About this episode

The episode discusses Nato's increased defence spending and its implications for the UK and Japan's economies, alongside insights into Microsoft's layoffs in the gaming sector.

Will Bain is joined by Seijiro Takeshita in Japan and Yael Selfin in the UK to discuss the week's biggest business stories. As Nato members agree to greater defence spending, we examine how economic conditions in the UK and Japan are shaping their ability to fund these commitments, as governments balance growing security demands with pressure on public finances. Plus, what Microsoft's layoffs at Xbox reveal about the global gaming industry after years of rapid growth. (Photo: Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, 08 July 2026. Credit: Filip Singer/Reuters) You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann

People in this episode

Host: Will Bain

Guests: Seijiro Takeshita, Yael Selfin

Topics covered

• defence spending
• economic conditions
• public finances
• global gaming industry
• Nato
• Microsoft layoffs

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Nato, Microsoft

Places: Japan, UK

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