World Business Report

By BBC World Service

Business

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The latest business and finance news from around the world from the BBC

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Hollywood writers reach ‘te...

09.25.2023

A tentative deal has been struck between a major US screenwriters union, The Writer’s Guild of America and studio bosses that could end five months of strike action. Details of the deal haven't been made public yet, but it’s understood ...

World Business Report episodes:

09.25.2023 Hollywood writers reach ‘tentative’ deal to end strike A tentative deal has been struck between a major US screenwriters union, The Writer’s Guild of America and studio bosses that could end five months of strike action. Details of the deal haven't been made public yet, but it’s understood ...
09.25.2023 China's property crisis: how will it impact the economy? Property giant Evergrande's financial problems have rippled through China's vast property industry, with several other developers defaulting on their debts. We look at this in more detail and and what’s likely to happen next for the sector – and the ...
09.22.2023 UAW strike expands to dozens of sites at GM and Stellantis The move excludes Ford, which the UAW says is making more progress in talks. We take a look at the latest developments. The Russian military company Wagner has a new leader - business school grad Dmitry Sytii. We hear more ...
09.22.2023 UAW strike may spread to more US states General Motors, Ford Motor and Stellantis are bracing themselves for more walkouts as the carmakers struggle to get a deal with the United Auto Workers union on key issues like job security and pay parity for temporary workers. The Polish ...
09.21.2023 Rupert Murdoch's resignation: What now for Fox and News Corp? The 92-year-old will become chairman emeritus of the two corporations. His son, Lachland Murdoch, has been named his successor. We look at what the future might hold for family-run media empire. And the cost of oranges has gone up this ...
09.21.2023 Rupert Murdoch steps down from running media empire Rupert Murdoch has announced that he's stepping down from running one of the world's most powerful media empires. The ninety-two year-old says he's transitioning from his roles as Chair of Fox Corporation and Executive Chairman of News Corporation to the ...
09.20.2023 Brakes on Net Zero? The UK Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak has announced an overhaul of the government's green commitments. He says it will still meet net zero targets by 2050. Rishi Sunak, described the changes as a new, realistic approach to achieving net-zero carbon ...
09.20.2023 US Fed to decide on interest rates US Federal Reserve officials are expected to keep rates on hold for now. They currently sit in a range of 5.25 to 5.5 percent - the highest they've been for 22 years. But one consequence is that this is gumming ...
09.19.2023 FTX sues founder’s parents over missing millions The parents of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried are being sued for money they allegedly received from the crypto firm ahead of its collapse. Also, why retailers including H&M are clamping down on customer returns.
09.19.2023 Oil price hits 10-month high Global oil prices have reached their highest level in more than ten months. Brent crude rose above ninety-five dollars a barrel on Tuesday. The increase is being driven by production cuts by two of the world's largest oil exporters, Saudi ...
09.18.2023 UAW strike enters fourth day Union negotiators continued talks with representatives from General Motors, Ford and the Jeep-maker Stellantis today, as a historic strike by workers at America's top three car manufacturers entered the fourth day. The United Auto Workers union is seeking a 40% ...
09.18.2023 UAW and automakers try to reach a final deal The car workers strike in the US enters day 4 today with the president of the United Auto Workers union, Shawn Fain preparing to meet again with bosses at General Motors, Ford and Stellantis. The workers want a 40% pay ...
09.15.2023 Biden supports UAW strikers US President Joe Biden has sided with workers who have gone on strike in a pay dispute with three of America's biggest car-makers. In a meeting on Friday he said "workers deserve a fair share". We hear what the workers ...
09.15.2023 UAW strike: thousands of workers at three of the biggest US carmakers have gone on strike More than 10-thousand employees at three of America's biggest car makers have gone on strike over pay and conditions. It's the first time that the United Autoworkers Union has simultaneously targeted all three of the main US car manufacturers - ...
09.14.2023 US on the road to industrial action Nearly 150 thousand U.S. auto workers are set to go on strike this week if General Motors, Ford, and Stellantis fail to meet their demands for big pay raises. Workers want a 46% pay increase and the restoration of concessions ...
09.14.2023 ECB hikes rates up to 4% The European Central Bank has hiked interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 4% today. That's the highest level since the launch of the euro currency in 1999. Officials say interest rates need to go higher in ...
09.13.2023 US inflation highest in 14 months Driven by things like petrol prices, the consumer price index increased by 0.6% last month, the largest gain since June 2022. However underlying inflation was the smallest in nearly two years, so what could that mean for further interest rate ...
09.13.2023 EU launch investigation into Chinese electric vehicles The European Commission has started an investigation to assess whether China is using unfair subsidies to boost the sale of its electric vehicles in Europe. Certain state subsidies are illegal under international trade rules.
09.12.2023 BP boss Bernard Looney resigns The head of BP Bernard Looney has suddenly resigned following allegations over personal relationships with colleagues. We find out what this means for the company going forward. What happens when the NFL's Most Valuable Player gets injured right at the ...
09.12.2023 Google takes on the US Department of Justice in historic antitrust trial US prosecutors are taking Google to court over allegations it made deals with smartphone makers to ensure it was the default search engine on billions of devices. The Department of Justice claims the tech giant engaged in illegal practices, which ...
09.11.2023 North Korea's Kim Jong Un travels to Russia to meet Putin The two leaders are likely to discuss North Korea supplying weapons in support of Russia’s war in Ukraine. We will hear the latest on the economic friendship between the two countries. And Thailand's new prime minister has announced a cash ...
09.11.2023 What is the economic impact of the Morocco earthquake? The interior ministry of Morocco says nearly two-thousand five hundred people have died following Friday's earthquake. Rescue teams are still battling to find survivors trapped in the rubble. We look at the economic impact on the country. The EU is ...
09.08.2023 African Union expected to join G20 Officials at the G20 summit in Delhi say the African Union could become a member. The proposal has been backed by the US and by India, which is hosting the meeting.
09.08.2023 Apple shares tumble after Chinese government tells staff not to use iPhones Apple's stock market valuation has fallen by almost $200bn in two days after reports that Chinese government workers have been banned from using iPhones. We take a look at the implications this might have for the firm. Chevron workers at ...
