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Asian markets retreat ahead of US jobs as tech worries weigh
Asian markets retreat ahead of US jobs as tech worries weigh
by  AFP

Asian markets extended losses with Wall Street on Tuesday as investors jockeyed for position ahead of key US jobs and inflation data, while sentiment remains subdued by worries over a possible tech bubble. Worries over the tech sector were also weighing on sentiment, with recent warnings about an AI-fuelled bubble compounded by weak disappointing earnings last week from Oracle and Broadcom.

Famed Jerusalem stone still sells despite West Bank economic woes
Famed Jerusalem stone still sells despite West Bank economic woes
by  AFP

Despite the catastrophic state of the Palestinian economy, Faraj al-Atrash, operator of a quarry in the occupied West Bank, proudly points to an armada of machines busy eating away at sheer walls of dusty white rock that stretch into the distance. The physical demands of working in a quarry are intense, but for many Palestinians there are few other options as the West Bank's economy wilts.

Will OpenAI be the next tech giant or next Netscape?
Will OpenAI be the next tech giant or next Netscape?
by  AFP

Three years after ChatGPT made OpenAI the leader in artificial intelligence and a household name, rivals have closed the gap and some investors are wondering if the sensation has the wherewithal to stay dominant. Rivals Amazon, Meta and OpenAI-investor Microsoft have deep pockets the ChatGPT-maker cannot match.

French minister urges angry farmers to trust cow culls, vaccines
French minister urges angry farmers to trust cow culls, vaccines
by  AFP

France's agriculture minister Monday defended planned mass cattle culls and vaccines to control an infectious bovine disease, after farmers vowed no let-up in their protests against what they view as excessive slaughtering. Agriculture Minister Annie Genevard on Monday urged farmers to have faith in the plan.

EU faces key summit on using Russian assets for Ukraine
EU faces key summit on using Russian assets for Ukraine
by  AFP

EU leaders are under pressure to hammer out how to keep financing Ukraine at a summit starting Thursday -- with key player Belgium resisting a push to use frozen Russian assets. EU officials have promised leaders will not leave the summit until they agree how to keep funding Ukraine -- setting up potentially marathon talks in Brussels.