Business Matters

For the very final time, Business Matters on the BBC World Service, Rahul Tandon is joined by many of our regular guests, from India, Pakistan, Singapore, Canada and the United States. They discuss some of the biggest themes we covered, including, the COVID-19 pandemic, a cost of living crisis driven by a pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and Donald Trump becoming the President of the United States.Production team: Rahul Tandon, Ahmed Adan and Stephen Ryan(Photo: A medical worker in full COVID-19 personal protective equipment in Shanghai, May 2022. Taken during lockdown in China. Credit: Edward Lawrence/BBC)

Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been sentenced to more than twenty-seven years in prison after the Supreme Court found him guilty of attempting a coup when he lost the 2022 election. More than 300 South Koreans who were arrested in the raid in the Hyundai plant in Georgia have now been released from detention and flown to their country. And how can this affect the economic relations between both countries? London's underground rail system – the Tube – has been closed for five days by a strike over pay and conditions for train drivers, and this has been very stressful for commuters, but more than that, it has been very damaging for businesses. And Roger Hearing hears about the use of artificial intelligence to write speeches for politics and business and how you can detect if it's written by AI or a human. Throughout the program, Roger will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Nga Pham, a journalist and filmmaker based in Taipei, although she will be joining us today from Hanoi in Vietnam - and Stephanie Hare, a researcher on technology and ethics in London.

US tech billionaire Larry Ellison briefly becomes the world's richest person after shares in his business Oracle soar in early trading on the New York Stock Exchange. We examine how he has built his business empire which is valued at $393bn.We are in Mexico City to hear about protests about the increasing numbers of outsiders coming in and pushing up things like house prices , and the impact this having on local residents.We hear about some of the challenges facing Gen Z, those born in the late 1990's and early 2000s as they head into the world of work.Presenter Roger Hearing talks to Washington based journalist Rema Rahman from the website The Hill , and Rintaro Nishimura Associate at the Asia Group in Tokyo about these and some of the other major business stories from around the globe.

The number of jobs created in the United States has been revised down. Not as many people got jobs as expected during the last months of Joe Biden's presidency or the opening period of Donald Trump's return to the White House. It suggests the world's largest economy is weaker than expected, but could it also mean Donald Trump will get his way and the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates? We're joined by the CBC's Takara Small in Toronto, Canada, and Stratagraph's Travis Paterson in Jakarta, Indonesia, to discuss how businesses have been impacted by the increasing use of tariffs by both the US and other governments. Roger Hearing finds out about the impact on the Korean community in the US state of Georgia after the detained Hyundai workers are set to be flown home. Elsewhere, there's a new French prime minister, the fifth in two years, to try to pass a budget. It was promised to be awe-dropping - but what has Apple unveiled at its latest event? And how a high murder rate is threatening tourism on a Caribbean island paradise. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Rupert Murdoch has bought out three of his children to finally settle a long running family dispute over the future control of his global media business. The US$3.3bn deal sees the media mogul essentially hand his empire to eldest son Lachlan. Andrew Peach is joined by Peter Morici in Maryland, USA, and Nassim Khadem in Melbourne, Australia, with the ramifications still being felt after French MPs ousted prime minister François Bayrou over plans to deal with the country's deficit by cutting public spending.Elsewhere, we hear why Mexico is considering enacting new tariffs on countries they don't have a trade agreement with, including China.And Donald trump's controversial "gold card" visa, offering the super rich permanent residence in the USA for just US$5m.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

We break down the latest US jobs report, which showed hiring in America stalled last month. We explain what that means for the Federal Reserve which has come under immense pressure from the White House to cut interest rates. Plus: Russia's president Vladimir Putin says he wants to rekindle business relationships with the United States. But does the US president share that view? And will sanctions put a stop to that ambition before it even begins? We talk to a former US diplomat to Moscow for those answers.We're on the ground in the US state of Georgia where immigration agents have arrested nearly 500 people during a raid on a Hyundai battery-production facility. It's the biggest workplace raid of President Donald Trump's second term.Also, McDonald's is taking a stand on tipping. It says all restaurant workers should get a full minimum wage rather than relying on tips to boost a smaller amount of pay. And we look at a growing list of senior executives who've hidden office romances and lost their jobs because of it.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

