South Korean Minister Nominee Says US Deal Possible in Two Weeks
'It seems possible,' Cho Hyun, President Lee Jae Myung's pick to be his top diplomat, said during his confirmation hearing in parliament Thursday. 'It is difficult to predict, but we are making every effort on our end, and from the US perspective, too, we are not only a very important ally but also a key trade partner, so I think they will prioritize negotiating with us.'
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Voices: Why I've changed my mind about a state of Palestine
The tragic images of starvation emerging from Gaza have shocked and angered the world. Yet we've become dangerously desensitized to the daily toll of death and destruction, seemingly powerless to intervene. But when even President Trump is moved to acknowledge 'real starvation' in his press briefings, it signals a potential turning point. Israel's response to the barbaric attacks 21 long months ago is increasingly testing the international community. Every state has the right to defend itself – but also the responsibility to wield force judiciously. How retribution is carried out, how military power is applied, and how operations affect civilians in the invaded territories all matter deeply. It confirms our values and distinguishes us from those we must fight. The scale of continued suffering in Gaza cannot be justified solely by Israel's right to defeat Hamas. This is not to say Hamas should not be confronted – but rather Israel's absence of a discernible strategy to convert battlefield gains into lasting peace, or to separate Hamas from the broader Palestinian population. Two-thirds of Gaza lies in ruins. Two million people are displaced. And dozens die weekly, not in combat, but for inching forward in chaotic food lines, desperate for handouts. On the ground, Hamas forces have been severely weakened. Iran, its proxy backer, has also been constrained. And yet, famine now looms as the deadliest threat. Under international pressure, Israel has permitted food airdrops into Gaza. But, as UN aid chief Tom Fletcher has said, these are 'a drop in the ocean'. Airdrops are inefficient, especially while hundreds of aid trucks wait, fully loaded, at sealed border crossings. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has kept those crossings closed and removed food distribution from UN agencies, handing it to the Israeli Defence Forces, who lack the infrastructure or experience to manage it effectively. Let's be blunt. Beyond 'destroying Hamas', Netanyahu offers no credible endgame, no plan for post-conflict governance in Gaza, no roadmap toward the long-promised two-state solution. His actions suggest a strategy of perpetual conflict. Regional powers, including Egypt, Jordan and the UAE, along with much of the international community, are eager to help. Not only to address the humanitarian crisis but to support the establishment of a credible post-Hamas governance structure that's likely to require international supervision. But Netanyahu rejects such support, shielded by continued backing from the White House, which has so far extended understandable but seemingly unconditional support following the Hamas attacks. However, Netanyahu's tactical decisions, lacking any strategic vision, are beginning to test that support. Where is he taking this conflict – a conflict that, in a broader sense, has been ongoing since 1948. His devastating campaign in Gaza and continued illegal settlement expansion in the West Bank suggest an intent to make a two-state solution unviable. In 2014, when the UK Parliament last debated Palestinian recognition, I responded as a foreign minister, saying Britain would recognise Palestine only when it judged such a move would aid the peace process, not as a symbolic gesture. It's a card that can only be played once, so it must be used wisely. It's easy to argue that now is not the right time – that we must focus on the immediate crisis. But I would argue that now is exactly the right time, to deliver a jolt that might reverse a dangerous trajectory, one that risks closing the window on a two-state solution forever. This issue is on the agenda at the UN in New York. Recognition could help shift global focus, isolate Hamas politically, and undercut Iran's justification for arming proxies in the region. Waiting endlessly for the 'perfect moment' is not a strategy. The current status quo, or the pursuit of a one-state solution, will only entrench a perpetual insurgency, fuelled externally and leaving Israel in a state of permanent tensions with its neighbours. As Trump's support for Netanyahu grows more conditional - including calls for decisive action to prevent famine – let's leverage this to refocus attention on the broader strategic imperative: achieving a two-state solution. Without that, suffering, extremism, and endless war will continue. Tobias Ellwood is a former foreign minister
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Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Palantir (PLTR) vs. Alibaba (BABA)
