World Business Report

Latest Episodes:

Musk's SpaceX Starship orbits earth Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Starship carried out two laps of the Earth – rather than the planned six – before SpaceX decided to end the mission early and bring it back to Earth. There was concern launch would not go ahead as planned when engineers found an issue with one of its six engines before the mission started.

In the U.S. there is backlash against data centres. We go to Pennsylvania to speak to a veteran activist about the protests — and speak to a journalist reporting on the issue.

And Apple has been ordered to pay billions in damages after a US jury found it had used another firm's tech without permission.

(Photo: Reuters / Steve Nesius)

How will the latest US-China trade deal impact businesses? Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

The US and China are cutting tariffs on billions of dollars’ worth of goods. What does it mean for trade between the two countries? Plus, what’s pushing oil prices higher again? And why are some people in Ethiopia’s Tigray region struggling to access their money? Presenter: Bisi Adebayo Producer: Victoriya Holland Editor: Naomi Rainey

Manchester City found guilty of breaking Premier League rules Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Independent panel finds City guilty on more than 100 charges after a lengthy investigation into financial rule breaches.

Talks between US and China continue during President Xi's visit to Washington DC.

And nearly three million Volkswagen and Audi cars are being recalled worldwide over a steering problem.

Much ceremony little substance between Xi and Trump Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

Both leaders toasted each other, agreed to an economic future together and little concrete has been announced.

We hear how the visit has been received in both China and the US.

Also, we hear from the boss of a shipping company on the challenges of navigating attacks and disruption, and also what it’s meant for his bottom line.

What does China and the USA want from the state visit? Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

On today’s episode, we take a look at the stories shaping global business and markets. We discuss China’s state visit to the United States with Claire Reade, exploring the key issues and what the visit could mean for relations between the two countries.

Cary Leahey joins us to discuss what’s trending in the markets, from the latest moves to the themes investors are watching.

We also look at the UN’s conference on scams and the growing international focus on scam operations linked to Cambodia.

And could the growing popularity of high-protein diets be putting the food industry under pressure? We examine how changing consumer habits are affecting the businesses behind the trend.

Finally, we turn to Turkey, where the founder of an investment fund at the centre of an alleged eighteen-billion-dollar Ponzi scheme has been arrested. We speak to Piotr Zalewski, The Economist’s Turkey correspondent in Istanbul, about the allegations, the scale of the scandal and what it means for Turkey’s financial sector.

Trump welcomes Xi to the White House Sep 24, 2026

Show notes

Xi Jinping has arrived at the White House to hold talks with Donald Trump, as the world's two biggest economies agree to extend their trade truce by two months

China's stock markets have had their worst trading day in a month, with investors frustrated at the news.

Elsewhere, Cambodia's Prime Minister has insisted the country will no longer be a haven for scam centres as a summit takes place there to tackle the issue.

It's estimated millions of workers around the world may have found themselves incarcerated, beaten or even electrocuted, before being forced to scam victims online.

Presidents Trump and Xi prepare to talk trade, tariffs and tech Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

China's Xi Jinping visits Washington for a meeting with President Donald Trump.

Also, how Cambodia is fighting financial scams.

And why McDonalds is betting big on chicken.

(Picture: U.S. President Trump Meets With China's President Xi At Zhongnanhai. Credit: Getty Images)

President Xi goes to Washington Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

President Trump will welcome China's leader to the US capital ahead of talks ranging from tariffs to energy costs to the future of AI.

The trip is Xi's first state visit to the US in just under a decade and his third meeting with Trump since the US president began his second term in office.

Meanwhile, the head of the International Monetary Fund has warned that advanced economies need to reduce borrowing because of the spiralling cost of it.

Kristalina Georgieva said that global economic shocks had pushed up debt levels, but not enough had been done to contain the rising interest costs.

UN General Assembly: will diplomacy talks help the global oil market? Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

We're assessing where a busy day of diplomacy at the UN General Assembly has left the global oil market. Face-to-face talks have begun between the US and Iran. But President Trump also concedes that a peace deal is unlikely before November. Can the stretched global oil supply survive that long?

Also with Ed Butley, why are Xboxes on the wane, and why do women screenwriters write better movies?

(Picture: 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City. Credit:Reuters)

Could a shortage of tankers keep oil prices high? Sep 22, 2026

Show notes

The prices companies are paying for shipping the fuel have risen 12 fold in the last few months.

In that time Brent Crude oil has fallen below 100 dollars a barrel, relieving some pressure that the rising prices have put on inflation around the world.

But there are concerns that the shortage in tankers could reverse those falls.

Also, Volkswagen's top executive in China says the country's domestic car market is going to decline by 20 per cent this year, and the impact will be the same as the COVID pandemic.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected