World Business Report

We start in Germany, where perhaps the biggest warnings yet about the pressure on Europe's car industry have come from one of the continent's biggest firms. Volkswagen - VW - has warned it could close factories for the first time in its history as it comes under increasing financial pressure.Also today the boss of one of the world's biggest delivery firms warns of disruption to global trade,And, fancy an AI dating - wingman?

Campaign donations have been a key feature of the 2024 US election. Since Kamala Harris entered the presidential race huge donation figures have been widely reported in the media. One Republican donor tells us why he’s hoping for a Trump win. We examine where campaign donations are coming from and how decisive they might be in this election. Also in the programme, Rahul Tandon looks at the protests and general strike in Israel following the death of six hostages held by Hamas, and looking back at Mexico’s President Lopez Obrador’s economic record as he prepares to leave office.

Businesses, schools, universities and transport across Israel have been disrupted by a general strike called to put pressure on the government to agree a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal with Hamas. We find out how firms are operating and from one boss who's encouraging his staff to strike.Also, Thailand's war on an "alien" fish that it fears could cost its economy almost $300 million.And cries of foul play from fans of the band Oasis, after a ticketing meltdown and experiencing the rough side of dynamic pricing.

Elon Musk's social platform X expects to be blocked in Brazil after missing a judge's deadline to appoint a new legal representative. We get the latest. As The Maldives see their credit rating downgraded by ratings agency Fitch, investors fear the archipelago could become the first country to default on a sukuk, an Islamic financial product similar to a bond. We hear more about the islands' situation. And as more young Africans are leave their countries in search of a better future, we find out what happens to the elderly parents who are left behind.

Germany’s DAX Index, which tracks the country's 40 largest companies on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, has hit a record high as investors expect the European Central Bank to cut rates. Certain African countries have seen prices and taxes rise in the last few years, leading people to take the streets. We hear from people in Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya.And could a universal basic income help protect the Amazon rainforest?

In the last half hour the artificial intelligence giants Nvidia has released earnings for April to June.. The chipmaker has seen huge growth over the last few years, driven by the AI boom. How will it impact world markets?Also, in the programme, Devina Gupta finds out how fin-tech company Klarna has already cut its workforce from 5,000 to 3,800 in the past year, and wants to reduce that to 2,000 employees by using AI in marketing and customer service.

The UK's Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, visits Germany to explore a 'reset' of relations with the European Union. But how easy is his quest? We find out. Ageing population is also a big concern in the UK, where 15 million people are over the age of 50 and economically inactive. As this trend rises, we look into what companies are doing to recruit these older workers. The National Football League (NFL) has taken a historic step which could transform the financing of American football. We hear the details.

The Pentagon says an oil tanker in the Red Sea which was recently attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels is still on fire and appears to be leaking oil. The MV Delta Sounion was carrying about 1 million barrels of crude oil. Also, in the programme, Roger Hearing hears why American consumers are feeling more optimistic and asks why Estonia's justice minister wants to rent out unoccupied prison cells.

The US national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, is visiting China where he's meeting with authorities to discuss Taiwan and trade.As India's population continues to grow, we hear about businesses trying to cash in on the booming 'silver economy'.And how the construction of an airport in the Philippines has been delayed due to a sand shortage.

The CEO of the Telegram messaging app Pavel Durov is being held by French authorities until at least Wednesday. Why has he been arrested and what does this say about social media regulation? Plus, IKEA is trying out a second-hand marketplace.And business opportunities from India's ageing population.

The owner of Telegram, Pavel Durov, has been arrested in France for offences related to the app. We get the latest. The oil tanker attacked by Houthi rebels last week is still on fire in the Red Sea. We find out the consequences this can have on the shipping industry. People in Australia can now refuse to respond to their employers outside working hours. We hear more about the countries new "right to disconnect" law.

As US jobless claims rise and housing affordability worsens, will the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in September?Plus, are tech giants ready to embrace open-source software?And, is Saudi Arabia hosting the Esports World Cup just an example of 'sportswashing'?

We hear what the Democratic presidential nominee could do for American voters on lower incomes, as she prepares to address the party's National Convention.Also, major disruption to Canada's rail freight network could be short-lived.And what's behind the sudden departure of Nestlé's top boss?

Gold prices hit new record high as investors pile back into the commodity ahead of expected interest rate cuts in the US. We look into the details. A month after the resignation of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, the BBC talks to former IMF economist and new central bank Governor, Ahsan Mansur, about the economic challenges the country faces. And we find out why protesters in Serbia are against a lithium mine that could cover 90% of the metal's demand in Europe.

Tesla's Chinese-made electric vehicles imported into the European Union will be subject to lower tariffs than those produced by competitors. We listen to the EU's arguments, and look at the implications this can have on the European market. Ghana's president has launched the start of the construction of a multibillion-dollar petroleum hub in the west of the country. But landowners at the proposed site are not happy about it. We find out why. And 'Black Myth: Wukong', a new game made by Chinese developers, has become one of the most played ever on one of the top gaming platforms. We hear about the game's plot, and why it's so popular.

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.