Business Matters

President Trump issues a tariff threat after Spain rejects Nato's defence spending target.Lebanon has secured $250 million in World Bank funding for post-war recovery, to help repair and rebuild critical public infrastructure and essential services.Is the oil giant Shell taking over its rival BP?Plus, Mexico is planning to sue Space X over rocket debris on the beach.Presenter Andrew Peach is joined by Fermín Koop, the Latin America editor for Diálogo Chino and Jyoti Malhotra is editor-in-chief of The Tribune in India.

President Trump joins NATO leaders in Europe for a summit about increasing spending on defence. He is demanding all member states commit to spending 5% of national economic output on defence budgets.In New York, Democratic voters are heading to the polls to choose their nominee for mayor.Plus, would you order lab-grown meat in a restaurant? You can in Australia after the product was approved for consumption.Throughout the program, Andrew Peach will be joined by Marketplace's Kimberley Adams in Washington and David Kuo, co-founder of the Smart Investor in Singapore.

President Trump says Israel and Iran have agreed to a total ceasefire after what he called their twelve-day war. It follows Iran's missile attack on a US airbase in Qatar. We'll look at the impact on aviation and shipping across the Middle East.We explore how the speed of delivering groceries are changing shopping habits in India.Plus, why are other countries envious of Argentina's growth figures? Throughout the program, Andrew Peach will be joined by Simon Littlewood, the founder of the Raffles Crew, a business network in Singapore and Stephanie Hare, a researcher on technology and ethics in Berlin.

Global markets, including the US, have been quietly calm, although there have been warning signs of looming risks and uncertainty after Donald Trump's “liberation day” tariffs announcement. What's behind such market “silence”? Roger Hearing hears from Gillian Tett, the chair of the Editorial Board of the Financial Times and the Provost of Kings College Cambridge, who has been writing about this. And how are businesses navigating global sourcing and supply chain risks and disruptions? A Global Sourcing Risk Index, produced by Proxima and Oxford Economics, shows how much business leaders still need to do. Also, a group of economists, backed by the Vatican, are calling for a reshaping of the international financial system to help developing countries that are heavily in debt and struggling to finance important social issues in their countries like healthcare and education.Throughout the programme, Roger Hearing will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Tony Nash, CEO and founder of Complete Intelligence, an AI-based financial forecasting firm in Houston; and Nga Pham, a journalist based in Taiwan.

A war with Iran has been harming Israel, not just in the physical effect of missile strikes but also the impact of the conflict and instability on Israel's economy. Roger Hearing hears about how the country's economy is coping with this. Greenland's minister for business and mineral resources, Naaja Nathanielsen, tells us how she deals with threats of an invasion by US President Donald Trump. And Thailand, a country that has long kept a tight lid on gambling, could be about to change as the government is looking at legalising casinos to boost tourism. Throughout the program , Roger Hearing will be joined by Anneke Green, a Republican political strategist at Reach Global Strategies and former political speechwriter in Washington; and Sushma Ramachandran, an independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper in Delhi.

Will the US get directly involved in the Israel-Iran conflict? President Trump says he hasn't made his mind up yet. A shipping insurance expert explains the impact of the conflict coverage costs for vessels in the region.In the UK, employers may soon be forced to list salary brackets on job adverts. We'll find out why.And do you ever wonder where old mobile phones, computers, and fridges get recycled? One place is Thailand - where recycling is cheaper than in many Western countries. The BBC's Gideon Long joins Thai government officials on a visit to a recycling plant.

President Trump is demanding Iran's ‘unconditional surrender' as the conflict with Israel enters its sixth day. The US leader was supposed to be in Canada for the G7 summit, but decided to leave early. Has his absence there overshadowed its talks on Ukraine? We'll hear from a reporter who's at the summit.Meanwhile in Brazil, oil exploration rights are up for auction - even as the country prepares to host the UN climate conference COP30. An environmental activist tells us why oil exploration in the South American country must be stopped.And is China's biggest car manufacturer BYD playing fair? Our reporter has been speaking with the firm's executive vice president.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

We hear from Banff where the meeting of world leaders is taking place, as Donald Trump returns to Washington. Also, it's just three weeks until US tariffs could hit America's trading partners. Ed Butler looks at what the impact might be on Malaysia and Thailand. And, the Trump Organization announces plans for a golden mobile phone, made entirely in America.

