Business daily

The White House says US President Donald Trump will likely hold talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping this week, following similar comments by top US officials over the weekend. This comes as tensions are ratcheting up again between the two countries, with both sides accusing the other of violating a trade truce deal agreed in Geneva last month. Meanwhile, the European Union is threatening countermeasures after Trump moved to double US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports to 50 percent starting on June 4. 

A US trade court has blocked a large number of President Donald Trump's tariffs, ruling that the US constitution gives Congress the exclusive authority to regulate commerce with other countries. The Trump administration has filed a notice of appeal, but now has 10 days to issue new orders which reflect the court's decision. Equity markets in Asia saw their shares rise on the back of the announcement.

As French President Emmanuel Macron met with his Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto this Wednesday in Jakarta, French companies like mining giant Eramet and defence provider Dassault Aviation were hoping to capitalise on these diplomatic ties. Talking to the press, Macron said there would be new orders for Dassault's Rafales fighter jets. Also, we look at the German defence tech startups benefitting from the country's rearmament drive.

China is set to receive a record amount of debt repayment from developing countries this year, a majority of which is owed by the world's 75 poorest nations. New research by Australian think tank Lowy Institute says with new loans drying up and more loans maturing, China has now switched from being a leading lender for low-income nations to a major debt collector. Plus, a days-long taxi drivers' strike continues across France even as their main unions are negotiating with the government. 

Countries including Italy, Ireland and France want the EU to fast-track negotiations with the Trump administration to avoid US tariffs. The ASEAN group of SE Asian nations meets with China and the Gulf Cooperation Council in a bid to hedge against growing trade uncertainty. And, France makes arrests after a series of violent kidnapping aimed at extorting cryptocurrency moguls.

Emmanuel Macron announced business deals worth €9 billion in Vietnam, the first leg of his week-long tour of Southeast Asia, as Europe tries to boost ties with the free-market communist state. But first, European stocks rallied and the euro hit a one-month high against the US dollar after Donald Trump walked back from his threat of new, 50 percent tariffs on EU imports, giving until July 9 to reach a trade deal. It's unclear how the two sides can iron out fundamental differences during that window.

US President Donald Trump walked back his threat to slap 50 percent tariffs on all EU goods as early as June 1st, following a phone call with EU Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen. The acquisition of US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel looks set to proceed, and Emmanuel Macron seeks to sell France as a bastion of stability as he tours Southeast Asia.

As the global race in artificial intelligence gathers pace, American AI startup Anthropic has unveiled the latest, most powerful versions of its model Claude. The company says they can write computer code by themselves and play Pokémon for much longer than its predecessors. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with the company's Chief Product Officer Mike Krieger about ensuring safety, fighting deepfakes and reducing AI's environmental footprint.   

Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives in Washington on Wednesday appeared closer to finding common ground on new tax bill which will enact sweeping tax cuts. That news has jolted US bond and stock markets on the assumption that it could add trillions of dollars to the national debt and affect the government's creditworthiness. Also, Nvidia CEO calls US semiconductor export controls a failure.

Japan's new agriculture minister Shinjiro Koizumi vowed to bring down prices of rice, after his predecessor was forced to resign over a gaffe. Taku Eto had caused an uproar after joking he never had to buy rice thanks to donations from his supporters, touching many a raw nerve. But why is the country facing a crisis? Some analysts blame long-running government policy for the shortage. Plus, Marks & Spencer says a recent cyberattack will wipe out nearly a third of its annual profits. 

US tech giant Google said during its developers' conference on Tuesday that it was rolling out a new AI feature that could potentially transform the way people make internet queries. The firm relies heavily on its search business for its revenue and wants to make sure it can compete with AI startups, notably OpenAI and its flagship product, ChatGPT. Also, Japan's agriculture minister resigns after making a joke about being gifted rice.

One of Europe's largest cruise operators, MSC Cruises, has ordered two new giant ships to be built at France's Saint-Nazaire shipyard. It's set to boost the local economy, though cruise ships often draw criticism for their environmental impact. Plus, Sesame Street's creators have struck a deal with Netflix for the new season to be streamed on the platform, after a recent decision by Donald Trump to cut funding for PBS threatened the future of the iconic children's programme. 

Chinese electric vehicle battery maker CATL raised at least $4.6 billion when it debuted on the Hong Kong stock exchange this Tuesday. The firm founded in 2011 is the world's largest producer of EV batteries in market share and is accused by the US department of defence of having ties with China's military. Also, Brazil confirms its first outbreak of avian flu and faces trade bans from China and the EU among other places.

Emmanuel Macron announced a record 20 billion euros worth of new investments at the 8th edition of his flagship "Choose France" investment summit on Monday. More than 200 business leaders attended the gathering. Among them was Anindya Bakrie, Chair of the Indonesia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who spoke with FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer about how Indonesia is trying to navigate Donald Trump's global trade war and its attempts to expand trade opportunities. 

