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/Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:35:14 GMTTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20260329-the-law-is-coming-for-social-media-with-the-science-still-uncertain The law is finally catching up with social media. This week, a California jury found Meta and Google liable for addicting a child to their platforms. On Tuesday, the French Senate will vote to ban under-15s from social media, with other countries making similar plans. Is humanity saved? Or are things more complicated than that? d364c64c-2b73-11f1-9d56-a13e99cbef28Sun, 29 Mar 2026 13:33:08 GMTPeter O'BRIENBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260326-iran-war-is-starting-to-disrupt-global-value-chains Concern that the Iran war could plunge the world into stagflation is rising as hostilities in the Middle East continue with no end in sight. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)'s chief economist Beata Javorcik tells FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer that while the world is not yet seeing high stagflation risks, everything depends on how long the conflict will last. Ongoing high energy prices will lead to higher inflation, which will in turn hurt growth.  70573508-2961-11f1-91a6-1563bd03234eThu, 26 Mar 2026 22:16:28 GMTYuka ROYERhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/people-profit/20260326-iran-s-chokehold-on-the-strait-of-hormuz-fertiliser-supply-chains-under-strain As tensions between the US, Israel and Iran choke the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global energy and fertiliser flows, markets face rising prices and food insecurity. We discuss the global fallout with Carlos Razo from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), exploring the risks for the world's poorest economies and the threat of widespread inflation. d8e810c0-2924-11f1-b456-ed7c4516fb06Thu, 26 Mar 2026 17:12:42 GMTBryan QUINNPress Reviewhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/press-review/20260326-meta-and-youtube-verdict-social-media-shakedown-or-a-bellwether PRESS REVIEW – Thursday, March 26: We look at reactions after Meta and YouTube were found guilty of social media harms in what is being hailed as a "landmark" trial. Will it give impetus to thousands of other lawsuits in the waiting? Also: Italy's Giorgia Meloni headed to Algeria in a lightning-quick diplomatic visit aimed at securing gas supplies. Plus: Vogue's publisher Conde Nast goes to court with a canine magazine called... Dogue. d9f89680-28e6-11f1-a7aa-459e40e798b8Thu, 26 Mar 2026 11:54:12 GMTDheepthika LAURENTBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260326-spacex-reportedly-set-to-launch-ipo-valuing-firm-at-1-75-trillion Elon Musk's profitable rocket and satellite internet company SpaceX is reportedly preparing to raise $75 billion on public equity markets as its subsidiary xAI burns cash. But first: a pair of US court verdicts against social media giants could signal the sector's Big Tobacco moment, and France's finance minister convenes G7 officials to address the economic fallout from the Iran war.  14d16eb2-28f1-11f1-bbc5-1dc3ed74ef3cThu, 26 Mar 2026 11:05:22 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/france-confirms-oil-crisis-says-30-40-gulf-energy-infrastructure-destroyed France's Finance Minister Roland Lescure revealed on Wednesday that between 30 and 40 per cent of Gulf refining capacity has been damaged or destroyed by Iran's retaliatory strikes, leaving a shortage of 11 million barrels a day on global oil markets. Lescure warned it could take up to three years to restore damaged facilities, and several months to restart those that were urgently shut down. 0d3f2b48-2893-11f1-a9d4-cf48e0385ae7Wed, 25 Mar 2026 22:10:52 GMTRachael GriffithsBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260325-oil-supply-shock-hardens-energy-transition-resolve-%E2%80%93-for-some The energy crisis over the Iran war has left some countries glad they've added more renewables, while others are doubling down on fossil fuels. But first: oil prices fall on hopes for de-escalation in the Middle East, while suspicions swirl over potential insider trading on Trump administration policies. 