A weekly business program that goes beyond the numbers to explore major stories and their impact on daily life. Produced by FRANCE 24 English, it offers a global perspective on economics and finance. The show airs every Thursday at 4:45pm Paris time.
Épisodes
Global travel sector grows despite headwinds
The global tourism sector is growing, despite conflicts and economic uncertainty. That's the finding of a new report by World Travel Market, which says the number of international arrivals is set to hit a record 1.57 billion in 2026. David Goodger, Managing Director, EMEA at Tourism Economics, who authored the report, says overall tourism spending is also higher, despite rising prices. "A little
A tale of two economies: How America's cost-of-living crisis is shaping US midterm elections
The economy is the number one issue for most American voters, as they worry about high food and energy costs. But can the results of November's midterm elections really impact the cost-of-living crisis? "There isn't a ton that anyone can do about it, regardless of who wins the midterms," says Greg Ip, chief economics commentator at The Wall Street Journal. "They can't stop the war in Iran, because
Combatting online scams in the age of AI
One in four Europeans has fallen victim to an online scam, from identity fraud to fake romances. The rise of artificial intelligence is ushering in new risks. Minh Nguyen, Chief Product Officer at security solutions provider Entrust, says both online platforms and governments can play a role in protecting consumers and businesses. "The last couple of years have been fascinating in terms of seeing
French crypto unicorn Ledger warns of AI security risks
Artificial intelligence is "changing the security landscape". That's according to Ledger, a French unicorn of cryptocurrency that's seeking a bigger role in digital security. Chief Technology Officer Charles Guillemet says: "Finding vulnerabilities and exploiting them costs almost nothing. So this is the new challenge that we have, as the security industry in general – how can we raise the bar for
How long will the global energy crunch last?
High energy prices continue to drive inflation and stoke anger among voters around the world. But with more crude oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz, and governments releasing more emergency fuel stockpiles, how long will the energy crunch last? Jim Burkhard, Vice President and Head of Research for Oil Markets, Energy and Mobility at S&P Global, says elevated oil prices are here to stay. "I
Can AI play a role in reducing inequality?
In the debate about how best to regulate artificial intelligence, what about its role in development and aid? Warnings about the potential for exacerbating inequality are rife – but the World Bank argues that the technology could be harnessed for good. Paschal Donohoe, Managing Director and Chief Knowledge Officer at the World Bank Group, says there are concrete benefits in industries like farming
Canada seeks new role in global economy
As trade ties with the US continue to fray, Canada is seeking a new role and new partners in the increasingly fragmented global economy. Prime Minister Mark Carney has been courting more foreign investment as well as closer ties with the European Union and Asian economies. Julian Karaguesian, former special advisor to Canada's Department of Finance and visiting lecturer at McGill University's Dep
Food security under pressure from conflicts, extreme weather
Extreme weather and violent conflicts are threatening food production and trade across the globe. Experts are forecasting a super El Niño, which could further disrupt planting and harvests – and push millions more people into acute food insecurity. Meanwhile the ongoing wars with Iran and Ukraine are disrupting shipping and supply chains. Shawn Arita, Associate Research Professor at North Dakota
International Space Summit: Europe plays catch-up with US and China
The space sector is booming. The global industry expected to reach a value of €2 trillion mark by 2040. But behind this spectacular growth lies major geopolitical challenges, particularly for Europe. In this edition, FRANCE 24’s Charles Pellegrin speaks to Kai-Uwe Schrogl at the International Space Summit in Paris. Schrogl, a political affairs adviser to the European Space Agency, answers question
Please welcome the newest member to our team: The AI agent
This week, we're looking look at efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence into the workplace. But not just your run-of-the-mill generative AI chatbot: we're focusing on actual AI agents. These are autonomous programs designed to take on tasks and work through a series of steps without the user having to specify every move. And they're moving into our everyday lives – helping people plan holi
Executive diversity and inclusion: How to promote female leadership
CEO Women Europe is a new initiative launched in June of this year to boost partnerships between Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Kate Moody meets with Sandrine El Khodry, president of this new platform and also Executive Vice President for Global Sales and Marketing at Alcatel Lucent Enterprise.
Artificial intelligence in Europe: Does advanced AI have a glass ceiling?