The eighth edition of the "Choose France" summit aimed at showcasing the country's attractiveness for foreign investment gets underway outside Paris. Five years after Brexit, the UK and the EU reach a deal to reset relations, and mounting debt causes the US to lose its last perfect credit rating.

As US President Donald Trump continues his diplomatic tour of Gulf states, he has announced a flurry of business deals with Qatar, including a purchase order of up to 210 jets from Boeing by Qatar Airways.  The White House says the deal is worth $96 billion and will create 1 million jobs in the US during their production and delivery. The announcement comes amid growing outrage over the US president's plan to accept a luxury Boeing 747 jumbo jet as a gift from the Qatari royal family. 

Things are going from bad to worse for Nissan. Struggling with weak sales and an ageing lineup, the Japanese carmaker has announced a sweeping restructuring plan, aiming to save €3 billion in costs. It plans to cut 15 percent of its global workforce and close seven of its 17 plants worldwide.  Plus, Samsung has released its latest model of Galaxy S that is less than 6mm thick. The Korean tech firm accelerated its release schedule as Donald Trump's tariffs were threatening to impact consumer spending. 

US chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, as well as other tech firms, have announced deals to work with Saudi Arabia's brand new AI venture Humain worth billions of dollars. This comes as US President Donald Trump is visiting the Middle East and paving the way for business deals for US companies. Also in this edition: Chinese leader Xi Jinping and his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva meet in Beijing, where they defend free trade and multilateralism.

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Saudi Arabia, kicking off his tour of the Middle East. During the trip, microchips used in artificial intelligence (AI) models will be high on the agenda. According to The New York Times, the Trump administration could finalise the sale of hundreds of thousands of advanced AI chips to UAE firm G42 by the end of the week. Also in this edition: US soybean farmers breathe a sigh of relief as Washington and China put their trade war on pause.

The US and China have agreed to a 90-day truce in their trade war, suspending or cancelling the sky-high tariffs they had imposed on each other's goods since April, but underlying issues still need to be addressed over the next three months. "The devil is in the details," says Maurizio Zanardi, professor of economics at the University of Sussex. Plus, Donald Trump signs an executive order aimed at bringing down drug prices in the US to align with what other countries are paying. 

As expected, the US Federal Reserve has kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged despite pressure from President Donald Trump.  Fed chair Jerome Powell warned the risks of higher inflation and higher unemployment has risen. Plus, Disney announced a plan to build its first theme park in the Middle East, on Abu Dhabi's Yas Island. But first, we take a look at how a 14-year civil war devastated Syria's economy, as interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Paris. 

A spate of violent kidnappings has targeted wealthy French cryptocurrency investors as criminal gangs seek to extort ransoms. We take a closer look. But first: Washington prepares for trade negotiations with Beijing amid reports of progress on a US-UK trade deal aimed at de-escalating Donald Trump's trade war.

Britain and India have finalised a free trade agreement after more than three years of negotiations. The landmark deal will lower tariffs on each other's goods and aims to increase bilateral trade by a further €30 billion by 2040. Plus, the European Commission has published a "roadmap" for its plans to cut its energy ties with Russia, including a ban on Russian gas by the end of 2027.

OpenAI says it's no longer seeking to transition to a fully for-profit company. The decision follows public backlash and a lawsuit by Elon Musk. Also in this edition: California Governor Gavin Newsom proposes a $7.5 billion tax credit for the US film industry instead of Donald Trump's 100% tariffs on foreign films, and Sweden mulls a ban on paying for adult content online.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett says he will hand over control of his $1.2 trillion conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway to successor Greg Abel by the end of the year. Also in this edition: Donald Trump threatens 100% US tariffs on foreign-made films, and Americans with jobs are increasingly turning to food banks to make ends meet.

Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has denied a Wall Street Journal report that the board had started looking for a new CEO to replace Elon Musk. It comes as Musk is stepping back from his job running DOGE this month. Meanwhile, more than 250 Labour Day demonstrations have been taking place around France. And, McDonald's has suffered its biggest drop in US sales since Covid.

Washington and Kyiv have signed an agreement to create an investment fund aimed at defraying US costs for supporting Ukraine's defence, based on the extraction of the country's rare earth minerals and other natural resources. We take a closer look at what's in the deal. Also in this edition: French consumer spending drops as shoppers cut back on purchases amid food inflation and a grim economic outlook.

US President Donald Trump has blamed his predecessor Joe Biden for a 0.3% shrink in GDP for the first three months of the year, as firms stockpiled imports ahead of tariffs. The S&P 500 fell this Wednesday as a result. Trump's first 100 days in office have seen the worst stock market performance in half a century. We take a closer look in this edition.