The US president's pick Stephen Miran is nominated to serve as governor of the central bank. Will he cut interest rates?And, as the US Justice Department launches a criminal investigation into another Fed governor, is Donald Trump closer to controlling the US Central Bank?Also, we talk to a designer and founder of the Very Creative Agency in New York, who's gone viral on social media after hitting the thrift trip jackpot.Is it the end of the illegally streamed sport programmes? We look at the closure of Streameast - the world's largest illegal sports streaming site.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Nationwide protests sweep Indonesia over police violence and government austerity measures. In the US, artwork once owned by Leonardo DiCaprio and linked to the 1MDB scandal is up for auction.Jamaicans cast votes in parliamentary elections. We examines some of the key issues facing the electorate.A Chilean drinks company takes up a court case against actor Pedro Pascal over the brand name ‘Pedro Piscal'.In the Ivory Coast, UNESCO adds the making of attiéké, a beloved cassava side dish, to the world's cultural heritage list.Presenter Roger Hearing is joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Katia Dmitrieva is the Asia Economics Correspondent for Bloomberg News and Mike Malone is a Veteran Silicon Valley journalist and host of the Silicon Insider podcast.

US President Donald Trump says Washington DC is a 'safe space' after announcing he will send National Guard troops into Chicago to deal with crime. What do businesses think?Russia and China are working together on a major new gas pipeline deal.Google won a court case meaning it doesn't have to sell its popular Chrome web browser.In Italy, the Venice film festival is taking place. We hear about the big budgets, CGI debates and new movies.And could you go a month without spending? We hear about 'No Spend September', the social media trend about saving money.Roger Hearing will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Tony Nash, CEO of Complete Intelligence in Houston, and Rachel Cartland, author and commentator, in Hong Kong.

Guyana, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, votes on its oil future as tensions rise with neighbour, Venezuela which claims almost half its territory.Is the English Premier League in an inflation spiral? Roger Hearing investigates, as record-breaking transfer fees dominate the headlines.Meanwhile, Swiss food giant Nestlé has sacked its CEO over his romantic relationship.We find out what economic forces are driving the war in Myanmar.And 40 years after the Titanic wreck was discovered, we explore how a tragic shipwreck became a booming global industry, from movies and museums to podcasts.Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sergio Guzman is Director of Colombia Risk Analysis in Columbia and Jessica Khine is a Business Consultant from Malaysia.

They've been a key pillar of President Trump's second term, but now a US appeals court has ruled that most of his sweeping trade tariffs are illegal. Trump says their removal would be a ‘disaster,' but the final decision will rest with the Supreme Court. So what next for Trump's signature policy? Our correspondent in the US explains more.Meanwhile, as Fed governor Lisa Cook fights to block President Trump firing her, a legal hearing on the matter ended without a ruling. But with ongoing tensions and concerns over the bank's independence, who would want the next Fed chair job when the role becomes vacant next year? We hear from a former regional Fed president who says he's up for the job.And what are your thoughts on' blue sky thinking', ‘circling back' and' diarising some thoughtification'? Love it or loathe it, workplace jargon is commonplace in many companies. We speak to authors James Schloefell and Charles Firth about their new book on the subject of workplace speak.

Friday sees the US Customs and Border Protection agency scrap tariff exemptions, known as de minimis, for millions of small international postal items arriving from abroad that are valued below US$800.Roger Hearing is joined by Sinead Mangan in Perth and Tony Nash in Houston to discuss the White House's claims that ending the loophole will curb the movement of drugs and provide US$10bn of revenue. But what does it mean for small traders around the world?We catch up with the saga engulfing the Federal Reserve after governor Lisa Cook filed a legal case against US president Donald Trump over his efforts to fire her.Elsewhere, police raids have taken place across Brazil as authorities try to close down a US$10bn money laundering operation. Just days after South Korean president Lee Jae Myung visited Washington DC, we hear from David Kim, the man at the centre of a multi-billion dollar investment from the east Asian country into US shipbuilding. And how old is too old when it comes to being a commercial pilot? Former flyer Kit Darby shares his thoughts. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Californian computer chipmaker Nvidia has reported record revenue figures of almost US$47bn for the second quarter of this year, surpassing all market expectations after being boosted by big tech firms eager to expand their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The Santa Clara-based business claims its likely grow to $54bn, but its positioning in China appear somewhat uncertain as executives said they "continue to work through geopolitical issues" due to the ongoing international tariff wars.Meanwhile Donald Trump's steep 50% tariffs on India have kicked in after Washington's window for a trade deal lapsed and the US president issued an order imposing an additional 25% penalty on New Delhi over its purchases of Russian oil.While India prime minister Modi has criticised the levies as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", Roger Hearing will be joined by Karen Percy in Melbourne and Walter Todd in South Carolina to discuss what this could mean for both countries and who will be picking up the extra costs?Elsewhere Donald Trump has threatened the billionaire financier, George Soros, with an indictment for racketeering. We hear about the challenges endured by professional golfers trying to survive in Africa.And keep it down - a campaign has begun in London after a growing number of people said they felt aggravated by headphone-dodgers who broadcast music and entertainment for all passengers to hear on the city's trains and buses.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Donald Trump, marking a major escalation in the president's battle with the US central bank. So does President Trump have the power to fire the governor? Roger Hearing hears from a legal expert and former Cleveland Federal reserve President, to Loretta Mester.And in just a few hours' time, unless there's a last-minute change of heart, Indians will be dealing with 50% tariffs on most exports to the United States. It's punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, which Washington argues helps finance Moscow's war in Ukraine.Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Andy Xie, an independent economist normally in Shanghai but currently in Kamamoto, Japan on holiday - and Takara Small, National Technology Columnist, CBC, in Toronto.

