Episodes
The tech giant Apple has faced an online backlash in response to an advert featuring books and musical instrument being crushed, to demonstrate how their creativity has been compressed into the latest iPad. Also, with music catalogue company Hipgnosis facing a takeover, is it worth a price tag of $1.6 billion? And we hear from one of the Eurovision song contest’s most successful songwriters.
Published 05/10/24
Published 05/10/24
Almost three-thousand cabin crew members in India have taken part in a mass sick leave in protest for better working conditions. Air India have cancelled 85 flights while travel disruption continues for hundreds of passengers. Also, on the show – find out why Korean women are reluctant to have children. Plus, you can hear how Euro Vision song writers are earning a living for the annual singing competition.
Published 05/09/24
A former employee of Boeing's biggest supplier has claimed that sections of 737 Max aircraft regularly left its factory with serious defects. Spirit Aerosystems builds fuselages for the 737 Max, which are then shipped to Boeing’s own plant for final assembly. Speaking publicly for the first time, former quality inspector Santiago Peredes told the BBC that some managers actively tried to discourage him from flagging up flaws in half-finished planes. Also, Rahul Tandon, finds out why there are...
Published 05/08/24
We speak to the head of Sweden’s central bank, after it voted to cut interest rates; making it one of the first to do so in the region. The bank moved ahead of the U.S Federal Reserve for the first time this century. Elsewhere, Ed Butler looks at why Ghana could face issues with the World Bank over its LGBT policies, and why the rising prices of doner kebabs in Germany is becoming a political issue.
Published 05/08/24
TikTok has filed a lawsuit aiming to block a US law that would ban in the video app in the country unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company. In the filing, the social media company called the act an "extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights" of the company and its 170 million American users. Also, Rahul Tandon, looks at the Disney financial results and finds out what can you buy with Argentina's new 10 000 pesos banknote.
Published 05/07/24
Saudi’s state-oil company Aramco saw profits drop this week, but its payout to the government will still reach an eye-watering $31 billion. We see if the Saudi economy can cope with all its expensive mega projects. Also, Ed Butler explores the latest issues at Boeing, and finds out why India is becoming a hot new destination for big concerts.
Published 05/07/24
On his first visit to Europe since 2019, president Xi Jinping has been talking about trade ties. The West is worried about cheap Chinese imports of electric cars. Also, Rahul Tandon finds out why global petrol demand growth could halve in 2024 and what impact the shutdown in Israel would have on Al Jazeera's business operations.
Published 05/06/24
Chinese leader Xi Jinping chooses France for his first visit to the continent after a five-year absence. We get the latest. Kosovo is home to Europe’s largest zinc, lead and silver mine. We visit it to know a bit more about central Europe’s smallest economy per capita. And we hear about a new form of ghost flights and the fine that the Australian airline Qantas has just received for using them.
Published 05/06/24
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is to reduce Turkish imports both to Israel and to the occupied Palestinian territories. It’s also appealing for sanctions against Turkey for violating existing trade agreements. Also, in the programme, we look at Brazil’s plans to propose a global annual tax for billionaires at the G20 in July
Published 05/03/24
Last month, Ankara introduced partial restrictions citing being refused permission to drop aid into Gaza. Their response was to introduce restrictions on trade. Now, it appears that all imports and exports from Israel have been blocked. The country’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said this was "how a dictator behaves" "and they will lose." Also, in the programme, we look at Pandemic-era fitness darling Peloton is showing more signs of trouble, as the CEO steps down and announcing staff...
Published 05/02/24
The Co-op Live Arena is Europe's biggest, with a capacity of 23,500. But fans have reacted with shock and confusion after it called off its opening concert at the last minute. We're outside the venue - and will ask what it means for the Co-op - which has bought the naming rights for the venue - but doesn't run it. Maersk, the world's second largest shipping company - says the Red Sea route might not be open for the rest of the year. Rahul Tandon asks what that means for the world's supply...
Published 05/02/24
The US Federal Reserve says it needs greater confidence that inflation is easing before cutting interest rates. We get the latest from our correspondent in New York. The housing market is one of the industries most impacted by the higher cost of borrowing. We hear from buyers and sellers. And we have an exclusive interview with Pakistan's Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, about the conditions the country has to meet after taking a loan from the International Monetary Fund.
