With Poland and Bulgaria cut off from Russian gas, major European energy firms are reportedly considering compliance with Moscow's demand to be paid in roubles. Over in the US, Archegos Capital's Bill Hwang pleads not guilty to fraud. Finally, amid a shortage of sunflower oil due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the French government has authorised food companies to change their recipes without altering their packaging.

Russia's Gazprom says it has halted gas deliveries to EU members Poland and Bulgaria, ostensibly because they refused to pay in Russian roubles. Ever since Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine began to hobble the Russian economy, fears had mounted that Moscow would use its energy supplies as a weapon. European countries see the shutdown as the first shot in a coming energy war as the continent tries to wean itself off Russian fossil fuels. FRANCE 24's Bryan Quinn takes a closer look.

Elon Musk has promised big changes at Twitter, after the social media platform accepted his takeover bid worth $44 billion. But the acquisition has sparked concern about how Musk will balance a commitment to free speech with rules about moderating content, as well as questions about his links to China. Meanwhile, Musk's electric car company Tesla has been rebuffed by Indian officials, who say they won't import the brand's cars from China.

Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen have outlined differing visions for the French economy ahead of Sunday's election. The presidential candidates want to tackle the top issue for French voters: the rising cost of living. Daniela Ordonez, Chief French Economist at Oxford Economics, breaks down the different proposals and what they would cost the French state.

The cost of living crisis is the top issue for most French voters, ahead of the second round of the presidential election on Sunday. With Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen preparing to spar in a televised debate, what measures are the candidates proposing? Also in the show: Netflix loses subscribers for the first time in a decade.

Ahead of the French presidential run-off on Sunday, we take a closer look at Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen's divergent views on the future of the renewable energy sector in France. Macron wants to add thousands of jobs to the wind turbine industry, while Marine Le Pen wants to dismantle it completely. We also discuss the rising cost of wood, now that the world's largest forests in Russia are under sanctions. Also in today's business news, Sri Lanka makes a plea to the IMF and French music streaming site Deezer announces plans to go public.

Over the first three months of the year, China's economy expanded at an annual rate of nearly 5 percent when compared to the same stretch last year. But as Covid-19 lockdowns roll on, the country's annual growth target looks hard to reach. Also, talks kick off between Sri Lanka and the IMF, and Mexican legislators vote down a controversial energy reform package.

We take a closer look at the bid by the world's richest man to buy Twitter for $43 billion. Elon Musk would need the backing of major investment firms for the hostile takeover. We explore what a potential purchase could mean for free speech on Twitter and find out why Musk's asking price may have a drug-related reference. Also on the show, we report on why the price of fertilisers is skyrocketing and we get the latest on a fuel shortage in Kenya.

After Sunday's vote placed him in a tighter-than-expected run-off contest with his closest rival Marine Le Pen, French incumbent Emmanuel Macron is trying to persuade voters to keep him in the Élysée Palace. Macron has signalled that he is ready to walk back his pension reform plan, suggesting he may not raise the legal retirement age to 65 after all. Marine Le Pen wants to keep it at the current age of 62. We take a closer look at how much their plans could cost the state coffers.

Consumer prices in the US surged by 8.5 percent in March, the fastest pace since 1981. The inflation spike was fuelled by a 32 percent jump in energy costs, linked to Russia's war in Ukraine. Many American consumers are struggling to keep up with the price rises. Also in the show: Emmanuel Macron appears to waver on his pledge to raise France's retirement age to 65, and Sri Lanka enters default as its economic crisis deepens.