World Business Report

We break down the US Midterms to learn about the state of the US economy, how consumers and business owners are feeling and what that economy might look like in the months to come.

One issue that came up in states across the country during the midterms was the building of data centres. Will this slow down as voters back candidates who've pledged to stop building them.

Also, we hear from an oil expert about falling oil prices. Is it a sign that investors think there'll soon be an end to the US war with Iran?

PRESENTER: Luke Wilson

(PHOTO: US President Donald Trump looks on the day the final steel beam goes into the ballroom, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, November 4, 2026. REUTERS/Evan Vucci)

After victories for Democrats in the Senate and Congress, we hear from business owners about what it means for them.

We get the views of a hotel owner in Texas and a department store owner in Indiana, on this historic Midterm result for the Democratic Party.

And get the latest market reaction to the Midterms.

Presenter: Bisi Adebayo

Polling day is coming to an end in the US, with millions of Americans having their say on who will control Congress. Will the results reshape the political landscape of the USA?

Meanwhile, Binance says hackers used a fake job interview to steal billions of dollars in cryptocurrency, raising fresh concerns about security in the digital currency industry.

And what will Kellogg’s Rice Krispies taste like without puffed rice? Consumers outside North America are about to find out.

Voting is underway in what is seen as a referendum on President Trump's 2nd term. The cost of living has been a major issue throughout the campaign, with high food and fuel prices weighing on households.

We also hear from South Africa, as the US plans to suspend the country and Rwanda from the African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, which allows thousands of African products to enter America duty-free.

And a ban on social media for under-16s in Australia is being challenged in the country's High Court.

Presenter: Bisi Adebayo

Americans are heading to the polling stations for mid-term elections that could shift the balance of power in Congress. How is the electoral climate affecting businesses?

As big tech's AI spending draws mounting scrutiny, one persistent problem is that these tools can present us with false information. AI "hallucinations," as they're known, can have serious consequences for business. So why do we keep falling for them - and what makes them so convincing?

Hackers have hit fridges at dozens of supermarkets across Europe, ruining millions of Euros worth of food. We speak to a security expert.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne

Producers: Neil Morrow and Amy Booth

(Photo by CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock (14839509b) A person shows an 'I voted' sticker after she cast her vote at the Palmetto Bay library in the early voting for the 2024 US presidential election in Miami, Florida, USA, 29 October 2024.)

The mass walkouts are over low pay and rising prices, with hundreds of clothing factories facing disruptions. We hear from workers demanding more pay and how likely a deal is to be done.

Also, we hear how a Budget dispute in Belgium has led to the resignation of the Prime Minister.

And an unusual race up one of China's most famous mountains with dozens of robots climbing the thousands of steps up Mount Tai.

Presenter: Bisi Adebayo

A record $6.3 billion has been stolen from crypto exchange Binance by hackers. It's believed that the North Korean government is behind the attack - but how can they spend it, and why is Pyongyang behind so many of these attacks?

As the United States mid-term elections approach, we speak to representatives from both the Republicans and Democrats about the battle, which could shift the balance of power in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Music streaming giant Spotify is reportedly planning to launch a new service allowing users to remix songs using AI. We'll be hearing from a singer about how she feels about the proposal.

Presenter: Ed Butler

Hackers steal around $6.3 billion from Binance in what could be the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history. We examine how the attack happened and what it means for the crypto industry.

Amazon has reported lacklustre Q3 results and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, shedding some $500 billion in a day. The developments come as investors question companies' massive spending on AI.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has explained what Canada's "associate" EU membership could look like at the two-day EU-Canada summit.

One of Japan's largest providers of internet services is in a battle with hackers. After it refused to pay a million-dollar ransom, the hackers started to publish what they claim are personal details.

Presenter: Ed Butler

(Image: Amazon logo is seen in this illustration taken February 11, 2025. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

Volkswagen reports its biggest quarterly loss in more than a decade, losing almost $7 billion in three months. We look at the challenges facing the German car giant as it plans thousands of job cuts.