Business Matters

In the US, the economy shrinks, jobless claims rise, and tariffs start to bite... Will steps toward an agreement with China help the situation? There's been a tax shake-up in Africa’s biggest economy... Nigeria’s President signs off on sweeping reforms. But will they be felt on the ground? And after nearly four decades in charge… Vogue’s Anna Wintour is stepping back. What’s next for fashion’s most powerful woman? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

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. Throughout the program, Andrew Peach will be joined by Fermín Koop, the Latin America editor for Diálogo Chino in 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 Group And 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 is again braced to be impacted by Donald Trump's implementation of a 50% tariff, which he vowed 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 friends And 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 continue To 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.