In a speech marking his first 100 days back in the Oval Office, Donald Trump painted a glowing picture of the US economy, with lower prices and higher wages for Americans. He also praised his administration's efforts to cut wasteful government spending by a trillion dollars by the end of next year. In this edition, we take a closer look at these claims and show that the picture might not be as rosy as the US president says it is.

The White House has blasted Amazon over a reported plan to display how much additional costs are coming from tariffs right next to the total price of a product on its website.  The e-commerce giant denied such a plan had been approved, after Donald Trump directly complained to its founder Jeff Bezos. Plus, France plans to impose a handling fee on small-value parcels, as the EU mulls introducing import duties on such parcels that have so far been exempt from tariffs. 

French carmaker Citroën, part of Stellantis, launched a new SUV model this Tuesday in Paris in a bid to turn around sales that have dropped over 10 percent in the first quarter of the year. In this edition, we speak to Citroën CEO Thierry Koskas about the fierce competition in the electric vehicle sector, the impact of tariffs on Citroën's Chinese competitors, and more broadly, France's industrial landscape.

Electricity is gratually being restored to parts of Spain and Portugal following a massive blackout that brought much of the two countries to a standstill. While the cause of the outage is still being investigated, Yuka Royer takes a look at how Europe is trying to modernise its grid system. Plus, India has ordered 26 more Rafale fighter jets from French defence giant Dassault, marking another step in the Asian nation's reliance on French military hardware. 

Defence expenditure rose by 9.4 percent worldwide in 2024 amid wars in Ukraine and Gaza, with researchers warning that rising military budgets will mean less funding for social welfare and humanitarian aid. Also in this edition: France aims to merge or eliminate one third of its government agencies amid a deficit crisis. Plus, the Chinese city of Chengdu sees a boom in panda tourism.

Nissan has announced that it now expects a record net loss of up to €4.6 billion for the fiscal year that ended in March, around nine times larger than its previous forecast only two months ago. The Japanese carmaker says this is due to impairment charges as part of its "turnaround plan" under new CEO Ivan Espinosa. Plus, souvenir shops in Rome are seeing an influx of customers as tens of thousands of Catholic faithfuls visit the Vatican to pay tribute to Pope Francis. 

Twelve US states have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, arguing that his use of emergency powers to wage a global trade war is "reckless and unlawful". Also in this edition: the Trump administration signals a potential de-escalation of the trade war, and Chinese carmakers show off their latest innovations at the Shanghai Auto Show.

Donald Trump's trade policy and back-and-forth on tariffs are already impacting one of the most globalised industries: aviation. With airlines saying they'll defer deliveries rather than pay for tariffs, FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with AirInsight Group's President Ernest Arvai about the potential impact of the ongoing trade war on the sector. 

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says he will be dedicating more time to the electric vehicle company starting from next month, after the firm published disappointing first-quarter results. The US carmaker has suffered from political blowback because of Musk's involvement with the Trump administration, as well as intense competition globally. Also in this edition, the International Monetary Fund slashes its global growth forecast because of Trump's trade war.

The International Monetary Fund says it expects global economic growth to be slower as it sharply downgraded its forecast for US growth as a result of Donald Trump's tariffs and the uncertainty they have created. It also warns that risks to the global financial sector had significantly risen since last autumn. But first, we look at why it's important for central banks to be free from political meddling, as Trump's intensifying attacks against Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell rattle markets.  

Wall Street closed in firmly negative territory on Monday, continuing a rout that's reaching historic dimensions. After Trump's disruptive tariff policies, it's now his attacks on the US Federal Reserve that are unsettling investors. The US president has been lambasting the head of the central bank, Jerome Powell, on social media. He called Powell "a major loser" and urged "pre-emptive cuts in interest rates". We take a look at the Federal Reserve's mandate and why it's supposed to be independent of political pressure.

Pope Francis was known for his vision that the Catholic Church should be representative of and support the poor and the weak.  He once denounced "a new colonialism" rooted in inequality and profit-chasing, calling the unfettered pursuit of money "the dung of the devil" that hurt the poor and harmed the environment.  Yuka Royer takes a look back at the pontiff's vision for a church that represented, and worked for, the underprivileged. 

US Vice President JD Vance landed in New Delhi this Monday for a four-day cross-country visit, with talks on a bilateral US-India trade deal high on the agenda. Also in this edition: the IMF and World Bank kick off their spring meetings under the cloud of a global trade war, and luxury giant LVMH's Bernard Arnault urges Brussels to negotiate with the Trump administration on tariffs. 

US President Donald Trump has called for Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to be fired, a day after the central bank chief delivered a stark warning about the effects of tariffs. Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping is ending his Asian tour with a visit to Cambodia, portraying China as a stable trading partner. Plus, the Hermès Birkin handbag is about to get a lot more expensive, at least in the US.