Business Matters

Could we see a deal this week between Ukraine and the US on Ukraine's valuable mineral deposits? President Trump says it's very close and he is expecting President Zelensky to sign it in Washington in the coming days. But what would such a deal involve? And how much are the minerals really worth? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

Apple is removing its highest level data security tool from customers in the UK. So what does that mean for iPhone users? We hear from a cyber security expert. And the New York Yankees dropped their ban on beards, 49 years after it was imposed by owner. Also, are soap operas dead? This is following the news that the long running Australian series, 'Neighbours' will come to an end this year. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

President Trump says Mexican drug cartels are terrorists groups. And Mexico is accusing the US of facilitating terrorism by putting guns into the cartels hands. And the James Bond film franchise will no longer be controlled by the Broccoli dynasty. Creative control will now be given to Amazon MGM Studios. How has life changed since the LA firestorms? LA resident and Business Matters regular Allie Garfinkel tells us what life in the city is like now. Also why is the comfy sandal brand Birkenstocks being told they are not a work of art in a German court? Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

The US president, Donald Trump, moves to revoke the approval of New York City’s congestion pricing programs. We hear from one of the architects of the congestion charge policy in the city. Microsoft has unveiled a new quantum chip called Majorana One, which it says will help the company create computers able to solve meaningful industrial-scale problems in years, not decades. And Roger Hearing discusses how a local government in the Philippines has come up with an unusual way of combating dengue fever by announcing a payment for every five mosquitoes caught and brought in. We will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Karen Percy, Senior freelance reporter in Melbourne, Australia, and Emily Peck, Axios Markets Correspondent and co-host of the Slate Money podcast, who's in New York.

The US and Russia have outlined their intention to build relations far beyond a deal over Ukraine—extending to cooperation on other global issues and developing sizeable economic and investment links. Argentine President Javier Milei has denied promoting a newly launched cryptocurrency that collapsed shortly after he mentioned it in a social media post on Friday. And Ed Butler hears about a shocking revelation from Nasa that a large asteroid could be on course to hit earth. Although the space agency does go on to say, don't panic, it almost certainly won't. We’ll be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Amita Arudpragasm, who's an Independent policy analyst based in Sri Lanka, and Sergio Guzman, the Director of Colombia Risk Analysis, which advises local and global companies looking to invest in Colombia and the region.

European leaders have been meeting in Paris to discuss military support for Ukraine. The United States has demanded that Europe increases defence spending and sends troops to Ukraine if there is a ceasefire in the war with Russia. Also, are Canadians boycotting US goods in shops after President Trump’s tariff threats? And Ed Butler reports from one of Africa’s biggest e-waste dumps in Ghana. Also, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, says it plans to build the world’s longest undersea cable, to bring industry-leading connectivity to five continents. We will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sushmar Ramachandran, who is Independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper based in Delhi and Oliver Stuenkel, an associate professor of International Relations at the Getulio Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

We delve into how the world is reacting to Trump's tariff announcement and what leaders from around the world have to say. Ukraine's President Zelensky, meets US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich Security Conference to discuss the future of the war in Ukraine. There's also been talk of the Trump administration closing the Department of Education. Additionally, we hear how an NYU student managed to attend college without having to pay. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

With inflation is the US rising in January at its highest rate for six months, how can President Donald Trump stop energy and egg prices from going up and forcing the cost of living to rise across America? We hear from a former Fed official on how the central bankers are dealing with political pressure on interest rates, and a farmer who's seeing his costs rise and is having to pass them on to customers. Elsewhere, we find out about the Refillable bottle boom and how Brazil wants to become a giant of global production in… cannabis. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

King Abdullah of Jordan met with Donald Trump at the White House after the American president had threatened to withhold $1.45 billion a year in US aid if Jordan did not agree to scheme We hear from the CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association on how Canda’s steel industry will be hit hard by tariffs And, how diss tracks in a feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake have raised an estimated $15 million.

