LVMH, caught in turmoil, says it will expand its production in the US
The largest brand of the French luxury group is considering opening a second factory in Texas, a state where it already operates a leather goods workshop that was inaugurated in the presence of the US president in 2019 during his first term. This would bring the total number of Louis Vuitton factories in the country to four.
"For our American customers, buying a Louis Vuitton product made in the US is absolutely no problem," Arnault argued in an interview with the French daily Le Figaro on Thursday, the same day the Wall Street Journal also published an interview with the French billionaire that, among other topics, focused on this project.
The workshop will not open its doors until 2027. However, the announcement is sure to make waves on both sides of the Atlantic, as Washington recently secured major Japanese investments in the US on July 22, in exchange for a 15% tariff rate instead of the initially announced 25%.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LeMonde
an hour ago
- LeMonde
Is there a genocide in Gaza? Why legal experts are split
Historians will provide their interpretation at some point in the future. But what about legal experts? When it comes to the question of whether a genocide is underway or has been committed by Israel against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, nearly all of them have an opinion. They have clashed in opinion pieces published in newspapers and scholarly journal articles. The debate had already been simmering for several months, but with a single sentence, President Emmanuel Macron brought it out into the open in the French public debate. On the evening of May 13, during an interview on broadcaster TF1, journalist Gilles Bouleau abruptly asked the head of state: "Does what is currently happening in Gaza constitute genocide?" Clearly prepared and looking solemn, the president answered without hesitation: "It is not for a political leader to use those terms; that is up to historians, in due time." The president neither endorsed nor condemned the use of the word "genocide." However, by deferring responsibility to historians and the passage of time, he appeared to overlook the fact that several legal proceedings are already underway, both before French courts and before relevant international bodies – the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC), both based in The Hague, Netherlands. Genocide brought up soon after October 7, 2023 The question of genocide and Gaza is not just a matter for historians to address through archival research. Above all, it is the domain of law experts – prosecutors, investigating judges, and lawyers – who are working directly on complaints, lawsuits, and appeals that have already been filed. For instance, the French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, which is responsible for investigating cases of torture, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, requested in May that a probe be opened following a complaint for "complicity in genocide" and "direct incitement to genocide." This complaint had been filed against French-Israeli activists who obstructed the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Only the investigation will determine whether there was complicity, and therefore a genocide, but this process could take several years.
Euronews
5 hours ago
- Euronews
Israel intercepts Gaza-bound boat Handala carrying food aid
The Israeli military intercepted a Gaza-bound aid ship seeking to provide aid to the Palestinian enclave, detaining 21 international activists and journalists, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said on Sunday. The Flotilla Coalition said the Israeli military 'violently intercepted' the ship in international waters about 40 nautical miles from Gaza, cutting the cameras and communication just before midnight Saturday. 'All cargo was non-military, civilian, and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation and medical collapse under Israel's illegal blockade,'' the group said in a statement. According to the operators of the Handala vessel, the aid ship's cargo, intercepted by the Israeli military, contained baby formula, food, and medicine, and it sailed towards the port of Ashdod on Sunday, accompanied by an Israeli navy vessel. The cargo 'was non-military... and intended for direct distribution to a population facing deliberate starvation... under Israel's illegal blockade,'' it added. The Israeli military had no immediate comment, but Israel's Foreign Ministry posted that the navy stopped the vessel and was bringing it to shore. The Handala is the second ship operated by the coalition that Israel has prevented in recent months from delivering aid to Gaza. Greta Thunberg was among 12 activists on board the ship Madleen when the Israeli military seized it in June. The Swedish climate activist, alongside others, was later deported. French left-wing lawmakers among crew This time around, the ship carried what the Freedom Flotilla Coalition called a "diverse crew of activists, scholars, workers, artists, members of parliament, elected officials, and journalists from 12 countries." Among them are Gabrielle Cathala, a French MP representing Val-de-Marne and Emma Fourreau, a French-Swedish Member of the European Parliament (MEP), environmentalist, and pro-Palestinian activist. "They carry the dreams of millions of people across the world and bring with them a powerful message of international solidarity—that we will break Israel's illegal siege of Gaza," the group said. The latest interception comes as Israel faces mounting international criticism over the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, with concern growing over