US e-commerce giant Amazon has expanded its "Prime Day" promotional event this year to four days, in a bid to give shoppers "more time to shop and save". US President Donald Trump's global trade war has increased the threat of higher prices for US shoppers. While forecasts show another record year for sales, other indicators are highlighting cautious consumer sentiment. Also in this edition: Trump's 50 percent tariff threat on all copper imports could hurt global producers like Zambia.
US President Donald Trump announces a 50% tariff on copper after sending tariff letters to 14 different trading partners. Also, Bulgaria is set to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026. Plus, France's parliament approves a controversial bill on agriculture which brings back a pesticide that was banned in 2020.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump announced new "reciprocal" tariffs on 14 countries that would come into effect on August 1 unless a deal was struck before then. Japan and South Korea vowed to pursue negotiations with Washington – as did South Africa – but promised to defend their national interests, setting the stage for difficult talks. Also in this edition, the BRICS summit wraps up in Brazil, with Trump making headlines there too.
US President Donald Trump has sent letters to several countries dictating new tariffs that will be implemented on August 1. Also, France's poverty rate has surged to its highest level on record. Plus, one of the world's largest Legolands has opened its doors to tourists in Shanghai.
A walkout by French air traffic controllers is causing major disruptions to summer travel, impacting not just French airports but also the country's airspace. Next, the US House of Representatives has passed Donald Trump's sweeping budget bill, stripping millions of Americans of food benefits. Plus, France's antitrust agency is fining fast-fashion retailer Shein €40 million for deceptive business practices.
A new report shows that recent heatwaves across Europe could slow economic growth by half a percentage point in 2025. But first, US President Donald Trump announces a trade deal with Vietnam. Plus, a French court has sentenced three former Ubisoft executives to suspended jail terms for harassment at the gaming giant.
US President Donald Trump has threatened to increase import duties on Japanese goods to 35 percent as trade talks with Tokyo approach a July 9 deadline. The two countries are fast approaching the end of a 90-day negotiation period before previously imposed 24 percent tariffs snap back into place, and talks have proved difficult. Also in this edition, FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago looks at the opportunities and challenges of using carbon capture technology in the fight to reduce global warming.
A marathon vote is underway in the US Senate over President Donald Trump's megabill, with Republicans divided over how much to cut welfare programmes to extend tax breaks. Meanwhile, the UK-US trade deal has come into effect, but there's still no news on aluminium and steel. Plus, China's largest coffee chain is escalating its race against Starbucks.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung spoke to parliament this Thursday for the first time since taking office, and asked the legislature to approve a 30.5 trillion won (€19.2 billion) supplementary budget aimed at reviving the economy. US President Donald Trump's tariff war has hit South Korea's export-driven economy hard, with GDP growth forecasts for 2025 recently slashed from 1.5 percent to 0.8 percent. Also in this edition: cabling thefts in northern France severely disrupt train services, including the Eurostar between London and Paris.
Eurostar services between the UK and the EU have been restored following a chaotic day of delays and cancellations, with dozens of TGV high-speed trains in northern France also affected. The major disruption was caused by the theft of more than 600 metres of railway cable near the city of Lille. Plus, the World Economic Forum dubbed the "Summer Davos" is underway in China, with trade tensions and conflicts casting a huge shadow over the event.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou will face a no-confidence vote from Socialist MPs after talks between unions and employers over a reform of the country's pension system failed to reach a compromise. France's highest auditing authority earlier showed that the pension system could run a deficit of as much as €30 billion by 2045 if nothing is changed. Also in this edition, FRANCE 24's Luke Shrago looks at the economic impact of the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
Global oil prices tumbled for a second day while stocks rose sharply, as a ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains in place despite earlier violations. Meanwhile, the German government approves a draft budget that will sharply increase its defence spending as leaders arrive for a key NATO summit.
Crude oil prices fell around 7 percent on Monday, after Iran said it had launched a missile attack on a US base in Qatar. Investors appeared to take the retaliatory action as being limited, following days of uncertainty over whether Tehran would close the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump later said that Iran had given the US advance notice of the attack. Earlier, Washington also called on China to pressure Tehran not to close the vital waterway.
After 18 months of negotiations, Japan’s top steelmaker, Nippon Steel, completed its $14.9 billion acquisition of US Steel. On Thursday, CEO Eiji Hashimoto confirmed that the company granted the US government an unusual "golden share", giving it more say in strategic issues. Also in this edition, the latest data showing France's economy is lagging behind its European neighbours and potentially the biggest sale in US sports team history.
The US Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate at the current range of 4.25 percent to 4.50 percent as it expects slower growth, higher inflation and slightly higher unemployment by the end of the year than what it previously forecast. The move was widely expected, including by Donald Trump, who nonetheless insulted Fed Chairman Jerome Powell again. Plus, Nippon Steel has completed its takeover of US Steel after agreeing to let the US government have significant control in business decisions.
Crude oil markets continued to hover around the $75 a barrel mark this Wednesday, sustained by fears that the US could get directly involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran. The possibility that Iran could seek to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20 percent of the world's crude production transits, is also a source of concern. Also in this edition: French authorities recall Citroen cars equipped with defective airbags after the death of a woman in a car accident on Saturday.
Luca de Meo is leaving Renault and the automobile industry after five years at the helm of the company. He will take on the role of CEO at luxury group Kering, which is struggling to revive its flagship brand Gucci. Kering's shares rose 12 percent on the news, while Renault's sank more than 8 percent. But first, global oil prices have come down after soaring on Friday as investors continue to monitor the Israel-Iran war closely.
Fresh analysis from LinkedIn shows the rate of women hired into leadership positions has slowed for the third year in a row, leaving the hiring rate back where it was in 2020. The data shows women are being shut out of senior positions, holding less than a third of top roles despite making up almost half of the global workforce. Sue Duke, LinkedIn's Global VP of Public Policy, discusses some of the solutions that would help reverse this decline.
In this edition, FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks with Benjamin Netter, the co-founder of Riot. The French company provides real-time cybersecurity for over 1.5 million employees around the world and has raised $45 million since it was launched in 2020. Netter provides insights on the French tech ecosystem, the magnitude of cybersecurity threats in the age of artificial intelligence, and how AI can also be used to increase protection.
Vivatech 2025, billed as Europe's largest tech and startup event, kicked off this Wednesday in Paris. Some 14,000 startups are showcasing their innovations, hoping to attract the attention of investors in a difficult context. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks with Jad Shimaly, EY Global Managing Partner, about how trade uncertainty is weighing on the tech sector, Europe's quest for tech sovereignty, and how EY is advising businesses to integrate artificial intelligence.