World Business Report

Coca-Cola has been named as the world's biggest plastic polluter. The drinks company sells over 100 billion throwaway bottles every year. Rob Young asks how we can reduce the amount of plastic we use and is joined by Emma Priestland from the research group Break Free from Plastic. Plus, we get a preview from a special BBC investigation into Coca-Cola's plastic pledges. Also this half hour: should the private sector step in to save the Amazon from destruction? We hear how deforestation mapping could be one way of identifying the challenges ahead. And do we really need to be able to spell in this age of autocorrect? Our regular commentator Peter Morgan shares his views.

The 10 member countries of the ASEAN group of nations, like Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam will hold a summit in Brunei this week. But Tuesday's meeting has already run into controversy, after the group excluded Myanmar, amid concerns about the military rulers undermining democracy. Countries in South East Asia are also wary of taking sides in the economic and political standoff between China and the United States and Beijing's growing dominance in the region is causing concern. Also in the programme, why are more Americans buying homes in areas where the risk of wild weather is greater? Plus, the expansion of Russian energy exploration in the Arctic. And - in China the police have adopted an unusual method of encouraging senior citizens to recognise fraud. Officers give lessons in how to avoid becoming a victim of a scam, but then test the older people on what they've learned in class, with those who pass offered free products from a local supermarket.

US officials are warning about China's ambitions in artificial intelligence, saying that the country could come to dominate in the field, giving the country unprecedented military advantage. Chris Meserole, an AI researcher with the Brookings in Washington DC, explains the concern. Also in the programme, we'll have a check-in on the day's trading on Wall Street, from FHN Financial's Chris Low.

France is to pay low income families €100 each to cushion the impact of rising inflation. Meanwhile the Bank of England's chief economist has warned inflation could hit 5% in the UK in the months ahead. With prices on the rise all over the world as a result of widespread supply chain disruptions and the high cost of energy, we examine the implications of rising inflation with Helen Thomas of the economic consultancy Blonde Money. Also in the programme, Ireland had hoped to relax most coronavirus public health measures today, though with cases rising, plans have been scaled back. Whilst nightclubs and other live entertainment venues can open, digital vaccine certificates will be required for indoor hospitality venues like restaurants, cafes and pubs. Adrian Cummins is chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, and discusses the implications. Plus, the BBC's Rahul Tandon explores the future of lavish Indian weddings, after they got a lot smaller during the pandemic. Today's edition is presented by Mike Johnson, and produced by Philippa Goodrich and Clare Williamson. (Picture: Petrol pump prices. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Shares of WeWork closed up more than 13.49 per cent on Thursday after the company went public through a special purpose acquisition, more than two years after its failed IPO. We hear from Peter Eavis of The New York Times, who has been following the ups and downs of the company. Plus, the Austrian city of Vienna is known for its collection of art galleries and museums. But some of the exhibits, it seems, are a little too racy for some social media networks. So the tourism board is posting images on the website OnlyFans, the only social network that permits depictions of nudity. We hear from Norbert Kettner of the Vienna Tourist Board. Susan Schmidt of Aviva Investors, in Chicago, tells us about the day's trading on Wall Street.

A dispute between Brussels and Warsaw threatens to overshadow a summit for EU leaders. A Polish court recently found parts of EU law were incompatible with the country's constitution, and there have been calls from some quarters to withhold EU funds from Poland in response. Anna Wojcik is a researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences and editor of the Rule of Law publication, and discusses the background to the dispute. Also in the programme, shares in the Chinese property conglomerate Evergrande fell by 11.5% when they resumed trading in Hong Kong today. Sherry Fei Ju is a freelance journalist in Beijing, and brings us the latest developments. The BBC's Theo Leggett tells us about research at the University of Mannheim in Germany that indicates governments worldwide may have lost around $175bn in revenue, because of tax schemes relating to the payments companies make to their shareholders. It's the beginning of India's festival season, and our workplace commentator Sandip Roy considers the challenges of trying to work through the mega festival Durga Puja, when millions are on the streets partying til dawn. Plus, ahead of next month's World Cheese Awards in Oviedo northern Spain, judge Morgan McGlynn, who is also a British cheesemaker, explains what makes a winning cheese. Today's edition is presented by Mike Johnson, and produced by Philippa Goodrich and Clare Williamson. (Picture: Poland's prime minister arrives at the European Council meeting. Picture credit: Reuters.)

