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EU proposes a ban on exports of waste, including aluminum scrap, to non OECD countries
Sejourne’s 'cabinet' released a statement on Friday stating that the EU's Industry Chief Stephane 'Sejourne decided to propose a 'broad ban' on the export of wastes, including aluminum scrap, 'to non-OECD nations'. Sejourne was expected to announce long-awaited measures for trade on September 23. These would only limit exports of aluminum scrap. In the internal discussion, it was revealed that the tool could only cover?around half of the scrap import. The Executive Vice President has withdrawn the proposal in order to look at a different proposal that is independent of trade instruments. We are currently working on a?act delegated under the Waste Shipment Regulation. This delegated act 'will ban the export of waste including aluminium scrap, to non-OECD nations with some exceptions. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, based in Paris, is a group that includes mostly wealthy nations. However, it excludes China, India and many other Asian countries, which are the major destinations for EU scrap metal and waste. Since the spring, Europe's aluminum industry has been waiting on?the Commission to implement trade restrictions such as export duties. The announcement was delayed from June to September. Scrap metal is an important?source of raw materials for EU smelters that are struggling to survive. It also plays a key role in decarbonisation efforts. Recycling aluminium consumes?95% fewer energy resources than mining bauxite to produce metal. The statement said that the proposal will first be opened to public consultation, before being adopted by the end of the year.
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Holiday schedule for US economic and other data
Labor Day, which falls on Monday, September 7, will impact the release of major economic, energy, and commodities reports in Washington for the week ending Sept. 6. The schedule is below. The times are in EDT/GMT. Treasury announcements are subject to change. Monday, September 7 Labor Day. Labor Day. Tuesday, September 8, National Federation of Independent Business releases Small Business Optimism Index, August 0600/1000 Conference Board releases Employment Trends for August 1000/1400 Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. The U.S. Department of Agriculture releases weekly U.S. Export Inspections for Grains, Oilseeds at 1100/1500. Note: this week's inspections are delayed due to the holiday. Treasury Dept. Weekly sales of 6-week, 3-, and 6-month bills are held at 1130/1530. NOTE: Sales of 3- and 6-month bills delayed due to the holiday on Monday Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. Federal Reserve Issues Consumer Credit for July, 1500/1900 USDA releases weekly Crop Progress for 1600/2000. NOTE: This is a delayed release from Monday, due to the holiday. Wednesday, September 9 Mortgage Bankers' Association releases weekly "Mortgage Applications Survey", 0700-1100 ADP releases weekly NER (National Employment Report), Pulse, 815/1215. Note: this report is delayed from Tuesday because of a holiday Redbook publishes weekly retail sales index, 0855/1255. Due to the holiday, Tuesday's sales will be delayed. Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. The American Petroleum Institute releases the weekly National Petroleum Report, 1630/2030. Due to the holiday, Tuesday's report has been delayed. Thursday, September 10, Labor Dept. Labor Dept. Commerce Dept. Commerce Dept. releases Wholesale Inventories of July 1000/1400 The National Association of Realtors?issues U.S. Existing home sales for August, 1000/1400 Energy Information Administration (EIA), Weekly U.S. Underground Natural Gas Stocks, 1030/1430. Schedule is not affected by holidays Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. Treasury Department holds weekly?sale of 4- and 8-week bills, 1130/1530 Weekly?sale 1130/1530 of 4- and 8 week bills EIA releases weekly petroleum stock and output data at 1200/1600. Note: time change on Wednesday. Freddie ?Mac issues weekly U.S. mortgage rates, 1200/1600 Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. Weekly balance sheet of the Federal Reserve, 1630/2030 Friday, September 11, The Labor Department releases the Consumer Price Index for August; Real Earnings for August, 0830/1230. Labor Dept. USDA releases weekly?Export Sales at 0830/1230. Note: this report is delayed from Thursday due to the holiday. University of Michigan releases preliminary September survey of consumers, 1000/1400 Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland releases Median CPI, August approx. 1100/1500 USDA releases monthly Crop Production and World Agricultural Supply and Demand estimates, 1200/1600 Federal Reserve releases quarterly Financial Accounts (Z.1) of the United States (1200/1600) Treasury Dept. Treasury Dept. releases Monthly Budget for August 1400/1800
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Drought affects Pilsner Brewers' prized Czech Hops
