Business daily

US President Donald Trump discussed AI development with dozens of tech bosses at the White House on Tuesday. Ahead of his "super intelligence" luncheon, Trump launched a new AI-powered website for government services, vowing not to stifle the technology's growth. He also said he didn't want to work with Chinese President Xi Jinping on AI oversight. Plus, dozens of dogs are rescued from a breeding farm in South Korea as the country prepares for a complete phaseout of the dog meat industry. 

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has decided to cancel the release of its latest agentic model Astra 6.1 because it did not meet safety standards. Rival AI firm Anthropic, meanwhile, is dedicating a large majority of its IPO prospectus to laying out the risk factors associated with AI, according to Reuters. Also in this edition: Russia adds another layer of secrecy to its energy sector and NASA reboots Boeing's struggling Starliner rocket programme.

Trade unions in France have called on public sector workers – from train drivers to teachers, health workers and police officers – to stop work and protest at the government's plan to freeze the public sector's pay index, just days before the government is set to unveil its draft budget for 2027. Plus, as Paris Fashion Week kicks off, we speak with an expert on what the struggling luxury sector needs to do towards a more sustainable future. 

Flights between Iran and the United Arab Emirates have been suspended, following tighter US sanctions on Iran's aviation industry. The move effectively cuts Tehran off from Dubai, one of the region's most important commercial hubs. There are also huge backups near Iran's border with Turkey, as overland shipping routes struggle to fill the gaps. Also in this edition: Donald Trump and Xi Jinping hail strong ties between the US and China as they discuss AI, trade and energy. 

The Trump administration's suggestion that it could ban or limit diesel exports has sparked a furious backlash from the American oil industry. Politicians are trying to bring down soaring energy prices ahead of the midterm elections in November, but critics say a ban would cause supply problems and higher prices both at home and abroad. Also in this edition: the OECD says the global economy is withstanding the energy shock better than expected, partly thanks to AI investment. 

Under pressure to help businesses and workers cope with soaring fuel prices, the French government has announced it will expand targeted energy relief for those most affected. The new measures will cost €450 million, bringing the total so far to €1.4 billion. Meanwhile, as French President Emmanuel Macron calls for allowing more biofuels to be added to diesel, we speak to an expert about the potential environmental impact of a rapid ramp-up in biofuel use. 

Dependence on consulting firms is a growing trend among governments globally. Left unchecked, it can have a negative impact due to high costs or transparency issues. Such dependence came to the fore in France a few years ago, when the Macron government was criticised for its close ties with US consulting giant McKinsey. UNESCO's Inclusive Policy Lab, headed by Iulia Sevciuc, has established a new blueprint to tackle this problem. She spoke to us in Business.

Paramount Skydance has settled a lawsuit with a dozen US states that sought to block its acquisition of Warner Brothers, as well as with the Writers Guild of America. California's attorney general said that while the settlement addressed concerns over competition and protection, it did not mean a vote of support for the deal.

US and Chinese delegations held "succesful" and "constructive" talks in New York on Sunday on Artificial Intelligence and trade, ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Washington later this week. The two countries discussed setting up a dialogue mechanism as fears over AI security keep rising, and prepared to ease trade tensions as a truce deal is set to expire in November. Also in this edition, France and Canada seek to deepen ties on critical minerals and energy.

French fishermen have agreed to lift their blockades at fuel depots and ports, including Nice, after talks with the government over financial aid. They say soaring fuel prices since the start of the war with Iran are pushing them to the brink. Also in the segment: India could be hit by fresh US tariffs if it keeps buying Russian oil. US lawmakers approved a new sanctions package that ratchets up the economic pressure on Moscow and its trading partners.  

The US central bank raised its benchmark rate by .25 percent, with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh defying President Donald Trump's desire for lower rates. Consumer banks and bond markets react. Also, OpenAI reveals new incidents of AI misconduct as fears grow that the technology could escape human control.

The US Federal Reserve has raised its key interest rates for the first time in three years, as it seeks to bring down high inflation. The policy decision sets up a potential confrontation between Chairman Kevin Warsh and President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called on the central bank to cut interest rates. Also in this segment: France extends fuel subsidies as fishermen's protests gather momentum, and Hong Kong seeks to fall in line with Beijing's economic vision. 

People in the single-currency Eurozone have been invited to vote on the designs of upcoming euro bank bills. Proposed designs include historic figures like Marie Curie and Leonardo da Vinci, as well as a vertical format. They are expected to enter circulation around 2030. But first, as higher fuel prices stemming from the Iran war hurt consumers, fishermen in southern France scuffled with police as they tried to blockade an oil depot. 

Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote launched the biggest-ever share sale on the African continent, listing 4.1 billion shares in his Lagos refinery on the stock exchange.  He framed it as a "people's IPO" to give all Nigerians a chance to share the plant's wealth potentials. Trading is expected to start in November. Meanwhile, global oil prices continued to advance as attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels forced Saudi Arabia to shut down its East-West oil pipeline. 

For the first time, French champagne producers are allowed to sell their bubbly with more than 13% alcohol, as record heatwaves and drought have resulted in grapes containing unusually high levels of sugar. They fear that climate change may eventually force them to permanently rewrite the rules governing winemaking.  Also in the segment, the European Central Bank raised interest rates for the second time this year amid higher energy costs, as a potential new gas crisis looms over Europe. 

John Ternus, Apple's new CEO, unveiled the tech giant's latest smartphone on Wednesday. The foldable iPhone Duo will go on sale on October 23rd starting at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone to date. The move is a bid to comfort the US company's position at the top of the global smartphone market. Also in this edition, we head to Argentina where President Javier Milei's free market approach has led to a downturn in manufacturing.

Paris's Grand Palais will host a two-day International Space Summit this Wednesday to promote global cooperation in the sector. A number of deals and investments for European space firms are expected to be announced as part of a wider plan to strengthen Europe's position in a field dominated by the US and China. Also in this edition: the US and Canada are locked in a tit-for-tat battle over tariffs.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said it was a shame that trade talks with the US collapsed but that he would continue to fight to protect Canada's sovereignty. Meanwhile, his government's promised counter-tariffs on $20 billion worth of US exports took effect. Also in the segment: Cuba says economic damage from decades of US trade embargo has risen to a record $8 billion. 

Canada's retaliatory tariffs of up to 50 percent on approximately $19.8 billion worth of US goods came into effect this Tuesday, further escalating the trade war between the two neighbours. At the same time, US President Donald Trump is threatening to ban sales of all Bombardier aircraft in the US, in spite of the Canadian company's deep web of US suppliers. Also in this edition: Iran raises the price of gasoline and French startup Mistral AI is now valued at €21 billion.

Crisis-hit Volkswagen has struck a preliminary deal to sell its Osnabrück plant in Lower Saxony to the state government and Israeli investor Aurelius Capital.  From mid-2027, the iconic factory is expected to start producing equipment for Rafael Advanced Defence Systems, the company behind the Iron Dome missile defence system. But first, we take a look at the state of the German economy following the far-right AfD's historic election win in Saxony-Anhalt. 

German startup Isar Aerospace becomes the first company to achieve a successful private orbital space launch. But first: Germany's far-right AfD party scores a big electoral victory, pushed along in part by the country's structural economic crisis and its fiscal policies.

The UN warns El Niño is a "supersized" phenomenon that will hit the global economy. Meanwhile, UK cider producers are feeling the impact of drought. Plus, Nvidia buys AI developer platform Hugging Face for $12.9 billion. 

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright landed in Venezuela on Tuesday ahead of a signing ceremony for a landmark oil deal between the US government and Venezuela. The deal would see the US create and control a private company that will hold 65 billion barrels in proven oil reserves. This agreement is also meant to encourage other US energy firms to invest in the country, in spite of serious challenges. In this edition, we see what other deals could be announced and what those challenges are.

Oil prices rose, stocks fell and bond yields spiked after the US launched fresh attacks on Iranian targets. Japan's 10-year bond yield hit 3 percent for the first time since 1996. The deepening global selloff comes amid fears over rising inflation and concern over mounting government debt, which in the US has risen above $40 trillion. Meanwhile, in the single-currency eurozone, inflation rose to the highest level in three years in August, driven by higher energy prices. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russia's Vladimir Putin are among the heads of state attending a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit taking place in Kyrgyzstan. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in attendance, where he held bilateral talks with India's Narendra Modi. Marking its 25th anniversary this year, the SCO has strengthened trade ties among its members as the bloc looks to present an alternative to the US-led world order. 

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit gets underway in Kyrgyzstan, with the leaders of China and Russia attending. But first: the US hosts G20 finance ministers, while America's massive debt may be painting its new central banker into a corner. 

Former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham is set to become the United Kingdom's new Prime Minister this Monday. He will do so having reiterated a commitment to help raise the standard of living in the country. However, the Labour leader's agenda will be tested by the country's financial situation and his prior commitments, both of which will limit the scope of his plans. In this segment, we'll look at how his policies promise to deliver higher growth in the short and long term.  