We go to Brazil where president Jair Bolsonaro is rejecting accusations of prioritising the economy over the health of his people during the height of the covid pandemic - journalist Karla Mendes in Sao Paolo tells us more. Latvia goes in to lockdown as coronavirus cases rise; we hear from Inga Springe, an investigative journalist in the country. Finally, Tesla reports an uptick in revenue compared with the same period last year, hitting all the expectations of happy investors, says Susan Schmidt of Aviva in the US.

A Brazilian parliamentary committee is calling for President Bolsonaro to face charges. These would be related to Mr Bolsonaro's handling of the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of more than 600,000 Brazilians. We get a sense of Brazil's economic challenges as a result of how Covid ripped through the country, from economist Daniel Duque of the Brazilian Institute of Economics. Also in the programme, the BBC's Ed Butler reports on a rusting oil tanker moored off the coast of Yemen that poses a major environmental risk. Plus, as the world's largest book fair gets under way in Frankfurt, we hear how the pandemic has impacted book sales from Bodour Al Qasimi, founder of children's publisher Kalimat in the United Arab Emirates, who is also president of the International Publishers' Association.

Credit Suisse Group is to pay $475 million to American and British authorities to resolve bribery and fraud charges related to a $2 billion scandal over Mozambican government-guaranteed loans which came to be known as tuna bonds - they were originally intended to help build up a domestic tuna fishing fleet in the country. A Credit Suisse subsidiary also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in New York. Nine companies including Amazon, IKEA, Unilever and Michelin have pledged to use only zero carbon emitting container shipping by 2040. 90% of world trade is transported by sea, and global shipping accounts for nearly 3% of the world's CO2 emissions. But environmental campaigners want the shipping industry to move faster. The pressure group Ship It Zero says the switch to zero-emissions should be done by 2030

The UK government wants to phase out gas boilers by 2035, to be replaced by heat pumps. We get a sense of the picture for alternative heating technologies across Europe, and Dr David Glew, head of energy efficiency at Leeds Beckett University in the UK discusses the country's plans. Also in the programme, the BBC's Clare Williamson reports on whether edible insects are likely to become a significant source of protein for humans in the coming years. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Benjie Guy and Susan Karanja.

Amazon denies allegations that it misled Congress. The retail and tech giant was questioned over claims that it copied other peoples' products, and rigged its search results in India to boost sales of its own branded goods. Plus, we look at Apple's latest offerings - and why so many are disappointed that its big ticket innovations seem few and far between. Plus, we hear the latest on the stock markets from Sam Stovall, managing director at CFRA in the US.

There have been a flurry of announcements of investment in the manufacture of electric cars. Toyota will spend $3.5bn to build car batteries in the United States, while Europe's Stellantis has done a deal with LG to produce battery cells for North America. Meanwhile, Ford is investing $300m to convert a plant in the UK to make electric car components, as the firm's Europe president, Stuart Rowley, explains. And we get wider context on the market for electric vehicles from Professor Jillian Anable, who is an expert in transport and energy at the University of Leeds in the UK. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Benjie Guy and Susan Karanja.

Tech giant Apple's recent privacy changes have piqued the interest of some of its critics for not being as private as advertised – ahead of a slate of new products being launched. China's economic growth is linked with resilience in the rest of the world – but energy price fluctuations could stifle its growth, as our regular economic commentator Michael Hughes explains. Finally, hybrid working has increased hugely during the pandemic; research from IT behemoth Cisco shows that half of people in online meetings don't participle. Chief Technologist for Cisco UK, Chintan Patel, tells us how to improve that. Presented by Gareth Barlow and produced by Faarea Masud.

Chris Low of FHN Financial in New York wraps up the week on Wall Street.

Italy has made it mandatory to prove Covid vaccination, or a negative test, to go to work. Thousands of workers at Trieste port have gone on strike over the mandate, and we get reaction to the new policy from Alessandro Borghese, who is a chef with two restaurants in Milan, and another opening soon in Venice. And with a majority of Italians supporting the measure, we get wider context from Professor Guendalina Graffigna, who is an expert on consumer health psychology at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart in Piacenza. Also in the programme, the BBC's Vivienne Nunis heads to the TED Countdown climate summit in Edinburgh, to find out about innovative approaches to tackling climate change. Plus, we have a report from India as the country's festival season gets under way, and hear that whilst there seems to be more enthusiasm on the streets compared to last year, it does not necessarily mean more business. Today's edition is presented by Mike Johnson, and produced by Faarea Masud and Ivana Davidovic.

Microsoft is shutting down its social network, LinkedIn, in China, saying having to comply with the Chinese state has become increasingly challenging. It comes after the career-networking site faced questions for blocking the profiles of some journalists.We speak to author Greg Bruno, one of those who has had his profile blocked in China. Plus, Cary Leahey of Decision Economics in New York on the day's trading on Wall Street.

Pressure on the global supply chain is making plenty of things much harder to get hold of. President Biden has announced one of America's busiest ports will now work round the clock to help clear a backlog of shipping containers. The shipping industry group BIMCO's chief shipping analyst Peter Sand gives us his assessment of how best to tackle the problem. Also in the programme, the BBC's Rahul Tandon reports on a power supply crisis in India, where more than 60% of the country's coal-fired power stations are suffering from fuel shortages. Plus, Italian airline Alitalia's last flight takes off from Rome today. It is being replaced with a new national airline called ITA, with thousands of jobs lost in the process. Giulia Segreti is Rome correspondent for Reuters, and brings us the background to Alitalia's demise.

Claims that Russia is using the high gas price as a political weapon are "drivel", according to President Vladimir Putin. His comments come as there is now intense focus on the energy markets. Bitcoin consumes a lot of energy and China's banning of the mining of the cryptocurrency has prompted what some have called the great mining migration. Alex De Vries, who runs the Digieconomist blog explains where the miners are going and how much energy are they consuming. Plus, Susan Schmidt of Aviva Investors, in Chicago, on the day's trading on Wall Street.

The International Energy Agency has called for trillions of investment in clean energy. It argues that it is the only way that the world's climate targets can be met. Tim Gould is chief energy economist at the IEA and talks us through its latest World Energy Outlook, and we get reaction from Simon Harrison, head of strategy at consultancy Mott MacDonald, which advises governments and businesses on how to move to cleaner energy sources. Also in the programme, the BBC's Frey Lindsay reports on what's being called a housing affordability crisis in Australia, where the cost of buying a home has risen sharply relative to what people earn. Plus, our regular commentator Stephanie Hare makes the case for actively using our senses to transform our experience of the world of work. This edition is presented by Mike Johnson, and produced by Nisha Patel and Sara Parry.

The UK's largest commercial port says the supply chain crisis has caused a logjam of shipping containers. The Port of Felixstowe, which handles 36% of the UK's freight container traffic, blamed the busy pre-Christmas period and haulage shortages. In Shenzhen, China, two tropical storms in quick succession and covid lockdowns have caused a bottleneck. In Longbeach, California, the harbour has some 87 ships idle offshore waiting to dock. We hear from shipping giant Maersk, which is re-routing some of its biggest ships away from the Felixstowe. Maritime trade expert Lori Ann LaRocco explains why this is all happening in so many places at the same time. Plus, Joe Saluzzi on the day's trading on Wall Street.

The UN Secretary General has urged the world to inject money directly to Afghanistan. Leaders of the G20 nations are meeting virtually on Tuesday to discuss a worsening economic situation in the country, and Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, explains the work his organisation is doing there. And Mohib Iqbal, who worked for the World Bank in Afghanistan until earlier this year tells us what the G20 nations could do to get money where it's needed. Plus, a recent referendum in Berlin approved a plan to allow the city to seize properties owned by large-scale private landlords, in a bid to make the German capital a more affordable place to live.

We've heard about soaring gas prices, rising food prices, and now oil prices are also on the way up and have just topped their highest level in three years. We ask David Shepherd, energy editor at the Financial Times to explain what's been happening. Plus independent economist Peter Jankovsis brings us the latest from the financial markets.

This year's Nobel prize for economics has been shared by three recipients. David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens were awarded the prize for their use of "natural experiments" to understand how economic policy and other events connect. Professor Card, of UC Berkeley, tells us about his work. Also in the programme, with high energy prices leading to the suspension of steel production in parts of Europe, we ask Portuguese Member of the European Parliament, Pedro Marques, what governments can do to help deal with the situation. The BBC's Vivienne Nunis reports on the economic importance of donkeys to sub-Saharan Africa. Plus, we hear from Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, about whether business is doing enough to tackle climate change. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Nisha Patel and Benjie Guy. (Picture: The Nobel economics prize is announced. Picture credit: Reuters.)

