Business Daily

Business Daily

By BBC World Service

The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.

Episodes

Business Daily meets: ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

Founded in 1901, the International Labour Organisation works with governments of over 180 countries, to help promote internationally recognised labour rights. In all of its 105 year-history, Gilbert F. Houngbo is the first African to be in charge of the UN agency. In this programme, the ILO leader talks to Rahul Tandon about what he's doing to try to tackle some of the biggest global challenges the world currently faces - from unemployment, to migration, to artificial intelligence.And we hear about Mr Houngbo's own journey; from a rural upbringing, to studying in Canada, and how he felt when he was asked to serve as Prime Minister of Togo.(Picture: Gilbert F. Houngbo. Credit: Violaine Martin/ILO)Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Amber Mehmood and Olie D'Albertanson
29/03/2418m 13s

Is tidal power a viable energy source?

The Pentland Firth is the strait that lies between the far north of mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands. It's a wild area with some of the fastest tides in the world, where the power of the sea is being harnessed by tidal turbines sitting on the sea bed.But this type of green energy is still very expensive to generate - so what is the future of tidal and wave power? We explore some of the ground breaking projects being developed in the region and speak to companies who are trying to reduce costs to make the energy more viable. Produced and presented by Theo Leggett(Image: A MeyGen turbine being installed on the sea bed. Credit: MeyGen)
28/03/2418m 26s

The billion-dollar rise of Padel

Padel is a fast-growing sport, attracting investment from celebrities and major brands. What is it about the game that makes it so attractive?We hear from professional players of the sport, and head to Sweden, where the Padel boom, and subsequent bust, might hold some lessons for other countries.(Image: Portuguese football player Cristiano Ronaldo plays Padel during an event in Singapore, 2023. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Daniel Rosney
27/03/2418m 25s

How do you keep food cold?

Up to 40% of food in Africa and India is wasted because of a lack of what's called "the cold chain" - the infrastructure keeping food chilled and fresh, from farm to fork. Many small-scale farmers have no access to any kind of refrigeration, meaning they're losing income and wasting food that could otherwise be sold.Devina Gupta meets the entrepreneur who is building pay-as-you-go solar powered cold rooms in India, and hears from farmers, traders and experts on how we can keep food cold as the population grows and the planet warms up.(Picture: A farmer carries a crate of mangoes from an orchard on the outskirts of Bangalore. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Lexy O'Connor
26/03/2418m 26s

Will high interest rates be cut soon?

The past few years have been marked by two economic trends that have affected pretty much everyone on the planet. The first is the cost of living crisis that followed the Covid pandemic and was made worse by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That saw prices in the shops soar - in many countries they rose by their fastest pace for four decades. The attempt to stamp out this inflation is the second of those big economic trends, as central banks aggressively increased the cost of borrowing. Millions of households and businesses saw the cost of home and company loans shoot up.But the action taken by central banks does seem to have worked in curbing inflation, and now financial markets predict that interest rates in the United States and Europe will be cut this year. But will they reduce them soon?(Picture: Federal Reserve Building in Washington, DC, United States. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Rob Young
25/03/2418m 25s

Business Daily meets: Leigh Steinberg

Lawyer Leigh Steinberg had no big dream to become a sports agent. He was a huge sports fan, but the job was not something he was aspiring to – more something that he stumbled across. Today, he's built up a career representing more than 300 professional athletes across a range of disciplines: from big money-making sports like football and basketball, to Olympic gymnastics; building sporting careers worth billions of dollars. His influence in sport is so influential that he's often credited as the real-life inspiration for the sports agent in the film Jerry Maguire, starring Tom Cruise.We speak to Leigh Steinberg about how he started his career as an agent, how he builds a brand around a sports star, and how he's succeeded in such a competitive environment - overcoming some personal struggles along the way. And - how he responds when members of the public approach him with the famous phrase, "Show me the money".(Picture: Leigh Steinberg. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Roger Hearing Producers: Matt Lines and Hannah Mullane
22/03/2418m 18s

Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

An alcohol shop for diplomats has opened in Saudi Arabia. It’s a significant move in a country that has banned alcohol for over 70 years. Some believe in order to transform the tourism economy it is a sign of things to come. In the meantime, Riyadh has become known for making some of the best non-alcohol cocktails in the world. Is this a small policy change, or does it signal a wider relaxation of the rules? We hear from young Saudis about the generational divide in a country trying to change its image.(Picture: A bartender prepares a non-alcoholic cocktail in a bar in Riyadh. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey
20/03/2418m 19s

Why is Temu so cheap?

The Chinese-owned online store has exploded in popularity in the past year, shipping to customers in 49 countries around the world. And its advertising has taken centre stage at one of the world’s most watched events: the Super Bowl. So why is Temu so cheap? And how can it afford to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on advertising to take on its rivals?We hear from experts, politicians and shoppers in China, the US, and the UK about how the company operates, as it seeks to out-pace the competition.(Picture: The Temu logo displayed on the screen of a mobile device. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Sam Gruet
19/03/2418m 20s

Would green hydrogen be a drain on Uruguay's water sources?

The government of Uruguay has launched ambitious plans to make hydrogen and green fuels.The country generates far more of its electricity from renewables than most countries - Uruguay produces more than 90% of its electricity from sustainable resources, like wind. And that, the government says, puts it in a good position to start producing green hydrogen.Proponents of green hydrogen production in Uruguay say it will be good for the planet and the country's economy, but could it use too much water?(Picture: Mauricio Caro, a farmer in Uruguay. He worries that if water is taken from the local aquifer to make green fuels, farmers will run short. Credit: Grace Livingstone/BBC)Presented and produced by Grace Livingstone
18/03/2418m 19s

Business Daily meets: CEO of Proton Andy Yen

Andy Yen is founder and CEO of tech company Proton, best known for its encrypted email service Proton Mail.He was born in Taiwan, studied in California, then moved to Switzerland to work at CERN as a particle physicist. He then set up Proton from Geneva.Dougal Shaw talks to the entrepreneur about growing up in the shadow of China, personal privacy in an age when we live our lives online, and his company’s “cat and mouse” games with Russia over VPN software, which allows people to access the internet without state control.(Picture: Andy Yen)Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw
15/03/2418m 15s

Stockholm: The capital of music tech?

Spotify and Soundcloud started out as small, music tech startups in Stockholm, and now, several other companies that blend music production and innovation are choosing to set up shop in the Swedish capital. In this edition of Business Daily, we meet some of these new businesses, to see why Stockholm holds such appeal. And we try to find out whether music tech is a profitable sector with a long-term future.(Image: Emelie Olsson, the co- founder of Corite, a music tech startup. Credit: Maddy Savage/BBC)Presented and produced by Maddy Savage
14/03/2418m 7s

Nato: Who’s spending what?

Wary of the perceived threat from Russia, the countries that make up the Nato Western military alliance are upping their spending on the military. But not fast enough, according to former US president Donald Trump, who has made the issue part of his election campaign.So should governments in Europe be spending more on their collective defence? Do Europeans want them to, or would they rather that money go to things like education and healthcare instead? As Sweden joins the alliance, we look at who is spending what within Nato, who is pulling their weight, and who is not. We speak to people across Europe about what they want, and we talk to one former army chief, who says his country is woefully underprepared to defend itself.Presenter/producer: Gideon Long Additional reporting from Bethany Bell, BBC correspondent in Vienna And additional recording by Maddy Savage in Stockholm and Kostas Kallergis in Brussels(Photo: German Eurofighter Typhoon jets of TLG73 during Nato exercise. Credit: Getty Images)
13/03/2418m 21s

The sugar price surge

We trace the commodity’s journey from sugar cane farm, to mill, to candy shop, all in a quest to find out why the cost of sugar has gone up. The US is the world's fifth largest sugar producer, with sugarcane grown in the south and sugar beets in the north. Even though the cost of sugar is rising worldwide, Americans pay twice as much as the global average for sugar because of a government policy. Brought about to protect domestic producers, a protectionist policy taxing imports of sugar is actually creating higher prices, a report by the government accountability office found in October.We travel from a candy story in New York, to a sugarcane farm and mill in Louisiana, to find out what the impact will be.Presented and produced by Erin Delmore Additional sound mixing by Cameron Ward and Helen Thomas(Image: A worker climbs onto a front loader beside a pile of raw cane sugar inside a storehouse at a sugar mill in Louisiana. Credit: Getty Images)
12/03/2418m 12s

European farming’s existential crisis?

There's been a wave of farmers' protests across Europe in recent weeks. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Eastern European countries have all seen farmers airing their grievances by driving their tractors into towns and cities and blocking roads. There have also been similar demonstrations far beyond Europe, in India. Guy Hedgecoe has been looking at the protests and how some grievances are uniting farmers from different countries while others are dividing them. Because farming is so important for our day-to-day lives, the outcome could affect us all. (Picture: A farmer pours industrial honey during a protest in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Guy Hedgecoe
11/03/2418m 10s

Business Daily meets: Ben Ainslie

Sir Ben Ainslie is the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time, winning medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. Since then, he's been sailing in the America’s Cup and more recently in the new SailGP league.Now, he's stepping back from some of his sailing responsibilities to concentrate on being a CEO. For this episode of Business Daily, Sam Fenwick talks to Sir Ben about what it takes to run a sailing team, how to monetise the sport, and where he sees its future. (Picture: Sir Ben Ainsley. Credit: Emirates GBR)Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Hannah Mullane
08/03/2418m 18s

The repercussions of the Hollywood strikes

Last summer marked the first time in six decades that Hollywood’s actors and writers went on strike simultaneously. They hit pause on production over pay and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry.The strikes brought the industry to boiling point, but wider issues were simmering for some time.They caused a multi-billion economic toll on those who work in film and television - from crew members to caterers. Businesses burned through savings and piled up debt.This edition of Business Daily unpicks the plot of one of Hollywood's biggest dramas.(Picture: The Hollywood sign is viewed during a clearing storm, January 2024. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield
07/03/2418m 20s

Disruption and drought in the Panama Canal

The important shipping route runs for 82 km through Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.But a long period of dry weather means the water in the canal is very low, reducing the number of boats that can travel though.We travel to Panama to look at the impact this is having on shipping companies, manufacturers and consumers, and find out what the Panama Shipping Company is trying to do about it. Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez(Image: A ship going through the Panama Canal locks. Credit: Panama Canal Authority)
06/03/2418m 18s

Tourism’s sustainability ambitions

We travel to FITUR - International Tourism Trade Fair.Taking place in Madrid, this year's event was the biggest ever.As the sector is still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we speak to representatives from countries around the world who are aiming to attract visitors.Plus we focus on responsible tourism, and look at how much emphasis is being placed on sustainability by the travel industry.Produced and presented by Ashish Sharma(Image: Tourists at a beach club in Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia, in May 2022, just after the region opened more broadly to fully vaccinated visitors from overseas. Credit: Getty Images).
05/03/2418m 19s

How are farmers adapting to climate change?

Up to 10% of areas for major crops and livestock could be rendered unsuitable by climate change by 2050, so what can farmers do to adapt to rising temperatures and extreme weather events?Stefania Gozzer meets a farmer in Spain to see how severe droughts ruined his cereal harvest, and she pays a visit to his neighbour, who has managed to grow tomatoes without watering his fields.Global warming poses huge challenges for agriculture around the world - and various ways of managing its effects are now being practised by farmers. Among them is planting trees next to crops. We hear how this technique changed the life of a Kenyan farmer.(Picture: Farmer in rubber boots walking on dry soil ground. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Stefania Gozzer
04/03/2418m 19s

Bonus: Good Bad Billionaire

In this special episode, Ed Butler brings you a podcast from our friends at Good Bad Billionaire. In the series, presenters Simon Jack and Zing Tseng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and then they judge them. Are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? This episode focuses on Warren Buffett - how did he became the richest investor in history?Listen to every episode of Good Bad Billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.
02/03/2458m 19s

Business Daily meets: Mariana Mazzucato

The world's major consulting firms make an estimated trillion dollars a year, directing governments and businesses on how best to govern.But the economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that outsourcing the brain power of governments to private firms is a dangerous trend. Ed Butler asks her why she thinks it isn't money well spent.(Picture: Mariana Mazzucato. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Ed Butler
01/03/2418m 28s

Is it okay to be mediocre at work?

The idea of settling for ‘good enough’ and being mediocre at work is not new… but the case for prioritising other things apart from work has grown rapidly since the pandemic – and hashtags like #lazygirljob have been getting millions of views on TikTok. We find out what mediocrity means for staff and employers, and speak to workers who are embracing this new attitude.We hear from Jaime Ducharme, Time Magazine journalist who wrote an article about mediocrity in the workplace, Gabrielle Judge who started #lazygirljob on TikTok, and Dr Thomas Curran from the London School of Economics.Produced and presented by Clare Williamson(Image: A woman looking bored at work. Credit: Getty Images)
29/02/2418m 27s

Would you like to work 'near' home?

Work from home, or go into the office? For many businesses and workers it's an ongoing conversation at the moment.But could there be a third way - working 'near' home?New co-working spaces are providing a place for people to do their job close to where they live, but not at home which can be unsuitable and isolating.We also look at the WeWork model - the billion-dollar business filed for bankruptcy protection in the US last year - does that mean the concept isn't viable long term? Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.(Image: A Patch co-working space in southern England. Credit: Benoit Grogan-Avignon)
28/02/2418m 29s

Chile's move to a 40 hour work week

We look at the implications as the Latin American country gradually reduces from 45 hours.In April 2023 politicians approved a law in congress saying that businesses need to move towards cutting their hours to help get a better work life balance for employees.This reduction is happening gradually, and the working week is getting shorter by at least one hour per year, over a maximum of five years. We speak to workers and businesses in Chile about the impact - good and bad - that this is having.Presenter: Jane Chambers Technical production: Matthew Dempsey(Image: A group of workers on lunchbreak in Santiago. Credit: Getty Images)
27/02/2418m 26s

How Sweden led the way on parental leave

It's been 50 years since Sweden introduced state-funded parental leave, designed for couples to share. We hear how the pioneering policy has impacted families and businesses - and ask whether Sweden really deserves its reputation for gender equality.And we meet one of the first dads to take paid parental leave, back in the 1970s. Produced and presented by Maddy Savage(Image: A man holding a small child. Credit: Getty Images)
26/02/2418m 27s

Business Daily meets: Ingrid Robeyns

Today, the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population own more than three quarters of its wealth, while the bottom half have 2%.To halt the growing wealth gap, one economic philosopher, Ingrid Robeyns, has come up with a striking proposal - to impose legally enforced limits on people’s personal wealth. No one individual, Professor Robeyns suggests, should be allowed to have more than 10 million dollars.It's a provocative idea. And would it work in practice?(Picture: Ingrid Robeyns. Credit: Keke Keukelaar/United Agents)Presented and produced by Ed Butler
23/02/2418m 21s

Ukraine's economic rollercoaster

The Russian invasion sparked the worst recession in the country’s recent history. Yet 2023 saw growth which is projected to continue. So how are businesses actually faring? The economy is heavily reliant on foreign aid and there is uncertainty whether that will continue, notably from the US.We hear from businesses and workers who give us a mixed picture of Ukraine's economic health: Chef Zhenya Mykhailenko the CEO of FVSM which runs a group of Ramen restaurants in Kyiv and a military kitchen in the Zaporizhiya region; Kees Huizinga who farms in Uman, South of Kyiv and Erica, a secondary school teacher in the war torn southern city of Kherson. Plus economic analysis from Andrew Walker.Produced and presented by Clare Williamson(Image: Chef Zhenya. Credit: FVSM)
22/02/2418m 18s

Peak profits

The Olympics in Tokyo, some jaw dropping films, and a hardwired desire to be in the great outdoors. These are just some of the reasons credited with boosting the popularity of climbing. Hundreds of indoor bouldering gyms have cropped up in the US since the 1990s, and the sport is spreading across the world. Although still concentrated in North America and Europe, more and more countries are joining the International Federation of Sport Climbing, and the millions of people taking part are attracting the attention of brands and financial backers. We hear from climbing business experts and the UK’s most successful competitive climber, Shauna Coxsey, to find out more. (Picture: Shauna Coxey. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Hannah Bewley
21/02/2418m 18s

What happens when you run out of coins?

The Philippines is experiencing an artificial coin shortage.It’s artificial because there are plenty of coins - it’s just that people are using them less so they fall out of circulation and end up collecting in jars at home. Hannah Mullane investigates why this is happening and what impact it’s having on consumer behaviour. And reporter Camille Elemia speaks to businesses and shoppers in Quezon city to find out how Filipino’s are changing the way they spend. (Picture: A jeepney driver, counting some notes)Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane Additional reporting: Camille Elemia
20/02/2418m 23s

Global trade’s new normal?

Three months ago, Houthi fighters from Yemen hijacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea and took the crew captive. It was the group’s first attack on commercial shipping in response to Israel’s military offensive in Gaza. Around 30 similar assaults have followed and the US and UK have retaliated with air strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.The Houthi attacks have wreaked havoc with shipping in the Red Sea, forcing hundreds of ships to re-route and make the much longer journey around the bottom of Africa. Supply chains have been interrupted and insurance costs have risen for vessels still passing through the area.With no end to the tension in the region in sight, some companies are readjusting their timelines and accepting that the current situation might become the “new normal”. We ask whether the Houthi attacks have changed the way we move goods around the world for ever.(Picture: Ships crossing the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Presented and produced by Gideon Long
19/02/2418m 20s

Business Daily meets: Tony Fernandes

Tony Fernandes has worked in the music industry, owned a formula one team and co-owned a professional London football club, but these days he’s concentrating on his core business as the CEO of the parent company of AirAsia, a Malaysia-based budget airline he co-founded that has transformed travel in South East Asia.We speak to him about his varied career, the airline industry’s recovery from the Covid pandemic, and the recent safety issues at Boeing.(Picture: Tony Fernandes. Credit: EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)Presented and produced by Gideon Long
16/02/2418m 5s

The making of a billionaire athlete

Only four sportspeople have turned success on the field to success in business, making it to the 10 figure club.Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Magic Johnson, the last to join in October 2023, according to the wealth-tracking business magazine, Forbes.Matt Lines finds out the secrets behind the fortunes of these four athletes and who could be joining the list in future.(Picture: L-R: Tiger Woods. Credit: Reinhold Matay/USA Today Sports. Magic Johnson. Credit: Allison Dinner/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock. Lebron James. Credit: Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports. Michael Jordan. Credit: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images)Presenter/producer: Matt Lines
15/02/2418m 22s

A scary business

Scaring people has become big business. There’s even a catch-all term for the trend: dark tourism, where thrill seekers visit the scenes or replicate the experiences of horrendous moments in history. Elizabeth Hotson goes to investigate.(Picture: Someone wearing a skeleton mask, pointing at the camera. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson
13/02/2418m 21s

The content moderators taking Big Tech to court

We hear from former moderator Daniel Motaung, who has taken Meta and their outsourcing partner, Sama, to an employment tribunal in Nairobi.US lawyer Cori Crider, from tech justice NGO Foxglove - which supports Daniel and others who have taken legal action - believes that content moderation is one of the most important tech jobs, particularly when there is a conflict in the region. The recent war in Ethiopia and some of the posts made on Facebook were the catalyst for another lawsuit challenging Facebook’s algorithms.And social researcher and activist Leah Kimathi believes that there is not enough investment in moderating in various African languages. She also campaigns for the Big Tech and African governments to end, what she calls, the “Wild West” approach and get together to create specific legislation governing how social media companies operate on the continent. Produced and presented by Ivana Davidovic(Image: Daniel Motaung. Credit: Foxglove)
12/02/2418m 18s

Business Daily meets: Jagan Chapagain

The secretary general of the world’s biggest humanitarian network – the International Federation of the Red Cross - rose from humble beginnings in Nepal. We hear how Jagan Chapagain became involved in humanitarian work, and how he deals with all of the current global crises, whilst remaining politically neutral. (Picture: Jagan Chapagain. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Olie D'Albertanson
09/02/2418m 9s

The global quest to boost productivity

From tackling the long commute to sleeping on the job - we head to Lagos, New York, Tokyo, Bengaluru (formerly Bangalore) and Dublin to look at the diverse ways businesses are attempting to boost productivity and therefore also boost profits. We hear from businesses installing sleep pods in the office and others using technology to boost production on their farms and in their factories but are these techniques really working? Producer: Hannah Mullane Presenter: Leanne Byrne(Image: Buildings working on a roof space. Credit: Getty Images)
08/02/2418m 25s

Is it worth being a B Corp?

It's an exclusive business club with over 8,000 companies, which put environmental and social values at the heart of their work. But the B Corp badge has come under some criticism for taking on some multinational companies - some smaller businesses say that has diluted its values. We hear from Anjli Raval, who reports on what goes on inside the world's biggest companies for the Financial Times.One of the biggest growth areas for B Corps is expected to be Africa. Tahira Nizari is the co-founder of new B Corp Kazi Yetu, selling traceable products like tea and spices from Tanzania. Max Landry at Peppy - a health tech company - who specialise in underserved areas of healthcare lets us know the hoops to join the B Corp club. Jonathan Trimble, the CEO and founder of creative agency And Rising, which helps new brands with their marketing plans tells us what he wants B Corp to change. Chris Turner, Executive Director at B - Lab UK, tells us how their standards will shift in the next year.Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey(Image credit: Kazi Yetu)
07/02/2418m 14s

Denmark: Cashing in on Sweden's Eurovision

As Malmö receives the keys to this year's event, we look at how Copenhagen in Denmark could be the real economic winners - without having to pay for it. When the Swedish city last hosted the competition in 2013, officials estimated around a third of overnight stays were in the Danish capital. We speak to officials in both cities - just 30km apart and connected by the Øresund Bridge - to examine what fans can expect, and explore how other nations around the world get in on the action when a neighbouring country hosts a global event.Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney
06/02/2418m 27s

Business Daily meets: Dizzee Rascal

From its emergence in London’s underground scene and pirate radios in the early 2000s, to becoming a major music genre, Grime has come a long way – contributing more than £2bn to the UK economy and creating opportunities to members of some of Britain’s most deprived communities.Dylan Kwabela Mills - professionally known as Dizzee Rascal - is someone who has been at the centre of this genre from its inception, and who many credit for Grime’s exposure to pop culture.Twenty years on, the electronic dance music, with rapid beats that critics described as the “soundtrack to knife crime”, is now critically acclaimed, and many of the pioneers who were teenagers at the time are now multi-millionaire business owners.(Picture: Dylan Kwabela Mills, known as Dizzee Rascal. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Peter Macjob
05/02/2418m 27s

What's holding back Africa's fashion industry?