US President, Donald Trump welcomes the South Korean leader to the White House to discuss trade. He believes a deal can be done. The South African government has warned young women against taking up unverified foreign job offers promoted on social media campaigns. And make a big noise – why movie theatre audiences now seem to love singalong shows. So, we will look at why singalong movie showings are taking off in cinemas.Roger Hearing will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sushma Ramachandran, consulting editor at The Secretariat - who's in Delhi, and Rema Rahman, White House & Legal Affairs Editor at The Hill, and Adjunct Professor at American University, in Washington.

As Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals a move to a rate cut in December, we find out what it means for the US economy and the financial markets. Also, friends again? Canadian PM Mark Carney calls a halt to some of the retaliatory tariffs imposed on the US. We find out what Canada's businesses think of the thaw in trade relations. And, amid US tariff uncertainty is there still a slice of the US market available to UK artisan cheese exporters? And why California is reaching out to African economies.

Federal Chair Jerome Powell takes centre stage at Jackson Hole in the US to deliver his final speech. It comes at a time when tensions are high between him and President Trump. We look ahead to this important speech.Details emerge of a tentative deal between the European Union and the US .Some sectors will see smaller-than-expected tariff hikes. We hear from a representative of the German automotive industryAnd Ecuador is home to the Galápagos Islands, towering volcanoes, and the Amazon rainforest. But how did one of South America's most peaceful countries become one of the most violent? We take a look at how this surge in crime has affected the tourism sector.

The Chair of the Federal Reserve chair are under scrutiny from Donald Trump after fraud allegations emerge about Governor Lisa Cook. How will it affect the interest rate decision? The authorities in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi have declared an emergency and a public holiday after monsoon rains paralysed the city. We hear from the local business owner.Sony PlayStation increased the price on its console. Is it one of the consequences of the trade war?And we look at Denmark's decision to tax cow and sheep burps for greenhouse gas reasons.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

American farmers warn of lasting damage as Chinese importers choose cheaper alternatives from other countries like Russia and Brazil.Also, tariffs risk taking some of the steam out of the US coffee industry.And Roger Hearing hears why the British horseracing sector could face strike action over proposed betting tax changes.All of that with analysis from business consultant Jessica Khine in Malaysia and journalist Alexander Kaufman in the United States. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are holding talks with Donald Trump at the White House - what will be next? We hear from Ukrainian business owner. Also, the Norwegian fund - worth $2 trillion - says it will divest from six firms with connections to the West Bank and Gaza. It currently has around $1.86 bn in companies listed in Israel. And are more people wondering about investing in that staple of many American and Middle Eastern cities - air conditioning? Where do you think some of the biggest movies and TV shows of the last twenty years have been shot? Fast and Furious? Stranger Things? The Walking Dead? Spiderman: Homecoming? It's the US state of Georgia. Despite a drop in investments over the recent years we find out why this state wants to keep the crown as an alternative to Hollywood.

President Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin end summit in Alaska without a deal. We get reaction from business experts after this important meeting. We examine what next for both the Russian and the Ukrainian economies. Presenter Rahul Tandon also talks to guests from the US, Ukraine and Russia to hear what this outcome means for the global economy.

Organisers of the Los Angelos Olympics in 2028 have agreed a landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee allowing venue naming rights to be sold to commercial partners for the first time in the games history. Honda and Comcast are the first naming partners. Presenter Roger Hearing also examines why some Americans are drinking less and what this means for the big drinks companies like Carlsberg.And PostNord in Denmark has decided to bring to an end to 400 years of letter deliveries - and focus instead solely on parcels from 2026. We hear from there about what this means for the future of the industry.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says more than $5 billion in credit will go to companies which face 50 per cent tariffs to export goods to the US. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, says a controversial deal that the White House struck with chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, handing over 15% of their Chinese sales in return for export licences, could be rolled out to other industries. Startup companies in the US have started a no-shoes-in-the-office policy, meaning that you take your shoes off when you come into the office and wear optional slippers.Throughout the programme, Leanna Byrne will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director at Fortune magazine in New York, and Han-Shen Lin, China Country Director, The Asia Group, in Shanghai.

