Business Daily

We're in the US state of Georgia, where huge data centres need water to keep cool.

But how is this need for cloud storage and AI capability affecting local residents and the environment?

Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez

(Image: Georgia resident Beverly Morris looks at sediment build up in her toilet, which she says makes it impossible to flush. Instead she has to pour through a bucket of water)

Graduates are facing one of the toughest jobs markets in decades.

We hear from students in India, the US and UK about whether they feel a university or college degree is worth it as we discuss the cost of attending university around the world and what your job prospects might be when you graduate. Ritesh Agarwal, billionaire and founder of Oyo Hotels dropped out of university - he tells us how he thinks the education system needs to change, and we hear from experts about where they see the future for new graduates as AI becomes even more a part of our working lives. Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Hannah Mullane

(Image: Two women graduating from university with their hands together in a heart shape. Credit: Getty Images)

The UN estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians have left their home country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Many have set up businesses in their new country - around 90,000 of those in Poland.

We hear about the challenges they’ve faced, and the sectors which have thrived. And we ask; would they return to Ukraine if the war ended?

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

Grab your briefcase, we’re heading into the negotiation room, to find out about the art of the trade deal.

With deals being drawn up around the world, and many more negotiations underway, we speak to experts and negotiators about overcoming stalemates and bargaining chips.

And we ask if US President Donald Trump has upended the way global trade deals are made.

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

(Picture: US President Donald Trump holds a signed US-UK trade deal next to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as they speak to reporters during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 16, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The entrepreneur grew up in a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas with no electricity.

He went on to found a cloud-based cyber-security company with a value of $47 billion, trying to protect digital data for businesses and governments.

Jay Chaudhry tells us about his daily battle to stay ahead of the “bad guys”.

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: Jay Chaudhry giving the keynote speech at Zenith Live. Credit: Zscaler)

Billionaires, scientists and start-ups are all trying to get in on the action.

And it's not all about sending rockets and satellites into space. Space-enabled technologies are informing climate forecasting and disaster planning, as well as playing a role in logistics, defence and food security.

State funded and private investment has reach an all time high.

We head to the IAC in Milan to meet some of the industry experts leading the charge.

Produced and presented by Ru Abbass

Image: An illustration of Haven 2, the proposed successor to the International Space Station. Image courtesy of Vast)

In the 24/25 season the club finished in it's worst ever Premier League position.

It also failed to qualify lucrative European football.

Off the pitch, talk of worsening financial difficulties and redundancies at its Old Trafford HQ.

Can new part-owner - and Britain's wealthiest man - Sir Jim Ratcliffe turn things around?

And as the club looks to replace Old Trafford, is now really the right time to be investing in a new stadium?

Produced and presented by Matt Lines

(Image: Diogo Dalot of Manchester United looks dejected with his teammates at the end of the UEFA Europa League Final match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United 21 May 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The Öresund Bridge, which connects Sweden and Demark, opened exactly 25 years ago today. It is one of Europe’s most iconic bridges, carrying road and rail passengers between Copenhagen and Malmo.

We look at how it has helped boost business and tourism and find out what other cities and countries might learn from its cross-border successes and challenges.

Producer/presenter: Maddy Savage

(Image: The bridge on a calm day. Credit Getty Images)

It's one of the world’s most versatile crops and a critical source of food security - it’s also a commodity under increasing global demand.

Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of the root vegetable, cassava, but export numbers are tiny.

Currently, the country imports products that compete with the indigenous crop.

We hear from farmers, entrepreneurs and leading agronomists on plans to industrialise Nigeria’s cassava industry and realise its economic potential.

Produced and presented by Laura Heighton-Ginns Additional sound mixing by James Bradshaw

(Image: Mrs Kemi farms a five hectare smallholding in south west Nigeria. Image credit: Bassey Oluwakemi Ibilola)

We're in Dubai looking back on two weeks of uncertainty and concerns the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, The Strait of Hormuz, might shut.

The UAE is a major global trading hub and home to the biggest port in the Middle East. We’ll be hearing how some countries are looking for alternatives to the Strait, such as pipelines or developing refineries.

And what could this mean for the future relationship between Gulf states like this one, and Iran?

Produced and presented by Sameer Hashmi Additional production: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: A small boat loaded with merchandise sails past a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of Khasab in Oman's northern Musandam peninsula on 25 June 2025.Credit: Getty Images)

What happens to our data once it's been handed over to DNA testing companies?

One such firm, 23andMe, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year.

The company was set up to help people could track their ancestry - one of a number of similar sites using DNA data to create links and matches between users.

However the company has been dogged by privacy concerns over its use of customer information and was fined for a data breach that exposed UK customers.

What lessons can be learned now the company's been bought out of bankruptcy by its co-founder?

Produced and presented by David Reid

(Image: Woman swabbing her mouth for a DNA test. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at job security and long-term options for esports players after they hang up their controllers.

The industry is worth billions of dollars and players win big prizes, but many make more money as content makers, and plan to move away from esports long-term.

We head to an esports event in Birmingham UK to speak to professional gamers about their career prospects - and to young people who idolise these players and want to enter this field themselves.

Produced and presented by Will Chalk

(Image: Esports player Archie Pickthall at the 2025 RLCS Major 1 tournament in Birmingham UK. Credit: BLAST/Michal Konkol)

From 1 July 2025 there will be complete ban on untargeted advertising of online gambling in the Netherlands.

That's a dramatic reversal in policy from just four years ago, when the market was first regulated.

The move will have a particularly significant impact in the Dutch sports world, where federations and clubs have benefited from intense sponsorship spending in the few years it has been legal.

But now that flow of money is coming to an end. What impact will the new rules have, in sport and more widely? And how will the betting operators adapt?

Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon

(Image: Tom Koops of Orion Stars playing in the Volleyball Play-off Finals match between Orion Stars and NovaTech Lycurgus on 8 May 2025 in Doetinchem, Netherlands. One of the sponsors of Dutch men's volleyball is Bet City - seen on Tom's shirt. That won't be allowed under the new rules. Credit: Getty Images)

Groceries delivered to your doorstep in just 10 minutes? India’s online platforms are promising this instant delivery for millions of shoppers – items at your door in between 10 and 30 mins.

But behind the convenience lies a deeper story - exhausted gig workers, struggling family-run stores, and questions about the long-term sustainability of the business model.

We look at the real cost of India’s quick commerce, or Q-commerce, industry.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

(Picture: A Swiggy delivery rider and a rider for rival brand Zepto on their bikes with delivery boxes in Mumbai, India. Credit: Getty Images)

Fed up with their own inadequate and expensive care systems, many elderly Westerners are choosing to retire to Thailand, where care is cheaper and often better. Many say Thailand’s Buddhist culture and respect for the elderly means Thais are naturally caring.

It’s a booming sector, and is only likely to grow as we all live longer. But the decision to move can be complex, particularly when it involves retirees with dementia.

People have been accused of dumping their sick relatives in Thai care homes, far from family. Is this exploitation – rich Westerners taking advantage of Thailand’s low wages? And what does it mean for local health systems, as care workers are lured away to look after foreign residents?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

(Picture: British retiree Liz Jackson, now living in Chiang Mai.)

Thailand’s government has long been wary of opening up the country to gambling, imposing major restrictions on betting.

Small-scale, illicit gambling is widespread in the country but now politicians want to liberalise the industry and allow casinos to set up shop.

The goal is to promote tourism, but opponents argue that the gambling business is incompatible with Thai culture, which is largely rooted in Buddhist values that frown upon betting.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

(Picture: Protesters in Chaing Mai, Thailand, in April 2025, seen holding placards during a demonstration to protest the government's draft entertainment complex bill at The Phae Gate. On 13 January 2025, the Thai Cabinet approved a draft bill, setting the stage for the legalisation of casino gambling in entertainment complexes across the country. Credit: Getty Images)

The Southeast Asian country has witnessed a huge influx of electrical and electronic waste in recent years. Old mobile phones, computers, circuit boards and fridges are being shipped to the country and processed, often in unlicensed industrial sites.

We explore why this has happened, who is behind it, and find out what the Thai government is doing about it.

We join the Thai industry ministry on a raid of an unlicensed Chinese-owned recycling plant, and talk to a Thai farmer who says his cassava crop has been blighted by pollutants from an unlicensed smelter.

We also hear from Thais about their own electronics recycling habits.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long Additional reporting and translation by Wilawan Watcharasakwej in Bangkok

(Image: Officials look at a mound of e-waste at a site near Bangkok, Thailand.)

Since this programme was first broadcast, the Chinese embassy in Thailand has responded to the BBC request for comment with a statement saying: “China has always required overseas Chinese enterprises to abide by the laws of the host countries and operate in accordance with laws and regulations”. It said China supports Thailand in its efforts to strengthen regulation and create “a fair, stable and predictable investment and business environment”.

Thailand and Malaysia both depend on exports to countries like China and the US for economic growth. The Southeast Asian nations are now potentially facing some of US President Donald Trump’s most punishing tariff rates. We look at some of their key industries, like rubber and manufacturing, that are threatened by the situation. Will both countries have to reinvent their economies?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Ed Butler

(Photo: Duang Chai, a rubber farmer in Chonburi, eastern Thailand)

From rice to rubber, manufacturing to tourism, Thailand is one of Southeast Asia’s most important export-driven economies. And its trading partners include China and the US. But the country's been struggling to bounce back from the effects of the Covid pandemic.

Ever since US President Donald Trump first introduced tariffs against China in 2018, Thailand's also found itself having to tread carefully between the demands of the two economic superpowers.

We hear from food producers, exporters and ordinary working people, about the choices ahead. Will Thailand now have to decide between Washington and Beijing if it is to survive a global trade war?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

(Image: Bangkok's Chinatown. A neighbourhood packed with market stalls, gold shops, and restaurants. Credit: Getty Images)

David Webb has spent decades campaigning for the rights of ordinary investors in Hong Kong.

Since arriving in the city from the UK as a young investment banker 30 years ago, he’s taken on tycoons, exposed corporate wrongdoing, and pushed for transparency in one of the world’s most complex financial hubs. Now, as the activist investor’s life comes to an end following a terminal cancer diagnosis in 2020, he's been reflecting on his life in the corporate world.

He's spoken to the BBC's Martin Yip.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Martin Yip Producer: Niamh McDermott

(Image: David Webb, activist investor and founder of Webb-site.com, speaks during a farewell event at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in Hong Kong on 12 May 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Pitchside advertising signs in stadiums are getting bigger and brighter, using advanced, digital technology to create new opportunities for marketing to fans in the stadium and those watching sports at home.

But could the LED boards around the stadium distract from the action on the field?

We hear from fans, marketing execs, and how one sport league is using advertising as a form of entertainment during matches.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

(Picture: Football/soccer stadium from the players zone. Credit: Getty Images)

US President Donald Trump’s announcements on tariffs have had businesses around the world analysing their supply chains and reassessing their bottom lines.

We take a snapshot of one industry and the beating heart of a popular American product - craft beer – speaking to brewers in Canada, Mexico and the US.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Hannah Bewley

(Image: Robin Ridesic of Exchange Brewery in Ontario, Canada; Justin Cox of Atlas Brewing, Washington DC, USA; and Luis Osuna of Buqui Bichi in Sonora, Mexico)

A Pilsner, an American Pale Ale, American IPA or cold lager. However you like your beer – it's part of life in the US and usually comes out on top as the most popular drink in the country.

In this programme, we look at how President Donald Trump’s tariffs policy is impacting the product; tracing the elements of a can of beer in the United States - from the hops to the bar.

Could this all-American experience be affected by a desire to Make America Great Again? Or will US businesses involved in beer manufacturing and packaging benefit?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Hannah Bewley

(Picture: Young woman working in the production line in a beer factory. Credit: Getty Images)

Heatwaves don’t have names unlike storms or hurricanes - which are categorised. But extreme heat can have a huge impact on people’s lives, on overall public health, and the local economy.

We look at a pilot project that took place in the Spanish city of Seville called ProMETEO, aimed at naming heatwaves in order to raise public awareness, and better prepare local economies in extreme heat conditions.

