(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … At least 11 people have been killed after police fired at protesters calling for the closure of a copper smelter in southern India. The deaths raise questions over the future of the plant in Tamil Nadu, which is owned by mining giant Vedanta. The BBC’s Sameer Hashmi explains the environmental and business implications. Then, Angela Merkel visits China this week against a backdrop of trade tensions and uncertainty over the future of a nuclear deal with Iran. We ask Jan Weidenfeld at the Mercator Institute for China Studies in Berlin about what to expect. And, being paid to do nothing at work might sound like a dream, but as one expert explains, it can also bring shame and depression. (05/23/2018).  

(Markets Edition) The House is set to vote on a bill that would free dozens of small and mid-sized banks from regulations placed after the financial crisis. We’ll dive into some of the rules that could go away. Afterwards, we’ll discuss the Supreme Court’s latest workplace ruling: employees who agreed to settle disputes with their boss through individual arbitration can’t later join big class-action lawsuits. Plus: A look at what the Pope has to say about financial markets and its participants. (05/22/2018)    

(U.S. Edition) European politicians will get to grill Facebook CEO later today about the Cambridge Analytica scandal, over a month after U.S. Congress members questioned him. We’ll discuss what to expect from his upcoming testimony. Afterwards, we’ll talk about why a rising share of American households seem to be having trouble paying off their credit card debt. Plus: As part of our “Divided Decade” series, which looks at the financial crisis 10 years later, we asked 2008 college grads to share lessons about the job market with class of 2018. (05/22/2018)

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service … Oil prices are heading back toward $80 a barrel thanks to a range of geopolitical and supply factors. In India, fuel costs are a sensitive issue. We’ll explain how the country’s oil minister is working on a way to pressure prices there. Then, Sony announced a big shift in strategy, but will it pay off? It’s set to become the world’s no. 1 music publisher now that it’s purchased EMI Music Publishing for $2.3 billion. Afterward, while the economic decline in Zimbabwe has been well documented, the impact on the country’s industry hasn’t. We’ll take you to the African nation, and hear from workers who have been impacted. (05/22/2018)

(U.S. Edition) So are the U.S. tariffs on China on or off? That’ll depend on which Trump administration official you listen to. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says a trade war between the U.S. and China is now “on hold,” but the country’s top trade official, Robert Lighthizer, says Chinese tariffs remain an important tool. On today’s show, we’ll look at what came out of the latest round of trade talks between the two countries. Afterwards, we’ll discuss how changes in Britain’s universal health care policies will affect undocumented, pregnant women. The British National Health Service now has to ask for identity papers when someone comes in for care. (05/21/2018)

(Global Edition) From the BBC World Service …Venezuela’s socialist economy is under massive strain with inflation running at 13,000 percent. So how will the country’s leader deal with these challenges, along with increasing pressure from other nations to fix its problems? Then, religion is a big business in Zimbabwe – we’ll take you there to meet a prophet who knows just how lucrative preaching can be. (05/21/2018)

(Markets Edition) The Trump administration plans to propose a new rule that would bar abortions at facilities that receive federal family planning funds. On today’s show, we’ll look at what this could mean for organizations like Planned Parenthood. Afterwards, amid news that the U.S. benchmark interest rate eased back a bit this morning, we’ll discuss whether this is cause for alarm. And then to cap off today’s show, we’ll talk about the best personal finance books for recent college graduates. (05/18/2018)

(Markets Edition) The Commerce Department is gearing up to honor dozens of U.S. exporters, with most of them small or mid-sized businesses. On the heels of this occasion, we’ll take a closer look at how many small companies export, and why they could be exporting a lot more. Afterwards, we’ll discuss Apple’s plans to launch a second corporate headquarters, which reports say could be located in Raleigh, North Carolina. Plus: Amid Kroger’s announcement that it’s closing 40 stores nationwide, we’ll explore how the loss of a grocery store can affect communities. (05/21/2018)

(U.S. Edition) The U.S. and China are hard at it to work out a trade agreement. One potential idea floating around: a $200 billion trade surplus package from Beijing. We’ll chat with a former Treasury Department official about how big this offer is in the grand scheme of things. Afterwards, we’ll look at the financial troubles many farms in the U.S. are facing. Many are using their land as collateral against loans to keep operating. (05/18/2018)