World Business Report

President Putin has arrived in India for talks expected to focus on trade and expanding defence ties. India, like China, has been a big purchaser of Russian oil and has been accused by the West of financing the war. We hear from Russia and oil industry experts.Also, why scam centres in Myanmar have attracted the attention of both government forces and insurgent groups.And what next for Eurovision? Netherlands, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia boycott the song contest after Israel is allowed to compete. We find out this means for the future of the competition.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.Picture: Russian President Vladimir Putin visits India, New Delhi - 04 Dec 2025

Russia's president Vladimir Putin is visiting India. Economic cooperation is high on the agenda and, for India, its relationship with Russia is even more important with high US tariffs hurting the country's export market. The maker of the diabetes drug, Ozempic, could be facing a major headache after a court in India told a generic drugs company that they could export Novo Nordisk's key ingredient without patent protection And the EU is looking into the way Meta uses AI in WhatsApp. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

The EU's proposal would see €140bn of Russian state assets held in Belgium transformed into a "reparations loan". We hear the concerns from the Belgians - do they have cause for concern?Also, how the current tensions between the US and Venezuela will impact oil exports.And, what are your Spotify listening habits?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

The European Union says it will stop buying Russian gas from 2027, but why is it taking so long as Russia continues to use money from fossil fuels to fund its campaign in Ukraine? William Lee Adams finds out. Also, France's president heads to China hoping to resolve a series of trade disagreements. India's government has scrapped an order to smartphone manufacturers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on all new devices. Presenter: William Lee Adams Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

Ed Butler explores Invest America, a new US government initiative aimed at boosting long-term investment among younger citizens. The plan gives every newborn Americans $1,000 to invest in stocks and shares for their future, and is part of President Trump's controversial 'Big, beautiful' spending bill. We'll also look at concerns over why India is requiring telecom companies to pre-install a government tracking app on all new mobile phones. And we revisit a 90s classic — the Tamagotchi is back on top as Japan's most sought-after children's gift this Christmas, nearly thirty years after it first became a sensation.(Picture: Stock selection of US Dollar notes. Credit: Chris Radburn/PA Wire.)

Today, Serbia's only oil refinery is due to shut down, all because of US sanctions on the national oil company, which is mostly Russian-owned. So, what will this mean for the country's energy and how badly will it harm its economy? And Netflix has reportedly put in a second-round bid for parts of Warner Bros Discovery. Leanna Byrne looks at what Netflix actually wants. Also, for the first time in more than 20 years, a rare Fabergé egg is going up for auction. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

The two sides of the American economy today as consumers spend on Cyber Monday but manufacturers issue dire warnings. Presenter Bisi Adebayo hears from Jamaica which has just been promised a $7b billion boost as it rebuilds after the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. And Serbia is warning it could be just days away from a major fuel crisis - the country's biggest oil refinery may have to shut down unless the United States grants it a license to keep operating under sanctions rules.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

South Korea's largest online retailer, Coupang, has apologised for a massive data breach potentially involving nearly 34 million local customer accounts. And why did China's factory activity unexpectedly contracted in November? Also, smartphone makers are asked to preload an India state-owned cybersecurity app that cannot be deleted on all new devices. Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

Bisi Adebayo examines the sales statistics for Black Friday in the US to find out how confident the US consumer is feeling in an economy squeezed by higher prices and tighter budgets. And as Chancellor Merz writes to the EU Commission to ask for a reprieve on a deadline to phase out petrol and diesel cars, we speak to an auto-industry expert to find out why the German car industry is finding it hard to turn electric. Photo by CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock. Shoppers rest after browsing stores at the Dolphin Mall during Black Friday in Miami, Florida, USA.

India's economy grew 8.2% year-on-year for the period of July-September. The figures are largely being attributed to a boost in consumption, which makes up 60% of India's GDP. General strikes are taking place across Italy today over the government's proposed 2026 budget law. And why are American retailers hiring a record low number of temporary workers this holiday season? Presenter: Stephen Ryan Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

With Hong Kong's emergency services dealing with their deadliest fire in decades, that's so far claimed the lives of 83 people at Wang Fuk Court, we look at the safety of the world's tallest buildings.Andrew Peach hears how relations between the United States and Venezuela are deteriorating, and what impact it is having on the aviation sector. And we look at the risks posed by the multi-million pound trade of illegal English Premier League football shirts. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC. (Picture: Firefighters operate outside an evacuation centre after a deadly fire broke out at Wang Fuk Court housing complex in Hong Kong. Credit: Reuters / Maxim Shemetov.)