And we speak to businesses that are having to plan for hotter weather and ask them whether categorising heatwaves could make them more resilient.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

(Picture: A waitress tries to cool down with a fan at a restaurant in Seville on 23 July, 2024, as temperatures rose across southern Europe during a heatwave last summer. July 21, 2024 was the hottest day ever registered globally, according to preliminary data published by the EU's climate monitor. Credit: Getty Images)

For more than 1,400 years, Saudi Arabia has hosted pilgrims from across the world who travel to this sacred patch of desert to fulfil a religious obligation.

Beyond the eternal moral duty, the economic potential of hosting both Hajj, and Umrah - a shorter pilgrimage - is vast. The kingdom is aiming to welcome 30 million pilgrims every year by 2030.

As more Muslims gain the financial means to undertake this journey, we look at the scale of the opportunity—for Saudi Arabia, and the global travel industry.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sameer Hashmi

(Picture: Muslim worshippers gather for prayers at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on June 2, 2025 ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Credit: Getty Images)

Is longevity the next growth industry? We look at why billionaires are betting on 'rejuvenation' tech and whether any of this could help more of us live beyond 100.

We meet the entrepreneurs selling 'superfoods', personalised health plans, and longevity consulting, hoping to cash in on a longer life. Their methods are unproven and sometimes extreme, but could the billionaires be on to something?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Thomas Mason

(Picture: A silhouette of a man stargazing under a clear, starry night sky with the Milky Way visible. Artistic composite. Credit: Getty Images)

Ice hockey was hit hard by the pandemic, with empty arenas and financial losses threatening the sport's future. Now in 2025, North America's National Hockey League (NHL) has come roaring back.

We'll look at that journey and how the sport is about to enjoy a record-breaking season with predicted revenues of $6.6bn.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

(Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers scores a goal against Joseph Woll of the Toronto Maple Leafs during the first period of Game Seven of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Scotiabank Arena on May 18, 2025 in Toronto, Canada. Credit: Getty Images)

A new type of solar cell has been developed and has made it to market.

Perovskites have been called a 'magic material' that many believe will be the new, efficient way to convert the sun's energy to electricity.

Now the material is being used on commercial roof panels for the first time, we look at the opportunities of the new tech, its flaws, and when it might be available to households.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey

(Picture: Illustration of a modern perovskite high performance solar cell module for high efficient photon recycling. Credit: Getty Images)

The small country has big ambitions to become a tech and innovation hub.

It has a reliable source of renewable energy, thanks to the Itaipu Dam - a huge hydroelectric dam on the Paraguay-Brazil border.

We hear from government ministers and business leaders about how they believe they can make it happen - and the benefits it could bring, particularly to young people in Paraguay.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: The Itaipu Dam - a hydroelectric dam on the Paraguay-Brazi border. Credit: Getty Images)

In the final episode of our series, we've gather together a panel of experts who all have an interest in critical mineral mining.

Demand for minerals like cobalt, lithium and copper is growing rapidly, as countries turn to green energy solutions. These minerals are used in EV batteries and wind turbines.

So what does the future hold? How do countries approach China's dominance in both mining and processing, and what about the environmental and ethical concerns?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Photo: Off-shore wind turbines in Denmark, located on Middelgrunden a few kilometres outside Copenhagen. Credit: Getty Images)

Rising demand for critical minerals to fuel the green energy transition means an expansion of mining around the world.

New mines are opening, existing mines are being scaled up.

In the fourth programme in our series, we find out about the impact of mineral mining on the planet and for those people both working in the mines and living nearby.

We head to the Democratic Republic of the Congo where there are claims that child labour is being used in so called ‘artisanal’ mines and there is little scrutiny of the supply chain.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Artisanal miners carry sacks of ore at a mine near Kolwezi in 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

China’s headstart in market dominance is significant, and its grip on critical mineral supply chains remains tight.

The question now is whether other governments can move fast enough — and smart enough — to build something more secure, more sustainable, and less dependent.

We head to La Rochelle in western France for a rare look inside one of the world’s biggest rare earth processing plants, and find out what it reveals about Europe’s efforts to build a supply chain of its own.

Presenter: Jonathan Josephs Producer: Matt Lines

(Image: A rare earth processing plant in La Rochelle, France, owned by chemicals giant Solvay)

The country dominates the global processing of critical minerals - materials essential to clean energy, defence, and modern manufacturing.

In the second part of our series on the global race to secure these resources, we explore how China built its control over the supply chain, from strategic state investment to partnerships abroad.

We also head to Indonesia, where Chinese firms are leading the charge in nickel processing. Has one country gained too much power over the world’s green transition?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O’Connor

(Image: Labourers work at the site of a rare earth metals mine at Nancheng county, Jiangxi province in 2010. Credit: Getty Images)

They’re essential to the green transition, modern tech, and defence systems—and global demand is soaring.

In the first part of our series on critical minerals, we ask what they are, where they're found and why they matter?

As countries scramble to secure supplies, we explore the rising geopolitical tensions shaping this fast-growing industry—including the Oval Office standoff between Presidents Trump and Zelensky over a landmark minerals deal.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Lexy O’Connor

(Image: Hands holding rock samples of critical minerals)

It’s been 10 years since Ireland made history by becoming the first country to legalise same-sex marriage through a public vote.

While other countries had legalised it, it was the first time a referendum had been held.

We hear from wedding planners, photographers and venues about how things have changed for them since the 2015 referendum.

As the overall number of marriages in Ireland decreases, the number of same-sex marriages is still increasing. We hear from same-sex couples who are now seen as prospective clients for this sector.

Produced and presented by Leanna Byrne

(Image: Alan Hatton and Darren Lawlor)

Six months on, we head back to the Spanish city to hear from residents and businesses.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

(Image: Floodwaters on the streets of Valencia, Spain, in October 2024. Homes, businesses, and public spaces were severely affected. Credit: Getty Images)

We're in Colombia where workers have been been shot at, threatened with violence and seen their work colleagues killed – all because of union membership or association.

Why is this happening, what’s being done about it, and what drives people to still sign up for trade union membership?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

(Image: Striking truck drivers in September 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Nuclear power is back in favour, as more countries across the world consider ways to cut carbon emissions to combat climate change.

