- Japanese Unemployment Rate Holds Steady: The Japanese government announced today that the country’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6% in March 2024, consistent with the previous month’s figure.
- Samsung Electronics Reports Surge in Profits: Samsung Electronics, the South Korean tech giant, revealed a remarkable increase in operating profit for the first quarter of 2024, soaring over 10 times compared to the previous year. This surge was largely attributed to the turnaround in its semiconductor business, marking the first profit in five quarters.
- Paramount Global Appoints New Executives: Amid ongoing negotiations regarding merges with Skydance Media, Paramount Global announced the appointment of three new executives to replace former CEO Bob Backich.
- Positive Outlook for Indian Economy: Nomura Company’s Chief Economist, Mr. Rob Subbarman, expressed optimism about the Indian economy, noting little signs of slowing down. He emphasized that the continuation of supportive policies would be pivotal for sustained growth over the next five years.
- U.S. Government Tests Ground Beef Amid Avian Influenza Concerns: Following outbreaks of the avian influenza virus in dairy cattle, the U.S. government announced yesterday that it is conducting tests on ground beef samples from retailers in affected states to ensure the safety of the meat supply.
- Bonza Airlines Suspends Flights: Australia’s new low-cost airline, Bonza, abruptly suspended all flights today to evaluate its business viability. The decision left many passengers stranded, prompting competing airlines to offer assistance.
- Japan’s Ministry of Finance Prepared for Market Situation: Mr. Masato Kanda, Deputy Minister of Finance for Foreign Affairs of Japan, confirmed that the Ministry of Finance is ready to address developments in the foreign exchange market. However, he refrained from commenting on whether the ministry intervened in the market to support the yen.
- IMF Provides Loan to Pakistan: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan announced that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has extended a loan of $1.1 billion to Pakistan, aimed at enhancing the country’s economic stability.
- China Announces Key Meeting: The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee revealed today that the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) will convene its third plenary meeting in Beijing in July.
- Indonesia Lifts Import Restrictions: Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan announced significant revisions to the Ministry of Trade’s regulations, lifting restrictions on the import of various goods, including industrial raw materials.
- Microsoft to Invest in Indonesia: Microsoft announced a substantial investment of US$1.7 billion in Indonesia over the next four years to develop cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure. The announcement coincided with a meeting between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