After a brutal summer, the growers of aromatic 'Czech Saaz' hops that are used in Pilsner Lagers around the world are looking for new varieties and irrigation methods to boost their faltering harvests. Jiri Smetana of the Hops Growers Union of the Czech Republic said that this year's rainfall was 60% lower than normal and temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) were record highs, which damaged crops. Smetana, at a hopyard in Steknik, near Zatec (whose German name is Saaz), said that this season had been extremely hot and dry. He said that "we expect a decline in the yield of 25% to 30% compared with the long-term mean" for Saaz. The crop is less potent and less bitter Smetana stated that the average total harvest is 6,500 tons. This year, however, farmers will be "happy" if they get a 5. Brewers had to 'use more' of the reduced output because it was less bitter and potent. Smetana stated that the breweries would be able cope with the situation due to pre-stocking. However, a poor harvest in 2013 could cause serious problems. Around 80% of Czech hops is exported. China is the largest market, followed by Japan. The Saaz Shine, which is able to withstand dry climates, is a popular experimental variety. It is only being grown in a limited area, but growers hope it will take off. This year was a real test for the?varieties. Smetana stated that we will be able to see how the drought resistance works, but for now, the plantation looks good. The problem is that Saaz has become a tradition for many customers. Japanese and 'Chinese customers, who are the main export customers for Czech Hops, view new varieties with some suspicion." According to the latest estimates, growers are building small reservoirs near plantations and placing their hopes in plans for a "major" new dam that will not be completed for 15 years. Saaz will also be fine-tuned for temperature and drought resistance and genetic modification.
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Stocks mostly decline after a solid U.S. job report
Treasury yields, the dollar and S&P?500 all rose on Friday as U.S.?job creation?accelerated and unemployment rate remained steady. Investors are looking forward to the consumer inflation report next week as a key factor in this determination. The nonfarm payrolls increased by 162,000 positions last month, following a 21,000-job increase that was upwardly revised in July. Economists surveyed by predicted an increase of '56,000 following a previous reported decline of 23,000 jobs in July. Last week, the yield on 10-year benchmark U.S. notes increased by 1.21 basis points to 4.774%. Just after the report, it was 4.792%. The yields on two-year bonds reached their highest level since January 2025. Bret Kenwell is a U.S. Investment Analyst at eToro, New York. The Fed will make its interest rate decision in mid-September, so the CPI report next week will be closely monitored. The short-term interest rate futures indicate a probability of 65% for an increase at the Fed meeting on September 15-16, up from 55% prior to the report. OIL PRICES DROP, DOLLAR UP Prices of oil have dropped from their recent highs. The renewed attacks in the U.S. - Iran war this week caused a spike in oil prices. This has added to concerns about rising costs. U.S. crude fell 1.6% to $89.87 per barrel and Brent dropped 1.3% to $94.26. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 98.46 points or 0.19% to?53.587.55, the S&P 500 declined 6.06 points or 0.08% to 7,741.65 while the Nasdaq Composite rose by 17.02 points or 0.06% to 26,601.08. MSCI's global index of stocks rose by 1.02 points or 0.09% to 1,155.76. The pan-European STOXX 600 Index rose by 0.04%. The dollar index (which measures the greenback in relation to a basket including the yen, the euro and other currencies) was up by 0.2% for the day. The Japanese yen temporarily weakened by 0.41% to 156.45 dollars. Last time, the dollar was near flat against yen. Spot gold dropped 1.2% to $4.418.09 per ounce.
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US sanctions on Turkey's entities targeting Iran
The?U.S. The 'U.S. Treasury Department released new Iran-related sanction?on Friday. It targeted three?Turkey based entities. Golden Global Portfoy Yonetimi Anonim Sirketi is the entity targeted. Golden Global Varlik Kiralama Anonim Sirketi and Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi are also included. The Treasury Department issued a license to allow the winding down of transactions. The Trump administration has been trying to put economic pressure on?Tehran for six months, since Washington's war against?Iran. This has led to a rise in energy prices worldwide. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has stated that Washington wants to bring Iran back to the table for negotiations. Last month, Bessent announced an "economic assault" on Iran's financial connections around the globe. Washington cut off the branches of Egyptian?lender Banque Misr in the United Arab Emirates? from U.S. Dollar transactions last week over their dealings to Iran. Bessent, in an interview with Sunday's? In an interview with?
