World Business Report

Honda and Nissan plan to merge as the two Japanese firms seek to fight back against competition from the Chinese car industry.Joining forces would create one of the world's biggest car producers alongside Toyota, Volkswagen, General Motors and Ford.We look at one of Donald Trump's key economic appointments.And who is France's new finance minister?

Sam Fenwick hears from former chief operating officer & long-time executive at Nissan Andy Palmer, as Honda and Nissan announce a plan to merge. It would mean the new, world's third-biggest carmaker, which could also include Mitsubishi, could be in operation by August 2026. Plus US President-elect Donald Trump has said the fees charged to use the Panama Canal are “ridiculous” and that it should be handed back to the US unless the “rip-off” stops. We ask if those fees have risen and whether Mr. Trump's words are an empty threat.

US in last ditch shut down vote, unless congress can agree on a spending planThe Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, could be facing a confidence vote after he reshuffled a third of his cabinet today.And German automaker Volkswagen was on the brink of a major strike, however the company's bosses and union leaders have struck a deal, avoiding site closures.

A damning verdict from Swiss MPs on the failure of one of their largest banks.Plus, the latest on the looming US government shutdown.Malaysia resumes the hunt for an airliner that disappeared ten years ago.And 80 million of them are sold in Europe every year, but what goes into growing a Christmas tree?

The US senate votes on a new deal for Federal Government funding. The previous bill was abandoned after Donald Trump said he wouldn’t support it Luigi Mangione, The man accused of shooting the head of America's biggest health insurance company has made his first court appearance in New York after being extradited from Pennsylvania .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.

France's President Macron is in Mayotte seeing the damage from the devastating cyclone. He declares a day of national mourning, but many residents are angry at what they see as neglect of what is legally part of France.El Salvador gets a multibillion-dollar deal with the IMF, but in return for dialling down its use of BitcoinPlus, a successful play with a ten-year run on the London stage - and it's about financial services!

Are US interest rates cuts coming to an end? Stock values are hit but the value of the US dollar jumps, after Federal Reserve warns any future interest rate cut could be some time away. Also on World Business Report, Rahul Tandon hears how the US Supreme Court will hear an appeal by TikTok’s owner Bytedance. As things stand TikTok’s US operations must be sold by January 19th, the day before Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President. And learn how Finland has become a global hub thing for all things Christmas.

The auto companies Honda and Nissan are currently in the early stages of merger talks. We ask what does it mean for the car industry?The Democratic Republic of Congo’s government has filed criminal complaints in France and Belgium against subsidiaries of the tech giant Apple, accusing it of using conflict minerals.And we hear from the northernmost region of Finland which has become a global hub thing for all things Christmas. How crucial is the festive time of year to the economy?

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