The continent's fashion industry holds all the cards to becoming one of the world’s fashion leaders. It has the natural resources, the workforce and a growing middle class who want to wear African brands.However, there are challenges including poor infrastructure, lack of investment and limited training opportunities in fashion - highlighted in a recent Unesco report. We hear from designers on the continent and overseas to get their opinion on what’s needed to help the industry grow and learn why Afrobeats is helping to put African fashion on the map.Produced and presented by Megan Lawton.(Image: Atmosphere at the Labrum London show during London Fashion Week February 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
05/02/2418m 23s

Business Daily meets: Mahen Kumar Seeruttun

The island of Mauritius is well established as a luxury holiday destination with five star hotels, beautiful beaches and clear blue waters.But in the last couple of years it has also become Africa’s financial hub, attracting billions of dollars of investment by leveraging on decades of political and economic stability, a strategic location on the Indian Oean plus a multiple taxation system that incentivise investors.Critics say it’s a tax haven - an allegation the island is keen to put at bay.Can Mauritius sustain its status as a high income country and attract the skilled labour it seeks to expand the economy?Presenter/producer: Peter MacJob(Port Louis is Mauritius main settlement. Credit: Getty Images)
02/02/2418m 21s

How to shut down a nuclear power station

We’re going behind the scenes at two former nuclear power stations – one that’s recently closed, and another that’s been out of action for 25 years. Both are at Hinkley Point in Somerset, in the south of England.What happens when the generators stop? We look into the unique challenges of cleaning up radioactive sites safely.Produced and presented by Theo Leggett(Image: Steam escapes from Hinkley Point B in 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
01/02/2418m 24s

Should dynamic pricing be regulated?

In the second part of the series, in the second part of the series, we look at supermarkets and restaurants.Dynamic pricing it could help cut down on food waste, but would it favour people who can choose when they shop? And we ask why restaurant-goers have yet to develop a taste for it.We also find out how artists like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift have experimented with dynamic pricing to set the prices for their concerts.Finally, we ask if dynamic pricing needs to be regulated more strictly. Is it fair? Does it allow companies to get away with price-gouging? We speak to the head of a consumer rights group who says that more transparency is needed to protect shoppers.Produced and presented by Gideon Long(Image: A food market in the US. Credit: Getty Images)
31/01/2418m 30s

The rise of dynamic pricing

The retail strategy allows companies to constantly tweak their prices in response to changes in the market.In the first of two programmes, we look at how dynamic pricing works in the airline industry, at ride-hailing companies like Uber and on India’s sprawling rail network.And we speak to a director of e-commerce at US electronics firm Harman International, who tells us how dynamic pricing has enhanced its business, increasing revenue, margins and making the company more efficient.Archive of India: Our trains, electric, used courtesy of Made In Manchester.Presented and produced by: Gideon Long(Image: The Mumbai to Solapur Vande Bharat Express at Pune India. Credit: Getty Images)
30/01/2418m 37s

How can tourism become more accessible?

The tourism sector could be missing out on billions by not adapting to the disabled market. However, some businesses and individuals are trying to change that. Speaking to people in North America, Greece and Spain who are making a difference, we find out the challenges in accessible tourism and the potential revenue if things change. We also travel to Amsterdam to meet a woman helping businesses become more accessible.Presented and produced by Sean Allsop(Picture: Man using a wheelchair takes a photograph with his camera. Credit: Getty Images)
29/01/2418m 23s

Business Daily meets: Masaba Gupta

Not many fashion designers can say they've starred in their own TV series alongside their mother.For this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta talks to Indian entrepreneur and social media influencer Masaba Gupta. The daughter of Indian actor Neena Gupta and West Indian cricketer Sir Viv Richards, Masaba discusses how her mixed heritage has inspired the vibrant prints she's become famous for.(Picture: Masaba Gupta)Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Lexy O'Connor
26/01/2414m 15s

Can the Olympics change an area’s reputation?

We’re in the Paris suburb of Seine -Saint-Denis which will host most of the games this summer. It’s an area with some of the highest levels of poverty in the whole of France, and a bad reputation. In the minds of most French people, the area conjures up images of drugs, crime and riots. Locals say that reputation is unfair – and they’re hoping the investment of the games, and a place on the world stage, goes some way to changing that. But can it?Presented and produced by John Laurenson(Image: Inside the Aquatic Olympic Center (CAO). It will host artistic swimming, diving and water-polo. Credit: Getty Images)
25/01/2418m 30s

Why are we ageist?

We look at how many employers still base decisions on a persons age, despite the strong pressures in higher income countries to retain and encourage older staff. What are the underlying reasons for this prejudice? And Ed meets a cosmetic doctor at a central London clinic to discuss the increase in demand for anti-ageing procedures, for people who want to look younger at work.Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: A man and a woman sit at a table at work, with a woman standing up talking to them. Credit: Getty Images)
24/01/2418m 28s

Tackling ageism at work

One in two people are ageist, according to the World Health Organization. Ed Butler looks at the scale of the perceived problem, hearing from workers and experts. In the UK and US, for instance, more than a quarter of over-50s report experiences of ageism in the last 12 months. One recent global survey found that it’s the most socially accepted prejudice, more widespread than either racism or sexism. And how much is ageism a factor in this year’s US presidential race?(Picture: Timothy Tan working alongside a colleague at a computer)Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood
22/01/2418m 28s

The business of bed bugs

Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to deal with - and they're a nightmare for any town or city that relies on a thriving hospitality industry. In October 2023, French government officials had to act rapidly following news headlines claiming there'd been a rise in infestations in Paris, in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games. Infestations can damage reputations, and lead to financial losses due to compensation claims and costly pest control treatments. But scientists are developing solutions to deal with the problem.In this edition of Business Daily, we speak to hotel owners, entrepreneurs, and travellers who’ve been bitten - plus the companies creating technology to help hospitality bosses tackle the problem.(Picture: A hand in a blue glove, holding a magnifying glass over some bed bugs. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw
18/01/2418m 22s

Goodbye blue tick?

Once a much desired badge of authority and quality, on some social media platforms the blue tick (or check) is now available to anyone who chooses to buy one. But has this been a popular move? And has the monetising of verification meant that the blue tick has lost its credibility? We hear from industry experts who can shed some light on verification, which has dramatically changed since Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, in October 2022. Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings(Image: Two workers look at a phone. Credit: Getty Images)
17/01/2418m 16s

Can cars and tourism boost Spain's economy?

We look at how the country can grow its economy in 2024.In November 2023, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez won a second term as Spain's prime minister, and said his focus would be reducing public debt and helping key sectors such as tourism and the automotive industry.Plus the government wants to become a leader in renewables.Presenter: Ashish Sharma(Image: Woman takes a selfie in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)
16/01/2418m 18s

The race for the perfect running shoe

The running shoe industry is worth around 50 billion dollars across the world, with more and more of us taking part in the sport. With more popularity comes more competition, so what are brands doing to keep consumers interested? We ask the chief marketing officer at Swiss sportswear company, ON, and find out how it helps sales when a top athlete wears their shoes. And as the debate around 'super shoes' rumbles on, are they really worth the expensive price tag? US marathon winner Kellyn Taylor tells us about the pros and cons of carbon plated shoes - which played a big role in marathon records being smashed in 2023.(Picture: A group of runners racing through a park. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield
15/01/2418m 34s

Business Daily meets: Michele Arnese

It's widely recognised that we are bombarded with fast-paced imagery in the modern world, whether it's social media videos, or digital billboards in city spaces.But there has been a similar explosion in sound, says advertising entrepreneur Michele Arnese. He thinks brands can only compete with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).Dougal Shaw speaks to the Italian tech entrepreneur who trained as a classical musician, but founded an advertising company that helps companies stand out with distinctive sounds.(Picture: Michele Arnese of Amp looking at AI-generated music with a colleague.)Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw
12/01/2418m 21s

The race to secure semiconductor supply chains

Semiconductors hit the news during the Covid-19 pandemic, as issues with supply chains led to shortages of cars and soaring prices. Since then, geopolitical tensions have impacted the industry. 90% of the world's most advanced chips are made by TSMC in Taiwan. Now, countries all over the world are investing billions of dollars into the industry, so that manufacturing of these chips can happen in more places and alleviate some of the problems supply chains have faced in the last few years. In today’s episode, we visit a new semiconductor fabrication plant in the UK - the first to develop a low-cost, flexible semiconductor, as companies, and nations, race to diversity the industry. (Picture: Two workers in PPE inside the Pragmatic semiconductor plant in Durham, England. Credit: Pragmatic)Produced and presented by Hannah Mullane
11/01/2418m 21s

Food security in Puerto Rico

The Caribbean island imports around 90% of its food and by law only US ships can be used to transport it – which pushes up the price. We speak to islanders who think that needs to change, and are pushing for Puerto Rico to become more self sufficient. Weather events like Hurricane Maria, which left many without power and water for months, have brought the issue to the forefront once again.We meet a new generation who are leading the way, using new technology to try and make it easier, and cheaper, for people to buy local and rely less on imports. Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: Puerto Rican farmer Fernando Maldonado. Credit: Jane Chambers)
10/01/2418m 16s

What is a digital twin city?

Almost 60% of the world’s population live in cities. And this trend is expected to continue - by 2050 nearly 7 of 10 people will live in urban environments.  Although more than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities, there are challenges: increasing carbon emissions and environmental pollution, traffic congestion and urban vulnerability, exposed by natural disasters such as floods and storms.The creation of a digital twin - a digital representation of a real city, infrastructure or even a whole country - could help decision-makers simulate real situations, allowing them to make better decisions. Situations like floods and other extreme weather events. We look into the technology and find out what the benefits and limitations are...And the former foreign minister of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, explains how climate change has forced his country to consider preserving their whole statehood and culture in the metaverse.Produced and presented by Ivana Davidovic(Image: A digital representation of Singapore. Credit: Singapore Land Authority)
09/01/2418m 17s

How to fix the US budget

Twice in 2023, the American government faced the prospect of having to shut down because politicians in congress couldn’t agree on a budget to fund it. Each time, a shutdown was narrowly averted – by last minute, short-term deals.Now, a third deadline is looming in mid-January. It leaves politicians – with fierce disagreements over what services the government should pay for, and how – little time to reach an agreement.We look at the impact of this uncertainty on businesses, and ask, in an election year, what can be done to bring the chaos to an end?Presented and produced by Rob Young(Image: An employee walks past a sign at the entrance of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History during a 35-day partial government shutdown in Washington, DC, January 28, 2019. Credit: Getty Images)
08/01/2418m 13s

Business Daily meets: Kathryn Jacob

For 70 years, Pearl & Dean has been at the forefront of cinema advertising in the UK. Its CEO, Kathryn Jacob has been leading the company for 18 of them.But it's been a rocky few years for the movie industry, as it battles the economic effects of the Covid pandemic. In this edition of Business Daily meets, Kathryn discusses how cinemas are recovering, and how the advertising industry is slowly embracing diversity.(Picture: Kathryn Jacob)Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw
05/01/2418m 19s

Being unbanked

How easy is it to open a bank account in your country? Around the world, 1.4 billion people can’t get a bank account, and two-thirds of them are in low and middle income countries. People from migrant communities also struggle to access formal banking services. We hear from 19 year-old Josue Calderon. Originally from El Salvador, he arrived in the United States when he was 16. He tells Sam Fenwick about the challenges of only being able to use cash when he first arrived in the US. Sam also speaks to BBC World Service listeners about their experiences of opening a bank account. (Picture: The hand of a woman about to take money out of her purse. Credit: Getty Images)Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick Additional production by Barbara George
04/01/2418m 24s

Tricking the brain – are holograms the future?

The use of these endlessly flexible 3D images is increasing rapidly. Not just in entertainment, but in medicine, education, design, defence and more.Holograms trick the brain into seeing something in 3D when it’s really just a projection, allowing us to feel immersed in something – whether it’s an atom, or a cityscape. We talk to companies developing this fast advancing technology and ask – will we be living in a holographic future?Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon(Image: A citizen watches a hologram of the artwork 'A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains' during a digital art exhibition at an art museum on March 11, 2023 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province of China. Credit: Getty Images)
03/01/2418m 21s

Living off-grid: Scaling up

Alastair Leithead and his wife Ana moved to Portugal during the Covid pandemic. They live off-grid, meaning they have no access to mains electricity or water supplies. They also have to manage their own waste water and sewage.Now the former BBC correspondent is embarking on an ambitious project to build and run a hotel, meaning their solar powered utilities will not only have to work for them, but also paying guests. Produced and presented by Alastair Leithead.(Image: Alastair and Ana at their property. Credit: Alastair Leithead)
02/01/2421m 1s

Living off-grid in Portugal

In the first of a two part series, we're in the Alentejo region where people are buying land and empty properties in an area without power or water supply.Former BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead is one of them - he has moved there with his wife, and is trying to build and run a hotel. He travels around the region and speaks to his neighbours about their experiences.Plus - what do local people think of this influx of foreigners coming to live off-grid? Presented and produced by Alastair Leithead.(Image: The sun setting over solar panels in Portugal. Alastair Leithead)
01/01/2411m 32s

Business Daily Meets: Dr Yasmeen Lari

Pakistan's first female architect came out of retirement to help rebuild her country after the 2005 earthquake.Now she's helping communities devastated by the 2022 floods.Dr Lari talks about her experience starting out in a male-dominated field, the changing focus of her career, and her mission to build a million flood-resilient homes in Pakistan by 2024.Produced and presented by Emb Hashmi.(Image: Dr Yasmeen Lari. Credit: Getty Images)
22/12/2318m 19s

Turkey adjusts to ‘bitter medicine’ of high rates

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heard Turkish voters back in May when they said they wanted change in the economy. So, he appointed a new finance minister and central bank governor to lead the charge. Despite the president’s strong opposition to using higher interest rates to cool rising prices, he’s allowed rates to rise in each of the last six months. While that’s helped bring about an economic turnaround, it’s put added pressure on households who have for years been reliant on low borrowing costs. Will the president’s patience with economic orthodoxy last, or are these early policy changes a sign of long-lasting change?Presenter Victoria Craig Produced by Victoria Craig and Ceren Iskit(Image: Eren and Ümit Karaduman and their children. Credit: Victoria Craig)
21/12/2318m 15s

Battling snakes to gather Brazil nuts

Despite the name, Bolivia is actually the world's biggest exporter of Brazil nuts.We travel to the hot and humid north of the country to look at the production process which can be extremely dangerous.Plus we hear how the business of Brazil nuts is helping stop deforestation in the Amazon.Presenter: Jane Chambers Producers: Jane Chambers and Helen Thomas(Image: A worker unloading Brazil nuts from the Pando region at a nut processing plant in Riberalta, Bolivia. Credit: Bob Howard)
20/12/2318m 19s

Was 2023 a bad year for IPOs?

When private companies around the world want to raise cash, they can do so by starting a process to list on a stock exchange. This is known as an IPO, or initial public offering. Analysts watch such public listings to gauge the health of an economy. In 2021, IPOs were booming, but in 2023 there's been a big drop in activity - with a record low number of companies choosing to offer their shares publicly on stock exchanges in the US, UK and Europe. What's going on, and why does it matter when IPOs don't do well?(Picture: The hand of a man holding a phone, monitoring trading data on his phone, tablet, and computer. Credit: Getty Images)Produced and presented by Frey Lindsay
19/12/2318m 22s

Has shoplifting become a global problem?

Shoplifting has long been a concern for small and large retailers worldwide, but many believe the issue has recently increased - including incidents of retail violence. Sam Gruet speaks to some of these retailers in New Zealand, India, Pakistan and the UK, to explore the possible reasons behind the rise in retail crime and what measures they’re introducing to respond to the escalating issue. These include covert security, body cameras and stab-proof vests. He also asks if advances in technology can act as a powerful deterrent to potential shoplifters, and if it could be the solution to minimise retail loss.(Picture: Security camera. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Amber Mehmood
18/12/2318m 31s

Business Daily meets: Niccolo Ricci

Niccolo Ricci is the CEO of Stefano Ricci, a luxury clothing brand whose suits are worn by the rich and powerful. The firm was established more than 50 years ago by his parents, and now, Niccolo, and his brother Filippo, run the family business; supplying high-end luxury attire to clients all around the world. It's a brand that counts heads of state and business magnates among its patrons.In an era of casual fashion, this is a rarefied world where discretion is the name of the game. Presenter: Leanna Byrne(Photo: Niccolo Ricci. Credit: Getty Images)
15/12/2317m 28s

Putting the 'F' word into climate talks

The COP 28 climate talks in Dubai have closed with a deal to "transition away" from fossil fuels.So what does this mean for the future of oil, gas and coal companies? Sam Fenwick talks to two companies who sent representatives to COP 28; the Norwegian energy giant Equinor and the Middle East's oldest private energy company, Cresent Petroleum. Do they plan to ever abandon fossil fuels entirely?And she finds out what the leader of COP28’s Greenpeace delegation makes of the agreement.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor(Photo: Offshore drilling platform during sunrise with work vessel. Credit: Getty Images)
14/12/2317m 29s

Taiwan: Prepping for war

One month before pivotal elections in Taiwan, Ed Butler meets ordinary citizens getting ready just in case growing threats of a Chinese invasion do come to pass. First-aid and weapons training are top of the list. But why isn’t the government doing more to get people ready?Presented and produced by Ed Butler(Image: A first aid training exercise)
13/12/2318m 17s

Taiwan: The political mood

The military threat from China, which claims Taiwan as its own, has dominated global headlines of late. But ahead of elections, most voters here say it’s low wages and property prices that are preying on their minds. Are politicians listening?We also explore Taiwan's low birth rate - is it a financial decision for young couples not to have children and get a pet instead?Produced and presented by Ed Butler.(Image: A young couple take a selfie on the city MRT train. Credit: Getty Images)
12/12/2318m 18s

Kinmen: The Taiwanese islands next to China

Sitting just a few kilometres away from mainland China, the tiny Kinmen islands are in an unusual situation.Beijing says they and Taiwan are a part of China, they're a breakaway province, and it wants them back, by force if necessary. As tensions rise, Ed Butler visits Kinmen to discover how this most exposed population feels about Beijing's claim - and hear about plans to build a bridge to connect the islands with the Chinese mainland.Produced and presented by Ed Butler.(Image: A beach on Kinmen Island, with sea defences)
11/12/2318m 19s

Business Daily meets: Joyce and Raissa de Haas

Joyce and Raissa de Hass used to make tonic waters and mixers for their friends. That passion became a university project, which then turned into a successful start-up. In the early days, the twin co-founders from the Netherlands were releasing batches of products they weren't really keen on, but now they think they've found a winning formula for premium mixers. They've won awards for their drinks, and now stock several premium bars and supermarkets.In this edition of Business Daily, we hear how Joyce and Raissa turned a passion project into a business, why they believe they're shaking up the drinks industry, and what it's like to run a start-up with your identical twin.(Picture: Joyce and Raissa de Hass)Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw
08/12/2318m 29s

Star Wars: The empire strikes cash

When Star Wars launched, it helped usher in the era of the blockbuster. In the wake of the film, came the figures. Forty years on from their launch, the original toys have now become highly sought after - some fetching a few hundred thousand dollars. We head to the largest toy fair in Europe dedicated to buying and selling Star Wars figures. We look at how much the toys are now worth and speak to some of the super fans now buying them - and explore how big the market for the vintage figures is.Presenter/producer: Rowan Bridge(Photo: Someone dressed in The Mandalorian costume at a Star Wars toy fair, with fans in the background)
07/12/2317m 48s

Women, sport and business: Merchandise

In this episode of Business Daily, the latest in our series on women, sport and business, it's all about the merch.We'll explore how important replica tops and kits actually are for women’s sport in terms of fandom, participation and of course money. We ask what female sports fans and participants actually want to wear and whether they're being adequately catered for.Dr Katie Lebel is Professor at the University of Guelph in Canada and researches gender equity in sports branding and consumer behaviour. She tells us there is a distinct lack of data in this area and as a result sports wear firms are definitely missing out on revenue.Dana Brookman is founder of the Canadian girl's baseball league and tells us her biggest challenge has been sourcing suitable uniform for her teams, and Sam Fenwick visits sport wear manufacturer Kukri to see what they have available for women and how they're working to improve their offer.We’re going to explore what’s available and whether half the population is being properly catered for in terms of sports gear...Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Carmel O'Grady (Image: Canadian girls baseball; Credit: Dana Brookman)
06/12/2317m 29s

The K-rice belt: Seeds for self-sufficiency?