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RPT-Major underground and tunnel rescue operations
Rescuers pulled two survivors out of a tunnel connected to a 'hydropower station' on Nepal’s Trishuli River, on Friday. This was nine days after a glacier collapse caused a torrential mud, rock and ice that killed over 1,300 and left more than 5,600 people missing. Here is a list with some of the major rescue operations. Rescuers drilled through rock, concrete, and earth to free 41 workers who were trapped in a collapsed Himalayan tunnel for 17 days. The tunnel was part of the Char-Dham highway, which connected four Hindu pilgrimage sites in northern India. After sudden monsoon rainfall blocked the exit, a group of 12 boys with their soccer coach went to explore the Tham Luang Cave Complex in Thailand. They became trapped deep within a flooded cave network. Divers located the group alive after a multi-day search. All thirteen were rescued safely. Rescue of 33 miners who were trapped underground for two months by an explosion at the San Jose mine in Chile’s Atacama desert. In October 2007, all 54 trapped miners at a gold mine in Western Australia by a fire were rescued. The fire broke out in a caterpillar underground truck at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine. Sixteen miners were trapped in the Beaconsfield mine, located on Tasmania's southern Australian island. Fourteen miners escaped immediately, one died, and two were rescued after spending a couple of weeks?about one kilometre underground. In July 2002, nine trapped miners were rescued after 77 hours of underground work at the Quecreek Mine.
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Italy's deputy Prime Minister says energy and banks should assist with public finances
The deputy prime minister of Italy suggested that banks and energy companies be prepared to accelerate tax payments in order to boost the public finances, without an official tax increase. Antonio Tajani, a?also?Italy’s Foreign Minister, said that the additional support could help fund next year’s budget, as well as any other measures to shield consumers from high energy costs. Tajani told reporters at the annual TEHA business forum that any policy should be modeled after the agreement Italy reached with banks and insurance companies last year to advance taxes to the state. He said, "It's only fair to tax the profits of oil companies and that they lend a helping hand to Italians who are in a difficult situation." How can?they help? By putting taxes on them to make the markets shiver? ... "The winning strategy is that which the government has pursued with the banks and insurance companies," he continued. Tajani's Forza Italia has always opposed the League, a coalition partner, in its proposals to tax "windfall profits" of energy or financial firms. He also cited as a model an agreement Italy reached with large energy companies in recent weeks to advance tax payments in order to help the government fund a reduction in fuel excise duty. "Banks, insurers, and large oil firms all have a role to play in times of?need. He said that raiding banks was for bandits. "Agreed solutions are the best way to go." When we begin to work on the budget for next year, if there is an emergency we will talk to banks," Tajani said when asked if the measure from last year could be extended.
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Major underground and tunnel rescue operations
Rescuers pulled out two survivors on Friday from a tunnel connected to a hydropower plant on Nepal's Trishuli River, nine days after the glacier collapse that caused a torrent of ice and mud. Here is a list with some of the most important rescue operations. Rescuers in 2023, who used drills to remove debris such as rock, earth and concrete, rescued 41 workers trapped inside a collapsed Himalayan tunnel for 17 days. The tunnel was part of the Char Dham highway, which connected four Hindu pilgrimage locations in northern India. 2018 - A group of 12 boys, their soccer coach and the Tham Luang cave complex in Thailand were trapped after sudden monsoon rains blocked out the exit. Divers located the group alive after a multi-day search. They rescued all thirteen. In 2010, 33 miners who were trapped underground for two months by a collapse in the San Jose mine?in Chile's Atacama desert, were rescued. In October 2007, all 54 trapped miners at a goldmine in Western Australia were rescued after a fire. Fire broke out in a 'caterpillar truck that was working underground at the Kanowna Belle Gold Mine. Sixteen miners were trapped in the collapsed 'Beaconsfield Gold Mine' on Tasmania, a southern Australian island. Fourteen miners escaped immediately, one died, and two were rescued after spending a total of?two weeks?about one kilometre underground. In July 2002, nine miners were rescued after spending more than 77-hours underground in the Quecreek Mine of Pennsylvania.
