People & Profit

Epizody

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  International Space Summit: Europe plays catch-up with US and China 10.09.2026 13min

  The space sector is booming. The global industry expected to reach a value of €2 trillion mark by 2040. But behind this spectacular growth lies major geopolitical challenges, particularly for Europe. In this edition, FRANCE 24’s Charles Pellegrin speaks to Kai-Uwe Schrogl at the International Space Summit in Paris. Schrogl, a political affairs adviser to the European Space Agency, answers questions about the future of the great beyond and Europe’s place in the new space race.
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  Please welcome the newest member to our team: The AI agent 03.09.2026 12min

  This week, we're looking look at efforts to incorporate artificial intelligence into the workplace. But not just your run-of-the-mill generative AI chatbot: we're focusing on actual AI agents. These are autonomous programs designed to take on tasks and work through a series of steps without the user having to specify every move. And they're moving into our everyday lives – helping people plan holidays, shop online and take care of other routine tasks.
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  Executive diversity and inclusion: How to promote female leadership 31.08.2026 12min

  CEO Women Europe is a new initiative launched in June of this year to boost partnerships between Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Kate Moody meets with Sandrine El Khodry, president of this new platform and also Executive Vice President for Global Sales and Marketing at Alcatel Lucent Enterprise. 
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  Artificial intelligence in Europe: Does advanced AI have a glass ceiling? 31.08.2026 12min

  What does Europe lose if advanced AI adoption stays at current levels? A report commissioned by US tech giant Amazon Web Services finds that skills shortages and regulatory uncertainty are hindering AI adoption in Europe and 38 percent of European startups are looking to move abroad. Charles Pellegrin talks to Sasha Rubel, AWS's head of generative AI policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. 
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  Andy Burnham outlines his vision for UK economy with promise to raise living standards 02.07.2026 12min

  Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is likely to be the next British prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation. Central to Burnham's platform is improving living standards that have stagnated or even fallen since the 2008 global financial crisis. But with weak public finances, how realistic is his plan? FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin talks to Renaud Foucart, senior lecturer in economics at Lancaster University.
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  VivaTech 2026: Space race hits new heights with reusable technology 26.06.2026 10min

  Space loomed large over the 2026 VivaTech festival. Startups and technology giants alike have entered the new space economy – a sector previously dominated by government agencies. FRANCE 24’s Business Editor Kate Moody sat down with Marta Oliveira, Co-founder and Chief Operations Officer at Atmos Space Cargo, to talk about reusable rockets, raising money in the private sector and international competition in the 21st century space race. 
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  VivaTech 2026: Bringing quantum computing from innovation to commercialisation 18.06.2026 13min

  Can quantum computing change the way we solve problems? The emerging technology can tackle situations that are out of reach for classical computers, in industries including healthcare and finance. At the 10th annual VivaTech festival, Kate Moody visits IBM's Quantum System Two chandelier, and speaks to Jerry Chow, IBM's Chief Technology Officer for Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, about the real-life benefits, geopolitical pressure and next milestones.
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  Race for critical minerals: The social and environmental trade-off 11.06.2026 11min

  What are the social and environmental costs of the race for critical minerals? Minerals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel are crucial for the development of new technology, including clean energy. But mining and refining them can be hugely polluting and water intensive – with a risk of deforestation, water contamination, and health problems for local communities. Studies suggest that about half of mining projects around the world are on or near indigenous lands. 
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  Pharmaceutical industry becomes geopolitical battleground as US threatens tariffs 04.06.2026 12min

  The global pharmaceutical industry has found itself at the heart of geopolitical and trade tensions. The Trump administration has pushed policies to promote the sovereignty of US drugmakers, threatening tariffs on manufacturers or countries, and vowing to reduce prescription drug prices for Americans. 
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  Powering the AI inference boom: Is it time to downsize the data centre? 21.05.2026 12min