Could Africa reduce its dependency on imported rice with the help of South Korea?The continent's appetite for rice is growing fast at over 6% per year. And even though rice is grown in about 40 out of 54 countries in Africa, the production only covers about 60% of the demand. This results in 14 to 15 million tonnes of rice being imported each year costing over $6bn.To remedy this, a new rice variety was developed in co-operation with South Korea: ISRIZ-7 and ISRIZ-8. These high yield rice varieties were bred from the very rice that is credited with bringing self-sufficiency in rice to South Korea in the '70s. Earlier this year 10 African nations launched the ‘Korean Rice Belt’ project to improve rice yields in participating countries.David Cann looks into the rice co-operation between South Korea and African countries, speaking to the South Korean agricultural minister and farmers in Senegal and The Gambia.Presenter/producer: David Cann(Photo: A handful of ISRIZ rice seeds. Credit: Rural Development Administration)
06/12/2318m 31s

What’s holding women back from work in Sri Lanka?

After the catastrophic financial crisis, early signs of stability are returning to Sri Lanka. But there’s arguably a more entrenched economic dilemma in the country that had the world’s first female prime minister - the lack of women in work.With first-hand testimony of harassment and social exclusion, this programme examines the barriers holding women back.Presenter Laura Heighton-Ginns also visits a women-only employer, successful restaurant chain Hela Bojun, and speaks to presidential advisor Priyanee Wijesekera about the path to cultural change.Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns(Image: A woman working in a government back scheme. Credit: Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture)
05/12/2318m 26s

How to solve fashion’s waste problem

More than a quarter of all clothes made are never actually sold - where do they go?We look into new legislation being finalised by the EU, to try and make fashion more sustainable. There will be a ban on the incineration of unsold goods and each product will need a digital passport so it can be tracked and its lifetime monitored. Hannah Mullane speaks to businesses across Europe about whether they think the industry is ready for these kind of changes.We also head to Ghana, to the Kantamanto market - the biggest second-hand market in the world, to understand the impact the fashion worlds unsold garments can have.Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane (Picture credit: A pair of shoes hang over power lines at the Kantamanto market in Accra, November 2022. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko)
04/12/2318m 21s

Business Daily meets: Konrad Bergstrom

Konrad Bergstrom comes from a family of seafarers. And as a business leader, he wants to make navigating the seas environmentally friendly. His business, X Shore, has been dubbed "the Tesla of the seas". Konrad is now considered one of Sweden's leading entrepreneurs, having also founded Zound industries - the tech company that produces electronics for Marshall Amplification and Adidas.But it's not all been plain sailing for the businessman. In this edition of Business Daily, Leanna Byrne finds out how a boy selling hot dogs in his home town went from windsurfer to entrepreneur; how he overcame business failure; and how a business disagreement led Konrad back to his home - the sea.(Picture: Konrad Bergstrom. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne
01/12/2318m 30s

Is the corporate world too close to COP?

Greenhouse gas levels have never been higher. If we're to limit global warming, businesses have a crucial role to play because they operate in sectors that need to radically change, like energy, transport and finance.Thousands of company bosses are touching down in Dubai for this year's COP28 climate change talks. But environmentalists claim many businesses are not acting fast enough. They're increasingly concerned about the growing number of fossil fuel companies attending these summits. Are they right to be worried?(Picture: COP28 venue ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Expo City Dubai. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor
30/11/2318m 32s

Can China stop its love affair with coal?

It’s the world’s largest user of coal fired energy, and the biggest polluter. However, China is also the world’s biggest producer of green energy. How can it reconcile the two and keep its next zero promises?Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Lexy O'Connor(Image: Thermal power and solar power in Shanghai. Two power generation methods in one photo. Credit: Getty Images)
29/11/2317m 52s

Asia's air pollution problem

It’s the week of the Climate Change Conference or COP28, and as leaders from around the world meet in the UAE to talk about how to tackle global warming, we take a look at one urgent issue: air pollution. According to World Health Organisation data, nearly seven million lives are lost prematurely each year due to harmful air. In this edition. Devina Gupta explores the air problem affecting major cities in Asia - to the cities of Delhi, Lahore, Taipei and Jakarta - to find out how lives and livelihoods are being impacted, and what can be done. (Picture: The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple under a thick layer of smog in Delhi, India. Credit: Harish Tyagi/Shutterstock)Presented and produced by Devina Gupta.
28/11/2318m 10s

Why is Spain betting on green hydrogen?

Spain is trying to position itself as the centre of renewable energy production in Europe, particularly in green hydrogen. The country already boasts one of the first centres worldwide where green hydrogen is produced. But while it rushes headlong with several projects in the pipeline, we examine the economic viability and the impact of producing green hydrogen.(Image: A green hydrogen manufacturing facility. Credit: Iberdrola)Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma
27/11/2318m 27s

Who is Sultan Al-Jaber?

We find out why he's a controversial appointment for the COP28 presidency.Sultan Al Jaber’s appointment has been widely questioned because he’s also the boss of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company Adnoc. But supporters point to his work as founder of the green energy giant Masdar.Is he compromised or uniquely qualified?We speak to people who’ve interviewed him, worked with him, and can give us the inside track.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor(Image: Sultan Al-Jaber. Credit: Getty Images)
24/11/2318m 19s

The world's longest subsea power cable

They are the cables that run along the sea bed to move power where it’s needed for a cheaper price. Business Daily’s Rick Kelsey goes to the site of The Viking Link - the longest one ever built - just before it goes live between the UK and Demark. We’ll be hearing what these cables may do for our electricity costs and how safe they are from sabotage. Rebecca Sedler Managing Director for NG Interconnectors tells us how it will save people money, and engineer Oliver Kitching spent four weeks on the cable laying vessel at sea. We also here from the Danish engineers who often have too much power available, plus Dhara Vyas from Energy UK discusses concerns around sabotage.Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey.Image: The Viking power cable. Credit: National Grid)
23/11/2318m 20s

Kimchi: Korean food goes global

Kimchi, the tangy fermented vegetable dish, is now being made and sold around the world.South Korea’s kimchi export value has risen dramatically in the past few years, going far beyond Asia. And it's consumed by not only overseas Koreans but by the locals too.While kimchi remains a distinctly Korean dish, in recent years, those with little to no connection to the country have been producing and selling kimchi.What is behind the rise?In this edition, David Cann looks into the growing popularity of the dish; speaking to kimchi experts, traders and producers.Presented and produced by David Cann.(Picture: Kimchi being made at a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. Credit: Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji)
22/11/2318m 16s

How to spot a diamond

When is a diamond really a diamond? When it’s been formed miles underground a billion years ago, or when has it been created in a laboratory, under temperatures close to the heat of the sun? The answer is – both are true. They look and behave exactly the same, but they are very different in price. The lab-grown diamonds are marketed as kinder to the environment, and they are far cheaper - and that’s led to concern about whether the two kinds have been mixed together, with man-made stones passed off as natural. So, what is the industry doing to give consumers confidence? (Picture: Close up of man putting engagement ring on girlfriend. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Lesley Curwen Producer: Barbara George
21/11/2318m 16s

Disruption in the diamond sector

A few years ago you could have assumed all diamonds had been dug out of the ground – but now it’s true that some of them have been created, at unbelievably high temperatures, in just a matter of weeks. In the first of two Business Daily programmes about the evolving diamond market, Lesley Curwen heads to the glamorous jewellery district of Hatton Garden in London – to see how the jewellery world is being re-shaped by the mass production of laboratory-made stones.We hear from India how they’re created in temperatures as hot as the sun - and talk to one of the world’s biggest jewellery brands about why they are using only man-made diamonds. We also look at claims that man-made diamonds are the green and ethical choice.(Picture: Tweezers holding a diamond. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter: Lesley Curwen Producer: Barbara George
20/11/2318m 1s

Business Daily meets: Cycling boss Doug Ryder

The South African former pro rider set up his cycling team in 2007. As MTN Qhubeka they became the first-ever African registered team to ride the Tour de France.He talks about the challenges of putting together a team from scratch - and the steep learning curve he faced moving from cycling to managing.After a successful stint on the world stage, a combination of financial and sponsorship problems lead to the team, which by then had gone through multiple name changes, being disbanded in 2021.Doug Ryder has now put a new team together – we catch up with him at the Q36.5 Pro Cycling HQ in the Netherlands.Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon(Image: Doug Ryder. Credit: BBC)
17/11/2318m 19s

Argentina goes to the polls

There are two candidates: one is the current economy minister who has a wealth of experience in power; the other is a maverick libertarian economist who wants to ditch the country’s currency, the peso, and strip the central bank of its ability to print money.We speak to his senior economic advisor, and also to a wine producer from the western province of Mendoza, who tells us about the challenges of doing business in a country with two exchange rates, severe restrictions on imports, a heavy tax burden and a shrinking economy.And we speak to voters in Buenos Aires about what they want from their next president in a nation which seems to lurch from one economic crisis to the next.Picture: Composite image of Javier Milei (Credit: Luis Robayo/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) and Sergio Massa (Credit: Tomas Cuesta/Reuters) in front of an Argentinian flag (Credit: Carl Recine/Reuters)Presented and produced by Gideon Long
16/11/2318m 6s

Biden and Xi to meet in San Francisco

We’re looking ahead to the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco – the first time the two leaders will have met in 12 months. Diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated this year, with tensions rising over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Meanwhile, there’s been a tit-for-tat trade spat over semiconductors and raw materials. As the presidents meet on the side lines of the APEC summit, Vivienne Nunis takes stock of the relationship between the world’s two largest economies.Produced and presented by Vivienne Nunis.(Image: US President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping meet at the G20 Summit in Bali on November 14, 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
15/11/2318m 18s

The classic cars going electric

Some owners are converting their vehicles into EVs. The idea is to boost the performance of these cars and make them ready for a green future. The process is not cheap - it requires specialists who can retain the vintage value of these cars while fitting them with a modern electric engine. Critics feel that such a transition takes away the emotional and engineering legacy of these vehicles. So we travel across the UK to find out about the challenges and the future of this niche business that is helping classic cars go electric.Produced and presented by Devina Gupta.(Image: 'Isetta', owned by Aleks Hughes which has been converted to electric. Credit: Richard Heeley, Bite the Hand)
14/11/2318m 11s

How has war changed the lives of Ukraine’s working women?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 saw millions of Ukrainian women and children flee to safety; causing massive upheaval and hitting the economy hard.For the women who have stayed, their lives have been transformed; many have taken on new roles, like Tetiana, who is now working underground in a coal mine, and Evgeniya, who is now a sniper on the frontline.Others, like Alina Kacharovska, have managed to grow their businesses; in this case, shoes and accessories, or are stepping into leadership positions, like Yulia Burmistenko, in the crisis group at energy company D-Tek.In this edition of Business Daily, we also hear from Iryna Drobovych from the Ukrainian Women’s Congress, and Yuliya Sporysh, founder & CEO of NGO Divchata, on how the war could change things for gender equality in Ukraine.(Image: Tetyana Ustimenko, manager of underground installations at DTEK. Credit: DTEK)Presented and produced by Clare Williamson
13/11/2318m 21s

Business Daily meets: Silvina Moschini

The Argentinian-American tech entrepreneur moved to the US in 1997 and carved out a career in the corporate world before breaking free and setting out on her own. In late 2020, the remote working company TransparentBusiness, which she co-founded 12 years earlier, achieved a $1bn valuation. Now she continues to push for gender and racial equality in the workplace, is an investor on the TV show Unicorn Hunters, and has also established a new asset-backed cryptocurrency. She explains her journey, the setbacks she’s faced along the way and opens up about what keeps her motivated.Presenter/producer: Sam Clack(Image: Silvina Moschini. Credit: Dasha Horita)
10/11/2318m 41s

Last orders for the Irish pub?

Fears are growing for the future of the country's bars - especially in rural areas.In less than 20 years almost a quarter of Irish pubs have closed, many of them businesses which have been run by the same family for generations. RRussell Padmore travels across the Emerald Isle to hear how the closure of pubs is a setback for rural communities, but also a worry for the country’s tourism industry. We hear from owners of pubs in County Donegal, a beer brewing company and a hospitality sector expert in Dublin, and a tourism marketing advisor.Presenter: Russell Padmore(Image: A closed pub sign. Credit: Getty Images)
09/11/2321m 43s

Caste bias in corporate America

There is a growing debate in the US about the caste system - an ancient social ranking system where the community you are born into determines what kind of job you do, who you marry, and much more. The caste system in India dates back over 3,000 years and divides Hindu society into different social strata. In many South Asian countries, it is outlawed. But members of the South Asian diaspora in the US say this type of caste bias persists, and there is often very little protection at workplaces against it.For the community, opinions are divided. Seattle in Washington was the first city to ban discrimination based on caste. But the fight continues for activists in California, where a bill that sought to ban discrimination was vetoed in October. Opponents called it a "divisive bill" that "implicitly singles out" South Asians.In this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta speaks to workers who have experienced such discrimination, and explores some of the challenges for lawmakers seeking to ban it.(Image: A group from Equality Labs at a rally in September 2023, pushing for a law to ban caste discrimination. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Devina Gupta
08/11/2318m 44s

The Chinese migrants trying to get into the US

We travel to South America to meet the Chinese migrants who are making their way to the United States using an unexpected route - the established migrant trail through South and Central America to the southern border with Mexico. Citing economic challenges at home - and using inspiration from social media - a growing number are making this perilous trek. Reporter Shawn Yuan travels along the route speaking to migrants about their journey and their aspirations for the future. Presenter: Shawn Yuan Producer: Shawn Yuan, with additional production from James Graham(Image: Chinese migrants wait to get inside a bus to continue their route to the US. Credit: Getty Images)
07/11/2318m 14s

Saudi Arabia's multi-billion dollar football powerhouse bet

The Saudi Pro League has attracted some of the top players from around the world - with transfer fees and salaries amounting to millions of dollars.We travel to Saudi Arabia to look at the country's ambitious plan to become a global football powerhouse - is it an economic move or simply sportswashing?With Saudi Arabia now it's looking set to be confirmed as the host of the World Cup in 2034, we look at its relationship with football.Presenter: Sameer Hashmi(Image: Saudi football club Al Hilal welcomes Brazilian football star Neymar with an introductory ceremony at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on August 19, 2023. Credit: Getty Images)
06/11/2317m 42s

Why is the French wine industry struggling?

The region of Bordeaux in the south-west of France is perhaps the most famous wine-producing area in the world. But it’s struggling. While the prestigious, most expensive wines – Saint-Émilions, Pomerols and Margaux are selling well, others are not.For the producers of the 850 million bottles of the region's famous red wine, it’s a difficult time due to a major decline in consumption.We look at the reasons for this, the impact it’s having, and what winemakers are doing to help protect their livelihoods.Presenter: John Laurenson (Image: A glass of red wine. Credit: Getty Images)
02/11/2318m 42s

Business Daily meets: Babbel CEO Arne Schepker

Have you tried learning a language online? We explore the growth of language learning platforms with Babbel CEO Arne Schepker, and how the Covid pandemic lead to an increase in learning digitally.Mr Schepker explains how more international working and personal relationships has led to an increase in demand. And how smartphones and the internet have changed that age-old aspiration of gaining fluency in another language.Presenter: Dougal Shaw(Image: Arne Schepker. Credit: BBC)
02/11/2318m 42s

The Crypto King and the journalist

Sam Bankman-Fried, the American crypto entrepreneur who went from billionaire to bankrupt, is on trial in New York for fraud. The 31-year-old who founded the cryptocurrency exchange FTX is accused of lying to investors and lenders. He has denied those charges, and instead says he was acting in good faith but made mistakes. He says he never set out to defraud anyone. In the coming days, 12 jurors will decide his fate - he could face a life sentence in prison if convicted. Vivienne Nunis speaks to financial journalist Michael Lewis, who spent hundreds of hours with Sam Bankman-Fried for his new book Going Infinite.Presenter: Vivienne Nunis(Image: Sam Bankman-Fried leaving a court hearing in June 2022. Credit: Getty Images)
01/11/2318m 15s

Spook-onomics: the global boost of Halloween

Trick or treat and other traditions are now at the centre of a global multi-billion business. The ancient Celtic and Pagan festival, which started thousands of years ago in Ireland, was taken by emigrants to North America, where it was turned into a major annual event. The National Retail Federation in the US tells Russell Padmore how spending by consumers is forecast to be a record of more than $12bn. Jadrain Wooten, an economist at Virginia Tech, says the sales promotions for Halloween are getting earlier every year and lasting at least month. We hear about the economic benefits of Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival in Derry City in Northern Ireland and visit a pumpkin farm in the region. An Irish cultural historian, Manchán Magan, tells us about the roots of the festival, which used to be called Samhain and we find out how retailers in Australia are cashing in by selling costumes, pumpkins and other items as consumers enjoy the traditions of Halloween.Presenter: Russell Padmore(Image: Children trick or treating in the North East of England. Credit: Getty Images)
31/10/2318m 16s

The electric car race

Countries around the world are racing to achieve targets on the ban of new petrol and diesel cars - but they are hitting stumbling blocks, meaning some are pulling back on their commitments. Although global sales of electric cars are rising, some countries are struggling to persuade drivers to make the switch. Reasons given include insufficient or unsuitable charging points, and the price tag: criticism is often put to governments that the shift to electric cars is hardest for the least well off.In this edition of Business Daily, Rick Kelsey looks at one country which is well ahead of the rest: Norway. The country's aim is that all new car sales in 2025 will be of electric vehicles - a plan being supported by financial incentives and policy changes.He also speaks to business leaders in the car industry, including a man known as "the Godfather of EV", to find out what's needed if countries are to phase out internal combustion engines.(Picture: An electric car being charged. Credit: PA/John Walton)Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey
30/10/2318m 15s

Elon Musk's X: The Twitter takeover a year on

After many months of news headlines about whether Elon Musk was going to buy Twitter, he eventually completed the purchase on 27 October 2022. Since then, the company’s been through some big changes; laying off most of its 8000 employees, a rebrand to ‘X’, and reinstating some previously banned accounts on the platform. Mr Musk describes himself a free speech absolutist and says he bought Twitter – now called X - to create a space where “a wide range of beliefs can be debated in a healthy manner.” However, the company’s faced criticism over lax content moderation, leading to advertisers halting ads on the service. He hopes to boost revenue by making the site a paid-for platform, setting himself some ambitious financial targets.In this episode, Sam Fenwick speaks to former employees, business owners and journalists to get a picture of what has happened at X since Elon Musk took over. (Picture: Elon Musk next to a logo for X - formerly known as Twitter. Credit: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)Produced by Amber Mehmood and Hannah Mullane
26/10/2318m 24s

Business Daily meets: Akinwumi Adesina

In 2015, Akinwumi Adesina was elected President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), and since then he's become a symbol of optimism across the continent. How did he become known as Africa's "optimist-in-chief"?In this edition of Business Daily, Dr Adesina tells Peter MacJob what has shaped him as an economist, his outlook for the continent and how Africa could determine the future of renewable energy and green minerals.He says the international financial architecture should be more inclusive and favourable towards African economies, and the global north should compensate the continent for the adverse impacts of climate change on Africa.(Picture: Dr Akinwunmi Adesina. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Peter MacJob
25/10/2318m 23s

Short Stories: The amateur trader

Short selling has gone mainstream. Inspired by the noisy success of activist short sellers, amateur investors are now trying this highly risky strategy themselves.They’re aided by a slew of new trading apps making it possible to short a stock or currency in seconds.Peter Roscoe is a YouTube investing vlogger who’s experienced the highs and lows of short selling.We also hear from the UK boss of trading app E-Toro – who says shorting has exploded on the platform.Producer: Ciaran Tracey Presenter: Leanna Byrne
23/10/2318m 17s

Short Stories: The CEO

What’s it like to be on the wrong side of a big short? Former CEO Paul Pittman's company was shorted by an anonymous short seller who made false allegations in order to drive its share price down - way down.This is the story of how Paul and his firm overcame the short attack that cost them millions: and why it’s not just big companies that stand to lose money from rogue shorters on the markets.Producer: Ciaran Tracey Presenter: Leanna Byrne
23/10/2318m 18s

Short Stories: The activist short seller

Short selling – the trade where you hope a stock’s value will fall rather than rise. If it does, the trader can win. Big.That’s led to the growth of what’s called the activist short seller. A trader who comes out to tell the world why a company’s stock should be lower than it is. They’re betting on its failure.Carson Block from the firm Muddy Waters is one of the most prominent new short sellers – vocal on the news and social media, he explains why the companies he shorts are usually the ones with something to hide.Producer: Ciaran Tracey Presenter: Leanna Byrne
22/10/2318m 17s

Business Daily meets: Andre Schwammlein

Andre Schwammlein once wanted to be a pilot – but ended up behind the wheel of a bus and train company instead.The chief executive and co-founder of Flix – the driving force behind Flixbus and Flixtrain - says he was never much of a traveller, but now leads a company that has changed the way millions of people cross countries and continents.In just 10 years, Flixbus has gone from German startup to global brand - even taking a piece of American heritage: Greyhound.In this edition of Business Daily, Theo Leggett finds out how the transport entrepreneur got started, the reasons behind the company’s success, and his plans for growth.(Picture: André Schwämmlein. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Theo Leggett
19/10/2318m 15s

What makes a stadium special?

The development of new sports stadiums and facilities can bring regeneration to deprived areas. They hold a special place in the hearts of sports and live music fans. But have some of the new ones lost their spark? In this edition of Business Daily, Sam Fenwick asks, what gives a stadium its atmosphere and can it be designed in? Sam speaks to Christopher Lee, whose architecture practice, Populous, has designed 3000 arenas all over the world. He shares his experience of designing iconic grounds like the Yankee Stadium, Wembley Stadium, and Olympic stadiums in Sydney, London and Sochi. And we hear from BBC World Service listeners, who tell us what makes their favourite sports grounds so special. (Picture: Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (66) throws a pitch against the Kansas City Royals in the third inning at Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts. Credit: David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick
18/10/2318m 19s

Why is the US building electric car battery factories?

