i'm ben thompson. we start in hollywood, where a media �*mega' merger could be on the way.ding to multiple reports, the bosses of �*warner bros discovery�* and �*paramount global�* have held talks this week about a possible tie—up. the deal would bring together two of hollywood�*s "big five" studios, with warner and paramount�*s combined market value currently standing at $38 billion. any potential deal would also provide a much bigger rival to the likes of netflix and disney plus. netflix currently have 2a7 million subscribers globally. in comparison, paramount plus total subscribers stand at 63 million and warner bros discovery at 95 million. our north america business correspondent michelle fleury joins us now. there are so many players, this could be a first big coming together to take on the likes of disney and netflix. ., ., ~' to take on the likes of disney and netflix. ., ., ~ , .,, ., ., ., ~' to take on the likes of disney and netflix. , ., . netflix. look, people are looking at this, there netflix. look, people are looking at this. there is _ netflix. look, peopl

welcome to world business report, i'm ben thompson.t here in the uk, because inflation is continuting to fall. annual consumer price inflation fell to 3.9% in november, that's down from 4.6% in october. it was a more substantial fall than economists had expected — thanks to a fall in the cost of items like bread and fuel. food is still 9% more expensive than a year ago. so, now all focus will shift to the bank of england and the debate over when it will start cutting interest rates. at the moment, they're at 5.25% and a quarter after successive rises to keep a lid on inflation. tell us what it means about the figures coming down and why. the market figures coming down and why. tue: market consensus figures coming down and why. tte: market consensus was 4.3, and we got 3.9. a very nice surprise. a big contributor to that was transport, fuel prices down 10.6% over a year ago, so that was a significant contributing factor. as you mentioned, food prices, yes they are moderating but we're still seeing higher food moderating but we're still

i'm ben thompson here with your top business stories. the us has announced a new international class. countries joining the queue to be picked for the uk, france, canada, bahrain, norway and spain. it comes after the energy giant bp suspended its shipping operations for the red sea because cargo vessels are being attacked by rebels from yemen. a few hours ago, maersk also announced it will re—route some of that red sea vessels around the cape of good hope, on a case—by—case basis. around 10% of global trade passes through the red sea, that's around 17,000 ships a year. but several major freight companies have now stopped passing through here. instead they are taking much longer route all the way around africa by the cape of good hope. that adds costs and delays. here is the us defence secretary lloyd austin. these attacks are reckless. they are dangerous and they violate international law and so we are taking action to build international coalition to address this threat and i would remind you that this is not just a us issue, this is an

i'm ben thompson. we start here in the uk, because inflation is continuing to fall.ual consumer price inflation fell to 3.9% in november, down from 4.6% in october. it was a more substantial fall than economists had expected, thanks to a fall in the cost of items like bread and fuel. food is still 9% more expensive than a year ago. so, now all focus will shift to the bank of england and the debate over when it will start cutting interest rates. at the moment, they're at 5.25% after successive rises to keep a lid on inflation. we're nowjoined by simon french, who is the chief economist at panmure gordon. what do you make of the numbers? what do you make of the numbers? what do you make of the numbers? what do they tell us about the economy?— what do they tell us about the econom? ., , , economy? after two years of pretty essimistic economy? after two years of pretty pessimistic uk _ economy? after two years of pretty pessimistic uk data _ economy? after two years of pretty pessimistic uk data it's _ economy? after two years of pretty pessimistic uk data it's quite - e

good morning, welcome to breakfast with sally nugent and ben thompson. our headlines today.tary says its war in gaza will continue for many more month as the palestinian president mahmouds abbas says the conflict is beyond a catastrophe. new guidance for police officers in england and wales, who are told they must attend all residential burglaries as soon as possible. a warning that the uk's increasingly warmer summers and wetter winters are causing chaos for nature. good morning. after the giving and receiving comes the returning and refunding. if you've got an unwanted gift or a present delivery that didn't work out, i'll be explaining all about your festive consumer rights. in sport, manchester united start a new era, with a dramatic win at old trafford. rasmus hojlund's first league goal helps them mount a stunning comeback against aston villa to seal a stunning victory. could a stunning victory. we have another big christmas travel could we have another big christmas travel day impacted by the weather? store gerrit will bring some strong wind, wind and snow to parts of

welcome to breakfast with naga munchetty and ben thompson. 0ur headlines today: a day of national mourningr the 14 people who died in a mass shooting at a university in prague. the grandmother of alex batty says she felt "utterly betrayed" by her daughter and ex—husband when they took the schoolboy to live abroad. a three—day strike byjunior doctors in england finishes today, but the longest walkout in nhs history is scheduled for the new year. in sport, ruling the world. manchester city become club world champions for the first time and set another record, as they make it five trophies in a calendar year. a dream come true — how a community pulled together to help a terminally ill teenager get back home for christmas after floods wrecked her house. good morning. colin seeing lead, health as well. for the rest of us, cloudy in the west, brighter towards these, but i'll have all

i'm ben thompson. we start in hollywood, where a media �*mega' merger could be on the way.t a possible tie—up. the deal would bring together two of hollywood�*s "big five" studios, with warner and paramount�*s combined market value currently standing at $38 billion. any potential deal would also provide a much bigger rival to the likes of netflix and disney plus. netflix currently have 247 million subscribers globally.

