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Business Matters

BBC

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Location:

United Kingdom

Networks:

BBC

Description:

Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia and the USA.

Language:

English


Episodes

What does bridge collapse mean for business in Baltimore?

3/28/2024
A local brewery founder near the Francis Scott Key Bridge reacts to the aftermath and we hear from the United States Chamber of Commerce. Also, China buys flying-car technology from a Slovakian company. And, we look ahead to the sentencing of Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced former boss of FTX, the cryptocurrency exchange. (Picture: National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigators work on the cargo vessel Dali, which struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge, in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. March 27, 2024. Peter Knudson/NTSB/Handout via REUTERS. Note: This image was supplied to Reuters by a third party.)

Duration:00:49:01

Baltimore bridge collapse spurs supply-chain uncertainty

3/26/2024
Rahul Tandon is joined by a reporter in Baltimore to assess the economic impact of the accident.. The port near the bridge is the largest in the US for specialised cargo. And why are young people recording their bosses firing them, and sharing it online? We speak to one TikToker credited with starting the so-called “QuitTok” trend, and an HR expert who says “public layoffs” are here to stay. (Photo: View of the Dali cargo vessel which crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge causing it to collapse in Baltimore, Maryland, US Credit: Nathan Howard/Reuters)

Duration:00:49:26

Boeing boss leaves after crisis over firms safety record

3/25/2024
Rahul Tandon examines the impact of the departure of the company’s Chief Executive David Calhoun. He is leaving Boeing after problems over the company's safety record. The US, UK and New Zealand, and the UK have raised concerns about Chinese cyber attacks and campaigns. It comes after reports emerged about a hacking plot which targeted millions of US online accounts. And could Pakistan be set to resume trade talks with India? We hear from a former Pakistani ambassador to the UK and the US.

Duration:00:50:25

Moscow concert hall shooting

3/22/2024
At least 40 people have been killed after gunmen attacked a packed concert venue on the outskirts of Moscow, Russian intelligence have said. Our Presenter Roger Hearing will be hearing the latest from our reporter. The FBI say there's a criminal investigation into what happened when a panel fell off a Boeing plane in mid-flight back in January. We find what this means for the passengers that were onboard. And that spare change you donate at checkouts is adding up to millions for charities. Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite side of the world: Andy Uhler, Journalism Fellow at the University of Texas Energy Institute and Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy in Austin, Texas. And Jyoti Malhotra, founder and editor of Awaaz South Asia news website in New Delhi, India. (Picture: Russian firefighters extinguish a fire on the Crocus City Hall concert venue Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Duration:00:50:14

Apple's latest lawsuit

3/21/2024
The US has filed a landmark lawsuit against Apple in which they are accused monopolising the smartphone market and crushing competition. Roger Hearing will be looking at what this means for the company going forward. Turkey has raised interest rates to 50% to fight inflation at 67%, we find out how it affects ordinary citizens. And as the EU moves to close unpaid internships but unions say it's not enough. Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite side of the world: Diane Brady, Executive Director of Fortune Live Media and Editorial Director of the Fortune CEO Initiative in New York City. And James Mayger, China Economics Reporter for Bloomberg based in Beijing. (Picture: Women uses her iPhone mobile device as she passes a lighted Apple logo at the Apple store in New York. Credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:17

Federal Reserve sees three rate cuts this year

3/20/2024
The US central bank has left interest rates unchanged this month but says they will be cut three times before the end of the year. We look into the details. The world's most expensive drug will soon be available in the US at a price of $4.25m. We hear about the rare disease it treats and the high cost of developing medicine to battle it. Sam Fenwick discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Kristina Hooper, Chief Global Market Strategist at New York-based Invesco, and Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus at Hitotsubashi University. (Picture: US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Jerome Powell. Picture credit: SHAWN THEW/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock.)

Duration:00:50:17

Hong Kong's lawmakers pass tough security bill

3/19/2024
The new law broadens the definition of state secrets in a way that could scare away investors. Will the city be able to maintain its place as a top financial hub? The British band Chumbawamba is trying to prevent its biggest hit from being used by a politician in New Zealand. The lead singer tells us why. And Star Wars creator George Lucas steps into the boardroom power battle at Disney to support the firm's CEO, Bob Iger. Will the Force be with him? (Picture: Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu. Picture credit: DANIEL CENG/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock.)