We’re in Kentucky, where an area which had long ago been abandoned as an industrial site is once again coming to life.US manufacturer Ascend Elements has chosen the site to build a factory for electric car batteries made from recycled ones - an industry previously almost entirely based in China.We explore the government incentives that have drawn the company to build here with US Climate Envoy John Kerry.And we hear from the local mining community which is hoping the new green manufacturing facility may provide much needed jobs.Presenter: Faisal Islam Producer: Priya Patel(Image: A worker at the factory building site in Kentucky. Credit: BBC)
17/10/2318m 14s

Bottles or balsa: What should wind turbine blades be made from?

For years, balsa wood has been a key component in the giant rotor blades on the top of wind turbines. Most of it comes from the rain forests of South America and, in particular, from Ecuador. As the world transitions to green energy, lots of countries – particularly China – have been looking for more balsa to make blades. That pushed up prices, raised questions over sustainability and prompted some companies to look for alternatives to balsa wood. One alternative is PET, a foam made from recycled plastic bottles.So what should we be using to make the wind turbine blades of the future – biodegradable balsa wood or plastic foam made from old bottles?We talk to people on both sides of the debate and visit a wind farm in rural England to see the blades in action.(Picture: Crook Hill wind farm in Rochdale, north of England.)Presented and produced by Gideon Long
17/10/2318m 19s

The impact of India's rice export ban

In an effort to insulate domestic prices, India has banned exports of non basmati white rice - its largest rice category.We ask what the impact of this is on large importing countries.A rice mill owner in Northern Nigeria tells us how the country is expanding its domestic rice production as a result of India’s curb, and we hear from a retailer in the UAE about the purchasing restriction it placed on customers as soon as the announcement was made. We look at whether other countries can meet the shortfall of rice in global supply and what this could mean for global food security. Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Amber Mehmood
16/10/2318m 19s

Business Daily meets: Durreen Shahnaz

From Bangladesh to Wall Street and back again, the founder and CEO of Impact Investment Exchange talks to Devina Gupta.Durreen Shahnaz explains how her childhood in socialist Bangladesh and then move to a job on Wall Street in the 1980s shaped the person and businesswoman she is today. From trading stamps with her friends and buying pickles with the profit, she moved on to bigger trades at the heart of capitalism. What she learnt there set her up for a life dedicated to trying to make the financial system work for those most in need. Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Hannah Bewley(Image: Durreen Shahnaz. Credit: Durreen Shahnaz)
13/10/2318m 15s

Dumb Money: Unpicking the GameStop saga

Shares in GameStop, the video game store, experienced a dramatic rise in early in 2021. The stock had captured the imagination of many individual investors who heard about it on social media platforms such as TikTok and Reddit. Some investors made a lot of money, while some hedge funds, who had bet against the stock, lost billions. Eventually, though, GameStop shares crashed back to earth and many investors lost the lot. The story has been dramatised by Hollywood in ‘Dumb Money’, currently screening in cinemas. Vivienne Nunis sits down with the film’s director Craig Gillespie and financial journalist Matt Levine to investigate what the GameStop saga teaches us about the power of social media when it comes to influencing the movements of the stock market.(Picture: Paul Dano as Keith Gill in 'Dumb Money'. Credit: Sony Pictures)Presented and produced by Vivienne Nunis
12/10/2318m 15s

The rising price of fuel in Nigeria

In May this year, Nigerian president Bola Tinubu took office – and announced an end to fuel subsidies. He said the move would free up money for investment in public services and infrastructure projects, but it caused a spike in prices and, in some cases, triggered street protests. We explore the impact of removing the subsidy on residents and businesses, and the knock on-effect for neighbouring countries like Cameroon. Presenter/producer: Bisi Adebayo(Image: Members of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) holds a placard during a march in Abuja on August 2, 2023. Credit: Getty Images)
11/10/2310m 22s

Fire-proofing California’s wine industry

In 2020, Napa Valley experienced its most destructive wildfire ever. Vineyards burned, leaving not only direct damage, but more long lasting impact with wine affected by smoke taint. We hear how the perennial presence of wildfires means local businesses face a harsh reality of living with the risk of fire. Sophie Long visits wine makers who are using inflammable materials to build new wineries, changing growing techniques and using technology to deal with tainted wine. And she meets local residents learning firefighting techniques - all to keep smoke out of your wine glass and the billion dollar industry thriving.Presenter: Sophie Long Producer: Samantha Granville(Image: Burned grapes hang on a damaged vine at a vineyard as the Glass fire continues to burn in Calistoga, California on October 1, 2020. Credit: Getty Images)
10/10/2318m 15s

The Commonwealth Games in crisis?

The event is facing its biggest financing challenge in its 93-year history.There is no host city for the next edition in 2026, and the Commonwealth Games Federation is struggling to persuade other cities to host after that. We speak to academics who say the model of structuring and paying for the Games is broken. Some observers go further – saying the Games and the Commonwealth itself are relics of the British Empire and should be wound up.We also hear from athletes who have competed at the Games and highlight their importance for their respective sports and countries.And we look at one city that has hosted with relative success – within budget and with long-lasting benefits to civic infrastructure.Producer/Presenter: Gideon Long(Image: The closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Credit: Getty Images)
09/10/2318m 14s

Fashion: Becoming a designer

We speak to Greek designer Dimitra Petsa - founder of Di Petsa - a brand which has been worn by celebrities around the world.She graduated from fashion school five years ago and since then has launched her own fashion brand.Very few make it in the fashion world - Dimitra explains how she did it from mentors and getting exposure to creating business plans and coming up with business strategies. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane (Picture: Models wearing Di Petsa clothing. Credit Di Petsa)
06/10/2316m 3s

Fashion: Paying less for the wedding dress?

In the UK, brides spend an average of £1,400 on a dress for the big day.But inflation and the rising cost of living means that's starting to change. We look at the trend of spending less on wedding dresses - buying them ready-to-wear from a boutique in London, or even from a supermarket.And we're in India where some brides are starting to spend less - not always easy when spending lavishly on weddings is often the expectation. Produced and presented by Deborah Weitzmann with additional presenting from Devina Gupta.(Image: Ruth in her second hand wedding gown. Image credit: Greg Milner)
05/10/2318m 18s

Fashion: Doing business in Paris

Paris is the most visited city in the world and one of the things it’s known for, is fashion. But what is it about the City of Light that makes it a popular destination for businesses?In this programme, Hannah Mullane speaks to a personal shopper, who relies on fashion tourists for her business, as well as fashion start-ups choosing to base themselves in Paris.Hannah also meets a stylist and fashion agent, who moved from Italy to Paris, to make the most of the opportunities that the fashion industry has to offer.Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane(Picture: Two women holding shopping bags. Credit: Fabulous You Paris)
04/10/2318m 16s

Fashion: Dupe culture

Duplicate products, or dupes, are flooding social media. Dupes are clothes, beauty products, homeware that are cheaper than the recognisable brand, but still look similar. We hear from shoppers and fashion experts about this growing trend and its impact on the market.And we speak to athleisure wear company Lululemon, who are trying to work out how to respond to the number of dupes of their products that are now on the market.Producer/presenter: Deborah Weitzmann(Image: Leggings on mannequins. Credit: Getty Images)
03/10/2318m 20s

Fashion: The rise of sports brands

Twenty-five years ago Puma became the first big sports brand to collaborate with a fashion house. Since then all of the big players have been collaborating with celebrities, sports stars and high fashion brands. Hannah Mullane speaks to Heiko Desens, the creative director at Puma about how these big collaborations work behind the scenes and what they mean for business, and fashion designer Alejandro Gómez Palomo explains how collaborating with a sports brand has elevated his business. Presenter/Producer: Hannah Mullane (Picture: Rihanna at the Puma fashion show. Credit: Getty Images)
02/10/2318m 18s

Is green methanol the future of shipping?

The shipping industry is looking for solutions to it's emissions problem.Shipping giant Maersk has just unveiled the world’s first container ship to run on green methanol - is this the answer? We hear from Maersk’s CEO about why they’ think this is the best bet. And we find out more about some of the different options in development, such as hydrogen and green ammonia, all vying to become the future fuel for the world's ships.Presenter/producer: Adrienne Murray(Image: Maersk's first green methanol container ship. Credit: Maersk)
29/09/2318m 15s

Where next for China’s Belt and Road?

Xi Jinping announced a massive building project along the ‘New Silk Road’ to very little fanfare in Kazakhstan 10 years ago this month. Infrastructure including railways, roads and ports have been built in 165 countries to date, as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Billions of dollars has been lent to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Some are now struggling to afford the payments and China is reducing the amount being loaned. We look at what this means for Beijing’s finances and for countries with huge projects underway, but with no means of meeting the repayments. Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Hannah Bewley Additional reporting: Michael Kaloki(Picture: Xi Jinping waits for a photo call at the China-Central Asia Summit in Xian, China in May 2023: Credit: Florence Lo/Reuters)
28/09/2318m 18s

The industry that saved an animal from extinction

You may not be familiar with the vicuna, but in Peru, where it's the national animal, the smallest relative of the llama is revered - particularly for its fine and insulating coat.In this programme, Stefania Gozzer travels to the Peruvian Andes, to meet the animals that produce one of the most expensive wools in the world. Demand for their coveted fleece once led them near extinction, but now it has become the best tool to preserve them. Stefania visits Pampa Galeras, to talk to the scientists that work in the largest natural reserve created to protect vicunas. She learns how farming communities engage in the conservation of this species while making a profit, and hears why the business model that once saved vicunas is now at risk.Presented and produced by Stefania Gozzer(Image: A vicuna. Credit: Getty Images)
27/09/2318m 15s

The growth of tattoo removal

What used to be a fairly niche industry is now on the increase, with companies setting up removal clinics around the world. And no surprise – as more people get tattoos, more people night change their minds and want them removing. We meet the regretful clients and the companies cashing in, and also explore the world of cosmetic and medical tattooing.Presenter and producer: Elizabeth Hotson(Image: A laser tattoo removal. Credit: Getty Images)
26/09/2318m 14s

Meet the 'Finfluencers'

Where do you go to get financial advice? More and more people are turning to Instagram, YouTube and TikTok for money matters. David Harper meets the ‘Finfluencers’ – financial influencers entertaining and educating young people around the world, and bringing in big numbers in the process. Caleb Hammer is a YouTuber with over 600,000 subscribers who conducts financial audits on the forensic financial details of individuals in the hope of helping them to budget better. He also speaks to Hannah Rimm and Alexandra Koster, who run the Money Diaries feature at online magazine Refinery 29. They are deluged with submissions every week. And we hear from Sharan Hegde, from Bangalore in India. He has over 4 million subscribers on Instagram and YouTube combined.Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings
25/09/2317m 28s

Business Daily meets the Queen of Biscuits

How do you make an artisan product at scale? We head to the UK factory of Biscuiteers, where millions of biscuits are hand-iced every year, from treats shaped like designer bags to edible versions of favourite cartoon characters. Harriet Hastings is the co-founder of the company - in this episode, she shares her business advice, explains why marketing is key and talks about running a business with her husband. Producer / presenter: Sam Everett(Image: A ballerina biscuit being iced. Credit: BBC)
22/09/2318m 10s

Is India ready for Tesla?

It’s been a long wait for tech billionaire Elon Musk to push into India’s EV market. High import duties have kept Tesla out of India so far. Mr Musk has repeatedly sought to lower those duties, but the government wants the company to manufacture cars locally before considering tax breaks. Now there seems to be an agreement on the horizon. But is India’s EV ecosystem ready for it?Presenter/producer: Devina Gupta
21/09/2318m 13s

The cost of migration: Europe's response

In the third and final programme of this series on the economics of irregular migration across the Mediterranean, the BBC’s Frey Lindsay sits down with two spokespeople from the European Commission to discuss how irregular crossings across the Mediterranean affect European States, and how the bloc is using its resources to attempt to stop them.Presenter: Frey Lindsay(Image: Italian coast guard vessels patrol alongside the SOS Méditerranée rescue ship The Ocean Viking, near the Italian port of Ravenna. Image credit: BBC)
20/09/2318m 15s

The cost of migration: The rescue boats

In the second of three programmes, we’ll hear about the increasing running costs facing charities involved in running search-and-rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea.Inflated fuel prices, cost of living crises and political interference are all driving the costs of the operation up. So can the boats continue to operate?Presenter: Frey Lindsay(Photo: Search and rescue crew onboard the SOS Méditerranée rescue ship The Ocean Viking)
19/09/2318m 14s

The cost of migration: The journey

In the first of three programmes, the BBC’s Frey Lindsay accompanies the charity rescue vessel the Ocean Viking to explore the myriad costs involved in irregular migration across the Mediterranean.Each year hundreds of thousands of people attempt the extremely dangerous crossing from Libya to Italy, paying smugglers thousands of dollars. We meet some of those people and find out how and why they're making the journey.Presenter/producer: Frey Lindsay(Picture: Rescuees huddle onboard the SOS Méditerranée rescue ship The Ocean Viking. Credit: BBC)
18/09/2318m 14s

Business Daily meets: Mohit Lad

From losing his job in the 2008 financial crash, to a billion dollar idea.We speak to Mohit Lad, who teamed up with his old college friend Ricardo to trawl through the trash cans of shuttered businesses in Silicon Valley to get the first server for their tech start-up, ThousandEyes. A combination of grit, determination and a shortage of ready cash saw them think outside the box for solutions to grow the business and get customers. Twelve years later, the company described as the 'Google Maps' of the internet is now part of Cisco and is still going strong today. Listen to the full story behind the business and learn about Mohit's vision for a connected world.Presented and produced by Sam Clack.(Image: Mohit Lad speaks during a keynote address on June 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Credit: Getty Images)
15/09/2318m 19s

Syria's broken economy

We hear from people protesting in the government-controlled city of Sweida.Criticism of President Bashar al-Assad has been growing in Sweida since demonstrations began in mid-August over the removal of fuel subsidies. It's the latest measure that has put a strain on people suffering from an economic meltdown.A resident and activist tells us what life is like for him living in the city, plus we hear from a Syrian economist, and a form adviser to President al_Assad now based in the US.Presenter: Ed Butler(Image: People protest in the Syria's southern city of Sweida on September 1, 2023. Credit: Getty Images)
14/09/2317m 28s

K-Pop: Going green?

K-Pop, short for Korean Popular music, has become a global phenomenon with millions of fans worldwide.It’s a multi-billion dollar industry with 80 million units of physical albums sold in 2022. But a huge chunk of it goes straight to landfill.Why are the fans buying so many albums just to throw them away?We hear from fans, artists and tech companies who are trying to make the industry greener.Presenter: David Cann(Picture: Victon; Credit: IST Entertainment)
13/09/2318m 19s

Business Daily meets: Desmond Shum

We meet the Chinese property tycoon and multi-millionaire who, along with his then-wife, once moved in the highest echelons of power in Beijing.But the couple fell foul of the Chinese government during Xi Jinping’s inexorable rise to power and in 2017 Desmond’s ex-wife was abducted – he says by the Chinese state. She vanished for two years and even now is restricted in her movements, although she’s never been charged with any crime. Mr Shum now lives in the UK, from where he gave us his extraordinary account of business life at the highest level in China. And he tells us why he thinks the current Chinese economy is rotten to the core. Presenter: Ed Butler(Image: Desmond Shum. Credit: Desmond Shum)
12/09/2318m 19s

Guyana: The world’s fastest-growing economy

The former British colony in South America boasts the world’s fastest-growing economy at the moment – it expanded by 62 per cent last year, according to the International Monetary Fund.The reason is oil. Since 2015, US oil major Exxon and its partners have made a series of massive discoveries in Guyanese waters, catapulting the country into the world’s top 20 in terms of reserves.That’s bringing billions of dollars into the economy but also challenges: how can Guyana avoid the ‘resource curse’ - the mismanagement and corruption that have afflicted other commodity-rich nations? How can it exploit the oil bonanza with a population of less than a million people? And has the oil come too late anyway – just as the world move away from fossil fuels?We talk to the country’s president Irfaan Ali.Presenter and producer: Gideon Long(Image: President Irfaan Ali. Credit: Keon Blades/ Office of the President Guyana)
10/09/2317m 28s

Business and Science: Communicating science

Science is all around us but a lot of it can be difficult to understand.Gareth Mitchell speaks to people building careers around helping make science understandable to the general public.We speak to a YouTuber making music about science, a science festival organiser and a science communication consultant who works with different businesses to make science more engaging and easy to access. Producer: Hannah Mullane Presenter: Gareth Mitchell(Image: Ellie Mackay at work. Credit: Ellie Mackay)
08/09/2318m 22s

Business and science: Quantum computing around the world

It's a rapidly emerging technology that has the potential to solve problems at an incredible pace. At the moment its uses are limited but that hasn’t stopped investment rolling into the sector and businesses from making money as the technology develops around the world. Gareth Mitchell speaks to three different quantum businesses to discuss its viability and its risk. Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Hannah Mullane(Image: Quantum entanglement. Credit: Getty Images)
07/09/2318m 23s

Business and science: What is quantum computing?

We travel to a facility in the south of England to see one of the super-fast computers in action.We’ll find out what quantum computing has the potential to do, what its going to take to make that a reality and importantly whether quantum businesses are making any money...Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Hannah Mullane (Image: A quantum computer. Credit: Oxford Quantum Circuits)
06/09/2318m 23s

Business and science: How risky is SynBio?

For all the exciting developments in the synthetic biology industry, there are also concerns. People can edit genes in their garages these days, so who’s regulating this space?Plus - we’ll hear about the exciting new business models with biology at their core, including one of the first synbio businesses to trade as a public stock - Ginkgo Bioworks.Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Izzy Greenfield(Image: A petri dish in a lab. Credit: Getty Images)
05/09/2317m 26s

Business and science: What you need to know about SynBio

In this week’s series focusing on business and science, we start things off by looking at the world of synthetic biology.The industry is estimated to be worth around $30bn in the next few years, but how is that money actually made?We speak to businesses across the world to find out how they’ve taken the building blocks of synthetic biology and engineered them into products that we use on a daily basis.Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Producer: Izzy Greenfield(Image: A scientist working with lab grown meat. Credit: Getty Images)
04/09/2317m 28s

Cutting waste in the beauty industry

Many of us have drawers and boxes full of beauty products that we never end up finishing. We meet the Nordic start-ups who are trying to cut some of that waste by changing the way we shop. We find out about tech which personalises products, and then makes it 'on demand' rather than in bulk. And will the use of AI actually end up encouraging people to buy more, rather than less?Presented and produced by Maddy Savage(Image: A scientist at Swedish tech start-up Ellure. Credit: BBC)
01/09/2318m 15s

The row over Uruguay's pulp mills

Does the paper industry use too much water? As concern about plastic waste grows, many companies have switched from plastic packaging to paper, but how environmentally friendly is paper production? Uruguay, in South America, has been suffering from drought and its forestry and pulp milling industries are coming under increasing scrutiny for the amount of water used. We’ve been to an enormous new pulp mill in central Uruguay, capable of producing more than two million tonnes of pulp every year, to find out more. Producer / presenter: Grace Livingstone(Image: Water protests in Uruguay; Credit: BBC)
31/08/2318m 16s

The importance of sleep

How does sleep relate to your job, your income, or your socio-economic status? We look at the impact of a good, and bad night’s rest. We discuss the factors affecting sleep, including access to health care, where and how you live, and how that might influence other aspects of your life.Plus we look at the growing market in devices to ‘cure’ sleep problems.Producer and presenter: Elizabeth Hotson (Image: A man in bed in a deep sleep. Credit: Getty Images)
30/08/2317m 29s

The UNESCO effect

Delegates will soon descend on Saudi Arabia for perhaps the most consequential meeting in UNESCO’s history. With an extended agenda after last year’s cancellation, it’s the first World Heritage Committee meeting to be held in-person for four years.In this episode we examine the so-called ‘UNESCO effect’ - and hear from entrepreneurs around Angkor Wat, in Cambodia, about the mixed consequences of its listing. We also hear from officials in Liverpool, in England, about UNESCO's decision to remove World Heritage status from the city's historic centre and docklands.Presenter / producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns Image: Angkor Wat; Credit: Getty Images
29/08/2318m 20s

Ireland's data centre boom

These tech powerhouses bring in money and jobs but can be environmentally problematic and in Ireland data centres account for almost a fifth of the electricity consumption.We explore how Ireland can keep hold of this valuable industry and make sure it's energy supply isn't affected.Producer / presenter: Leanna Byrne (Image: Data centre; Credit: Getty Images)
28/08/2318m 22s

Swiftonomics

Taylor Swift's Eras tour is predicted to make a record $1 billion - but how?As countries around the world grapple with high inflation, how has Taylor Swift been able to persuade fans to spend money?Olivia Wilson speaks to Brittany Hodak, author of Creating Superfans, to understand the role Swiftomania has played in her commercial and financial success.Tyler Morse is the CEO of MCR, the third largest hotel owner-operator in the United States. He explains how Taylor Swift’s concerts have had a significant impact on the local economies of the cities she has toured in – including some of his hotels in Phoenix, Arizona. Presented and produced by Olivia Wilson.(Image: Taylor Swift performing in Seattle. Credit: Getty Images)
25/08/2318m 24s

The end of the office?

Many of us started working from home in the coronavirus pandemic - and never went back. Now, office space in many cities around the world is standing empty. We visit Mumbai, New York and London, where an increase in home working means buildings in business districts standing empty. And Singapore, which seems to be bucking the trend, with demand as high as ever.We also hear from the CEO of US-based commercial real estate company Remax - are we witnessing the end of the traditional office? Produced and presented by Alex Bell.
24/08/2318m 18s

The return of the wine cork

The humble wine cork, once the main way to stop a bottle of wine, had its market share decimated in the 1990’s when screw caps were favoured. However, the problem of 'corked' wine has been almost completely solved and cork is recognised as a more sustainable, if slightly less convenient material for wine makers to use.In this episode we visit the world’s largest cork producing region in Portugal to find out more about how the cork industry has hit the good times once again. We explore which wines taste better with cork and how supermarkets are cutting down on wine packaging. Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey Additional reporting: Alastair Leithead Image: Cork production; Credit: Getty Images
23/08/2318m 20s

What should I eat on a night shift?