New South Wales' largest city emerges from a lockdown lasting more than three months - we hear about the impact on the economy from Sarah Hunter at BIS Oxford Economics in Sydney. Patrick Edmond of avation consultants Altair Advisory looks back on 75 years of Alitalia as the Italian flagship airline makes its last flight this week. Fabian Bolin of War on Cancer tells us about the organisation's new app which helps track clinical trials available to cancer patients, and independent economist Michael Hughes discusses inflation and rising food prices. This edition is presented by Russell Padmore and produced by Russell Newlove. (Image: A person walks in front of the Sydney Opera House Credit:EPA)

Chris Low of FHN Financial in New York wraps up the week on Wall Street, and reflects on some lower than expected US jobs figures.

Party leaders in the American congress's upper chamber meet to raise the debt ceiling.

An intervention by Russia led to falls in the price of European gas, after steep hikes. Chris Weafer is chief executive of the Moscow-based consultancy Macro Advisory, and tells us what Russia is seeking in return. And we look at the wider global energy situation with Ellen Fraser of Baringa Partners. Also in the programme, an announcement that Premier League football club Newcastle United is to be taken over by Saudi Arabia is thought to be imminent. We hear what has unblocked the process from Kieran Maguire, lecturer in football finance at Liverpool University. Amid widespread computer chip shortages, the BBC's Samira Hussain gets a tour of Intel's newest chipmaking facility in Arizona from the firm's chief executive, Pat Gelsinger. Plus, coronavirus vaccines have reached every continent now that a shipment has arrived in Antarctica. John Eager is head of Polar operations for the British Antarctic Survey, and discusses the logistical challenges involved in transporting the AstraZeneca vaccines there. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Philippa Goodrich and Elizabeth Hotson.

A new vaccine against the disease is to be given to children across much of Africa. Plus Intel opens a new plant in Arizona, and the markets with our guest Susan Schmidt.

Addressing his party conference, UK leader Boris Johnson called for higher worker wages. The speech came against a backdrop of widespread fuel shortages in recent weeks, and concerns about a lack of workers to pick crops and slaughter animals. We assess the prospects for Mr Johnson's vision with the independent economist Julian Jessop, and Kate Bell of the Trades Union Congress. Also in the programme, Google's chief sustainability officer Kate Brandt explains how the search engine hopes to become carbon free by 2030. Plus, amid concerns about students submitting work they didn't write, England is to make it illegal to offer essay-writing services to students for a fee. Gareth Crossman is the head of policy for the Quality Assurance Agency, which is responsible for safeguarding standards in UK higher education, and tells us how widespread the use of so-called essay mills actually is. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Benjie Guy and Elizabeth Hotson.

Frances Haugen, who worked at Facebook, told a US Senate committee that she believed the company had put its profits first when executives knew what harm its platform could do to children and democracy. Facebook has pushed back against claims. We get details from Kari Paul, technology reporter, Guardian US. Also in the programme, the electric car giant Tesla has been ordered to pay nearly $137 million to a former Black worker who said he suffered racial abuse at the electric carmaker's factory.

Following an extended outage of Facebook services we hear about the impact on businesses. And we examine the wider implications of the problems faced by WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook, with Dan Cooper, senior editor at Engadget. Also in the programme, for four days in a row, Chinese warplanes have flown close to Taiwan. The island's president Tsai Ing-wen has warned in an article for Foreign Affairs magazine that there would be "catastrophic" consequences for peace and democracy in Asia if it were to fall to China. We get the background to the dispute from the BBC's Taiwan correspondent, Cindy Sui. Sales of electric cars rose significantly in the UK in September, though still make up just 15% of the overall figure. We hear about the global market for such vehicles from Professor Jillian Anable at the Institute for Transport Studies at the University of Leeds. Plus, the BBC's Dougal Shaw reports on a new dating app that uses people's music tastes to try and make a match. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Benjie Guy and Russell Newlove.

Social media services Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram appear to be recovering after an outage that lasted almost six hours. All three services are owned by Facebook and could not be accessed over the web or on smartphone apps. We get the details from the BBC's James Clayton. Plus independent analyst, Peter Jankovskis brings us the latest from the financial markets.