Duration:00:49:46

Will Japan end its negative interest rate regime?

3/18/2024
The country has had negative rates since 2016. Now, the central bank could raise them for the first time in 17 years. We find out what consequences this could have. Rare protests have emerged in Cuba over electricity and fuel shortages. We get the latest. And Uber will pay $178m as part of a settlement to end a lawsuit filed on behalf of thousands of taxi operators and drivers. We look into the detail. Sam Fenwick discusses this and more business news with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Oliver Stuenkel, an associate professor of International Relations at the Vargas Foundation in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Rebecca Choong Wilkins, senior Asia correspondent for Bloomberg in Hong Kong. (Picture: Japanese national flag waves at the Bank of Japan building in Tokyo. Picture credit: REUTERS.)

Duration:00:50:16

US Opioid epidemic

3/15/2024
The United States is warning the rest of the world that the US is the canary in the coalmine when it comes to the global opioid crisis. Our presenter Will Bain will be hearing what the US plans on doing. We look at the challenges of exporting through the Red Sea during the holy month of Ramadan. And St. Patricks Day is happening this weekend but how much of a boost will it bring to the US and Irish economy? We will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite side of the world: Takara Small technology journalist based in Toronto, Canada and Rachel Pupazzoni, national business reporter and presenter for ABC News in Perth, Australia. (Picture: Prescription bottle for Oxycodone tablets and pills on glass table with reflections. Credit: Getty Images)

Duration:00:50:06

TikTok buyout plan

3/14/2024
Former Secretary of the U.S. Treasury Steven Mnuchin said he is arranging a team of investors to purchase Chinese social media giant TikTok. Our presenter Roger Hearing will be looking at how significant this move will be to stop Chinese influence in America. Denmark moves to conscript women into the armed forces for the first time as part of a beefing up of its defences - but there are fears about what that will do to the labour market. And robot taxis are introduced to Los Angeles for the first time. Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite side of the world: Andy Uhler, Journalism Fellow at the University of Texas Energy Institute and Columbia University's Centre on Global Energy Policy in Austin, Texas, and Nga Pham, journalist and film-maker in Taipei. (Picture: Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on online child sexual exploitation, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:11

How will a new bill aimed at TikTok affect US businesses?

3/13/2024
The US House of Representatives has approved a landmark bill that could see TikTok banned in America. The measure would give the social media giant's parent company ByteDance six months to sell its controlling stake, or the app will be removed in the US. Many people are concerned about the possible ban, including US business owners who use TikTok to boost sales. Also in the programme, presenter Will Bain asks why the EU has decided to regulate AI and talks to a major donor from the US election campaign. (Picture: Illustration shows U.S. flag and TikTok logo. Picture credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:12

US inflation rises to 3.2%

3/12/2024
The inflation rate in the US picked up in February, as prices for petrol and housing pushed higher. The annual rate, which measures the pace of price increases, was 3.2% in February, up from 3.1% in January, the Labor Department said. Airfare, car insurance and clothing were among the items driving the increase over the month. Also, in the programme, Sam Fenwick will talk to a doctor striking in South Korea and finds out how the climate change is having a big impact on the cost of bananas. (Picture: Inflation in the United States, Austin, USA. Picture credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

Duration:00:50:11

US pledges $100M for crisis-hit Haiti

3/11/2024
The US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and leaders of the Caribbean bloc have held emergency talks in Jamaica on the state of anarchy sweeping Haiti. The United Nations-backed multinational security force will receive $100 million to help Haitian police fight gangs and the US will give $33 million in humanitarian aid. Also, in the programme, Devina Gupta finds out what's happening with the Chinese economy and why US president Joe Biden is proposing to raise taxes. (Picture: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits Jamaica. Picture credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:08

OpenAI reinstates Sam Altman to board

3/8/2024
The firm's CEO has been cleared of any wrongdoing in an investigation of the events that led to his brief ouster last year. We get the latest. TikTok urged users to call politicians to complain about a bill that would force its parent company to either sell or shut down the Chinese-owned app in the US. We ask an expert about the implications this could have. A power company has admitted it might be responsible for the start of the largest wildfires in Texas history. We hear the details. Roger Hearing discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Takara Small, multimedia journalist and entrepreneur in Toronto, and Colin Peacock, producer and presenter of Mediawatch on Radio New Zealand, in Wellington. (Picture: Sam Altman. Picture credit: REUTERS.)

