The European Union has approved significant tariffs on electric vehicle (EV) imports from China, following a majority vote among member states. The new tariffs, set to rise from the current 10% to as high as 45% over the next five years, aim to shield Europe’s car industry from what EU lawmakers argue are unfair subsidies given to Chinese carmakers by the Chinese government.

The decision has sparked concerns about potential price increases for EV buyers in Europe, as well as fears of a trade war between Brussels and Beijing. China has strongly condemned the tariffs, labeling them as protectionist measures.

The vote, held on Friday, follows an EU investigation that led to import duties being imposed on major Chinese EV manufacturers such as SAIC, BYD, and Geely. These tariffs were calculated based on the level of state aid each company is believed to have received.

While the move has caused division among EU member states, it was ultimately supported by countries like France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Poland, which believe the tariffs are necessary to protect European manufacturers. Germany, whose economy is closely tied to exports to China, opposed the decision, and many other countries abstained from the vote.

Critics, including German automaker Volkswagen, argue that the tariffs are the “wrong approach” and could have unintended consequences for the European automotive sector.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed a landmark artificial intelligence (AI) safety bill that aimed to introduce some of the first regulations on AI technology in the US. The bill, which faced strong opposition from major tech companies, would have required advanced AI models to undergo safety testing and included mandatory oversight for “Frontier Models,” the most powerful AI systems.

Governor Newsom argued that the legislation could stifle innovation and potentially drive AI developers out of California. He expressed concerns that the bill applied stringent standards to even basic AI functions, without considering whether the AI systems were deployed in high-risk environments or involved critical decision-making.

Despite the veto, Newsom announced plans to develop alternative safeguards for AI technology, seeking advice from experts to protect the public from potential risks. This comes as part of broader efforts to address AI challenges, including recently signed legislation aimed at combating deep fakes and misinformation.

Senator Scott Wiener, who authored the bill, expressed disappointment, warning that without oversight, AI developers would continue to advance a powerful technology without necessary safety measures. Meanwhile, experts like Wei Sun from Counterpoint Research argue that AI is still in its early stages, and regulating specific high-risk applications might be a more effective approach.

Supermarket chain Iceland has filed a trademark application for its well-known “King Prawn Rings,” urging rival supermarkets to stop selling similar products. Iceland, headquartered in Flintshire, claims it has faced increasing imitation since introducing its prawn rings in 1991.

In a bold open letter shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Iceland called out major competitors Aldi, Tesco, Lidl, and Asda, accusing them of selling “copy crustaceans.” The letter cheekily asserted, “The King Prawn Ring is ours, and we won’t be letting you off the hook.”

Lidl humorously responded, “Here was us thinking it was a classic 1970s party dish.”

Iceland’s letter, signed by “Iceland Foods,” warned other retailers to cease selling prawn rings, especially ahead of Christmas. The chain emphasized its intent to pursue legal action if competitors don’t comply, declaring, “Our lawyers are more than ready to dive into legal waters.”

The prawn ring battle has sparked social media buzz, with consumers eagerly watching how rival supermarkets will respond to Iceland’s trademark claim.