Japanese brewing giant, Asahi, has delayed publishing its latest financial results because of the major cyberattack that began in September. Leanna Byrne hears from an expert in Japan. Also, why has Venezuela banned six international airlines, including Iberia, TAP and Turkish Airlines? And the Swiss tariff deal with the US that's facing a backlash. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Stephen Ryan

What's the right approach when major economies are weighed down by growing debt? As the UK Government unveils its latest budget, Will Bain examines how debt is increasingly shaping economic decisions.We also look at the rise of California-based live-stream shopping platform Whatnot, now valued at around $11 billion and fast becoming a serious challenger in retail.And finally, what's the big deal about wearing pajamas on planes? (Photo: Britain's Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves holds her budget box outside number 11 Downing Street in London. Credit: Tolga Akmen/EPA Images)

The UK's net financial debt this year will be £2.6tn, meaning "one in every £10 the government spends is on debt interest". How are UK markets reacting to this? Leanna Byrne examines with our experts. Also, in Australia, two 15-year-olds are taking their government to court over a new law that bans anyone under 16 from using social media. And Iran is bringing in a higher fuel price, but only in certain situations. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Justin Bones

An airline industry body in Venezuela tells Will Bain flights in and out the country have already been cut by half, with major disruption looming as a dispute over the safety of Venezuelan airspace intensifies. Also, are American consumers starting to feel the pinch? We examine a series of data points suggesting confidence may be on the wane. And how a misplaced passkey left one of the world's leading internet security firms red-faced. (Photo by MIGUEL GUTIERREZ/EPA/Shutterstock: Passengers wait in a line at Simon Bolivar International Airport, which serves Caracas, in Maiquetia, Venezuela, 24 November 2025.)

Britain's finance minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is expected to raise taxes for both individuals and businesses in the UK's budget tomorrow. We hear from a restaurant owner on his concerns for the hospitality sector. And why Serbia says its main oil refinery may shut down within days. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Haider Saleem Editor: Justin Bones

The US federal government's Department for Government Efficiency, Doge, has ended its cost-cutting mission eight months early. Bisi Adebayo examines whether it achieved what it set out to do. And as the latest iteration of the Wicked movie franchise hits the big screen, we ask what its success can tell us about the resilience of Hollywood.

We hear from Vodafone's boss Margherita Della Valle on rising threats to vital undersea internet cables.We're days out from the UK's budget, what do we need to know? Britain's finance minister, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, is under presure to balance the country's books.And Japan once dominated the chip industry, but decades of decline left it trailing behind the likes of Taiwan and South Korea. Now, Tokyo is investing billions of dollars to try and turn that around. We hear from our Asia Business Correspondent Suranjana Tewari in Japan, to find out if the country can reclaim its tech.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Haider Saleem

Today, as world leaders gather in South Africa, Andrew Peach takes a look the agenda for the G20 and asks whether it matters that Donald Trump isn't there. Plus, The International Committee of the Red Cross is cutting thousands of jobs after losing aid funding. And why millions of Mexicans are holding on to bank notes.A man walks past a G20 South Africa 2025 sign inside the secured area of the G20 Summit venue at the Nasrec Expo centre, ahead of the summit scheduled for November 22–23 in Johannesburg, South Africa. November 21, 2025. REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko

Japan has signed off a $135 billion stimulus package aimed at lifting wages, easing living costs, and boosting the economy. But can the country really afford it?We look at why some major airlines are banning power banks on flights.Is AI putting graduate careers at risk? The BBC speaks to the boss of accountancy giant, PwC.And it's Wicked day! With the hit musical's sequel finally landing in cinemas, how much could the box office magic be worth?Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermott Editor: David Cann

Is the “Trump Effect” working on the US economy? New figures show 119,000 jobs were added in September, sharply beating expectations after a slow summer. We'll look at what's driving the pickup. Also, novelists are increasingly worried that AI could replace them. Andrew Peach asks one writer whether a computer could ever produce a book as good as a human. And how seafood has become a weapon in the latest row between China and Japan.Photo by WILL OLIVER/EPA/Shutterstock A member of the public passes the US Department of Labour in Washington DC, USA, 05 September 2025.

