Google ad slowdown, Huawei-linked EV brake fault, Binance hack and Samsung profits

Google has revealed that some of its Asian advertising customers, almost certainly Chinese e-tailers, are buying fewer ads. The FBI also named North Korea's TraderTraitor group as the source of the Binance attack, while Samsung reported record quarterly results and a battery startup showed fast-charging technology.

Google ad growth slows after EU customs change

Alphabet chief business officer Philipp Schindler said on the Q3 earnings call: “In retail, some of our APAC advertisers were impacted by the EU eliminating its de minimis exemption.” The EU introduced a temporary €3 customs duty for every consignment valued at under €150 imported from outside the bloc. The previous de minimis exemption meant no import duty was collected on almost 5.9 billion low-value items shipped to the continent in 2025 alone. The new regime aims to protect European retailers from cheap imports.

Huawei-linked EV brake pedal bracket breaks in test

Huawei works with Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group Co. (JAC) under the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance. Their flagship model is a luxury EV called the Maextro V800. Chinese automotive review site Dongchedi found that the brake pedal bracket broke when drivers exerted maximum force during tests to assess sudden deceleration at 100 km/h. Drivers were still able to stop the car, but more slowly than is optimal. After Dongchedi posted its findings, reports of its work began to disappear from the internet, according to China Digital Times. Some opinion pieces calling for further safety assessment also disappeared, giving rise to theories that Beijing is displeased with negative coverage.

FBI names North Korea as source of Binance attack

The FBI named North Korea's elite cybercrime crew TraderTraitor as the source of the attack on cryptocurrency exchange Binance. Cyber-defense company TRM reached the same conclusion and said it has “high confidence” that “on and off-chain intelligence” suggested TraderTraitor did it. TRM wrote that billions in crypto began leaving Binance wallets on the evening of October 29. Binance first said a single compromised laptop caused the incident. It has since detected “additional points of breach” but has not offered more information while it investigates. The exchange says its platform is safe and it will make good any losses. North Korea steals cryptocurrency to fund its government.

Samsung profit and fast-charging battery news

Samsung announced record Q3 revenue of ₩195.3 trillion ($146.2 billion) and operating profit of ₩107 trillion ($80 billion). Its DS division earned over 99 percent of that operating profit and $110 billion of the company's revenue. Separately, Dr Rachid Yazami, who developed the graphite anode that made lithium-ion batteries mainstream, showed a battery design that can achieve 70 percent charge in under four minutes. In tests of its lithium iron phosphate battery cell, Dr Yazami's startup KVI went from 10 percent to 70 percent charge in 3.7 minutes and to full charge in seven minutes using Non-Linear Voltammetry technology. SkyDrive has signed up to test the tech.

Sources: The Register