World Business Report

Why is the world watching Hungary’s general election?

After a 16-year rule, the nationalist prime minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, faces the opposing leader Peter Magyar in Sunday’s election. Leanna Byrne will hear from a restaurant owner and a recruitment firm boss in Budapest. Also, why is the Iran war affecting the price of glass bottles? Varun Gupta, the Director of Triveni Pattern Glass Pvt. Ltd. in India explains. And one of the most famous cricket grounds in London has come up with what it calls the ultimate home-working experience this summer. (Photo: People waving Hungarian flags as they attend an election campaign rally in Szekesfehervar, Hungary, April 10, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Leonhard Foeger).

Fuel protests cause disruption on Ireland's roads

The Strait of Hormuz remains almost shut to shipping, hurting economies around the world. In Ireland farmers and lorry drivers have been protesting high fuel costs. Plus, we hear from the owner of a hospitality business in the Middle East. And South Korean boyband BTS are back on tour.

Is the ceasefire in the Gulf too late to stop food prices rising?

Although the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States still holds, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains heavily disrupted, driving up fuel and fertiliser costs and leaving farmers in many parts of the world facing higher prices just as they head into the planting season. What does that mean for the price of food in your shopping basket? Sam Fenwick hears from Maximo Torero, chief economist at the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization. Also, the ceasefire was meant to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most important shipping routes in the world. What does it mean for the seafarers trapped in the Persian Gulf? (Photo: A farm worker sprays fertilizer on a paddy field, in Malaysia on 01 Apr 2026. Conflict in the Middle East has driven up energy prices, raising the cost of transport, fertilizers, and food production. Credit: Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA/Shutterstock).

First Iranian oil for India in seven years

For the first time in seven years, India has bought its first cargo of Iranian oil. India hasn't purchased any Iranian oil since 2019 because of US sanctions, but those restrictions were waived last month. Leanna hears from the BBC's Archana Shukla. Plus, its a big day for K-pop fans right across the globe as BTS, one of the world's biggest boy bands, have officially kicked off their new tour. Leanna Byrne hears from journalist Nemo Kim based in Seoul.

Shipping companies still reluctant to pass through Strait of Hormuz.

Reopening the Strait of Hormuz, an important global waterway, is part of the ceasefire agreement, as announced by the US government, but late on Wednesday, Iran warned that ships crossing the waterway without permission would be “targeted and destroyed”. Sam Fenwick will hear from Nils Haupt, the Head of Corporate Communications at Hapag-Lloyd, a German-based global shipping company. Also, markets rallied, and oil prices fell, but only hours later there were concerns about how long it might last and if there was enough time to stabilise the global economy. (Photo: Cargo ships in the Gulf, near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from northern Ras al-Khaimah, near the border with Oman’s, March 11, 2026. Credit: Reuters/Stringer/File Photo/File Photo)