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German factory orders rise more than expected
German factory orders rise more than expected
by  AFP

German industrial orders rose far more than expected in October, official data showed Friday, raising hopes that a long downturn in Europe's biggest economy may have bottomed out. Domestic orders rose almost 10 percent but foreign orders dropped four percent, highlighting a turbulent geopolitical environment marked by US tariffs.

Tanzania tourism suffers after election killings
Tanzania tourism suffers after election killings
by  AFP

Tanzania's white beaches and safari lodges are emptier than usual as the country counts the cost to its crucial tourism sector from the mass killing of protesters during recent election unrest. Mabrian, a consultancy using artificial intelligence to measure global sentiment about countries and industries, made a more direct link to the election unrest.

Softbank's Son says super AI could make humans like fish, win Nobel Prize
Softbank's Son says super AI could make humans like fish, win Nobel Prize
by  AFP

SoftBank CEO and AI investor Masayoshi Son said Friday that advanced artificial intelligence could surpass humans to the extent that "we become fish" and could even win the Nobel Prize in Literature. He asked Son whether ASI could win a Nobel Prize in Literature, won last year by South Korean author Han Kang.

OpenAI strikes deal on US$4.6 bn AI centre in Australia
OpenAI strikes deal on US$4.6 bn AI centre in Australia
by  AFP

ChatGPT maker OpenAI and an Australian data centre operator have agreed to develop a multibillion-dollar AI centre in Sydney. The two firms will collaborate on planning, development and operation of the AI infrastructure partnership in western Sydney, NextDC said in a statement.

Asian markets mixed ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
Asian markets mixed ahead of US data, expected Fed rate cut
by  AFP

Asian markets struggled into the weekend on Friday following a bland lead from Wall Street as a mixed bag of US data did little to move the needle on expectations the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates next week. And while figures Thursday on jobless claims and layoffs came in slightly better than expected, markets have priced the chances of a rate cut Wednesday at around 90 percent.

French almond makers revive traditions to counter US dominance
French almond makers revive traditions to counter US dominance
by  AFP

The scent of marzipan wafts through the air as confectioners from a century-old company in southern France prepare calissons, one of Provence's famed sweets made of candied melon and crushed almonds. - 'Virtuous agricultural practices' - The company now cultivates 230 hectares of groves in southern France.

Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
Facebook 'supreme court' admits 'frustrations' in 5 years of work
by  AFP

An oversight board created by Facebook to review content-moderation decisions trumpeted improved transparency and respect for people's rights in a survey of their first five years of work on Thursday, while acknowledging "frustrations" to their arm's-length role.