The European Commission welcomed the decision by EU Member States to introduce a €3 customs duty on low-value e-commerce parcels arriving from third countries.
A measure, which enters into force in July 2026, that applies to items valued below €150 and aims to restore fair competition instead of allowing online imports to benefit from longstanding exemptions.
The move responds to the rapid growth of cross-border e-commerce shipments and will operate as a temporary solution until the EU Customs Data Hub becomes fully operational in 2028.
Until then, the Council and the Commission will coordinate legal changes and IT systems to ensure smooth implementation and effective customs supervision across the Union.
Once the Customs Data Hub is in place, a permanent customs duty regime will replace the temporary measure, offering authorities a comprehensive view of goods entering and leaving the EU.
The €3 duty applies only to parcels sent directly to consumers and remains separate from ongoing negotiations on a handling fee intended to offset the rising operational costs faced by customs authorities.
The reform builds on earlier Commission proposals to remove duty exemptions for low-value parcels and forms part of the most extensive overhaul of EU customs rules in decades.
European institutions argue that modernised customs controls are essential instead of relying on outdated frameworks, particularly as global e-commerce volumes continue to expand.
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OpenAI and BBVA have agreed on a multi-year strategic collaboration designed to embed artificial intelligence across the global banking group.
An initiative that will expand the use of ChatGPT Enterprise to all 120,000 BBVA employees, marking one of the largest enterprise deployments of generative AI in the financial sector.
The programme focuses on transforming customer interactions, internal workflows and decision making.
BBVA plans to co-develop AI-driven solutions with OpenAI to support bankers, streamline risk analysis and redesign processes such as software development and productivity support, instead of relying on fragmented digital tools.
The rollout follows earlier deployments that demonstrated strong engagement and measurable efficiency gains, with employees saving hours each week on routine tasks.
ChatGPT Enterprise will be implemented with enterprise grade security and privacy safeguards, ensuring compliance within a highly regulated environment.
Beyond internal operations, BBVA is accelerating its shift toward AI native banking by expanding customer facing services powered by OpenAI models.
The collaboration reflects a broader move among major financial institutions to integrate AI at the core of products, operations and personalised banking experiences.
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Maharashtra police are expanding the use of an AI-powered investigation platform developed with Microsoft to tackle the rapid growth of cybercrime.
MahaCrimeOS AI, already in use across Nagpur district, will now be deployed to more than 1,100 police stations statewide, significantly accelerating case handling and investigation workflows.
The system acts as an investigation copilot, automating complaint intake, evidence extraction and legal documentation across multiple languages.
Officers can analyse transaction trails, request data from banks and telecom providers and follow standardised investigation pathways, instead of relying on slow manual processes.
Investigators report major efficiency gains, handling several cases monthly where only one was previously possible, while maintaining procedural accuracy and accountability.
The initiative highlights how responsible AI deployment can strengthen public institutions.
By reducing administrative burden and improving investigative capacity, the platform allows officers to focus on victim support and crime resolution, marking a broader shift toward AI-assisted governance in India.
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UK researchers will soon be able to work with Google’s advanced quantum chip Willow through a partnership with the National Quantum Computing Centre. The initiative aims to help scientists tackle problems that classical computers cannot solve.
The agreement will allow academics to compete for access to the processor and collaborate with experts from both organisations. Google hopes the programme will reveal practical uses for quantum computing in science and industry.
Quantum technology remains experimental, yet progress from Google, IBM, Amazon and UK firms has accelerated rapidly. Breakthroughs could lead to impactful applications within the next decade.
Government investment has supported the UK’s growing quantum sector, which hosts several cutting-edge machines. Officials estimate the industry could add billions to the UK economy as real-world uses emerge.
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A new law in New York, US, will require advertisers to disclose when AI-generated people appear in commercial content. Governor Kathy Hochul said the measure brings transparency and protects consumers as synthetic avatars become more widespread.
A second law now requires consent from heirs or executors when using a deceased person’s likeness for commercial purposes. The rule updates the state’s publicity rights, which previously lacked clarity in the context of the generative AI era.
Industry groups welcomed the move, saying it addresses the risks posed by unregulated AI usage, particularly for actors in the film and television industries. The disclosure must be conspicuous when an avatar does not correspond to a real human.
Specific expressive works such as films, games and shows are exempt when the avatar matches its use in the work. The laws arrive as national debate intensifies and President-elect Donald Trump signals potential attempts to limit state-level AI regulation.
