People & Profit

The world is on the verge of its worst food crisis in history. In this special edition, FRANCE 24's Business Editor Kate Moody asks leaders in Davos what they are proposing to protect the most vulnerable. Our reporters also look at how Finland has become one of the most food-resilient countries in the world. Plus we meet Apeel CEO James Rogers, who's fighting against food waste with an all-natural spray that extends the shelf life of fresh fruit and vegetables.

This year's World Economic Forum in Davos has been dominated by the war in Ukraine and its implications on the global economy. With the drop in grain exports from the region, concern is growing over a looming food crisis. FRANCE 24's Business Editor Kate Moody spoke to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who criticised food export restrictions by countries such as India for "only making a crisis worse". She also called for governments to help "speed up" agricultural production "where this is still possible".

The 75th Cannes Film Festival has opened, with more than 100 films being shown in the official selection. The event is good news for the local economy and an essential stop for many in the entertainment world. For Daniela Elstner, the executive director of Unifrance, an organisation that promotes French cinema worldwide, Cannes can be a "gamechanger" for filmmakers. She explains that "the destiny of hundreds of films is negotiated at the festival". Also in the programme, we look at whether streaming platforms such as Netflix have reached their peak.

Inflation is at its highest level in decades in many parts of the world. In the US, consumer prices were 8.3 percent higher in April than a year earlier. In the eurozone, they rose by around 7.5 percent. Energy prices have been driving the surge, with Russia's war in Ukraine further fuelling the trend. But higher inflation tends to have a bigger impact on low-income households. Xavier Jaravel from the London School of Economics discusses this and more with FRANCE 24's Kate Moody.

Cryptocurrency has become a global phenomenon in recent years. More mainstream financial institutions are now embracing crypto assets, while two countries have adopted Bitcoin as legal tender. But there are many concerns around the technology and its capacity to disrupt traditional financial systems, even as Russia's war in Ukraine has highlighted its potential as a geopolitical tool. Sean Lee, senior advisor at the Crypto Council for Innovation joins Kate Moody to talk about the future of cryptocurrencies.

French voters have re-elected Emmanuel Macron for another five-year term, handing him victory over far-right candidate Marine Le Pen for the second time in a row. So what's next for the French economy and the number one issue for voters, the cost of living crisis? Kate Moody asks Frederik Ducrozet, senior European Economist at Pictet Wealth Management.

Millions of people are thought to be suffering the effects of so-called long Covid. How is this affecting America's already-tight labour market? FRANCE 24's Solange Mougin tells us more. Also in the programme, we're joined by Elliot Coad, the CEO of Ecologi, to discuss how small and medium-sized businesses are keeping pace with ever-evolving environmental standards and what support they need to do better. Plus, can rosé in a can take off in France? We meet the winemakers trying to uncork that taboo.

As more Ukrainians flee the Russian invasion, European governments are trying to meet the initial cost of supporting those refugees. One estimate puts the figure at $30 billion for this year alone. In this special show, we examine how a refugee crisis impacts the economy of host countries. Economist Emmanuelle Auriol from the Toulouse School of Economics shares her insights. We also speak to the founder of SEP, a group that's giving women refugees at the Jerash Camp in Jordan a fresh start through embroidery.

Stephen Carroll and Kate Moody take a look at the economic promises being made by the candidates in France's presidential election. The cost of living is the biggest issue for voters, whereas the topic of government debt – a subject that has dominated previous elections – is largely absent from this year's campaign. We examine what the presidential hopefuls are promising in terms of combatting inflation, creating jobs and reforming the tax system.

The question of how to overhaul France's complex pension system has been a politically sensitive topic for years. A major reform proposed by the current government stalled in 2020 due to the pandemic and following mass protests. But it's once again become an issue in the current presidential campaign. We take a closer look in this special edition.