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

2 HR AGO

Iran seizes cargo ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has seized two cargo ships and warned that reopening the Strait of Hormuz will be “impossible” if a US blockade continues. Sarah Rogers asks what that means for the US and hear from a business operating inside Iran. We also hear how businesses are expecting to benefit from a $100 billion EU loan to Ukraine. And Tesla reports higher than expected first-quarter profits. (Picture: Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

28 min
9 HR AGO

EU frees up money for Ukraine

The European Union has unlocked a $100 billion loan for Kyiv - money that’s been stuck for months. Hungary had been holding it up, arguing it wasn’t receiving Russian oil through a key pipeline that runs across Ukraine. That line was damaged after a Russian strike earlier this year, but Kyiv says repairs are now complete and oil is flowing again. Plus, we get a rare insight into what it’s like trying to run a shop or even buy bread in Iran these days. And we look at the rise of quality Chinese retail brands, challenging the perception that “Made in China” means cheap and of poor quality.

9 min
1 DAY AGO

US senators grill new Fed chair

Andrew Peach is joined by George Conboy as we look at Kevin Warsh’s grilling before the US Senate's banking committee and examine the prospects for the world’s largest economy, with expert analysis from economist Courtney Shupert. With US president Donald Trump extending the ceasefire with Iran, we speak to oil analyst Sarah Emerson about how American oil firms are benefiting from the disruption in the Middle East. And we travel to the Canary Islands to find out how tourism is increasingly turning to sport in the race for profit. The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC. (Picture: Kevin Warsh, US president Donald Trump's nominee to be the next chair of the US Federal Reserve, at the end of a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., 21 April 2026. Credit: Reuters / Kevin Lamarque)

26 min
1 DAY AGO

The new head of the Fed?

Kevin Warsh - Donald Trump’s nominee for the post as chairman of the Federal Reserve, the US central bank - appears before senators in a bid to convince them he is the right man for the job. Some senators have threatened to block him unless a criminal probe into the current Fed chair Jay Powell is dropped. Plus, the end of an era at Apple as Tim Cook steps down as CEO. We look at his replacement. And the conflict in the Middle East puts a dampener on the German economy.

9 min
2 DAYS AGO

US businesses begin claiming tariff refunds

Andrew Peach hears from businesses reclaiming 'Liberation Day' tariffs in what promises to be the biggest repayment programme in history. Elsewhere, electric car sales have increased by 50% - in part due to the rise in fuel prices. And, we find out why nostalgia is still what it used to be in the world of advertising. (Photo by FILIP SINGER/EPA/Shutterstock)

26 min
2 DAYS AGO

Tensions in the Gulf as US seizes Iranian ship

Global financial markets have headed south again after tensions between the US and Iran took a turn for the worse over the weekend. American forces attacked and then seized an Iranian cargo ship just east of the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran has responded by saying it will retaliate. Plus, the BBC’s Nick Marsh has been looking at a story that’s been quietly building in financial markets. Traders placing big bets just before major announcements by US president Donald Trump, including during the Iran war. BBC analysis suggests it may be happening more often than we thought.

9 min
4 DAYS AGO

IMO warning for ships in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran has announced that the Strait of Hormuz is open, but the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organisation tells us he wouldn't advise ships to use it, yet. Andrew Peach looks at how the impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is continuing to affect oil and petrol prices. Elsewhere the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have resumed dealings with Venezuela, nearly two decades after its former president Hugo Chávez cut ties. And we look at what's happening in the gaming industry where its stars are at the BAFTA Games Awards in London. Global business news, with live guests and contributions from Asia, Latin America and the USA. (Picture: A vessel at the Strait of Hormuz, off the coast of Oman’s Musandam province on the 12th of April, 2026. Credit: Reuters)

26 min
5 DAYS AGO

Oil price plunges after Iran says Strait of Hormuz is open again

Iran's Foreign Minister says ships can again use the crucial Persian Gulf sea route while a ceasefire continues to hold. Markets have reacted sharply to the news. The price of Brent Crude fell 10 percent on the news. Shares in oil companies have fallen, while shares in airlines and other heavy energy users have risen sharply. And we hear from Lebanon about how the country's economy is faring.

10 min

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The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

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DAILY NEWS
Spanning history, religion, culture, science and philosophy, In Our Time from BBC Radio 4 is essential listening for the intellectually curious. In each episode, host Misha Glenny and expert guests explore the characters, events and discoveries that have shaped our world. History fans can learn about pivotal wars and societal upheavals, such as the rise and fall of Napoleon, the Sack of Rome in 1527, and the political intrigue of the Russian Revolution. Those fascinated by the lives of kings and queens can journey to Versailles to meet Marie Antoinette and Louis XIV the Sun King, or to Ancient Egypt to meet Cleopatra and Nefertiti. Or perhaps you're looking to explore the history of religion, from Buddhism's early teachings to the Protestant Reformation. If you're interested in the stories behind iconic works of art, music and literature, dive in to discussions on the artistic genius of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel and Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers. From Gothic architecture to the works of Shakespeare, each episode of In Our Time offers new insight into humanity's cultural achievements. Those looking to enrich their scientific knowledge can hear episodes on black holes, the Periodic Table, and classical theories of gravity, motion, evolution and relativity. Learn how the discovery of penicillin revolutionised medicine, and how the death of stars can lead to the formation of new planets. Lovers of philosophy will find episodes on the big issues that define existence, from free will and ethics, to liberty and justice. In what ways did celebrated philosophers such as Mary Wollstonecraft and Karl Marx push forward radical new ideas? How has the concept of karma evolved from the ancient Sanskrit texts of Hinduism to today? What was Plato's concept of an ideal republic, and how did he explore this through the legend of the lost city of Atlantis? In Our Time celebrates the pursuit of knowledge and the enduring power of ideas.

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HISTORY
They steal billions: Cyber Hack investigates the alleged cyber gangs and the heists and hacks they’re accused of carrying out. No one is said to be safe. From Hollywood studios, to international banks, from crypto exchanges to small businesses and health care companies, law enforcement agencies say they cause chaos around the globe. Who will be next? And where is the money going? Latest season: Evil Corp. The Russian Evil Corp is accused of being a family crime gang, responsible for stealing hundreds of millions of dollars. Law enforcement agencies say they are “the most pervasive cybercrime group to ever have operated”. No one is off limits – not even a group of nuns in Chicago. Previously on Cyber Hack: The Lazarus Heist. This hacking group is said to be behind the biggest crypto heist in history, stealing billions of dollars in the process. Investigators blame North Korea’s state-backed hackers The Lazarus Group, and say the stolen money is being used to finance its nuclear weapons and missile development programs. Pyongyang denies involvement. Among the Lazarus Group’s many targets are Hollywood’s Sony Entertainment and the Bank of Bangladesh. ATMs are cleaned out of money, while its operatives live double lives in a hacker hotel. But where does the money trail lead?

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TRUE CRIME
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.

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BUSINESS
Where the world and America meet, with episodes each weekday. The world is changing. Decisions made in the US and by the second Trump administration are accelerating that change. But they are also a symptom of it. With Asma Khalid in DC, Tristan Redman in London, and the backing of the BBC’s international newsroom, The Global Story brings clarity to politics, business and foreign policy in a time of connection and disruption. Come and join us our live event. You can register for Castfest tickets here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/castfest-2026

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DAILY NEWS
Interviews, news and analysis of the day’s global events.

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DAILY NEWS