9b195460-2849-11f1-8588-31908ce3307dWed, 25 Mar 2026 13:26:11 GMTSimon MORITZBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260324-iran-war-pushes-plastic-packaging-costs-higher Oil prices rose again on Tuesday, a day after a sharp decline, amid confusion over which way the Iran war is going. Brent crude settled well above $100 a barrel. Meanwhile, rising energy costs stemming from the conflict are causing the cost of plastic packaging to skyrocket, which in turn will make everything on supermarket shelves more expensive. But first: the EU and Australia have sealed a landmark free trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on most goods.  5c421f22-27c9-11f1-8426-53a86139b754Tue, 24 Mar 2026 21:40:35 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260324-eu-australia-seal-free-trade-deal-eight-years-in-the-making The EU and Australia have signed a sweeping free trade agreement that will eliminate tariffs on nearly all trade between them as global economies seek to hedge against chaotic US tariff policies. Also in this edition: crude oil prices rise again as traders remain sceptical of signals that Washington is trying to de-escalate its war with Iran.   6a22441a-275f-11f1-ad40-d59d9ec25e1aTue, 24 Mar 2026 10:44:48 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260323-oil-plunges-stocks-surge-on-trump-s-iran-reprieve Global crude oil prices fell about 10 percent and Wall Street stocks rallied after Donald Trump said he was holding off military strikes on Iran's power plants. The US president made the announcement following what he called "constructive talks" with Tehran, despite Iran denying it was negotiating a deal. Meanwhile, France is looking at the possibility of increasing the country's refining capacity to cushion the impact of higher petrol prices on consumers, but is stopping short of cutting fuel taxes.  2c31e9da-2700-11f1-a3ec-b95e0d0b3780Mon, 23 Mar 2026 21:35:10 GMTYuka ROYERTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20260323-is-this-the-beginning-of-the-end-for-the-metaverse Five years and more than $80 billion later, Mark Zuckerberg's virtual reality dream seems to be being dismantled, and replaced with equally ambitious AI projects. We take a closer look in this edition of Tech 24. 326ca81a-25f9-11f1-967f-93fff17cd198Mon, 23 Mar 2026 09:58:51 GMTCharlotte LamBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/gas-prices-soar-as-energy-infrastructure-is-attacked-in-gulf Natural gas prices soared as attacks intensified on energy infrastructure in the Middle East. The Ras Laffan plant in Qatar has sustained "significant damage", according to its operators, which could take years to fully repair. That will have a significant impact on global supplies, because the facility produces around a fifth of the world's LNG (liquefied natural gas). Also in the show: the World Trade Organization warns a trade slowdown could lead to mounting food insecurity.   eabf6800-23d6-11f1-866f-0111844a6b5dThu, 19 Mar 2026 21:39:21 GMTKate MOODYhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/people-profit/20260319-iran-war-exposes-gulf-economies-food-water-vulnerability The spiralling conflict in Iran has highlighted the potential vulnerability of Gulf states when it comes to food and water security. Countries like Bahrain and Qatar depend heavily on desalinated water, and strikes on desalination plants have sparked concern about water supplies. Meanwhile, the usual flow of food imports through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted by the fighting. c72c7748-2381-11f1-a11c-fd21b7bb9e7cThu, 19 Mar 2026 13:41:32 GMTKate MOODYBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260319-central-banks-confront-spectre-of-inflation-as-iran-war-escalates Strikes on the natural gas production facilities of Iran and Qatar have sent energy prices soaring, with central bankers around the world struggling to set monetary policy amid a highly uncertain inflationary outlook. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: the French shipbuilding industry welcomes the start of construction of the country's next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. 1f5e2434-2373-11f1-8d84-af42f7aca51bThu, 19 Mar 2026 10:45:59 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/us-seeks-to-curb-soaring-petrol-prices The Trump administration is taking steps to curb rising energy costs, as it continues to wage war in the Middle East. The US is easing sanctions on Venezuela, and suspending a century-old shipping law, in an effort to get more oil supplies into the global market. Meanwhile, oil prices continue to rise, with crude topping $109 per barrel, as Gulf energy infrastructure is targeted by strikes. Also in the show: the UN's maritime agency seeks safe passage for sailors trapped by the conflict.  