Business daily

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.

The EU and Armenia have held their first-ever bilateral summit, agreeing to foster closer economic ties as the former Soviet nation makes a cautious pivot towards the West. The two sides signed a new connectivity partnership focused on transport, energy and digital links. Armenia, however, is deeply reliant on Russian energy and remains a member of the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. Plus, North Korea welcomes foreign delegations to its spring trade fair showcasing home-grown tech. 

The energy crisis caused by the Iran war has been a wake-up call and prompted governments to try to speed up a shift to electric cars. Could solar cars be next? Although they have been around for decades, solar-powered vehicles have largely remained experimental due to technical challenges. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Steve Fambro, co-CEO of Aptera Motors, a US startup that is preparing to start delivering its solar cars to customers as early as this year. 

Video game retail company and meme stock champion GameStop has made an offer to take over bidding website eBay for $56 billion. If successful, GameStop would take control of a company four times larger in market capitalisation, with CEO Ryan Cohen saying the new entity could rival e-commerce platforms like Amazon. Also in this edition: we take a look back at the collapse of US low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines over the weekend.

Brent crude has jumped to its highest level since the start of the Ukraine war after US President Donald Trump signalled that the American blockade on the Strait of Hormuz could last for months. Also in this edition: the US Federal Reserve prepares for a new chief as its board tries to maintain political independence, and French oil giant TotalEnergies faces calls for a windfall tax amid soaring profits.

The energy shock and economic headwinds caused by the Iran war have increased uncertainty in Latin America – but the region remains resilient. That's according to Ilan Goldfajn, president of the Inter-American Development Bank. He tells FRANCE 24 there are requests for "targeted support" like energy diversification and fertiliser needs. Also in the show: Jerome Powell gives his last press conference as Federal Reserve Chair, as his successor Kevin Warsh takes a step closer to confirmation. 

OPEC faces a double crisis as it manages both the energy shock caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, and the departure of the UAE. Also in this edition: Airbus reports some disappointing quarterly results. Plus, OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is sentenced to $5.5 billion in fines for its role in the deadly opioid crisis in the US.

The United Arab Emirates has announced it will leave OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1, in a significant blow to the oil cartels. In a statement, the Gulf country said it was doing so to focus on its national interest. The country had often expressed frustration at production quotas set by the group, and its relationship with Saudi Arabia, OPEC's de facto leader, had become increasingly tense. 

Two of Silicon Valley's best-known tech moguls, Elon Musk and Sam Altman, are to face each other in court, with the trial's jury selection getting underway this Monday. The lawsuit is brought by Musk, who accuses Altman of fraud and is seeking more than $130 billion in damages for "betraying" the AI startup's founding mission of being non-profit. Plus, labelling rules on honey jars are set to toughen from mid-June in France, taking a new EU indication of origin rule into account. 

With a summer of travel chaos looming for many European holidaymakers, one ferry operator is promising smooth sailing. Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries, tells FRANCE 24 the line has enough supplies of maritime fuels to last the season, and vows not to raise ticket prices despite the global energy crisis. Also in the show: Warner Bros. shareholders vote to approve a takeover by Paramount Skydance, a mega-merger which could reshape the US media landscape. 

Shareholders in Warner Brothers Discovery are voting this Thursday to approve or reject a $110 billion acquisition offer from Paramount Skydance in the face of widespread opposition from Hollywood workers. Also in this edition: the US considers currency swap deals with its Middle Eastern and Asian allies, and European airlines face a turbulent summer travel season.

The European Union has unveiled plans to shield households and businesses from the energy crisis triggered by the war with Iran. The bloc says it has spent an additional €24 billion on energy imports because of higher prices since the war began, and it urged more investment in renewable energy. Also in the show: French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurates a lithium mine in a bid to reduce reliance on imports of critical minerals.   

Iranians are confronting mass layoffs and soaring inflation amid destroyed infrastructure and internet blackouts. We take a closer look. But first: US senators grill Donald Trump's nominee for Federal Reserve chair, and the global condom industry takes a blow from supply chain issues tied to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

France says the economic fallout from the Iran war has cost the country at least €6 billion, as the government has rolled out support measures for businesses and households, increased defence spending and faced surging borrowing costs. To offset this while meeting its budget deficit target, French officials say a freeze in some spending is necessary. Plus: Kevin Warsh, Donald Trump's pick for the next chairman of the Federal Reserve, has faced a grilling in the US Senate in a confirmation hearing. 

