AFP - Squid Business

France says ‘major issues’ remain despite brandy price accord with China

France on Friday praised China’s steps to settle a trade dispute over European brandy imports but warned that “major issues” remained unresolved.The signs of a thaw in the row over the alcohol came as China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi met French President Emmanuel Macron and Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris.In recent months China and the European Union have butted heads over Beijing’s generous subsidies for its domestic industries.Beijing launched an investigation last year into EU brandy, months after the bloc undertook a probe into Chinese electric vehicle (EV) subsidies.In the latest salvo, China will from Saturday require European brandy exporters to raise prices or risk anti-dumping taxes of up to 34.9 percent.Beijing said 34 European brandy makers, including several French cognac producers, had signed an accord to avoid tariffs as long as they stick to an agreed minimum price.France’s cognac makers’ association BNIC, which includes key producers Hennessy, Remy Cointreau and Martell, confirmed that some companies had agreed to price increases in China to avoid anti-dumping taxes.- ‘Positive step’ – Macron and Barrot praised China’s steps to resolve the dispute but stressed they would discuss the outstanding differences with Wang.”This is a positive step towards resolving this dispute, which was threatening our exports,” Macron said on X.”I will continue to raise these issues with the Chinese authorities this afternoon.”In a statement to AFP, Barrot said: “Several major issues remain unresolved, in particular the exclusion of certain players from the scope of the exemptions.” “We remain fully committed to reaching a definitive solution based on the conditions that existed prior to the investigation,” he said.Wang has held fraught meetings in several European countries this week.After meeting Macron and Barrot, Wang told a press conference: “The two sides had in-depth, active and sincere exchanges on Sino-French and European relations.” No mention was made of the brandy dispute.Almost all EU brandy is cognac produced in France, whose exports to China are worth 1.4 billion euros ($1.6 billion) per year.French liquor giant Jas Hennessy said it would face levies of 34.9 percent if it did not stick to the deal. Remy Martin will be hit with 34.3 percent and Martell 27.7 percent.”The decision to accept the price commitment once again demonstrates China’s sincerity in resolving trade frictions through dialogue and consultation,” a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.However, the European Commission kept up criticism of China’s new tariffs.”We believe that China’s measures are unfair. We believe they are unjustified,” said commission trade spokesman Olof Gill.”We believe they are inconsistent with the applicable international rules and are thus unfounded.”- Upcoming summit -China has sought to improve relations with the European Union as a counterweight to the United States.But frictions remain, including a yawning trade deficit of $357.1 billion between China and the EU, as well as Beijing maintaining close ties with Moscow since Russia invaded Ukraine.The trade row blew up last year when the EU moved to impose hefty tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, arguing that Beijing’s subsidies unfairly undercut European competitors.Beijing rejected the accusation and announced what were seen as retaliatory probes into imported European pork, brandy and dairy products.The EU imposed extra import taxes of up to 35 percent on Chinese electric vehicles in October.Beijing lodged a complaint with the World Trade Organisation, which in April said it would set up an expert panel to investigate.China and the EU are to hold a summit this month to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. But Bloomberg News reported, citing unnamed sources, that Beijing would cancel the second day of the summit, in a sign of the tensions.

Trêve à Gaza: le Hamas dit être prêt à “engager immédiatement” des négociations

Bosnie : le mandat d’arrêt annulé contre le chef des Serbes Milorad Dodik (justice)

Ravenous return: Fast-chewing Chestnut wins July 4th hot dog contest

Competitive eater Joey Chestnut recaptured his title at the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest on Friday in Brooklyn, downing 70.5 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes in the July 4th holiday classic.The 41-year-old American missed last year’s event after signing a deal with Impossible Foods, whose plant-based products include hot dogs, but he was allowed to enter this year and made his Coney Island comeback a triumphant one.Chestnut won by 24 hot dogs over last year’s winner, Patrick Bertoletti of Chicago, but the maestro of mastication could not break his own record of 76 hot dogs that he consumed in 2021.It marked the 17th time Chestnut claimed the “Mustard Belt” symbolic of supremacy in the gastronomic showdown and his ninth triumph in 10 years.”Oh my gosh, I was nervous,” Chestnut told event telecaster ESPN after his victory. “First couple of hot dogs, I was fumbling a little bit, but I found a pretty good rhythm.”Chestnut said that despite his blowout triumph, he was hoping to make a better show of challenging his record consumption total.”My goal was 70 to 77,” he said. “I really wanted a little bit more. There’s next year and I’m just happy I’m here.”On the women’s side, American Miki Sudo won by eating 33 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes, her 11th victory in the past 12 years, with American Michelle Lesco second on 22.75 dogs and buns.Sudo, who set the women’s record of 51 last year, did not compete in 2021 while pregnant, with Lesco winning that year.

