Monday, March 16, 2026

Apple Unveils AirPods Max 2 Headphones

Apple has launched the AirPods Max 2, the successor to its original model, featuring significant upgrades including enhanced active noise cancellation and live translation capabilities. Priced at $549, the new headphones will be available f...

• The AirPods Max 2 feature an H2 chip that improves active noise cancellation by 1.5 times compared to the previous model...
• The headphones support 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio via a new USB-C connector.

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Apple Acquires MotionVFX to Enhance Creative Tools

Apple has acquired MotionVFX, a Polish company renowned for its popular plug-ins for Final Cut Pro. This acquisition is part of Apple's strategy to boost revenue from creative professionals and follows the recent launch of the Apple Creator...

• 70 employees from MotionVFX will join Apple as part of the deal.
• MotionVFX has been developing plugins and templates for over 15 years, since its founding in 2009.

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OpenAI Pursues $10 Billion Joint Venture with Private Equity

OpenAI is in discussions with several private equity firms, including TPG, Advent, Bain, and Brookfield, to secure $4 billion for a joint venture valued at $10 billion. This move comes as OpenAI's enterprise business reported $10 billion in...

• Anthropic is also seeking a similar deal with private equity firms for its AI technology.
• OpenAI aims to increase its enterprise revenue from 40% to 50% by the end of the year.

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JD.com enters European e-commerce with Joybuy

JD.com has officially launched its European online shopping platform, Joybuy, in the UK, positioning itself to compete directly with Amazon. The platform promises same-day delivery for orders over £29 and features brand stores from well-kno...

• Joybuy offers same-day delivery for orders placed before 11 a.m. in the U.K.
• JD.com has developed a local logistics network to support its fast delivery promises.

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Meta to Spend $27 Billion on AI Infrastructure

Meta Platforms Inc. has announced a substantial investment of up to $27 billion over the next five years to enhance its AI infrastructure through a partnership with Nebius Group NV. This deal includes $12 billion of dedicated AI capacity fr...

• Meta to Spend Up to $27 Billion on Nebius AI Infrastructure. Meta invests heavily in AI infrastructure from Nebius.
• Meta to Spend Up to $27 Billion on Nebius AI Infrastructure. Meta invests heavily in AI infrastructure.

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Trump Demands Action on Strait of Hormuz Security

President Donald Trump has urged countries dependent on Gulf oil to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route for global oil supplies, as shipping disruptions have caused vessel traffic to stall. Despite Trump's calls for a...

• 90% of China's crude imports are claimed to pass through the Strait, although analysts suggest it accounts for only 40%...
• Several ships have been damaged in the Strait since military actions against Iran began last month.

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Google Translate Unveils New Homescreen Widgets for Android

Google Translate has launched a set of eight new homescreen widgets for Android, aimed at improving user accessibility and functionality. These widgets include features such as Camera, Voice, Live translate, Clipboard, and Practice, all des...

• The new widgets rolled out with version 10.8 of the Google Translate app.
• Additional widgets include a Translate text option and five other tiles for various translation methods.

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Trump-Xi Summit Faces Delay Amid Iran Tensions

The upcoming summit between President Trump and President Xi Jinping is at risk of postponement due to the escalating conflict in Iran. Scheduled for March 31-April 2, 2026, this would mark the first visit by a U.S. president to China since...

• The U.S. is opening new trade investigations into China following a Supreme Court ruling under Section 301 of the Trade...
• Trump has called for China and other countries to assist in securing the Strait of Hormuz amid the Iran conflict.

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Meta Could Cut 20% of Jobs, Reuters Says

Meta Platforms Inc. is reportedly preparing to lay off about 20% of its workforce, which could amount to around 15,000 jobs, according to a report by Reuters. This decision reflects the company's ongoing efforts to manage financial pressure...

• Meta could lay off 15,000 employees, representing 20% of its workforce.
• This move follows ongoing financial pressures and restructuring efforts.

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OpenAI Discusses $10 Billion Venture With PE Firms, Reuters Says

OpenAI is in advanced talks to establish a joint venture with private equity firms, notably TPG Inc. and Bain Capital, aimed at increasing the adoption of its AI software among their portfolio companies. The venture is projected to have a p...

• Private equity firms TPG Inc. and Bain Capital are involved in the discussions.
• The joint venture aims for a pre-money valuation of approximately $10 billion.

