World Business Report

Zuckerberg defends Meta in landmark social media addiction trial

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg appeared in a California court on Wednesday, defending his leadership in a landmark case over whether social media is addictive for children. Banking giants JPMorganChase is to open more than 160 new branches in over 30 states. So why the move back into launching physical banks when a lot of the industry is moving away from them - and towards online banking? And Researchers say the world's main coffee-growing regions are getting hotter every year because of climate change - and that means coffee bean prices have almost doubled. We go to Brazil and hear from one coffee producer. (Picture: Mark Zuckerberg, Chief Executive Officer of Meta Platforms, arrives for a court appearance at the Los Angeles County Superior Court in downtown Los Angeles, California, USA, 18 February 2026. Credit: CHRIS TORRES/EPA/Shutterstock).

Is it a Tokyo drift for tourism?

We hear from a tour guide in Tokyo as the number of oversees visitors to Japan has fallen for the first time in four years partly because of a big drop in tourists from China after a diplomatic row between the two countries Also a farmer tells us about the impact of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in South Africa and inflation falls in the UK Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Amber Mehmood and Huma Shah Editor: Justin Bones

Shein under the EU's microscope

With the European Union launching a formal investigation into fast fashion giant Shein over the Chinese business’ possible breaches of digital law, we hear from Thomas Regnier on what the EU Commission’s concerns are. Andrew Peach speaks to Oscar-winning film and TV producer Tom Nunan on the latest in Netflix and Paramount’s tug-of-war over Warner Bros. Elsewhere, German drugs giant Bayer proposes to pay more than US$7.25bn (£5.35bn) to settle claims that its weedkiller Roundup causes cancer. And Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz for military drills... but will it affect global oil prices? The latest business and finance news from around the world, on the BBC. (Picture: People walk past a Shein pop-up store at immersive retail space Future Stores, ahead of its grand opening in London, Great Britain, on 24 September, 2025. Credit: Isabel Infantes / Reuters.)

France and India close to landing fighter plane deal

A $35 billion deal would see France delivering over 100 Rafale jet fighters. The talks are taking places as a major conference on AI gets underway in Delhi. Also, Warner Brothers Discovers says it will temporarily re-open negotiations with Paramount Skydance in another takeover twist. And we hear about a mini gold rush near Johannesburg in South Africa. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Craig Henderson

India steps into the AI spotlight

Delhi is hosting an artificial intelligence summit with politicians and tech executives from more than 20 different countries convening in India to discuss how AI could reshape economies and regulation. Elsewhere, Sam Fenwick looks at what a major factory closure means for South Africa's sugarcane farmers. And, who will actually buy Warner Brothers Discovery? (Picture: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left) after he inaugurates India AI impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi, India. Credit: PRESS INFORMATON BUREAU HANDOUT/EPA/Shutterstock)