World Business Report

Shareholders of plane maker Boeing approved a pay package of nearly $33 million for outgoing CEO Dave Calhoun - the highest ever agreed by the company - at its AGM on Friday. Mr Calhoun was also re-elected to stay on the troubled company’s board.

Cubans are enduring some of their bleakest economic times since the Cold War – amid worsening inflation, a scarcity of basic goods and a decades-long US economic embargo. The BBC’s Correspondent, Will Grant, looks at how the situation has impacted on one of Cuba’s most quintessential industries – sugar – to see how tough the situation has become.

China's real estate industry is facing major financial problems, leaving many empty or half-finished unused buildings. One of China’s largest real-estate companies, Country Garden of the verge of liquidation.

Also, Roger Hearing finds out what's happening with businesses in New Caledonia. And we hear how the economic growth in India affecting people's life.

Two months after a container ship crash saw the collapse of a road bridge in Baltimore, killing six workers, Rahul Tandon speaks to the Executive Director of the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Centre about why staff on the ship are still stuck aboard.

As the Dow Jones hits a record high we look at how a strong stock market is helping some to retire earlier than expected and on the day that Singapore Airlines announces staff bonuses worth nearly eight months' salary we look at how they came to receive such a generous payout.

Chines leader Xi Jinping has been rolling out the red carpet for the Russian President Vladimir Putin during his two days visit. A Large portion of the meeting focused around the two countries' trade relationship. What do these two huge economies want from each other?

Also, in the programme, Sam Fenwick looks at Kenya where the government announced a new tax policy that will increase the price of staples like bread, mobile phone data and money transfers.

What’s the importance of the Russian President Vladmir Putin’s visit to China? Rahul Tandon explores the possible economic benefits to both countries.

We hear how Russia is still managing to export oil via other countries around the world, and in effect making the sanctions ineffective.

The Ambassador-at-Large with Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chan Hen Chee, talks to us about the country’s future direction after its long serving Prime Minister steps down.

In a BBC exclusive, Latvia's central bank governor, Mārtiņš Kazāks, highlights how the interest from frozen Russian assets could help finance Ukraine’s army. EU ambassadors have already agreed this in principle.

Also, Will Bain finds out why foreign investors in Georgia might reconsider their future after a controversial funding law was passed in the country. And we hear from an autoworker in Alabama as workers vote on unionisation.

Presenter Sam Fenwick assesses the impact of US tariffs on Chinese goods. Joe Biden is putting them on imports, including electric cars and semiconductors.

We hear from the business community in Georgia worried a new law will put off foreign trade. It requires organisations which receive more than 20 per cent of funding from abroad to declare themselves as illegal.

We examine sports betting in the US. States have been after states were allowed to legalise the industry. Betting on sports is part of the sports fan experience in many countries around the world but it's a relatively new thing in the US.

The White House has confirmed the United States is putting tariffs on 18 billion dollars worth of imports from China. They'll target sectors like electric vehicles, batteries, steel and critical minerals. The US government accusing China of "unfair trade practices".

Also, in the programme, we find out why one of the largest mining companies decided to focus the business on copper instead of diamonds. And we will look at Rhodes where the economy is still recovering after wildfires.

Flooding in Brazil continues, bringing despair to residents and businesses alike. Can emergency government funds offer hope of rebuilding? Meanwhile, Sam Fenwick looks at what's expected in the Australian budget, and what Melinda Gates' departure from her namesake foundation means to the world of philanthropy

Hundreds of Georgians joined protest against a foreign influence bill, described by critics as the "Russia law". People are concerned that the new law could be used by the government to clamp down on opponents, and could harm Georgia's hopes of joining the European Union.

Also, Will Bain finds out why Russia's new Defence Minister is an economist and he hears about the project helping people escape extreme poverty by equipping them to start small businesses in Uganda.

The UK has emerged from recession – but can it hold its ground? And how does it compare to the rest of the world?

Elsewhere, Emily Thomas digs into the agricultural impact of the floods in Brazil, and looks back at Chinese president Xi Jinping's visit to Europe.

The tech giant Apple has faced an online backlash in response to an advert featuring books and musical instrument being crushed, to demonstrate how their creativity has been compressed into the latest iPad.

Also, with music catalogue company Hipgnosis facing a takeover, is it worth a price tag of $1.6 billion?

And we hear from one of the Eurovision song contest’s most successful songwriters.

Almost three-thousand cabin crew members in India have taken part in a mass sick leave in protest for better working conditions. Air India have cancelled 85 flights while travel disruption continues for hundreds of passengers.

Also, on the show – find out why Korean women are reluctant to have children.

