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US imposes trade restrictions on dozens of entities with eye on China
US imposes trade restrictions on dozens of entities with eye on China
by  AFP

The United States added dozens of entities to a trade blacklist Tuesday, its Commerce Department said, in part to disrupt Beijing's artificial intelligence and advanced computing capabilities. Two entities in Iran and China were also added to the list for seeking to procure US items for Iran's defense industry and drone programs, the Commerce Department said.

Lula urges Mercosur-Japan deal to counter Trump protectionism
Lula urges Mercosur-Japan deal to counter Trump protectionism
by  AFP

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva called Wednesday for a trade deal between South America's Mercosur bloc and Japan to counter growing US protectionism. The Keidanren business federation "urgently" called in November for "expedited efforts" towards a Japan-Mercosur Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), an accord similar to a free trade deal.

ECB's digital euro sparks flurry of online misinformation
ECB's digital euro sparks flurry of online misinformation
by  AFP

European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde's recent remarks on a "digital euro" prompted a fresh wave of misinformation online, highlighting an uphill battle ahead to convince the public of the project's merits. - 'Strategic autonomy' - The ECB and dozens of other central banks worldwide are exploring or putting in place central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) as cash use declines.

ECB pushes back against calls for looser bank rules
ECB pushes back against calls for looser bank rules
by  AFP

The European Central Bank has pushed back against calls to loosen rules for eurozone banks despite fears they could fall behind US rivals if President Donald Trump implements major deregulation. - Banking rules stall - Still, Montagner conceded it was ultimately not his call to set rules for the eurozone banking system -- that is up to European lawmakers.

Filipinos see pathway from poverty with virtual assistant jobs
Filipinos see pathway from poverty with virtual assistant jobs
by  AFP

Nathalie Mago's work day begins after she's tucked her three daughters into bed and flicked off the lights in their house north of the Philippine capital Manila. - Risks and rewards - A recent TikTok video with tens of thousands of likes featured a virtual assistant slowly unveiling a screenshot of her pay for five days' work -- P29,400 ($512), more than double the monthly minimum wage in Manila.

Rising seas test defenses of South American ports
Rising seas test defenses of South American ports
by  AFP

When waves come crashing over the sea wall in Chile's biggest port of San Antonio, dockers run for cover. On a recent day of calm seas at San Antonio, cranes were busy moving blocks to reinforce the sea wall and top it with curved concave blocks that break the waves' momentum as part of an $11-million climate mitigation upgrade.