People & Profit

The 2023 edition of International Women's Day has highlighted digital inequality, but also how innovation and technology can empower women and girls, and contribute to economic growth. In France, the number of female entrepreneurs in the tech sector is increasing, but they still lag behind their male counterparts. For more, Kate Moody is joined by Delphine Remy-Boutang, the founder of JFD – Journée de la Femme Digitale, or Digital Women's Day.

In this show we address the issue of food security in Africa and ways to strengthen it moving forward, whether that's in the face of geopolitical events like the war in Ukraine or climate change. Charles Pellegrin talks to Sergio Pimenta, Regional Vice President for Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), which is part of the World Bank Group. He says "Africa remains a net importer of food" and that despite having "a large amount of arable lands, production remains very challenging".

On February 24, 2022, Russian troops invaded Ukraine. Despite some predictions of a short conflict, the violence has dragged on for a year. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or wounded – both civilians and soldiers – and millions have been displaced, while many Ukrainian cities and their infrastructure have been levelled. In this show, we look at the price of rebuilding Ukraine and the impact on its neighbours with Beata Javorcik, Chief Economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Is the EU’s clean tech plan enough to keep up with America's green subsidies, outlined in the US Inflation Reduction Act? Kate Moody speaks to Gwenaëlle Avice-Huet, chief strategy and sustainability officer at Schneider Electric - a French multinational firm that specialises in digital automation and energy management.

The wave of mass layoffs continues to shake tech companies, from global giants to startups. With growing demand from consumers stuck at home and online, the tech sector went on a hiring spree during the pandemic. But since last year, as inflation rose and profits slowed, hundreds of thousands of workers have lost their jobs. FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin tells us what's behind the job cuts.

As many as 2.8 million people hit the streets across France on Tuesday in a second day of walkouts designed to protest the latest pension reform proposals. Perhaps the most controversial element of the government's reform would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. It would also increase from 42 to 43 the number of years that workers must pay into the system to receive a full pension. We explore what's at stake with economist François Geerolf.

Is the luxury sector recession-proof? Sales at high-end brands plunged at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, but they've since rebounded sharply, even as inflation soars and economic growth slows. Now many fashion houses are hoping that China's reopening will be another boost to their business. Our Business Editor Kate Moody sat down with Rachid Mohamed Rachid, chairman of the investment group behind brands like Valentino and Balmain, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The energy and cost of living crises were on top of the agenda at this year's World Economic Forum in Davos. Has the rush to cut off Russian fossil fuels helped or hindered European efforts to transition to green energy? We speak to Anders Opedal, the head of Norwegian energy company Equinor, as well as France's Minister of State for European Affairs, Laurence Boone.

2022 was a tumultuous year for crypto. One company fell after another, culminating with the spectacular collapse of the FTX cryptocurrency exchange and the arrest of its founder Sam Bankman-Fried, who is now under investigation for fraud. So what's in store for the industry this year? FRANCE 24's Kate Moody spoke to Brett Quick, head of policy at the Crypto Council for Innovation, a crypto advocacy group that establishes dialogues with governments and regulatory agencies.

2022 was dominated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the energy and inflation crises that stemmed from the war, as well as ongoing disruptions to global supply chains. In this show, we're looking ahead to 2023 with Ian Bremmer, president and founder of the Eurasia Group. It has just published its annual ranking of the biggest geopolitical and economic risks facing the global community. Top of the list is rogue Russia, followed by maximum Xi Jinping of China, weapons of mass disruption, inflation shockwaves and Iran.