Working irregular hours, including overnight, means meal times can be disrupted. So what impact does this have on the body and overall health?We hear from workers in Mumbai and Lagos about their experiences, plus get advice from a dietician about what and when you should be eating. Produced and presented by Marie Keyworth.(Image: Workers in a construction camp cutting metal at night. Credit: Getty Images)
22/08/2318m 22s

Is Bangladesh ready for digital only banks?

The government in Bangladesh is trying to modernise its economy and has announced a policy to create digital only banks. The idea is to move away from traditional bricks and mortar banks and provide more financial services to people in remote areas. For fintech companies that operate digital wallets – this is a gamechanger. However, many people in the country don’t have access to smartphones or the internet, so how will these banks work for them and for Bangladesh’s economy?Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Money exchange; Credit: Getty Images
21/08/2318m 23s

Picture perfect cakes and cafes

Dive into a world of amazing cakes and cafes, where look and taste combine in the hope of tempting customers to part with their cash for sweet treats.Explore how our tastes and habits are changing when it comes to buying and eating cakes and puddings – and find out why social media is now crucial to the baking and dessert café industry. Presenter / producer: Emb Hashmi Image: Forever Rose cafe; Credit: Ebraheem Al Samadi
18/08/2317m 30s

Giving cash directly - the future of aid?

What’s the best way to help people in need? In the past, humanitarian aid has focused on providing shelter and food, but there’s a growing move towards direct cash payments. We'll take you to Syria, Egypt and Kenya to find out how it works and why it's being embraced.We speak to Rory Stewart, president of the US charity Give Directly, which is based entirely on direct cash payments. And hear from two women who’ve used some of that money to develop their own small businesses in Kenya.Elias Abu Ata explains how the International Rescue Committee used cash in the wake of the earthquake in Syria earlier this year, and Rasha Batarseh, UNHCR cash programme officer for Egypt tells us how it’s being used to help refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.Finally, is cash assistance more vulnerable to fraud? Oliver May, former head of counter fraud at Oxfam, gives his view.Producer/presenter James Graham Additional production support from Chrystal Onkeo(Image: Rory Stewart from Give Directly visiting a project in Malawi. Credit: Give Directly.)
17/08/2318m 22s

Business daily meets: Ida Tin

Ida Tin coined the term Femtech after she founded the period tracking app, Clue, which has since been downloaded more than 100 million times. We hear how she managed to turn her idea into a business, how she went about funding it over her 10 year stint as CEO and how she sees it evolving as technology becomes more advanced.Producer/Presenter: Hannah Mullane Photo: Ida Tin Credit: Ida Tin
16/08/2317m 29s

China's rising youth unemployment: Part 2

The country is not just facing record-high levels of youth unemployment - more than 20% of 16-24 year olds in urban areas at the latest count. It is also facing growing discontent among many young people about the type of work they can find, often involving long hours, no overtime pay, and insecure contracts. It is prompting some to opt out of the rat race altogether. And many experts think the current problems aren't just prompted by the global slowdown. They're structural. Even the government's economic advisors think it may be time for a new economic plan if China is to avoid years of stagnation. That change could slow and painful though. Will Xi Jinping and the country's other Communist Party leaders go for it?Produced and presented by Ed Butler. (Image: College students choose jobs at a job fair for 2023 graduates in Huai 'an City, East China's Jiangsu Province. 01/07/23. Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Image)
15/08/2318m 20s

China's rising youth unemployment: Part 1

Is trouble brewing for the world’s second largest economy? China’s exports are down, the property market’s creaking, and millions of young people - more than one in five - are officially classed as unemployed. It's not just the lack of jobs, it's the quality of employment that's now on offer - much of it informal in sectors like hospitality or food delivery. In the first of two programmes assessing the economic challenges, Ed Butler asks, what's gone wrong?Produced and presented by Ed Butler.(Image: A job-seeker look for employment at a job fair for college graduates in Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu province in Feb 2023. Credit: ZHONG NAN / Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
14/08/2318m 20s

Business Daily meets: The rum distillers

Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa tell us how they turned a side hustle into a full-time business.In 2017 they moved their family from London to Scotland to set up their distillery, creating an African-Scottish business.Presenter/producer Dougal Shaw. (Image: Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa. Credit: BBC)
11/08/2318m 17s

Business Daily meets: Mattel's CEO

Ynon Kreiz explains how they transformed Barbie, the well-loved and sometimes controversial doll, into a movie.The boss of one of the world's biggest toy companies also talks about the need to bring more diversity into the Barbie brand, and expand products beyond the toy aisles. Presenter/producer: Dougal Shaw(Image: Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken in a still from the movie. Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)
10/08/2318m 19s

Business Daily meets: Sir Robin Millar

We meet one of the UKs most successful record producers, who was behind hits such as Smooth Operator.He talks to Dougal Shaw about his career so far, his record label, and the future of music. Sir Robin Millar is blind - his sight had totally gone by his mid-thirties - and he talks about the impact that has had on him.And he talks about AI in music.Producer/presenter: Dougal Shaw
09/08/2318m 7s

Business Daily meets: Kelly Hoppen

We meet one of the world's leading interior designers.Kelly Hoppen finds design solutions for celebrities including the Beckhams, but also works with luxury brands and businesses too.And she is enthusiastic about people achieving good design on a budget. She talks about growing up in South Africa, and explains how music inspires her work. Producer/presenter Dougal Shaw.(Image: Kelly Hoppen. Credit: BBC)
08/08/2318m 23s

Business Daily meets: The founders of Seatfrog

Iain Griffin and Dirk Stewart formed their company after a mutual need for more leg room inspired a brainwave.They created the Seatfrog app for train travel, which is disrupting the industry.Dougal Shaw meets them (on a train), and finds out why their business changed from air travel to trains, and moved from Sydney to London.Presenter/producer: Dougal Shaw(Image: Iain Griffin and Dirk Stewart. Credit: BBC)
07/08/2318m 22s

The price for Mexican heritage

We look into Mexico’s drive to get historical artefacts returned. Find out more about a famous quetzal feather crown believed to have been worn by the great Aztec emperor Moctezuma, it is currently in Austria and we hear from those who want to keep it there, and those campaigning for its return.Presenter / producer: Beth Timmins Image: Moctezuma's headdress; Getty Images
04/08/2318m 15s

Rebuilding Turkey after the earthquake

On Sunday 6 August 2023 it will be six months since the devastating event which killed more than 50,000 people, injured tens of thousands more, and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless. For Business Daily, Victoria Craig travels to the worst affected region of Hatay. When President Erdoğan visited the disaster area back in February, he vowed to rebuild within a year, so can he keep that promise? Victoria speaks to residents who are still waiting to hear about permanent homes.And we ask whether new homes will be safe enough to survive another natural disaster?Presenter: Victoria Craig Producer: Gonca Tokyol(Image: Reconstruction in Hatay)
03/08/2318m 14s

Is it possible to grow food on the Moon?

Space agencies and billionaire investors plan to have people living on the Moon or Mars. But those lunar and martian residents will have to grow their own food to survive.Find out how biologists from Florida, Norway and the Netherlands are experimenting to grow crops in regolith, the kind of soil found on the Moon and Mars. It could be very profitable enterprise. Presenter / producer: Russell Padmore Image: Moon and crops; Credit: Getty Images
02/08/2318m 20s

Working at altitude

From Tibet to the Andes to the highlands of Ethiopia, around 150 million people around the world work at high altitude. Many were born there, but in a globalized world of mass migration, many weren’t, and are toiling in environments that their bodies maybe aren’t accustomed to.What does that mean for their health and for the companies that employ them? We go to a high altitude copper mine in the Chilean Andes and talk to doctors about the potential risks of working on top of the world. Producer / presenter: Gideon Long(Image: A mine high in the Andes. Credit: Getty Images)
01/08/2318m 21s

Is France leading the way on nuclear?

The country produces 70% of it's electricity this way - and is the global leader.It's aiming to prolong the lifespan of its 56 existing nuclear reactors – and construct additional ones.President Macron is calling it "the nuclear renaissance" of France.However some people still have concerns over the safety measures in place.So how much sense does France's nuclear strategy make, economically speaking?Produced and presented by Lisa Louis. Image:
31/07/2318m 21s

European Para Championships: A new sporting event

What does it take to host a brand new multi-sport competition? We're in Rotterdam which is hosting the inaugural European Para Championships 2023. It's hoped that holding events at the same time will raise the profile of para sports - and be more cost effective.What does it take to get a fresh idea like this off the ground? Producer/Presenter: Matthew Kenyon(Image: Archer Roy Klaassen aiming his bow. Credit: European Para Championships / Rutger Pauw)
28/07/2318m 5s

Business daily meets: Janelle Jones

Janelle Jones is currently the chief economist of one of the biggest union movements in America and before that she worked in White House. Janelle was the first black woman to serve as chief economist in the Labor department. She tells us about her time there, how she got into economics and what keeps her grounded. Presenter: Devina Gupta Production: Sam Clack and Carmel O'Grady Image:
27/07/2318m 21s

The chocolate village

Peter MacJob visits Eti-Oni village in south-west Nigeria, home to the oldest cocoa plantation in the country. It's king, HRH Oba Dokun Thompson, is on a mission to transform the economy of the community by manufacturing chocolates and selling in some of the finest shops across Europe.Over 90% of Eti-Oni's inhabitants are cocoa farmers and although the cocoa industry is worth almost $130bn a year the money does not flow back to cocoa farmers. To try and change this King Thompson has partnered with Beech's fine chocolate in Preston in the north-west of England.Presenter / producer: Peter MacJob Image: HRH Oba Dokun Thompson; Credit: HRH Oba Dokun Thompson
26/07/2318m 8s

The new Panama Canal?

The Bioceanic Highway, aims to link Chile's Pacific coast with Brazil's Atlantic coastline. We’re in landlocked Paraguay to find out how one of the world’s biggest infrastructure projects, could change how people there do business, especially the Mennonites, a powerful, religious farming community who live directly in the new highways' path. Presenter / producer: Jane Chambers Image: Bioceanic highway in Paraguay; Credit: Bob Howard
25/07/2318m 21s

Is Georgia benefitting from Russian money?

Georgia has seen huge economic growth but is there a cost to doing business with Russia?Tens of thousands of Russians moved to the small South Caucasus nation since the war began and they brought along their money and their ideas. In this programme we hear from some of those who have made the move and set up homes and businesses in Georgia. We'll also hear what Georgians, who fought their own war with Russia in 2008, make of the huge growth in trade and economic relations between the two countries. Presenter / producer: Rayhan Demytrie Image: Anti-Russian protests in Georgia; Credit: BBC
24/07/2317m 28s

Women's football: Life after retirement

Remember Brandi Chastain? She scored the winning goal in the 1999 Women's World Cup final. She celebrated the goal by whipping off her shirt and swinging it round her head. The image of Brandi in a sports bra was on the cover of newspapers around the world.Now she’s joined forces with former team mates Leslie Osborne, Aly Wagner and Danielle Slaton to create a team, Bay FC, which will play in the US National Women’s Soccer League in 2024. They’re part of a growing trend in women’s football of players who are willing to invest money earned while playing the game back to help the next generation of players. We also hear from former England player Karen Carney who is helping retired footballers find a career in business. Presenter / producer: Sam Fenwick(Image: Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Leslie Osborne and Danielle Slaton launch Bay Area Football Club. Credit: Bay FC)
21/07/2318m 17s

Women’s football boots: A bad fit?

Questions are being asked about the footwear that is currently on offer to women and girls. Men and women's feet are very different, so why have large sports companies only just started to do research into women’s football boots?And is this why more high-profile players are succumbing to injury?Olivia Wilson speaks to Laura Youngson, the co-Founder of Ida Sports, one of the only companies that designs and produces female-specific football boots.And Hyde United Women’s football club in the North West of England share what they’re looking for when it comes to buying football boots.Presenter/producer: Olivia Wilson(Photo: Woman about to kick ball. Credit: Getty Images)
20/07/2318m 16s

Women's football in South America

South America is football crazy, but its women’s teams have never enjoyed the same success as the men’s. Brazil have never won the Women’s World Cup. Argentina have never even won a match at the tournament.Why is that? A lack of investment, TV revenue and sponsors, or deep-seated cultural issues and prejudices? We look at the poor state of finances in the South American women’s game, and hear from women who are trying to change attitudes. They say that if broadcasters and potential sponsors don’t take women’s football seriously, they’re not only ignoring half the people on the continent – they’re missing out on a great business opportunity.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Gideon LongImage: Brazil goalkeeper Barbara after being knocked out of the 2019 Women's World Cup (Credit: Zhizhao Wu/Getty Images)
19/07/2318m 37s

Australia and New Zealand: The perfect sporting hosts?

As the countries prepare to host the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup for the first time, we find out why they were chosen, and what the legacy of the games will be for them.We take a look at the hospitality sector, including a café owner in New Zealand, who are hoping for a big boost from overseas visitors. How will they make the most of the opportunity, and cope with the influx of people coming into the town.And we hear from an architect about the new training ground that the Australian women's football team, The Matilda's, will call home.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Barbara George(Photo: Sydney Olympic Stadium. Credit: Getty Images)
18/07/2318m 39s

Is women’s football a good investment?

Ahead of the 2023 Women's World Cup in New Zealand and Australia, we look at the business case for growing the sport.Investment in women's football is increasing, in line with greater confidence in its popularity, and higher expectations from players and fans.We ask where the commercial opportunities lie, how much money is coming into the game, and what does the future hold at such a pivotal moment?Presenter and producer: Sam Fenwick(Image: The USA team celebrating winning the 2019 Women's World Cup. Credit: Getty Images)
17/07/2318m 37s

Business Daily Meets: Gary Neville

The eight-time Premier League winner on his successes and failures in business. Gary Neville tells us why building companies in his home city of Manchester matters to him and explains what level of investment he'd like to see at his former club Manchester United. Presenter: Sean Farrington Producer: Carmel O'Grady Image: Gary Neville; Credit: BBC
14/07/2318m 21s

Spanish election: How will young people vote?

Youth unemployment in Spain is still very high, with 29.3% of working people under 25 out of work.Ahead of the snap General Election which will take place on Sunday 23 July, we speak to new voters and voters in their twenties who are just starting out in their careers. What policies appeal to them, how do they feel about an increasing right-wing presence, and what do they think of politicians using social media and podcasts to try and win their support?We’ll also hear from a young entrepreneur who is looking to see what advantages they can get from a potential change of government.Produced and presented by: Ashish Sharma Image:
13/07/2318m 22s

The celebrities investing in alcohol brands

We're in Hollywood, where a rising number of stars are putting their names on wine and liquor products. Is it a sensible investment? Or is the market reaching saturation point? Reporter KJ Matthews speaks to Bethenny Frankel, businesswoman, philanthropist and star of The Real Housewives of New York. She launched a pre-packaged margarita line, named Skinnygirl Margarita, in 2009.Plus we explore the potential of the growing non-alcoholic market for celebrities.Presenter: KJ Matthews Producers: KJ Matthews and Helen Thomas(Image: Bethenny Frankel giving a demonstration 2014. Credit: Getty Images)
12/07/2318m 12s

Turkey: Fixing a broken economy

A month on from the election in Turkey President Erdogan has promised to fix the economy. In this programme we find out more about Mehmet Simsek, the new finance minister, who says he'll return Turkey to rational economics and reduce inflation. We also hear from those running businesses in Turkey about what they need to stay afloat. Presenter / producer: Victoria Craig Image: Lira in a cash register; Credit: BBC
11/07/2318m 21s

AI: Looking to the future

It’s been claimed artificial intelligence will be as revolutionary as mobile phones or the internet, but there are fears that developments in AI could come at the cost of jobs. We assess the pros and cons of this rapidly-evolving technology, with insight from Marc Raibert, Executive Director of the Boston Dynamics AI Institute. We also consider the impact of generative AI on the arts, with Matt Bellamy from British rock band Muse teasing a potential future collaboration with a humanoid robot.Presented and produced by Sam Clack. Image: Ameca robot at the International Conference on Robotics and Automation, London. Credit: Sam Clack / BBC
10/07/2318m 11s

Investing in Africa: Who benefits?

How are loans and grants distributed? And how high are the returns?According to the IMF, Africa’s growth prospect will be amongst the highest in the world and sectors such as fintech and telecoms are the drivers of the current economic growth, offering huge investment opportunities for foreign businesses.Peter MacJob speaks to Faith Adesemowo, CEO of Social Lender, a company which helps individuals build credit ratings through their social status. Presenter: Peter MacJob Productions: Peter MacJob and Barbara George Image: Social Lender / Credit: Social Lender
07/07/2318m 10s

Investing in Africa: US and AGOA

The African Growth and Opportunity Act, or AGOA, gives duty-free access for exports to the American market, and has done for 23 years.South Africa is one of the countries that has benefitted – but now its inclusion in doubt due to allegations from the US that it has violated its neutrality and supplied weapons to Russia - something South Africa denies. So what would being pushed out of AGOA mean for the country?Plus we hear from Ethiopia – it has been suspended from AGOA due to the the war in Tigray - we hear from an economist in Addis Ababa who disputes the benefits of these trade agreements to Africa. Presented by Ahmed Adan with reporting by Russell Padmore.(Image: An Ivory Coast stand at the 2019 AGOA forum, showcasing products on the market. Credit: Getty Images)
06/07/2318m 22s

Investing in Africa: Media

We look into the growth of foreign investment in Africa’s media space. Africa is generating a huge amount of localized content as international streaming platforms and global media organisations battle to gain a foothold in the market. We find out what’s driving the interest and whether it’s working. Producer / presenter: Bisi Adebayo Image: Reporters in Nairobi; Credit: Getty Images
05/07/2318m 21s

Investing in Africa: Russia and the CAR

For almost a decade, the Central African Republic has seen growing investment and influence from the Russian mercenary group Wagner. It stretches from education and religion to business and military. The recent mutiny has led to speculation about what the future of Russia's status in the CAR will be. We explore Russia’s role in the CAR, and ask what it means for that country, the continent of Africa and the wider world?Produced and presented by Peter MacJob, additional production from Zigoto Tchaya Tchameni. (Image: A demonstrator holds a Russian flag during a march in support of Russia and China's presence in the Central African Republic. Credit: Getty Images)
04/07/2318m 12s

Investing in Africa: What needs to change?

Large parts of sub-Saharan Africa are facing dire economic circumstances. The World Bank says more than one in three countries are either in severe financial distress, or are close to default. What’s gone wrong? In the first of a week of programmes, Ed Butler taking the pulse of investment in Africa and looking at ways the situation needs to change. Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Mine in Guinea; Credit: BBC
03/07/2318m 21s

Uorfi Javed: India's most controversial influencer

Uorfi Javed is one of the most searched for social media stars in Asia, but despite huge fame and popularity she says she struggles to get work as big brands refuse to sign her.Uorfi Javed started out as a TV actress and became famous after wearing a dress made out of bin bags while in the Big Brother house. In this interview she tells us why she continues to dress however she likes despite criticism, how she works with paparazzi photographers to boost her profile and how much money she makes from her huge social media accounts. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Uorfi Javed; Credit: Leh Studios
30/06/2318m 10s

Do you like a noisy or quiet workplace?

