enFRANCE 24’s analyses of the economic events and technological innovations shaping our world, including economic trends, energy markets, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and space exploration.https://www.france24.com/en/business-tech/Tue, 23 Dec 2025 08:58:05 GMTThe Debatehttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20251223-off-the-scales-work-life-balance-in-the-digital-age It's the word of the year in Japan with a literal take on the Rihanna song "Work". Japan's first female prime minister Takaichi Sanae announced she would "abandon the idea of a work-life balance" when she was elected as the head of Liberal Democratic Party back in October. The 64-year old Takaichi may espouse "work, work, work, work and work", but how about those entering the labour market? 03e70cb8-d439-11f0-8ed6-5fe44fc49f2cTue, 23 Dec 2025 08:27:22 GMTFrançois PICARDhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/people-profit/20251219-sacrificing-agriculture-for-trade-mercosur-deal-divides-european-union It's a deal that's been decades in the works, but might not make it across the finishing line. The free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American Mercosur trading bloc is driving a wedge between those who are eager to diversify and strengthen their international trade, like Germany, and those who are concerned about protecting their agricultural sector, like France. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks to Maxime Combes, a French economist who fundamentally opposes the Mercosur trade deal – but not for the same reasons the French government does.  2435aef4-dced-11f0-b9f8-ede673e7bb75Fri, 19 Dec 2025 16:32:39 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251218-bp-appoints-big-oil-s-first-female-ceo-to-continue-shift-away-from-renewables London-based energy giant BP announced on Wednesday it was appointing Meg O'Neill as CEO starting on April 1. The executive, who has been at the head of Australian group Woodside Energy for the past four years, is expected to focus her efforts on the company's core oil and gas activities in a bid to catch up with rivals. Also in this edition: YouTube gains the rights to broadcast the Oscars ceremony starting in 2029, underlining streaming's increasing power in Hollywood.  d1813256-dbec-11f0-be27-4b4790abdce9Thu, 18 Dec 2025 12:22:19 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251217-warner-bros-rejects-paramount-s-bid-accuses-it-of-consistently-misleading-shareholders Warner Brothers Discovery has rejected Paramount Skydance's hostile takeover bid, saying it carries many risks and is inferior to Netflix's offer. The company's board said the Ellison family that controls Paramount "consistently misled" them about guarantees as it urged shareholders not to sell their stocks. Plus, as oil prices rise following US President Donald Trump's order to blockade oil tankers in and out of Venezuela, we take a look at just how central oil is to the South American country's economy.  5f63d498-db93-11f0-8148-d1cb1bf1d1d8Wed, 17 Dec 2025 22:00:35 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/business/20251217-warner-bros-board-rejects-takeover-bid-from-paramount-favours-deal-with-netflix Warner Bros Discovery's board has urged shareholders to reject a $108.4 billion hostile takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying it failed to provide adequate financing assurances. The board argued that the terms of a rival merger deal with Netflix represent "superior, more certain value for our shareholders". 328a46cc-db4e-11f0-9a9e-1986431b97edWed, 17 Dec 2025 13:49:10 GMT© Dado Ruvic, ReutersFRANCE 24Businesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251217-oil-prices-rise-as-trump-orders-blockade-of-sanctioned-tankers-in-and-out-of-venezuela Crude benchmarks were rising on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said the US would put a stop to any traffic of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela. The country's oil revenue is a lifeline for the Maduro government, which now mainly sells its barrels to China. Also in this edition: Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly telling its shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance. Plus: FIFA offers $60 tickets for the 2026 World Cup amid criticism over high prices. 4e6e7e96-db24-11f0-b4d2-29a05e62bfb8Wed, 17 Dec 2025 10:27:36 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251216-eu-rolls-back-2035-internal-combustion-engine-ban The European Union has proposed changes to a 2023 law that effectively banned the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035. Instead of cutting CO2 emissions by 100 percent from 2021 levels, carmakers would be required to reduce them by 90 percent, meaning small-scale production of petrol or hybrid cars could continue. The auto industry and some member states had been lobbying hard to get the rules relaxed in the face of slow market growth for EVs.  a8c221a4-daca-11f0-b70b-816cde53061aTue, 16 Dec 2025 22:08:29 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251216-ford-to-take-19-5-billion-writedown-as-it-scraps-flagship-evs Ford is abandoning top EV models like the F-150 Lightning as weak demand and hostile policies from the Trump administration weigh on sales. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: the EU prepares to water down its own upcoming ban on sales of new internal combustion vehicles, while France tries to support its own EV battery sector. 3893c71c-da65-11f0-ae6a-0115113bbd9fTue, 16 Dec 2025 11:14:31 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251215-china-sees-first-annual-investment-decline-in-30-years Despite logging a record trade surplus, economic data for November showed China's domestic woes are deepening. Retail sales grew at their slowest pace in three years and investment slowed sharply, signalling that Chinese consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly cautious. Plus, Roomba maker iRobot has filed for bankruptcy after struggling with competition, debt, tariffs and Amazon's buyout offer later being called off. It's now being taken private by its main Chinese supplier.  52ec7c80-da01-11f0-ac66-875887f97c0aMon, 15 Dec 2025 22:01:27 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251215-french-government-calls-for-delay-of-eu-mercosur-trade-deal-vote France's prime minister has called for pushing back the final approval vote on the landmark EU-Mercosur free trade deal as an outbreak of lumpy skin disease sparks a fresh crisis in its agricultural sector. Also in this edition: credit default swaps for AI hyperscalers take off as investors worry about excessive debt, and French consumers tighten their belts for Christmas. 472aefce-d99a-11f0-845d-c90b1fc4a021Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:39:03 GMTBryan QUINNPress Reviewhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20251212-how-clair-obscur-expedition-33-became-a-gaming-tour-de-force PRESS REVIEW – Friday, December 12: A US defence news website reports on leaks from the National Security Strategy, which reveal how the Trump administration is trying to pull four EU nations away from the bloc. Also: World Darts champion Luke Littler begins his campaign to defend his title. Plus: French video game "Clair Obscur: Expedition 33" wins big at the Games Awards and becomes a symbol of French success.  e5d0f9a0-d72b-11f0-ad14-37b76cf59a2cFri, 12 Dec 2025 11:48:07 GMTDheepthika LAURENTBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251211-is-the-us-interested-in-venezuela-s-oil The US's motives are unclear after it seizes a sanctioned oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Also, France's last major home appliance maker goes bankrupt. Meanwhile, Disney strikes a deal with OpenAI. Plus, Lidl gets creative with its advertising, with a competition to win its "Eau de croissant". d316b9b2-d6d1-11f0-9bba-61f002658791Thu, 11 Dec 2025 21:07:56 GMTCamille KNIGHThttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/people-profit/20251211-the-world-for-sale-a-deep-dive-into-the-murky-world-of-commodity-traders They buy, hoard and sell the Earth's resources. In this episode, journalist Javier Blas helps us shed some light on the shadowy realm of billionaire commodity traders. He co-wrote with Jack Farchy "The World for Sale: Money, Power and the Traders Who Barter the Earth's Resources", about the power concentrated in the hands of a small number of commodity trading houses. 78e44c28-d5d9-11f0-99fd-05d5c7a27e7bThu, 11 Dec 2025 15:42:18 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251211-us-federal-reserve-cuts-rate-by-25-basis-points-but-dissenting-voices-heard The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday. The move comes as the US economy deals with sticky inflation, slowing jobs figures and a lack of official data because of the government shutdown. Stock markets reacted favourably to the news initially, but were then weighed down by concerns related to the tech sector. Also in this edition: Donald Trump signals his support for a change of ownership at CNN. Plus, we bring you some data on Venezuela's oil industry.  344576d8-d66e-11f0-91ab-cf8d7fe15e22Thu, 11 Dec 2025 10:10:06 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251210-us-federal-reserve-cuts-interest-rates-for-the-third-straight-time The US Federal Reserve has lowered its benchmark rate by a quarter percentage point, to a range of 3.5%-3.75%. However, it signalled there will be fewer cuts going forward amid a cooling labour market and persistently high inflation. The vote was not unanimous, with two board members calling for keeping rates unchanged, and Trump ally Stephen Miran wanting a larger cut. Also in the segment: the United Arab Emirates is turning towards AI as part of a strategy of ensuring its future in a post-fossil fuels world.  