Business Matters

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, visits Haiti. The country is under a state of emergency as gangs try to expand their control over the capital, and other regions. We get the latest. As Elon Musk's X is banned in Brazil, rival BlueSky gains ground in the South American nation. We talk to its CEO, Jay Graber. Four years after being left paralysed by the Covid-19 pandemic, has the cruise ship industry fully recovered? We find out.And we get an insight on how airplane seats are made.Roger Hearing discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Emily Peck, markets correspondent for Axios, in New York, and James Mayger, Bloomberg's senior reporter, in Beijing.

Reports in the financial press on Thursday suggest President Joe Biden is set to block Nippon Steel’s acquisition of US Steel Bangladesh’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina fled the country a month ago in response to mass protests over corruption and the alleged killing of political opponents. The BBC's Nikhil Inamdar has been looking at the challenges facing its economy And China’s President Xi Jinping hosted a lavish banquet on Wednesday in Beijing for more than two dozen African leaders, kicking off the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

Nvidia shares fall by 9.5%Chinese car giant BYD may put its plans to build a factory in Mexico on hold until after the US Presidential election.The new album ‘brat’ by pop start Charlie XCX has been a cultural zeitgeist this summer.Today the singer posted on social media to say "goodbye forever brat summer".

Campaign donations have been a key feature of the 2024 US election. Since Kamala Harris entered the presidential race huge donation figures have been widely reported in the media. One Republican donor tells us why he’s hoping for a Trump win. We examine where campaign donations are coming from and how decisive they might be in this election. Also in the programme, Rahul Tandon looks at the protests and general strike in Israel following the death of six hostages held by Hamas and speaks to the business owner encouraging his workers to strike. He’ll be looking back at Mexico’s President Lopez Obrador’s economic record as he prepares to leave office and discussing dynamic pricing and the best way to price concert tickets. Rahul is joined by senior freelance reporter Karen Pearcy and Allie Garfinkle, senior finance reporter at Fortune.

The social media platform X has been suspended in Brazil. A Supreme Court judge has ordered "immediate and complete suspension" across the countryIn Libya the head of the central bank has fled the country in fear of his life. Sadiq Al Kabir and his senior staff claim they were forced to leave following death threats by militias. And in Bangladesh this week incessant rains there has led to flooding in many low lying areas. This has not only led to displacement of tens of thousands of people but also disrupted work at the garment factories there which are now struggling to complete orders on time.

Donald Trump campaigns in Michigan and Wisconsin. He won these states in 2016 but lost them in 2020. Singapore is trying an interesting experiment to support its ageing and experienced workforceAnd fans of the hit HBO TV series 'Industry' are in for a bumpy ride as series three returns - with a focus on ethical investments

The AI boom has seen huge demand for the firm's advanced technology, though there have been concerns over when its next-generation chips will be ready. Also, how did Qantas boss Valerie Hudson score on her first set of full-year financial results since taking over?And why video game actors are striking in Hollywood.

What does the willingness of Americans to go out and spend mean for the rest of the world? Meanwhile, there are concerns about the jobs market. Also, in the programme, Roger Hearing finds out why Estonia's justice minister wants to rent out unoccupied prison cells. And as Paris 2024 gets underway, we ask are Paralympic athletes getting the financial sponsorship they need?

Telegram is one of the world's biggest social media and messaging platforms. We examine why French authorities arrested its Russian-born boss. Plus, IKEA is trying out a second-hand furniture marketplace. And the business opportunities from an ageing population in India.

There are economic concerns as US jobless claims have increased and housing affordability has worsened.Millions are struggling in Cuba, with reports of severe power cuts lasting over 12 hours.And is Saudi Arabia hosting the Esports World Cup just an example of 'sportswashing'?

We hear how the Democratic presidential nominee has supercharged the party's fundraising, as she prepares to address its National Convention. Also, Canada's government has moved swiftly to end a dispute which halted freight trains. And how Apple will let users in the European Union choose default apps.Roger Hearing is joined by Alison Van Diggelen, host of the Fresh Dialogues interview series in Silicon Valley, and Han Lin, China Country Director at the Asia Group in Shanghai.

Gold prices hit new record high as investors pile back into the commodity ahead of expected interest rate cuts in the US. We look into the details. PwC China has told clients it expects a six-month business ban to be imposed by Chinese authorities as early as September. We hear about the reasons.Also in the programme, we find out why protesters in Serbia are against a lithium mine that could cover 90% of the metal's demand in Europe.Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Anneke Green, US Republican Political Strategist at Reach Global Strategies, and Nicholas Gordon, Associate Editor of Fortune magazine in Hong Kong.

