China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles Amid Safety Concerns; EU Open to Customs Union Talks with UK; Israel Reopens Rafah Crossing
China has banned hidden car door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to outlaw the design, according to BBC Business. The new regulations, prompted by safety concerns, require cars sold in China to have mechanical releases both inside and outside the vehicle. This decision follows scrutiny from safety watchdogs worldwide after several deadly incidents involving EVs, including two fatal crashes in China involving Xiaomi EVs where power failures were suspected of preventing doors from opening.
The ban comes as the European Commissioner for finance, Valdis Dombrovskis, stated that Brussels would be "openminded" about discussing closer trade ties with the UK, including a customs union, according to BBC Business. Dombrovskis, speaking after talks with UK ministers, said the EU was "ready to engage" if the UK wanted to explore the move. He also suggested that Britain and the EU could remove "most" food checks between them.
In other news, Israel reopened the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a key passage for Palestinians in Gaza, according to BBC World. The crossing had been largely closed since May 2024, when Israeli forces captured the Gazan side. The reopening was initially planned during the first phase of US President Donald Trump's ceasefire plan between Israel and Hamas, which began in October, but was blocked by Israel until the return of the last Israeli hostage in Gaza last week. Ambulances were seen waiting at the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard detailed her ongoing election security assessment in a letter to congressional lawmakers, according to Fox News. Gabbard stated that President Trump "specifically directed" her to be present for the execution of a search warrant in Fulton County, Georgia, last week as part of an election probe. The letter was addressed to Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chair Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn. The FBI had searched the Fulton County election office in Georgia, linked to the 2020 election.
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