World Business Report

With the World Bank awarding $150 million to Syria and $250 million to Lebanon in order to help the two Middle Eastern countries infrastructures redevelop after turbulent periods, we discuss what needs to be done to grow their economic confidence. Ed Butler finds out how so-called ticket-pullers are employing teams of people to make millions of dollars through scalping tickets from top UK concerts. And after years of liberalised rules on cannabis, how Thailand may be thinking of cracking down once more on legal weed. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

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.

At least two people have been shot dead during protests in Kenya, which marks the first anniversary of deadly anti-tax demonstrations that left 60 people dead. Security forces have barricaded key roads in Nairobi and fired tear gas. Keen to avoid a repeat storming of parliament, President William Ruto has appealed to protesters not to threaten peace and stability. NATO allies agree to boost their military spending off the back of pressure from US President Donald Trump, but is Europe’s defence industry ready for wartime demand? And what happens when E-sport stars call it quits? We look at life after the leaderboard in a billion-dollar industry. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

US president Trump arrives in Europe for the annual NATO summit. He is demanding all member states to commit to spending 5% of national economic output on their militaries. We hear how a social enterprise in Northern Uganda is connecting rural homes and transforming lives by turning agricultural waste into clean, renewable energy. Plus, why are people protesting again a multimillion dollar celebrity wedding in Venice?

US President Donald Trump has criticised both Israel and Iran, despite a ceasefire deal. But what does continuing tensions in the Middle East mean for oil prices and the wider global economy? We’re in Tianjin, China, for the Summer World Economic Forum, where global leaders are meeting against a backdrop of slowing growth and rising trade tensions. And Leanna Byrne speaks to tech specialist Takara Small as Google’s dominance in the UK comes under the spotlight by regulators who say it may need to change how the search engine works. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

Iran launches missiles at a US airbase in Qatar in response to strikes on its nuclear sites. This leads to airspace shutdowns in many Middle Eastern countries. We examine whether Iran will now close the world's busiest oil shipping channel, the Strait of Hormuz. Plus, Argentina's economy is expanding. Andrew Peach finds out what is driving the growth.

A narrow area of sea at the mouth of the Gulf has become the focus of global concern after the United States bombing of Iran. While Iran's parliament has voted to close the Strait of Hormuz, there is no sign of disruption of the sea passage that carries a fifth of the world's oil. So is Iran likely to take action there, and what would the effect be? Roger Hearing discusses whether Germany and Italy will repatriate their national gold reserves of $245billion from the New York Federal Reserve over fears about President Donald Trump’s erratic policymaking amid wider geopolitical unrest. And we hear how the pursuit of shopping convenience is leading to exhausted workers and struggling family-run businesses in India. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

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.

Economists have been brought together by the Vatican to tackle a global debt crisis. So, is it time to rethink how we help poorer nations in need? Vladimir Putin says Russia's economy is thriving... but as a country under sanctions and at war, how true can this be? In the race for AI dominance, a company called Croq with a Q says its chips can outperform the biggest chip company in the world, Nvidia. Also, retirees are swapping pricey care homes for a sun-soaked Thialand. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

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.

How do you solve a problem like price rises? That's the question central banks around the world are grappling with... and we've seen a flurry of decisions coming out of central banks around the world this week on interest rates. Also, we go to Denmark, where military drones are big business at Europe’s biggest flying tech show. Namibia is rolling out the red carpet for investment... And Thailand could be hitting the jackpot as it plans to open casinos to boost tourism. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Will he or won’t he? Trump says he’s not decided if he’ll pull the US into Israel’s strikes on Iran. A shipping insurance expert explains how the conflict is driving up premiums for vessels in the region. We’ll hear about a landmark deal between streaming giant Netflix and a French TV network. And the toy company taking on Trump. The head of an Illinois-based business tells us why he’s challenging the legality of the US president’s tariffs.

We hear from Russia where Vladimir Putin has been briefing journalists ahead of a major economic forum. What is the real state of Russia's wartime economy right now? Also, we're in Tehran hearing from local citizens who've messaged us on the human and economic fallout of the current bombardment they're facing. And the rise and rise of Netflix, as the online streamer announces a world-first tie-in deal with a tv broadcaster in France. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Donald Trump has left the G7 in Alberta, Canada, early as the situation between Israel and Iran in the Middle East intensifies. We look at how his early departure might impact discussions leaders were looking to have on tariffs. With western carmakers claiming that China's biggest car manufacturer, BYD, is only thriving due to government subsidies, we discuss whether it is playing fair. Elsewhere, Andrew Peach speaks to a business owner in Texas after new data reveals that spending at restaurants and bars across the States have seen their sharpest fall in more than two years. And why have songwriters been battling in court for a decade? The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

The countdown continues to trade deals with Washington. Ahead of President Trump's threatened tariff hikes next month, we're hearing from South East Asia, and looking at complaints that Chinese firms may be dumping goods, undermining regional economies. Also in the show, the disruption to aviation from the Iran-Israel conflict. And why Chinese officials are being ordered to drink less? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Many of the people of Tehran have been heading out of the city, while social media videos show the lines of cars stretching into the distance, as many thousands of citizens speak of massive disruption and a fear of Israeli airstrikes. Ed Butler hears about people in Iran and looks at the economic impact of the conflict inflicted on the country's economy. Also, we hear from Thailand as the latest deadline for US President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on US imports looms. And why the Canary Islands and other parts of Spain are protesting against tourism.

Many of the people of Tehran have been heading out of the city, while social media videos show the lines of cars stretching into the distance, as many thousands of citizens speak of massive disruption and a fear of Israeli airstrikes. Ed Butler hears about people in Iran and looks at the economic impact of the conflict inflicted on the country's economy. Also in the show we hear from Thailand as the latest deadline for US President Donald Trump’s increased tariffs on US imports looms. And why the Canary Islands and other parts of Spain are protesting against tourism.

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 sepak to 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.

An Air India plane, bound for London with 242 people on board, crashed shortly after take-off in Ahmedabad. We catch up with the latest developments in western India, and what it means for the people and companies involved. Elsewhere, police have been guarding government buildings as Kenya's leaders announce their annual budget in Parliament amid growing tensions in Nairobi. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.