World Business Report

Hurricane Milton has rapidly intensified into a category five storm as it tears its way towards the US Gulf Coast and risks impacting businesses in the area. We talk to one of the business owners and look at the current situation. Also, we find out how expensive the future US presidential policy will be and why the "1 dollar home scheme" can help to reduce a shortage of affordable homes in Baltimore.

A lifeline for the Maldives as India signs a currency swap deal worth four hundred million dollars to help the island nation overcome mounting economic problems. Also, Roger Hearing looks at how employment in the tech sector in the US could affect the outcome of the election there next month. We look at what's behind the drop in German economic output. And Vietnam's remarkable growth rate, despite last month's devastating typhoon - is it sustainable?

And, the home of the beautiful game gets ready for regulated sports' betting.

OpenAI's value surges to $157bn in funding deal where the maker of ChatGPT raised $6.6bn from a pool of investors that include Microsoft. We also hear from North Carolina, where damages caused by hurricane Helene could have serious implications for the tech-industry. And we take a look at the effect that the latest conflict in the Middle East is having on Israel’s economy.

Iran has launched around 180 missiles but most of them were intercepted. The attack comes after Israeli troops invaded Lebanon, in a ground operation against Hezbollah. We get the latest. As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, collateral effects start to be seen in the oil market, where prices have risen, and neighbouring countries like Syria, to where thousands of people have crossed from Lebanon seeking shelter. We take a look at what's unfolding in the region. And Canada’s international trade minister tells the BBC about the country's commercial relations with China now that tariffs of 100% on electric vehicles imported from the Asian giant have come into force.

Tens of thousands of dock workers in the US walk out in a dispute over pay and automation. Will Bain hears from our North America business correspondent Michelle Fleury, who's at the port of Newark. We also hear how the dispute could affect global supply chains, and the CEO of one of the world's biggest warehouse firms, Prologis, on how it could affect them. In the Middle East, the Israeli military has been carrying out what it describes as limited, localised raids against Hezbollah across its border with Lebanon. We hear from a Lebanese economist on how the Middle East's economy is likely to react, and hear about a jump in oil prices following the US' announcement that there are signs that Iran is preparing to launch an imminent missile attack against Israel. Plus we're in Paris to find out about the city's fashion week - and the luxury market's challenges with declining sales.

US ports brace for shut down as dockworkers strike is set to halt container traffic along the east and gulf coasts. We get the latest. The markets haven't welcome the arrival of Japan's new Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba. We find out why. And we take a look at the 10-billion merger of the last two remaining satellite TV providers in the US.

Japan’s new PM has called an early election. Roger Hearing hears how the markets reacted to the surprise win of Shigeru Ishiba in the race to become president of the Liberal Democratic Party. The auto company Stellantis which owns Aston Martin, Peugeot, Citroen, Fiat and Jeep has become the latest European car manufacturer to issue a profit warning And global rice prices have been falling on Monday, following India's recent decision to resume exports.

From today, a range of Chinese goods entering the US will have to pay steeps tariffs. The Biden administration has imposed a 50% duty on solar cells and 25% on steel, aluminium, EV batteries and key minerals. There is a 100% duty on electric vehicles to protect the American auto industry. So, can the American auto companies fill the gap by making affordable electric cars? Meanwhile, there is trouble is brewing in the US East coast. Ten of the busiest North American ports are at risk of shutdown next week due to a union strike. And the international gold price recently soared to record highs. How long will the gold boom last?

Is another trade war brewing between the world's two biggest economies? The United States has just increased the level of border taxes - tariffs - on electric vehicles as well as on solar panels and batteries from China. Beijing has vowed to respond. Rob Young looks at the reasons behind the move. Also, Japan has suffered what's often called three lost economic decades. Well, it's about to get a new prime minister. So, what's his plan for the world's fourth biggest economy? And we look at the workers being fooled by artificial intelligence clones of their boss. Would you be able to tell the difference?

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party will choose its new leader on Friday, after Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s surprise announcement that he’s stepping down. But what do we know about those vying to take over from him? And how will a new leader effect the economy? Meanwhile, in Spain, union groups have taken to the street in support of a law that would shorten the workday. Unions gathered around the country to put pressure on the national employer’s confederation to back the law, which would reduce the working week to 37.5 hours. And, you might have thought Elon Musk would be a prime candidate to be invited to the British government's inaugural International Investment Summit attracting investment to the UK. But the BBC understands he has - very purposefully - not been invited.

