World Business Report
Analysis of the big global business and economic issues, as they affect consumers and investors. Broadcast on weekdays.
Could US access to Greenland's minerals be the answer to President Trump's territorial ambitions?
President Donald Trump says NATO would be stronger if Greenland were under US control. Greenlandic and Danish foreign ministers are about to hold talks in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.The meeting could shape investment, mining and military spending across the Arctic. China's…
Trump's tariff on Iran's trading partners: What's at stake?
Sam Fenwick takes a look as US President Donald Trump brings back tariffs, this time targeting countries that continue trading with Iran, with China among those in focus. New US inflation figures show price rises are easing, but many American shoppers still say their weekly bills feel high. And pressure…
Ban on business with Iran: how will it affect Iranians?
US President Donald Trump has said countries doing business with Iran will face a 25% tariff on trade they do with America. How will it impact Iranian business owners? An Indian tea-grower explains their expectations from India and US trade talks? We look at the latest US consumer prices. And…
Is the White House at war with the Federal Reserve?
Sam Fenwick examines a growing political storm at the world’s most powerful central bank, as US prosecutors investigate the Federal Reserve and its chair. At Meta, a former adviser to Donald Trump steps into one of Silicon Valley’s biggest jobs, prompting new scrutiny of Big Tech’s relationship with Washington. And…
Fed Chair hits back at criminal investigation
The Chair of the US Federal Bank Jerome Powell has released a statement in which he says a criminal investigation is about whether the bank can change interest rates based on what will serve the public rather than what the President wants. Donald Trump has denied he knows anything about…
President Trump lays out plans for Venezuela's oil reserves.
The US president, Donald Trump, has met top American energy executives in the White House, saying his government will choose which US firms can exploit Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Also, Elon Musk's social media site X could face a UK ban over a feature enabling users to create fake, sexualised…
EU-Mercosur deal gets green light
A free trade agreement between the European Union and the South American trade bloc is approved, but some countries aren’t happy. We speak to a European Commissioner for Trade about the deal. And there's another big deal brewing - this time in the mining sector, as Glencore and Rio Tinto…
Greenland is not “an object to be acquired”, minister tells BBC
As President Trump and European leaders have their say about Greenland, BBC’s Andrew Peach hears from Greenland’s business minister, Naaja Nathanielson. And, in a few weeks, a group of potential investors and hedge fund managers will be heading to Venezuela after its president was forcibly removed by the US. We…
Why does the US want Greenland?
President Trump wants Greeland - and security, money, minerals and influence are all part of the picture. We chat to a Danish politician about Trump's claims. In the US, Trump wants to crack down on payouts to executives and shareholders of major US defence contractors - and also plans to…
US seizes Russian-flagged oil tanker
The United States military has seized two tankers linked to Venezuelan oil. This comes as Venezuela’s state-run oil company is confirming – for the first time – that it is negotiating the sale of crude oil to the United States after the US Energy Secretary said that Washington would control…
China accuses US of bullying over Venezuela’s oil
The US President says the interim authorities in Venezuela will be turning over up to fifty million barrels of what he called sanctioned oil to the United States. Staying in the US where the Department of Health has frozen child care and family assistance in five Democrat- governed states, alleging…
What will happen to Venezuela's economy beyond the oil industry?
As people wonder what happens next, we talk to a student and business owner about their hopes for Venezuela's future, and explore the economy beyond oil production. Also, does sacking football managers make good business sense? And we hear from gym enthusiasts keen on a German fitness trend. You can…
Greenland businesses at the eye of geopolitical storm
Six European leaders today rallied to Greenland's support after the President Donald Trump said the US ‘needed Greenland’. The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark said in a joint statement, that Greenland ‘belongs to its people...and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations" We…
What’s daily life like in post-Maduro Venezuela?
We get a sense of what prices and the jobs market are like in Venezuela, and also look at the country's oil sector. And we also talk the about the global obsession surrounding Korean skincare and cosmetics - K-beauty. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote:…
US oil stocks jump
Markets give their verdict on America's dramatic military intervention in Venezuela. Shares of US oil giants like Chevron and Exxon Mobil are soaring... after President Trump suggested they can play a lead role in restoring Venezuela’s oil industry But there's been criticism from China and Iran - traditional allies of…
China's BYD overtakes Tesla
The Chinese car company BYD has overtaken Elon Musk's Tesla as the world's biggest seller of electric vehicles. We unpack how it happened. How viable is it to be a content creator? We look at how TikTok became a political flashpoint between the US and China. And good news for…
Anti-government protests over the economy in Iran turn deadly
In Iran, at least seven people have been killed in anti-government protests that were triggered by a sharp fall in the value of the currency, a rising cost of living and an economy that's labouring under Western sanctions. The price of cigarettes looks set to rise in India. What will…
How do economies hit by war rebuild in 2026?
Syria rolls out redesigned banknotes as part of a currency reform aimed at rebuilding after years of war. Russia, meanwhile, is pressing ahead with tax rises to help fund the war in Ukraine as the invasion nears its fourth year. Rahul Tandon asks what realistic economic choices remain for governments…
Bulgaria adopts the Euro
At midnight on 01 January, Bulgaria became the 21st country in the European Union to adopt the Euro currency. Also, Serbia's main oil refinery has been given more time to find a new owner, as it tries to avoid US sanctions against Russian-owned oil companies. And, we visit the Chinese…
How is streaming changing what we listen to and watch?
Netflix is screening its latest hit at the cinema and MTV is closing music-video channels. What can the latest moves in the entertainment business tell us about how streaming is changing our viewing and listening habits?