How could the Israel-Iran attacks impact the global economy? We speak to experts on the region.What's happening with global shipping? We speak to a company which transports freight in Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East.Also, what about the health of the Israeli economy? We hear from the former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Israel.

A London-bound Air India plane carrying 242 people crashes in a residential area shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad, western India. We hear from Anita Mendiratta, a specialist on aviation. And we look at how the premier of the Canadian province of Alberta - the landlocked neighbour of the United States - has put forward plans for a new crude pipeline from the province to the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia to export through the Pacific.

Disney and Universal are suing AI photo generation company Midjourney alleging its popular image generator had become a "bottomless pit of plagiarism". Rahul Tandon finds out how likely the lawsuit is to be successful. Also, can we expect peace between the US and China in their crucial trade war as both sides say they have agreed on a "framework" for a deal?We find out why the new LinkedIn data reveals that the rate of women being hired into leadership has dropped for the third year in a row.And we hear how tensions between President Donald Trump and Elon Musk might be affecting investors. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

After two days of London talks, the US and China agree on a trade framework - pending approval from Presidents Trump and Xi, reports say.Pakistan announced that their defence spending is increasing by 17% in the fiscal year ending June 2026 - we get reaction from Uzair Younus, Principal at the Atlantic Council's Asia GroupAnd a new Apple feature will reportedly block out hold music. We hear from Debbie Wiseman, a conductor and composer who has turned her hand to hold music in the past.

As fresh protests erupt over President Trump's immigration and deportation policies, we ask: how much does Los Angeles's economy rely on undocumented workers? We speak to Julia Gelatt from the Migration Policy Institute and Mark Krikorian of the Centre for Immigration Studies.Also on the programme: as the US–China trade dispute hits growth, both sides return to the negotiating table.And we hear from Spanish meat producers concerned about the impact of potential US tariffs.

The US and China have announced their delegations will meet in London to talk trade on Monday... so has a phone call between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jin Ping signalled an end to the tariff war between the World's biggest two economies?Andrew Peach discusses whether Elon Musk's time at the White House achieved anything for the tech sector that will survive his rift with President Trump. Elsewhere, we are on the road in China with a truck but no driver, and the fashion statement that's set to go up for auction in Paris.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk are locked in an increasingly personal and public fight, with the US president now threatening to cancel the tech billionaire's lucrative government contracts. Also, the European Union urges China to lift export controls on rare earth minerals crucial to industries from automotive to electronics. And we explore how Japan is eyeing new commercial opportunities on the moon.

The new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to meet with US President Donald Trump on Thursday to discuss tariffs and the war in Ukraine. A report by the US Congressional Budget Office in Washington found Wednesday that President Donald Trump's tax bill adds $2.4 trillion to US debt. Also, Rahul Tandon looks at the impact that hackers are having on some of the world's best-known retailers and other brands – North Face, Cartier and Victoria Secret are the latest companies being targeted. Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Karen Percy, a senior freelance reporter in Melbourne, Australia, and Walter Todd, President & Chief Investment Officer, Greenwood Capital, based in South Carolina, US.

The global steel industry prepares for impact as Donald Trump signs an order for a 50% tariff on steel and aluminium. He announced the move last week in front of a crowd of steel workers in Pennsylvania. In South Korea, the liberal candidate, Lee Jae-myung, has been confirmed as the clear winner of the presidential election. The tech billionaire, Elon Musk, has stepped up his criticism of Donald Trump's planned tax and spending bill, calling it a "disgusting abomination". A White House spokeswoman said the president would not change his position on what he calls the "big beautiful bill".Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Andy Xie, an independent economist in Shanghai, China, and Anneke Green, Republican Political Strategist at Reach Global Strategies in Washington, US.

It's election day in South Korea, where voters are choosing the country's next president after months of unprecedented political turmoil affecting the country's economy. For South Koreans, today's vote offers an opportunity to restore stability and forge ahead. US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a phone call to discuss tariffs and trade issues, according to the White House. In Canada, the Prime Minister is meeting with regional leaders to remove interprovincial trade barriers and making it easier for Canadians to trade with each other. Also, the Microsoft founder Bill Gates says improving the health and education of people in Africa will be the priority when he gives away most of his two hundred billion dollar fortune over the next twenty years, the majority of which will go to Africa. Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Peter Morici, economist and professor of business, who is in Alexandria, Virginia; and Sushma Ramachandran, independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper in Delhi.

