People & Profit

Back in May, French President Emmanuel Macron brought political leaders from Africa to Paris to discuss the financial challenges facing their countries. Now he's turning to the private sector, with hundreds of entrepreneurs from across the continent among those attending a summit in the southern French city of Montpellier. So what are the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa today?

Back in May, French President Emmanuel Macron brought political leaders from Africa to Paris to discuss the financial challenges facing their countries. Now he's turning to the private sector, with hundreds of entrepreneurs from across the continent among those attending a summit in the southern French city of Montpellier. So what are the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs in Africa today?

Although travel has slumped over the past year and a half due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many tourist destinations in Europe had a better summer season than expected. We check with the hotel industry at the Global Lodging Forum in Paris, where industry executives are discussing the big issues facing the sector. Among them is Karin Sheppard, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Europe at IHG, the hotel group that includes brands like the Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn.

The cost of gas and electricity has soared in countries across Europe, and prices are expected to continue climbing as temperatures fall in the coming months. A limited supply of natural gas and higher demand have pushed up prices for power companies, industry and consumers. James Waddell from research consultancy Energy Aspects tells FRANCE 24 how long the crisis is set to last, and how it might be resolved.

China's President Xi Jinping has promised to rein in major internet platforms in the name of fairer competition and data protection. Tencent, Alibaba, Didi and the Ant Group – some of the biggest names in Chinese technology – are now all facing increased scrutiny from regulators. So what's driving the crackdown and what does it mean for companies and consumers? We discuss these issues with Martin Chorzempa from the Petersen Institute for International Economies.

A global shortage of truck drivers is hitting supplies of everyday goods. It's a particular problem in the United Kingdom, where many drivers are EU nationals. But what's the situation across the rest of Europe? Stephen Carroll speaks to Raluca Marian from the International Road Transport Union (IRU), an organisation representing the road transport sector.

The Covid-19 pandemic sparked a revolution in social protection – but is the safety net stronger as a result? Stephen Carroll speaks to Guy Ryder, the head of the International Labour Organization (ILO), about the details of its latest research.

The head of France’s largest employers’ federation, Medef, says his members are in favour of the health pass required to access restaurants, cinemas, long-distance transport and other businesses in France. Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux tells FRANCE 24 that the pass - which proves a person has been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid-19 - is the “only way out” of the crisis caused by the pandemic.

"I love meat! I just don’t love the consequences of it." Bernat Añaños is leading a food revolution, as Europe’s fastest-growing producer of vegan meat. The co-founder of Heura Foods tells FRANCE 24 about the challenges and benefits of producing alternative meat products that are "simple, healthy, and have a positive impact on the planet".

Bars, restaurants, concert venues and theatres reopened in May in France, while nightclubs were only given the green light in early July. They'd been closed since the start of the pandemic. From August, anyone going to these places must produce a so-called "health pass" showing that they've been vaccinated or tested negative for Covid-19. Stephen Carroll asks Harry's Bar head bartender Laurent Giraud and Le Bonbon Nuit editor Lucas Javelle what lies ahead for Paris's nightlife scene.