People & Profit

00:12:27

Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz: Fertiliser...

People & Profit ·

2026/03/26

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.

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00:12:25

Iran war exposes Gulf economies' food, water...

People & Profit ·

2026/03/19

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. Christian Henderson, lecturer in International Relations and Middle East Studies at Leiden University, says any

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00:12:42

Ireland’s deputy PM warns of ‘near-existential...

People & Profit ·

2026/03/12

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." Harris tells FRANCE 24 that he expects the United States to act “in good faith” in implementing a stalled EU trade deal, despite President Donald

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00:12:23

The workplace in 2026: Many workers unhappy being in...

People & Profit ·

2026/02/26

What does the corporate workplace look like in 2026? Following the Covid-19 pandemic, many employers implemented flexible schedules, which allowed employees to work from home for some or all of their week. Many firms are now backtracking, saying that even a hybrid model is no longer suitable. Some of the major employers who are mandating a full or partial return to the office include tech giants, as well as financial firms. For more, we speak to Roger Philby, UK Head of Consulting at the management

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00:12:36

China's Zeekr to launch EV sales in France

People & Profit ·

2026/02/19

The automobile industry has been steering towards an electric future. In Europe, sales of both fully electric and hybrid cars have risen as costs drop and technology improves. Competition within the industry is fierce, and new players are challenging legacy carmakers. The Chinese brand Zeekr is among newcomers hoping to make inroads. Lothar Schupet, CEO of Zeekr Europe, says that many Chinese manufacturers are "providing – simply for the money people will spend – much more car, much more

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00:12:19

Europe's defence industry under pressure

People & Profit ·

2026/02/12

In a changing global landscape, Europe's defence industry is being reshaped and revitalised. Over the past five years, EU member states have boosted their defence spending by 63 percent to reach €381 billion euros in 2025. Jacob Parakalis, Research Leader for Defence Strategy, Policy, and Capabilities at RAND Europe, says Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 "focused attention on the need to increase Europe's defences and invest in capabilities across land, sea and air domains,

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00:11:59

Are we in an AI bubble?

People & Profit ·

2026/02/05

Artificial intelligence is the next frontier – but is it also the next bubble? That's the question investors have been asking since tech giants began investing billions of dollars in AI and driving stock market gains. We put the question to an expert. Professor Jon Danielsson, Director of the Systemic Risk Centre at the London School of Economics, says he is "fairly certain" the market is at the top of an AI bubble, whose current levels of growth and investment cannot be sustained. "The real

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00:11:11

Undersea cables, a new strategic battleground

People & Profit ·

2026/01/29

Nearly 1.5 million kilometres of submarine cables criss-cross the globe. The infrastructure is key for both national security and economic stability. But an uptick in disruptions – notably in the Baltic Sea – has focused attention on the need to safeguard these networks. While many of the outages appear accidental, some can be attributed to sabotage by state-sponsored actors. Raoul Jacquand, Vice President for Strategic Alliances and External Affairs at Alcatel Submarine Networks, says that

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00:12:18

Trump takes spotlight at 2026 World Economic Forum in...

People & Profit ·

2026/01/22

After a week of twists and turns, US President Donald Trump delivered a highly anticipated speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Wednesday. Earlier at Davos, French President Emmanuel Macron decried bullying on the global stage and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that "the old order is not coming back". For analysis, FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin talks to Brett Bruen, president and CEO of the Global Situation Room, who is just back from Davos.

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00:12:28

Is the EU-Mercosur trade agreement more than a 'cows...

People & Profit ·

2026/01/15

A qualified majority of EU countries have finally approved the EU-Mercosur trade agreement, over 25 years after talks between the two blocs started. Opposition is still fierce, especially from the European agricultural sector. Charles Pellegrin talks to Maria Concepcion Latorre, a professor of applied economics at Universidad Complutense in Madrid, who argues the benefits of the pact outweigh the disadvantages.

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00:12:32

Venezuela's crude concessions: US vows to exert...

People & Profit ·

2026/01/08

What's next for Venezuela, where a surprise attack saw US forces capture President Nicolas Maduro and his wife? Is getting control of the country's oil reserves the most important motivation for US President Donald Trump? Charles Pellegrin talks to David Goldwyn, president of Goldwyn Global Strategies and former US State Department special envoy and coordinator for international energy affairs from 2009 to 2011.

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00:13:28

Sacrificing agriculture for trade? Mercosur deal...

People & Profit ·

2025/12/19

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

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00:14:35

The world for sale: A deep dive into the murky world...

People & Profit ·

2025/12/11

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.

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00:11:40

The future of wine has hints of artificial intelligence

People & Profit ·

2025/12/04

This episode of People & Profit explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping the wine industry. Expert Felicity Carter explains how new tools let even small producers harness big-player insights – from vineyard decisions to consumer sales – opening up fresh economic opportunities across the entire supply chain.

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00:12:16

Teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship in...

People & Profit ·

2025/11/27

How to create economic opportunities in underprivileged areas? John Hope Bryant is the founder and CEO of Operation HOPE, a US non-profit that works to promote financial literacy and economic empowerment to young people and adults. A self-made millionaire himself, he has spent decades advocating on behalf of America's poorest citizens and making sure they know how to get their slice of the American Dream. He tells FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin that "financial literacy is the civil rights issue of

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00:13:16

Challenges facing the World Bank today: High debt,...

People & Profit ·

2025/11/21

The World Bank was created in 1944 with a simple mission: to finance reconstruction post-World War II, a mandate that later evolved into reducing global poverty and fostering development. Over the decades, the mission has broadly stayed the same, but the methods have evolved – often through trial and error. Charles Pellegrin speaks to Axel van Trotsenburg, the outgoing senior managing director of the World Bank, who has been part of the institution for nearly 40 years.

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00:12:49

COP30 in Brazil & the Global South: Tackling climate...

People & Profit ·

2025/11/14

The week, we head to Belem in Brazil where COP30, the UN's annual climate summit, is taking place. As rich nations drag their feet, will the Global South take the lead in climate action? We put the question to our guest, Charra Tesfaye Terfassa, economic and climate prosperity programme manager at the Open Society.

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00:13:07

ADIPEC 2025: Betting on sustained demand for oil

People & Profit ·

2025/11/07

This week, we're heading to the Abu Dhabi Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025) for a conversation with Gaurav Sharma, an independent energy analyst also know on social media as the "Oilholic". As temperatures are rising, so is energy demand. What does that mean for fossil fuels? And how will AI reshape the future of energy? We put these questions and more to our guest.

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00:11:55

Why fair trade still matters when coffee and cocoa...

People & Profit ·

2025/10/31

Volatile weather affecting harvests, uncertainty in global trade and rising production costs could soon make everyday treats like coffee, tea and chocolate a luxury. But are the farmers growing them getting a fair share of the price surge? Yuka Royer discusses this and more with Jason Archie-Acheampong, sustainable sourcing lead for coffee and cocoa at the Fairtrade Foundation.

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00:13:18

$70 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, says UN

People & Profit ·

2025/10/24

This week, Charles Pellegrin talks to Jaco Cilliersd, the UN development programme's representative for Palestine about the arduous task of trying to clear the millions of tonnes of rubbles from Gaza and preparing the stage for reconstruction amid a tenuous ceasefire.

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