American President Donald Trump has announced at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that the US will double tariffs on steel imports from 25% to 50% to boost the local steel industry. The announcement is the latest turn in Trump's rollercoaster approach to tariffs since re-entering office in January.Meanwhile, it was the last day at the White House for tech billionaire Elon Musk who has departed from his role at DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency.) We examine what he has achieved in the role, what his priorities will be at Tesla and Space X, and whether he and President Trump can remain friendsAnd with the Indian economy showing a growth of 7.4% between January and March, beating analyst expectations, we analyse what's behind the numbers and if the growth can continueTo discuss these and the big global business news of the day, presenter Devina Gupta, is joined by Andy Uhler, journalism fellow at University of Texas Energy Institute in the US and Rachel Cartland, author and commentator based in Hong Kong.

After US President Donald Trump's tariff policy got a last minute reprieve in the federal courts, we unpick the latest twist in American trade policy. Meanwhile, we hear from an international student at Harvard University caught up in the institution's legal battle with the Whitehouse.Elsewhere, we can reveal how western countries are helping fund Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.And Devina Gupta speaks to the attorney at the centre of the 'largest settlement of a price-fixing case in Canadian history' that's worth $500-million.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Nvidia, a huge success in the tech world, reported its latest quarterly earnings. The chipmaker, vying with Apple for the position of the world's richest company, beat expectations despite export controls. Elon Musk, , the billionaire and co-founder and CEO of Tesla, has criticised one of the signature policies of President Donald Trump, marking a break from the US president who he helped to win re-election in 2024. And the meat of brown bears, a protected species in the EU, could soon be available to eat in Slovakia after the populist government approved plans for sale. Roger hears from a food tour guide who tested the meat before.Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Michael Malone, a veteran Silicon Valley journalist and host of the Silicon Insider podcast in the US, and Zyma Islam, senior reporter for The Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

The US President, Donald Trump's administration, has ordered its embassies abroad to pause new applications for student and exchange visitor visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of foreign students. We hear from former US Education Secretary Arne Duncan – who was in office during Obama's presidency. Japanese-owned steelmaker Nippon Steel is expected to close its “partnership” with U.S. Steel at $55 per share, as the US media have reported. On Friday, last week, President Donald Trump said that he has cleared the deal. And Rahul Tandon hears how one woman's quest to buy only US-made goods has been surprisingly difficult. Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Erin McLaughlin, Senior Economist, The Conference Board in the US, and Simon Littlewood, President of ACG Global or a business consultant based in Singapore.

The United States President, Donald Trump, has agreed to drop his threat to impose 50% tariffs on European Union imports and extend a deadline to negotiate tariffs with the EU by more than a month. In Argentina, the government has announced that its easing currency reporting rules to deal with dollars kept under mattresses. The Argentine government aims to unleash some $271 billion stashed away in mattresses, safes and foreign bank accounts.And Rahul Tandon will look at how Disney's live-action Lilo and Stitch remake beat Tom Cruise at the US box office. Lilo and Stitch, which revisits the 2002 animated family favourite, exceeded expectations with takings of $341m (£252m) around the world. Throughout the programme, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Sushma Ramachandran, an independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper in India, and Fermin Koop, a reporter on environmental and climate change in Argentina.

The European trade commissioner says the EU will defend its interests in trade talks with the United States. President Trump has threatened the bloc with fifty percent tariffs.Boeing is to avoid prosecution in a deal with the US Justice Department over a number of crashes. The deal includes the company admitting to obstructing federal aviation officials and paying $1.1 billion in fines. Presenter Rahul Tandon examines these stories and also hears how the murder of George Floyd inspired US banks to invest in small black businesses.

Donald Trump blocks Harvard from enrolling International students to root out anti-Americanism and antisemitism on campus. Harvard has called the move unlawful. A Business body in the United States has been giving reaction to Donald Trump's " big beautiful" bill. It contains tax cuts as well as money for defence spending and funds for his deportation programme.Presenter Rahul Tandon also looks at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission decision to drop a case which attempted to block Microsoft's $69-billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard. It has said the case against the long-closed deal was not in the public interest.