Countries like China and Japan are planning to build more reactors, but should nations in Africa invest in renewable sources of generating electricity, like solar panels, wind turbines and geo-thermal power, instead of nuclear?

We examine how energy generated from nuclear fission has huge advance costs which would mean African governments finding loans from willing investors, but that might cede more economic influence to China or Russia.

We also hear how Amazon, Google and Microsoft are investing in nuclear power, using smaller modular reactors to run data storage centres in the United States, as demand for electricity is expected to surge when artificial intelligence is running at full capacity. Could the developing technology of SMRs prove useful in Africa?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

(Picture: The Koeberg nuclear power station, Cape Town, South Africa. Credit: Getty Images)

Dozens of new nuclear power projects are planned across the world, amid efforts to reduce the use of fossil fuels. But why build more reactors when renewable sources of generating electricity, like wind and solar might be cheaper?

We explore why countries are turning - or returning - to nuclear fission, notably Japan, which dealt with a meltdown at its Fukushima plant in 2011. And we look at how Germany’s decision to close all of its reactors has caused problems for the country’s economy.

We also learn how Amazon, Google and Microsoft are investing in nuclear power, with plans to use smaller modular reactors to run data storage centres in the United States, as demand for electricity is expected to surge when artificial intelligence is running at full capacity.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

(Pictures: A photo taken on November 6, 2024, shows the construction site of Units 7 and 8 of Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in Lianyungang, China. Credit: Getty Images)

As Portugal heads into its third general election in four years, immigration is proving to be a key issue. The famously welcoming country is facing a backlash from residents who are experiencing rising living costs and a lack of housing. Now the country is tightening its immigration rules – so what could the economic impact be?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Antonio Fernandes

(Image: A Portuguese flag flying over the capital, Lisbon. Credit: Getty Images)

From extra bags to choosing a seat, airline passengers are faced with an array of extras, for a fee.

And stricter limits for luggage in particular have turned 'compatible' suitcases and bags into big business.

From bag manufacturers, racing to design the next travel bag innovation, to the travel influencers building audiences by sharing money-saving packing hacks.

But what do passengers think about it all?

Presenter: Sam Gruet

Producer: Megan Lawton

(Image: A woman packing a suitcase. Credit: Getty Images)

The value of the US dollar has fallen in recent months.

Currencies rise and fall all the time, but since US President Donald Trump announced a raft of tariffs in early April, the drops have been sharp and dramatic.

The greenback, as the US dollar is known, has been the world’s main reserve currency since the end of World War Two.

But is this changing?

Produced and presented by Ijeoma Ndukwe

(Image: A hand holding US dollars. Credit: Getty Images)

The US president is flying in to Saudi Arabia for a high profile visit to the region.

It's his first official foreign trip in office - apart from a brief visit to Rome.

For Saudi Arabia, Trump's visit is about strengthening ties with their longest-standing Western ally - a relationship that grew strained during the Biden years.

For President Trump, it is about landing investment deals that can be framed as a win for his economic agenda. So can both sides get what they want?

Produced and presented by Sameer Hashmi

(Image: President Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pictured in 2019. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in the French winemaking region of Burgundy which last year sold 400 million dollars of wine to the United States. The US is the region’s biggest export market, but could import tariffs put paid to that?

On the other side of the Atlantic, you might think the winemakers of Oregon and California would be cracking open something special to celebrate. How is the prospect of American tariffs on European wine going down with the US competition?

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Picture: Vineyard worker, Élodie Bonet, in Burgundy, France.)

We're in Galicia, in Northern Spain, at the HQ of the global retailer Zara.

It's a rare glimpse behind the scenes of how they create the clothes for a brand that's one of the most successful stories in fast fashion.

But is Zara starting to lose its shine after posting slower sales growth at the start of this year? Mainstream rivals are trying to catch up and newer, online brands are disrupting the market.

Presenter: Emma Simpson Producer: Danielle Codd

(Picture: Inside one of the company's stores in South Korea. Credit: Inditex)

Mobile businesses - or businesses on four wheels - are growing in number. Seen as an affordable and flexible way to set up a venture, more of them are popping up all around the world and in all sorts of industries.

We head to rural France, pioneer territory for van-trepreneurs where now, food trucks, mobile pet grooming services and even mobile cinemas are thriving.

And we hear from guests in India and Kenya about how the trend has become global.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Picture: Alisson Zalazar in front of her beauty van in France.)

With tariffs of up to 145% on US imports from China, we take a look at how its playing out in the country.

China’s leaders are downplaying the potential impact of the trade war - we speak to Chinese exporters and economists to find out what’s really happening and whether the country’s economy is as resilient as senior officials are saying.

The impact is already being felt in factories - so will the US or China blink first?

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin

(Image: Employees work on a production line of caps that will be exported to the US at a factory in Suqian, in eastern China's Jiangsu province on 7 April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Millions of people in the country are struggling to find affordable homes. We’ll be looking at why rental costs have been rising so sharply.

We hear from some of those affected, and find out why they have been taking to the streets to air their grievances.

Plus – what are the solutions?

Produced and presented by Guy Hedgecoe

(Image: A woman is holding a placard saying "not for sale" in Spanish, as she takes part in a nationwide demonstration in favour of decent housing. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Málaga to protest against the housing crisis caused by rising rental prices, job insecurity, and mass tourism. Credit: Getty Images)

Raising a child is expensive - and in the US, families can pay more than their monthly rent to cover childcare and enable them to get back to work.

We find out why costs in the US are so high compared to the rest of the world.

We hear from parents who are struggling to make ends meet, and speak to providers who say they're operating in a difficult environment.

Produced and presented by Monica Miller

(Image: Children running through a daycare centre in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

Judy Faulkner started Epic in 1979 from a basement, with $70,000 in start-up money and two part-time assistants.

Now, the company has grown to become a global provider of healthcare technology - with more than half of the US population's medical information stored on its platform.

