German airline giant Lufthansa says it will axe 4,000 positions by 2030, chasing higher profitability after a steep decline last year. But first: US Democrats try to save healthcare subsidies as a government shutdown looms. Plus, shares in Sony Financial Group jump on their first trading day in Japan.

France's public debt has risen above €3.4 trillion in the second quarter of this year, to 115.6 percent of GDP, new official data shows. It comes as the country's new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, is trying to get support from political parties, unions and businesses to draft a budget for 2026, which needs to go before parliament by October 7. Meanwhile, the country's national rail operator SNCF is introducing a new ultra-premium class as it faces increasing international competition. 

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) released its latest growth projections this Thursday, outlining the challenges facing the economies in which the development bank operates. From the impact of US tariffs, to intensifying Chinese competition on exports by way of Ukraine's wartime economy and the fiscal troubles facing countries in sub-Saharan Africa, we discuss it all with the EBRD's chief economist, Beata Javorcik.

Comedian Jimmy Kimmel returned to US airwaves on Tuesday night following his suspension over comments he made in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination. But local US TV station operators Sinclair and Nexstar Media Group have opted to replace his slot with other content, in line with the Trump administration's demands. In this edition, we take a look at the business considerations behind those decisions. Plus, Swiss banking giant UBS settles longstanding tax evasion charges in France. 

Stellantis, the owner of Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat, Chrysler and other brands, has announced plans to pause production at two of its European plants – in Poissy, France and Pomigliano, Italy – citing weak market demand in Europe. Thousands of workers will be furloughed. Plus, the OECD says global economic growth is holding up better than expected for now, but warns that the full impact of higher US tariffs is still unfolding. 

Chipmaking giant Nvidia announced on Monday that it would invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI to develop next-generation AI infrastructure and help secure the industry's future. We take a closer look. Also in this edition: Pakistani officials warn of severe economic fallout from recent flooding. 

France has joined several of its European peers in formally recognising a Palestinian state. At a world summit in New York on Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the world to do everything it could to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution and outlined a framework for a "renewed Palestinian Authority". Nearly two years since it began, the war in Gaza has devastated the livelihoods of Palestinians but also dealt a serious blow to Israel's economy. 

The US Federal Reserve has lowered interest rates by a quarter percentage point, bringing its benchmark rate to a range of 4.00 to 4.25 percent. All but one of the 12 members of the monetary policy committee voted in favor of the decision, with the sole dissent coming from newly appointed governor Stephen Miran, a trusted ally of President Trump. And, Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s, has quit the company, accusing its parent firm, Unilever, of silencing the brand’s social activism.

On Wednesday, the US central bank cut its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percent amid growing concerns about job creation in the country. In this edition, we’ll explore the challenging political context behind this decision and examine its potential impact on a US housing market that many find unaffordable. Also in today’s show, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveils new AI-powered smart glasses.

As US President Donald Trump makes his unprecedented second state visit to the United Kingdom, we take a look at the economic stakes at play. While finalising and improving the trade deal reached between the two countries back in May is on the agenda, the visit has so far mostly led to a host of investment pledges from US tech firms like OpenAI, Microsoft and Nvidia. The Labour government of Prime Minister Keir Starmer is hoping these investments will boost the UK's sluggish economic growth.