U.S. payrolls rose by 178,000 in March, more than expected; unemployment at 4.3%
Nonfarm payrolls were expected to increase by 59,000 in March, with the unemployment rate holding at 4.4%.
‘Chasing vibes’ — OpenAI’s M&A strategy gets more confusing with TBPN purchase
Over 10 months after shelling out an eye-popping $6.4 billion for Jony Ive’s nascent devices startup, OpenAI announced it’s buying media company TBPN.
The Tech Download: Defense startups eye Iran war windfall as U.S. and Gulf states turn to tech
Funding for defense startups has ballooned in recent years as militaries scramble to modernize.
Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing elected president by pro-military parliament
The 69-year-old general orchestrated a 2021 coup against the administration of Aung San Suu Kyi, sparking widespread protests.
South Korea, France agree to deepen defense cooperation amid Middle East conflict
French officials have said the trip aims to strengthen France’s strategic and economic role in the region at a time of “strong international and regional tensions.”
Trump threatens to destroy Iranian infrastructure, saying its government ‘knows what has to be done’
The threat comes a day after he said in a nationwide address that the U.S. military will be hitting Tehran “extremely hard” for the next two or three weeks.
Japan’s Sakura Internet jumps 20% as Microsoft plans $10 billion AI push with SoftBank
Microsoft said it plans to invest $10 billion in Japan between 2026 and 2029 to build AI infrastructure.
Chinese chip firms hit record high revenue driven by the AI boom and U.S. curbs
Chinese chip companies have benefited from strong domestic demand for AI as U.S. tech curbs have bolstered local firms.
Army chief of staff fired by Hegseth, sources say
U.S. Army Chief of Staff Randy George was fired on Thursday by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, three U.S. defense officials told Reuters, in the latest purge among the Pentagon’s most senior ranks.
Asia-Pacific markets mostly rise in Easter trade on hopes for Hormuz reopening
South Korea’s Kospi led gains in the region while Japan’s Nikkei 225 also opened higher. The Australian and Hong Kong markets were closed for the Easter weekend.