Elon Musk has bid to purchase the non profit tech firm, Open AI President Donald Trump says he's going to impose a 25% import tax on imports of steel and aluminium from abroad And New Zealand has loosened their visa rules to attract foreign money. We hear from their Immigration Minister, Erica Stanford

A federal court is pausing President Trump's plan put thousands of USAID staff on leave The UK government has demanded access to Apple users' encrypted data. The Cook Islands Prime Minister says New Zealand is asking for too much oversight over its deal with China, which is expected to be penned in Beijing next week. And the US Super Bowl is kicking off in New Orleans this weekend. What will this mean for the economy there? Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Another Senate confirmation hearing for one of Donald Trump’s top team, this time its Jamieson Greer, the nominee for US Trade Representative. So all the talk was of tariffs. China has filed a World Trade Organisation (WTO) complaint against the US president's 10% tariffs on Chinese goods after a trade war between two global powers began this week. What does Pascal Lamy, former director general of WTO, have to say? We hear from Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, the busiest container port in North America. And egg prices are soaring in the States. But why? That’s what we asked a poultry farmer from South Carolina. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

China complains to the World Trade Organisation about US President Donald Trump's tariffs, but with no active judging panel, does the WTO have the capabilities to intervene? As the growing trade war between the World's two leading economies hots up, Roger Hearing discusses whether the WTO has a future in adjudicating international trade disputes. Elsewhere, do you use artificial intelligence in your workplace? Or are you allowed to? We find out why some people are sneakily using AI tools without their managers approval. And a man from Indonesia has been hired as Japan's first-ever foreign bus driver. Does this show the Japanese government's new determination to let in more overseas workers? Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

The US president Donald Trump during the news conference with Israel leader Benjamin Netanyahu says the US will 'take over' and 'own' the Gaza Strip. The US China tariffs are still on, even if Donald Trump pressed pause on the ones on Mexico and Canada. A call had been expected between President Trump and his Chinese counterpart... but it hasn't happened - and the US president says he's in no hurry. So, it's 10% on China's imports to the US and China has put on its own 10% on US goods and curbing exports of rare earth metals. How is Argentina reacting to President Trump threats? We'll bring you the latest in the trade war. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

US President Donald Trump and Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau reached the deal. Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days. We hear from the US, Canada and Mexico. What businesses should expect in the future? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

President Trump confirms big tariffs are being imposed on goods coming into the US from Mexico, Canada, and China. We'll hear from businesses in Canada and Mexico on their response. We hear the story of one family's return to their home following the Los Angeles wildfires. David Brancaccio, a journalist with our US partner Marketplace, who bought a house just a few months ago and was burnt down by the California firestorms earlier this month. India’s finance minister will be presenting the country’s annual budget in a few hours’ time, outlining the government’s spending plans for the coming year. Throughout the program, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Andy Uhler, Journalism Fellow at the Energy Institute at The University of Texas, who's in Austin, and Nga Pham, a journalist in Taipei in Taiwan.

Investigators from the US federal agency noted that mid-air collisions like this are rare in the US, and they said it was far too early to speculate on what caused the crash; however, we will look at crowded airspaces and complex issues surrounding airports. Also, economic growth in the US slowed at the end of last year, as trade and investment declined and the country was hit by hurricanes and strikes. And, shoplifting, shrinkage, the five-finger discount—whatever you call it—stealing from shops is on the rise. Here in the UK, the British Retail Consortium has told the BBC retail crime is "out of control." Throughout the program, we will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Karen Percy, Senior freelance reporter, who's in Melbourne, and Emily Peck, Markets correspondent at Axios, in New York.

As US tech reels from China’s cut-price AI app, we speak with the head of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturing machine maker and the CEO behind the biggest AI chip. The Federal Reserve holds interest rates steady in its first decision of the year, despite strong criticism from President Trump. And how much does it really cost to advertise during the Super Bowl?

UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves is set to unveil a bold vision for Britain’s infrastructure, with Heathrow’s long-debated third runway taking centre stage. The project, which could transform air travel and boost the economy, has faced decades of opposition due to environmental and planning concerns. Could this be the moment it finally takes off? Plus, a federal judge temporarily blocks President Donald Trump’s push to halt federal funding for progressive initiatives. And the Chinese Lunar New Year arrives amid economic concerns.

Nvidia has fallen from its position as the world’s most valuable company, experiencing the largest single-day drop in stock market history. Also on the programme, we explore what Trump’s tariffs could mean for Colombia’s economy. And the debate in London over whether Heathrow, the city’s largest airport, should be granted permission to expand.