Key Points Alibaba generates much greater revenue and profits than Palantir. Palantir is growing much more rapidly than Alibaba. Alibaba's valuation looks much more attractive than Palantir's. 10 stocks we like better than Alibaba Group › If a five-year look at history is any guide, there's no contest in deciding between investing in Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) or Alibaba Group Holding (NYSE: BABA). Palantir's share price has skyrocketed a staggering 1,560% since its initial public offering in 2020. Alibaba's shares have plunged almost 60% during the same period. But the past isn't always a great predictor of the future, and investor have to ask: Which is the better artificial intelligence (AI) stock going forward? Here's how Palantir and Alibaba stack up against each other. Financials These two AI stocks match up quite closely on at least one key financial metric. Palantir's return on equity is 12.36% compared to 11.44% for Alibaba. However, that's perhaps the only similarity between the two companies when it comes to financials. Alibaba rakes in a lot more money than Palantir does. Over the last 12 months, the Chinese technology giant generated revenue of more than $996 billion with earnings of roughly $129.5 billion. Meanwhile, Palantir's revenue was $3.12 billion with earnings of nearly $571 million. However, Palantir has a higher profit margin -- 18.3% versus Alibaba's 13.1%. Turning to the balance sheets, Alibaba's cash position of $428 billion is much larger than Palantir's $5.4 billion. On the other hand, Alibaba also has a lot more debt -- $248 billion compared to only $244.6 million for Palantir. As a result, Palantir's debt-to-equity ratio of 4.4% is more attractive than Alibaba's ratio of around 22.8%. Growth Alibaba delivered solid growth in its latest reported quarter ending on March 31. Revenue increased by 7% year over year to nearly $32.6 billion. Adjusted earnings jumped 22% year over year to $4.1 billion. However, those numbers pale in comparison to Palantir's growth. Palantir's revenue soared 39% higher year over year in the first quarter of 2025 to $883.9 million. The AI software company's earnings based on generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) more than doubled to $217.7 million. Its non-GAAP earnings vaulted nearly 70% higher to $334.4 million. Will this disparity in growth continue? Probably, although it could narrow somewhat. Alibaba's AI-related product revenue has achieved triple-digit growth for seven consecutive quarters. The company's AI and cloud businesses have great long-term growth prospects. However, Palantir continues to win new contracts in the government and private sectors. CEO Alex Karp wrote to shareholders earlier this year, "The rush toward large language models, as well as the foundational software architecture that is capable of making them valuable to large organizations, has turned into a stampede." Valuation These two AI stocks' valuations are as different as night and day. Palantir's shares trade at a jaw-dropping premium, with a forward price-to-earnings ratio of nearly 278. Alibaba's forward earnings multiple of 14 seems dirt cheap by comparison. Of course, investors should receive a lot more growth with Palantir than with Alibaba. Does this additional growth justify the stark differences in valuations? Not according to analysts surveyed by financial data and infrastructure provider LSEG. Palantir's price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio, based on analysts' five-year earnings growth projections, is 4.9. Alibaba's PEG ratio is only 1.09. The reality is that Alibaba looks more attractive regardless of which valuation metric we use. Its price-to-sales ratio is 2.08 versus 126.9 for Palantir. Alibaba's enterprise-value-to-EBITDA is 9.02, compared to 848.9 for Palantir. Better AI stock? Wedbush analyst Dan Ives believes that Palantir's market cap will hit $1 trillion within the next two to three years. The company's market cap hovers around $370 billion today. If Ives is right, Palantir is easily a better AI stock to buy than Alibaba. My concern, though, is that Palantir's current growth -- as impressive as it might be -- simply isn't enough to justify the stock's premium valuation. Perhaps the company's growth will accelerate rapidly and dispel my doubts, but that hasn't happened yet. Meanwhile, Alibaba dominates the Chinese cloud services market. It's a major player in the country's e-commerce market. The company plans to launch AI glasses to compete against Meta and other rivals. And its stock is a bargain. Based on the facts as they stand right now, I think Alibaba is a better AI stock to buy than Palantir. Do the experts think Alibaba Group is a buy right now? The Motley Fool's expert analyst team, drawing on years of investing experience and deep analysis of thousands of stocks, leverages our proprietary Moneyball AI investing database to uncover top opportunities. They've just revealed their to buy now — did Alibaba Group make the list? When our Stock Advisor analyst team has a stock recommendation, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is up 1,041% vs. just 183% for the S&P — that is beating the market by 858.71%!* Imagine if you were a Stock Advisor member when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $636,628!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $1,063,471!* The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of July 28, 2025 Keith Speights has positions in Meta Platforms. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Meta Platforms and Palantir Technologies. The Motley Fool recommends Alibaba Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Better Artificial Intelligence Stock: Palantir (PLTR) vs. Alibaba (BABA) was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
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Trump's trade deal with the EU: What it means for your wallet
