Trump had ordered the government to stop using Anthropic, calling it a threat to national security after it refused to agree to unconditional military use of its Claude models.

New data centers -- warehouse-like facilities that store online files and power AI tools from chatbots to image generators -- are mushrooming worldwide, and the sector is growing particularly fast in Asia.

Tech CEOs are locked in an artificial intelligence "arms race" that risks wiping out humanity, top computer science researcher Stuart Russell told AFP on Tuesday, calling for governments to pull the brakes.

"The escalating crisis in the Middle East is significantly worsening the global economic and security environment," President Lee Jae Myung said.

Asia sources 60 percent of its oil from the Middle East, leaving the region vulnerable to the disruptions. Refiners in Indonesia and Japan are sourcing more oil from the US to replace the shortfall. India will consider buying more from Russia, sources at two companies have said.

China set its economic growth target for 2026 at 4.5%-5%, a slight downgrade from the 5% pace achieved last year, which leaves room for greater, albeit not decisive, efforts to curb industrial overcapacity and rebalance the economy.

The US Treasury Department is expected to announce measures aimed at combating rising energy prices in the wake of the Iran conflict, including potential action involving the oil futures market, a senior White House official said.

Asia stocks fell on Friday and were headed for their sharpest weekly drop in six years while oil prices were poised for their biggest jump in four years in a turbulent week for global markets as the conflict in the Middle East showed few signs of easing.

Asian equities jumped Thursday after a three-day rout sparked by the Middle East war, but concerns about an extended conflict helped oil extend gains, while analysts warned of more volatility ahead.

Asian stocks tanked on Wednesday, with a record-breaking market crash in Seoul, as investors dumped crowded bets on chipmakers on worries a widening Middle East war will drive an oil shock that raises inflation and delays interest rate cuts.