World Business Report

Varun Gupta, Indian glass industry director, talks fuel shortages squeezing bottle production. Chris Lowe, US chief economist, covers rising inflation, fuel-driven CPI spikes and consumer sentiment. Hubert Latki‑Schlitter, Budapest restaurateur, describes hospitality under inflation and energy pressures. Zuzsa Gardoush, recruitment director in Budapest, outlines hiring slowdowns and labour-market shifts.

Randeep Somal, M&G fund manager on inflation and energy markets. Sarah Girvan, BBC Ireland correspondent reporting on fuel price protests and road blockages. Rabi Fakhredin, hospitality CEO from the Middle East on tourism and operations. They discuss shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, Ireland road blockades, Gulf hospitality rebounds, airline strikes and market reactions to rising energy costs.

Susan Schmidt, portfolio manager offering market and investor commentary on energy and commodity shocks. Maximo Torero, chief economist at the UN FAO and expert on global food systems. They discuss how Strait of Hormuz disruptions push up fuel and fertiliser costs. They cover risks to planting seasons, potential export curbs after weeks of disruption, and barriers to restarting normal shipping.

Nemo Kim, Seoul-based culture journalist covering K-pop's return and its tourism boost. Archana Shukla, India business correspondent on energy and trade outlining India’s first Iranian oil cargo in seven years. They discuss Iran-India oil trade resuming, shipping and market ripples, and BTS’s sold-out tour driving local economies.

Najmeddin Meshkati, USC engineering professor, outlines technical damage to LNG and refining sites and long rebuild timelines. Nils Haupt, Hapag-Lloyd communications head, explains why container lines are delaying transits over safety, insurance and cost worries. They discuss shipping chokepoints, backlog logistics, and the fragile market reaction to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Anita Mandurata, aviation consultant on airline ops and passenger confidence. Richard Mead, maritime editor with deep knowledge of vessel bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz. Dani Hewson, financial analyst tracking market and commodity moves. They discuss airspace reopenings and cautious airlines. They cover hundreds of ships stuck and slow shipping recoveries. They outline market reactions and oil price volatility.

Adrian Cheesley, former Universal Music senior VP, on a $64bn takeover bid and what it could mean for artists. Jennifer Snyder, financial advisor, on markets jittering and investor reactions to geopolitical shocks. Dr H.A. Helya, Middle East expert, on US policy choices and regional escalation risks. Nagar Murtazazi, Iran analyst, on public sentiment and civilian impact amid threats.

Max Seddon, a Financial Times Russia correspondent reporting from the ground, and Fiona Sincotta, a Citi Index market analyst, discuss Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil terminals and how they cut seaborne crude exports. They also cover the impact on export revenues, defenses for oil infrastructure, Brent price reactions around $107–$111, and investor fears tied to regional shipping routes.

KJ Matthews, LA entertainment writer, gives a quick take on the Super Mario Galaxy movie's surprise box office hit. Walter Todd, Greenwood Capital CIO, weighs in on oil markets and investor reactions to the Strait of Hormuz tensions. Gina Abercrombie Winstanley, former US ambassador, explains the diplomatic dilemmas around Iran, mediation efforts and civilian risks from strikes.

Adrienne Murray, BBC reporter covering Finland's icebreaker industry. Seijiro Takeshita, management professor on Japan’s heavy Middle East oil dependence. They discuss possible leadership talks with Iran, risks to Japan’s energy security, Arctic geopolitics and new US-ordered icebreakers built in Finland. Short, timely and globally minded.