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Mercedes-Benz Group AG has announced planned changes to its Supervisory Board, proposing the appointment of Katharina Beumelburg and Rashmi Misra at the company’s 2026 Annual General Meeting.
The move is intended to strengthen the board’s expertise in sustainability, industrial transformation, and AI, reflecting the company’s strategic focus on decarbonisation and digital innovation.
Beumelburg brings extensive experience in global sustainability and energy transition from roles at Heidelberg Materials, SLB, and Siemens. At the same time, Misra brings deep expertise in AI and emerging technologies, having held senior positions at Analogue Devices and Microsoft.
They will succeed Dame Polly Courtice and Prof. Dr Helene Svahn, who will step down in April 2026 after contributing to Mercedes-Benz’s strategic development in recent years.
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Taiwan will continue to produce the world’s most advanced semiconductors domestically to remain a vital player globally. Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Chih-chung Wu said the island’s expertise cannot be easily replicated abroad.
Taiwan has invested in fabs in the US, Japan and Germany, but warned that moving production overseas is complex. The island plans to foster international partnerships while maintaining core technology in-house to safeguard its supply chains.
China’s military pressure on Taiwan has increased concerns over regional stability and global chip supply. Wu emphasised that preventing conflict is the most effective way to secure the semiconductor industry.
Washington and Europe share strategic interests with Taiwan, including the semiconductor industry and navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Wu expressed confidence that the international community would defend these interests, maintaining Taiwan’s essential role in technology.
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Canada has announced new federal funding to pilot AI tools on the electricity grid, backing a project designed to improve reliability, affordability and efficiency as energy demand grows.
The government of Canada will provide $6 million to Hydro Ottawa under the Ottawa Distributed Energy Resource Accelerator programme. The initiative will utilise AI-enhanced predictive analytics to forecast peak demand and help balance electricity supply and demand in near real-time.
The project will turn customer-owned technologies such as smart thermostats, electric vehicle chargers and home batteries into responsive grid resources. By aggregating them, Hydro Ottawa aims to manage local constraints and reduce costly network upgrades, starting in areas like Kanata North that are experiencing rapid growth.
Officials say the programme will give households more control over energy use while strengthening grid resilience. The pilot is also intended to serve as a model that could be scaled across other neighbourhoods and electricity systems.
The funding comes through the Energy Innovation Program, which supports innovative grid demonstrations and AI-driven energy projects. Ottawa says such initiatives are key to modernising Canada’s electricity system and supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy.
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Cyber capabilities in advanced AI models are improving rapidly, delivering clear benefits for cyberdefence while introducing new dual-use risks that require careful management, according to OpenAI’s latest assessment.
The company points to sharp gains in capture-the-flag performance, with success rates rising from 27 percent in August to 76 percent by November 2025. OpenAI says future models could reach high cyber capability, including assistance with sophisticated intrusion techniques.
To address this, OpenAI says it is prioritising defensive use cases, investing in tools that help security teams audit code, patch vulnerabilities, and respond more effectively to threats. The goal is to give defenders an advantage in an often under-resourced environment.
OpenAI argues that cybersecurity cannot be governed through a single safeguard, as defensive and offensive techniques overlap. Instead, it applies a defence-in-depth approach that combines access controls, monitoring, detection systems, and extensive red teaming to limit misuse.
Alongside these measures, the company plans new initiatives, including trusted access programmes for defenders, agent-based security tools in private testing, and the creation of a Frontier Risk Council. OpenAI says these efforts reflect a long-term commitment to cyber resilience.
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The Walt Disney Company has struck a landmark agreement with OpenAI, becoming the first major content licensing partner on Sora, the AI company’s short-form generative video platform.
Under the three-year deal, Sora will generate short videos using more than 200 animated and creature characters from Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars. The licence also covers ChatGPT Images, excluding talent likenesses and voices.
Beyond licensing, Disney will become a major OpenAI customer, using its APIs to develop new products and experiences, including for Disney+, while deploying ChatGPT internally across its workforce. Disney will also make a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI and receive warrants for additional shares.
Both companies frame the partnership as a test case for responsible AI in creative industries. Executives say the agreement is designed to expand storytelling possibilities while protecting creators’ rights, user safety, and intellectual property across platforms.
Subject to final approvals, Sora-generated Disney content is expected to begin rolling out in early 2026. Curated selections may appear on Disney+, marking a new phase in how established entertainment brands engage with generative AI tools.
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