Le Hamas étudie une offre de trêve, 52 morts à Gaza selon la Défense civile

Le Hamas a annoncé vendredi mener des discussions avec d’autres mouvements palestiniens sur une proposition de trêve avec Israël dans la bande de Gaza, où la Défense civile a fait état de 52 morts dans l’offensive israélienne.L’annonce du Hamas intervient avant un déplacement lundi à Washington du Premier ministre israélien Benjamin Netanyahu pour rencontrer le président Donald Trump, lequel fait pression pour un cessez-le-feu à Gaza, dévastée par près de 21 mois de guerre.”Nous menons des consultations avec les chefs des factions palestiniennes au sujet de la proposition envoyée par les médiateurs”, a dit dans un communiqué le mouvement islamiste Hamas, dont l’attaque sans précédent le 7 octobre 2023 contre Israël a déclenché la guerre. Selon une source palestinienne, la proposition “comprend une trêve de 60 jours” pendant laquelle le Hamas relâcherait la moitié des otages israéliens encore en vie en échange de la libération de prisonniers palestiniens détenus par Israël.Dans le même temps, l’armée israélienne a poursuivi son offensive dans la bande de Gaza assiégée et affamée, la Défense civile faisant état de 52 Palestiniens tués dans les raids aériens, bombardements et tirs, dont 11 près de sites d’aide humanitaire.A l’hôpital Nasser de Khan Younès (sud), où ont été transportés des corps de Palestiniens enveloppés dans des linceuls en plastique, des hommes récitent la prière des morts.A côté, des femmes en pleurs entourent le corps d’un proche.”Mon fils est allé chercher de la farine! Ils nous disent ‘venez chercher les aides’, nous y allons et ils nous tirent dessus”, se lamente Nidaa al-Farra, qui a perdu son fils de 19 ans près d’un site de distribution d’aide.- “Jusqu’à la racine” -La distribution de l’aide est gérée depuis fin mai par la Fondation humanitaire de Gaza (GHF), une entreprise au financement opaque soutenue par Israël et les Etats-Unis.L’ONU a affirmé que plus de 500 personnes avaient été tuées depuis fin mai près des sites de la GHF. La fondation nie tout incident “à proximité” de ses sites.Interrogé sur les bombardements rapportés par la Défense civile, l’armée israélienne a déclaré “mener des opérations pour démanteler les capacités militaires du Hamas”. Elle a fait état de “la mort au combat” d’un soldat à Gaza.L’ONG Médecins sans frontières a affirmé de son côté qu’un de ses anciens collaborateurs, Abdallah Hammad, figurait parmi les Palestiniens tués jeudi alors qu’ils attendaient des camions d’aide près de Khan Younès. “Nous sommes révoltés et attristés par sa mort”, a dénoncé MSF.Compte tenu des restrictions imposées par Israël aux médias et des difficultés d’accès sur le terrain, l’AFP n’est pas en mesure de vérifier de manière indépendante les affirmations de la Défense civile à Gaza.Cette semaine, M. Netanyahu a redit vouloir éliminer “jusqu’à la racine” le Hamas, l’un des buts affichés de la guerre, avec le retour des otages et le contrôle de Gaza.Il a aussi promis de ramener “tous” les otages, “sans exception”.Sur les 251 personnes enlevées durant l’attaque du 7-Octobre, 49 sont toujours retenues à Gaza, dont 27 ont été déclarées mortes par l’armée israélienne.- “Un grand et bel accord” -A Tel-Aviv, les familles des otages ont manifesté devant une annexe de l’ambassade des Etats-Unis pour réclamer un “grand et bel accord pour les otages” et un cessez-le-feu, en allusion à la “grande et belle” loi budgétaire de Donald Trump.M. Trump a assuré mardi que Israël avait accepté de finaliser les termes d’un cessez-le-feu et exhorté le Hamas à l’accepter, évoquant un accord proche.Le Hamas, qui a pris le pouvoir à Gaza en 2007, réclame publiquement un cessez-le-feu “permanent” et un retrait israélien de Gaza.Une première trêve d’une semaine en novembre 2023 puis une seconde de deux mois début 2025 à Gaza, négociées via le Qatar, les Etats-Unis et l’Egypte, ont permis le retour de nombreux otages israéliens et la libération de prisonniers palestiniens.Faute d’accord sur la suite du cessez-le-feu, Israël a repris le 18 mars son offensive contre Gaza, où les quelque deux millions de Palestiniens vivent dans conditions terribles selon l’ONU et des ONG.L’attaque du 7-Octobre a fait 1.219 morts côté israélien, en majorité des civils, selon un décompte de l’AFP établi à partir de données officielles.Au moins 57.268 Palestiniens, majoritairement des civils, ont été tués à Gaza dans l’offensive de représailles israélienne, selon des données du ministère de la Santé du Hamas, jugées fiables par l’ONU.

