Japan saw political and sporting moments as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pledged expansionary moves to boost growth while Olympic figure skater Kaori Sakamoto reflected on a valiant final competition and eyes future challenges; in Asia markets were mixed amid debates over heavy AI investment and geopolitical jitters, even as creatives and studios sparred publicly over ultra‑realistic AI-generated clips that are reshaping conversations about copyright and filmmaking; cultural expansion continued with the launch of ELLE Afrique across five francophone countries, and Venezuela’s national assembly approved a broad amnesty measure aimed at freeing political detainees; a light‑hearted policing success in Thailand saw officers using a traditional lion costume to apprehend a suspected burglar; finally, North Korea opened its ninth party congress, a major domestic political event that will set the regime’s near‑term priorities.