Imported cars, pharmaceuticals, apparel and more could grow more expensive in the months to come as the United States imposes a 15% tariff on most imports from the European Union. Analysts have labeled the agreement, announced July 27, as a win for President Donald Trump, whose administration had been working to complete deals by a self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. U.S. stocks opened mostly higher on July 28, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq reaching record highs after Trump announced a tariff far below the 30% rate threatened earlier in the month. But for U.S. consumers, even the reduced tariff is expected to spur higher prices. The Yale Budget Lab estimates that Trump's tariffs, including the new rate for EU imports, would raise prices by 1.8% in the short run, the equivalent of an average household income loss of roughly $2,400. While the increase may sound insignificant, 'the Federal Reserve's inflation target is 2%. So we're talking about almost a year's worth of inflation above and beyond the inflation that we would've gotten anyways,' said Ernie Tedeschi, director of economics at the Yale Budget Lab. 'So that's meaningful.' Here are some of the sectors that could see higher prices in the months to come. European cars Automobiles, one of the EU's largest export sectors, will likely see some of the most noticeable price hikes, according to Gary Hufbauer, a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. While the 15% tariff is a relief from the current 27.5% rate, Hufbauer said the auto industry's margins are thin enough that EU companies won't want to absorb the higher cost. 'I suspect European auto prices sold in the U.S. will go up probably at least 10%,' he told USA TODAY. German Association of the Automotive Industry President Hildegard Müller warned the 15% tariff could cost the German automotive industry 'billions annually.' Already, Volkswagen has trimmed its full-year sales forecast after reporting a $1.5 billion hit from tariffs over the first half of the year. Automobile price hikes will likely vary across European makes and models, according to Tedeschi, since many already operate factories in North America. That means trade deals with Canada and Mexico could also influence pricing. 'Consumers should keep an eye out for rising prices for European car imports, but they should not assume that all European brands are going to go up in price because of how complicated the supply chain is,' he said, adding that he expects to see price increases tied to the new EU tariffs play out this summer and fall. What were the EU tariffs before? What to know after trade deal Furniture Furniture is another sector that could get hit by tariffs, according to Stephen Brown, Capital Economics' deputy chief North America economist. The Swedish company IKEA, for instance, relies on China, Poland, Italy, Germany and Sweden to supply 'the majority' of products, according to its website. The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but Inter IKEA ‒ which produces IKEA furniture ‒ told Reuters in November that just 10% of the products it sells in the U.S. are made in the region. 'Unless they find somewhere else to import from or move around their supply chain, furniture prices ... could see some effects,' Brown said. Pharmaceuticals While certain sectors like wine and spirits appear to still be under negotiation, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said pharmaceuticals will be covered by the 15% tariff, with certain generic drugs not subject to tariffs. The EU is behind about 60% of pharmaceutical imports to the U.S., according to Reuters, making them the largest European export to the U.S. by value. But Brown noted that pharmaceutical companies may be able to more easily shift production to the U.S. compared to other industries. For instance, the Danish manufacturer behind the GLP-1s Wegovy and Ozempic, Novo Nordisk, already has a presence in North Carolina and has plans to expand. 'Although there could be some short-term price increases, those might not be as durable as they are for other products,' Brown said. Additionally, consumers may not pick up on the industry's price hikes if their insurance covers the imported drug. Luxury items Luxury items like imported designer handbags and apparel could also see higher prices, as well as imported food. 'The difference between China and Europe, in terms of tariffs, is that the tariffs on China increase what people buy in Walmart and Target. The tariffs on European imports will mainly hit what people buy at Whole Foods and high-end retail stores,' said Hufbauer of the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He noted that the companies behind luxury goods tend to have higher margins, though, and may be more willing to absorb some of the higher costs tied to tariffs. Machinery Machinery and appliances are also major exports from the EU, accounting for roughly 20% of U.S. imports from the EU in 2021, according to the Commerce Department. While consumers won't buy machinery directly, experts warn the higher prices could eventually trickle down as manufacturers adjust to higher costs. 'These are not necessarily products that immediately or directly impact the consumers, but they can indirectly affect consumers, especially after many years,' Tedeschi said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Trump's EU trade deal means for your wallet Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