Le Hamas étudie une offre de trêve, 52 morts à Gaza selon la Défense civile

Hamas says holding consultations on Gaza truce proposal

Hamas said Friday it was holding consultations with other Palestinian factions on a proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the civil defence agency said Israel’s ongoing offensive killed more than 50 people.The statement came ahead of a visit on Monday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, where President Donald Trump is pushing for an end to the war now in its 21st month.The conflict in Gaza began with Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which sparked a massive Israeli offensive aimed at destroying Hamas and bringing home all the hostages seized by militants.Two previous ceasefires brokered by Qatar, Egypt and the United States have seen temporary halts in fighting, coupled with the return of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.Hamas said in a statement early Friday it was “conducting consultations with leaders of Palestinian forces and factions regarding the proposal received… from the mediators”.Hours earlier, Netanyahu vowed to bring home all the hostages held by militants in Gaza, after coming under massive domestic pressure over their fate.”I feel a deep commitment, first and foremost, to ensure the return of all our abductees, all of them,” Netanyahu said.Trump said on Thursday he wanted “safety for the people of Gaza”.”They’ve gone through hell,” he said.- 60-day truce proposal -A Palestinian source familiar with the negotiations told AFP earlier this week that the latest proposals included “a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release half of the living Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip” — thought to number 22 — “in exchange for Israel releasing a number of Palestinian prisoners and detainees”.Out of 251 hostages seized by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.Nearly 21 months of war have created dire humanitarian conditions for the more than two million people in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has recently expanded its military operations.The military said in a statement it had been striking suspected Hamas targets across the territory, including around Gaza City in the north and Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.- Civil defence says aid-seekers killed -Gaza civil defence official Mohammad al-Mughayyir said Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 52 people on Friday.The Israeli military said it was looking into reports, except a handful of incidents for which it requested coordinates and timeframes.In a separate statement, it said a 19-year-old sergeant “fell during combat in the southern Gaza Strip”.Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency.Mughayyir said the Palestinians killed included five who were shot while waiting for aid near a US-run site near Rafah in southern Gaza and several who were waiting for aid near the Wadi Gaza Bridge in the centre of the territory.They were the latest in a spate of deaths near aid distribution centres in the devastated territory, which UN agencies have warned is on the brink of famine.At Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis, crowds mourned 16 people killed on Thursday by what the civil defence agency said was shooting close to a nearby aid centre.”I lost my brother in the American distribution centre that they set up to feed people,” cried one mourner, Narmin Abu Muammar.”They are killing people, not feeding them.”Medical aid charity Doctors Without Borders said Abdullah Hammad, who recently finished a contract working for it, was among those killed in Thursday’s shooting.It said he was the 12th colleague the group had lost in the Gaza war.”We demand an end to this bloodshed,” MSF said in a statement.The US- and Israeli-run Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distanced itself from reports of deadly incidents near its sites.- Displaced civilians -The civil defence official told AFP that eight people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli air strike on the tents of displaced civilians near Khan Yunis.Mughayyir said eight more people were killed in two other strikes on camps on the coast, including one that killed two children early Friday.The Israeli military said it was operating throughout Gaza “to dismantle Hamas military capabilities”.The Hamas attack of October 2023 resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures.Israel’s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 57,268 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry. The United Nations considers the figures reliable.

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Search on for survivors of Pakistan building collapse

A five-storey building collapsed in Pakistan on Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring nine others, officials said, with rescuers searching through the rubble for more trapped victims.The incident happened shortly after 10:00 am (0500 GMT) in the impoverished Lyari neighbourhood of Karachi, which was once plagued by gang violence and considered one of the most dangerous areas in Pakistan. Up to 100 people had been living in the building, senior police officer Arif Aziz told AFP. Shankar Kamho, 30, a resident of the building who was out at the time, said around 20 families were living inside.”I got a call from my wife saying the building was cracking and I told her to get out immediately,” he told AFP at the scene.”She went to warn the neighbours, but one woman told her ‘this building will stand for at least 10 more years’. Still, my wife took our daughter and left. About 20 minutes later, the building collapsed.” The Sindh provincial health department said the death toll had risen to eight killed and nine injured late Friday.The search for survivors continued into the night, with relatives gathered near the site waiting for news. Saad Edhi, of the Edhi welfare foundation that is part of the rescue operation, told AFP there could be “at least eight to 10 more people still trapped”, describing it as a “worn-out building”.- Race against time -Nearby residents rushed to save their neighbours before rescuers took over to remove the rubble, along with at least five excavators.The heavy machinery struggled to access the narrow alleys, and police baton-charged residents to clear the way.All six family members of 70-year-old Jumho Maheshwari were at his flat on the first floor when he left for work early in the morning.”Nothing is left for me now — my family is all trapped and all I can do is pray for their safe recovery,” he told AFP.Another resident, Maya Sham Jee, said her brother’s family was also trapped under the rubble.”It’s a tragedy for us. The world has been changed for our family,” she told AFP.”We are helpless and just looking at the rescue workers to bring our loved ones back safely.”In June 2020, at least 18 people were killed when a residential building housing about 40 apartments collapsed in the same area of the city.Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan, mainly because of poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials in the South Asian country of more than 240 million people.But Karachi, home to more than 20 million, is especially notorious for poor construction, illegal extensions, ageing infrastructure, overcrowding, and lax enforcement of building regulations.