World Business Report

An Australian court has fined airline giant Qantas a record A$90m (£43m; $59m) for illegally sacking more than 1,800 ground workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Swiss watchmaker Swatch has withdrawn advertisements featuring an Asian model pulling the corners of his eyes after facing a backlash in China.

The Donald Trump Vladimir Putin summit is underway in Alaska. We hear from economic experts ahead of this important meeting . We examine what this means for both the Russian and the Ukrainian economies. Presenter Rahul Tandon also talks to guests from the US, Ukraine and Russia to assess what it means for the global economy.

China’s economy hits the brakes as factory output, retail sales and investment all come in weaker than expected. Over in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promises to build a self-reliant nation, laying out his latest economic vision. And as Donald Trump meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska for talks on the Ukraine war - we hear from a Ukrainian farmer living through the conflict. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Organisers of the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 have agreed a landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee allowing venue naming rights to be sold to commercial partners for the first time in the games history. Honda and Comcast are the first naming partners. Presenter Roger Hearing also examines why some Americans are drinking less and what this means for the big drinks companies like Carlsberg. And PostNord in Denmark has decided to bring to an end to 400 years of letter deliveries - and focus instead solely on parcels from 2026. We hear from there about what this means for the future of the industry.

President Trump and President Putin meet in Alaska tomorrow. We’ll look at what’s at stake for Russia’s economy, with sanctions on its oil and gas still biting. Plus a last push in Geneva for the world’s first treaty to end plastic pollution… but with more than a hundred countries rejecting the latest draft, is it about to fall apart? And who really invented Germany’s Bratwurst? A tasty row is sizzling between two proud cities. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says more than $5 billion in credit will go to companies which face 50 per cent tariffs to export goods to the US. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, says a controversial deal that the White House struck with chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, handing over 15% of their Chinese sales in return for export licences, could be rolled out to other industries. Startup companies in the US have started a no-shoes-in-the-office policy, meaning that you take your shoes off when you come into the office and wear optional slippers.

Stocks continue to rally following better-than- expected US inflation data, but what is the global economic picture likely to be longer term? We hear from the US Small Business Association - and the EU’s International Trade Committee. Rare earths have been a flashpoint in US–China trade talks, with Beijing restricting global supply earlier this year. Could a project in Australia quell further disruption? And while some countries have eased back on investment in Africa, the UAE has become the continent’s largest state investor. Our correspondent in Dubai explains more.

US inflation held steady in July despite import tariffs, bolstering bets that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates next month. After the partial dollarisation of the economy in Cuba, the country’s peso is trading at an all-time low of 400 to 1 dollar on the informal market. And horror films are at a record high in shares of the US box office. Weapons took $42.5m in its opening weekend in US movie theatres, and Sinners has become the highest-grossing original movie of the 2020s.

As the US and China pause any hike in tariffs for 90 days, we’ll be in Beijing looking at what soybeans have to do with the trade truce. Meanwhile, could US recognition of Somaliland finally become a reality? A former diplomat in Somaliland explains what it could mean for both sides. And in South Korea, Starbucks has asked customers to stop bringing items like printers into its cafes. We look at whether the trend of working in cafes has gone too far.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending tariffs on China for another 90 days. Chip giants Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the US government 15% of Chinese revenues as part of an "unprecedented" deal to secure export licences to China. And remember that distinctive sound of dialling in via the internet in the early days of connecting? Well. It’s days are numbered….Yahoo has announced that it will discontinue AOL Dial-up Internet on September 30th.

In what’s being described as an ‘unprecedented’ deal, Nvidia and AMD agree to pay the Trump administration 15 percent of their sales to China in exchange for export licences. We’ll be in Asia and the US examining what the move means for the US microchip makers - and the industry. And with plans for US tariffs on pharmaceuticals to eventually reach as much as 250 percent, how will that affect companies that make the ingredients for those medicines? We’ll be hearing from one such business. Oil, gas, minerals and gems can be both a blessing for the economies of counties that are rich in them – but they can also be a curse. The head of a diamond company in Botswana tells us what it’s like to navigate the challenges.

Germany's halted its arms sales to Israel in the wake of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to takeover Gaza City. But despite supplying $565 million worth of military hardware since the 7 October 2023 attacks, how important are Germany's weapons to Israel? We hear what the economic benefits are of a new peace deal brokered by US president Donald Trump between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Roger Hearing finds out why US wine exports to Canada declined drastically. And the big controversy bubbling up over mineral water in France. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

A fresh start for what was once Europe’s most ambitious electric battery manufacturer. We explore why California-based Lyten has stepped in to acquire the bankrupt Swedish firm Northvolt and whether a startup can truly take on China’s dominance in battery technology. Climate change is threatening the purity of France’s famous mineral waters. The BBC's Hugh Schofield visits the home of Perrier to find out why. Plus, Africa’s first elected female president, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, argues it’s time for the continent’s vast natural resource wealth to deliver greater benefits at home.

As US president Donald Trump's new tariffs begin to take hold, Roger Hearing finds out whether India, Brazil and Canada can survive without a trade deal with the world's largest economy. We hear how scientists and engineers in Sweden are trying to revolutionise the global steel industry by using new technology to make the material greener. And how good is the latest AI app - GPT5? The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

A whole swathe of the tariffs threatened by Donald Trump for months finally come into force in dozens of countries. It sees 15% to 50% added on a variety of imports into the United States. David Harper hears the thoughts of importers, exporters and industry experts.

As president Donald Trump's tariff regime on goods entering the United States from 69 countries around the world comes into effect, we discuss the impact it will have on global trade. With India facing a threat of 50% tariffs on exports to the US due Delhi's purchase of oil from Russia, we hear whether India will ever wean itself off Russian supplies? And what will be the impact of Washington's tariff mark-ups on Brazil and Switzerland? Elsewhere, with the world's most revered investor - Warren Buffett - set to step down, Roger Hearing finds out who the 'sage of Omaha' really is. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

50% tariffs on some Brazillian goods being imported into the US come into force. We look at the details, and ask how much of an effect they will actually have. We're also looking at debt, and its continuing impact on African economies. And - Disney makes a big commitment to the NFL, as it invests in sports for its streaming services.

President Trump signals pharmaceuticals could be next on his tariffs list. But what does that mean for the makers and distributors of non-branded medicines? We’ll be speaking to an association representing them. Love it or loathe it, AI is creeping into everyday life. But how much of a threat does AI pose to emerging economies? The president of the World Bank Group shares his thoughts. And in electric car sales in Europe it’s bad news for Tesla, but much brighter news for BYD. We’ll look at the reasons for the difference in performance for the rival carmakers.

Is American Eagle’s latest ad campaign genius marketing or just bad taste? The play on words, featuring actress Sydney Sweeney, has divided opinion and even caught the attention of former President Trump. David Harper explores whether the backlash actually worked in the brand’s favour. We also speak to the OECD’s Chief Economist to ask whether companies are investing enough to fuel global economic growth. And we unpack a landmark defence deal between Australia and a Japanese shipbuilder — the first of its kind.

The world’s richest man could get richer as Tesla’s board moves to give CEO Elon Musk a bigger stake to keep him at the company. We’ll hear from a Tesla investor. Meanwhile, more tariff threats from President Trump - this time against India over its Russian oil purchases. India called the move unfair targeting. We’ll be getting reaction to the mounting tensions between the two countries. And we look at the new trend of 'fake' weddings - for those who enjoy wedding parties, but don’t know anyone getting married.