AI is revolutionizing the most prolific film industry in the world
Welcome to the new look movie set. The cacophony created by cameras, clapperboards, and shouted instructions has been replaced with the quiet hum from a coding room.
Collective Artists Network is a leading talent agency that represents Bollywood's A-listers. It has been facilitating the careers of superstars for many years. It's now engineering digital ones. The Bengaluru facility uses artificial intelligence to create content that is based on Hindu mythology, a genre popular in India. In a movie based on a religious text called "Ramayana," there is a scene where the god Hanuman is seen flying with a mountain in his arms. The show "Mahabharat" is based on another ancient epic. It features a scene depicting princess Gandhari who blindfolded her eyes when she married a blind king.
India is the country that produces most movies, and its stars like Shah Rukh Khan or?Amitabh?Bachchan have cult followings. Many?industry participants say that changing audience habits and the growth of streaming are impacting production budgets. Ormax Media, a consulting firm, says that moviegoers will drop to 832 millions in 2025 compared to 1.03 billion people in 2019. Box-office sales last year?hit an all-time high of $1.4 billion, but revenue has been choppy and dependent on a few hits and more expensive tickets since the pandemic. To view this story on.com go to
India's studios are deploying AI on a massive scale, releasing films in multiple languages and even recutting the endings of old titles in order to increase sales. They are also reshaping filmmaking economics by reducing production timelines and utilizing AI to improve efficiency.
Rahul Regulapati is the head of Collective's AI Studio, Galleri5. How about production time? He said, "down to a quarter."
Hollywood has taken a different approach, with union contracts and concerns about job loss limiting studios' adoption of AI. Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia are making early bets in India by partnering local filmmakers. At least one major production company is reviewing its entire catalog for AI rereleases. In previous reporting, we have explored the ways in which Indian filmmakers harness AI and India's divergence from Hollywood. The first report to detail the extent of India's film industries?reorganization around AI, and the economics that are driving this shift. This story includes interviews with 25 people, including directors and studio heads. American and British studios are experimenting with AI filmmaking. They will produce the first full-length AI animation features in 2024, and an AI powered immersive version of 'The Wizard of Oz' last year.
Dominic Lees said that India's film-makers' ambitions are at a?different level. He is a researcher in AI and film at the University of Reading, Britain. He said that if India can meet the demands, it will become a leader in AI filmmaking. India's pivot towards AI is a reflection of its embracement of technology in general. India bet last year that embracing AI would create enough opportunities to offset any short-term disruption. According to an analysis by EY, AI could increase revenue for Indian media and entertainment companies by 10% while reducing costs by 15% in the medium term.
Vikram malhotra, the founder of Abundantia Entertainment told reporters that Abundantia Entertainment is building their AI capability from scratch. The Bollywood production house recently announced an investment of $11 million in a studio for AI.
NEW ENDINGS FOR OLD DRAMAS
India's Eros Media World released "Raanjhanaa" with an AI-altered version last year. The film replaced the tragic ending in which the protagonist dies with a happier conclusion where the lover smiles through tears when he opens his eyes.
Rewrites drew criticism. Dhanush, Dhanush is the name of the actor who plays the main role. He said on X, that the AI remake "stripped away the film's very soul." It also set a "deeply worrying precedent for artists and art."
The re-released "Raanjhanaa", however, still attracted audiences. PVR Inox India's biggest cinema chain reported that 35% of tickets for the Tamil-language version were sold in August, the month when the film was released. This was 12 percentage points more than the average for 2025.
Eros has gone further. Pradeep Dwivedi is the group CEO and he said that Eros was reviewing its 3,000 titles catalog to "identify candidates for AI-assisted adaption." Last year, Eros' Indian unit Eros International warned about "competition by digital platforms," as its annual consolidated revenue from operations dropped 44%.