A trade talks meeting turned tense at the White House, when President Trump clashed with South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa over discredited claims of white genocide in South Africa. We hear from a key voice in the president Ramaphosa's advisory council.It's a big week for cryptocurrency - Bitcoin hit an all time high, the stablecoin legislation advance and President Trump get's ready to host his crypto dinner. And will the US Congress pass Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill'?In Japan, we hear why the agriculture minister has stepped down after making a joke about rice.

Elon Musk, the US's largest political donor, plans to cut back on political spending after giving more than $250m on Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. What will that mean for his businesses like Tesla, X and SpaceX?In the EU, there are plans for a €2 fee on cheap parcels from China, hitting companies like Temu and Shein.Over in Canada, the recently re-elected Liberal government says it won't release a federal budget this year.

The Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company makes advanced microchips is helping to shape the future of the global economy. It's at the centre of a chip rivalry raging across the world – one of the key subplots of President Trumps trade war.The UK and the EU have reached a new deal setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence. We hear from the Irish fishing community, a food exporter in the UK and what a "youth experience scheme" could mean for businesses in France.Andrew Peach is joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Jennifer Pak is in Shanghai and Peter Morici in Alexandria, Virginia.

The credit rating agency Moody's has stripped the United States of its triple-A credit rating, warning investors about rising levels of government debt and a widening budget deficit. The agency has shifted the US rating down one notch to AA1, while changing its outlook from negative to stable. Novo Nordisk, the company that makes the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, is abruptly ousting its chief executive, Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, over concerns the firm is losing ground in the popular weight-loss drug market. Consumer boycotts of countries and companies are on the rise, with the latest being an Indian tourism boycott of Turkey and Azerbaijan. This comes as some Canadians boycott the US, while others refuse to buy from some specific companies over their policies. We will be joined throughout the programme by Rahul Tandon is joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Lori Ann Larocco, senior editor at CNBC Business News in the US, and Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent in Australia.

Walmart is preparing to raise prices in the US as soon as this month, as its own costs increase as a result of the new tariffs on imports imposed by President Donald Trump. And we will look at President Trump saying that India offered to drop all tariffs on US goods, something India swiftly denied. Total airline revenue is expected to top 1 trillion US dollars for the first time ever this year, according to the International Air Transport Association. We will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Shoeb Kagda, an Indonesian journalist and businessman, and Alison Van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues based in Silicon Valley, the US.

With the conflict in Ukraine continuing to have a huge impact on the global economy, what hopes are there for a ceasefire when Russia's president Vladimir Putin seems unwilling to participate in the peace talks in Turkey?We hear what the lifting of sanctions could mean for Syria's economy, and Rahul Tandon finds out why the challenges caused by US president Donald Trump's tariffs could be a big opportunity for Puerto Rico.Elsewhere, will a new government-led scheme in Argentina be able to change millions of peoples preference for saving money in secret stashes rather than at a bank?Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Sam Fenwick looks at the world's biggest business stories with guests Kimberly Adams in the US and David Kuo in Singapore.They'll find out how AI and arms are at the heart of the flurry of deals being made between the US and Saudi Arabia.Why is car maker Nissan cutting 20,000 jobs?And how British Airways says AI is helping the airline cut delays.

The retaliatory tit-for-tat rise in tariff rates between the US and China has been cancelled, following talks in Switzerland and the so-called "reciprocal" tariff rate of 34% is lowered to 10%. It's a ceasefire on what has become a global trade war as markets are rising again, and container ships can set sail across the Pacific.But economically, who benefits more from this short-term ceasefire—Washington or Beijing?Britain's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has promised the government's new immigration measures will mean net migration falls "significantly" over the next four years.Keir Starmer unveiled plans to ban recruitment of care workers from overseas, tighten access to skilled worker visas and raise the costs to employers in an effort to curb near record net migration.

Join Roger Hearing ahead of this weekend's meeting in Switzerland of Chinese and American diplomats for trade talks this weekend. The stakes are high, as the outcome could reset the future of economic relations between the world's two largest economies. Also, we hear how Chinese Auto makers, who struggle to sell vehicles in North America because of the import tariffs, are expanding rapidly in many markets around the world.And the government of Mexico is suing Google Maps over its decision to use the name "Gulf of America" instead of the longstanding "Gulf of Mexico".