A former Facebook employee behind a series of bombshell leaks has revealed her identity. We hear from Frances Haugen, who was interviewed on Sunday by CBS. We also get an assessment of whether Facebook prioritises profits over safety from Dr Victoria Baines, visiting fellow in cybersecurity at Bournemouth University, who previously worked at the social media giant. Also in the programme, a data leak, named the Pandora Papers, has shone a light on the previously secret financial affairs of the world's rich and powerful. Simon Bowers from the website Finance Uncovered is part of the global investigation into the data, and tells us what has been revealed about the family finances of Kenya's president, Uhuru Kenyatta. The BBC's Vivienne Nunis reports on software company Flare which spotted a gap in the market in Kenya, where there is no centralised ambulance service number like 911 or 999. Plus, as people around the world gradually return to workplaces, our regular commentator Pilita Clarke considers how easy it is to get distracted in the office, and what can be done about it. Today's edition is presented by Rob Young, and produced by Benjie Guy and Russell Newlove.

The documents expose the offshore dealings of presidents, royalty and prime ministers. Our reporter Andy Verity, who's been combing through the thousands of papers, tells us more about what they contain. Ahead of a key Opec meeting on Monday, members are under pressure to address the rapidly growing oil price. Our regular commentator - economist Michael Hughes - tells us what the likely outcomes and effects might be. And it's ten years since Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, died. He transformed the firm into a trillion dollar company and devised a string of iconic products. We discuss his legacy with Karlin Lillington, technology columnist with the Irish Times. This edition is presented by Will Bain and produced by Sara Parry.

The Democrats can't agree on the size of a separate social spending plan, which is holding up the vote. We get the latest from Nancy Marshall-Genzer, senior reporter at Marketplace, our sister programme on American public radio. And as chess's governing body Fide announces a sponsorship deal for the women's game with breast enlargement company Motiva, we ask Shelia Stanford, a Norwegian who used to play for her national team, what she thinks of the tie-up.

Vaccinated Australians can start travelling abroad from November, ending an 18-month ban. Anthony Dennis is travel editor for the Sydney Morning Herald, Melbourne Age and several other publications, and tells us why the government of Australia has made this move now. Also in the programme, Thailand is also easing restrictions from today, halving the length of time required for vaccinated foreign visitors to quarantine to seven days. The BBC's Jonathan Head reports on the potential impact on the country's tourism sector. A global coalition of transport organisations, representing more than 65 million transport workers, is calling on the world's governments to end what they call a "humanitarian and supply chain crisis". Lori Ann Larocco of CNBC in New York follows the global container shipping industry closely, and brings us up to speed on the latest developments in the sector. Plus, Disney has settled a claim the Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson brought with the firm over alleged breach of contract, after it streamed her superhero film at the same time as its cinema release. Disney originally said the case was without merit, and Anna Nicolaou, US media correspondent at the Financial Times, explains what brought about a change of heart. Today's edition is presented by Fergus Nicoll, and produced by Philippa Goodrich and Russell Newlove.

The US Senate has approved spending plans to avoid a government shutdown. We get an update from the BBC's Michelle Fleury in New York. And Cary Leahey of Decision Economics in New York tells us how investors have reacted.

The US Congress has til midnight to approve spending plans to avoid a government shutdown. At the same time, Democratic lawmakers are trying to expand the national debt limit ahead of a mid-October deadline, as well as approve a multi-trillion dollar spending programme. Lauren Fedor talks us through the complex legislative process. And the BBC's Rob Young examines the background to the current impasse. Also in the programme, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, German company CureVac was thought by many to be one of the best prospects to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. The company's chief executive Franz Haas explains why their vaccine candidate was not as effective as had been hoped, and how the firm hopes to move forward with a second generation vaccine for the disease. Today's edition is presented by Fergus Nicoll, and produced by Philippa Goodrich and Russell Newlove.

Susan Schmidt of Aviva Investors on the day's trading on Wall Street.

A study reveals that 42 countries have potentially unsustainable debt exposure to China. Author and columnist Gordon Chang tells us about the research from the AidData lab at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Also in the programme, US banking giant Citigroup is in court in New York to argue for the return of more than half a billion dollars accidentally transferred to the beauty firm Revlon's lenders. Katherine Doherty has been covering the story for Bloomberg, and explains the background. Plus, the BBC's Elizabeth Hotson reports on the growing trend of influencer-based marketing, by spending time in an influencer house, where social media personalities are temporarily living together to create content on behalf of a plant-based food brand. Today's edition is presented by Fergus Nicoll and produced by Vishala Sri-Pathma and Sara Parry.