Is the AI boom far from over? Yes, according to Nvidia, the world's most valuable company. The chip giant that's been at the heart of the boom has beaten market expectations again. We'll break down the important numbers from its latest results. Why is Meta under pressure on two sides of the world?And, who bought a famous solid gold toilet for more than $12 million?Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermott Editor: Stephen Ryan

Nvidia has smashed market expectations with more than $57bn in revenues in its latest results. It's a sign from the world's most valuable company that the AI boom may be far from over. Andrew Peach hears reaction from a company which owns Nvidia shares. Also, why the Dutch government has reconsidered taking control of Nexperia, the Chinese computer-chip firm. And ahead of the Ashes tournament, why the global growth of cricket increasingly favours shorter formats.

The global markets are on edge, fears of an AI bubble burst are circling and investor anxiety is building as the world awaits Nvidia's earnings report. The chip giant which is the world's most valuable company, has powered the AI boom and helped drive stock markets to record highs. But what could the results mean for the future of AI?We hear how online retail giant, Amazon, lost a legal battle with a European court after requesting to be exempt from the EU's Digital Services Act. The period of volatility and tensions in global trade is far from over, according to the boss of parcel delivery giant, DHL Group. We hear from their CEO, Tobias Meyer, whose company is investing €1 billion in India.And why is a court in Paris suspending the sale of the world's ‘first calculator' invented in 1642?Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermott Editor: David Cann

We look at the AI boom in detail, in the wake of comments by Sundar Pichai, the Google boss, in a BBC interview. He acknowledges the risks of a potential AI bubble. We hear the thoughts of the Nobel Prize-winning economist Daron Acemoglu as well as from a future of work strategist and a campaigner for tighter AI regulation.Also, what has Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince gained from a visit to the White House? And TotalEnergies faces war crime allegations over a Mozambique massacre.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Global stocks and shares have plunged for the fourth day in a row. The markets are falling as worries about AI valuations, the US economy and central bank rates hit sentiment.What happens if the AI bubble burst? We hear from the boss of Google in an exclusive BBC interview.What's next for the global car industry? Next year, one in four global car sales will be electric, that's according to a report by the International Energy Agency.A court in France will rule today if Perrier bottles will be forced to remove their bottles from shelves.And in the UK, selling tickets for a profit could be banned.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh Mc Dermott Editor: Justin Bones

Myanmar government takes effort to dismantle Southeast Asian-based call centre scams and human trafficking networks. We hear more from Erin West, Founder and President of Operation Shamrock and former Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County.Also, why are we witnessing so many mergers in the US business environment? And the Amazon rainforest could face a renewed surge of deforestation as efforts appear to be growing to get a long-standing ban on deforestation overturned. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Shares in Japanese retail and travel-related companies have fallen sharply in Tokyo, after China urged its citizens not to visit the country. The tensions spiked after Japan's prime minister suggested Tokyo could take military action if Beijing attacked Taiwan, which China claims is its sovereign territory.Meanwhile, why has Bitcoin lost more than $600 billion in market value, just weeks after hitting a record high?And for Bridget Jones fans, the rom-com icon is getting her own statue, joining the likes of Harry Potter and Paddington Bear on a new trail celebrating 100 years of British cinema.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh Mc Dermott Editor: Justin Bones

Switzerland and the US have reached a trade deal which cuts US tariffs on Swiss imports from 39% to 15%. That's the same as on goods from its neighbours in the European Union. In return Switzerland will shift some manufacturing to America and Swiss companies will invest $200 billion in the US by the end of 2028. But whether Swiss cheese will be included is yet to be confirmed. Andrew Peach speaks to sellers of Swiss cheese in America about how the tariffs have been affecting their business. Plus we look at how people are using apps to help them reduce their screentime

Leanna Byrne explores why global tech stocks have taken a hit this week, as investors dump AI favourites like Nvidia and Alphabet, wiping billions off market values.Google is offering to adjust parts of its advertising system to comply with a European Union order tied to a $3.4 billion antitrust penalty.And Dominos UK says Britain has reached “peak pizza” and is now turning to fried chicken in an effort to revive sales.

Lawmakers in Europe vote to limit green reporting rules for business. A boost for European competitiveness - or a backward step for the environment? And we examine the reasons why Starbucks workers in the US are going on strike.

