The yen has dipped below 150 against the dollar, putting investors on alert and potentially triggering action from financial authorities in Tokyo. This development comes as EU leaders met with US President Joe Biden at the White House, where progress was made on trade disputes but no deals were reached on issues in the energy, steel, and aluminum sectors. Talks were also overshadowed by the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.
Chinese tax authorities have probed Foxconn, the Apple supplier, by searching its offices. While details of the inspections remain sparse, state media has reported on the investigation.
General Motors and Ford will face questions regarding potential strikes during their earnings calls this week. The United Auto Workers could gain leverage if the automakers report solid earnings, while disappointing results could make Wall Street anxious.
Amazon has become the first tech giant to operate computers in space. The company successfully launched two prototype satellites for its Kuiper constellation, which survived the journey to an orbit above the Earth. This move sets Amazon apart from competitors like Apple, Meta, and Google, who have previously explored businesses based on satellites but never fully realized the concept.
Oil prices are on the rise globally due to concerns that the Israel-Hamas war could impact oil-rich countries. Brent crude surpassed $92 a barrel last week, heightening these worries. However, motorists in the US are not experiencing the pinch at the pump yet, as gas prices continue to decrease. The national average price for a gallon of gas is currently $3.56, which is 32 cents lower than the peak price a month ago.
Companies like Meta and Character.AI are utilizing actors to assist in the development of their AI bots, which aim to mimic the emotions and personas of fictional or real people like Elon Musk or Kendall Jenner. AI companies are even paying professional actors up to $150 an hour to demonstrate various emotions on camera. However, the timing of these job postings has raised questions, as they coincide with Hollywood actors protesting against similar technology.
In other news:
– The Bahamas is introducing the world’s first carbon-negative construction tech.
– Starbucks is distancing itself from union workers who have taken a pro-Palestinian stance.
– Universal Music Group is suing Amazon-backed AI startup Anthropic.
– AI has identified people with Type 2 diabetes based on their speech patterns.
– Jupiter’s jet stream is traveling at a speed of approximately 320 mph, indicating new findings about the planet’s interior.
Overall, these developments offer a diverse range of topics from financial markets to tech advancements and planetary discoveries.
