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EU backs small parcel duties to tackle China import flood
EU backs small parcel duties to tackle China import flood
by  AFP

EU states on Thursday agreed to scrap a bloc-wide duty exemption on low-value orders from the likes of retail giants Temu and Shein to help tackle a flood of cheap Chinese imports. Member states, including France, and the EU executive hope the duty exemption can be done away with from the start of next year, rather than 2028.

Swiss economy minister back in Washington for tariff talks
Swiss economy minister back in Washington for tariff talks
by  AFP

Switzerland's economy minister Guy Parmelin was back in Washington for talks on Thursday, for the third time since the Alpine country was clobbered with huge tariffs. The pharmaceutical industry, Switzerland's largest export sector, could be living on borrowed time: medications are exempt from tariffs, but Trump regularly threatens to impose tariffs on them as well.

Race for first private space station heats up as NASA set to retire ISS
Race for first private space station heats up as NASA set to retire ISS
by  AFP

With NASA's International Space Station set to come out of service in 2030, American aerospace firm Vast has stepped into a frenzied race for the world's first commercial space station. The California-based firm, founded in 2021 by billionaire Jed McCaleb, aspires to replace the International Space Station with Haven-2, a larger version of the first model.

Amazon robotics lead casts doubt on eye-catching humanoids
Amazon robotics lead casts doubt on eye-catching humanoids
by  AFP

Flashy humanoid robots that have awed attendees at Web Summit in Lisbon this week are still far from revolutionising physical labour in factories and warehouses, Amazon's chief roboticist told AFP. "It's a bit of doing technology for technology's sake," Tye Brady said in a Wednesday interview. Brady said that the world is still "in the early stages of robotics, of physical AI".

World oil market 'lopsided' as supply outpaces demand: IEA
World oil market 'lopsided' as supply outpaces demand: IEA
by  AFP

The world's oil market is experiencing a period of imbalance as growing supply outstrips demand despite stronger deliveries to China, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said Thursday. "Global oil market balances are looking increasingly lopsided, as world oil supply is forging ahead while oil demand growth remains modest by historical standards," the IEA said.

Google to pay millions to South African news outlets: watchdog
Google to pay millions to South African news outlets: watchdog
by  AFP

Google will pay more than $40 million to support South African news media, many of them floundering in a digital age, the country's competition authority said Thursday. In February, the Competition Commission had recommended that Google pay up to $27 million a year for five years, following a 16-month investigation that found Google searches favoured international news over local outlets.

UK economic gloom deepens before budget
UK economic gloom deepens before budget
by  AFP

Britain's economy slowed in the third quarter, official data showed Thursday, dealing another blow to the Labour government ahead of its annual budget. The growth figure comes after official data this week showed UK unemployment rising more than expected to 5.0 percent in the third quarter, ahead of the November 26 budget.