Business Matters

Guyana, one of the world's fastest-growing economies, votes on its oil future as tensions rise with neighbour, Venezuela which claims almost half its territory.Is the English Premier League in an inflation spiral? Roger Hearing investigates, as record-breaking transfer fees dominate the headlines.Meanwhile, Swiss food giant Nestlé has sacked its CEO over his romantic relationship.We find out what economic forces are driving the war in Myanmar.And 40 years after the Titanic wreck was discovered, we explore how a tragic shipwreck became a booming global industry, from movies and museums to podcasts.Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sergio Guzman is Director of Colombia Risk Analysis in Columbia and Jessica Khine is a Business Consultant from Malaysia.

They’ve been a key pillar of President Trump’s second term, but now a US appeals court has ruled that most of his sweeping trade tariffs are illegal. Trump says their removal would be a ‘disaster,’ but the final decision will rest with the Supreme Court. So what next for Trump’s signature policy? Our correspondent in the US explains more.Meanwhile, as Fed governor Lisa Cook fights to block President Trump firing her, a legal hearing on the matter ended without a ruling. But with ongoing tensions and concerns over the bank’s independence, who would want the next Fed chair job when the role becomes vacant next year? We hear from a former regional Fed president who says he’s up for the job.And what are your thoughts on’ blue sky thinking’, ‘circling back’ and’ diarising some thoughtification’? Love it or loathe it, workplace jargon is commonplace in many companies. We speak to authors James Schloefell and Charles Firth about their new book on the subject of workplace speak.

Friday sees the US Customs and Border Protection agency scrap tariff exemptions, known as de minimis, for millions of small international postal items arriving from abroad that are valued below US$800.Roger Hearing is joined by Sinead Mangan in Perth and Tony Nash in Houston to discuss the White House's claims that ending the loophole will curb the movement of drugs and provide US$10bn of revenue. But what does it mean for small traders around the world?We catch up with the saga engulfing the Federal Reserve after governor Lisa Cook filed a legal case against US president Donald Trump over his efforts to fire her.Elsewhere, police raids have taken place across Brazil as authorities try to close down a US$10bn money laundering operation. Just days after South Korean president Lee Jae Myung visited Washington DC, we hear from David Kim, the man at the centre of a multi-billion dollar investment from the east Asian country into US shipbuilding. And how old is too old when it comes to being a commercial pilot? Former flyer Kit Darby shares his thoughts. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Californian computer chipmaker Nvidia has reported record revenue figures of almost US$47bn for the second quarter of this year, surpassing all market expectations after being boosted by big tech firms eager to expand their artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The Santa Clara-based business claims its likely grow to $54bn, but its positioning in China appear somewhat uncertain as executives said they "continue to work through geopolitical issues" due to the ongoing international tariff wars.Meanwhile Donald Trump's steep 50% tariffs on India have kicked in after Washington's window for a trade deal lapsed and the US president issued an order imposing an additional 25% penalty on New Delhi over its purchases of Russian oil.While India prime minister Modi has criticised the levies as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", Roger Hearing will be joined by Karen Percy in Melbourne and Walter Todd in South Carolina to discuss what this could mean for both countries and who will be picking up the extra costs?Elsewhere Donald Trump has threatened the billionaire financier, George Soros, with an indictment for racketeering. We hear about the challenges endured by professional golfers trying to survive in Africa.And keep it down - a campaign has begun in London after a growing number of people said they felt aggravated by headphone-dodgers who broadcast music and entertainment for all passengers to hear on the city's trains and buses.Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook will file a lawsuit challenging her removal by President Donald Trump, marking a major escalation in the president's battle with the US central bank. So does President Trump have the power to fire the governor? Roger Hearing hears from a legal expert and former Cleveland Federal reserve President, to Loretta Mester.And in just a few hours’ time, unless there's a last-minute change of heart, Indians will be dealing with 50% tariffs on most exports to the United States. It's punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, which Washington argues helps finance Moscow's war in Ukraine.Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Andy Xie, an independent economist normally in Shanghai but currently in Kamamoto, Japan on holiday - and Takara Small, National Technology Columnist, CBC, in Toronto.

