Business

The World Economic Forum is winding down after a week of intense discussions in Davos. A packed agenda on the final day includes panels discussing possible impacts of some key elections as billions of people in more than 50 countries head to the polls in 2024, including in the US. The final panel looks at the economic outlook for this year. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer spoke with Julie Teigland, EMEIA Area Managing Partner at EY, about what to expect in 2024.

FRANCE 24 Business Editor Yuka Royer reports from Davos, where Israeli President Isaac Herzog is set to appear with the families of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza. And while artificial intelligence is a major theme of this year's event, cryptocurrency is also drawing renewed attention as the sector seeks increased legitimacy on mainstream financial markets. We hear from the CEO of the Crypto Council for Innovation, Sheila Warren.

A day after hosting a rare prime-time press conference, France's President Emmanuel Macron heads to Davos this Wednesday, accompanied by some 20 business leaders. It's the second time he will attend the World Economic Forum in person since becoming president. A meeting with around 60 bosses of global firms is also on the agenda. Meanwhile, sluggish global growth continues to be at the top of attendees' minds. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks to Regina Mayor, Global Head of Clients and Markets at KPMG International.

Ukraine's president and China's prime minister shared the spotlight at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday, as they both delivered keynote addresses. Calling Vladimir Putin an embodiment of war, Volodymyr Zelensky called on Kyiv's allies to take a tougher stand against Russia. China's Li Qiang focused on trade and the economy, taking aim at what he called disruptive trade barriers. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer reports from Davos, where she also spoke with an executive at US chipmaker Intel.

After an award ceremony and a concert on Monday, serious business starts this Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Chinese Premier Li Qiang are taking the centre stage amid a challenging global context with heightening tensions. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer spoke to Beata Javorcik, the Chief Economist of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, about how geopolitical fragmentation is affecting global trade.

The fortunes of the world's five richest men have more than doubled since 2020, while three in five people around the globe have been made poorer. Those are just some of the findings in Oxfam's new inequality report, released to coincide with the start of the World Economic Forum, an exclusive gathering of the global elite in Davos, Switzerland. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer spoke to the charity's interim executive director, Amitabh Behar.

Oil prices jumped over 2 percent after the US and UK carried out strikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen, amid fears of an escalation of the conflict in the Middle East. Major shipping companies stopped travelling through the Suez Canal and Red Sea routes in early December after a spate of rebel attacks on vessels in the waterway, instead choosing to reroute via southern Africa. Also in this edition, the Spanish capital breaks ground on a new business district: Madrid Nuevo Norte.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has authorised spot Bitcoin exchange traded funds (ETFs) after years of opposition, in what cryptocurrency enthusiasts hope will spur wider interest in the digital currency. The move will give investors exposure to movements in Bitcoin prices without taking direct ownership of the token. The SEC, however, remains sceptical, and says the authorisation should not be mistaken for endorsement of the volatile currency. We take a closer look.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) says its account on X (formerly Twitter) was hacked after a post appeared to approve the trading of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs). With a decision on crypto ETFs expected this week, Bitcoin prices briefly spiked to almost $48,000 before coming back down after the SEC's chair refuted the announcement. Also in this edition, Cubans queue for petrol ahead of a government move to end fuel subsidies.

US aircraft manufacturer Boeing is facing fresh questions over product quality after the door of one of its 737 MAX 9 jets ripped off mid-flight. No one was seriously injured, but it prompted the US aviation authority to ground 171 planes pending inspection. It's the latest in a series of setbacks for the company, whose 737 MAX jet has been involved in two deadly crashes. The incident also comes at a time when Boeing, overtaken by Airbus in commercial aircraft deliveries, was hoping to ramp up production. Also in this edition, we look ahead to the CES consumer tech trade show in Las Vegas.