hello, a very warm welcome to the programme, i'm ben thompson.calls on all countries to move away from the use of fossil fuels. this is the first time there has been a clear reference to the future of all fossil fuels in a un climate summit text. but this deal doesn't include any wording on the "phase out of fossil fuels" — something many governments wanted. here is the moment the cop president announced the deal. i doubled entitled outcome of the first stock—take contained in document f.

i'm ben thompson here with your top business stories.nada, bahrain, norway and spain. it comes after the energy giant bp suspended its shipping operations for the red sea because cargo vessels are being attacked by rebels from yemen.

i�*m ben thompson. we start here in the uk, because inflation is continuing to fall.fuel. food is still 9% more expensive than a year ago. so, now all focus will shift to the bank of england and the debate over when it will start cutting interest rates. at the moment, they�*re at 5.25% after successive rises to keep a lid on inflation. we�*re nowjoined by simon french, who is the chief economist at panmure gordon. what do you make of the numbers?

welcome to breakfast with sarah campbell and ben thompson. 0ur headlines today: police declare a majoross parts of the midlands, northern england waking up to a covering of snow and ice. we turn our attention to rain across southern areas. i will have the details. as southern gaza faces some of the heaviest bombardment of the war so far, hamas says it won't release any more hostages until there is a permanent ceasefire. scotland have the honour of getting next year's euros under way. they're drawn in a group with hosts germany and will play the opening game against them onjune1a. a hero's welcome for kevin sinfield

time for a look at the business news now with ben thompson.l start with news in shipping because there are problems in one part of the world. "a lot more transport time and a lot more fuel." the words from the shipping firm hapag lloyd who havejoined a number of other major carriers to re—route some of their vessels away from the red sea. this is in the wake of attacks on their ships in the region by houthi rebels from yemen. the us has announced a new international task force to protect those ships in an area vital for international trade. with around 12% of global trade passing through the red sea, that's around 17,000 ships a year. but as we've said, several major freight companies have now stopped passing through here. instead they are taking the much longer route all the way around africa via the cape of good hope. earlier i spoke to richard meade — editor of shipping publication — lloyds list. he explained how the situation will affect global trade. we've seen an immediate uptake in terms of the freight rates for the container carriers.

hello, a very warm welcome to the programme, i'm ben thompson. a new climate deal has been approved by almost 200 countries at the un climate summit in dubai. the deal calls on all countries to move away from the use of fossil fuels. this is the first time there has been a clear reference to the future of all fossil fuels in a un climate summit text. but this deal doesn't include any wording on the "phase out of fossil fuels" — something many governments wanted. here is the moment the cop president announced the deal. i doubled entitled outcome of the first stock—take contained in document f. it is so decided. applause so plenty of applause but let's run you through the details. it calls on all countries to transition away from the use of fossil fuels. but some governments feel this wording isn't strong enough. there is a recognition that global emissions will likely peak before 2025 — and that for developing nations this may be later. but elsewhere, language appears to have been weakened, with the text "reiterating" rather than "requesting" deve

welcome to world business report, i'm ben thompson.expected — thanks to a fall in the cost of items like bread and fuel. food is still 9% more expensive than a year ago.

welcome to breakfast with sarah campbell and ben thompson. our headlines today: police declare a major incident in cumbria after heavy snowfall and drivers abandon their stuck vehicles. weather conditions at least have improved for today but more across parts of the midlands, northern england waking up to a covering of snow and ice. we turn our attention to rain across southern areas. i will have the details. as southern gaza faces some of the heaviest bombardment of the war so far, hamas says it won't release any more hostages until there is a permanent ceasefire. scotland have the honour of getting next year's euros under way. they're drawn in a group with hosts germany and will play the opening game against them onjune 14. a hero's welcome for kevin sinfield as he finishes day two of seven ultra—marathons in seven days to raise awareness for mnd. we know that the rugby community care about people that need them in this event, this community really needs you. what we have seen today is some unbelievable support. it's sunday december 3. good

hello, this is breakfast with naga munchetty and ben thompson.? _ time in maths, why am i learning this? why— time in maths, why am i learning this? why do i have to learn this quest _ this? why do i have to learn this quest might he has been teaching core maths for nine years when the course _ core maths for nine years when the course was — core maths for nine years when the course was first offered and never once _ course was first offered and never once has— course was first offered and never once has been asked that question. it is practical, leading things like how to _ it is practical, leading things like how to read payslips, how to look at rents. _ how to read payslips, how to look at rents, mortgages, budgeting. i've been_ rents, mortgages, budgeting. i've been to— rents, mortgages, budgeting. i've been to a— rents, mortgages, budgeting. i've been to a school in the west midlands and i spoke to clare wilson and she _ midlands and i spoke to clare wilson and she was really good, she is one of the _ and she was really good, she is one of t

good morning, welcome to breakfast with sally nugent and ben thompson. our headlines today.ers and wetter winters are causing chaos for nature. good morning. are the boxing day sales now a festive tradition of the past? early indications are that more of us headed to the high street this year but we are not spending as much. i'll have the details. in sport, liverpool take the lead in the premier league a hard—fought 2—0 win over relegation—threatened burnley at turf moor puts them on top of the table for now. plus, another big christmas travel day could be disrupted by the weather. storm gerrit set to bring rain and gales quite extensively, and snow across parts of scotland as well. all of the details on breakfast. it's wednesday, the 27th of december. israel's military has said the conflict with hamas will continue for many more months. it comes as the palestinian president, mahmoud abbas, described the war in gaza as beyond a catastrophe and warned the west bank could implode at any time. graham satchell reports. night after night, for weeks now, the families of those take