ba72607a-d611-11f0-8e2a-c913c7612aa3Wed, 10 Dec 2025 21:53:46 GMTYuka ROYERThe Debatehttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/the-debate/20251210-addiction-economy-can-regulators-rein-in-social-media-platforms Will history remember this as the day the planet started to rein in big tech? Australia is firing the first shot by banning under-16s from platforms and social media that include giants such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok. We of course ask if rebellious teens will make light work of the ban. More broadly, is this the day regulators start treating merchants of scrolling the way they do tobacco and drinks giants: like businesses with a penchant for encouraging addiction? 7a53d7e4-d5fd-11f0-acc3-f992cc29a5d3Wed, 10 Dec 2025 19:22:04 GMTFrançois PICARDBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251210-australian-social-media-ban-for-kids-tackles-addiction-economy-scrollaware-says As Australia's ban on social media for children under 16 takes effect, we speak with Jess Butcher, a tech entrepreneur and founder of digital wellbeing foundation ScrollAware. In spite of being opposed to over-regulation, she tells us she supports the Australian ban on account of the scale of the "harms that these platforms are causing" to users and the failure of tech companies to act meaningfully.  1b1013c8-d5a4-11f0-ab31-a30d3a2b9432Wed, 10 Dec 2025 10:33:58 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251210-ford-renault-team-up-on-low-cost-electric-cars-to-counter-chinese-rivals Automotive heavyweights Renault and Ford are to join forces to develop a line of compact, more affordable Ford-branded electric vehicles and commercial vans in a bid to curb a wave of cheaper Chinese electric models gaining ground in Europe. Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a joint statement: “We will combine Renault Group's industrial scale and EV assets with Ford's iconic design and driving dynamics to create vehicles that are fun, capable and distinctly Ford in spirit." Also in this edition: Microsoft announces $23 billion in AI investments in Asia. 4c3e4cb2-d5a9-11f0-a6e4-1d9b4af0da0eWed, 10 Dec 2025 09:30:26 GMTCharlotte LamPress Reviewhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20251209-paramount-s-hostile-bid-for-warner-bros-is-among-most-audacious-in-history PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, December 9: The bidding war has begun after Paramount launched a $108 billion hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, days after shareholders accepted a Netflix deal. Who will prevail? Also: we learn about the growing Japanese community in India. Plus: YouTube launches the first ever AI reality TV series: a "Hunger Games"-style fight to the death. 43ad70b6-d4d5-11f0-be38-f3084270dbf5Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:47:46 GMTDheepthika LAURENTBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251209-us-to-allow-exports-of-advanced-artificial-intelligence-chips-to-china US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would allow the export of US chipmaker Nvidia's second-most powerful AI chips to China, in spite of criticism saying such a move could end up benefitting Beijing's military. Trump said the US would collect a 25 percent fee on these sales and added that he'd informed Chinese leader Xi Jinping of his decision. Also in this edition, we look at why Chinese cars are increasingly popular among French consumers.       a73971dc-d4dc-11f0-9278-5b6698afc550Tue, 09 Dec 2025 10:07:59 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/business/20251208-paramount-challenges-netflix-with-108-4-billion-hostile-takeover-bid-for-warner-bros Paramount Skydance on Monday launched a hostile bid worth $108.4 billion for Warner Bros Discovery, hoping to outbid Netflix just days after the streaming giant reached a $72 billion takeover deal with the storied Hollywood studios. 71826aba-d448-11f0-bf12-db08e23734c8Mon, 08 Dec 2025 15:27:02 GMT© Jae C. Hong, APFRANCE 24Businesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251208-china-s-trade-surplus-hits-record-1-08-trillion-after-just-11-months China exported over $1 trillion worth of goods more than it imported for January through November, a record amount that is increasingly seen as untenable by the country's Western trading partners. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: Netflix's acquisition of Warner Bros. faces regulatory hurdles and pushback from Hollywood unions. ee791078-d416-11f0-86fb-690e77cc1d98Mon, 08 Dec 2025 10:51:47 GMTBryan QUINNTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20251208-days-before-australia-s-social-media-ban-teens-race-to-find-loopholes Australia is about to become the first major democracy to impose a nationwide ban on social media access for under-16s. When the world-first measure comes into force on December 10, platforms including TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Reddit and Twitch, will be required to remove existing under-16 accounts and block the ability to create new ones. The government says the legislation is necessary to curb rising online bullying, self-harm content and addictive design, which it says intentionally targets young users. 