Judy shares how she built the company from the ground up, her insights on industry challenges, and the future of electronic medical records.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: Judy Faulkner speaking at the Forbes Health Care Summit in 2023. Credit: Getty Images)

Nearly a decade has passed since the Colombian government signed a peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, the Farc, the largest left-wing guerrilla group in Latin America. Thousands of Farc fighters came out of their jungle and mountain hideouts, handed in their weapons, and returned to civilian life.

The state has helped them reintegrate into the workforce, find jobs, and start businesses, so how has that process gone?

We talk to former members of the Farc who spent years in the guerrilla organisation and in jail, who are now doing jobs like beekeeping and selling beer. How have they found the transition? And we hear from a woman whose mother was kidnapped by the Farc, and who questions why the state is spending so much time and money on former members of a group that committed terrible atrocities.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

(Picture: View of bottles of craft beer made by former Farc rebels. Credit: Getty Images)

What gift did you open for your birthday this year? Were you gifted any toys?

Lots of adults were.

In fact, figures suggest that adults buying toys for themselves is keeping the toy market alive, driving nearly a third of global sales. But what’s behind shift? In this episode we meet the makers, the sellers and the buyers.

Produced by: Megan Lawton Presented by: Sam Gruet

(Image: A man playing with cars. Credit: Getty Images)

For thousands of years people have traded spices across continents, sharing recipes and wealth.

But what could happen to the modern spice industry if costly barriers to free trade are imposed?

As US President Donald Trump reaches 100 days in office, it is arguably his “reciprocal tariffs” that have caused the most upheaval in the US and global economies.

We speak to three people working in the North American spice import and processing sector to see how it's impacting them.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Hannah Bewley

(Image: Imported spices and seasoning at Phuoc Loc Tho Super Oriental Market in Florida. Credit: Getty Images)

We're in Chile, where it’s grape harvesting time and vineyard workers are busy cleaning their barrels to make way for new batches.

The South American country has more than a thousand different varieties of grapes, but it’s proving hard to reach a new generation of wine drinkers.

It’s not just young people drinking less. Around the world wine production is in decline. This is often due climate change causing extreme droughts which affects harvests.

How do wine-producing countries like Chile respond - and keep the industry thriving?

Presented and produced by Jane Chambers

(Image: Friends having fun and relaxing together drinking red wine during a rooftop party in New York East Village. New York is one of the key markets for new-style Chilean wine. Credit: Getty Images)

Even before there was talk of a trade war between the US and EU, Europe was on the economic backfoot.

But it wasn’t always the case.

In 2008, the EU was the world’s biggest economy - today, the US economy is $9.5 trillion bigger than the EUs.

So what has happened?

Presented and produced by Rob Young

(Image: An employee fixes the seat to a Volkswagen AG Tiguan on the production line at the Volkswagen factory in Wolfsburg, Germany. The company said in March 2025 that profits had fallen amid high costs and Chinese competition. Credit: Getty Images)

From filming 'day-in-the-life' videos, to capturing casual conversations in the office, some employees are no longer just working behind the scenes. They're stepping into the spotlight as the creative forces behind their company's social media content.

More businesses are moving away from paying for traditional social media influencers to market their brands, to asking their own staff to do it. Meet the 'workfluencers'.

This type of in-house marketing might serve as a useful recruitment tool, or help to humanise corporations while boosting engagement, but it carries risks for a business. And how honest can employees be in what they post? Should they be paid extra to do this sort of work?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

(Picture: Employees filming content for social media. Credit: Joe & the Juice)

Why are egg prices in the US so high? The price of a dozen eggs has risen dramatically this year, and in some stores, consumers face prices approaching the 10 dollar mark – five times the long-term average.

Meanwhile, breakfasts are booming for US hospitality but restaurants are also raising their prices.

In a country where the average citizen eats 280 eggs annually, is there an end in sight to the high cost of buying this household staple? Or is it time to look for an egg alternative?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Matt Lines

(Picture: Empty egg shelves and a sign limiting purchases to one carton per customer are seen at a grocery store in New York, United States on 16 April, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Consumer goods as well as fuel and cocoa are all crossing Ghana’s northern border illegally, and in large volumes.

It's costing the government billions of dollars in lost revenues.

Ed Butler looks at perhaps the biggest illegal trade - gold - Ghana’s number one cash export.

But even as the informal economy, unmonitored and untaxed, continues to grow, some are asking: isn’t there also a specific economic solution to the problem?

In the second of two programmes, based at the northern Ghanaian border with Burkina Faso, he finds out what some are suggesting could be done to change the criminals’ incentives.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler

(Image: Illegal gold mining in northern Ghana)

Consumer goods, fuel, gold and cocoa are all crossing the border illegally - it's costing the government billions of dollars - so can it be stopped?

Ed Butler travels to the northern Ghanaian border with Burkina Faso, and hears from cocoa smugglers who are operating in the region.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler

(Image: A livestock market in northern Ghana. Traders, including those pictured, told the BBC they believe some of the livestock is contraband)

Argentina, a country often associated with economic turbulence, is emerging as a frontrunner in agricultural biotechnology and home to a third of Latin America's start-ups.

From shrimp shells to super crops, we explore how a blend of scientific talent, venture capital and cutting-edge research is starting to transform farming - one of the country's most important sectors.

While Argentina is becoming a global player in this area, can this boom be sustained amid economic and political challenges in the country?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Natalio Cosoy

(Picture: Engineer Mario Nejamkin, and Claudia Casalongue, cofounder and scientific lead at agri-tech start-up Unibaio, standing in a potato field in Argentina. Credit: BBC)

The small country of Armenia in the South Caucasus has long been positioning itself as an emerging technology hub. Hundreds of tech start-ups with strong ties to the US market through the Armenian diaspora are now based there. From 2020 to 2022, investments in small Armenian tech companies reached $48 million.

The industry has been partly fuelled by the arrival of hundreds of Russian IT specialists following the invasion of Ukraine.

We hear how the government wants the IT sector to develop the economy, talk to tech start-up founders, and find out how tech education for children is being prioritised.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

(Picture: Staff in the offices of Doctor Yan, a health care assistant app in Armenia. Credit: BBC)

Presented and produced by Rayhan Demytrie

In India’s villages, innovation is being born from necessity.

