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Asian markets track Wall St lower as AI fears mount
Asian markets track Wall St lower as AI fears mount
by  AFP

Asian markets sank Thursday after another sell-off on Wall Street as worries over the tech sector's colossal spending on artificial intelligence continued to dog investor sentiment. Asian markets tracked the US losses, led by tech firms including Japan's Renesas and investment giant SoftBank.

EU holds crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine
EU holds crunch summit on Russian asset plan for Ukraine
by  AFP

EU leaders gather in Brussels Thursday for a make-or-break summit on using frozen Russian assets for Ukraine -- with key player Belgium under pressure to drop its opposition. Ukraine has said Washington was "pressuring" the EU not to use the assets as they view them as a vital bargaining chip in winning over Russia.

Oscars to stream exclusively on YouTube from 2029
Oscars to stream exclusively on YouTube from 2029
by  AFP

The Oscars will be shown only on YouTube from 2029, the Academy said Wednesday, in a radical gambit for a movie industry that remains wary of streaming platforms even as viewing habits shift online. YouTube accounts for the biggest share of television viewing time in the United States of any streaming platform, dwarfing even Netflix.

CNN's future unclear as Trump applies pressure
CNN's future unclear as Trump applies pressure
by  AFP

CNN is heading into an uncertain future with its parent company Warner Bros. "To continue to keep CNN strong in the future," the executive argued, "we better get after our audiences where they currently are."

Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game
Netflix to launch FIFA World Cup video game
by  AFP

Netflix is set to release a FIFA football simulation game exclusively on its gaming platform in summer 2026, timed to coincide with the World Cup, the streaming giant said Wednesday. "The FIFA World Cup is going to be the cultural event of 2026, and now fans will be able to celebrate their fandom by bringing the game right into their living rooms," said Alain Tascan, president of games at Netflix.

German MPs approve 50 bn euros in military purchases
German MPs approve 50 bn euros in military purchases
by  AFP

German lawmakers Wednesday approved about 50 billion euros ($59 billion) in military purchases, as Berlin accelerates defence spending in the face of a hostile Russia and signs of weakening security commitments from Washington.

EU's Mercosur trade deal hits French, Italian roadblock
EU's Mercosur trade deal hits French, Italian roadblock
by  AFP

EU plans to seal a vast trade deal with South American bloc Mercosur this week were thrown into disarray Wednesday as Italy joined France in demanding more time to sign off on it. Paris had already thrown a spanner in the works by calling this week for a delay to the vote, demanding robust safeguard clauses, tighter import controls and more stringent standards for Mercosur producers.