  In the world of artificial intelligence, the focus used to be on training AI models. Now, increasingly, it's on "inference" – the actual execution of the tasks we ask these systems to perform. David Gurlé is a French tech entrepreneur whose startup Antimatter aims to service the inference boom with energy solutions, mini data centres that fit inside a container and appropriate software – for only a fraction of the cost and time.
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  Is home ownership still part of the American Dream? 14.05.2026 12min

  Owning a home has long been a cornerstone of the American Dream, but is increasingly out of reach for many US workers. A report by the White House in April suggests the United States needs 10 million additional houses to meet demand. Meanwhile, the average price of new home sales has jumped over 30 percent in just five years, and rental prices in most major US cities have surged by around 40 percent.
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  Can nuclear power resolve the energy crisis? 07.05.2026 11min

  The war with Iran has prompted many economies to reevaluate their energy needs and strategy. In Europe, several countries are considering reviving the use of nuclear power. Sweden, Belgium, and Italy are among those rolling back previous restrictions, while France and the UK are spearheading new nuclear projects.
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  Are fans being priced out of live gigs? 30.04.2026 13min

  A spate of high-profile stadium tours by stars like Céline Dion, Taylor Swift and Oasis have put a spotlight on the practice of dynamic ticket pricing, with many fans saying they're unable to secure or afford tickets. We take a closer look in this edition of People & Profit.
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  Is China's economy insulated from Iran war shock? 23.04.2026 11min

  The US and Israel’s war with Iran has sent shockwaves across the global economy, and created the largest energy crisis in decades. But China, the world’s second-largest economy, has by many measures appeared insulated from the worst of the fallout. 
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  What Magyar's election win means for Hungary's economy and Europe 17.04.2026 11min

  Hungary is preparing for a new era, after the centre-right Tisza party of Peter Magyar won a landslide victory over longtime nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Magyar says he'll seek to repair Hungary's confrontational relationship with the European Union, something that could unlock much-needed EU funding for Ukraine and for Hungary itself. Many voters said the stagnating economy was a major factor in their decision to turn against 16 years of Orban's rule. 
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  Iran war: Catalyst for a renewable energy push? 09.04.2026 12min

  The US and Israel’s war with Iran has triggered one of the biggest global energy shocks in decades. Asian economies, in particular, are facing disruptions to oil and gas supplies, while energy prices have surged worldwide. Climate activists say the shock should serve as a catalyst in the switch to renewable energy sources. 
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  IVF and the workplace: How fertility struggles affect women’s careers 02.04.2026 12min

  Fertility treatments such as IVF are becoming increasingly common. But a study by UK-based organisation Fertility Matters at Work suggests that nearly two-thirds of respondents do not feel comfortable speaking to their employer about support during the process. Our guests, Becky Kearns – CEO and co-founder of Fertility Matters at Work – and Suzy Jackson, COO of RVO Health, say both employers and governments can help change that.
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  Iran's chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz: Fertiliser supply chains under strain 26.03.2026 12min

  As tensions between the US, Israel and Iran choke the Strait of Hormuz, cutting global energy and fertiliser flows, markets face rising prices and food insecurity. We discuss the global fallout with Carlos Razo from the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), exploring the risks for the world's poorest economies and the threat of widespread inflation.
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  Iran war exposes Gulf economies' food, water vulnerability 19.03.2026 12min

  The spiralling conflict in Iran has highlighted the potential vulnerability of Gulf states when it comes to food and water security. Countries like Bahrain and Qatar depend heavily on desalinated water, and strikes on desalination plants have sparked concern about water supplies. Meanwhile, the usual flow of food imports through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted by the fighting.
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  Ireland’s deputy PM warns of ‘near-existential moment’ for EU amid global turmoil 12.03.2026 12min

  The European Union is facing an “almost existential moment” as it seeks to weather global turmoil. That is the warning from Ireland’s Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, Simon Harris. He says the current conflict in the Middle East serves as “a stark reminder of how Europe must become much more energy independent and much more economically resilient."