France's independent public audit office shared its assessment of the pension system deficit with Prime Minister François Bayrou this Thursday. This is the starting point of a renegotiation of the 2023 pension reform that raised the legal retirement age from 62 to 64. Both worker and employer representatives will start discussions next week. One option on the table to reduce that deficit is to complement the existing worker and employer contributions with private sector pension funds. We take a closer look in this edition.

The EU's trade chief has said the bloc was interested in having trade deals with the United States, but would react swiftly if the US went ahead with unilateral tariff hikes. Addressing a business meeting ahead of talks with officials, Commissioner Maros Sefcovic rejected President Donald Trump's claim that US-EU trade ties were unfair, saying the overall picture was "very balanced". Also on the show: Apple unveils a new, budget iPhone with AI features. 

US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of slapping import duties on all imports of cars, pharmaceuticals and chips, saying to reporters that he could make a formal announcement on April 2. The new tariffs are supposed to encourage companies to manufacture their goods in the United States, and could considerably widen the scope of Trump's trade war. Also in this edition: the EU mulls easing its fiscal rules in order to allow for an increase in defence spending.

Europe's gas demand dropped to an 11-year low in 2024, with imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) declining 19 percent from the previous year. However, imports of Russian LNG into the EU increased by 18 percent, with France, Spain and Belgium sourcing the most, according to a new industry report. Also on the show: Stellantis issues a "stop drive" order on around 250,000 Citroën cars over potentially deadly airbags produced by now-defunct Takata, extending an existing recall nationwide.

Argentina's President Javier Milei is defending himself against accusations that he promoted a cryptocurrency that crashed, leaving investors with losses worth billions of dollars. The libertarian firebrand had initially posted a message on social media showcasing the launch of a new token on Friday night, saying it would stimulate economic growth. Also in this edition: our reporters in Germany meet the business owners angry at the ruling coalition for the decline in the country's competitiveness.

As Germany enters the final week of its election campaign, the economy is a top concern for voters. Having long been Europe's manufacturing powerhouse, the country has shown no meaningful growth since the pandemic and capped 2024 with a second consecutive annual GDP contraction. We take a closer look at what's been holding the German economy back. Plus, Alibaba founder Jack Ma, a Chinese tech icon who became a target of Beijing's crackdown, is seen shaking hands with President Xi Jinping. 

EU leaders mull the possibility of funnelling some $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to Ukraine as the US launches peace talks with Russia without input from Brussels or Kyiv. Also in this edition: US President Donald Trump's minerals-for-security deal that was rejected by his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky could be revived under different terms, and Mexican agave farmers face a hangover from tequila overproduction.

US President Donald Trump has announced sweeping reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. They won't go into effect immediately, but could be imposed within weeks. The announcement came just ahead of Trump's meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country Trump says imposes some of the highest tariffs in the world. Meanwhile, Mexican businesses are in limbo amid the US president's tariff threats.

Since 2000, African countries eligible for preferential market access under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) have seen a considerable increase in their exports to the US. But that piece of legislation comes up for renewal this year – while President Donald Trump and his protectionist views on global trade are in power. We take a look at what that could mean for key export sectors in Africa. Finally, our correspondents in Mexico look at how the local auto industry is dealing with the threat of tariffs.

A new IISS study shows Russian defence spending exceeds all of Europe's combined, adding weight to worries that after Ukraine, Russia would be capable of attacking other parts of the continent. Also, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wrapped up a two-day visit to France, with French President Emmanuel Macron working on developing ties with one of the world’s most important developing economies. Elsewhere, US inflation spiked more than expected in January. Finally, Duolingo announces the death of its green owl mascot.