Plus, you can hear how Euro Vision song writers are earning a living for the annual singing competition.

A former employee of Boeing's biggest supplier has claimed that sections of 737 Max aircraft regularly left its factory with serious defects.

Spirit Aerosystems builds fuselages for the 737 Max, which are then shipped to Boeing’s own plant for final assembly.

Speaking publicly for the first time, former quality inspector Santiago Peredes told the BBC that some managers actively tried to discourage him from flagging up flaws in half-finished planes.

Also, Rahul Tandon, finds out why there are a lot of concerns about whether the plan to use Russian assets for weapons is legal and why not everyone was keen to see the Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Hungary.

We speak to the head of Sweden’s central bank, after it voted to cut interest rates; making it one of the first to do so in the region. The bank moved ahead of the U.S Federal Reserve for the first time this century.

Elsewhere, Ed Butler looks at why Ghana could face issues with the World Bank over its LGBT policies, and why the rising prices of doner kebabs in Germany is becoming a political issue.

TikTok has filed a lawsuit aiming to block a US law that would ban in the video app in the country unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company.

In the filing, the social media company called the act an "extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights" of the company and its 170 million American users.

Also, Rahul Tandon, looks at the Disney financial results and finds out what can you buy with Argentina's new 10 000 pesos banknote.

Saudi’s state-oil company Aramco saw profits drop this week, but its payout to the government will still reach an eye-watering $31 billion. We see if the Saudi economy can cope with all its expensive mega projects.

Also, Ed Butler explores the latest issues at Boeing, and finds out why India is becoming a hot new destination for big concerts.

On his first visit to Europe since 2019, president Xi Jinping has been talking about trade ties. The West is worried about cheap Chinese imports of electric cars.

Also, Rahul Tandon finds out why global petrol demand growth could halve in 2024 and what impact the shutdown in Israel would have on Al Jazeera's business operations.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping chooses France for his first visit to the continent after a five-year absence. We get the latest. Kosovo is home to Europe’s largest zinc, lead and silver mine. We visit it to know a bit more about central Europe’s smallest economy per capita. And we hear about a new form of ghost flights and the fine that the Australian airline Qantas has just received for using them.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry is to reduce Turkish imports both to Israel and to the occupied Palestinian territories. It’s also appealing for sanctions against Turkey for violating existing trade agreements.

Also, in the programme, we look at Brazil’s plans to propose a global annual tax for billionaires at the G20 in July

Last month, Ankara introduced partial restrictions citing being refused permission to drop aid into Gaza. Their response was to introduce restrictions on trade. Now, it appears that all imports and exports from Israel have been blocked. The country’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz said this was "how a dictator behaves" "and they will lose."

Also, in the programme, we look at Pandemic-era fitness darling Peloton is showing more signs of trouble, as the CEO steps down and announcing staff redundancies.

The Co-op Live Arena is Europe's biggest, with a capacity of 23,500. But fans have reacted with shock and confusion after it called off its opening concert at the last minute. We're outside the venue - and will ask what it means for the Co-op - which has bought the naming rights for the venue - but doesn't run it.

Maersk, the world's second largest shipping company - says the Red Sea route might not be open for the rest of the year. Rahul Tandon asks what that means for the world's supply chain.

Plus we hear from Japan as it continues to tackle a demographic issue - amid criticism from US President Joe Biden.

The US Federal Reserve says it needs greater confidence that inflation is easing before cutting interest rates. We get the latest from our correspondent in New York. The housing market is one of the industries most impacted by the higher cost of borrowing. We hear from buyers and sellers. And we have an exclusive interview with Pakistan's Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb, about the conditions the country has to meet after taking a loan from the International Monetary Fund.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb exclusively speaks to World Business Report about the latest and 24th International Monetary Fund bailout for the country - and says it should be its last.

In this extended podcast version of the interview with Mr. Aurangzeb, he talks to Will Bain about the steps he thinks are necessary for Pakistan to achieve economic stability.

The country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has previously said the disbursement of $1.1 billion by the IMF will help the country achieve that, amid discussions for a new loan programme. The funding was the second and final tranche of Pakistan's $3 billion standby arrangement with the IMF which it secured last summer to help avert a sovereign default.

Also, in the programme, we look at how the risk of flooding or landslides are affecting people living in Kenya.

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the giant crypto exchange, Binance, will spend 4 months in a US prison. He had pled guilty to charges of enabling money laundering at the exchange. Ed Butler asks what it means for crypto.

Meanwhile, in Argentina, a series of key reforms were passed which could spell privatization of a dozen companies. We speak to a former presidential candidate who says the reforms will spell trouble.

