Business daily

The United States temporarily waived sanctions on Iranian oil exports on Monday, opening the door for Tehran to return to global energy markets as negotiations between the two countries continue. In this edition, we look at the impact this has had on oil prices, while also examining major job cuts at Oracle linked to AI-driven restructuring and a sharp sell-off in technology stocks that's rippled from Wall Street to Asian and European markets.

As consumers increasingly turn to AI assistants for advice and recommendations, companies are rethinking how they reach and engage with customers. Speaking to FRANCE 24 at VivaTech in Paris, L'Oréal Chief Digital and Marketing Officer Asmita Dubey explains how the beauty leader is deploying artificial intelligence across marketing, product discovery and personalised consumer experiences.

How can Europe better support tech startups? That's a question being asked at VivaTech, Europe's biggest event for innovation and technology. Business Editor Kate Moody has been speaking to Eleonore Crespo – co-founder and co-CEO of Pigment, a business planning platform that helps firms make strategic decisions using artificial intelligence. The company was founded as a startup in 2019 and has since become one of just a handful of French tech unicorns, valued at over $1 billion. 

With France's Emmanuel Macron and India's Narendra Modi championing the idea of tech sovereignty, French startup BeeAlp is trying to build a circular smartphone designed and manufactured in Europe. CEO Olivier Dufour joins FRANCE 24 to discuss the company's subscription model, Europe's industrial ambitions and the challenges of competing with global smartphone leaders.

From boosting productivity to transforming recruitment and consulting, artificial intelligence is changing the way companies operate. Speaking to FRANCE 24 at VivaTech in Paris, EY executive Jad Shimaly explains where AI is delivering results and what it could mean for the future of work. 

What role will artificial intelligence play in business development and daily life? It's one of the questions dominating this year's VivaTech, Europe's biggest event focused on startups and innovation. Our Business Editor Kate Moody sat down with Julia White, Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Amazon Web Services, to find out about the tech giant's new AI shopping assistant, what jobs AI can and cannot do, and how to bring more women into leadership positions in Silicon Valley. 

Demand for skills linked to so-called AI agents has surged across Europe, according to new data from freelance marketplace Malt. At VivaTech 2026, CEO Vincent Huguet tells FRANCE 24 how companies are racing to hire AI talent, why demand is spreading beyond the tech sector and what this means for the future of work.

As the war in Ukraine took centre stage at the G7 summit in the French town of Evian, US President Donald Trump said Moscow should make peace with Kyiv and suggested that the US could bring back sanctions on Russian oil, now that the Strait of Hormuz is expected to reopen. Also in the segment: the iconic BHV department store in Paris has announced it will end its partnership with ultra-fast fashion giant Shein, as it changes ownership. 

Ahead of his arrival in the French Alps for a G7 summit, US President Donald Trump said in a media interview that the US had "no choice" but to impose 100 percent tariffs on French wines if Paris didn't scrap its digital services tax on tech firms. French President Emmanuel Macron has already ruled out dropping the tax, which brings hundreds of millions of euros into state coffers annually. We take a closer look.

Expectations are high for the IPO of SpaceX. The company - which includes rockets, satellites, and AI units - could become one of the most valuable in the world following its market launch on Friday. Founder Elon Musk is set to retail near total control of SpaceX, with 85% of the voting rights. Igor Pejic, Tech Investing Strategist and author of the book "Tech Money," says Musk's personal influence is likely to draw in more investors - but the company is overvalued at $1.75 trillion. 

As the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Mexico this Thursday, we take a look at the tournament's expected economic impact – both globally and on host countries. But the real winner, it seems, is FIFA, with record revenues forecast at $11 billion. Also in this edition, markets react to a fresh flare-up in violence in the Strait of Hormuz, and SpaceX faces a lawsuit from an environmental group ahead of its blockbuster market debut this Friday.

Wall Street is counting down to what could be the biggest market debut in history, with SpaceX preparing to go public. The IPO is expected to value the company at $1.75 trillion and make founder Elon Musk the world's first trillionaire. Also, US inflation has surged to its highest level in three years, driven by rising energy prices since the start of the war with Iran. President Donald Trump has hailed the figures as "great".

The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico is on track to be the most expensive one ever for match-going fans. The cheapest general sale tickets for the final are four times as expensive as they were for the final in Qatar in 2022, and represent only a small proportion of total seats. We look at the reasons for this surge in prices. Also in this edition: solar power overtakes coal in the US, in spite of Donald Trump's policies. 

The EU has ordered Meta to grant rival AI chatbots free access to its WhatsApp platform within five working days, while it completes its antitrust investigation into the company. Meta says it will appeal, accusing the EU of "regulatory overreach". Meanwhile, Brussels hits back at Apple after the iPhone maker blamed the EU's Digital Marketing Act for its decision to delay the rollout of its new Siri AI in Europe. 