Many companies are urging staff to return to the office instead of working remotely, but noise levels are rising in workplaces, which can cause stress and undermine productivity. This means offices are now being built or redesigned to control noise, Russell Padmore visits one in Ireland. Producer / presenter: Russell Padmore Image: Office space; Credit: Getty images
29/06/2318m 34s

Why big projects go wrong

From the Sydney Opera House to a basic kitchen renovation there are thousands of examples of construction projects large and small which go horribly over budget.Professor Bent Flyvbjerg has compiled a database of 16,000 projects, and by his reckoning only 8.5% them meet their initial estimates of cost and time. He talks to Sam Fenwick about his new book, “How Big Things Get Done”.Presenter / producer: Sam Fenwick Image: Sydney opera house; Credit: Getty Images
28/06/2318m 11s

La Palma: Rebuilding after a volcano

In September 2021, a volcano erupted on the Spanish Canary Island. It lasted nearly three months. Red hot lava spilled out and destroyed homes, businesses and everything in its path before reaching the sea 10 days later. It split the island in half.Eighteen months on, we travel back to La Palma to see how the islanders are rebuilding their livelihoods and infrastructure.Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma.(Image:Karin Bansberg watering plants outside her temporary wooden home. Credit: BBC)
27/06/2318m 12s

Deep sea mining

The rush to extract battery metals from the bottom of the ocean and what that could cost financially and environmentally. Michelle Fleury sees a specialist mining robot in action and hears the arguments for and against deep sea mining. Presenter / producer: Michelle Fleury Image
26/06/2318m 13s

Paris Air Show: The future of aviation

We’re at the Paris Air Show - a huge gathering of the biggest names in the global aerospace industry.We will hear about the latest innovations in hypersonic passenger planes and how the sector can address environmental concerns.Plus we speak to the defence sector about the latest developments in AI.Presenter: Theo Leggett Producer: Hannah Mullane(Image: People queuing to see an aircraft at the Paris Air Show. Credit: Reuters)
23/06/2318m 37s

Business Daily meets: Iñaki Ereño

The CEO of the international private healthcare firm Bupa started the role in January 2021, right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.He speaks to Dougal Shaw about the challenges the company faced, and about lessons learnt for the future. Plus we find out how routine helps to keep Mr Ereño grounded.Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.,Image: Iñaki Ereño. Credit: BBC)
22/06/2318m 39s

Tackling India's heatwaves

Every year, India faces blistering heatwaves. In many parts of the country the temperatures are soaring, making it difficult for people to go about their daily lives. It’s the poor who are the most affected. They live in congested slums and have to step out in the heat to earn money. We explore what is being done, and what more could be done, to help them.Presenter / producer: Davina Gupta Image: Woman in Chennai; Credit: EPA/Idrees Mohammed
21/06/2318m 40s

Portugal’s digital nomads

Portugal has welcomed thousands of high value, short stay workers with an attractive new visa. They’re the so called Digital Nomads, who can live and work where they please - but the locals say they’re skewing the economy, we find out why. Producer / presenter: Ciaran Tracey Image: Flexible working: Credit: PA
20/06/2318m 37s

The rising popularity of surrogacy in Georgia

The small Caucasian country, which borders Russia, has experienced increased demand for surrogates after the war in Ukraine meant that Russia and Ukraine were no longer options for couples wanting a baby. Those countries used to be international hubs for surrogacy - when a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple or individual. In Georgia, commercial surrogacy is legal, and regulations are extremely liberal. Affordable prices make Georgia an even more attractive alternative. We hear from clinics who say they are struggling to keep up with demand, plus from a surrogate mother who says it has been life-changing for her financially. Producer and presenter: Khatia Shamanauri (Image: A pregnant woman looking at her phone. Credit: Getty Images)
19/06/2318m 43s

Tourism: Emily in Paris

How TV series, films and social media can impact the travel industry.We are in Paris to explore how the Netflix show Emily in Paris has changed tourism in the city. We also hear from a tour guide in New Zealand who changed his business when the Lord of the Rings film series became more popular. Presenter / producer: Nina Pasquini Image: Paris; Credit: BBC
16/06/2318m 44s

Tourism: Speciality cruises

How special interest cruises for fans of music, yoga and sci-fi are revamping the industry. Deborah Weitzmann goes on a blues cruise to find out how the speciality cruise industry works and why it's growing in popularity. She also heads off the ship to find out what happens to on-shore businesses when all the entertainment is on the ship. Presenter / producer: Deborah Weitzmann Image: Legendary Rhythm and blues cruise; Credit: BBC
15/06/2318m 44s

Tourism: The economics of the all inclusive

The number of all inclusive resorts is growing but do they help local businesses? All-inclusive holidays now make up more than half of all package holiday sales in the UK for the first time, and across Europe and North America the amount of resorts available is growing. Rick Kelsey explores whether these resorts are good for local economies and communities.Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey Images: Sun loungers; Credit: BBC
14/06/2318m 45s

Tourism: Africa bouncing back

Why African tourists are key to helping the travel sector recover post-pandemic.We hear from businesses in Gambia, Tanzania and Zambia to explore how well these countries recovered after Covid-19 lockdowns. We also explore why promoting tourism within Africa could be key to keeping global visitor numbers going up. Presenter / producer: Bisi Adebayo Image: Gambia; Credit: Getty Images
13/06/2317m 29s

Tourism: Halal holidays

Find out about the destinations that are top of the list for Muslims travellers wanting to go on holiday without compromising their religious beliefs and practices. Explore what resorts and tour operators have to put in place to be certified halal friendly and examine why this is such a growth area for the global travel industry. Presenter / producer: Emb Hashmi Image: Zahra Rose and friends on holiday; Credit: Zahra Rose
12/06/2317m 26s

Business Daily Meets: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji

The Nigerian tech entrepreneur on how he built two billion dollar businesses. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji co-founded talent marketplace Andela and payments company Flutterwave, both of which have been valued at more than a billion dollars.He tells Rob Young he wants to use his wealth to help Africa achieve its economic potential. Presenter / producer: Rob Young Image: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji; Credit: Getty Images
09/06/2317m 29s

The tech supporting women's health

Femtech, or businesses building technology to support women’s health are growing fast but how much of that growth is supporting women in the parts of the world where access to healthcare can sometimes be difficult?Hannah Mullane speaks to businesses who are providing technology to support women’s health in low income countries. We hear how apps are adapted to work in places where internet is intermittent and access to electricity can be limited and we discuss how a business operates when the consumer doesn’t always have the means to pay. Producer/Presenter: Hannah Mullane(Image: Two of the users of one of the apps. Credit: Grace Health)
08/06/2318m 28s

Money and love: Your questions

When high inflation has hit all our budgets has the way we date changed? Are we approaching finding a potential partner differently? When is the right time to ask about money and their approach to their finances? Are you asking the right questions? Our experts answer your questions on money and love and offer their advice on how to marry the two. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Heart and cash; Credit: Getty Images
07/06/2318m 31s

Inside Europe's biggest LNG terminal

This is the story of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and how in the last year it has played an enormous role in keeping the lights on in EuropeThis special edition of Business Daily comes from inside the biggest LNG terminal in Europe. Rick Kelsey looks into the role the fuel is playing as sanctions mean gas pipelines from Russia into Europe are restricted. LNG terminals which were half empty are now full, but should the cutting usage of Russian gas automatically mean importing more gas from elsewhere in the world? Is there a greener option? Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey (Image: Isle of Grain terminal, Kent; Credit: National Grid)
06/06/2317m 30s

The US banking system on life support

In March 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapsed. It was the second largest banking failure in US history. The regulator, the FDIC, fired the management team and brought in a new person to run the institution while a buyer was found.As the former CEO of Fannie Mae, Tim Mayopoulus has experience of steering a bank through financial turmoil. He speaks to Sam Fenwick about how he steadied the nerves of SVB employees, customers and the global banking sector.Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick(Photo: Man walking past SVB branch. Credit: Getty Images)
05/06/2318m 29s

The 'right to repair' movement

With the cost of living crisis forcing many of us to try and limit what we spend, more and more people are looking to repair the things they own. It’s giving momentum to an international network of ‘repair cafes’ and a global campaign for manufacturers to make products fixable.In this episode, we hear from World Service listeners about their do-it-yourself repairs - some more successful than others.Laura Heighton-Ginns visits a bustling repair cafe, where all sorts of household and sentimental items are given new life, including Rosebud, a doll who was first played with 70 years ago.Laura also speaks to Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the international Restart Project, about the need for durability to be built back into product design.Presenter/producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns
02/06/2318m 43s

The economics of cocaine

The cocaine trade generates billions of dollars for criminal gangs right around the world but most of the supply of the drug comes from Colombia. Some the money made in this illegal economy does filter into the legal one and by some estimates the cocaine business now accounts for 4% of Colombian gross domestic product.How does the cocaine business generate so much money and for who? We also ask what would happen in places like Colombia if the world legalised the cocaine trade, if it could be taxed and revenue earned by Governments much in the same way as products like tobacco and alcohol. We hear from a former Colombian president and Nobel Prize winner who says it should.Presenter/producer: Gideon Long(Image: Coca plants. Credit: Getty Images)
01/06/2318m 29s

Business Daily Meets: Tony Elumelu

Nigeria's most well-known economist Tony Elumelu tells us why Africa needs to rethink it's relationship with business. He explains "Africapitalism", the idea that the private sector can transform Africa's economy and society for the better. He also discusses a number problems slowing economic growth in Africa, including young, well-educated people leaving for better opportunities elsewhere and a lack of investment in the tech sector. Presenter / producer: Peter MacJob (Image: Tony Elumelu: Credit: Getty Images)
31/05/2318m 48s

Microfinance in Sri Lanka: part 2

We hear about one Sri Lankan woman’s struggle with debt after taking out a small loan - what does her story tell us about how to lend to people unable to access finance through banks all over the world?In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler investigates what's gone wrong with microfinance. It was once seen as a progressive way to help people like Renuka Ratnayake improve their lives, but has it led to a new wave of predatory lending? If you are affected by any of the issues covered in this programme, you can find information at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Renuka Ratnayake; Credit: BBC
30/05/2317m 28s

Microfinance in Sri Lanka part 1

Offering small unsecured loans to the world’s poorest was meant to transform the lives of millions but in Sri Lanka microfinance has left many women with debts they simply can't repay.In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler visits the villages in Sri Lanka where many of those otherwise excluded from organised finance have taken small loans only for their finances to spiral into debt. What's gone wrong with mircofinance? Has it led to a new wave of predatory lending? Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Women in Welioya; Credit: BBC
29/05/2318m 46s

Music and business: Gigging

Musicians, promoters and comedians take us inside the grass roots gigging industry.David Reid speaks to guitar band Vernons Future about their experience gigging at small venues in the UK and getting their music out to international audiences via streaming platforms. We also hear from gig promotions company Bugbear about organising gigs and comedians trying their luck at an open mic night, hoping to make it onto the comedy circuit. Presenter / producer: David Reid Image: Vernons Future; Credit: BBC
26/05/2318m 46s

Music and business: Gospel

Gospel: Is the spiritual message of the music getting lost in the world of commercialism?It's the two billion dollar music industry with faith at the forefront. We investigate whether mainstream music artists are diluting an industry that dedicates itself to the word of god. Hear from one of gospel's best selling artists, Marvin Sapp, and a gospel choir leader in Rwanda.Presenter / producer: Izzy Greenfield Image: Marvin Sapp; Credit: Marvin Sapp
24/05/2318m 21s

Music and business: Breaking in

The music industry is worth billions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs across the world, but how do you become part of such a lucrative but exclusive industry? The global head of music operations at Tik Tok tells us how the app has become a game-changer in the industry. Kenyan DJ Coco Em talks about about the barriers African artists have to overcome and British rapper Aitch’s manager explains how he came to work with one of the biggest rap artists in Europe.Presenter / producer: Izzy Greenfield Image: Coco Em; Credit: Jente Vanbrabant
23/05/2318m 45s

Jason Derulo: Music and business

All this week on Business Daily, we’re focusing on the music industry, which is worth $26 billion a year globally. Today, we’re joined by the hugely successful musician, content creator and businessman Jason Derulo. He tells us what it takes to build a brand as successful as his, and about the unlikely investment that's made him millions of dollars.Presenter/producer: Izzy GreenfieldImage: Jason Derulo (Credit: Joe Scarnici/LIV Golf via Getty Images)
22/05/2318m 25s

The game that shocked the world

Grand Theft Auto changed gaming forever. In this programme we find out how. Chris Warburton meets the creative team from Dundee in Scotland who came up with the concept for Grand Theft Auto 25 years ago. We look into how it was picked up, marketed and ultimately sold to millions and millions of us. Grand Theft Auto was revolutionary, but it was also controversial with its depictions of shocking, graphic violence. This is the story of how the game and its makers overcame moral panic, political opposition and naysayers to become one of the most successful entertainment brands of a generation.Presenter: Chris Warburton Producer: Ciaran Tracey Image: GTA: Credit: Getty Images
19/05/2318m 38s

The world's fastest EV

Mate Rimac tells us how he designed and now produces the world's fastest electric car. He started out converting petrol racing cars to run on electricity and proving those vehicles could achieve top speeds. Mate Rimac then built a business to produce the car from scratch, with little money and no experience.His company is now valued at more than 2 billion dollars after securing investment last year from Porsche. He's also managed to build a new car manufacturing industry in Croatia. Presenter/producer: Theo Leggett(Photo: Mate Rimac leaning against a blue electric car in a showroom. Credit: Getty Images)
18/05/2318m 54s

Is a four-day working week the future?

Would you like to work fewer days, but get paid the same? The biggest global trial of the four day week has just come to an end in the UK.We hear from some of the companies who took part, including employees making the most of their extra day off, and employers looking closely at productivity figures. It’s an idea that other countries are looking at closely, so we’ll be looking at the global implications of moving away from the traditional five days on, two days off model.Presenter: Emma Simpson Producers: Helen Thomas and Esyllt Carr(Image: Bethany with her dog Otis. Credit: BBC)
17/05/2318m 51s

Leaving Sri Lanka

In the past year, Sri Lanka has endured political pandemonium and the worst economic crisis in its modern history. The situation has led to the highest number of people leaving the country on record.The Sri Lankan government has secured an IMF bailout - but will that help stop the exodus?In this episode we’ll hear from entrepreneur Brindha Selvadurai Gnanam, who has stayed put – as well as from students Meshith Ariyawansa and Ravishan Nethsara, who feel they need to leave for a good standard of living.Presenter / producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns Image: Sandy's classroom; Credit: BBC
16/05/2318m 37s

A new coal mine for the UK

A new coal mine in the north west of England could bring much-needed jobs and investment to the area. However there are concerns from environmentalists about the impact on the climate. The mine, in the Whitehaven area of Cumbria, is the first deep mine approved by the UK government for 30 years, and will provide fuel for steel-making.Rowan Bridge travels to Whitehaven, the town next to the site of the mine, to hear the arguments for and against.Presenter and producer: Rowan Bridge(Image: The former Woodhouse Colliery site where West Cumbria Mining have been granted government approval to extract coal in Whitehaven. Credit: Getty Images)
15/05/2318m 54s

Eurovision 2023 heads to Liverpool

As 150,000 extra visitors are poised to descend on Liverpool in the north-west of England for the Eurovision Song Contest, Olivia Wilson heads to the city to see how businesses are preparing.Plus, we speak to fans travelling from across the world about how much it costs them to go to the event. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane Reporter: Olivia Wilson (Image: Eurovision 2023 logo. Credit: Eurovision)
12/05/2318m 21s

Turkey election: Young people and the economy

Turkey election: 5 million young people are expected to vote for the first time this weekend. We explore how the state of the economy will affect their decisions.Victoria Craig heads to Antalya a swing city with a young population to hear how they are managing to make a living in difficult economic circumstances and how they plan to use their vote.Presenter / Producer: Victoria Craig Image: Antalya; Credit: BBC
11/05/2318m 53s

Northern Ireland and American investment

Joe Biden says American firms are ready to triple investment in Northern Ireland, we look into whether that's really likely to happen. Leanna Byrne is in Northern Ireland to take a look at the current levels of investment and speak to those businesses already benefitting from their relationship with the US. She also explores how Brexit and domestic politics could impact what happens next. Presenter / producer: Leanna Byrne Image: Joe Biden in Belfast; Credit: Getty Images
10/05/2318m 25s

The dominance of the US dollar

For over 80 years the US dollar has been king when it comes to global trade, is that beginning to change?We look at how the US dollar came to dominate global trade, ask what happens when a country runs out of dollars and explore why countries like China, India and Russia are starting to increase trade in their local currencies. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: US dollars; Credit: Getty Images
09/05/2318m 53s

Bridging the gap between creative and tech

Some see them as polar opposites, but more people than you might think are moving between the creative and technology industries; using the skills from one to further success in the other. But how easy is it to cross between art and engineering? David Harper meets Jan Harlan, who started his career in the embryonic IT industry of the 1960s. The precision and planning skills he developed would help him in a 30-year career as a producer for one of the world’s greatest film directors: Stanley Kubrick. David also speaks to Thomas Dolby, famous as a pop star in the 1980s synthpop scene, who later headed to Silicon Valley - using his enthusiasm for emerging technology to create new opportunities, including an infamous mobile phone ringtone. And we hear from Lyndsey Scott, an actress, former model and computer coder who develops iOS apps while simultaneously juggling an acting career. Despite her successes, she sometimes finds it difficult to be taken seriously in a male-dominated technology business. Presenter: David Harper Producers: David Harper and Victoria Hastings(Image: Lyndsey Scott. Credit: Paul Smith)
08/05/2318m 20s

Business Daily meets: Sir John Hegarty

What's the future of the advertising industry? The industry veteran who was behind some of the most memorable ads of the 80s and 90s speaks to Dougal Shaw about the rise of digital platforms and social media.Hegarty is a revered figure in advertising because of the famous brands he helped to build. He was a founding partner of Saatchi & Saatchi and co-founder of Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH). These days he is creative director of The Garage Soho, which invests in start-ups and helps to build brands.And Sir John also uses his own experiences of previous recessions to explain how he thinks companies can survive, and in some cases benefit from, a recession.Presenter/producer: Dougal Shaw(Image: Sir John Hegarty. Credit: Getty Images)
05/05/2318m 22s

Making money and doing good

Social entrepreneurship is often borne out of the need to address social issues, but it is fast becoming a major contributor to economic growth – contributing billions of dollars to global economies and providing millions of jobs whilst maintaining its core altruistic values of making the world a better place.We meet Zimbabwean born Max Zimani – who runs an African/Middle-Eastern restaurant in Slovenia, created out of the need for inclusion of the migrant communities in an homogenous society like Slovenia. Skukhna offers a global cuisine and brings communities together through exotic dining.Simona Simulyte is a serial entrepreneur and CEO Tech4Good. She runs an ecosystem in Lithuania that brings together people with ideas for social businesses, provides mentorship and help source for funds which enables these start-ups become self-sufficient. And Moses Onitilo is the co-founder of a company known as Jamborow - a blockchain driven fintech platform focused on financial inclusion and grassroot empowerment, specifically targeting the unbanked and the lower income and rural communities within Africa. The Jamborow eco-system cuts across seven African countries including Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, and UgandaPresenter/producer Peter MacJob(Image: These members of a small savings group in Kenya now have access to e-wallets via mobile phones. Photo Credit: Moses Onitilo)
04/05/2318m 21s

Female electrical line workers

Electrical line workers work all kinds of hours in very challenging conditions to keep electricity flowing to our homes and businesses. It's traditionally been a very male occupation but that's changing as more women break into the industry. We speak to Colombia’s first ever intake of female apprentice line workers about their intensive training experience, and Rosa Vasquez – one of the first women to do the job in Texas in 1978. Over in Kansas, Amy Fischbach, the Field Editor for T&D World magazine, is raising awareness of the trade in a podcast about women in line work. We also head to Pakistan where there are currently no women in this line of work, and head to Kansas hear from Presenter / producer: Olivia Wilson Image: Apprentice line workers in Colombia; Credit: ISA
03/05/2318m 51s

Recycling heat from kitchens to keep restaurants warm

The Swedish start-up that's worked out how to use hot fumes from kitchens to heat restaurants.Hear from the entrepreneurs who've developed this new technology. They tell us how it works and how it can help restaurants lower bills and carbon emissions. However this technology is expensive for restaurant owners, especially at a time when hiring workers and buying ingredients has got a lot more costly. One small business tells us about the benefits and challenges of investing in new equipment. Producer / presenter: Maddy Savage Image: Annika Lyndfors; Credit: BBC
02/05/2318m 20s

The homes only locals can buy

We meet the Londoners moving into their first flats thanks to a ownership scheme which started in the US in the 1960s.Community land trust properties can only be bought by local people, and the price is set by average local income levels, not the open market. Dougal Shaw goes to a block of flats in Lewisham where buyers are just settling in. He speaks to a lawyer and community activist in the US – the idea started as part of the civil rights movement. And a property expert explains some of the potential long-term issues.Presenter/producer: Dougal Shaw(Image: Christian Codjoe is moving into a two-bed flat in Citizens House with his brother. Credit: BBC)(Image: Artists impression of the flats. Credit: French & Tie)
01/05/2318m 52s

Business Daily meets: Tim O'Reilly

The Silicon Valley veteran created the first commercial website to support advertising in 1993.He is a publisher and author and now runs an online learning platform. He talks to Ed Butler about the recent dips in tech stocks, and the future of AI.Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Olivia Wilson(Image: Tim O'Reilly. Credit: Getty Images)
28/04/2318m 27s

GM mustard in India

Could growing genetically modified mustard be the answer to oil shortages in India? Each year India spends billions of dollars importing 70 percent of its cooking oil from other countries like Argentina, Malaysia and Brazil. We speak to a farmer struggling to make a profit growing un-modified mustard crops. We also explore the debate in India around genetically modified food crops and speak to one farmer already growing genetically modified cotton. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Cotton farmer Ganesh Nanote; Credit: Ganesh Nanote
27/04/2318m 42s

Peru’s blueberry boom

How Peru went from having virtually no blueberry plantations to being the world's top exporter in just ten years.In this episode Stefania Gozzer visits a plantation in the region of Ica and hears from experts, firms and farmers about the key developments that made blueberries growing such a success, despite Peru’s ongoing political crises.Presenter / producer: Stefania Gozzer Image: Blueberry farmer; Credit: BBC
26/04/2318m 26s

Quiet quitting in France

Why are so many young French people feeling demotivated and quitting their jobs?Sabrina Teresi had a high-paying job as an engineer. She’d studied for years to qualify. She enjoyed the job at first but soon felt demotivated and after 3 years decided to quit.Polls show more and more young workers are struggling to find the energy to do their job, suffering from boredom and quitting their jobs. Is France facing an epidemic of laziness? Or are companies simply not adapting fast enough to new ways of working?Presenter / producer: Joshua Thorpe Image: Sabrina Teresi; Credit: Sabrina Teresi
25/04/2318m 27s

Is Mexico benefiting from the US-China trade war?

Increasingly, US companies are 'nearshoring' - moving their operations closer to home.Cities in the north of Mexico, like Monterrey, are seeing a manufacturing boom. We speak to some of the companies who are cashing in, and ask, is this a renaissance that will last?Plus we look at other countries who are trying to get a share of the market.Presenter/producer: Samira Hussain(Image: Truck at the Mexico/US border. Credit: Getty Images)
24/04/2317m 29s

Business Daily meets: Athletic Brewing CEO Bill Shufelt

Non-alcoholic and low alcohol beer is a rapidly growing market, as consumers search for healthy alternatives.Bill Shufelt started Athletic Brewing with his partner, brewmaster John Walker in 2018.Speaking to Dougal Shaw, Bill Shufelt explains how he sees the alcohol free beer market, and describes his 'career change moment'.Presenter/producer Dougal Shaw. (Image: Bill Shufelt at his brewery. Credit: Getty Images)
21/04/2318m 9s

Counting the cost of Iftar

As the price of food increases, we speak to Muslims to find out how it has affected their Iftar - the fast-breaking evening meal during the holy month of Ramadan. It is often a lavish family meal, but price rises mean that people are having to make changes. We hear from women in Somalia, Canada, Pakistan and the UK who are all facing a slightly different Ramadan, and Eid, this year. Presented by Emb Hashmi with reporting from Ahmed Adan Editors: Carmel O'Grady and Helen Thomas(Photo: Fatuma and her family in Somalia. Credit: BBC)
20/04/2318m 12s

Argentina: Still a nation of beef lovers?