Finally, Beijing, Brussels and Washington are preparing for a major showdown over electric cars.

Zimbabwe introduces a new currency, the ZiG, to tackle its high inflation.

The Argentinian parliament has approved sweeping austerity measures which has triggered mass protests. We also hear from Ecuador, a country which in the late 90s successfully dealt with high inflation.

And we hear from Bumble CEO Lidiane Jones on women in tech and the path to success.

Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies have agreed to phase out the use of coal power by 2035, putting a critical timeline on the plans first announced last year in Dubai. Also in the programme, Ed Butler looks at the new spending cap set to apply to football teams in the English Premiere League. And, we hear about the retreat of the grocery courier firm Getir from Europe and the U.S, and the future of the sector.

America's top diplomat and the Chinese president have held talks in Beijing as both sides seek to stabilise relations. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that Washington will act if China does not stop supplying Russia with items used in its assault on Ukraine.

Also, in the programme, Roger Hearing finds out how Egypt authorities dealing with the inflation and who created World biggest 3D printer.

Could the US Secretary’s visit to Beijing further improve the US-China relationship that still crackles with tension and suspicion? Devina Gupta speaks to Prof Henry Gao, an expert in global trade at Singapore Management University.

Over to Haiti and it is day one of the new interim government there which is trying to crackdown on gang violence we speak to the boss one of the main telecom companies - about what it is like to do business in this chaos and his hopes for stability.

Messaging app WhatsApp says it will leave India if it is forced to break its end-to-end encryption, that is mandated by India's 2021 Information Technology Rules.

Finally – what does it mean for a female flight attendant to get a CEO position for an Asian airline company? We find out how this story made headlines in Japan.

The US economy grew by less than forecast in the first three months of this year but inflation gathered pace, which could delay an interest rate cut.

Official figures revealed the economy expanded at an annualised rate of 1.6%, far below expectations and the growth seen in the final months of 2023.

Meanwhile, inflation, which measures the pace of price rises, has increased.

Day trippers will have to pay €5 to visit the famous Italian city. The local government wants to discourage low-budget tourists who don't stay overnight in Venice. We get the latest. Mining giant BHP has proposed a buyout of Anglo American. The $39bn deal would forge the world's biggest copper miner in times when the price for this mineral is soaring. We look into the details. And we hear about the challenges US businesses operating in China are facing.

The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken travels to Beijing in an attempt to curb support for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We look into the details. Boeing reports results after a difficult quarter, and what happens to movies once they have been taken down from streaming platforms? We find out.

The British government wants to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel illegally on small boats. We get the latest. Greece has come a long way from the sovereign debt crisis it fell into in 2009. But challenges still remain, we hear about them. And we take a look at Elon Musk's latest row, this time, with Australia's Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.

Tesla has cut its prices again in a number of major markets - including the US, China and Germany - as the electric car giant run by multi-billionaire Elon Musk faces falling sales.

The move comes after it reported a sharp fall in its global vehicle deliveries in the first three months of this year.

Also, Vishala Sri-Pathma finds out of why government military spending increased in all five geographical regions and why Northern Ireland and its economy are betting big on film, TV and gaming.

The big event of 2021 that will shape economies all over the world for decades to come was the COP 26 climate conference in Glasgow in November. The meeting saw a deluge of promises, but what was actually achieved? Martin Webber speaks to Tim Gould, chief energy economist at the International Energy Agency and economist Irwin Stelzer, from the Hudson Institute in the United States.

It was another boom year for the pharmaceutical industry as it crafted the vaccines that have saved so many lives. Of the 8 billion coronavirus vaccinations worldwide, one billion have been delivered by the US logistics company, UPS. We hear from Wes Wealer, President of UPS healthcare.

And small business owners have had a bleak time for much of the past year. But many of those that have survived now feel optimistic. We hear from the owner of the Aroma speciality coffee shop in Bologna in Italy, Cristina Caroli, about her year.

Covid-19 is set to prompt radical long term changes to how we live and work, so what lessons can be learnt when we eventually emerge from the pandemic? Could the changes in the way we work herald higher productivity and happier people in the future?

We hear the stories of the people who managed to thrive during a very difficult year, including the milkman who saw a boom in deliveries and the dancer who found work in South Korea when the London stage went dark.

Martin Webber is joined by Professor Devi Sridhar who holds the Chair of Global Public Health at the University of Edinburgh; economist Roger Bootle, of Capital Economics; Robert Reich, former Labour Secretary under President Clinton; Tomas Philipson, who was Chair of the Council of Economic Advisors under Mr Trump; and actor Thomas Inge who is currentl starring in the musical Cats in South Korea.