Leanna Byrne looks at the fallout from America's federal government shutdown, which has finally come to an end, but with a warning from the White House that October's jobs and inflation numbers might never be released. Also, the Starbucks workers going on strike on Red Cup Day. And why Scotland is issuing "kilt bonds"

We examine pledges to ease the tariff burden on some US grocery staples. How will a reduction in levies on coffee and bananas help the consumer? We also find out why food prices are going down in India and hear from Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz on what's driving increased global inequality. Photo by JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock. Coffee selection at a Safeway grocery store in Oakland, California, USA, 14 August 2024.

In Brazil, Indigenous protesters have stormed the COP30 venue in Belém over broken land rights promises. Inside, climate talks continue with shipping under scrutiny. Leanna Byrne chats with the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organisation, who's pushing for a global carbon levy despite US and Saudi opposition. Also, a Chinese tycoon accused of running a vast scam compound in Myanmar is extradited to Beijing.And Greek farmers protest soaring costs, delayed subsidies and livestock diseases.

We examine how the longest shutdown in the US history has affected the airline industry and hear from stranded passengers and furloughed air traffic controllers. And, on day two of the COP climate conference in Brazil, we talk a South African minister on what it will take to help poorer nations fund the transition to clean energy.

Leanna Byrne gets reactions as a woman known as the Chinese crypto queen has been sentenced to jail in London for laundering billions in stolen bitcoin. Qian Zhimin was convicted of trying to launder more than sixty thousand bitcoins now worth around six and a half billion dollars.In Germany, OpenAI faces a legal setback after a court ruled it infringed copyright by reproducing song lyrics without permission.And Japan's SoftBank cashes out of Nvidia.

We hear from a worker who hasn't been paid in weeks and examine the wider impact on America's economy. And, what's happening on the opening day of the COP30 climate conference in Brazil.

Leanna Byrne looks at signs that the United States may finally be nearing an end to its record-breaking forty-day government shutdown. The Senate has voted to advance a bill to pay federal workers and reopen parts of the government but it still needs approval from the House. Also, two of Africa's biggest diamond producers Botswana and Angola, are in talks to take control of De Beers, the world's most famous diamond company. And in Japan, a surge in bear attacks prompting the government to roll out emergency measures and forcing companies, farmers, and local authorities to spend millions on safety precautions.

There've now been more than two-thousand flight delays or cancellations in the US linked to the continuing government shutdown. International routes aren't being affected, but many air traffic controllers who've gone unpaid are calling in sick or taking other jobs. Jamaica is set to receive a $150 million payout from its catastrophe bond after Hurricane Melissa. It's the first time it's been triggered in full. The World Bank tells the BBC it's a vital boost to the country's recovery. Andrew Peach also examines Elon Musk's trillion-dollar pay award after Tesla shareholders back a record-breaking deal that could make the world's richest man even richer. We hear from one investor who voted against it.

The World Bank has confirmed that Jamaica will receive a full $150 million payout from its catastrophe bond, which is the maximum possible, after Hurricane Melissa met the pre-agreed trigger conditions. Leanna Byrne hears from Jorge Familiar, the World Bank's vice-president and treasurer. Also, one of the biggest broadcasters in the UK has confirmed its "preliminary" discussions with Comcast, owner of Sky, to sell its broadcasting business for around $2 billion. And, as the US government shutdown hits 38 days, we look at one government tax lawyer in Washington DC, who is staying busy by running a full-time hot dog stand. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Gideon Long

Tesla shareholders have voted to approve a massive pay package meant to retain the services of its billionaire CEO Elon Musk. The deal requires Musk, who is already the world's richest man, to drastically raise the electric car firm's market value over a period of years. Also, U.S. passengers brace for disruption as airports cut flights amid the government shutdown.And a judge in the US state of Texas has agreed to dismiss a criminal case against aviation giant Boeing in connection with two plane crashes that killed more than three hundred and forty people in 2018 and 2019.

Maersk, a global shipping giant, has raised its full-year operating profit forecast to between $9 and $9.5 billion after better-than-expected third-quarter results. We hear from Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc. India and the European Union are intensifying their efforts to reach a trade deal by the end of the year. EU officials are in Delhi for talks. Leanna Byrne hears from one of the men at the heart of the negotiations.And the US government has warned that air travel capacity will be cut by up to 10% at 40 major airports over the coming days if the government shutdown continues.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Ahmed Adan Editor: Gideon Long