US pause some weapons deliveries to Ukraine over depleting military stockpiles
03/07/2025
Iran charges two French detainees with 'spying' for Israel
02/07/2025
Thailand-Cambodia border conflict 'instrumentalised, weaponised' for internal political purposes
Asia / Pacific
02/07/2025
United States : P. Diddy acquitted of most serious charges
Americas
02/07/2025
France: Parliamentary report criticizes state and PM Bayrou on school abuse
02/07/2025
France's Macron hosts summit on New Caledonia's future
02/07/2025
Brittany, France's heatwave refuge
02/07/2025
Tibetan leader Dalai Lama sets clear succession plan, urges China to stay out
02/07/2025
In Italy, a new museum lab studies how people see and experience art
02/07/2025
Potential 60-day Gaza ceasefire: Trump pushes, Hamas and Israel consider
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
What do we know about the latest push for a Gaza truce?
After almost 21 months of devastating fighting in the Palestinian territory and following a speedy resolution to Israel's 12-day war with Iran, Trump's exhortations have reignited hopes for a third ceasefire in the Gaza war. But, with familiar obstacles to a truce still in place and an upcoming meeting between Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu critical to the outcome, the likelihood of a deal remains in the balance, analysts say. What's holding up a Hamas response? Efforts to strike a deal in numerous rounds of indirect talks have repeatedly failed, with the primary point of contention centred on Hamas's calls for an enduring ceasefire in Gaza. In a Wednesday statement, Hamas said it was weighing its response to the new proposal and sought "an agreement that guarantees ending the aggression" as well as the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the entry of aid into the territory. Hugh Lovatt, a Middle East analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), said there could be flexibility in Hamas's position if they adopt a "pragmatic understanding that this is as good as they'll get for the foreseeable future". He nonetheless noted that there were "still extremely sizable gaps" on Hamas's demands, including the path to a permanent end to the war, the re-opening of Gaza to humanitarian aid and Israel's withdrawal. "Those will be ultimately the most critical matters in deciding whether that initial 60-day period is put on," he added. Andreas Krieg, a Middle East analyst at King's College London, said Hamas's "deep mistrust of Israel's intentions -- given past ceasefires that collapsed under renewed strikes -- means Hamas would need firm guarantees before agreeing" to a deal. In January, Hamas and Israel agreed to a truce which broke down in March, with the two sides unable to agree on the next steps and Israel resuming air and ground attacks. What are Israel's demands? Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to "destroy" Hamas "down to their very foundation", restating Israel's war aim of eradicating the Palestinian group after its unprecedented October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which sparked the war in Gaza. Israel has consistently called for the dismantling of Hamas's military structures and the return of remaining hostages in Gaza captured in 2023. It has moreover sought a path to resuming the war during the two previous ceasefires. Israel's hardline National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Wednesday to push the offensive in Gaza harder. "Let's finish the job in Gaza. We must bring down Hamas, occupy the Gaza Strip, encourage the transfer" of Palestinians out of the territory, Ben Gvir said in a televised interview. Krieg however said there were "domestic factors" that could allow Netanyahu "to make concessions", despite the far-right voices in his coalition urging the continuation of the war. "He is seen as having 'won' the war against Iran, his popularity is on the rise again across Israel, there is growing pressure from the military leadership to find an off-ramp in Gaza," Krieg said. Lovatt said a key question was whether there had been a "shift in Netanyahu's political calculations... which to date have seen the continuation of the war in Gaza and the maintenance of his far-right coalition as being most in his political interest". How important is US pressure? Trump is due to host Netanyahu at the White House next Monday, with the US president vowing on Tuesday to be "very firm" in his stance on ending the war in Gaza. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump said he hoped a Gaza ceasefire could be in place "sometime next week". Lovatt said it was "quite clear it is Trump and the Americans that have the key to this". Last week, Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire mediated by the United States and Qatar, after Washington bombed Iranian nuclear facilities. "We've seen when Trump puts his foot down... Trump is able to leverage his relationship with Netanyahu and his support for Israel when he wants," Lovatt said. Krieg said Washington has the "weight and security levers" to influence Israel either through aid, arms support or the withdrawal of its international diplomatic cover. "Israel will do only what it sees as serving its core interests. Without sustained, carefully calibrated US pressure... a durable agreement remains unlikely," Krieg added.
Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Fashion Network
LVMH and luxury giants undermine EU pushback on US trade threats
For LVMH, the stakes are particularly high. Chairman Bernard Arnault has cautioned that failure to reach a trade deal could have serious consequences for France's wine and spirits industry. Urging restraint, Arnault has advocated for a cooperative path forward and even floated the idea of a US–EU free trade zone. Arnault, who has maintained longstanding ties with Trump, has reportedly visited Washington multiple times since the former president's return to the political spotlight. His son, Alexandre Arnault, also met with officials in May in support of trade de-escalation. 'I hope to succeed, with my modest means and my contacts, in convincing Europe to adopt the most constructive attitude possible,' Arnault told French lawmakers in May. Luxury isn't the only sector weighing in. German automakers—including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen—have also proposed their own solutions directly to US officials. Mercedes, for instance, has shifted production of its GLC SUV to Alabama, while other firms have announced expanded US investments as diplomatic signals. These moves, though strategic, have raised concerns in Brussels. EU officials fear that an over-accommodating response could encourage companies to increasingly shift production and investment across the Atlantic, weakening Europe's industrial core. Industry leaders contend that reciprocal tariffs would do more harm than good. While retaliation may appear symbolic, it risks reducing EU access to essential US-made technologies, components, and research ecosystems—particularly in high-growth areas such as fashion innovation, AI, and biotechnology. Meanwhile, industry groups representing French Cognac and Irish whiskey producers have intensified lobbying efforts, warning that retaliatory tariffs would unjustly penalize products unrelated to the core trade dispute. These sectors rely heavily on the US and Chinese markets for exports and have become particularly vulnerable to policy crossfire. The European Commission has outlined proposed tariffs on $112 billion worth of US goods. However, pressure from member states and industry groups may lead to as much as €70 billion worth of items being removed from the final list—significantly diluting the EU's leverage. As a potential compromise, the EU is reportedly open to a universal 10% tariff on many of its exports, while seeking lower rates for key sectors, such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and luxury goods. With stakes rising, the next few weeks will be critical. For LVMH and other fashion leaders, the hope is that quiet diplomacy will succeed where confrontation may fail—and that maintaining access to the US market remains central to the EU's trade strategy.
Fashion Network
an hour ago
- Fashion Network
LVMH and luxury giants undermine EU pushback on US trade threats
Luxury powerhouse LVMH is at the forefront of quiet corporate diplomacy as the European Union scrambles to respond to looming US tariff threats. With a July deadline approaching, the group is among several major firms pushing for a softer stance in high-level trade talks. Behind closed doors, LVMH and other European multinationals have reportedly urged Brussels and national governments to pursue a compromise over confrontation regarding Donald Trump 's proposed 50% tariffs on EU imports. The luxury sector—deeply reliant on the US market—has become a leading voice advocating de-escalation to safeguard transatlantic business. Executives from companies such as LVMH and Mercedes-Benz are reported to have participated in informal talks with US representatives, urging EU officials to soften their countermeasures. According to sources familiar with the discussions, this included recommendations to exclude iconic American goods—such as bourbon—from the EU's proposed retaliation list. For LVMH, the stakes are particularly high. Chairman Bernard Arnault has cautioned that failure to reach a trade deal could have serious consequences for France's wine and spirits industry. Urging restraint, Arnault has advocated for a cooperative path forward and even floated the idea of a US–EU free trade zone. Arnault, who has maintained longstanding ties with Trump, has reportedly visited Washington multiple times since the former president's return to the political spotlight. His son, Alexandre Arnault, also met with officials in May in support of trade de-escalation. 'I hope to succeed, with my modest means and my contacts, in convincing Europe to adopt the most constructive attitude possible,' Arnault told French lawmakers in May. Luxury isn't the only sector weighing in. German automakers—including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen—have also proposed their own solutions directly to US officials. Mercedes, for instance, has shifted production of its GLC SUV to Alabama, while other firms have announced expanded US investments as diplomatic signals. These moves, though strategic, have raised concerns in Brussels. EU officials fear that an over-accommodating response could encourage companies to increasingly shift production and investment across the Atlantic, weakening Europe's industrial core. Industry leaders contend that reciprocal tariffs would do more harm than good. While retaliation may appear symbolic, it risks reducing EU access to essential US-made technologies, components, and research ecosystems—particularly in high-growth areas such as fashion innovation, AI, and biotechnology. Meanwhile, industry groups representing French Cognac and Irish whiskey producers have intensified lobbying efforts, warning that retaliatory tariffs would unjustly penalize products unrelated to the core trade dispute. These sectors rely heavily on the US and Chinese markets for exports and have become particularly vulnerable to policy crossfire. The European Commission has outlined proposed tariffs on $112 billion worth of US goods. However, pressure from member states and industry groups may lead to as much as €70 billion worth of items being removed from the final list—significantly diluting the EU's leverage. As a potential compromise, the EU is reportedly open to a universal 10% tariff on many of its exports, while seeking lower rates for key sectors, such as aerospace, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and luxury goods. With stakes rising, the next few weeks will be critical. For LVMH and other fashion leaders, the hope is that quiet diplomacy will succeed where confrontation may fail—and that maintaining access to the US market remains central to the EU's trade strategy.
