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.

Crude oil prices rose again on Thursday as the ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump and Iran shows signs of fragility. In this edition, we speak with Ilian Mihov, Professor of Economics at INSEAD, about whether the war and the resulting oil shock could trigger a global recession. He explains that supply shortages can affect economic activity more than price hikes and outlines the delicate calculations central banks will have to make.

Oil prices have plunged and stock markets soared after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran. But regardless of whether the deal holds, the energy crisis unleashed by the war is far from over. Damage to infrastructure in the region means it could take years for oil and gas production to get back to pre-war levels. Meanwhile, global aviation group IATA says supplies of jet fuel will remain tight. 

A two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran on Wednesday led to a steep drop in oil prices and a rebound in Asian and European equities. In this edition, we see what the various stakeholders are saying the deal means for the future of the Hormuz Strait through which a fifth of the world's supply of oil and natural gas transits. And we see how Pakistan's adoption of solar power has partially protected it from the energy shock left in the wake of the war.

As Donald Trump threatened to wipe out an entire civilisation in Iran ahead of his latest deadline for Tehran to open up the Strait of Hormuz, Qatar's foreign ministry official warned that the world was nearing a point beyond which the war would be out of anyone's control. Oil markets continue to be volatile amid ongoing tensions, while physical prices refiners are paying are rising to record levels with premiums on crude with earlier delivery dates surging. 

Israeli airstrikes have hit two petrochemical plants in Iran's South Pars gas field complex.  It is the second time Israel has targeted the key energy complex since the war started.  The previous attack, on March 18, triggered retaliatory strikes by Iran on energy infrastructure across the region. We look at why the gas field is so important for Iran and the world. Plus, Pakistan has offered public transport to people to cushion the impact of the Middle Eastern energy crisis. 

As crude prices hover around the $110 per barrel mark on Monday morning, consumers worldwide are feeling the impact of the war in Iran and the closure of the Hormuz Strait when they head to the petrol pump. In China, where more than half of new car sales are for electric vehicles, that impact may be less pronounced, as France 24’s Bryan Quinn explains in his report. Also in this edition, "Super Mario Galaxy Movie" has achieved the best opening release of the year so far.