db10e508-2301-11f1-88fe-bda9cf165bf2Wed, 18 Mar 2026 20:57:42 GMTKate MOODYBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260318-bts-fever-grips-seoul-as-boy-band-return-after-four-year-hiatus The long-awaited return to the stage of K-pop sensation BTS is set to boost South Korea's tourism and consumer economy. Our regional correspondents report. But first: the war in Iran upends the spring travel season for airlines and passengers alike, and investors await the latest rate call from the US Federal Reserve. da95247e-22af-11f1-a811-e78ff906c7f8Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:01:36 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260317-indian-tankers-carrying-lpg-arrive-at-port-after-safe-passage-through-strait-of-hormuz Two Indian-flagged tankers together carrying over 92,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas have arrived at ports in Gujarat state after safely passing through the Strait of Hormuz. New Delhi has been negotiating with Iran, but the government denies discussing the possible release of Iranian tankers it seized in February as part of the bargain. Meanwhile, global crude prices jumped again amid new Iranian attacks on the UAE.  bf7d7342-222f-11f1-a110-a5e66a23f878Tue, 17 Mar 2026 18:43:34 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260317-gulf-states-seek-to-bypass-strait-of-hormuz-for-oil-exports-via-pipelines Iran sends drones to attack the UAE port of Fujairah in the Gulf of Oman, raising the stakes as Gulf states send their blocked crude through pipelines away from the contested Strait of Hormuz. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: central banks face a dilemma as high oil prices threaten to both rekindle inflation and slow global growth. ac199158-21e1-11f1-ac8b-4f4b9f24578eTue, 17 Mar 2026 11:00:43 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260316-oil-eases-amid-signs-iran-is-allowing-some-tankers-pass-through-strait-of-hormuz Global oil prices fell sharply on Monday after a Pakistan-bound oil tanker passed through the Strait of Hormuz with its transponder on. The decline came even as countries have so far rebuffed Donald Trump's request to send warships to escort vessels through the waterway. Meanwhile, the International Energy Agency said its members could unlock more oil from their strategic reserves after agreeing to jointly release a record 400 million barrels from their emergency stockpiles.  5b4eb708-2182-11f1-9f69-a1f4d1ded2ebMon, 16 Mar 2026 21:57:58 GMTYuka ROYERTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20260316-quitgpt-can-an-ai-boycott-really-change-big-tech It started quietly, with a handful of posts on tech forums and Reddit explaining why and how you should uninstall and unsubscribe from ChatGPT. Now the campaign #QuitGPT has more than 4 million participants worldwide, and the numbers are still climbing. FRANCE 24 tech journalist Charlotte Lam tells us more. c0304d08-2128-11f1-aae3-2b358361f62bMon, 16 Mar 2026 11:18:27 GMTCharlotte LamTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20260316-trump-announces-ai-chatbot-ban-while-pentagon-uses-it-to-prepare-iran-attacks In the hours leading up to the US attack on Iran, Donald Trump announced that technology company Anthropic would be banned from all work with the federal government. At the same time, Anthropic's artificial intelligence chatbot Claude was reportedly being used by the Pentagon to prepare the attack. FRANCE 24 tech journalist Charlotte Lam gives us her analysis. 4bdea33e-2121-11f1-8079-2b358361f62bMon, 16 Mar 2026 10:18:07 GMTCharlotte LamBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260316-india-faces-dilemma-as-energy-crisis-bites-amid-us-trade-deal-negotiations New Delhi walks a policy tightrope, with public anger mounting over shortages of cooking gas as the US demands support for its war on Iran. Also in this edition: China's economy turns in stronger than expected figures, and oil prices continue to rise as Washington threatens to strike Iran's oil export infrastructure. 