From a fridge made of clay, to silk fashioned from lotus stems, to smart devices helping blind farmers manage their land, we meet the country’s grassroots innovators.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

(Picture: A lotus flower, on top of some fabric, next to a small handloom machine. Credit: BBC)

We’re in Helsinki where Europe’s biggest campus for startup companies is being built. What role could it play as Finland strives to create the continent’s most supportive environment for new businesses?

We’ll look at some of the challenges the country’s facing as it competes for global investment and tech talent.

And hear from Sweden - does it see Finland taking its start-up crown anytime soon?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Maddy Savage

(Picture: Turkish entrepreneur Lalin Keyvan, who's founded a startup in Finland. Credit: BBC)

Thousands of businesses have 'spun-out' from universities - so is this an opportunity for further growth?

The model has seen great success in the US, leading to booming commercial ventures such as Dropbox, iRobot, and Boston Dynamics.

And now the UK government has plans for further investment in spin-outs from Oxford and Cambridge.

But what evidence exists that this approach can be as effective in other parts of the world? And as global economies strive for growth, will there be competition for talent and investment?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick

(Image: Oxford University in the UK)

From noticing a gap in the market, to launching a start-up with her husband, CEO Julia Hartz tells us how she's built Eventbrite to become one of the biggest event ticketing platforms in the world, distributing 272 million tickets to more than 1.7 million global events in 2024. The online site enables users to buy tickets to all kinds of community gatherings; with almost one-million creators publishing get-togethers like, cooking classes, yoga sessions and cold-water plunging.

Julia shares how the company has dealt with challenging economic climates, the scourge of surge pricing, and how it's adapting to new ways of bringing the world together offline.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Picture: Julia Hartz. Credit: Getty Images)

Colombia has emerged as the world's second-biggest exporter of cut flowers, and the largest supplier to the United States.

Local growers suffered a scare this year when US president Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs of 50% on imports from Colombia. The dispute was quickly resolved but, even so, the threat of tariffs remains.

And the sector faces other challenges, particularly around sustainability. We visit a flower farm in Colombia and go to Bogota airport to see how the country exports this most delicate and perishable of goods.

We also talk to an academic who says the industry is changing rapidly, with an emphasis on growing flowers locally rather than flying them around the world.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

(Picture: A female employee handling roses at a flower farm, Flores de los Andes, near Bogotá, Colombia. Credit: BBC)

A shortage of workers is leading some retailers to forgo hiring altogether. The number of unmanned, or staff-less stores in South Korea has grown rapidly in recent years - from ice cream shops to bustling cafes and bars.

We explore how these unmanned stores operate and if they can offer a solution to the country’s demographic problems. Is this the answer for business to keep things running when there aren’t enough people to work?

Producer/presenter: David Cann

(Image: An unmanned bar in Seoul, South Korea)

The country is facing a labour shortage following decades of low birth rate and depopulation.

By the year 2032, it’s estimated South Korea will need more than 890,000 additional workers to maintain the country’s long term economic growth goal of 2%.

But with 95% of the country’s population identifying as ethnically Korean, the public opinion on immigration is mixed.

In the second of our three-part series looking at South Korea’s low birth rate and population decline, we ask if the immigration can fill the gap in labour, and what the challenges are.

Produced and presented by David Cann.

(Image: A worker from the Philippines holding a baby in South Korea. Credit: Getty Images)

South Korea has grappled with an unprecedented decline in birth rate over the past nine years.

However the latest figures show a slight rise in the number of babies born. Although the number remains low, the news is being welcomed with cautious optimism.

The increase follows years of pro-parent policies and heavy investment by the government and businesses.

In the first of our three-part series looking at South Korea’s low birth rate and population decline, we look into the efforts it took to achieve this turnaround, and find out how the number got so low in the first place.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by David Cann

(Image: A mum and child in South Korea. Credit: Getty Images)

In its 50th anniversary year, we chart Microsoft's history and look at where the tech giant is heading into the future.

It's one of the world's biggest companies - we get exclusive access to the Seattle HQ.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Imran Rahman-Jones, Georgina Hayes and Rumella Dasgupta

(Picture: A Microsoft sign is seen outside the company headquarters on July 3, 2024 in Redmond, Washington. Credit: Getty Images)

Two years ago, boxing was on the ropes.

Fans were fed up, and rival promoters were playing the blame game, as egos, finances and broadcaster commitments got in the way.

Now, it's all changed, largely thanks to investment from Saudi Arabia.

We head to the boxing ring to look at the revival of this global sport – and find out whether the Kingdom's increasing involvement in sport is being universally welcomed.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Matt Lines

(Image: Britain's Tyson Fury (red) and Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk (blue) compete during their heavyweight world championship rematch at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on December 22, 2024. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

More than 30 million pilgrims are expected to visit The Vatican city this year, to pass through the Holy Door at St Peter's Basilica, opened especially for 2025.

In the Italian capital Rome, which surrounds The Vatican, officials have been planning for years to accommodate the extra tourists, including major disruption for locals, but three months in business leaders are reporting that figures are down 15% on the previous year.

The city's hotel association says accommodation rates are being lowered in the hope it will encourage more non-Jubilee visitors who may have been put off travelling.

But other businesses are cashing in - we hear from faith based tourist groups around the world who say they are doubling their bookings to Rome.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: Faithful carry a wooden cross on Via della Conciliazione in Rome during the pilgrimage route to the Holy Door of St. Peter's basilica in the Vatican, as part of the Catholic Jubilee Year, on 22/02/25. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in Helsinki to find out why this small, cold, Nordic capital is spawning growing numbers of technologies designed to help countries protect and defend themselves against war.

We meet some of the Finnish defence tech and dual-use start ups attracting global interest, hear why these sorts of businesses have become more attractive for European investors, and dig into the challenges facing the sector.

Presented and produced by Maddy Savage

(Image: A Kelluu airship flying over snowy fields. Image credit: Kelluu)

Restrictions and government assistance varied, but for small business owners the challenges were similar.