US inflation held steady in July despite import tariffs, bolstering bets that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates next month. After the partial dollarisation of the economy in Cuba, the country's peso is trading at an all-time low of 400 to 1 dollar on the informal market.And horror films are at a record high in shares of the US box office. Weapons took $42.5m in its opening weekend in US movie theatres, and Sinners has become the highest-grossing original movie of the 2020s.Throughout the programme, Roger Hearing will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Andy Uhler is an Energy Journalism Fellow at the University of Texas, US, and Zyma Islam is a journalist for The Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending tariffs on China for another 90 days. Chip giants Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the US government 15% of Chinese revenues as part of an "unprecedented" deal to secure export licences to China. And remember that distinctive sound of dialling in via the internet in the early days of connecting? Well. It's days are numbered….Yahoo has announced that it will discontinue AOL Dial-up Internet on September 30th.Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Jennifer Pak who is China Correspondent for American Public Media, based in Shanghai; and Allie Garfinkle, Senior finance reporter at Fortune who's in the US.

Germany's halted its arms sales to Israel in the wake of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to takeover Gaza City. But despite supplying $565 million worth of military hardware since the 7 October 2023 attacks, how important are Germany's weapons to Israel? Roger Hearing is joined by Dana Peterson and Colin Peacock to discuss, among other things, why US wine exports to Canada have declined drastically…whether the growing Philippines microchip-making industry is being throttled by US president Donald Trump's tariffs…. and whether Las Vegas' drop in tourism hints at broader economic woes facing the world's largest economy.Plus the big controversy bubbling up over mineral water in France, and why are people not wearing Crocs any more?Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

With India prime minister Modi and Brazil president Lula vowing to "defend multilateralism" against what they see as "rising US protectionism", Roger Hearing is joined by Alison van Diggelen and Travis Patterson to discuss how businesses in countries that don't have a trade deal with Washington will be impacted by US president Trump's new tariffs. We hear how scientists and engineers in Sweden are using new technology to revolutionise the global steel industry and make the material green. Elsewhere, how good is the latest AI app - GPT5? Plus the strange case of the fluffy toys and a million-dollar lawsuit. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

As US president Donald Trump's global tariffs regime comes into place, we discuss what effect it will have on the international trade architecture. India faces a threat of 50% mark ups on what it sells to the US, with Washington unhappy over Delhi's purchase of oil from Russia. But will India ever wean itself off Russian supplies? Meanwhile Trump's claiming a big win as Apple commits to an extra hundred billion dollars in investment in the States. Elsewhere we hear of the summer of stink as bin workers strike in many US cities, and Roger Hearing talks about 'the sage of Omaha' during his last months as the world's most famous investor. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

US tariffs of up to 250 percent - that's what pharmaceutical imports could soon be facing But what would this mean for the makers and distributors of non-branded medicines? We'll be speaking to an association representing them.Is Europe turning its back on Tesla? Electric car sales from the company continue to drop in Europe, but sales from Chinese electric carmaker BYD are on the rise. An automotive analyst tells us why.And WhatsApp says it has shut down almost seven million accounts linked to scammers in the first half of the year. WhatsApp's external affairs director explains more.

India is one of the biggest buyers of Russian oil, but President Trump wants that to stop. He's threatened India with even more tariffs, a move that India says is both‘unjustified' and ‘unreasonable.' We'll be getting reaction to the mounting tensions between the two countries.The world's richest man could get richer as Tesla's board moves to give CEO Elon Musk a bigger stake to keep him at the company. We'll hear from a Tesla investor.And we look at the new trend of 'fake' weddings - for those who enjoy wedding parties, but don't know anyone getting married.

The US jobs market has taken a sharp turn - 73,000 jobs were added last month, marking the weakest monthly gain since the Covid pandemic. Economists were caught off guard, and revised figures show earlier job creation was also far lower than first reported. Democrats blame President Trump's trade policy for hurting business confidence.Meanwhile, trade tensions are rising. Trump has imposed steep new tariffs on some Canadian goods.A jury in Florida has ordered Tesla to pay more than $2,000,000 after finding the company's autopilot technology was partly to blame for a fatal crash.And we take a lighter look and head to Edinburgh, where the world's largest arts jamboree is underway.