Joe Saluzzi of Themis Trading in New Jersey on rising energy prices. Plus, Colin Paterson is on the red carpet for the new James Bond film, which finally premieres in London, 2 years late.

There have been widespread power outages across China as the country lacks coal. James Mayger is China economy editor for Bloomberg in Beijing, and explains the background to the problems. Also in the programme, the BBC's Victoria Craig reports on how climate change became one of the key issues in the recent German federal election, and meets some of those recovering from this summer's devastating floods. Plus, after several pandemic-related delays, the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, will get its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London today. Laura Houlgatte is chief executive of the International Union of Cinemas in Brussels, and tells us how much cinemas are banking on the tuxedo-clad spy to spearhead a renaissance in business. Today's edition is presented by Mike Johnson, and produced by Vishala Sri-Pathma and Sara Parry.

Germany's centre-left SPD party has claimed victory in the federal election. Parties will now try to form a coalition government, and the BBC's Victoria Craig in Frankfurt assesses what the outcome of the vote means for the German economy. Also in the programme, our workplace commentator Peter Morgan asks whether it's time for greater transparency in the workplace about how much money people are paid. Plus, it's reported that the British government is considering bringing troops in to drive fuel tankers to restock the country's petrol stations, following panic buying amidst a lorry driver shortage which led to many retailers selling out. Ministers have also launched an emergency visa scheme, to allow foreign lorry drivers to come to the UK for three months. Edwin Atema of the Federation of Dutch Trade Unions in Utrecht tells us whether many European drivers are likely to take up such an offer.

Projected results from the German parliamentary elections show the centre-left Social Democrats are ahead of the conservative Christian Democrats (the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel) by about two per cent of the vote. The Green Party secured 15 percent of the votes and along with the fourth-placed FDP they are likely to be the kingmakers in coalition talks. It could take weeks or months for one to be formed. German political scientist Knut Roder tells Russell Padmore he believes it will be challenging getting a consensus. We get analysis on the implications for Europe's biggest economy's climate change policies from Stefan Kooths, director of research for business cycles and growth, at the Kiel Institut and from Sophie Pornschlegel, senior analyst at the European Policy Centre in Brussels. Also in the programme, from next month, people from South Sudan will no longer need a visa to enter Uganda, which could boost trade between both nations in East Africa. Nebert Rugadya reports from Kampala. And Daniel Frankel, managing editor of Next TV in Los Angeles, on the every-growing battle between the streaming giants in the US. Producer: Benjie Guy

Victoria Craig is in Stuttgart in the final days of the German general election campaign.

Ahead of this weekend's elections in Germany, we take the temperature of its economy. The BBC's Victoria Craig has been travelling around Germany, speaking with businesses to find out what they want from the new government. Plus, China has declared all cryptocurrency transactions illegal. We find out what's behind the move from Glen Goodman, author of The Crypto Trader.

The embattled real estate firm is to pay the interest due on its bonds today...if it can.

Mobile phone manufacturers will all have to use the same charging plug under EU proposals. We find out what's behind the move from Louise Guillot, sustainability reporter at Politico. Also in the programme, global stock markets have been spooked in recent days by whether the Chinese conglomerate Evergrande would be able to meet interest payments due today. Iris Pang is chief economist for Greater China at the bank ING in Hong Kong, and brings us up to date. Plus, the UN Food Systems Summit today, attended by more than 85 heads of state and government, aims to find ways to make food production more efficient. Today's edition is presented by Mike Johnson and produced by Nisha Patel and Susan Karanja.

Lebanon's inflation rate has become the highest in the world, according to the latest figures from the Lebanon Central Administration of Statistics. Tala Ramadan, a journalist in Beirut, explains how ordinary people in Lebanon are trying to get by, as fuel, food and internet connection become ever more scarce.

The US sports betting company has made an offer reportedly worth $20 billion. We examine the significance of the offer with Alice Hancock, leisure industries reporter with the Financial Times. And Joe Saluzzi of Themis Trading in New Jersey brings us up to date with today's movements on Wall Street.