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BUSINESS
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The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC.

16 HR AGO

Is China’s central bank doing enough to revive its economy?

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.

26 min
1 DAY AGO

Sri Lanka elections: A change for the better?

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?

26 min
4 DAYS AGO

What next for Lebanon?

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.

26 min
4 DAYS AGO

Can a new CEO make Nike cool again?

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.

26 min
5 DAYS AGO

The view from Beirut as tensions soar

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.

26 min
5 DAYS AGO

Flooding in Europe: mounting pressure for more funding

“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?

26 min
6 DAYS AGO

US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates for the first time in four years

The US Federal Reserve has slashed interest rates by half a point, the first reduction in more than four years. We talk to experts and businesses about the impact this will have in the economy. A second wave of blasts have taken place in Lebanon, leaving at least 14 dead and more than 450 injured. We hear more about the exploding devices and their origins. And reports of X being available again for users in Brazil have emerged weeks after the social platform was temporarily banned by a judge in the country. We look into what is happening.

27 min
6 DAYS AGO

Are consumers still feeling the pinch?

Over the past four years, consumer prices worldwide have been on the rise. In the United States, inflation soared to 9.1% in June 2022, marking its highest rate since November 1981. Similarly, advanced economies have faced significant inflationary pressures. Later today, the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, will announce its latest decision on interest rates and is expected to cut rates for the first time in more than four years. Elsewhere, the UK has announced inflation figures of 2.2%, but are consumers feeling any better off? Presenter Sam Fenwick examines if businesses have also been struggling with higher prices for energy and raw materials along with increased wages.

26 min

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The day’s top stories from BBC News. Delivered twice a day on weekdays, daily at weekends.

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DAILY NEWS
NEW season: Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods. Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed - then owner of one of the most famous shops in the world - is accused of rape and attempted rape by women who worked for him. Now they refuse to be silenced any longer. This is a story of power and control at the very top of British society. At the time of many of the alleged attacks, Mohamed Al Fayed was the owner of London's luxury department store Harrods, and also the iconic Ritz Paris hotel and English football club Fulham FC. The BBC has heard testimony of over 20 women. Harrods has condemned Al Fayed's actions "in the strongest terms" and has told the BBC that "as a business we failed our employees who were his victims and for this we sincerely apologise." Harrods says the organisation is different today to the one owned by Al Fayed, and it "seeks to put the welfare of our employees at the heart of everything we do." The story begins in the 1980s in Knightsbridge, an affluent, exclusive district of London. It continues through the 90s, following the death of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed, Mohamed Al Fayed's son, and into the late 2000s. The billionaire was portrayed in the popular television series The Crown, a drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Mohamed Al Fayed died in 2023. This season is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. World of Secrets is the home of major BBC global investigations and gripping storytelling. Holding the powerful to account and exposing scandals around the world. These are the previous seasons of World of Secrets: Season 1: The Abercrombie Guys. An investigation into claims of sexual exploitation made against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch. He and his British partner were accused by several men, recruited for sex events they hosted around the world. Season 2: The Disciples. The cult of Nigerian prophet TB Joshua. A story of miracles, faith and manipulation, told by people from around the world, who gave up everything for one of the most powerful religious figures of the century. Lured by TB Joshua's claimed healing powers, and the promise that one day they could be like him, they live as disciples in a guarded Lagos compound, cut off from family and friends. Season 3: The Apartheid Killer. All the victims were black and the youngest was just 12 years old. Some relatives are still searching for the graves. They were killed during a three-year bloodbath in the 1980s, in the South African city of East London - by one person. He killed so many, he lost count. In piecing together this story, the new season of World of Secrets exposes the disturbed past and racial injustices of South Africa itself. #WorldofSecrets

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DOCUMENTARY
The one big story. Making sense of the news with our experts around the world. Insights you can trust, Monday to Friday, from the BBC. Episodes will be ready by 10:30 GMT. Host Katya Adler and our BBC teams guide you through one major global news story each episode. From Beijing to Boston, Baghdad to Bangalore, our unrivalled reach will take you beyond the headlines to help understand and explore what’s happening. The Global News Podcast brings you the latest updates and, on The Global Story, we will drill deep into a single story. From the climate emergency, to the burning questions around Artificial Intelligence, to the movements of money and markets, and the power of the ballot and the bullet. Katya Adler has been a BBC correspondent and editor for more than 25 years, covering conflicts in the Middle East, political and economic crises in Europe, and drug cartels in Mexico. The Global Story team would like to hear your stories and experiences on the issues that we’re covering on the podcast. Please get in touch: theglobalstory@bbc.com #TheGlobalStory and tell us your thoughts on what you would like us to talk about.

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NEWS
From ghostly phantoms to UFOs, Danny Robins investigates real-life stories of paranormal encounters. So, are you Team Believer or Team Sceptic? Written and presented by Danny Robins Editor and Sound Designer: Charlie Brandon-King Music: Evelyn Sykes Theme Music by Lanterns on the Lake Produced by Danny Robins and Simon Barnard A Bafflegab and Uncanny Media production for BBC Radio 4

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PERSONAL JOURNALS
The daily news podcast from the BBC, Newscast dives into the day's big stories so you're never out of your depth. Newscast picks the brains of BBC News experts so you're ready if someone picks yours, covering the latest developments in politics in Westminster and beyond. Follow the new Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer. Who will win the race to lead the Conservative Party? Newscast will give you all the best insights from BBC News so you're across all the day's top stories. Newscast is hosted by trusted journalists including Adam Fleming, BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, Laura Kuenssberg and Paddy O'Connell. You can now listen to Newscast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Newscast”. It works on most smart speakers. Catch Newscast seven-days a week and watch on BBC One at 23:40 on Thursday night or later on BBC iPlayer. GET IN TOUCH: You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Send us a message or voicenote via WhatsApp to 03301239480 Email Newscast@bbc.co.uk Or us #Newscast Newscast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Newscast also makes lots of other podcasts, including The Global Story, The Today Podcast, and of course Americast and Ukrainecast. If you enjoy Newscast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below. The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd The Today Podcast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r Americast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p07h19zz Ukrainecast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0bqztzm

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POLITICS
Americast is the authoritative US news and politics podcast from the BBC. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week, like CNN anchor, Christiane Amanpour, Emmy Award-winning TV host, Rachel Maddow, and Succession actress, J Smith-Cameron. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday night on BBC Radio 4 and every weekend on the BBC News Channel. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from special guests, including Miles Taylor, who was chief of staff at the Department for Homeland Security during the Trump presidency before becoming a whistleblower. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at Americast@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. By the way, you can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. See ya’ll later…

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POLITICS