Business Matters

China's economy is growing at its slowest rate since the Communist Party came to power almost three decades ago. At the same time, its one child policy has slowed population growth to levels not seen since the 1940s. What are the prospects, then, for the world's second largest economy? We speak to Sarah Hsu, head of the US-based economic research consultants China Rising. And in the week that Beijing and Washington sign their "phase one" trade deal, we get the thoughts of David Malpass, president of the World Bank. And Kai Ryssdal of our US partner station Marketplace has been talking to US farmers for their reaction. Nigel Cassidy is joined throughout the programme by Sarah Knight of ABC radio in Perth in western Australia. (Picture: A rickshaw driver in Beijing. Credit: Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images)

The 100 lawmakers of the US Senate were sworn in on Thursday as jurors for the impending impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court John Roberts administered the oath to the senators to "do impartial justice". In the coming weeks, the senators will decide whether Mr Trump should be removed from office over charges brought by the House of Representatives. Chinese President Xi Jinping is in Myanmar. We look into what's a stake - politically and economically. Microsoft has pledged to remove all of the carbon that it's emitted since the company was founded in 1975 from the environment. To achieve this goal by 2050, the company will become carbon negative by 2030 - that's to say removing more carbon from the environment than it emits. We hear from the Microsoft President Brad Smith. A sovereign coin featuring Edward the Eighth has become the first British coin to sell for one million pounds. But who bought it? And, we have an in-depth look at the longest running strike in French history, all caused by unpopular pension reform. Presenter Fergus Nicoll is joined by guests David Kuo in Singapore and Alexis Goldstein in Washington DC. PHOTO: Donald Trump, AFP

With a deal due to be signed between the US and China, we ask if the trade war is ending. Also, why is Indian hotel chain Oyo letting go of 2400 people after a rapid international expansion? Plus - do you ever wonder whether scrolling through your Twitter feed adds to your carbon footprint? We are taking a look into the hidden cost of data storage. And - we take a close look at gaming streamers and the huge industry behind them. Three gaming stars have been signed up by Google's YouTube. Rachell "Valkyrae" Hofstetter, Elliott "Muselk" Watkins and Lannan "LazarBeam" Eacott will exclusively screen their games on the YouTube platform having been poached from the rival Amazon service, Twitch. (Photo: US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping of China. Credit: Reuters)

Speaking in Washington, US President Donald Trump said the pact would be "transformartive" for the US economy. Chinese leaders called it a "win-win" deal that would help foster better relations between the two countries. We hear from Greg Gilligan who chairs the American Chamber of Commerce in China and Steve Lamar, head of the American Apparel and Footwear Association. Russia's government has resigned, hours after President Vladimir Putin proposed sweeping constitutional changes. We explore the implications. Also, we take an in-depth look at the meat and dairy industry and ask whether it is sustainable. Will diets have to change? How fast will the food industry have to adapt? Plus, a familiar name in Japanese politics is again making waves - but for reasons outside of politics. The environment minister Shinjiro Koizumi - son of the former PM Junichiro Koizumi - has caused a sensation by taking paternity leave. Why is that still such a controversial move in Japan? Presenter Fergus Nicoll is joined by guests Christine Spadafor in Boston and Stefanie Yuen Thio in Singapore PHOTO: Getty Images

The German engineering giant Siemens has decided to proceed with a giant mining project in Australia despite protests from climate change activists. Sven Teske,a director of research at the Australian Institute for Sustainable Futures, tells us more about the economic aims behind the project and the opposition to the plan. Our correspondent in Manila tells us about the disruption caused by the Taal volcano in the Philippines, which the authorities have warned could rain ash down with an eruption within hours or days. We explore the cultural significance of Japan reducing the coming of age for young people, when they are finally regarded as adults. Plus the directors of American Factory, a documentary that has been nominated for an Oscar, explain the impact of globalisation, the threat of automation and the rights of workers. Throughout the programme we hear analysis from our two guests, Professor Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland in Washington and Yumika Marikami, the head of the Tokyo Centre of the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (Picture:Protests in Munich against Siemens developing a coal mine in Australia. Copyright: Andreas Gebert via Getty Images.)