World Business Report

BBC

5.0 (1)
BUSINESS NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

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

1 HR AGO

Warner Brothers Discovery agree to Paramount acquisition

The shareholders of Warner Brothers Discovery have voted yes to an hundred billion dollar acquisition by Paramount. After fighting off Netflix to reach an agreement, the vote for Paramount became a formality....but then the next battle begins with the regulators. Tens of thousands of employees of Samsung have been protesting at a major factory in South Korea. And why China businesses are feeling the squeeze from the economic impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Presenter: Andrew Peach Senior Producer: Craig Henderson

11 min
18 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
1 DAY 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
2 DAYS 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
3 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
5 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

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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

3.9 (42)

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.

5.0 (10)

HISTORY
The comedy podcast that takes history seriously. In each episode of You’re Dead to Me from BBC Radio 4, Greg Jenner is joined by a comedian and an expert historian to learn and laugh about the past. History isn’t just about dates and textbooks – it’s about extraordinary characters, amazing stories, and some very questionable fashion choices. How long did it take to build an Egyptian pyramid? What does the Bayeux Tapestry reveal about medieval life? Why did it take nearly half a millennium for Joan of Arc to become a saint? And was Catherine the Great really all that great? Whether you want to explore ancient landmarks like Stonehenge and Machu Picchu, dance through the history of Broadway and Bollywood, or find out how the Tudors rose to power, Greg and his guests promise to teach you something new that you won’t have heard in history lessons. Previous episodes of You’re Dead To Me have covered everything from royals to revolutionaries, actors to activists and divas to dictators. Take a stroll through the history of high-heeled shoes or get the scoop on the history of ice cream. Maybe you’d like to paint like the cave artists of the Palaeolithic era, work out like a Victorian bodybuilder, or fight like a Spartan? We’ve even hosted a special, live episode with the BBC Concert Orchestra to explore the dramatic life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Whatever your historical interests, Greg and his guests make even the trickiest topics easy to follow. Join them for a history lesson that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening - with no homework required.

4.7 (6)

HISTORY
The BBC’s space podcast. The story of Artemis II: Nasa’s mission to loop around the Moon. Nasa returned to the Moon for the first time in more than half a century. The Artemis II mission sent astronauts – on a spacecraft called Orion - around the Moon and to go further from Earth than any human in history. We followed Artemis II, with an episode every day during the mission. The story of Artemis II is told by space scientist, Maggie Aderin, and British astronaut, Tim Peake. They are joined by expert contributors, US space journalist Kristin Fisher and the BBC News Science Editor, Rebecca Morelle. Special guests include: John Blevins, chief engineer for Nasa’s Space Launch System (SLS) Jeremy Hansen, Artemis II astronaut Jacki Mahaffey, Artemis II chief training officer Professor Sara Russell, planetary scientist Dr Kelsey Young, lead science officer and lunar science lead for Artemis II Dr Anna Fisher, former space shuttle astronaut 13 Minutes is the BBC’s space podcast, telling epic space stories. It’s produced by the BBC Audio Science Unit for the BBC World Service. Theme music by Hans Zimmer and Christian Lundberg and produced by Russell Emanuel, for Bleeding Fingers Music. Previous seasons: Season 1: 13 Minutes to the Moon. The first Moon landing. In the final dramatic 13-minute descent to the Moon, the Apollo 11 mission came close to going badly wrong. Communication was breaking down, technology was failing and fuel was running out. This is the story of how the first Moon landing was saved. Presented by Kevin Fong. Season 2: Apollo 13. Apollo 13 should have been the third Moon landing, but after an explosion, it almost ended in tragedy. Told by the people who flew it and saved it. Presented and co-written by Kevin Fong. Season 3: The Space Shuttle. A sci-fi dream that changed spaceflight forever. From the boldest test flight in history to one of Nasa’s darkest days – the Challenger disaster. Space scientist Maggie Aderin tells the awe-inspiring story of the programme that brought triumph and tragedy. Some scenes in this series use recreated sound effects.

4.3 (40)

HISTORY
Global investigations from the BBC. Gripping stories from around the world – delve into a World of Secrets. Latest season: DNA detectives track down the British soldiers who fathered children in Kenya then disappeared. The mothers and children were left without support. We join the quest for justice. Also, previously on World of Secrets: The Darkest Web: Two US special agents infiltrate the dark web to rescue children. With access to the elite global team who hunt down people creating and trading in child sexual abuse materials. Death in Dubai: A woman falls from a tower block and her name starts trending. But behind the online rumours lies an even darker reality. And The Abercrombie Guys: Investigating sexual exploitation claims against the former CEO of fashion giant Abercrombie & Fitch.

5.0 (1)

DOCUMENTARY
Next On Intrigue: Ransom Man. What would you do if your deepest secrets were held to ransom? Jenny Kleeman investigates one of the world's most audacious hacks. When a shocking data breach takes place at a Finnish psychotherapy service, the nation’s darkest secrets are held to ransom by a faceless hacker. He calls himself ransom_man. Award-winning journalist Jenny Kleeman (BBC Radio 4’s The Gift) traces the story from the first extortion email to the hunt to find the hacker and bring him to justice. We all have some thoughts we’d never write down. Now, just imagine that a criminal had got hold of those thoughts, and was threatening to publish them for all the world to see if you didn’t pay to stop him. Jenny finds out what kind of person is prepared to terrorise a nation like this, and the lengths people will go to fight back. On the way, she’ll discover that the origins of this dark crime stretch far beyond Finland. Her extraordinary quest leads her around the world and to unexpected places, bringing Jenny face to face with victims, investigators, police and notorious hackers themselves. It is a cautionary tale about something that could happen anywhere, to any of us, again and again. Jenny will learn just how vulnerable our deepest secrets can be – and the enormous power that hackers now have to hold our inner lives to ransom. Intrigue: 'Jaw-dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.

5.0 (1)

TRUE CRIME