Duration:00:50:17

State of the Union: What will Joe Biden say?

3/7/2024
The US president will deliver his speech as he tries to convince Americans he should be re-elected. We get the latest. A US congressional panel has approved a bill that would force TikTok's parent company ByteDance to sell the app within six months or face a ban. We look into their reasons. And we explore why a growing number of Americans are choosing to switch to local community banks. Vivienne Nunis discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Alison Van Diggelen, host of "Fresh Dialogues" based in Silicon Valley, and Rachel Cartland, author and commentator based in Hong Kong. (Picture: Joe Biden. Picture credit: REUTERS)

Duration:00:50:24

Nikki Haley drops out of Republican presidential race

3/6/2024
Republican candidate Nikki Haley suspends her presidential campaign after losing against Donald Trump on Super Tuesday. Vivienne Nunis will be looking at what happens now to the billionaire backers funding her campaign. With global cocoa prices soaring, we speak to the CEO of Lindt chocolate about its boost to profitability. And Ireland will be making changes to their constitution on Friday which refers to women's roles as "caregivers in the home". Vivienne will be joined throughout the programme by two guests on opposite side of the world: Karen Percy, senior freelance reporter in Melbourne, Australia and Dante Disparte Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Global Policy for Circle in Washington. (Picture: Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley announces the suspension of her campaign, in Charleston. Credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:16

Polls begin to close on Super Tuesday

3/5/2024
Polls are beginning to close across the 15 primary states in the U.S as Super Tuesday comes to an end. Our presenter Roger Hearing will be bringing us up to date on what the polls are saying. We'll be hearing from voters who have made up their minds and those who are still considering. And we find out if the fact that the US economy is beginning to show signs of strength, will affect the outcome in November. Roger will be joined throughout the programme by two guests: Tony Nash, Chief Economist, Complete Intelligence who's in Houston and Laura Schwartz, former Advisor to Bill Clinton and democratic strategist, who's in Chicago. (Picture: A sign is displayed during the Super Tuesday primary election in McAllen, Texas, U.S. March 5, 2024. Credit: REUTERS/Cheney Orr)

Duration:00:50:28

China: National People's Congress preview

3/4/2024
The National People's Congress starts on Tuesday, bringing together China’s political elite, as well as leaders in business, tech, media, and the arts. Rahul Tandon will be looking ahead to the congress as China’s leading economics official, premier Li Qiang has said he will not address the press this year. Also Apple has been fined $2billion dollars by the EU for violating their anti- trust laws. We hear if it should it have been more for them to feel the impact? And in the United States Americans now live roughly twice as far from their offices as they did pre-pandemic. Rahul Tandon is joined throughout by two guests on opposite sides of the world: Sergio Guzman, Director at Colombia Risk Analysis in Bogotá, Colombia and Stephanie Hare, Researcher on technology and ethics in London, UK. (Picture: Chinese Premier Li Qiang delivers the work report at the opening session of the National People's Congress. Credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:16

Musk v OpenAI: ideology or money?

3/1/2024
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI, the makers of ChatGPT, arguing it has breached the principles he agreed to when he helped found it in 2015. The lawsuit - which has also been filed against OpenAI boss Sam Altman - says the firm has departed from its original non-profit, open source mission. Musk says that instead of trying to "benefit humanity" - as it was set up to do - OpenAI is focusing on "maximising profits" for major investor Microsoft. Also in the programme, we will talk about offices which been converted into houses in the US. (Picture: Tesla CEO and Twitter owner Elon Musk attends the VivaTech conference in Paris. Picture credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:25

Why junior doctors in South Korea are fighting for their rights?

2/29/2024
South Korea is dealing with another day of a doctors' strike. Most junior doctors there have so far defied a government order to return to work by the end of Thursday, despite the threat of legal action. About eighty percent of junior doctors walked out last week in protest against a decision to sharply increase the number of medical school places. They say training more doctors could lower the quality of medical school education and reduce pay. The authorities say the increase will address shortages linked to South Korea's rapidly ageing population, and a lack of doctors in rural areas. We get the views of people in Seoul on the strike action. Also, in the programme, we will hear from The United States Trade Representative - Katherine Tai, who tells us why the fall in bilateral trade between the United States and China is a positive development for both economies. (Picture: South Korean doctors march to protest against the government's medical policy in Seoul. Picture credit: Reuters)

Duration:00:50:24