The maker of ChatGPT, OpenAI, has kicked off the process of selling its shares on public markets by submitting a confidential filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The AI startup is looking to capitalise on its dominant position on the AI chatbot market in order to boost its financing needs. Also in this edition: Chinese exports continued to grow in May in spite of the war in Iran. Plus a new report suggests another retirement age hike in France.

Anthropic, the firm behind AI assistant Claude, submitted a confidential filing to go public with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The firm, valued at close to a trillion dollars, could make its market debut by the end of the year as it sees a surge in interest for its range of AI products. Also in this edition: as France welcomes new data centre investments, we see what's driving that interest and what impact it could have on local communities. 

The European Union has slapped a €200 million fine on Chinese retailer Temu for selling products considered toxic or unsafe, including baby toys and electronics. The e-commerce giant disputes the ruling, which came under the EU's Digital Services Act, requiring online platforms to protect consumers from harmful content or products. Also in the show:  Global air travel dips for the first time since the pandemic, and France is set to reimburse the cost of weight-loss drugs for obese patients.

Benchmark prices for crude oil rose on Thursday as Iran said it targeted a US airbase in response to American air strikes. Commercial traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which had slightly ticked up in previous days, dwindled down to almost nothing again. Also in this edition: Australia takes legal action against US consumer goods giant 3M over "forever chemicals" in firefighting foam. Plus Brazilian leader Lula endorses more oil and gas exploration in the Amazon.

French President Emmanuel Macron gave the country's plans to move away from fossil fuels another boost on Tuesday, announcing big private investments, including a €1 billion EV project from Stellantis. Some 200 companies signed onto a national pact to join the government's efforts to double the share of electricity in the country's energy mix to 60 percent by 2030. Plus, BP has fired its chairman Albert Manifold over "serious concerns" about governance standards and conduct. 

Retail tycoon Chung Yong-jin, chairman of the Shinsegae Group which owns Starbucks Korea, issued a second apology in two weeks on Tuesday as the public outcry over the coffee chain's "Tank Day" marketing campaign fails to subside. The group is seeing a drop in sales over the campaign that appeared to reference a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy protesters in 1980. Also in this edition: Ferrari unveils its first fully electric supercar, "Luce".

France's utility giant EDF is poised to start dismantling the Fessenheim nuclear power plant on the border with Germany, a €1.4 billion project slated to take 22 years. Built in 1971, the plant's two reactors are the oldest in France and have been permanently shut down since 2020 after 43 years in operation, following a string of safety failures. But first, the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Africa is starting to take an economic toll on local populations. 

Oil futures slid on Monday as traders assessed US President Donald Trump's announcement over the weekend that a deal with Iran had been "largely negotiated". The benchmark Brent crude still remains much higher than when the war started on February 28. Also in this edition: some commercial vessels are managing to cross the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, Ferrari is set to launch its first fully electric supercar model.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced new support measures to cushion the impact of the energy crisis caused by the war in Iran. The €710 million package includes extending existing support schemes for sectors such as fishing, farming and construction, as well as a new bonus for taxi drivers to switch to electric cars. But the prime minister ruled out blanket subsidies like fuel tax cuts as Paris struggles to bring its debt and deficit down. 

Elon Musk's rocket and satellite company has publicly filed details about its upcoming initial public offering, highlighting both the company's ambitious goals in space and its financial results. Among the group's long-term goals are the construction of data centres in space and creating a large human settlement on Mars. Also in this edition: Samsung and its workers find a last-minute deal to suspend a planned 18-day strike. 

French-Italian auto group Stellantis and China's Dongfeng have announced a plan to launch a joint venture based in Europe, with Stellantis having a 51 percent controlling stake. The deal would see Dongfeng's new electric models assembled at Stellantis's plant in western France to comply with the EU's new "Made in Europe" rule that requires 70 percent of EV content to be made locally. Also in the segment: one man in the US has turned a broken pink Barbie car into a solution to combat soaring fuel prices. 

After marathon five-hour talks, representatives from the EU Parliament and the EU Council agreed on Wednesday to go ahead and ratify the trade pact found with the US in July 2025. US President Donald Trump had threatened to increase tariffs on EU autos to 25 percent if the deal wasn't implemented by July 4. Also in this edition, talks between Samsung and its workers went down to the wire ahead of a scheduled 18-day strike on Thursday.

G7 finance ministers and central bankers have wrapped up their two-day meetings in Paris as the war in Iran and the energy crisis continue to weigh on the global economy. Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pierrakakis, who represented the 21-member euro area in the talks, told FRANCE 24's François Picard and Yuka Royer that despite some differences, there was a shared understanding that a multilateral approach was key to facing the ongoing challenges. 