The South American country is famous for its steaks, ribs, and milanesa. It is the second largest home market for beef in the world, and the fifth biggest exporter. But with soaring inflation, this much loved staple is becoming unaffordable for ordinary people.We look at the country’s love affair with beef and what measures the government is taking to protect it.Producer/presenter: Natalio Cosoy(Image: Porfirio Dávalos at his Friday barbecue. Credit: BBC)
19/04/2318m 11s

Why are African flights so expensive?

Prices are around 45% more expensive than equivalent trips elsewhere, and it's often cheaper to fly out of the continent and back in. We look at the reasons Africans are paying higher fares for both internal and international flights, the impact this is having on business and tourism, plus the wider impact on the African economy.Producer/ presenter: Rebecca Kesby (Image: A plane on a runway in Nothern Africa. Credit: Getty Images)
18/04/2318m 13s

How Covid shifted US tipping

Has people using less cash and higher tip suggestions on pay terminals increased expectation on customers? Tipping has a long history in the United States, but there is evidence that the coronavirus pandemic has changed the culture and percentages involved. Presenter Rick Kelsey speaks to waiting staff in New York, travel experts and explores the legal rules around tipping.Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey(Image: Someone placing dollars into a tip jar. Credit: Getty Images)
17/04/2317m 29s

Bringing the Tasmanian Tiger back from extinction

It sounds like a movie script, like Jurassic Park, but Australian scientists are actually aiming to 'de-extinct' an animal.The Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine, became extinct in 1936, nearly 90 years ago. It's native to Australia, and thanks to millions of dollars of funding via a US-based biotech company, Colossal Biosciences, research is underway which could bring it back to life.Sam Clack finds out why the project has attracted funding from a host of celebrity backers and asks whether science fiction could become reality?Produced and presented by Sam Clack.(Image: Tasmanian Tigers. Credit: Getty Images)
14/04/2318m 43s

The Phantom of the Opera: Goodbye Broadway

How did the musical manage to run for a record breaking 35 years? And why is it closing? As the curtain comes down on the Phantom in New York's famous Broadway theatre district, we look at what this means for the theatre industry.The Phantom of the Opera has played to more than 140 million people around the world, it’s sold 20 million tickets, and been performed in 33 countries. But whilst the global tours will keep going, this weekend the show is closing in New York.Actor Jonathan Roxmouth played the Phantom on a world tour, and tells us about the shows impact across the globe.Matt Rousu is a professor of economics and runs the website ‘Broadway Economics’ - he talks through the fine margins that shows like Phantom operate within. And Kizzy Cox reports from Broadway where she meets fans, speaks to veteran theatre critic Ben Brantley, and talks to Jan Mullen, an orchestra musician who has been with The Phantom of the Opera since it opened in 1986.Presenter/ producer: Izzy Greenfield (Image: Jonathan Roxmouth plays 'The Phantom' and Meghan Picerno plays 'Christine Daae' in The Phantom Of The Opera, 2019 in Singapore. Credit: Getty Images)
13/04/2318m 47s

Inside the semiconductor factory

Almost everything electronic is powered by chips. But the global semiconductor industry has been beset by the Covid pandemic, conflict, and economic slowdown. Despite the challenges, it's set to become a trillion-dollar industry by 2030.Alex Bell takes an exclusive look inside one of Europe's biggest chip manufacturing factories - GlobalFoundries' plant in Dresden, Germany - to find out how chipmakers are preparing for the future.Presenter / producer: Alex Bell(Picture: The GlobalFoundries plant in Dresden, Germany. Credit: Getty Images.)
12/04/2317m 45s

The Good Friday Agreement: 25 years on

How has stability in Northern Ireland helped businesses? We look at the impact of the peace deal from the perspective of people within Northern Ireland, and outside, and find out how it has helped the development of manufacturing, foreign investment, tourism, and farming.We also hear from the former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, one of the architects of The Good Friday Agreement.Presented and produced by Russell Padmore.(Image: Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) and then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern (right). Credit: PA)
07/04/2317m 45s

Business Daily meets: World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon

How do you make a game with a conservative image more marketable, and more profitable?Chess has been played for centuries, two people facing off over chessboard, but now it’s big business online too. Business Daily’s Dougal Shaw meets the head of World Chess, Ilya Merenzon, to talk about expanding the sport, the opportunities of the digital format, and the challenge of the recent cheating scandals.Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.(Image: Magnus Carlsen at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in January 2021. Credit: Getty Images)
06/04/2317m 45s

Coffee: Time for a new bean?

The Liberica bean is a species of coffee that growers are hoping will make their crops sustainable in the future as the climate changes. We speak to farmers struggling to grow the most popular coffee plants and taste test a Liberica brew. Presenter / producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns(Image: Martin Kinyua; Credit: Martin Kinyua)
05/04/2318m 39s

Fair pay for rooibos tea

The Khoi and San people, who discovered rooibos tea, have only recently started receiving a share of the industry's multimillion-pound profits. They tell us about their fight to get the money they're owed and we hear from the rooibos farmers who are now having to pay out. We also find out what this deal could mean for other indigenous groups in a similar situation. Presenter: Mohammed Allie Producer: Jo Critcher Image: Princess Chantal Revell from the National Khoi and San Council, drinking rooibos tea; Credit: Princess Chantal Revell
04/04/2318m 40s

Happy Birthday barcode

The barcode has become an essential part of the modern world. There are 10 billion barcode scans every day and they are used on products in every country.It started as a few lines drawn in the Florida sand and today it turns 50. It changed the way we shop and trade, without them global supply chains could not function.Presenter / producer: Sam Fenwick Image: Barcode; Credit: Getty Images
03/04/2318m 39s

Population: Your questions answered

As India is poised to overtake China as the world's most populous country, we put questions from World Service listeners to the author of 8 Billion and Counting. Dr Jennifer Sciubba explains how the number of humans is growing in some countries, declining in others, how people are moving around the world and why that matters when it comes to money and work. She also discusses the issue of fertility and birth-rate, and it's close links to factors such as government support and childcare.Presenter: Devina Gupta Producers: Helen Thomas and Carmel O'Grady(Image: A mother and child. Credit: Getty Images)
31/03/2318m 55s

Japan's aging population

Japan is the world’s fastest ageing country, nearly 30% of Japan’s population is already over 65. Devina Gupta looks into what the ever decreasing workforce means for businesses in Japan. Many companies are pouring resources into developing advanced robots and artificial intelligence to do human work. Mikio Okumura- president of one of Japan’s largest insurance companies - Sompo Holdings, tells us his company has recently started using AI to analyse complex data to predict the health risks of individuals.Many small and medium businesses owners nearing retirement age are also struggling to find successors. Japan’s trade ministry has warned that by 2025 over half a million profitable businesses could close, costing the economy $165 billion. Tsuneo Watanabe, a director of Nihon M&A Center, a company that specializes in finding buyers for such enterprises tells us how they're trying to solve the problem.Producer / presenter: Devina Gupta Image: Senior citizens advertising in Tokyo; Credit: Getty Images
30/03/2318m 56s

Nigeria's brain drain

Bisi Adebayo investigates why so many young, highly skilled people leave Nigeria, known in the country as Japa.Bisi hears from journalist Victoria Idowu who re-located to Canada with her family and a teacher in Lagos who is about to pack her bags and move to the UK. We also hear from an expert in employment data Babajide Ogunsanwo who tells us how much this costs Nigeria and Wale Smart an employer who explains how tricky it is to find and retain staff. Presenter / producer: Bisi Adebayo Image: Graduating students of the American University of Nigeria; Credit: Getty Images
29/03/2318m 56s

Italy's low birth rate

Italy’s population has decreased by approximately one million residents in the space of one year and forecasts predict that this is likely to worsen. Hannah Mullane speaks to a mother in Rome about what it’s like to start a family in Italy and a business that’s implementing its own policies to support staff who choose to have children. We take a look at what the government is planning to do to encourage more people to have children and head to the north of Italy to the Bolzano region, the only part of the country where births are increasing to see what they’re doing differently. Presenter/producer: Hannah Mullane Image: Melissa and Cosmo; Credit: Melissa Panarello
28/03/2318m 55s

India's growing population

Devina Gupta reports on India's growing population and what that means for people living, working and running businesses there. 66 year old Radha Gupta and her daughter Aashima Gupta live in India’s capital city, Delhi. They tell us how population dynamics have changed their lifestyle over the years, and business woman Vineeta Singh tells us how she has capitalised on a growing number of consumers in India and how this is attracting global finance. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Kolkata market: Credit: Getty Images
27/03/2318m 12s

The business of returning treasures

David Reid delves into the debate around the repatriation of problematic art and treasures. He visits one museum in the north-west of England attempting to decolonise its collection by returning thousands of items to the countries and communities they were taken from. In this episode we meet curators like Dr Njabulo Chipangura, from Manchester Museum, who says the best way to guarantee the future of collections is to give parts of them away. Also, Professor Kim A. Wagner from the University of London tells us the story of the skull of Alum Bheg, which he would dearly like to return to India. Is this ultimately the right way to treat problematic artefacts and treasures? Or could this movement end up destroying hard to acquire expertise and render Museums meaningless and economically unviable?Producer/presenter: David Reid(Photo: The skull of Alum Bheg: Credit: Kim Wagner)
24/03/2317m 55s

Venezuela: 10 years on

Ten years ago this month, in March 2013, Venezuela’s charismatic socialist leader Hugo Chavez died and current president Nicolas Maduro took over.In the decade since, the South American nation suffered an extraordinary economic collapse – the economy shrunk by two thirds, inflation hit six digits, the government chopped 11 zeros off the bank notes, oil production slumped and millions of people fled abroad to escape economic hardship.We talk to Venezuelans who lived through that collapse, from a shopkeeper who went bankrupt to a university professor whose salary in the local currency, bolivars, is worth just 25 US dollars a month.We also ask if the worst is over and what the future holds for this once wealthy nation – a founding member of Opec that sits on some of the world’s largest oil reserves.Producer and presented by Gideon Long Additional reporting: Vanessa Silva in Caracas(Image: A Venezuelan man holding a Chavez/Maduro balloon. Credit: Getty Images)
23/03/2318m 20s

Chatbots and business

AI chatbots are everywhere at the moment - but how are they being used by business? Business Daily presenter Rick Kelsey heads to one of the world's financial hubs, Canary Wharf in London, to find out how this technology is changing jobs.Sarah Kunst, the managing director of Cleo Capital, which invests in tech companies in San Francisco, tells us how some start-ups are using AI bots to deep search the internet, but also about her concerns with misinformation.Chante Venter is from Wise Move, a removal firm in South Africa. She has recently started using the chatbot for communication with customers and says that it's helping her team enjoy their work more. Rochelle Garrad from Chards, a coin and bullion dealer in Blackpool in the north west of England, talks about how chatbots can create content like blogs and YouTube scripts very quickly, but sometimes less accurately.Producer / presenter: Rick Kelsey Image
22/03/2318m 22s

Afrobeats: A multi-million dollar industry

Arguably the fastest growing music genre in the world, Afrobeats artists are playing to sold out crowds in the most coveted venues across the globe.What started as an umbrella term in London, UK, to encapsulate pop music of African extraction has become a major force in pop culture.But is Afrobeats able to emerge as a major economic force within the continent and can it leverage on its global appeal to boost other sectors including fashion and the arts?We hear from the pioneers like Abass Tijani, one of the very first DJs to play Afrobeats in UK clubs and Ayo Shonaiya who created the first TV show featuring musicians from Nigeria and Ghana.We also hear from Weird MC and Paul Play Dairo – two artists whose experimentation of sound in the mid-1990s contributed immensely to the growth and appeal of the genre.Produced and presented by Peter MacJob.(Image: Burna Boy performing at the NBA All Star game 2023. Credit: Getty Images)
21/03/2318m 22s

Antibiotics: How to fix a broken market

Antibiotics stopped providing big gains for pharmaceutical companies decades ago, but as bacteria become more resistant to drugs, the world needs new classes of antibiotics to be discovered if we want to prevent the next global health crisis.Dr Tina Joshi, Associate Professor of Molecular Microbiology at the University of Plymouth explains that it’s more likely antimicrobial resistance will kill large numbers of human beings before climate change does. Kasim Kutay, CEO of the investment fund Novo Holdings tells us that for big pharma companies, antibiotics are seen as a contribution to society rather than an investment that can provide a profit. How can firms be convinced to invest in an unprofitable product? We hear how Netflix might provide a good model and we explore research in Phages - a bacteria specialised in eating other bacteria. Phages are being championed by some as a potential substitute for antibiotics. One patient in Minnesota tells us Phages saved his life.Presenter / producer: Stefania Gozzer Image: Dr Tina Joshi; Credit: Lloyd Russell
20/03/2318m 23s

Business Daily Meets: Sarah Willingham

The hospitality entrepreneur Sarah Willingham has worked extensively across the UK restaurant and bar industry. She also featured as a Dragon on the BBC TV show, Dragon's Den (the UK equivalent of Shark Tank).Sarah took a bet at the height of the coronavirus pandemic that cocktail bars would thrive again - and is now CEO of UK-based hospitality group Nightcap, a rapidly expanding drinks-led investment firm which she started with her husband in 2020. The company has acquired around 20 cocktail and party bars across the country, employing more than 1,000 staff.Sarah talks to Dougal Shaw about the difficulties of entrepreneurship in lockdown, some of the current challenges facing the hospitality industry and about the imposter syndrome she felt earlier in her career.Presenter and producer: Dougal Shaw(Image - Sarah Willingham. Credit: Getty Images)
17/03/2318m 39s

What is Rumble? The streaming platform building an alternative internet

If you don’t like the way online speech is regulated, can you build your own internet where you make the rules? This is the story of Rumble, the new king of alt-tech. Rumble started as a small video streaming platform, hoping to rival YouTube. Recently, it has become the site of choice for Americans frustrated with YouTube moderation, and moved its headquarters to Florida - hailed by some as the new Silicon Valley. Rumble had been eligible for an economic development incentive grant as part of the move, but the package was scrapped following protests from some locals and Rumble did not receive taxpayer money. Now, the company is seeking to build the infrastructure for an internet ecosystem that is “immune to cancel culture”. In this episode, we trace the company’s journey from Canadian start-up to Floridian big tech challenger, and ask what this means for the future of public debate online.Producer/presenter: Ellie House Additional reporting: Annie Phrommayon Sound mix: James Beard(Photo: Person using phone looking at Rumble app. Credit: Getty Images)
15/03/2318m 58s

Syria's child labour problem: Abdullah's story

Abdullah lives in northern Syria. He is 14, he lost his mother and brothers to the Syrian civil war. For years now Abdullah has been working to feed the rest of his family, and he's just survived one of the world’s most devastating earthquakes. In this episode of Business Daily Ed Butler hears Abdullah's story. Abdullah works at the Harakat Tarhin oil refinery outside Al Bab in north-west Syria. It's a makeshift oil refinery and they make fuel to feed the cars, trucks and heaters on which the region depends.Oil is usually refined in massive industrial buildings, run by multi-national firms, but where Abdullah works it’s cooked in the back yard. He tells us he knows how dangerous his job is but that he has no choice and must carry on working. Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Abdullah; Credit: BBC
14/03/2318m 40s

Syria: Life after the earthquake

Last month’s devastating earthquake didn’t just claim thousands of Turkish lives, it ravaged northern Syria as well. International help for that region has struggled to get through. In this episode of Business Daily Ed Butler looks at how the region is battling to pick up the pieces, and whether local business-people are helping or simply profiting from the crisis.Amnat Soueif, a mother of two, tells Ed how she's providing for her children. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a senior fellow at the New Lines Institute, tells us about conversations she's having with families in the region about their trauma.Abu Amer runs a vegetable stall in the Idlib area - he tells us how commodity prices have been affected by the earthquake and Bassam Abu Muhammad, a blacksmith, tells us that since the earthquake he's moved into making and selling tents.Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: A displaced Syrian child; Credit: Getty images
13/03/2318m 58s

How wearing glasses can improve the economy

Without being able to see clearly, people in low and middle income countries can find it difficult to secure a job or support their family. Globally around one billion people need to wear glasses but do not have access to them. We look at what’s being done to help. Producer / presenter: Sam Fenwick(Image: Ankit Sharma; Credit: Ankit Sharma)
11/03/2317m 30s

Oscars: Celebrity gifting suites

Ahead of the Oscars, Business Daily goes behind the scenes of a celebrity gifting suite. Before the ceremony and the parties, celebrities are often invited to hotel suites, usually close to where the awards ceremony will happen. The rooms are filled with skincare products, makeup, jewellery, clothes, shoes, bags, you name it. Celebrities can take the gifts away for free - all companies want in return is a superstar endorsement.In this episode entertainment reporter KJ Matthews finds out how this business actually works with Nathalie Dubois who has been running these suites for almost 20 years.We also hear from Nthenya Mwendwa, a designer from Kenya who's bracelet bag was recently chose by a celebrity at a gifting suite and worn on the red carpet. Hear what that photos and the exposure has done for her small business. Presenter: KJ Matthews Producer: Carmel O'Grady Image: Sharon Stone at a gifting suite in Cannes: Credit: Nathalie Dubois
10/03/2317m 29s

The modern pilgrimage boom

We follow in the footsteps of a Viking Saint who's legacy is bringing visitors and their cash to remote areas from Sweden and Norway.More and more people are choosing to go on modern day pilgrimages, we walk part of the world's most northern pilgrimage trail to find out how businesses on the route are benefitting. Producer / presenter: Robert Walker (Image: People walking on grassland. Credit: Getty Images)
10/03/2317m 31s

The unbanked

Oscar Bilayin Kudor runs a business in Ghana producing cassava flour. He wants to grow his business but traditional banks are reluctant to lend him the money to buy expensive machinery. 1.4 billion people around the world people can't get access to formal banking. Two thirds of them live in low and middle income countries. One of Ghana’s largest banks, Absa Bank thinks it has a solution. It’s giving small businesses grants to help them access formal banking facilities. Having a bank account makes it easier for households to budget and businesses are more likely to thrive. In this episode we also look at how digital banks are helping more people get bank accounts and why access to banking is key to empowering women. Producer/Presenter: Sam Fenwick Image: Oscar Bilayin Kudor; Credit: Oscar Bilayin Kudor
09/03/2317m 57s

Health apps: Are we sharing too much?

The digital health market is growing rapidly - in 2021 the sector was valued at 195 billion US dollars.Companies offer apps and devices to monitor our vital statistics, our activity, our nutrition, our hormones. And those apps collect a lot of data about us.Presenter Marie Keyworth visits Web Summit, a large tech conference in Lisbon, to find out what is happening to this information.And asks how consumers can get the most out of health apps whilst feeling comfortable about data privacy...Plus Marie explores the aftermath of the Roe v Wade ruling which raised concerns that law enforcement officials could subpoena abortion-related data from data companies and women's health apps, to use in a prosecution.Eirini Rapti, the founder of the menstrual cycle tracking app Inne tells Marie how her company responded to Roe v Wade, and the impact it might have on international growth.Russell Glass, the CEO of Headspace Health which started as a mindfulness app, says they follow robust privacy and security rules, but a lot of the burden is falling on the consumer too because regulation can't always keep up.Presenter and producer: Marie Keyworth(Image: Woman using mobile phone. Credit: Getty Images)
09/03/2317m 54s

Do attractive people earn more?