The final countdown in on for President Trump's tariff deadline. Without deals in the next few hours, dozens of countries will face the cost of sharply higher tax rates on goods they export to the US - up to close to 50% in some cases. We hear from some of these countries, and ask is Donald Trump winning his trade war?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

The U.S. and China may extend their tariff truce, but it hinges on Trump's approval. We hear from a former U.S. Ambassador to China and check in with small business owners.Is Boeing showing signs of recovery? The plane maker narrowed its losses and reported a sharp rise in aircraft deliveries.Plus, Sam Fenwick finds out how natural disasters have cost the world $131 billion so far this year.Throughout the program, Sam will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Takara Small, National Technology Columnist for CBC in Canada and Zyma slam, Senior Reporter for The Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

European exports to the U.S. are about to face a steep 15% tariff—while American goods heading to Europe will face a zero tariff rate. We hear from the alcohol and automobile industries affected by these tariffs and why the former EU Trade Commissioner has called the deal 'a mistake'.Plus, Sam Fenwick explores the global surge in popularity for women's football and what it means for the future of the sport.Throughout the program, Sam will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world—Peter Morici, economist and Professor of Business at the University of Maryland in the United States and Business Consultant Jessica Khine in Malaysia.

It's been a busy few weeks on Wall Street's financial market, as stock valuations are close to record levels. The S&P 500 index has hit a string of all-time peaks this month, while US corporate borrowing costs are nearing their lowest level in decades, and Nvidia became the first company worth $4 trillion. The United States Treasury has lifted sanctions on several individuals and companies accused of supplying arms to Myanmar's military regime, leading to an outcry by human rights groups. And with Donald Trump doing diplomacy on the golf course in Scotland—is doing business on the green a good thing? Throughout the program, Roger Hearing will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world—Gaby Castro-Fontoura, Director, Sunny Sky Solutions, who's in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, and Michael Janda, Business Editor, ABC News Australia, in Sydney.

President Donald Trump claims further renovation budget overruns, adding pressure on US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell to lower interest rates. Roger Hearing hears a reaction from Loretta Mester, the former Cleveland Fed President. World's largest fan convention, Comicon 2025 is kicking off in San Diego, which brings over $180 million into the city. And as women's football has been dominating the sporting agenda this week, both in Africa and Europe, we look at where women's teams must compete for investment and coverage with the men. Throughout the program, Roger will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world—Alexander Kaufman, award-winning reporter and the author of the newsletter Field Notes on Substack, who's in New York, and Mehmal Sarfraz, journalist and analyst, normally based in Lahore but currently in California.

After the Japanese trade deal with the US, there are reports that an agreement with the European Union is very near.Also, presenter Roger Hearing takes a look at how algae is damaging the fishing industry in Australia.And Iran struggles under a heatwave that makes normal life impossible.

President Donald Trump has announced a major trade deal with Japan, introducing a 15% U.S. tariff on Japanese goods. The news comes as the Philippines and Indonesia join Vietnam in securing tariff reductions from Washington. Plus Roger Hearing examines a tough road ahead for U.S. car-makers grappling with global trade tensions. And could modern science finally crack the age-old quest to turn other metals into gold?

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is under increasing pressure after his coalition government lost its majority in the upper house of parliament. Mr. Ishiba says Japan needs political stability to address its mounting economic challenges.Also, Rahul Tandon examines global container shipping volumes to see how tariffs are redrawing trade routes. And two former U.S. Federal Reserve chairs, Ben Bernanke and Janet Yellen, issue a rare warning that political interference could seriously damage America's economic credibility.

Voters head to the polls in Japan this weekend in a crucial Upper House election. The vote comes amid rising economic pressures, including the threat of US tariffs on key exports like cars, high inflation, low productivity and a rapidly ageing population. Also, the EU cuts its price cap on Russian crude oil to 47 dollars a barrel. France says it could force Moscow into a ceasefire in Ukraine.And after three decades on air, could The Late Show become too expensive for US television to sustain?

The US Congress has passed the GENIUS Act — the first federal bill aimed at regulating stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency tied to the value of the US dollar. Also on the programme: the US Federal Reserve weighs inflation risks and Trump's tariff threats The BBC's Victoria Craig speaks to Boston Fed President Susan Collins. And Uber invests $300 million in Lucid Motors, with plans to launch its own fleet of self-driving robotaxis.

We look at the continuing tensions between President Donald Trump and the Chairman of the US Federal Reserve Jerome Powell.There could be more than 10 million extra people needed in the Russian labour market by 2030. Rahul Tandon hears from a Russian demography expert.And what will happen to renewable energy in the US?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.