rising hunger deaths in the Palestinian enclave. Italian and Spanish governments react Reacting to the development, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said he had spoken this morning (Sunday) with Israeli Minister Gideon Sa'ar. The Handala had two Italian activists aboard before it was intercepted. They were detained on the Freedom Flotilla ship and have arrived in the port of Ashdod, where they will be assisted by staff from the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv, an Italian government statement said. With one of its citizens aboard the intercepted Handala vessel, Spain's foreign affairs ministry said it had tasked its cooperation agency, the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, "to send everything needed to Gaza." The Spanish government said it planned to advocate for the State of Palestine and the 2-state solution at the UN General Assembly on Monday, describing what it called the "induced famine" in Gaza as "a disgrace". "Daily starvation deaths: 100,000 children and 40,000 babies are at risk of death. Israel must allow permanent, uninterrupted, and free passage of all necessary humanitarian aid", the Spanish government statement said. Meanwhile, a regional human rights group, Adalah, denounced Israel's interception of the Handala ship, saying the raid on the vessel violated international law. 'The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognised under international law,' Adalah said in a statement. 'Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing,' its statement added. On Sunday, the Israeli military announced it had begun a limited pause in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day, after its announcement Saturday night that airdrops of aid would begin in Gaza, with humanitarian corridors opened for United Nations convoys.
France 24
9 hours ago
- France 24
Thai-Cambodia border clashes persist despite ceasefire hopes
Thailand and Cambodia clashed for a fourth day Sunday, despite both sides saying they were ready to discuss a ceasefire after a late-night intervention by US President Donald Trump. The neighbours, popular destinations for millions of foreign tourists, have been locked in their bloodiest conflict in years over the disputed border, with at least 33 people confirmed killed and more than 200,000 displaced. Both said they were willing to start talks to end the fighting, after Trump spoke to the two prime ministers late on Saturday and said they had agreed to meet and 'quickly work out' a ceasefire. But fresh artillery clashes erupted on Sunday morning near two long-contested ancient temples in the frontier region between northern Cambodia and northeast Thailand that has seen the bulk of the fighting. Cambodian defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata said Thai forces began attacking areas around the temples at 4:50 am. The regular thump of artillery rattled windows in the Cambodian town of Samraong, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) from the frontline, AFP journalists said. Thai Army Deputy Spokesman Ritcha Suksuwanon said Cambodian forces began firing artillery around 4:00 am as the two sides battled for control of strategic positions. Ceasefire calls Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday said his country 'agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces'. He said his Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will talk to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to coordinate with the Thais, but warned Bangkok against reneging on any agreement. After Trump's call, Thailand's acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said he had agreed in principle to enter a ceasefire and start talks 'as soon as possible'. While both sides have expressed a desire for talks to end the crisis, neither has so far been willing to back down. On Sunday, they again each blamed the other for undermining peace efforts. The Thai foreign ministry also accused Cambodian forces of firing shells into civilian homes in Surin province. 'Any cessation of hostilities cannot be reached while Cambodia is severely lacking in good faith and repeatedly violating the basic principles of human rights and humanitarian law,' the foreign ministry said in a statement. From the Cambodian side, defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata issued a statement denying that they fired first. The statement accused Thailand of 'deliberate and coordinated acts of aggression'. A long-running border dispute erupted into combat this week with jets, tanks and ground troops battling in the rural border region, marked by a ridge of hills surrounded by wild jungle and agricultural land where locals farm rubber and rice. Thailand says seven of its soldiers and 13 civilians have been killed, while Cambodia has confirmed eight civilian and five military deaths. The conflict has forced more than 138,000 people to be evacuated from Thailand's border regions, and 80,000 have been driven from their homes in Cambodia. After an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting Friday in New York, Cambodia's UN Ambassador Chhea Keo said his country wanted 'an immediate ceasefire' and a peaceful resolution of the dispute. UN chief Antonio Guterres urged both sides Saturday to 'immediately agree to a ceasefire' and hold talks to find a lasting solution. As well as blaming each other for starting the fight, Cambodia has also accused Thai forces of using cluster munitions, while Thailand accused Cambodia of targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals. The fighting marks a dramatic escalation in a long-running dispute between the neighbours over their shared 800-kilometre border where dozens of kilometres are contested.