Dwivedi explained that the AI rewrites are both a revenue-generating opportunity and a strategy for creative renewal. Hollywood would have to deal with such changes. A deal with the U.S. actors union SAGAFTRA prohibits studios from digitally altering an actor's performance, or creating a digital copy without informed consent. The Directors Guild of America contract prohibits studios from relying on AI to make creative decisions without consulting directors and forbids AI from performing the work of their members.
Indian studios are experimenting aggressively with AI in Hindu mythology tales. This is big business for a country that has millions of devotees. Collective plans eight AI-generated titles focusing on deities like Hanuman and Krishna.
JioStar is a joint venture media company between Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Media and Walt Disney. It airs an AI-generated version of the Hindu epic “Mahabharat” – the first episode series that emerged from Collective’s cinematic AI laboratory.
JioStar said that the AI version of the story about a dynastic battle between princes, which was released in October on the streaming platform by JioStar, has attracted 26.5 million viewers since its release. A previous TV adaptation attracted 200 million viewers from 1988 to 1990. However, the show has been met with a mixed reception by audiences. IMDb gives "Mahabharat", a 1.4-star rating. Some reviewers cite lip-syncing issues, while others say that some scenes are low-quality and lack authenticity because of unnatural styling.
Alok Jain is a senior executive with JioStar. He stated that the response has been "a mixture of appreciation and healthy discussion, which is normal for any ambitious creative step." JioStar also plans to make original stories using AI.
Some film industry figures have expressed concern about the use of AI. Jonathan Taplin, a writer and producer from the United States who has worked for Hollywood studios, says that the use of AI to create feature films is an "affront to all of cinema's history."
He said, "It'll fill your screens and cinemas with formula slop."
AI DUBBING
The acceptance of AI may be easier to achieve through dubbing.
India has 22 official languages, and there are hundreds of dialects. Dubbing is essential to make a movie a blockbuster in India. AI is now beginning to solve the problem of mismatched lip movements, a complaint that audiences have had for years.
Subhabrata Debnath, the co-founder of NeuralGarage in Bengaluru, a startup that offers dubbing services to top studios such as Yash Raj Films and other major studios, demonstrated a clip showing an AI-generated English character. Subhabrata Debnath then added a German audio track and the character spoke fluent German within minutes.
Debnath explained that the technology preserved "the performance, the identity and the speaking styles of the person", while modifying the face to look natural.
Last year, NeuralGarage AI technology was used to translate Yashraj's Hindi film "War 2" from the Hindi language into Telugu of south India. The production house did not respond to any questions.
The Red Carpet meets the RED MAJORS
Tech giants around the world are also interested in getting a piece. Google partnered in August with Bollywood director Shakun Bhatra to produce a 5-part cinematic'series' using Veo 3 video generation and Flow AI to experiment with AI powered filmmaking. Mira Lane is Google's Vice President of Technology and Society. She said that AI can also help independent artists create complex sequences which "might be otherwise out of reach because of budget or logistical limitations."
Microsoft has been working on a collaboration with Collective, and it said that Microsoft would be providing AI computing power in order to "shape" the next wave of global story-telling through such collaborations.
Collective uses a hybrid approach of digital animation and physical recording to bypass the limitations of text prompts. The actors wear motion-capture suits equipped with sensors to capture body movements in 3D, while their smartphones record facial expressions. This data is then fed into the AI pipeline to allow for more nuanced control of the AI generated characters.
The ripples go beyond the studio. Festivals dedicated to AI-generated shorts have proliferated around the world, including in Los Angeles, Cannes and Barcelona. India's first event took place at Mumbai's Royal Opera House in November, when young storytellers and a robot walked down the red carpet.
In February, Nvidia was on stage in New Delhi with the second edition of India’s AI Film Festival. Pradeep Gupta told the audience that Nvidia is working on reducing computing costs to allow anyone "to create something substantial" without spending a lot of cash.
Anurag Kashyap is a Bollywood Director who expressed concern about the use of AI and its growth in India. He reluctantly acknowledged the economic benefits of studios deploying the technology.
In India, cinema doesn't revolve around art. "It's just business. Studios will use it to create mythologicals," Kashyap stated of AI. "Our audience loves it."
(source: Reuters)