Devina Gupta looks at how China's slowing economy is helping some countries… Also, from cooling economies to cooling appliances that are becoming dangerous for our planet we look at the latest UN report and find out how a business in India is using solar energy to run a cold storage unit. And - South Korea's plan to make dog meat farmers move away from their profession.

Pakistan looks ahead to an anticipated $7bn IMF package as the country emerges from one of its worst economic crises since independence. Now, the government has amped up its efforts to raise nearly $46bn in taxes for the year - we hear from the former governor of the country’s state bank about what needs to happen next. Meanwhile, in the US, the main presidential candidates are setting out their vision for the economy. Donald Trump currently has a 6% poll lead over Kamala Harris on the economy, but she’s been making gains. And, US plane maker Boeing faces more turbulence after a warning from the safety regulator, which has told US politicians that they won't let the company boost production until it addresses a series of issues. We hear from a former Boeing employee about his concerns, and how he expects the current struggle between the company and workers to play out.

We hear from a doctor in Pakistan who says he sees parents who do not have enough money to take their dead children home, highlighting the growing and devastating pressures poor families face as rising costs leave them unable to afford basic medication. Devina Gupta finds out if an IMF bailout package can help the country’s health care system. Also, what does an IMF bailout look like for Bangladesh? And in Ghana where an IMF bailout may have slowed inflation, food prices are still rising, we find out why…

New stimulus measures are being introduced by China’s central bank to reduce interest rates on existing mortgages. Devina Gupta speaks to lead economist Betty Wang. Also, is fashion giant Shein benefiting from tax loopholes in the UK? The boss of a popular clothing chain Superdry thinks so, we find out more… And - Singapore sees the biggest corruption scandal in its recent history, we look at why this conviction has had a huge global interest.

We are heading to Sri Lanka which has a new president but long-standing economic problems – Devina Gupta speaks to the country's former finance minister Eraan Wickramaratne. Also, with the growing transmission of Mpox in Africa, businesses are having to consider how they can manage to continue operations, we find out more… Plus, could strikes at a Samsung factory in India cause supply problems as we head into the festive season?

Tensions continue to rise in Lebanon and there is growing fear of escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. Over the past decade Lebanon’s economy has shrunk dramatically, the currency has collapsed, and prices have skyrocketed. Many are living under fear and uncertainty. We hear from Lebanon's business community on how they are coping in the current climate. Elsewhere, in Kenya a court has ruled that Facebook's parent company Meta can be sued over the dismissal of content moderators. These workers say they were fired for trying to form a union and that they were blacklisted from new jobs when Meta changed contractors. And Leanna Byrne looks at the strike by Boeing production workers, which has already racked up over half a billion dollars in losses.

The boss of the world's largest sportswear maker, Nike, is to step down as the company's market share falls and rivals produce more innovative footwear. Also in Lebanon, the country's economy minister says the situation is escalating by the hour. Lebanon had already endured one of the worst financial meltdowns in history. Rob Young hears from the minister, a business owner and get a briefing on the state of the country's economy amid a slide towards -- what many fear will be -- an all-out war. And we look at why tensions have resurfaced between China and Japan, Asia's biggest economies.

Under the shadow of conflict is normal life possible in Lebanon? The country has had a major economic crisis for almost a decade, and there is growing fear of escalating conflict between Hezbollah and Israel. We hear from Lebanon's business community on the challenges of working under the shadow of increasing violence. Also, in the programme, Roger Hearing looks at the ongoing legal dispute between Brazil and the social media platform X. The company, which has more than 22 million users in Brazil, has appointed a new lawyer who has told the BBC that the company has decided to comply with all the court orders. Elsewhere, the sportswear brand Nike has just announced its CEO John Donahoe will retire next month and will be replaced by Elliott Hill, a veteran former Nike executive.

“There’s no playground, no place to play football, and no wedding venue anymore. It’s all been washed away,” the words of a hotel owner just south of Wrocław, in Poland, hit by the worst floods in 25 years. You’ll be hearing more about her story… Also, in today’s tech-focused episode Sam Fenwick will be discussing the United Nations’ call for stronger regulation of artificial intelligence. You'll hear a special report on who tech titans might be backing in the US election. And how have global investors reacted to the big interest rate cut in the United States?