09.07.2023 WeWork: Are more of us returning to the office? The co-working company, WeWork, is looking to renegotiate nearly all of its office leases following a significant decline in its share value since the beginning of the year. The company has 777 locations in 39 countries with long term lease ...
09.07.2023 What does China's economic slowdown mean for the rest of the world? As imports and exports fall again in China, we ask what the economic slowdown means for the rest of the world. A separate report also shows a decline in the services sector of the world's second-largest economy. Senior Bloomberg correspondent ...
09.06.2023 African leaders propose global carbon taxes to fight climate change African leaders have issued a declaration proposing new taxes across the world to fund action against climate change. The Nairobi Declaration was issued at the end of the three-day Africa Climate Summit in the Kenyan capital. Turkey pushed up its ...
09.06.2023 The German economy in focus: is the age of prosperity nearing an end? With inflation up, consumer sentiment down and business activity contracting in Germany, we ask if two decades of prosperity in the European powerhouse are at an end. In a special programme, Vivienne Nunis is joined by BBC correspondent Damien McGuiness ...
09.05.2023 Oil prices jump after Saudi Arabia and Russia extend output cuts The cost of oil climbs above $90 a barrel for the first time in 2023. We look at the reasons and the consequences this can have in countries that are already struggling with high fuel prices like Pakistan. A new ...
09.05.2023 Qantas CEO steps down: what next for Australia's largest airline? Qantas CEO Alan Joyce is stepping down two months earlier than planned, as the airline faces growing controversies. In the past two years Qantas has faced a slew of criticism for expensive airfares, mass delays and cancellations, and its treatment ...
09.04.2023 No Black Sea grain deal on the horizon... yet Russian president Vladimir Putin says the agreement to allow Ukrainian grain exports on the Black Sea will be revived when his demands on exporting Russian products are met. We look into the impact this is having on Ukraine's economy. Protests ...
09.04.2023 Living with high inflation As Turkey's annual rate of inflation hits 58.94% in August, we analyse the reasons why. We hear from a local business owner in Ankara about his struggles with rising energy and food costs. We also take a closer look at ...
09.01.2023 Businessman Mohamed Al Fayed dies aged 94 Mohamed Al Fayed, former Harrods owner whose son Dodi was killed alongside Diana, Princess of Wales in car crash, has died aged 94. Born in Egypt, he built a business empire in the Middle East before moving to the UK ...
09.01.2023 Why is Africa in debt distress? Vivienne Nunis hears about a new report which says that if nothing is done to redress Africa’s huge debt burden, the consequences will be felt far outside the continent. New rules come into force today (Friday) in the Netherlands, which ...
08.31.2023 US natural disasters hit insurance companies Florida’s Tropical Storm Idalia is the most expensive natural disaster to hit the United States this year. Insurance companies in Florida are now under pressure; nine property insurance firms have closed down since 2021. We hear from a business in ...
08.31.2023 Gabon coup: What next for the African country's economy? Army officers who seized power name a transitional leader for this nation rich in oil and manganese, a key mineral in the steel industry. We take a look at Gabon's economy, the role it could have played in the political ...
08.30.2023 Switzerland outlines measures to combat money laundering Switzerland has outlined a series of measures to combat money laundering and increase transparency in its huge financial sector. They include a register of those who ultimately benefit from trusts and companies - Switzerland is the only European country that ...
08.30.2023 Understanding Pakistan's energy crisis Electricity prices in the country have soared since the government cut energy subsidies to obtain a $3bn bailout from the International Monetary Fund leading to protests. We hear how this is impacting individuals and businesses. Also in the programme, we ...
08.29.2023 Is China uninvestible for US companies? US commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, is calling on Beijing to reduce the risk of doing business in China for American companies.
08.29.2023 The US Commerce Secretary says her country doesn't want to 'decouple' from China Gina Raimondo is the latest of four US top officials to visit China in the last two months. We look into what might come out from her four-day visit to the Asian superpower. London has expanded its Ultra Low Emission ...
08.28.2023 Evergrande: Shares in the crisis-hit Chinese developer plunge by 80% Shares in embattled Chinese property developer Evergrande have fallen almost 80% in their first day of trading in Hong Kong for a year and a half. The shares have lost more than 99% of their value in the past three ...
08.28.2023 Evergrande's shares tank after resuming Hong Kong trading Shares of the Chinese property giant fell by almost 80% on its first day of trading since March last year. The firm had suspended its activity in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange as it aimed to release a global restructuring ...
08.25.2023 US faces more interest rate rises to cool inflation The US Federal Reserve chairman has said the central bank will continue to raise interest rates "if appropriate" as inflation remains "too high". Jerome Powell told an annual gathering of central bankers that the pace of price rises had fallen ...
08.25.2023 What next for the German economy? Germany’s economy slowly recovered in the second quarter of the year but it’s still very weak. Slow performance continues to drag down growth across the whole Eurozone.
08.24.2023 BRICS invites six more countries to join the bloc The BRICS group of nations has invited six countries to join them. They are Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. We look at how some of these countries would benefit from joining this bloc. Central banks from ...
08.24.2023 Wagner deaths: how will it affect the cost of the war? Yevgeny Prigozhin was a head of the private military company and he used to personally operate the budget and salaries for the Wagner group. What will happen to Wagner now and who will take over the organisation?
08.23.2023 Wagner boss Prigozhin on passenger list of crashed plane - Russia Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was listed as a passenger on a private jet which crashed on Wednesday evening north of Moscow with no survivors, the Russian authorities said, raising fears among his allies that he had been killed. India ...
08.23.2023 India lands on the Moon India makes history by becoming the first nation to land near the Moon's south pole. One of the mission's major goals is to hunt for water-based ice, which scientists say could support human habitation on the Moon in future.
08.22.2023 Microsoft makes new bid to unblock Call of Duty deal Microsoft has made a new bid to buy Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard in the latest twist in the tale of what would be the biggest deal of its kind in the gaming industry. Its original $69bn (£59bn) deal was ...
08.22.2023 Has South Africa benefited from BRICS? The first day of the Summit BRICS 2023 is hosted by South Africa. Official meeting has been set aside for events involving the more than 70 countries invited as "friends" of the BRICS bloc. Delegations will gather to discuss the ...