Published 05/01/24
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb exclusively speaks to World Business Report about the latest and 24th International Monetary Fund bailout for the country - and says it should be its last. In this extended podcast version of the interview with Mr. Aurangzeb, he talks to Will Bain about the steps he thinks are necessary for Pakistan to achieve economic stability. The country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously said the disbursement of $1.1 billion by the IMF will help...
Published 05/01/24
Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the giant crypto exchange, Binance, will spend 4 months in a US prison. He had pled guilty to charges of enabling money laundering at the exchange. Ed Butler asks what it means for crypto. Meanwhile, in Argentina, a series of key reforms were passed which could spell privatization of a dozen companies. We speak to a former presidential candidate who says the reforms will spell trouble. Finally, Beijing, Brussels and Washington are preparing for a major showdown...
Published 05/01/24
Zimbabwe introduces a new currency, the ZiG, to tackle its high inflation. The Argentinian parliament has approved sweeping austerity measures which has triggered mass protests. We also hear from Ecuador, a country which in the late 90s successfully dealt with high inflation. And we hear from Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones on women in tech and the path to success.
Published 04/30/24
Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies have agreed to phase out the use of coal power by 2035, putting a critical timeline on the plans first announced last year in Dubai. Also in the programme, Ed Butler looks at the new spending cap set to apply to football teams in the English Premiere League. And, we hear about the retreat of the grocery courier firm Getir from Europe and the U.S, and the future of the sector.
Published 04/30/24
America's top diplomat and the Chinese president have held talks in Beijing as both sides seek to stabilise relations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Washington will act if China does not stop supplying Russia with items used in its assault on Ukraine. Also, in the programme, Roger Hearing finds out how Egypt authorities dealing with the inflation and who created World biggest 3D printer.
Published 04/26/24
Could the US Secretary’s visit to Beijing further improve the US-China relationship that still crackles with tension and suspicion? Devina Gupta speaks to Prof Henry Gao, an expert in global trade at Singapore Management University. Over to Haiti and it is day one of the new interim government there which is trying to crackdown on gang violence we speak to the boss one of the main telecom companies - about what it is like to do business in this chaos and his hopes for stability. Messaging app...
Published 04/26/24
The US economy grew by less than forecast in the first three months of this year but inflation gathered pace, which could delay an interest rate cut. Official figures revealed the economy expanded at an annualised rate of 1.6%, far below expectations and the growth seen in the final months of 2023. Meanwhile, inflation, which measures the pace of price rises, has increased.
Published 04/25/24
Day trippers will have to pay €5 to visit the famous Italian city. The local government wants to discourage low-budget tourists who don't stay overnight in Venice. We get the latest. Mining giant BHP has proposed a buyout of Anglo American. The $39bn deal would forge the world's biggest copper miner in times when the price for this mineral is soaring. We look into the details. And we hear about the challenges US businesses operating in China are facing.
Published 04/25/24
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Beijing in an attempt to curb support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We look into the details. Boeing reports results after a difficult quarter, and what happens to movies once they have been taken down from streaming platforms? We find out.
Published 04/24/24
The British government wants to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel illegally on small boats. We get the latest. Greece has come a long way from the sovereign debt crisis it fell into in 2009. But challenges still remain, we hear about them. And we take a look at Elon Musk's latest row, this time, with Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
Published 04/23/24
Tesla has cut its prices again in a number of major markets - including the US, China and Germany - as the electric car giant run by multi-billionaire Elon Musk faces falling sales. The move comes after it reported a sharp fall in its global vehicle deliveries in the first three months of this year. Also, Vishala Sri-Pathma finds out of why government military spending increased in all five geographical regions and why Northern Ireland and its economy are betting big on film, TV and gaming.
Published 04/22/24
US lawmakers could vote on a bill that corners the app's owner ByteDance with a stark choice: to sell or be banned. Also in the programme, the French government addresses shrinkflation concerns with a new rule that will require stores to tell customers when a product becomes smaller but its price stays the same or increases. And we look into why sales of wine have dropped in China.
Published 04/19/24