What does Europe lose if advanced AI adoption stays at current levels? A report commissioned by US tech giant Amazon Web Services finds that skills shortages and regulatory uncertainty are hindering AI adoption in Europe and 38 percent of European startups are looking to move abroad. Charles Pellegrin talks to Sasha Rubel, AWS's head of generative AI policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Andy Burnham outlines his vision for UK economy with promise to raise living standards
Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is likely to be the next British prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation. Central to Burnham's platform is improving living standards that have stagnated or even fallen since the 2008 global financial crisis. But with weak public finances, how realistic is his plan? FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin talks to Renaud Foucart, senior lectu
VivaTech 2026: Space race hits new heights with reusable technology
Space loomed large over the 2026 VivaTech festival. Startups and technology giants alike have entered the new space economy – a sector previously dominated by government agencies. FRANCE 24’s Business Editor Kate Moody sat down with Marta Oliveira, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Atmos Space Cargo, to talk about reusable rockets, raising money in the private sector and international com
VivaTech 2026: Bringing quantum computing from innovation to commercialisation
Can quantum computing change the way we solve problems? The emerging technology can tackle situations that are out of reach for classical computers, in industries including healthcare and finance. At the 10th annual VivaTech festival, Kate Moody visits IBM's Quantum System Two chandelier, and speaks to Jerry Chow, IBM's Chief Technology Officer for Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, about the real-li
Race for critical minerals: The social and environmental trade-off
What are the social and environmental costs of the race for critical minerals? Minerals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel are crucial for the development of new technology, including clean energy. But mining and refining them can be hugely polluting and water intensive – with a risk of deforestation, water contamination, and health problems for local communities. Studies suggest that about half of
Pharmaceutical industry becomes geopolitical battleground as US threatens tariffs
The global pharmaceutical industry has found itself at the heart of geopolitical and trade tensions. The Trump administration has pushed policies to promote the sovereignty of US drugmakers, threatening tariffs on manufacturers or countries, and vowing to reduce prescription drug prices for Americans. But it's an approach that could lead to "potential catastrophe", according to Karl Claxton, Prof
Powering the AI inference boom: Is it time to downsize the data centre?
In the world of artificial intelligence, the focus used to be on training AI models. Now, increasingly, it's on "inference" – the actual execution of the tasks we ask these systems to perform. David Gurlé is a French tech entrepreneur whose startup Antimatter aims to service the inference boom with energy solutions, mini data centres that fit inside a container and appropriate software – for only
Is home ownership still part of the American Dream?
Owning a home has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, but is increasingly out of reach for many US workers. A report by the White House in April suggests the United States needs 10 million additional houses to meet demand. Meanwhile, the average price of new home sales has jumped over 30 percent in just five years, and rental prices in most major US cities have surged by around 40 perce
Can nuclear power resolve the energy crisis?
The war with Iran has prompted many economies to reevaluate their energy needs and strategy. In Europe, several countries are considering reviving the use of nuclear power. Sweden, Belgium, and Italy are among those rolling back previous restrictions, while France and the UK are spearheading new nuclear projects. Valérie Faudon, executive director of the French Nuclear Energy Society (SFEN) says t
Are fans being priced out of live gigs?
A spate of high-profile stadium tours by stars like Céline Dion, Taylor Swift and Oasis have put a spotlight on the practice of dynamic ticket pricing, with many fans saying they're unable to secure or afford tickets. We take a closer look in this edition of People & Profit. Andrew Mall, associate professor of music at Northeastern University, says the trend of dynamic ticket pricing is likely to
Is China's economy insulated from Iran war shock?
The US and Israel’s war with Iran has sent shockwaves across the global economy, and created the largest energy crisis in decades. But China, the world’s second-largest economy, has by many measures appeared insulated from the worst of the fallout. Watch moreWorld's worst energy crisis? Iran war sparks scramble for alternatives to Gulf oil Leah Fahy, senior economist in the China team at Capital
What Magyar's election win means for Hungary's economy and Europe
Hungary is preparing for a new era, after the centre-right Tisza party of Peter Magyar won a landslide victory over longtime nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Magyar says he'll seek to repair Hungary's confrontational relationship with the European Union, something that could unlock much-needed EU funding for Ukraine and for Hungary itself. Many voters said the stagnating economy was a majo
Iran war: Catalyst for a renewable energy push?
The US and Israel’s war with Iran has triggered one of the biggest global energy shocks in decades. Asian economies, in particular, are facing disruptions to oil and gas supplies, while energy prices have surged worldwide. Climate activists say the shock should serve as a catalyst in the switch to renewable energy sources. Harjeet Singh, Strategic Adviser at the Fossil Fuel Treaty Initiative and
