The power of petroleum

Russia continued strikes on Ukrainian gas and electricity infrastructure. Meanwhile, the president of France told Asian business leaders that the conflict is "your problem" too.

As chaos engulfs Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, smaller firms and nonprofits want people to ditch the services of Big Tech. But how do you take on the world's tech giants?

Journalists working at the Kyiv Independent document life under power outages caused by Russian missile strikes and vow to continue their work. Also, we look ahead to important local elections in Taiwan, the first since China's military escalation there. Cartoonists give us their views on the UN-mandated day to eliminate violence against women. Finally, we look at the celebrity secrets of turning male pattern baldness into a signature statement!

South Africans are suffering power cuts for up to 10 hours a day to avoid a collapse of the national grid. The president is pushing for green energy solutions, something that visiting German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has offered to support.

A massive polar blast making its way across North America is disrupting travel plans, causing power outages and putting huge pressure on homeless shelters. Around 60 percent of the US is estimated to be under a weather warning, with the huge storm stretching right across much of the US and Canada.

As the EU tries to finalize its hydrogen rules, Asian countries are moving fast to secure deliveries, and the US is committing money to set up local supply chains. Can the Middle East collaborate with both continents?

Is Kazakhstan seeing an internal power struggle?

The sexual abuse scandal in Germany's Catholic Church continues as a leading cardinal offers his resignation to Pope Francis. So, can the church be reformed? Guests: Anna Diouf (Maria 1.0), Max Cappabianca (priest), Matthias Katsch (abuse survivor organisation)

Tirana Hassan, acting executive director of Human Rights Watch, which is publishing its annual report this week. Although the report reveals the grim picture of a world shattered by multiple crises, our guest believes the attacks carried out against democratic institutions, such as in Brazil, show the "desperation of autocrats, despots and strongmen who are beginning to lose power", adding that "there are cracks in the autocratic armour of the Chinese government".

Sergey Surovikin has been removed as head of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine and replaced by Valery Gerasimov. Is there a power struggle raging in Moscow?

South Africa's energy crisis could land the government in court, as opposition groups and trade unions threaten to sue over a decade of crippling blackouts. Also, as the World Economic Forum kicks off in Davos, the head of the International Finance Corporation tells FRANCE 24 that now is the time to ramp up private investment as Africa braces for a global slowdown.

South Africa's energy crisis could land the government in court, as opposition groups and trade unions threaten to sue over a decade of crippling blackouts.