2a911c6c-2116-11f1-a88d-bb0f5ab8a21cMon, 16 Mar 2026 10:14:11 GMTBryan QUINNBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/oil-prices-top-100-as-market-braces-for-long-conflict Brent crude has once again topped $100 a barrel as energy markets brace for the Iran conflict to drag on. US President Donald Trump says he is less concerned about high oil prices than about stopping Iran, while his energy secretary has confirmed the military cannot yet escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. Also, Indian households and businesses are facing high prices and shortages of cooking fuel, linked to disruptions in the Gulf. a6b01a78-1e4b-11f1-80e6-6976985871f8Thu, 12 Mar 2026 19:54:27 GMTKate MOODYhttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/people-profit/20260312-ireland-s-deputy-pm-warns-of-near-existential-moment-for-eu-amid-global-turmoil The European Union is facing an “almost existential moment” as it seeks to weather global turmoil. That is the warning from Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris. He says the current conflict in the Middle East serves as “a stark reminder of how Europe must become much more energy independent and much more economically resilient." cdcb6ac6-1e06-11f1-bbdf-432393bd2d97Thu, 12 Mar 2026 13:06:27 GMTKate MOODYBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260311-oil-markets-swing-on-stockpile-release-and-hormuz-strait-mine-reports Oil markets fell and picked up again on Wednesday, as the International Energy Agency reportedly considers its largest-ever release of emergency crude stockpiles to stabilise global markets, while Iran is said to have laid naval mines in the Hormuz Strait. In this edition, we look at how the latest developments in the ongoing Middle East war are affecting markets. c00bd6cc-1d26-11f1-b2bd-a74d635463c3Wed, 11 Mar 2026 10:21:33 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260310-eu-chief-says-turning-away-from-nuclear-energy-was-a-strategic-mistake As the Iran war continues to disrupt oil supplies from the Middle East, Paris has hosted a summit aimed at boosting the use of civilian nuclear energy. Announcing a plan to provide a €200 million guarantee for investment in innovative nuclear technologies, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it had been a strategic mistake for the continent to reduce the share of nuclear power in its energy mix. 151c83f6-1ccc-11f1-81d4-73d9b78636baTue, 10 Mar 2026 21:57:06 GMTYuka ROYERBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260310-oil-prices-fall-stocks-rise-as-trump-says-military-goals-pretty-well-complete Global benchmark prices for oil fell, and stocks rose, on the back of US President’s comments signalling the war in Iran could be nearing some form of conclusion. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz is still effectively closed to tanker traffic, and Washington is weighing its options both to clear the bottleneck and ease pressure on consumers back home. Also in this edition, Venezuela prepares to open up its mining sector to US companies. 8b5dc78e-1c5c-11f1-8173-e3a801d676f1Tue, 10 Mar 2026 10:13:04 GMTCharles PELLEGRINBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260309-oil-and-stocks-whipsaw-on-hopes-of-an-end-to-iran-war Crude oil prices pulled back sharply after brushing $120 a barrel earlier on Monday. After hovering around $100 for most of the day, both Brent and WTI benchmarks reversed course following comments from Donald Trump suggesting the US-Israeli war with Iran could soon come to an end. As Gulf countries began cutting production amid a rapid decrease in available storage space, consumers have already started seeing fuel prices rise. db3d5146-1c04-11f1-971b-ffc5e03fea31Mon, 09 Mar 2026 22:21:19 GMTYuka ROYERTech 24https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/tech-24/20260308-trump-s-claude-ban-the-first-salvo-in-a-long-battle-over-who-controls-ai A struggle to control artificial intelligence is playing out just as the United States increasingly deploys the technology in conflicts from Venezuela to Iran. 5b016a9a-1af5-11f1-b985-27f1c527fc22Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:42:00 GMTPeter O'BRIENBusinesshttps://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/business/20260305-china-sets-lowest-economic-growth-target-since-1991 China's annual parliamentary session kicks off with a growth downgrade as leaders target technology dominance in the manufacturing field. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: South Korean markets bounce back from a huge selloff, and a US trade court orders the Trump administration to issue tariff refunds. 35d08be2-1876-11f1-ad70-2fea04507d23Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:31:58 GMTBryan QUINN