We begin a new series on Africa’s economic future, as the continent’s population heads toward 2.5 billion. Today, we’re in South Africa. We hear from Pieter Engelbrecht, CEO of Shoprite — the country’s biggest private employer on how customer loyalty helped drive the supermarket’s success.

Also, As France ramps up defence spending, we visit a town where factories are shifting to arms production.

And in India, the growing trend of the fake wedding party a full celebration, with no wedding.

The US added 73,000 jobs last month - the weakest performance since the Covid pandemic. Economists were caught off guard, and earlier figures have been revised down. Democrats say President Trump’s trade policy is damaging business confidence and stalling hiring.

Meanwhile, tensions with Canada are escalating as Trump hikes tariffs to 35% on some goods, blaming issues from fentanyl to foreign policy.

And in Southeast Asia, some countries learned after the deadline that their tariffs would be lowered - raising questions about transparency.

Plus, is the world signing off early on Fridays? New UK data points to a quiet remote work trend.

After months of intensive negotiations, the US tariff deadline has finally arrived. Unable to reach a deal at the final hour, Switzerland is reeling from 39% tariffs. We look at how this will affect Swiss businesses, and if it’s likely to stick.

The final countdown in on for President Trump's tariff deadline. Without deals in the next few hours, dozens of countries will face the cost of sharply higher tax rates on goods they export to the US - up to close to 50% in some cases. We hear from some of these countries, and ask is Donald Trump winning his trade war?

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Is President Trump’s trade war gamble paying off? More countries squeeze in last minute deals on tariffs, but many questions remain. Brazil faces 50% levies on its exports to the US. How will this go down with America's coffee-loving consumer? Meanwhile, a potential winner, South Korea is among the countries settling for a late deal before Friday's deadline. In a dizzying day of wheeling and dealing we try to make sense of the great tariffs merry go round.

President Trump says imports from Brazil will face a 50% tariff from next week. But why did key Brazilian exports get a pass?

Also, dissent at America’s central bank, but the Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged.

And what does Europe’s pharmaceutical industry think of the EU-US trade deal? Ed Butler hears from the head of Germany’s leading pharma association.

President Trump has announced that all Indian goods sold in the United States will face a tariff of at least 25% beginning 1st August. In a post on Truth Social, he accused India of imposing unfair tariffs and trade barriers that make it too difficult for US businesses to operate.

The U.S. and China move to extend their tariff truce, but it all hinges on President Trump's approval. We’ll hear from voices inside the negotiations.

In Syria, growing numbers of refugees in Turkey are heading back, despite the risks. We find out what’s driving their return.

Plus, Sam Fenwick finds out how natural disasters have cost the world $131 billion so far this year.

As trade talks continue between the world’s two largest economies in Stockholm, Rahul Tandon hears from Xiaofei Xu of the South China Morning Post on what’s at stake in the US–China negotiations.

Plus, the IMF has raised its global growth forecasts for this year and next.

And, the BBC’s Shingai Nyoka travels to Lesotho, the tiny African kingdom unexpectedly caught in the crossfire of the US tariff war, now facing a potential 50% duty on its exports to America.

European exports to the U.S. are about to face a steep 15% tariff—while American goods heading to Europe will face a zero tariff rate. Is this a one-sided deal? We speak to former EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom.

We also get perspectives from both sides of the Atlantic: an Irish pub landlord in Chicago who imports alcohol, and the CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, who’s focused on exports.

Plus, Sam Fenwick explores the global surge in popularity for women’s football and what it means for the future of the sport.