This edition of the BBC World Business Report covers several global economic issues. It begins with a discussion on the need to rethink debt management in poorer countries, featuring an interview with Professor Joseph Stiglitz, who criticizes the IMF and World Bank for bailing out private creditors. Faisal Islam provides context on debt cancellation efforts and the current state of development assistance. The report then shifts to Russia's economy, contrasting President Putin's optimistic view with expert Ruben Inokolopov's analysis, which suggests the economy's growth is primarily driven by military spending and oil rents. The podcast also explores Grok, a company challenging Nvidia in the AI chip market, with insights from Scott Alban and market analysis from Shanti Kelman. Finally, the episode examines the trend of Western retirees moving to Thailand for more affordable and better care, featuring a report by Gideon Long and commentary from Dr. Caleb Johnston on the implications of medical tourism.