How much better off are the better looking? A growing body of research seems to confirm that life is simply easier and more lucrative for attractive people. Labour economist Daniel Hamermesh has been studying this for years and says beautiful people do get paid more, have less difficulty securing bank loans and are typically offered more jobs, opportunities and perks.South African fashion model Marike tells us very candidly how her looks means she often gets things for free - meals, experiences, perks. She also talks about the role social media advertising plays in this. She says you can make millions of dollars through social media if you are pretty.We also hear from author Emily Lauren Dick about how unconscious bias around attractiveness and particularly weight can impact recruitment or promotion opportunities in the workplace. Producer/presenter: Deborah Weitzmann(Photo: South African fashion model Marike: Credit: Marike)
08/03/2318m 41s

Opening up Uzbekistan: Part 2

BBC journalist Rayhan Demytrie is from Uzbekistan and was recently invited back to her country to explore how after almost 30 years the government is opening up the country and it's economy. In part two of this two part Business Daily special Rayhan hears how young entrepreneurs are pushing to grow their businesses and increase exports. Rayhan also finds out how digital only banking companies are transforming access to financial services for many Uzbek people. In the capital city of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Rayhan explores how the city has developed and changed in recent years and finds out more about the corruption that continues to cause problems for businesses.Presenter / producer: Rayhan Demytrie Image: Tashkent bazaar; Credit: Getty Images
07/03/2317m 55s

Opening up Uzbekistan: Part 1

BBC journalist Rayhan Demytrie is from Uzbekistan and was recently invited back to her country to explore how after almost 30 years the government is opening up the country and it's economy. In part one of this two part Business Daily special Rayhan hears how tourists are encouraging business growth in the famous Silk Road city of Samarkand. In an interview with the Uzbek deputy finance minister, Odilbek Isakov, Rayhan asks about selling and privatising state owed assets like a Coca-Cola bottling plant and whether doing this is profitable for the country. We also hear how important ties with Russia are in Uzbekistan and how a very cold winter has put pressure on energy supplies and the economic revival of this former Soviet country. Presenter / producer: Rayhan Demytrie Image: Mosque in Samarkand: Credit: Getty Images
06/03/2318m 42s

Trains in the USA: Your take

A few months ago we covered the story about the renovation of Penn Street railway station in New York. So many World Service listeners got in touch with us about their experiences of using the railway network in America we decided to make a programme based on their views.Omar Deen, who lives in Toledo, Ohio tells us he feels disadvantaged by the dominance of car travel in the United States and says he would like to have an alternative to driving or flying to get around. Another listener, Bill Potter in Alabama tells us there are no train tracks where he lives and to make rail an option for him, miles and miles of track would have to be laid. Under President Joe Biden, the US government has increased funding for trains, but the network is patchy – there are major cities and entire states with no passenger rail services. Kristen Lewis, co-director of Measure of America at the Social Science Research Council says it is possible for America to have a better rail transport network and that's a goal the country should be working towards. Presenter/producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns(Photo: Omar Deen stands on a railway platform. Credit: Omar Deen)
03/03/2317m 56s

A story of modern slavery in the UK

Ayo is a victim of trafficking and modern slavery and tells us his story of being taken from Nigeria to the UK and forced to work. We also hear from Emily Kenway, a former policy adviser to the UK’s first anti-slavery commissioner and author of The Truth About Modern Slavery, who explains what modern slavery actually is. Sara Thornton, who was the UK’s independent anti-slavery commissioner until April 2022, explains some of the reasons behind an increase in the number of people being recognised as victims of modern slavery in the UK. We also explore some incoming changes to the UK’s world-leading anti-slavery legislation, changes that Kate Roberts, head of policy at the London-based anti-trafficking charity Focus on Labour Exploitation, tells us she is very concerned about. Producer/presenter: Frey Lindsay(Photo: Child behind wooden crate. Credit: Getty Images)
02/03/2318m 48s

How Portugal is cycling to success

The global bicycle market is set to grow by 5% every year over the next decade. Demand has been rising, particularly since the start of the coronavirus pandemic as people look for an alternative to crowded public transport. Concern for climate change and rising fuel prices have also helped to push people onto bikes. Portugal is the biggest bicycle manufacturer in Europe. According to Eurostat, it produced 2.9 million bicycles in 2021, with exports generating around 594 million euros - almost 610 million US dollars - and sales are up 49% this year. The Secretary General of the industry group Abimota, Gil Nadais, explains how Portugal has benefitted from EU import tariffs.Pedro Araújo, the CEO of Polisport Group tells us how the industry is working together to cope with rising energy prices and to overcome supply chain problems and staff shortages.Portugal's Secretary of State for Urban Transport, Jorge Delgado explains how the government is trying to encourage more people to cycle in Portugal, where there’s been a historical reluctance, by investing more in infrastructure and giving free bikes to school children. Presenter/producer: Lisa Louis(Photo: Ironman 70.3 Portugal Cascais. Credit; Getty Images)
01/03/2318m 48s

Unionising the US workforce

There has been a surge in the number of workplaces in the United States voting to join a labour union. Amid this wave of unionisation, companies are pushing back hard. We find out what is happening in the US and how businesses and politicians are reacting.We hear from a worker at outdoor clothing co-operative REI where staff have voted to unionise, plus Michelle Miller, who runs Co-worker, an organisation that supports employees who want union representation. Michael Strain, an economist at the centre-right policy organisation, the American Enterprise Institute, explains that workers are actually doing quite well at the moment as unemployment is low. And have you heard of union-busting? Rebecca Givan is an associate professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University in New Jersey - she explains what is happening.Producer/presenter: Rob Young(Photo: Workers on strike from the New York Times. Credit: Getty Images)
28/02/2318m 45s

Syria: Starting a business in a warzone

How do you launch a successful start-up in a country where there’s been more than a decade of civil war? In this episode of Business Daily Maddy Savage hears how an entrepreneur from Syria was inspired by Scandinavia’s tech scene. Khaled Moustafa founded Syria’s first ride-sharing app, Yalla Go, in 2019. The platform now has hundreds of thousands of users who can book taxis on their smartphones to get around Syria's biggest cities. Khaled shares his story with Maddy and talks about some of the challenges, and benefits, of launching a business during a time of conflict. We also hear from a Yalla Go driver and get a glimpse into Syria’s emerging tech scene. Presenter/producer: Maddy Savage(Photo: Khaled Moustafa. Credit: Khaled Moustafa)
27/02/2318m 47s

The importance of handmade products

The market for real handmade products is reported to have surged in recent years. Initiatives such as Australia's Seasons of New England Expo and Makers Markets in the UK have led to a revival in small artisanal businesses. Online platforms also give skilful craftspeople a vast market to sell to. Business Daily's David Reid hears from sellers in Manchester making things as diverse as balloon animals and mushroom growing kits. We also hear about the benefits of working with your hands. The philosopher and motor mechanic, Matthew Crawford, is the author of 'The Case for Working with your Hands' and 'The World Beyond Your Head' – he tells us why office work and current management practices have removed judgement and decision making from our day-to-day efforts and alienated us from the real results of the work we do. Produced and presented by David Reid. (Image: A potter making a pot using a wheel. Credit: Getty Images)
24/02/2318m 46s

Ukraine war: Preserving culture

In this epsiode of Business Daily Ashish Sharma looks at how the art world has tried to preserve Ukraine´s cultural and artistic heritage from the ongoing war.Hear the story of how valuable Ukrainian paintings were put on trucks and sneaked out of Ukraine as Russia began heavily bombing the country. Thanks to the idea of one art collector they are now on display in a museum in Madrid. Ashish also managed to link up with Kyiv to speak to the Director of the National Art Museum of Ukraine, Yulia Lytvynets and Nadia Tymchuk the CEO of the Museum´s Charitable Foundation about how they are trying to protect important artefacts and preserve Ukrainian culture. Presenter/producer: Ashish Sharma (Photo: Exhibition of Ukrainian art in Spain. Credit: Getty Images)
23/02/2318m 2s

Ukraine war: Refugees and resilience

It is estimated almost eight million people have left Ukraine in the past 12 months. They have all had to start again - finding housing, schools and a way to earn a living. In this episode we hear from Ukrainians who are staying resilient through huge changes to their lives. They tell us about making sure they can provide for their families, run businesses and help their employees. Konstantin Klyagin is an IT and software entrepreneur from Kyiv. When the war started he was on a flight and unable to land in Ukraine. He now lives in Lisbon, Portugal and tells us about helping his employees relocate with him. Vadim Rogovskiy runs an company developing AI software for use in online shopping. Vadim now lives between New York and Poland. He relocated his whole team to Warsaw, Poland on the day of the invasion.Presenter / producer: Alex Bell (Image: Konstantin Klyagin; Credit: Konstantin Klyagin)
22/02/2318m 44s

Ukraine war: Refugees starting again

It is estimated almost eight million people have left Ukraine in the past 12 months. They have all had to start again, finding housing, schools and a way to earn a living. Some have managed to carry on running their businesses and others have set up new companies in the countries they now call home. Business Daily has been hearing some of their stories of remarkable resilience. Volodymyr and Regina Razumovskaya, now living in Perth, Western Australia, tell us about first leaving Donetsk in 2014 only to be forced to leave their new home and business in Kyiv eight years later. Polina Salabay describes the moment she realised she had to leave her home and dance school business behind in Lviv. She now lives in Canada and runs Polli’s Dance teaching Canadian and Ukrainian children. And Anastasia Kozmina and boyfriend Oleksiyy Danko, tell us how they turned their side hustle into a business when they moved to England. Presenter / producer: Alex Bell (Image: Polli's Dance: Credit: Polina Salabay)
21/02/2318m 45s

Ukraine war: Economic fallout

Nearly a year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ed Butler examines the real state of the Russian economy. Ami Daniel, chief executive of Windward, a maritime data company, tells Ed about the Russian oil tankers transferring millions of tonnes of crude oil between ships to bypass sanctions. As the war continues, millions of euros worth of Russian assets remain frozen as a result of sanctions. Urmas Reinsalu, the Estonian foreign minister, tells us about an initiative Estonia is leading to actually seize and exploit some of Russian’s frozen billions for the benefit of Ukraine.Presenter / producer: Ed Butler (Image: A market in Kyiv; Credit: Getty Images)
20/02/2318m 1s

Turkey earthquake: What is the future for young people?

As the rescue and recovery effort from the devastating earthquake continues, young people who survived are making tough decisions about the future. With Turkey already struggling economically even before the disaster, do they leave and start again in a new region, or a new country? Or stay and help rebuild? Victoria Craig travels to Ankara where she meets Berkay, a second year design student from Gaziantep, one of the most badly affected cities. He drove for 12 hours with his family to reach the Turkish capital. He says he's not sure what the future holds, and he is considering moving to another European country. Roger Kelly is the lead regional economist for Turkey at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He explains how youth unemployment is a particular challenge for southern Turkey, and says it's difficult to say whether people who have been displaced will return when areas are rebuilt. And Professor Güneş Aşık from TOBB Economics and Technical University says students affected by the earthquake might not find it that easy - they might have to drop out of university to support their families. Produced and presented by Victoria Craig. Additional production by Anil Ergın. (Image: A rescue centre in Ankara. Credit: Getty Images)
16/02/2318m 45s

Nigeria's election and the economy

Nigerians head to the polls very soon, in what's expected to be a very closely-contested election. In this episode of Business Daily Rob Young explores how the economy could impact the vote. Africa’s largest economy, is struggling with soaring prices, fuel shortages and insecurity. We hear from Maty Ukhuegbe Osaro who runs a restaurant in Lagos called The Fish Lady, she tells us how the pandemic and rising prices have affected her business and about her hopes for the outcome of this election. Economist and financial business boss, Bismarck Rewane, says us the uncertainty around the election has led some large businesses to hold off taking key decisions and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director general of the World Trade Organisation, and former finance minister in Nigeria tells us she's optimistic about Nigeria's economic potential. Presenter / producer: Rob Young Image :Campaign rally for the Labour Party in Lagos; Credit: Getty Images
15/02/2318m 41s

Sweden leads green steel race

Boden is a remote town in northern Sweden surrounded by pine forests, it's at the forefront of an initiative to try and clean up one of the world’s dirtiest industries - steel production. Business Daily presenter Maddy Savage visits the site of a new plant in Boden which aims to cut carbon emissions from the steel making process by 95 percent and bring more jobs and people to a shrinking community.Andy Turner is the head of construction for H2Green Steel, the start-up behind the plant in Boden, he tells us more about the site and the process of making greener steel and Katinka Lund Waagsaether, senior policy advisor with climate think tank e3g - third generation environmentalism - tells us how well is Sweden doing in the race to make steel production more sustainable. Producer / presenter: Maddy Savage Image: How the Boden plant is expected to look; Credit: H2Green Steel
15/02/2317m 53s

What does studying in the UK cost Africans?

Frey Lindsay investigates what some African students are required to do to get a place to study in the UK – and what that costs. We examine the cost and relevancy of English language tests and explore the visa pathways that exclude some Africans. Young African academics tell us about their frustrations and the enormous expense involved. Nigerian policy specialist Ebenezar Wikina tells us about his campaign trying increase inclusion for those Africans who speak English and education scholar Samia Chasi explains why academics and institutions in poorer countries deserve more of a place in global education.Presenter / Producer: Frey Lindsay Image: Student, Donatus outside Glasgow University; Credit: BBC
14/02/2318m 41s

Big sporting event, very small town

Business Daily’s Matthew Kenyon visits the Dutch town of Hoogerheide as it hosts the 2023 World Cyclocross Championships. Tens of thousands of fans will flock into the town, and spend their money on hotels, food and drink. But where does that money go? And what about the costs and disruption of putting on a major sporting event in a small place? We hear from the head of the local organising committee, Jan Prop, on how he raises and spends his budget; from cycling’s world governing body, the UCI; and from locals and visitors about the spending and disruption that goes with any big sporting event.Producer / Presenter: Matthew Kenyon Image: Cyclocross 2023; Credit: BBC
13/02/2317m 53s

Getting into business: Founding a billion dollar firm

Twenty-year-old Aadit Palicha is the man behind India's hottest start up. He was just 18 when he co-founded his quick commerce company Zepto. The firm delivers groceries to its customers in under 10 minutes and is currently valued at over a billion dollars. Aadit tells the BBC's Nikhil Inamdar where the idea for Zepto came from, how they achieve such fast delivery times and what it has been like building such enormous success so quickly.Presenter/producer: Nikhil Inamdar(Photo: Aadit Palicha)
10/02/2317m 53s

Getting into business: Start-up capital in Africa

The amount of accessible funding for start-ups in Africa is growing fast, but lots of it goes to the more developed economies of South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya. We speak to business owners in Nigeria and Uganda and compare their experiences of getting into business. Nnamdi Okoh is the co-founder of Terminal Africa, based in Lagos. He explains the process of getting onto an accelerator programme and how the advice and financial support has allowed him and his brother to turn the business from a side hustle to a full time job. AbdulMalik Fahd investigates why Lagos has become such a hub for new business on the continent and Tom Jackson the co-founder of Disrupt Africa, a hub for start-up news, explains why investment opportunity is growing so quickly and what this means for business. Kaivan Khalid Satter is the founder of Asaak, an asset financing company for motocyles based in Kampala, Uganda. He explains how tough it was to raise funding at the beginning and tells us how he’s now managed to raise more than 30 million dollars in funding. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane(Photo: Nnamdi Okoh. Credit: Nnamdi Okoh)
09/02/2318m 43s

Getting into business: Starting out

Starting a business is never easy, but in the last few years there’s been more than usual to deal with. Many would assume it's not been a great time to start trading but we speak to three business owners who did just that. Tina Kayoma is the co-founder of Project of Japan in Kyoto. A business that sells products made by Japanese crafts people across the world. She opened her first shop last year. Maria Jose Hernadez is in Switzerland where she runs a confectionary business called El Caramelo and Lisa Nielson is in Ghana where she runs Tiny Reusers, a business that sells second hand baby items. They come together in this episode to explain what it's been like setting up a business where they live. They also discuss the good and bad moments they've had and give their tips for anyone else looking to start a business. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane(Image: Tina Kayoma, Maria Jose Hernadez and Lisa Nielson, with kind permission)
08/02/2317m 53s

Getting into business: Selling on social media

Some businesses in South East Asia are growing at remarkable rates by using social media to sell. Live streaming on TikTok and live chatting on apps like Whatsapp, Line and Zalo are all being used to increase sales. We find out how. Nina Dizon-Cabrera is the CEO of make-up brand, Colourette Cosmetics in the Philippines. She explains how her business began on social media and how she can sell thousands of products in just a few hours by live streaming on TikTok. Joan Aurelia heads to Jakarta in Indonesia. The country has over 100,000 TikTok users, the second biggest market for the app after the United States. She speaks to business owners there about how social media has allowed them to transform their businesses. Simon Torring is the cofounder of Cube Asia, a market analyst. He explains how much this new way of selling is contributing to the economy and predicts where the next big trends will come. Presenter/producer: Hannah Mullane(Photo: Nina Dixon-Cabrera Credit: Colourette Cosmetics)
07/02/2318m 42s

Getting into business: Mentoring

A mentor can take many different forms but ultimately they’re there to give you advice, put you in touch with contacts they have and support you, whether you’re setting up a new business or looking to make the next step in your career. We head to Sweden to speak to Caxton Njuki, a professional sports and health coach who is a mentor to Jessika Sillanpää. He supported her for a year as she set up her business Jessikastory. They give us an insight into their mentoring relationship and how the process allowed Jessika to work on her business full time. Abhishek Nagaraj, an expert in business mentoring at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkley. He discusses the different forms of mentoring and the economic benefits if you have a really good mentor. Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane (Image: Caxton Njuki and Jessika Sillanpää Credit: Caxton Njuki)
06/02/2317m 53s

What is the cost of lower inflation?

With food and heating prices going up, and wages not rising at the same rate, there is pressure on central bankers across the world to tackle inflation. But is this the right approach? And can it be done without crashing the economy?Ed Butler hears from parents at a cheerleading class in Castleford in northern England, who are concerned about rising prices. They say it is the food shopping where they have noticed the price rises – with one parent shopping online to stop children asking for more items.Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and President Obama's chief economic adviser, explains how we have reached this position – largely as a result of the pandemic and resulting government responses, and the invasion of Ukraine.Former Federal Reserve economist Claudia Sahm explains how prices are rising for the core essentials - hitting poorer households disproportionately which is an issue for the whole economy.And why do we have a 2% inflation target? Mohamed El-Erian, veteran economist and president of Queen’s College, Cambridge, talks about the historical factors around this 'desirable' number.Presenter/producer: Ed Butler (Photo: Woman with shopping basket. Credit: Getty Images)
03/02/2318m 17s

ASML: Inside Europe’s most valuable tech company

Presenter Matthew Kenyon visits Dutch tech giant ASML, the company which makes the most advanced machines used in the manufacturing of microchips. It is Europe’s most valuable tech company and business is booming – ASML expanded its headcount by nearly a third in 2022 – but political pressure from the US to restrict exports to China threatens to disrupt the semiconductor landscape. We hear from ASML chief executive Peter Wennink, find out more about the process of creating ASML’s remarkable products and consider what the fallout from Washington’s intervention might be.Presenter/producer: Matthew Kenyon(Photo: ASML expo in Shanghai. Credit: Getty Images)
02/02/2318m 49s

My hijab, my way

On World Hijab Day, Business Daily's Emb Hashmi explores the enormous market in modest fashion and in particular the hijab. We meet four women who wear the hijab in their own way and also make a living out of modelling, making and selling hijabs. Dr Sana Askary, founder of Yumin Hijab tells Emb that when she decided to wear the hijab a few years ago she couldn’t find one she could wear comfortably so she designed her own and now runs a hijab business which she’s hoping to expand this year.Shazrina Azman aka Mizz Nina was an award winning Malaysian singer songwriter but a chance moment on Hajj pilgrimage made her realise she wanted to dress more modestly. Sharzina adapted her already very successful fashion business to more modest clothing designs and left her free hair look behind to wear the hijab.Lalla Mariah al-Idrissi is a model and filmmaker and tells us she’s considered a model with hijab she's considered a model with hijab because the hijab is such a significant part of her appearance and Eniya Rana a modest fashion influencer based in London and married mother of 5 describes how she creates very relatable online content for a growing global female audience.Presenter/producer: Emb Hashmi (Photo: Dr Sana Askary and friends; Credit: Yumin Hijabs)
01/02/2318m 47s

The market for military memorabilia

Presenter David Reid explores the huge market in military memorabilia. Enthusiasts recreating historical battles has surged in recent years and driven a boom in the market for military uniforms and artefacts. We speak to dealers and buyers and explore the ethics of what some say is a blood soaked trade.David reports from a re-enactment event and speaks to John Ruffhead, the co-ordinator for the Royal Navy Beachhead Commando re-enactors, to find out more about those who take part. Charlotte Huxley-James, a World War Two living historian tells us about the military uniforms she has bought over the years and why authenticity really matters.We also hear from military memorabilia dealer Malcolm Fisher who tells us the market for what he sells is huge and defends the trade in Nazi artefacts. Producer/presenter: David Reid(Photo: US Army Sergeant in uniform decorated with medals. Credit: Getty Images)
31/01/2318m 18s

The boss of Africa's biggest bank

Ade Ayeyemi, the CEO of Ecobank - Africa’s biggest bank - speaks to presenter Peter MacJob about the economic woes facing much of Africa and explores the leadership and policy adjustments needed to turn the continents fortunes around.In a candid and wide ranging interview Mr Ayeyemi says that African governments need to stop introducing subsidies and start collecting more taxes in order to manage their economies better.Presenter/producer: Peter MacJob(Photo: Ade Ayeyemi, CEO Ecobank. Credit: Getty Images)
30/01/2318m 16s

Cost of living: Dresden, Germany

For the final episode of our cost of living series, the Business Daily team are in Dresden, a manufacturing powerhouse in the east of Germany. Leanna Byrne speaks to small business owners, students considering taking on extra paid work and a big manufacturing boss about how the rising cost of living is affecting them and their livelihoods.Detlef Neuhaus, the chief executive of one of Germany's biggest renewables companies - Solarwatt - tells us how the war in Ukraine has changed the mindset of some people when it comes to the value of renewable energy and how their manufacturing costs have gone up in recent months.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Production: Izzy Greenfield and Alex Bell Image: Dresden; Credit: Getty Images
27/01/2318m 49s

Cost of living: Hospitality

We all know a coffee shop, a restaurant, a greasy spoon, a pub or a fine dining eatery that has closed in the last few months. But why, after two years of forced closures because of the coronavirus pandemic, are hospitality businesses closing now? Leanna Byrne speaks to hospitality business owners from three different countries to find out how they’re covering their overheads. Alessandro Borghese is a chef who owns restaurants in Milan and in Venice. He says he’s paying more for everything from food to oils and staff. And Mandla Mataure is the managing director for the Chimanimani Hotel in Manicaland in eastern Zimbabwe.Zimbabwe ended 2023 reporting a 244% inflation rate. How does Mandla deal with constant price rises when staff are looking for more money?Oliver Mansaray owns the restaurant, Kink, in Berlin. Oliver opened his first ever hospitality business right before the pandemic struck. Like Mandla, he’s taken on the cost of living challenge by cutting costs elsewhere and trying to be more efficient. Presenter/producer: Leanna Byrne )Image: Oliver Mansaray in Kink, Berlin/ Credit: Oliver Mansaray)
26/01/2318m 53s
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