World Business Report

The UN’s special envoy to Syria, has warned that unless the country gets urgent support it could be plunged back into conflict. Ten days after taking power what resources does the new Syrian government have? Tankers carrying Russian oil through European waters will have to prove they're insured or face sanctions. And why children want skincare products for Christmas.

Argentina, for a long time one of the world's most troubled economies, has seen its economy grow. Could this be the end of years of economic crisis? We'll take a look at whether that growth is sustainable and delve into how much of it is to do with the radical policies of the country's president Javier Milei. Also today, we consider what the future holds for the ECOWAS trading bloc in West Africa, as three countries formally file to leave.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We’d love to hear from you!

Resignation of Canada’s Finance Minister rocks the government. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asks Dominic LeBlanc to replace Chrystia Freeland after her shock resignation.Also on World Business Report, Andrew Peach hears from Germany on the day the government deliberately lost a vote of confidence in the country’s parliament. And we hear from northern Sweden that’s been rocked by the bankruptcy of battery maker Northvolt but sees its future in renewable energy

The president of insurance giant AON tells Will Bain that firms should rethink their executives’ security, calling on political leaders to “set the tone” on making the environment safer for CEOs. Eric Anderson also spoke about offering war risk insurance to businesses in Ukraine. Plus, how are Nigerians coping with inflation? The country’s annual inflation rate climbed to a more than 28-year high in November, on the back of rising food prices.

France has a new Prime Minister…but can François Bayrou fix the economy where his predecessor failed? We talk to a biographer who says the jury’s out.Russia’s economy shows surprise growth—but with inflation soaring and sanctions biting, is it all as good as it seems?And Christmas classics still rule the airwaves—and the royalty cheques. Will new Xmas songs ever break through? You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

In a bid to end political instability, President Emmanuel Macron names centrist political ally as France’s prime minister. François Bayrou now has the task of producing a budget that addresses the country's economic challenges, whilst still achieving a majority approval in an increasingly fractious political backdrop. Also, the US offers a reward of up to $5million for information about an alleged remote working scheme funnelling funds to North Korea’s weapons programmes. And how could the fracking industry turn its expertise towards advancements in a renewable energy?

France’s President Emmanuel Macron is fighting to form a new government and pass next year’s budget. But will it calm the country’s economic turmoil?Meanwhile... a British hedge fund trader is jailed for defrauding Denmark out of over $1 billion. How did he pull off one of the biggest tax scams in history?Eighteen years after the Peugeot plant in England closed its doors, we look at the lessons it holds for today’s carmakers battling economic pressures and the race to go electric.And how country singer Noah Kahn and his family helped his local country store to secure its futureYou can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to name the new government chief amid the country’s political breakdown, with a view to tackle the country’s economic outlook.Also, how will Australia’s new plans to introduce a social media company levy encourage tech companies to pay news outlets and publishers for content?And Donald Trump opened trading at the New York Stock Exchange, as he was named Time’s Person of the Year 2024.

Will the $6bn trade in the illegal drug captagon that funded the Assad dictatorship be disrupted now he's gone?As US inflation creeps up, we hear from businesses daring to feel more hopeful about their future prospectsThe Macy's employee who hid $150 million in delivery charges.And why universities in Australia are worried by plans to drastically cut the number of overseas studentsYou can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

Sebastian Ebel, says Germany needs to break free from over-regulation and focus on attracting foreign investors.Food prices in South Africa have risen at their lowest rate in nearly 14 years, keeping the country's inflation below expected levelsAnd General Motors has announced that it will stop funding the development of the Cruise self-driving taxi.

While some Syrians return to work after Bashar al-Assad's fall, others try to get out of the country in fear of a government led by the rebels. We get the latest. Luigi Mangioni, the man accused of murdering Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, has been denied bail. We take a look at his case. And the political crisis continues in South Korea, where president Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country after the faild martial law attempt. We hear about the impact the political instability is having in the economy.

The new regime will be trying to rebuild the country and its infrastructure after 14 years of conflict and sanctionsWe hear from the IMF in Kenya as their financial partnership is set to end in 2025. But what does it mean for the countries ballooning debt?And Rupert Murdoch has lost a significant legal battle over his media empire. We hear more from biographer Claire Atkinson

After the fall of Syria's president Bashar al-Assad, we look into the challenges the nation will face to rebuild the economy. China has launched an antitrust investigation into Nvidia, the world’s most valuable maker of computer chips. We find out why. Baseball player Juan Soto has agreed a $765m deal over 15 years with Major League Baseball's New York Mets, the biggest contract awarded in the the history of sport. We look into the details.

What will life look like in Syria after Bashar al-Assad's regime gone? And who will rebuild the country and help the economy to grow? We hear from Syrian refugee Hadi Nuri and Ruba Jaradat, Regional Director for Arab States at the International Labour Organization (ILO).Also, how will the Chinese government help support for their economy next year?And what will a second Donald Trump presidency mean for America's green energy industry?You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

Suriname's finance minister discusses plans to avoid the "oil curse" and ensure the country’s newfound wealth directly benefits its citizens.TikTok faces a major setback in the US, as a court orders its Chinese owners to sell or leave.We also explore how inflation is reshaping the US clothing industry.And in Ghana, voters prepare to head to the polls this weekend—what issues are driving them?

The agreement between the EU and the South American bloc will create a free trade area covering 780 million people, but not everyone is celebrating. We find out why. In Ghana, nearly 19 million voters will take part in a presidential election on Saturday. This comes against the backdrop of a tough economic crisis that has hit millions of households hard. We hear more from our correspondent. And a London court has made a key ruling in a case involving Nigerian communities and the oil giant Shell. We hear about its consequences.

Exporters from China, Canada, and Mexico are rushing to ship goods to the US following President-elect Donald Trump’s pledge to impose new tariffs on the three countries on his first day in office.Syria’s economy, devastated by over 13 years of war, is nearing collapse, with recent fighting, sanctions, and an earthquake worsening the crisis. The Syrian pound has plunged, driving up the cost of essential goods.And in South Korea, the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has launched an indefinite strike, demanding President Yoon Suk Yeol step down over his martial law declaration.

Bitcoin hits $100,000 for the first time as Donald Trump's victory in the US elections and the appointments he has made fuel the cryptocurrencies market. We hear more. Losses from natural catastrophes are on track to exceed $310 billion in 2024. We get the details. And Japan's traditional alcoholic drink, sake, has been enshrined by UNESCO on its list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Will this boost sales? We find out.

France is facing difficult economic challenges after the government collapses. Prime Minister Michel Barnier leadership was called into question after he used special powers to push through the budget without a vote.South Korea has started impeachment proceedings against its President after thwarting a shock move to impose martial law. Presenter Rahul Tandon examines what this might mean for the economy.We are also in Sweden to look at a social media trend that encourages women to quit their jobs and become stay-at-home wives and girlfriends

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces no-confidence vote after using special powers to force through a social security budget bill. We get the latest. Also in the programme, we go to South Korea, where the political turmoil continues as protesters and unions demand that the president resign or be impeached for his botched attempt to impose military rule. And the messaging app Telegram has agreed to take action to prevent the spread of child sexual abuse imagery online, after years of ignoring calls to do so. But how will it do it? We find out.