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.

India is the fastest-growing major economy, but not everyone has been able to enjoy the boom times as opportunities remain uneven.

WTO experts in January 2025 largely upheld EU restrictions on the use of palm oil in biofuels following complaints by Indonesia.

While striking down the tariffs that were a central part of Trump's economic policy as unconstitutional, the US Supreme Court did not say how the collected tariffs should be refunded, leaving small importers worried the process would be expensive and time-consuming.

The US economy unexpectedly shed jobs in February and the unemployment rate increased to 4.4 percent, potentially hinting at a deterioration in labor market conditions that could put the Federal Reserve in a difficult spot amid rising oil prices.

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.