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Canada Leases Space Port in Bid to Break Reliance on US Rockets Like Musk’s SpaceX

The Canadian government has announced a significant move to enhance its aerospace capabilities by leasing a private space port on the east coast for a decade. The C$200 million ($146 million) agreement aims to provide Canada with independen...

• The agreement is valued at C$200 million ($146 million) over 10 years.
• The space port is located on Canada's east coast, enhancing local aerospace capabilities.

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The last remaining subscription for unlimited Google Photos storage is dead [U]

T-Mobile has ended its special Google One subscription that offered unlimited Google Photos storage, a key feature that attracted many users. The service, which included 2TB of storage for $15/month, was discontinued effective April 1, 2026...

• T-Mobile's special Google One subscription for unlimited Google Photos storage ended on April 1, 2026.
• Existing subscribers can continue using the service until their plan changes or lapses.

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Samsung’s ‘Wide’ Galaxy Z Fold sounds more like the original Pixel Fold than ever

Samsung is set to unveil a wider Galaxy Z Fold this summer, marking a significant shift in its foldable design strategy. The new model will feature a 7.6-inch internal display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, reminiscent of Google's original Pixe...

• The upcoming Galaxy Z Fold will have a 7.6-inch internal display with a 16:10 aspect ratio.
• It will be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a 4,800mAh battery.

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NTT DATA and NVIDIA bring enterprise AI factories to production scale

NTT DATA has unveiled a new initiative to create enterprise AI factories powered by NVIDIA technology, providing organizations with a scalable, production-ready model for AI deployment. This platform combines NVIDIA's GPU-accelerated comput...

• NTT DATA's AI factory model aims to streamline the transition from pilot to production.
• Early adopters include a cancer-research hospital and a global automotive supplier.

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Musk’s xAI Hiring Credit Experts, Bankers to Teach Grok Finance

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI is hiring bankers and credit lenders to enhance its Grok chatbot's finance strategy capabilities. The company is seeking Wall Street professionals to train Grok in financial modeling, covering...

• xAI is actively recruiting Wall Street bankers and credit analysts to improve Grok's financial modeling skills.
• The Grok chatbot will learn about leveraged loans, distressed investing, and niche bonds.

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Oil continues to rise, the Federal Reserve, Nvidia's big week and more in Morning Squawk

U.S. oil prices surged past $100 as President Trump threatened strikes on Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export hub. Trump's comments, made via social media, indicated a willingness to escalate military action if Iran interferes with mariti...

• U.S. oil prices reached $100 following President Trump's threats against Iran.
• Trump's comments included potential strikes on Kharg Island, crucial for Iran's oil exports.

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Big Tech purchases of carbon credits explode amid AI race, with Microsoft leading the way

As the AI race accelerates, major tech companies like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are significantly increasing their purchases of carbon credits to offset emissions from their energy-intensive operations. Following the launch of Cha...

• Big Tech companies increased carbon credit purchases from 14,200 in 2022 to 68.4 million in 2025.
• Microsoft's carbon credit purchases rose 247% from fiscal year 2022 to 2023, reaching 5 million.

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Alibaba Creates AI Tool for Companies to Ride China Agent Craze

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. is preparing to introduce an agentic AI service tailored for businesses, capitalizing on the growing enthusiasm for AI assistants such as OpenClaw. This new product, based on Alibaba's Qwen model, is expected to i...

• The new AI service is based on Alibaba's flagship Qwen model.
• Integration plans include Alibaba's Taobao and Alipay platforms.

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Microsoft's New Windows 11 Updates Announced

Microsoft Corporation has unveiled significant updates for Windows 11, enhancing gameplay and loading speeds, which will be available starting in April. Additionally, the Xbox mode will now be accessible on all Windows 11 PCs, broadening it...

• Microsoft's stock price target has been raised to $675 by Truist.
• The new Windows 11 updates will enhance gameplay and load times starting in April.

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Netflix’s ‘Frankenstein’ wins three Oscars, ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ wins two

Netflix celebrated a successful night at the Oscars, with its films ‘Frankenstein’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ winning a total of five awards. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, ‘Frankenstein’ took home three Oscars for Best Production Design, Be...

• Netflix’s ‘Frankenstein’ won three Oscars, including Best Production Design.
• ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ secured two Oscars, including Best Animated Feature.

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