Apple has named John Ternus as its new CEO to replace Tim Cook, who is stepping down in September after 15 years at the helm of the tech giant. We take a closer look. Also, a new energy think tank report shows renewable energy accounted more than a third of electricity generation globally in 2025, a first in modern history. Plus: Donald Trump's Fed Chair nominee Kevin Warsh says the central bank must be largely independent of political influence as he faces the Senate Banking Committee this Tuesday.

Governments and regulators are assessing potential implications and urging critical sectors to beef up their defences after a powerful new AI model sent shockwaves around the world. Mythos showed the ability to find previously undetected bugs and exploit the vulnerabilities all by itself, prompting its developer Anthropic to decide not to release it to the general public. Aleksandr Yampolskiy, co-founder and CEO of SecurityScorecard, explains the inflection point the new AI model brings. 

US businesses can finally start applying for tariff refunds following the US Supreme Court's ruling earlier this year that President Donald Trump had overstepped his authority in imposing them. Also in this edition: oil prices surge again after Iran vows to block the Strait of Hormuz. The situation is causing severe disruptions to the supply of materials like plastic. Plus, a humanoid robot in China beats the human half-marathon world record.

European airlines could run out of jet fuel in six weeks' time. That's the stark warning from the head of the International Energy Agency, Fatih Birol, who says passengers should expect fewer flights and higher prices. Carriers are already reducing their flight schedules ahead of the summer holiday season. Also in the show: European officials urge governments not to forget the Ukraine war, saying that Russia's economy cannot be allowed to benefit from the energy shock. 

A federal jury in New York finds for the plaintiffs in an antitrust lawsuit against concert giant Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster. We take a closer look. But first: the IMF warns on mounting public debt amid a global energy crisis, and China's economy beats expectations as growth accelerates despite the Iran war.

The climate-denialist Trump administration is pushing the World Bank and International Monetary Fund to stop focusing on clean energy development projects. We take a closer look. But first: Russia vows to make up for any shortfall in Chinese oil supplies due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, and crude prices fall on hopes of renewed peace talks.   

Amid uncertainty around the war in Iran, the International Monetary Fund downgraded its outlook for the global economy under three different scenarios depending on how long the conflict would last.  Meanwhile, the United Nations Development Programme is warning that even if hostilities were to end today, the war could push more than 32 million people around the world into poverty by a 'triple shock' of energy disruption, food price increases and weaker economic growth.  

China's exports grew only 2.5% in March from a year earlier, a significantly slowdown caused by the war in Iran. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has pushed up the cost of materials, and many Chinese factories saw their profits squeezed last month. Also in this edition: hundreds of Hollywood stars have come out in opposition to the acquisition of Warner Brothers Discovery by Paramount. Plus, the man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI's CEO is facing attempted murder charges.

The Iran war has exposed the vulnerabilities of countries reliant on Middle Eastern fossil fuels. Ramon Mendez, former Uruguayan energy secretary and president of REN21, tells FRANCE 24 that a drastic shift to renewable energy is possible with the right strategy in place, and that other nations can follow in Uruguay's footsteps. The South American country now gets 98 percent of its electricity from low-carbon sources. 

US crude oil prices surged nearly 8%, reaching US$104 per barrel, as concerns grow over a potential US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. In March, Iran exported around 1.85 million barrels of crude per day through the strait. Meanwhile, Hungarians are eyeing a new economic future as Peter Magyar promises reforms to tackle corruption.

The war in Iran has sent fuel costs soaring, leaving consumers scrambling for savings. At the New York Auto Show, many drivers are warming to the idea of switching to electric vehicles as petrol prices climb, as our correspondent Jessica Le Masurier reports. Also, a relief rally loses momentum as the fragile Iran ceasefire enters its second day, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development warns of a “historic decline” in international development aid, driven largely by the United States.