Five years on, we hear from three entrepreneurs about their experiences - the manager of a tourism company in Tanzania, a bar owner in England, and a former gym owner in the US. What have they learnt? And has it changed the way the operate and make decisions?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Josh Martin

(Image: A coffee shop owner serves a customer in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

The CEO of the Italian luxury car maker tells Business Daily how his background in physics and electronics is helping him lead the company through unprecedented change, as the furious scream of high-powered petrol engines gradually gives way to the whisper of clean but quiet electric motors.

How can Ferrari stay relevant in a rapidly changing world?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Theo Leggett Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Picture: Benedetto Vigna, CEO of Ferrari, sitting in the company's Mayfair dealership in London, in front of a car. Credit: BBC)

We're in Greece to find out what challenges await the new IOC president Kirsty Coventry - the first woman and first African to hold the most powerful role in sport.

The IOC faces several challenges, including the issue of paying prize money to athletes, finding a host for the 2036 Summer games and climate change.

There are also questions around the future of boxing as an Olympic sport and securing future revenues with NBC's multi-billion dollar deal due to expire after the Brisbane games in 2032 and other sponsorship deals up for renewal.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Alex Capstick

(Image: Kirsty Coventry reacts as she delivers a speech after being elected as the new IOC President on Day Two of the 144th International Olympic Committee (IOC) Session on March 20, 2025 in Costa Navarino, Greece. Credit: Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)

Despite its growing popularity and its success as a global export, the industry is facing a number of challenges.

We found out how the South American country is adapting.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: Workers processing salmon. Credit: Multi Planta)

'Made in Canada': Words that are now a common sight on Canadian shelves, after Donald Trump's tariffs sparked a trade war with the country.

The US president has imposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Canada. Trump has also vowed to impose a sweeping range of "reciprocal" tariffs on 2 April.

North of the United States' border, the trade dispute has generated a wave of patriotism, with some consumers and businesses boycotting American products. But what impact has it had on business?

In this programme, we hear from the Canadian firms choosing to bring operations back to Canada and learn about the hurdles along the way.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

(Picture: An employee covers a stack of aluminum billets with plastic. Credit: Getty Images)

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stopping USAID projects worldwide, saying he wants overseas spending decisions to align with his election policy to "put America first".

USAID is the US government's main overseas aid agency and it administers humanitarian aid programmes on behalf of the US government.

It has bases in more than 60 countries and works in dozens of others. However, most of the work on the ground is carried out by other organisations that are contracted and funded by USAID.

The vast majority of projects have been abruptly halted. But what has this decision meant for the people who relied on them? From Kenya’s Lake Victoria to Nairobi’s slums, we explore the profound impact on lives, businesses, and livelihoods.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick

(Image: Little boy walking on railroad tracks with Kibera slum in the background. Nairobi, Kenya. Credit: Getty Images)

Sim Tshabalala is the CEO of one of Africa's largest banks, Standard Bank. In this edition of Business Daily, he tells Ed Butler about his journey from growing up under apartheid in South Africa, to be becoming a lawyer, then investment banker.

He discusses the risks of lending to companies; how the continent is improving its trade relationships; and what he thinks the future of Africa will look like.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

Additional material: Reuters/British Pathé

(Picture: Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank Group, speaks at Semafor's The Next 3 Billion Summit at The Pierre Hotel on September 24, 2024 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)

We hear from a Sri Lankan woman who was trafficked and forced to conduct illegal online activity, including cyber fraud against vulnerable victims.

Aneka Boram is one of thousands of people who've recently escaped from so-called scam centres. She talks about her captivity and describes the harsh punishments and conditions she was forced to work in.

The scam centres are offices inside Myanmar or Cambodia, where people have been forced to work scamming internet users from around the world.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

(Image: Aneka Boram)

Many prominent US companies have been pulling back on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

US President Donald Trump and his allies have regularly attacked DEI policies.

When he returned to the White House in January, President Trump ordered government agencies to eliminate such initiatives - and it appears some of the country's biggest corporations are following suit.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Hands holding "equality for all" cardboard sign". Credit: Getty Images)

Thousands of oil and gas rigs are becoming redundant around the world – and taking them out of service, known as decommissioning, is a multi-billion dollar business.

It’s also a complex operation beset by sometimes opposing interests. In this programme, we meet the makers of the world’s biggest ship - a machine at the cutting edge of rig removal, and the visit the port that can recycle over 95% of a rig. As concerns grow over delays to decommissioning in the North Sea and Gulf of Mexico, we look into whether enough progress is being made with removing old rigs around the world.

Produced and presented by Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Image: The Brent Bravo topside oil platform is transported on the barge ‘Iron Lady’ into the mouth of the River Tees on route to the Able UK Seaton Port site for decommissioning on June 20, 2019 in Teesport, England. Credit: Getty Images)

More than a year after a change in government, businesses are closing, unemployment is rising and workers are leaving for neighbouring Australia.

As New Zealand's recession continues, uncertainty remains.

So what is the government's plan? And could there be brighter times ahead?

Produced and presented by Alexander van Wel

(Image: Workers repairing the road in Auckland. Credit: Getty Images)

The international gaming giant has more than 80 million daily users, and is hugely popular with children.

It was started by Dave Baszucki and Erik Cassel, and Dave Baszucki is now CEO.

In his first ever BBC interview, he tells us about developing the game, the struggle to monetize it, and concerns over child safety - Mr Baszucki insists Roblox is vigilant in protecting its users.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producers: Georgina Hayes and Imran Rahman-Jones

Dr Joachim Nagel isn't just Germany's chief central banker, he's one of the most powerful economic policy-makers in Europe.

In this exclusive interview, he tells Business Daily how he thinks Germany, and the European Union as a whole, should be responding to a time of unprecedented economic peril.

It's a shaky time for the world's third-largest economy, which has been experiencing stagnant growth for five years. As a trade war between Europe and the US escalates, what does the future look like for Germany?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Analysis: Faisal Islam, BBC economics editor Producers: Olie D'Albertanson and Elisabeth Mahy

(Image: Joachim Nagel, president of Deutsche Bundesbank in Jan 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

The internet is where much of our modern cultural, societal and political history is stored, but as researchers are discovering, the internet has a big memory problem.

Without businesses paying to keep servers and archives up, more and more of our history online is disappearing forever.