The United States will slap 25 percent tariffs on some Brazilian goods starting July 22 following a yearlong investigation under the Trade Act of 1974. The probe concluded that Brazil engaged in unfair trade practices. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the move, saying it was politically motivated to favour his rival for upcoming elections, Flavio Bolsonaro. Also in this edition, we look at the Japanese firm trying to bring back 1980's style corporate culture.

Official data released on Wednesday shows China's GDP grew 4.3 percent in the second quarter, compared to a year prior. The last time quarterly growth was that weak was in late 2022, when China was feeling the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Slow consumer demand, despite a surge in exports, helps explain the slowdown. Also in this edition, Gibraltar's business community breathes a sigh of relief as the physical border between the British overseas territory and Spain is removed.

Ukrainian drone strikes have brought shipping in the Sea of Azov to a near standstill, disrupting a corridor that carries up to a quarter of Russia's wheat exports and sending tremors through global grain and oil markets. They have also knocked out a significant share of Russia's refining capacity, prompting Moscow to ban diesel exports until the end of July and further unsettling global oil markets. In Russian-occupied Crimea, petrol prices have reached a record high.

Crude oil prices surge as renewed US-Iran strikes fuel market fears. In France, real-estate agents say property buyers are changing priorities as heatwaves become more frequent. And Cuba suffers another nationwide blackout amid the impact of US sanctions.

As the World Cup quarterfinals get under way, the race to number one between Nike and Adidas heats up. India and Australia sign a new uranium deal. And, OpenAI rolls out its newest model GPT-5.6 Sol to the general public.

Italy's second biggest bank, Unicredit, is closing in on a takeover of Germany's second biggest bank Commerzbank after saying it secured 47.6% of the lender's shares on Wednesday. The move is facing widespread opposition in Germany, notably from the federal government, which has a 12% stake in the company. Also, new "freedom fuel" filling stations are appearing across the United States, offering cheaper petrol and receiving strong backing from the White House.

The IMF has cut its global growth forecast for the second time this year, flagging "uncertainty and risks" brought on by the war in Iran. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez responds to threats from Donald Trump that the US will cut off all trade with his country. And, the heatwave is putting France's power system under pressure.

The US Treasury Department has announced it will no longer allow Iranian oil sales to be conducted in US dollars on global markets after several tankers were hit by projectiles while attempting to cross the Strait of Hormuz. The move has left more than 60 million barrels of Iranian crude stranded at sea without any clear buyers. Also in this edition, we go inside a Chinese air conditioning factory racing to meet soaring European demand as heatwaves drive up sales.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday that France is ready to help rebuild Syria's economy and banking sector, as he continued his Damascus visit undeterred by two bomb blasts near the hotel he was staying in. 

South Korean chipmaker Samsung Electronics posted record quarterly profits Tuesday thanks to the global AI infrastructure buildout coupled with a memory chip shortage. Also in this edition, oil futures rise as tensions reignite in the Hormuz Strait and Canada commits to its biggest-ever defence contract. Finally, Cuba experiences its third nationwide blackout of the year as its fuel reserves dwindle.

A handful of OPEC+ countries have agreed to increase their output targets from August, but the cartel is fighting for its survival after the UAE's departure. Also, A French company is using the River Seine to cool down Paris's buildings. Finally, Sky says it's buying ITV's broadcast channels and streaming service for £1.6bn.

The earthquakes that hit Venezuela in late June have devastated seaside towns where tourism has been a vital economic lifeline for an already struggling population. Also, tanker traffic picks up through the Strait of Hormuz, and Europe seeks to convince the US that it's boosting defence spending. 

In today's edition, FRANCE 24's Charlotte Lam takes a look at Germany's new tax and pension reforms, Google's big loss in EU courts and the “Swiftonomics” bonanza that the star's wedding could bring to New York City.

Anthropic's Mythos 5 and Fable 5 are back online this Wednesday after the company said it had productive conversations with the US government. Also, Kevin Warsh makes his first public appearance as Federal Reserve chairman. Plus shares of Meta rise after news that the company is building out a new cloud business.

US President Donald Trump made over a billion dollars with various crypto-related ventures in 2025, according to his annual financial disclosure report. The earnings, coming from royalties tied to the Trump memecoin and token sales from crypto firm World Liberty Financial, have prompted accusations of conflicts of interest from watchdog groups. Also in this edition: the US commerce department lifts its export ban on Anthropic's latest AI models.