Business Matters

US in last ditch shut down vote, unless congress can agree on a spending plan The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, could be facing a confidence vote after he reshuffled a third of his cabinet today. And Delhi's pollution levels have once again soared to dangerous levels. But what impact does this smog have on business and workers in the city?

A government shutdown looms over the US as funding deal is rejected Amazon workers have gone on strike at the peak of the Christmas rush.Changes in weather patterns have been causing problems in some ski resorts around the world, including in India where one mountain resort has reported a fall in visitor numbers.

Shares fell on Wall Street after Fed Chair Jerome Powell announced a cut to its key interest rate of 0.25%, but indicated this could be the last rate reduction for a while. The US dollar rose in value on the news. Also Lily Jamali explains how TikTok is pursuing a last-ditch effort in the US Supreme Court to avoid a mandated sale or ban of the app in America the day before Donald Trump is due to take office as president. And the de-facto leader of Syria tells the BBC that sanctions on the country should be lifted immediately.

Canada takes a breath after the resignation of the country’s Finance Minister, with calls growing for Chrystia Freeland to consider challenging Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the country’s Liberal Party.Also on Business Matters, Andrew Peach hears how 26 tonnes of gold has been found in the vaults of Syria’s National Bank.Andew hears how the Japanese carmakers Nissan and Honda appear to be edging closer to a merger. And with Christmas just around the corner,, why do we keep buying presents for each other if it makes so many of us unhappy?

Andrew Peach is joined by Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland in the US, and Sushma Ramachandran, who's a columnist at the Tribune newspaper, in Delhi, India.They discuss Canada, where the finance minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on the same day an economic statement was due, triggering a political crisis. There's more political crisis in Germany, where the government has collapsed amid a row over the economy. We ask what businesses want from the country's next leaders. We hear from India - as Sri Lanka wants closer relations with the country on energy and trade. Plus we discuss the safety of CEOs - as the president of the global insurance giant AON tells us firms are going to have to rethink their security process for executives.

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!

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? Also, a British hedge fund trader is jailed for defrauding Denmark out of over $1 billion. 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!

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!

Damascus Chamber of Commerce says the interim government pledges to open up the economy and re-establish international trade links. Also, Luigi Mangione, the man accused of murdering Brian Thompson, the chief executive of UnitedHealthcare, has been denied bail. And what impact is South Korea's political instability having on its economy?Rahul Tandon is joined by Sarah Birke, The Economist’s Bureau Chief for Mexico, Central America and The Caribbean, and Simon Littlewood, president of ACG Global Growth Delivered in Singapore.

Syrians are calling for sanctions to be lifted so international trade can resume and its economy can be rebuilt. Also, China launches an antitrust investigation into Nvidia, the world’s most valuable maker of computer chips. And, baseball player Juan Soto has agreed a $765m deal with the New York Mets, the biggest contract awarded in the the history of sport.Rahul Tandon discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Sergio Guzman, director of Colombia Risk Analysis in Bogota, and Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus of Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo.

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol has issued an apology following his attempt to declare martial law earlier this week, which sparked widespread political unrest. Calls for his resignation are growing, even within his own party, as an impeachment vote looms.Syria is on the brink as rebel forces capture more of the country - we'll have the latest.Plus, Suriname's finance minister discusses how the country plans to avoid the "oil curse" and ensure citizens benefit from its newfound wealth.Joining Roger Hearing are Jyoti Malhotra, Editor-in-Chief of The Tribune in Delhi, and Ralph Silva of the Silva Research Network in Toronto.

As US companies race to stock up goods ahead of president-elect Trump's promised tariffs, Gene Seroka, the Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles shares how the port is handling the influx of shipments from China.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.And in a cultural milestone, traditional Japanese rice wine Sake, has been officially recognised by the United Nations as an "intangible cultural heritage". We are joined throughout the programme by Tony Nash, CEO and Founder Complete Intelligence in the US and Jessica Khine, Head of Asia for Astris Advisory Japan in Malaysia.

South Korea has started impeachment proceedings against its President after thwarting a shock move to impose martial law. Presenter Rahul Tandon discusses the economic fallout with Senior Asia correspondent for Bloomberg Rebecca Choong Wilkins who is based in Hong Kong and the President of US based Greenwood Capital Walter Todd who is based in North Carolina in the US.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.We also discuss a social media trend that encourages women to quit their jobs and become stay-at-home wives and girlfriends in Sweden. We look at what this might mean for families in the future.

MPs in the country voted to block the move after mass protests and outcry. We get the latest from our Korea Service.The boss of Japanese bank Nomura has taken a short-term pay cut after a former employee was charged with robbery of bank clients, attempted murder and arson.And it's been 30 years since Playstation first hit the shelves in Japan for the first time. We hear more from tech writer Bree Fowler

Elon Musk’s record setting pay package has been rejected for a second time by a Delaware judge Opposition parties in France say they'll bring down the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier within days. This after he forced his social security budget through without a vote in parliament. As Ghana approaches an election, Ed Butler reports on the economic turmoil facing the country

Ukraine's desperate battle to restore its energy grid as Russian missile attacks leave over a million people without power. With temperatures already below zero, the winter ahead looks dire. Olga Khakova, deputy director for European energy security at the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center, joins us to discuss the immense challenges Ukraine faces in keeping the lights on.We also explore other global developments, including Brazil’s currency volatility, India’s economic slowdown, and how US consumer confidence held up on Black Friday. Plus, Tom Brook reports on whether Thanksgiving weekend signals a revival for Hollywood cinemas.Joining Roger Hearing this week is Yoko Ishikura in Tokyo and Andy Uhler in Texas to provide their global perspectives throughout the show.We want to hear your views. Contact us on WhatsApp or send a voice note to +44 330 678 3033.

Australia will ban under-16s from using social media, after its parliament approved the world's strictest laws. We hear from Peter Malinauskas, Premier of South Australia and Bruce Daisley, an author and technology leader and former vice president of X (former Twitter).Also, where will GenZ shop on Black Friday? And we find out of how the first 24-hour stock exchange will work.You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033. We would love to hear from you!

The US president-elect Donald Trump vows tariffs on Mexico and we get reaction from Jorge Castaneda is Mexico's former foreign Minister. Also, how the busiest American travel night of the year will be managed by one of the biggest US airlines. And we talk about the first-ever female CEO to run a Samsung company, outside the founding family. You can contact us on WhatsApp or send us a voicenote: +44 330 678 3033.

US President-elect Donald Trump has pledged 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, leading to questions about free trade in the Americas.The Israeli cabinet has approved a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon.And new research suggests that gig economy workers are more productive if they're paid on the same day as they do their work.

The President-elect plans a day-one clampdown on illegal immigration and drug smuggling imposing 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada. China will be subject to an additional 10%.Plus, the German steel maker Thyssenkrupp says it's cutting 11,000 workers. And, we explore crypto and what rules could be introduced in the United States to regulate the sector.