After President Donald Trump signed a bill into law on Wednesday that funds the US government, his administration ordered federal workers to report back to work this Thursday. In this edition, we take a look at what the reopening of the US government entails after the longest shutdown in the country's history. Over 1 million federal workers will have to receive back pay, and 42 million low-income Americans will be able to once again claim food assistance. 

US firm 1X Home Robots says its first "housekeeping robot" NEO can be ready to start working in homes next year. Meanwhile, China's XPeng unveiled its latest IRON robot, which moved so smoothly it had to cut open one of its legs to prove there wasn't a real human hiding inside. Humanoid robots have been around for decades, but with the advances of AI they have moved to a new level. Yuka Royer speaks with AI strategist Mark Minevich about just how far they have come, and how market competition is heating up. 

The International Energy Agency (IAE) released its annual World Energy Outlook this Wednesday, underlining the growing global demand for electricity, boosted by the rush to build AI data centres. The report also shows renewable energy outpacing fossil fuels despite the US turning its back on key climate commitments. Also in this edition: US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy puts pressure on lawmakers to end the shutdown and warns of air travel chaos over Thanksgiving.

Chinese consumers, anxious about the slowing economy and worn out by endless retail discounts, are showing signs of fatigue toward the annual "Singles' Day" shopping extravaganza – a worrying trend for Beijing as it looks to boost spending. The event was first launched by Alibaba in 2009 and is held each year on November 11. It has since grown into a month-long sales marathon for China's e-commerce giants. We take a closer look.

Also in this edition, we look at the chaotic impact of the US government shutdown on air travel. Some 1,200 more flights were cancelled this Tuesday, adding to 9,000 axed nationwide. Even if the government reopens soon, relief for travellers won't be immediate.

After US senators managed to pass a bill that could end what has been the longest government shutdown in US history, equity markets have reacted with strong gains on Wall Street and beyond. Nonetheless, the interruption in government work will take its toll on the US economy, as predicted by the Congressional Budget Office. Also in this edition: we head to China, where the Singles' Day shopping holiday now spans five entire weeks in a contest of slow consumer demand.

On Wednesday, the US Supreme Court's chief justices heard arguments over the legality of tariffs enacted by President Donald Trump using the Emergency Economic Powers Act, and questioned the reasoning of the administration. In this edition, we look at what the Court's decision could mean for the US economy, public finances and trade negotiations. Also in the show, we meet the French businesses targeted by fake Google review scams.  

Canada's Liberal government unveiled new federal budget plans in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Tuesday, which include a massive spending spree of 280 billion Canadian dollars (€173 billion). The spending is seen as a way to strengthen the Canadian economy after the imposition of steep tariffs by the United States, Canada's most important trading partner. Also in this edition: iconic French glassware cooperative Duralex raises €19 million in a day, just over a year after employees bought back the firm.

US coffee chain Starbucks has announced it is forming a joint venture with asset management firm Boyu Capital in China, where the latter will hold a 60 percent stake in the company's local business. China is Starbucks' second-largest market globally and it has recently been struggling with increased competition from local rivals like Luckin Coffee. Also in this edition, we look at OpenAI's blockbuster $38 billion deal with Amazon's cloud services unit.

Chinese e-commerce giant Shein has come under renewed pressure in France, just days before it opens its first permanent physical retail space in Paris. France's consumer watchdog said it had discovered child-like sex dolls on the e-commerce platform, prompting the government to warn it could block Shein's market access. In response, the Chinese-owned company suspended its "adult products" category. Also in the segment, Huawei's massive factory being built in Alsace faces an uncertain future. 

The French finance ministry says it will ban Chinese e-commerce giant Shein if child-like sex dolls reappear for sale on the site. Shein pulled the dolls after France's consumer watchdog said it discovered them last week. Under French law, distributing child sexual abuse material online is punishable by up to seven years in prison and a hefty fine. We bring you that story and more in this Monday's business news.