US President, Donald Trump welcomes the South Korean leader to the White House to discuss trade. He believes a deal can be done. The South African government has warned young women against taking up unverified foreign job offers promoted on social media campaigns. And make a big noise – why movie theatre audiences now seem to love singalong shows. So, we will look at why singalong movie showings are taking off in cinemas.Roger Hearing will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Sushma Ramachandran, consulting editor at The Secretariat - who's in Delhi, and Rema Rahman, White House & Legal Affairs Editor at The Hill, and Adjunct Professor at American University, in Washington.

As Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals a move to a rate cut in December, we find out what it means for the US economy and the financial markets. Also, friends again? Canadian PM Mark Carney calls a halt to some of the retaliatory tariffs imposed on the US. We find out what Canada's businesses think of the thaw in trade relations. And, amid US tariff uncertainty is there still a slice of the US market available to UK artisan cheese exporters? And why California is reaching out to African economies.

Federal Chair Jerome Powell takes centre stage at Jackson Hole in the US to deliver his final speech. It comes at a time when tensions are high between him and President Trump. We look ahead to this important speech.Details emerge of a tentative deal between the European Union and the US .Some sectors will see smaller-than-expected tariff hikes. We hear from a representative of the German automotive industryAnd Ecuador is home to the Galápagos Islands, towering volcanoes, and the Amazon rainforest. But how did one of South America’s most peaceful countries become one of the most violent? We take a look at how this surge in crime has affected the tourism sector.

The Chair of the Federal Reserve chair are under scrutiny from Donald Trump after fraud allegations emerge about Governor Lisa Cook. How will it affect the interest rate decision? The authorities in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi have declared an emergency and a public holiday after monsoon rains paralysed the city. We hear from the local business owner.Sony PlayStation increased the price on its console. Is it one of the consequences of the trade war?And we look at Denmark's decision to tax cow and sheep burps for greenhouse gas reasons.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

American farmers warn of lasting damage as Chinese importers choose cheaper alternatives from other countries like Russia and Brazil.Also, tariffs risk taking some of the steam out of the US coffee industry.And Roger Hearing hears why the British horseracing sector could face strike action over proposed betting tax changes.All of that with analysis from business consultant Jessica Khine in Malaysia and journalist Alexander Kaufman in the United States. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders are holding talks with Donald Trump at the White House - what will be next? We hear from Ukrainian business owner. Also, the Norwegian fund - worth $2 trillion - says it will divest from six firms with connections to the West Bank and Gaza. It currently has around $1.86 bn in companies listed in Israel. And are more people wondering about investing in that staple of many American and Middle Eastern cities - air conditioning? Where do you think some of the biggest movies and TV shows of the last twenty years have been shot? Fast and Furious? Stranger Things? The Walking Dead? Spiderman: Homecoming? It's the US state of Georgia. Despite a drop in investments over the recent years we find out why this state wants to keep the crown as an alternative to Hollywood.

President Donald Trump and the Russian President Vladimir Putin end summit in Alaska without a deal. We get reaction from business experts after this important meeting. We examine what next for both the Russian and the Ukrainian economies. Presenter Rahul Tandon also talks to guests from the US, Ukraine and Russia to hear what this outcome means for the global economy.

Organisers of the Los Angelos Olympics in 2028 have agreed a landmark deal with the International Olympic Committee allowing venue naming rights to be sold to commercial partners for the first time in the games history. Honda and Comcast are the first naming partners. Presenter Roger Hearing also examines why some Americans are drinking less and what this means for the big drinks companies like Carlsberg.And PostNord in Denmark has decided to bring to an end to 400 years of letter deliveries - and focus instead solely on parcels from 2026. We hear from there about what this means for the future of the industry.

Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says more than $5 billion in credit will go to companies which face 50 per cent tariffs to export goods to the US. The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, says a controversial deal that the White House struck with chipmakers Nvidia and AMD, handing over 15% of their Chinese sales in return for export licences, could be rolled out to other industries. Startup companies in the US have started a no-shoes-in-the-office policy, meaning that you take your shoes off when you come into the office and wear optional slippers.Throughout the programme, Leanna Byrne will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Diane Brady, Executive Editorial Director at Fortune magazine in New York, and Han-Shen Lin, China Country Director, The Asia Group, in Shanghai.

US inflation held steady in July despite import tariffs, bolstering bets that the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates next month. After the partial dollarisation of the economy in Cuba, the country’s peso is trading at an all-time low of 400 to 1 dollar on the informal market.And horror films are at a record high in shares of the US box office. Weapons took $42.5m in its opening weekend in US movie theatres, and Sinners has become the highest-grossing original movie of the 2020s.Throughout the programme, Roger Hearing will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world – Andy Uhler is an Energy Journalism Fellow at the University of Texas, US, and Zyma Islam is a journalist for The Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending tariffs on China for another 90 days. Chip giants Nvidia and AMD have agreed to pay the US government 15% of Chinese revenues as part of an "unprecedented" deal to secure export licences to China. And remember that distinctive sound of dialling in via the internet in the early days of connecting? Well. It’s days are numbered….Yahoo has announced that it will discontinue AOL Dial-up Internet on September 30th.Throughout the programme, Rahul Tandon will be joined by two guests on opposite sides of the world - Jennifer Pak who is China Correspondent for American Public Media, based in Shanghai; and Allie Garfinkle, Senior finance reporter at Fortune who's in the US.

Germany's halted its arms sales to Israel in the wake of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plans to takeover Gaza City. But despite supplying $565 million worth of military hardware since the 7 October 2023 attacks, how important are Germany's weapons to Israel? Roger Hearing is joined by Dana Peterson and Colin Peacock to discuss, among other things, why US wine exports to Canada have declined drastically…whether the growing Philippines microchip-making industry is being throttled by US president Donald Trump's tariffs…. and whether Las Vegas' drop in tourism hints at broader economic woes facing the world's largest economy.Plus the big controversy bubbling up over mineral water in France, and why are people not wearing Crocs any more?Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

With India prime minister Modi and Brazil president Lula vowing to "defend multilateralism" against what they see as "rising US protectionism", Roger Hearing is joined by Alison van Diggelen and Travis Paterson to discuss how businesses in countries that don't have a trade deal with Washington will be impacted by US president Trump’s new tariffs. We hear how scientists and engineers in Sweden are using new technology to revolutionise the global steel industry and make the material green. Elsewhere, how good is the latest AI app - GPT5? Plus the strange case of the fluffy toys and a million-dollar lawsuit. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

As US president Donald Trump's global tariffs regime comes into place, we discuss what effect it will have on the international trade architecture. India faces a threat of 50% mark ups on what it sells to the US, with Washington unhappy over Delhi's purchase of oil from Russia. But will India ever wean itself off Russian supplies? Meanwhile Trump's claiming a big win as Apple commits to an extra hundred billion dollars in investment in the States. Elsewhere we hear of the summer of stink as bin workers strike in many US cities, and Roger Hearing talks about 'the sage of Omaha' during his last months as the world's most famous investor. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

US tariffs of up to 250 percent - that’s what pharmaceutical imports could soon be facing But what would this mean for the makers and distributors of non-branded medicines? We’ll be speaking to an association representing them.Is Europe turning its back on Tesla? Electric car sales from the company continue to drop in Europe, but sales from Chinese electric carmaker BYD are on the rise. An automotive analyst tells us why.And WhatsApp says it has shut down almost seven million accounts linked to scammers in the first half of the year. WhatsApp’s external affairs director explains more.