The Democratic National Convention continues, with Barack and Michelle Obama expected to address the public. We get the latest.A federal judge in Texas has barred a US Federal Trade Commission rule from taking effect. It was meant to ban agreements that prevented workers from joining their employers' rivals or launching competing businesses. We get the details.'Black Myth: Wukong', a new game made by Chinese developers, has become one of the most played ever on one of the top gaming platforms. We hear about the game's plot, and why it's so popular.Tesla's Chinese-made electric vehicles imported into the European Union will be subject to lower tariffs than those produced by competitors. We listen to the EU's arguments, and look at the implications this can have on the European market. Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: David Kuo, financial analyst and the co-founder of the Smart Investor based in Singapore, and Emily Peck, markets correspondent a

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, in a four-day event that will see Kamala Harris formally confirmed as the party's presidential candidate. We hear from correspondents on the ground. The government in Nicaragua has outlawed 1,500 civil society groups in one day. They're accused of failing to report their finances and face the confiscation of all their property. We hear about the economic implications. And British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among the missing along with his 18-year-old daughter after the superyacht they were sailing in sank in Sicily. We get the latest. Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Angel Zhong, an Associate Professor of Finance at RMIT University in Melbourne, and researcher on technology and ethics Stephanie Hare, in London.

Kamala Harris has outlined her economic programme ahead of the US presidential election in November. She discussed what the so called "opportunity economy" would mean for Americans, and in particular the middle class, while also addressing the key issues of the campaign – rising health care prices and food inflation.Staying with the US, we speak to the new mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, as the city prepares to welcome thousands of officials, journalists and others for the Democratic National Convention. There’s concerns that any celebrations over Kamala Harris’ nomination will be impacted large-scale protests against US support for Israel in Gaza.Rahul Tandon hears how week-long protests throughout India – calling for protection, accountability and capital punishment – after a junior doctor was raped and murdered at work, may lead to a nationwide strike. The English Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world, broadcasting in 212 territories to 643 million homes, with a potential TV aud

It's been a landmark day in the US, particularly for the millions struggling to afford vital health care medicine. But why is there about to be a fall in the price of many drugs? Rahul Tandon speaks to a health policy professor in Tennessee.Meanwhile, as Sweden's confirmed the first case of the new Mpox variant outside Africa, we hear from Paul Chaplin, of drug manufacturer Bavaria Nordic who are the main producer of the vaccine, on whether there's enough of the vaccine to fight the disease.We discuss the problem's facing India's economy, where issues of women in the workplace are back in the spot light after the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. Elsewhere, are food halls being used to increase the value of surrounding offices and apartments in cities and towns globally. Devina Gupta discusses a growing trend in the US where nearly 400 are now in operation. And we look at why the process of getting elected, which is hard work at the best of times, has become a disaster in the most unexpected way

New data shows inflation in US is slowing down. Will it mean the US central bank will cut interest rates in September? We speak to a panel of guests sharing their thoughts. Sticking with inflation numbers and China is braced for an economic slowdown ahead of todays data release. Meanwhile Japan is set for a new Prime Minister as Kishida bows out as party leader.And – who do you turn to when Waymo self-driving cars start honking at each other in a parking lot situated within a neighbourhood – we hear from one resident.

Starbuck replace boss after sales slump, prompting a sharp rise in its share price. Also, we speak to James Peak, Banksy superfan and presenter of the BBC Sounds podcast The Banksy Story, about the new Banksy artworks that have been cropping up all over London. E-scooters have been banned in the Australian city of Melbourne after much controversy. The BBC’s Katy Watson tells us more.

Russia evacuates twenty five thousand citizens in the Kursk regionThe curtain has closed on the Paris Olympics. We look to LA, where it is heading nextElon Musk interviews Donald TrumpAnd Disney has announced it will invest $60 billion in new experiences over the next ten years - a key part of its strategy to keep the parks fresh and relevant in a competitive segment.

Fedecamara, the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce, calls for transparency in election results to help businesses recover markets' trust and attract foreign investment. We talk to its president, Adan Celis. Voiceover and movement actors continue striking in the US. They want the videogame industry to agree to pay performers when their work is used by AI to generate new scenes. We hear from one of the union's negotiators. Colombian policymakers are pushing a bill to ban merchandise featuring the late drug lord Pablo Escobar, who has become a local attraction for international tourists in the last decade. We hear about the consequences this could have on tourism. Roger Hearing discusses these and mores business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent in Sydney, and Gaby Castro-Fontoura, the Director of Sunny Sky Solutions consultancy in Punta del Este, Uruguay.