We take a look at what this so called 'link rot' means for our collective understanding.

Produced and presented by Frey Lindsay

(Image: A man looking confused at his phone. Credit: Getty Images)

The south of France is among thousands of places around the world that now stage ultramarathons: extreme running events covering anything above 26.2 miles to more than 100. They often take place on challenging terrain and require considerable physical and mental resilience. And they've become big business.

To find out more, Business Daily went to the Nice Côte d'Azur 100-mile race to speak to runners and organisers about the popularity of these sorts of events, and how they make money.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Picture: Woman and man running in a forest in the dark. Credit: Getty Images)

An hour’s drive north of Buenos Aires is Pilar, a municipality that houses the largest industrial park in Argentina, as well as a population of 400,000.

Some rich and middle class Argentines live in its many gated communities, but Pilar has a poverty rate of almost 60% - well above the national figure.

We speak to residents and businesses about libertarian President Javier Milei's first year in office.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Natalio Cosoy

(Picture: Argentina's President Javier Milei looks on during the inauguration of the 143rd ordinary session of Congress at the National Congress in Buenos Aires on March 1, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

We speak to three businesswomen working in traditionally male-dominated sectors.

Anna Mareschi Danieli from the Italian-based global steel company Danieli group. Caroll Masevhe, founder of a women-only construction business - Kapcor construction, in Johannesburg; and Patty Eid from Petrofac, a leader in the Middle East’s oil and gas industry.

Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick

(Image: L-R, Caroll Masevhe Patty Eid, Anna Mareschi Danieli)

Unlike 'mega-influencers' with huge audiences on social media, 'micro' and 'nano-influencers' have far fewer followers. But small can be mighty in this business. These lower-profile influencers have anywhere between 250 and 10,000 followers, but businesses are increasingly turning to more niche, content creators in a bid to get more authentic engagement. We hear how they're redefining the way brands are connecting with consumers. Micro-influencers Kadide Francy, in Kenya, and Jerlyn De Silva, in India, reveal what kind of money they make from these collaborations. And East African Brewery marketing manager, Kanye Kiuru, tells us how using these kinds of influencers led to a hugely successful marketing campaign for the company.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

(Picture: Kadide Francy, a lifestyle micro-influencer in Kenya. Credit: Kadide Francy)

The fruit is a beloved staple of the African country's cuisine, and a key export.

But is there a missed opportunity when it comes to Ugandan matoke, or bananas?

We speak to entrepreneurs who are making banana wine, fertilizers and hair extensions - adding value for local and international markets.

Produced and presented by Zawadi Mudibo

(Image: A man drives a motorcycle carrying matoke in Kampala, Uganda in June 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

For most people travelling abroad by plane, the airport experience can feel fairly nondescript - something to be endured rather than enjoyed. But for those with certain credit cards, a luxury experience awaits.

Around the world, card issuers are spending large amounts of money building high-end lounges in airports and prime city centre locations, in a bid to attract and keep customers. And their attempts are getting more and more extravagant.

But who’s paying for all of this?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Rowan Bridge

(Picture: Dining area at the American Express Centurion New York restaurant in New York, US, occupying the 55th floor of the One Vanderbilt skyscraper. Credit: Getty Images/Bloomberg)

We hear from businesses in California, Fiji and the UK that have been hit hard by natural disasters like floods, wildfires and extreme storms - followed by rising insurance premiums - or companies refusing to insure them at all.

An alternative type of cover, parametric insurance, is being offered as a way of giving people some cover. But does it work for everyone?

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Lexy O'Connor

(Image: A view of flash flood in Daddu district southern Sindh province, Pakistan, on September 07, 2022. Credit: Farhan Khan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

We’re in Budapest to find out how Hungary – once a satellite state of the Soviet Union – is now one of the world’s top film destinations, with movie-makers seduced by the central European country's generous tax breaks and incentives.

Academy Award nominees this year, The Brutalist and Dune 2, were filmed here – plus 2024 Oscar winner, Poor Things.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Wayne Wright

(Picture: Actors perform a scene of the movie "Hunyadi" (Rise of the Raven) during the opening ceremony of Hungary's National Film Institute's new studio complex in Fot, close to the capital Budapest, during the complex's inauguration on January 30, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

this edition was edited on 28 February 2025

Pokémon started as a hugely successful game for Nintendo’s Gameboy nearly 30 years ago. Since then, it's become a billion-dollar global media brand.

Despite the firm's huge revenue, the Pokémon Company remains private. The firm doesn’t release its historical earnings figures, but some analysts estimate it has sold up to $150 billion worth of products, making it the world’s highest grossing media franchise.

Mariko Oi speaks to Pokémon Company president, Tsunekazu Ishihara, about the firm's successes over the years, and the challenges it faces - like counterfeits and the resale market.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Mariko Oi

(Picture: Pokemon CEO Tsunekazu Ishihara welcomes guests during the 2022 Pokémon World Championships at ExCel, London, UK. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at how to rescue brands on the brink.

We hear inspired sloganeering and learn about the audacious marketing that have helped companies – even towns and cities – to turn their reputations around.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: David Reid

(Photo: A businessman covers his eyes and extends his arm to prevent a series of heavy walls from falling on him. Credit: Getty Images)

The outsourcing sector in the Philippines has seen significant growth, positioning itself as a global leader. However, the rise of AI technologies is reshaping the job landscape, potentially displacing traditional roles.

In the second part of our series looking at the Philippine economy, Sam Fenwick investigates how the government is adapting to the change by investing in infrastructure and promoting foreign investment.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Produced/presenter: Sam Fenwick Additional reporting: Camille Elemia

(Picture: Customer agents sit behind computers on the AI training in Taguig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Credit: Getty Images)

The estimated 2.3 million Filipino overseas workers form the economic backbone of their nation. The remittances they send home are vital; sustaining household incomes, driving consumer spending, supporting community development, and ensuring national economic stability - contributing 8.5% to GDP.

In the first of our two-part series looking at the Philippine economy, Sam Fenwick meets overseas workers who send money home and those who have returned to set up businesses.

If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick

(Picture: Angel Kho, a head chef, in the kitchen of a care home in the UK. Credit: BBC)