World Business Report

Huawei announces significant investment in Italy despite America urging other countries not to do business with the Chinese technology firm. We hear from Adam Seagal, the director of the Digital and Cyberspace Programme at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. And there's been uproar in New York as Central Park holds a festival which charges an admission fee. Cory Kilgallen, a reporter with the New York Times tells us that people are unhappy about the erosion of a long held tradition. Plus, Peter Jankowskis from Oakbrook Investments tells us what's been happening on the markets.

China's economy has been slowing despite Beijing's efforts to cut tax and boost spending. Iris Pang is a greater China economist at the bank ING in Hong Kong, and tells us what's behind the slowdown. And we get more context from Andrew Coflan, China analyst at the political risk consultancy Eurasia in Washington. Also in the programme, former South African president Jacob Zuma has come out fighting, as he appears before a judicial inquiry to deny he was involved in corruption during his time in power. We get the latest from our correspondent Pumza Fihlani in Johannesburg. Our reporter heads to New Zealand to find out how a near total ban on foreigners buying houses there, introduced last year, is playing out. Plus our regular commentator Heather McGregor of the Edinburgh Business School discusses the wisdom of big companies spending large amounts of money buying back their own shares.

The EU considers sanctions against Turkey over its exploration for gas in disputed waters around Cyprus. We hear from James Ker-Lindsay, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics. Last year China landed a rover on the dark side of the Moon and India is close to launching its second lunar mission; we hear from Doctor Becky Smethurst from the university of Oxford and the author of a book on the Indian space programme, Gurbir Singh, tells us more. Azuri Technologies, which has designed a solar powered satellite television for use in rural Africa is rolling out its product to several countries; we hear from Chief Executive, Simon Bransfield-Garth.

The world’s biggest brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev has suspended plans to list its Asian operations in Hong Kong. The initial public offering was expected to overtake Uber as the world’s biggest share sale this year. The company said weak market conditions were to blame for its decision. We get analysis from our business reporter Leisha Santorelli. Also in the programme, today marks five months since the Republic of Macedonia in Southeast Europe was officially renamed the Republic of North Macedonia, following a dispute with neighbouring Greece over the name. We get reaction to the move from people in the town of Ohrid in North Macedonia.

Travel company Thomas Cook is in rescue deal talks with banks and its largest shareholder. Aviation expert Jens Flottau tells us where things have gone wrong for the company. Also in the programme, today marks five months since the Republic of Macedonia in Southeast Europe was officially renamed the Republic of North Macedonia, following a dispute with neighbouring Greece over the name. We get reaction to the move from people in the town of Ohrid in North Macedonia. Alexandra Voudri, diplomatic affairs editor of Athens 98.4FM explains how the issue is still problematic for many Greeks. And Richard Grieveson, deputy director of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies, discusses the politics of the name change. Plus, our reporter in Togo meets a trader in the country's capital, Lome, who is taking clothes from landfill sites, and upcycling them for the world's fashion capital. (Picture: A woman walks past a branch of Thomas Cook. Picture credit: Getty Images.)