A number of countries around the world, including the US, UK and Canada, are making changes to their minimum wage. We examine the impact these increases could have. Plus, why the manufacturing sector in the US expanded for the first time in over a year. Also, Germany relaxes laws around cannabis for personal use but will it lead to a boom in business or a bigger black market? (Photo by ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

What could minimum wage rises mean for workers?

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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 a buyer. 
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. 
Roger Hearing discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Karen Percy, a freelance reporter in Melbourne,  and Alison Van Diggelen, host of 'Fresh Dialogues' in Silicon Valley. (Photo: A trader works inside a booth, as screens display a news conference by Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell. Credit: Reuters)

US holds interest rates for sixth time

The Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who has been sentenced to four months in a US prison for failing to establish adequate anti-money laundering protections. Reports coming out of Washington suggest that the US government is about to take an historic step toward easing federal restrictions on cannabis. The lower house of congress in Argentina has given its general approval to a comprehensive package of austerity measures proposed by the President, Javier Milei. The house in Buenos Aires has spent over a day voting on individual articles of the various measures which have led to huge protests in the city in recent months.  Also, China’s leaders have pledged more support for the world’s second-largest economy, saying it "still faces many challenges”; and the Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones says young women in tech have to be "resilient". Presenter Ed Butler is joined by Yves Hayaux Du Tilly, a Mexican lawyer who advises companies on business matters affecting Mexico and Latin America, and Jennifer Pak, the China correspondent for American Public Media, to discuss the latest international business news. (Photo: Changpeng Zhao. Credit: Benoit Tessier/Reuters)

Binance founder sent to prison

Ed Butler presents with guests Kristina Hooper, who's Chief Global Market Strategist at Invesco, the investment firm in New York, and Jessica Khine, who's Head of Asia for the Japanese financial consultancy, Astris Advisory. They discuss the decision on scrapping coal-fired power stations made by the G7, the Premier League introducing new financial rules, and the story about the mining giants BHP and Vale who've offered to pay Brazil about $25.7 billion in total compensation for a 2015 dam disaster at an iron ore complex. Photo: Ratcliffe on Soar coal-fired power station, Jeremy Ball, BBC News

The G7 says no more to coal fired power stations by 2035

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 important good manners still are in the business world and who created World biggest 3D printer. (Picture: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits China. Picture credit: Reuters)

US-China relations: How will it affect businesses?

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. (Picture: Retail sales drop in Britain, Huddersfield, United Kingdom - 21 Oct 2022. Picture credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

What could minimum wage rises mean for workers?

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