World Business Report

The Cuban government has declared an energy emergency after a massive power cut led to the failure of supplies across the entire country. The total blackout came after the Antonio Guiteras power plant in Matanzas - the largest on the island - went offline. The government had already suspended all non-essential public sector services in an effort to conserve supplies. President Miguel Diaz-Canel blamed the decades-long US embargo against his country for the problem. Meanwhile, in China, what do latest GDP figures mean for the country’s economy? Results show the slowest growth since early 2023, but officials remain upbeat about future growth. We examine what's contributing the country's sluggish economy. Also, the global food industry is growing rapidly - some estimates say its now worth more than $10 trillion. But there are growing concerns about how healthy some of that food is. The UN has stepped in, detailing what they want global food producers to do about food labelling.You can contact us on WhatsApp o

Beijing has stepped up efforts to boost its economy after reporting the slowest pace of growth in a year and a half.Plus, why are we seeing a spike in tanker crashes in Nigeria?And the Russian parliament has passed the first stage of a law to ban so-called "propaganda of childlessness" including large fines. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send a voicenote to: +44 330 678 30 33. We would love to hear from you!

The European Central Bank has cut interest rates to 3.25% to prevent a significant slowdown in the Eurozone's economy.Leanna Byrne hears from businesses around the continent to find out how they're responding to their country's economic challenges.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) reports a 54% increase in Q3 net profit. The company estimated its capital spending in the current quarte would more than double to around $11.5 billion and that the budget was likely to increase further next year, as it expects healthy demand for its products.In the closing weeks of the US election, we hear from business-owners...Also, we find out why announced Hong Kong government announced new regulations to phase out subdivided flats smaller than eight square metres.And clocks about to change for many of us - but is there an economic case for ditching daylight saving time?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

We hear of the plight of vulnerable women in Lebanon—domestic workers who’ve been cast out by their employers as the crisis in the country deepens. The US’ Federal Trade Commission tells Ed Butler how it plans to enforce new rules requiring American businesses to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions and memberships as it is to sign up to them.We’ll also look at Ethiopia’s bold leap into the financial markets with its first-ever IPO, aiming to raise $255 million and lay the foundation for a stock exchange. And Amazon dives into the nuclear energy race, joining AI giants in a quest for dominance in the energy sector.

The first people to be intercepted at sea by the Italian navy under a controversial migration deal with Albania are on their way to the Balkan nation to have their asylum claims processed. If rejected they will be sent back to countries deemed safe.Also, in the programme, we look at the slow down is sales luxury goods firms have been reporting and the corresponding slump in their share prices.And why Australia plans to ban “dynamic pricing” amid rising anger from fans faced with soaring prices as they try to buy in-demand tickets to see their favourite band?And how opening of the Great Egyptian Museum (GEM) will boost the tourism in Giza?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

The IMF says the debt held by countries is likely to exceed $100tn by the end of this year. How concerned should that figure make us?And while Ed Butler finds out why it’s been a bad day for chips (the computer ones), but a good one for (authentic) wine – as French police have uncovered a multi-billion dollar fake wine racket. The suspects are accused of creating counterfeit labels of renowned French vineyards, allowing them to sell bottles for thousands of dollars.

Google has signed a deal to use small nuclear reactors to generate the vast amounts of energy needed to power its artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. We find out why IT giant is aims to achieve limitless energy.Also, today the world's biggest car bosses are meeting in Paris - and China's EV pioneers are bullish about the future despite the threat of tariffs...And the World Bank has just released a report focusing on the 26 poorest countries globally. We asked Ayhan Kosi, the World Bank's Deputy Chief Economist, what challenges world currently facing?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

China says it's introducing a range of bold policies aimed at reviving its economic growth, including measures to strengthen capital markets and stabilise the real estate sector. But detail is thin on the ground - and that's having an effect on global markets. Ed Butler hears from the World Bank as its latest report shines a light on the 26 poorest countries in the world, highlighting the severe challenges they face, from poverty to limited access to essential services.Plus there are tributes to Lilly Ledbetter - a trailblazer for equal pay in the US, with President Biden saying she never stopped fighting for all Americans to be paid what they deserve.

The Paris Motor Show is dominated by talk about electric vehicles - how to encourage European brands against Chinese competition?The UK gathers global investors to show Britain is open for business - but is Keir Starmer's administration going to attract what it needs?Also, Roger Hearing is talking to one of the winners of this year's Nobel prize for Economics about why poor nations are poor.And we'll hear about the dangers for women in India who work at night.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

Petrol prices have increased sharply for the third time this year in Nigeria. Rob Young looks at why the oil producing nation continues to hike the cost of fuel and hear what impact it's having on those who drive for a living.We also hear about an innovative project in Kenya that's trying to help improve the health of lorry drivers, who often have an unhealthy lifestyle.And we profile the new chairman of one of India’s largest companies.

Florida is counting the cost of Hurricane Milton, after the storm tore through the US state. Some estimates suggest it could top $100 billion. Rob Young talks to the state's chief financial officer – one of the most senior figures alongside the Governor - and asks how insurers will cope. We'll also hear why the French government's latest attempt at cutting the nation's high level of borrowing has been met with controversy.And we'll hear from young people in Portugal who could be offered a lower tax rate to stay in the country rather than emigrate -- as many do.

Several million people in Florida have been told to evacuate ahead of the arrival of latest storm which is expected to make landfall on Wednesday night. We ask residents and business owners how are they coping? And we find out what will happen with the huge search giant Google after has been told by the US Department of Justice that it has to radically change its business model - and may even have to be broken up.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

In this special world business report Will Bain looks at the impact of what could happen if Google is broken up by the Department of Justice (DOJ). We examine if Google is too big and whether regulators should get involved?

More than a dozen states in the US have sued TikTok, accusing the social media platform of helping to drive a mental health crisis among teenagers. We hear the latest from the BBC's Michelle Fleury.Also in social media, Brazil's Supreme Court has lifted a ban on X.And as Florida braces for Hurricane Milton, we talk to a truck driver out delivering milk and find out how local businesses are preparing.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 30 33

A brewing trade war between China and the European Union heats up as China imposes tariffs on brandy imports.Also, the Uber boss says people should be prepared to wait longer when hailing EV rideshares.And the cities selling homes for $1Let us know you think about the stories we're covering on WhatsApp +443306783033

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.

The big event of 2021 that will shape economies all over the world for decades to come was the COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow in November. The meeting saw a deluge of promises, but what was actually achieved? Martin Webber speaks to Tim Gould, chief energy economist at the International Energy Agency and economist Irwin Stelzer, from the Hudson Institute in the United States.It was another boom year for the pharmaceutical industry as it crafted the vaccines that have saved so many lives. Of the 8 billion coronavirus vaccinations worldwide, one billion have been delivered by the US logistics company, UPS. We hear from Wes Wealer, President of UPS healthcare.And small business owners have had a bleak time for much of the past year. But many of those that have survived now feel optimistic. We hear from the owner of the Aroma speciality coffee shop in Bologna in Italy, Cristina Caroli, about her year.

Covid-19 is set to prompt radical long term changes to how we live and work, so what lessons can be learnt when we eventually emerge from the pandemic? Could the changes in the way we work herald higher productivity and happier people in the future?We hear the stories of the people who managed to thrive during a very difficult year, including the milkman who saw a boom in deliveries and the dancer who found work in South Korea when the London stage went dark.Martin Webber is joined by Professor Devi Sridhar who holds the Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh; economist Roger Bootle, of Capital Economics; Robert Reich, former Labour Secretary under President Clinton; Tomas Philipson, who was Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors under Mr Trump; and actor Thomas Inge who is currentl starring in the musical Cats in South Korea.