Who is Pope Leo XIV? And how is he going to deal with the Vatican's finances?The US has agreed to reduce import taxes on a number of British goods - should we expect other deals on the way?The Spanish parliament is debating reducing the current workweek from 40 to 37.5 hours for over 12 million people, we hear why the Spanish business association thinks it's a bad idea.And not all of us have $200bn to give away, but Bill Gates does and he says he will. We find out why.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

The Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said America's central bank would leave its key interest rate unchanged because of tariff 'uncertainty'. We hear from Gary Schlossberg, a global strategist for Wells Fargo Investment Institute and a former researcher at US Treasury and Federal Reserve.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

The Indian government says it has launched strikes on Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in response to last month's deadly attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.Also, the presenter Rahul Tandon will look at the Chinese economy and find out what will happen with the trade negotiations.The Canadian Premier Mark Carney is in Washington trying to strike a deal with the US President. Carney says Donald Trump is "willing to negotiate" a new trade deal and drop the tariffs following "wide-ranging discussions" at the White House.Also, we look at the German economy after Friedrich Merz eventually elected German chancellor.And see why there are so many bets on who will be the next leader of the Catholic Church. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

OpenAI, the parent company of artificial intelligence service ChatGPT, has announced a new governance plan after a bitter power struggle over the business.US President Donald Trump has said he will hit movies made in foreign countries with 100% tariffs, as he ramps up trade disputes with nations around the world.The European Union has announced a five-hundred-and-sixty-million-dollar fund to attract foreign scientists. How will it work?Also, Rahul Tandon will find out why Met Gala event is so important for many investors.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Voters are going to the polls in Australia to choose their next government following a hard-fought campaign during which living costs, climate concerns and the impact of Donald Trump's trade tariffs have featured strongly. Shares of Rockstar's parent company, Take-Two Interactive, tumbled by as much as 8% on Friday morning after it announced that it has delayed the launch by a year – to May 26, 2026. With the company being valued at around 40 billion US dollars, that is a lot of money being shaved off. The U.S. President Donald Trump repeated that he will revoke Harvard University's tax-exempt status, saying that "We are going to be taking away Harvard's tax-exempt status. It's what they deserve!" Harvard, which is already suing the Trump administration, said that this is unlawful. And Skype Will Shut Down on Monday, May 5, As Microsoft Shifts to Teams. Davina Gupta will hear from one of the creators of the Skype ringtone. Throughout the programme, we'll be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent who is in Australia, and Diane Brady, Executive Director of Fortune Live Media and Editorial Director of the Fortune CEO Initiative.

President Trump has sacked Waltz as national security adviser and nominated him to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.The US and Ukraine signed a minerals deal which President Zelensky says is an "equal partnership".As trade wars continue, we explore how businesses of all sizes are surviving. Will tariffs dominate Apple and Amazon's earnings? And how are small businesses staying afloat?Plus, why have Australian wine exports hit a record low? Andrew Peach speaks to a wine maker in Melbourne.

On the programme we are looking at Donald Trump's first 100 days in power, during which he has talked a lot about tariffs, and there have been many changes to trade policies. Rahul Tandon looks at the key important economic events of the initial 100 days and the way they have upended global trade. Also, Mark Carney is celebrating his election victory in Canada, although Canadian broadcaster CBC projects his party will fall just short of the 172 parliamentary seats needed for a majority.Throughout the programme, we'll be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Rebecca Choong Wilkins, Senior Asia correspondent for Bloomberg, and Tony Nash, CEO of Complete Intelligence.

Canadians are voting in a general election which has been dominated by Donald Trump's trade war and threats to annex the country. The leaders of the two main parties rejected a renewed assertion by Mr Trump on election day that Canada should become the fifty-first US state.Devina Gupta hears from the BBC's economics editor Faisal Islam, who is in Ottawa, and Dan Kelly, president of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses. And the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, has urged people not to speculate over the cause of a massive power cut that's affected millions of people across Spain and Portugal.Also, the Chinese online retailer Temu, known for its cheap products, adds ‘import charges' of about 145% in response to President Trump's tariffs on China. Throughout the programme, we'll be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Jessica Khine, a business development consultant based in Malaysia but now joining us from London, and Sergio Guzmán, director of the Colombia Risk Analysis company.