6f1a6ff8-d37a-11f0-ae61-277a9acb2872Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:42:46 GMTCharlotte LamBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/business/20251205-netflix-to-acquire-warner-bros-studio-dc-studios-streaming-business-hbo-max-for-72-billion Streaming giant Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros studios and its streaming business for $72 billion, the two American companies announced in a statement on Friday. This acquisition would bring two of the industry’s biggest players in film and TV under one roof. 2c042184-d1f7-11f0-b118-7b40cd91e34dFri, 05 Dec 2025 16:45:10 GMT© Dado Ruvic, ReutersFRANCE 24Businesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251204-defence-oil-and-trade-imbalances-putin-arrives-in-india-to-boost-economic-ties Russian President Vladimir Putin has landed in India for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time since the start of the war in Ukraine. The visit aims at strengthening economic ties between Moscow and New Delhi. Also, Italian police visit the headquarters of 13 major fashion brands as part of an investigation into luxury good supply chains. Plus, hundreds queue up in Auckland for Ikea's grand opening.  e5a74df8-d14a-11f0-ade4-ef4d5a088adcThu, 04 Dec 2025 20:56:46 GMTCamille KNIGHTBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251204-france-s-macron-pushes-for-more-investment-trade-rebalancing-in-china-visit French President Emmanuel Macron is visiting China with a delegation of business leaders, seeking more Chinese investment in France and a reduction in the trade deficit. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: the Trump administration plans to loosen US fuel efficiency standards, to the delight of carmakers and the dismay of climate advocates. b6b26152-d0f2-11f0-9654-a5fd10a1bf77Thu, 04 Dec 2025 10:35:47 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251203-eu-proposes-using-frozen-russian-assets-to-provide-%E2%82%AC90-billion-to-ukeraine The European Commission has unveiled plans to provide €90 billion to support Ukraine over the next two years, by either using frozen Russian assets or borrowing money on international markets. Although the EU has already been using interest earned on Russian central bank assets held up in Europe to help Ukraine, Belgium is firmly against tapping into the actual funds. But first, the EU has presented a new strategy to reduce its dependence on China for rare earths.  9d9e9e2e-d093-11f0-8b73-cfe8cbc02b36Wed, 03 Dec 2025 22:01:43 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251203-eu-to-unveil-new-plan-to-end-dependence-on-china-s-rare-earths The European Union will release an updated plan this Wednesday to end its dependence on China for rare earths. These critical minerals are considered crucial in a number of high-stakes supply chains, notably in the defence, renewable energy and auto sectors, yet Beijing dominates both their mining and refining globally. Also in this edition, we look at how deforestation may have helped exacerbate recent floods in Indonesia. b53f1f10-d023-11f0-9005-2d443713a57bWed, 03 Dec 2025 10:07:44 GMTCharles PELLEGRINA proposhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/a-propos/20251202-south-korea-s-digital-sex-crime-crisis-the-molka-epidemic In South Korea, "molka" refers to filming women's bodies without their consent. Tiny spy cameras are used in public bathrooms and hotels to do this and the images are often distributed on encrypted social media platforms such as Telegram. University of Queensland scholar Park Se Youn tells FRANCE 24 how sexual predators are using technology and online platforms in the "extremely lucrative" business of posting explicit images online. 85e394e6-cfcc-11f0-a9d0-b59226e51149Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:16:16 GMTSharon GAFFNEYBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20251202-openai-s-sam-altman-declares-code-red-to-improve-chatgpt-as-rivals-threaten-its-position OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has declared a "code red" to improve ChatGPT, planning to put all other projects on the back burner. The urgent call in an internal memo, first reported by The Information, highlights the ever-tightening race for AI supremacy, with Google's recent launch of its new Gemini chatbot threatening ChatGPT's lead in the field. Also in this segment: the OECD says the global economy has held up better than expected this year in the face of US tariffs, but warns that risks remain.  e840d3b2-cfc0-11f0-b346-8ff6e4909be3Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:57:24 GMTYuka ROYER