A California court ruled on Monday that Elon Musk has waited too long to file a lawsuit against OpenAI's leadership accusing them of misleading the public about their plans to transform the once charity into a for-profit entity. Also in the business news this Tuesday, Standard Chartered cuts thousands of jobs as it accelerates adoption of AI and fires its CEO in South Korea over an insensitive promotional campaign.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has lost his $160 billion dollar lawsuit against OpenAI and its chief Sam Altman in a federal court in California. After 11 days of testimonies and arguments, a nine-member jury deliberated for less than two hours to reach a unanimous verdict, saying Musk filed the case too late, beyond the statute of limitations. Also on the show, research finds American drivers have spent over $40 billion in additional fuel costs since the start of the Iran war. 

Finance ministers and central bankers from the world's top economies are gathering in Paris as the US war on Iran threatens to undermine the global financial system. Meanwhile, inflation tied to the war sparks a rout on bond markets, and the US's busiest commuter rail system shuts down over a labour dispute.

Cuba has run out of fuel and diesel, as the US blockade plunges the island deeper into an energy crisis. The government is now considering a renewed offer of aid from the Trump administration – but that financing would come with conditions. Also in the show: US President Donald Trump announces China will buy 200 aircraft from Boeing, as he continues his high-stakes visit to Beijing. 

The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, is among the delegation of CEOs that met with US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Thursday. The maker of AI chips is hoping the meeting between the two world leaders will lead to a lifting of restrictions on sales to China. Also in this edition: a Chinese oil tanker successfully crosses the Strait of Hormuz and Kevin Warsh is confirmed as the next chair of the US Federal Reserve.

More than a dozen executives from the world's largest companies have joined US President Donald Trump on a high-stakes visit to China. The business delegation points to an agenda dominated by trade, technology and rare earths. The minerals are the building block of many modern industries, and a source of economic leverage for Beijing. Also in the show: the US Senate approves Kevin Warsh to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. 

US President Donald Trump is expected to land in China this Wednesday ahead of a summit with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping. Trump is accompanied by a large delegation of US executives and has promised to ask Xi to "open up" the country to US business. In this edition, we explore what "opening up" means in this context. Plus, FRANCE 24's Yena Lee looks into one of the key points of negotiations: China's purchases of US soybeans.

Global oil prices rose further on Tuesday with Brent crude climbing near $110 a barrel, as a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz continues with the US and Iran both rejecting the other's ceasefire proposal. Meanwhile, Japanese snack giant Calbee has decided to temporarily switch to black and white packaging for some of its products, including crisps and prawn crackers. This is due to instability in the supply of printing ink, which is made using petrochemical materials. 

Oil prices continued to climb on Tuesday, as US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was "on massive life support". Meanwhile, the CEO of Saudi Aramco, the world's largest oil company, told analysts the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has generated a loss of 100 million barrels every week. Also in this edition: Trump wants to scrap the US federal gas tax to help consumers deal with the impact of the war in Iran.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he would introduce legislation this week to give the government powers to take full ownership of British Steel in Scunthorpe, the last plant in the UK that can make steel from scratch. Last year, the government seized control of the steelworks from its Chinese owner to stop the potential closure of the blast furnaces. Plus, French farmers dump manure near a TotalEnergies refinery to protest at soaring energy costs. 

Benchmark crude oil prices rose on Monday as US President Donald Trump rejected Iran's latest counterproposal to find an end to the war in the Middle East. The continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz is leaving its mark on economies around the world, with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for reduced fuel use and Chinese inflation gauges ticking up higher than expected. Also in this edition: French President Emmanuel Macron announces more than €1 billion in investment in Kenya.

Fans of Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal are facing soaring costs, as they scramble to book trips to Budapest for the final of the Champions League. Demand for flights and accommodation has spiked since the two football teams qualified for the match on May 30. Also in the show: FIFA defends high ticket prices for the upcoming World Cup, and Japan's Nikkei index jumps to record highs on strong tech spending. 

In the second week of the trial pitting Elon Musk against OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, former board member Shivon Zilis took the stand before judge and jury. Zilis is romantically involved with Musk as he is the father of her four children. In this edition, we look back at what pushed the tech magnate to file this lawsuit to begin with and put in context Zilis's testimony that Musk wanted OpenAI to be a subsidiary of Tesla. Also in this segment: FIFA boss Gianni Infantino defends the 2026 World Cup's high ticket prices.

Trade ministers from the Group of Seven industrialised nations have tried to find common ground, amid geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainty. In a clear swipe at China, they pledged to cooperate on securing supply chains of critical minerals. Also in the show: France's finance minister says airlines have enough jet fuel for May and June, and the US FDA makes a U-turn in approving flavoured vapes. 

The world's largest maker of memory chips, South Korea's Samsung Electronics, has seen its valuation reach $1 trillion this Wednesday. The company's profits have soared thanks to strong demand for the chips used to power artificial intelligence systems. Also in this edition: French oil major TotalEnergies says it will have to scrap caps on fuel prices if it faces a windfall tax on its profits in France.