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World Business Report

What's World Business Report about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

World Business Report episodes:

Hollywood writers reach ‘tentative’ deal to end strike

China's property crisis: how will it impact the economy?

UAW strike expands to dozens of sites at GM and Stellantis

UAW strike may spread to more US states

Rupert Murdoch's resignation: What now for Fox and News Corp?

Rupert Murdoch steps down from running media empire

Brakes on Net Zero?

US Fed to decide on interest rates

FTX sues founder’s parents over missing millions

Oil price hits 10-month high

UAW strike enters fourth day

UAW and automakers try to reach a final deal

Biden supports UAW strikers

UAW strike: thousands of workers at three of the biggest US carmakers have gone on strike

US on the road to industrial action

ECB hikes rates up to 4%

US inflation highest in 14 months

EU launch investigation into Chinese electric vehicles

BP boss Bernard Looney resigns

Google takes on the US Department of Justice in historic antitrust trial

North Korea's Kim Jong Un travels to Russia to meet Putin

What is the economic impact of the Morocco earthquake?

African Union expected to join G20

Apple shares tumble after Chinese government tells staff not to use iPhones

WeWork: Are more of us returning to the office?

What does China's economic slowdown mean for the rest of the world?

African leaders propose global carbon taxes to fight climate change

The German economy in focus: is the age of prosperity nearing an end?

Oil prices jump after Saudi Arabia and Russia extend output cuts

Qantas CEO steps down: what next for Australia's largest airline?

No Black Sea grain deal on the horizon... yet

Living with high inflation

Businessman Mohamed Al Fayed dies aged 94

Why is Africa in debt distress?

US natural disasters hit insurance companies

Gabon coup: What next for the African country's economy?

Switzerland outlines measures to combat money laundering

Understanding Pakistan's energy crisis

Is China uninvestible for US companies?

The US Commerce Secretary says her country doesn't want to 'decouple' from China

Evergrande: Shares in the crisis-hit Chinese developer plunge by 80%

Evergrande's shares tank after resuming Hong Kong trading

US faces more interest rate rises to cool inflation

What next for the German economy?

BRICS invites six more countries to join the bloc

Wagner deaths: how will it affect the cost of the war?

Wagner boss Prigozhin on passenger list of crashed plane - Russia

India lands on the Moon

Microsoft makes new bid to unblock Call of Duty deal

Has South Africa benefited from BRICS?