Business daily

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% - 4.50%, as it expects slower growth, higher inflation and slightly higher unemployment by the end of the year than 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.

French authorities say a defective airbag manufactured by now-bankrupt Japanese firm Takata was responsible for the fatal injuries sustained by a driver who died of a road accident last week. France's transport minister has called for all Citroen C3 and DS3 models fitted with recalled airbags to be taken off the road. Plus, at the Paris Air Show, aerospace giants and startups alike are showcasing technologies to make aviation greener. 

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.

Five years after Brexit, the United Kingdom and the European Union have struck a deal on the status of Gibraltar that will ease the cross-border movement of people and goods. The tiny British territory bordering Spain had been one of the final sticking points of the post-Brexit negotiations. Plus, US President Donald Trump claims a "deal with China is done" following high-level trade talks in London, but uncertainty remains over just how much Beijing is willing to give up its leverage on rare earth supplies. 

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.

The European Union has proposed a new round of sanctions against Russia, which include a ban on the use of the Nord Stream underwater pipelines between Russia and Germany and the addition of 77 more vessels to the blacklist of the so-called "shadow fleet" of tankers carrying Russian oil. Plus, Eurostar announces a €2 billion expansion plan that includes new direct trains from London to Frankfurt and Geneva. 

Delegations from Washington and Beijing are in London this Tuesday for a second day of trade talks, with the Americans expected to ease export restrictions on microchips in exchange for China releasing more rare earth minerals supply. Also in this edition: Canada looks to boost its defence spending in Europe. Plus, Apple's AI offerings at its 2025 Worldwide Developers Conference underwhelm analysts. 

As France hosted a UN conference on protecting the ocean, NGOs denounced the fact that large shipping companies were sponsoring the event, calling them some of the biggest polluters.  The maritime transport sector accounts for 3% of global CO2 emissions, as dry cargo shipments more than doubled since 2000. Plus, the US and China have started a new round trade talks in London, with Beijing's export control of rare earths firmly in focus. 

American and Chinese delegations are meeting in London for a new round of trade talks, with US tariffs and Chinese export restrictions on rare earth minerals at the top of the agenda. Also in this edition: Japan pushes its own trade talks with Washington, and French art lovers protest a construction project near the site of Paul Cezanne's most famous landscapes.

Shares in Elon Musk's electric car company Tesla plunged 15 percent after US President Donald Trump threatened to terminate government contracts and subsidies given to Musk's companies. The rapid escalation in the feud between the two men comes just days after Musk left his government job with a golden key from the president. Plus, a landmark trial opens in Paris against TotalEnergies, accused of "greenwashing" its fossil fuel activities. 

Japanese video game company Nintendo launched its newest console, the Switch 2, this Thursday. With gamers lining up around the world to collect their pre-orders as early as midnight, investors are hopeful the product will help continue to boost the company's share price, which has risen by over 30 percent since the start of the year. Also in this edition: South Korean cosmetic brands are looking to expand in the US market, despite tariff uncertainty.

The European Commission has given the green light for Bulgaria to adopt the euro on January 1, 2026, putting the country on course to become the 21st member of the single currency zone. Brussels says Bulgaria has now met all the criteria necessary to join the eurozone, including price stability and fiscal discipline. However, Bulgarians are divided and many protested outside the parliament this Wednesday.  

US import duties on steel and aluminium tariffs are now officially at 50 percent this Wednesday, after US President Donald Trump signed a directive bumping them up from 25 percent. The move has led some of the biggest exporters of metals to the US, such as Mexico, to ask for an exemption. Also in this edition: an iconic French glassware brand is celebrating its 80th birthday and going through a renaissance after it was transformed into an employee-owned co-op last year.

With voters turning out in record numbers, South Korea has elected liberal leader Lee Jae-myung to lead the country left in turmoil by the brief imposition of martial law by Yoon Suk Yeol. The nation of 51 million people has the world's lowest birth rate and is now a "super-aged" society. South Korea saw its GDP forecast downgraded this Tuesday by the OECD as the group revised down growth prospects for most of the world amid US President Donald Trump's trade war. 

Markets in Asia and Europe mostly rose on Tuesday as US officials said they expected US President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to hold a phone conversation soon. Meanwhile, the US commerce secretary says the US is close to signing a trade deal with India. Also in this edition: France's Senate discusses a bill that could hit fast fashion brands with penalties because of their environmental impact.

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.