Business Daily

Iran’s economy is under strain from war, long-standing sanctions and a nationwide internet shutdown.

We hear from people inside the country, and ask how much damage has been done, and how recovery could begin.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: An Iranian man reads a copy of the Iranian daily newspaper Jame Jam with the headline 'Sea Bluff' outside a kiosk in Tehran, Iran, on the 13th of April 2026, as the conflict between Iran and the US over the Strait of Hormuz continues. Credit: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA/Shutterstock)

Today - a Dutch fishing village that could be wiped off the map to make room for a mega‑energy hub.

We visit Moerdijk, to meet families, eel‑smokers and shopkeepers. What does their fight tell us about the quiet dilemmas in the global race for clean energy?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Anna Holligan

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: View of some boats in Moerdijk, Netherlands.)

When the Samsung Chairman has a heart attack, his heir is pushed into the spotlight. The complex manoeuvring to secure his succession re-opens old family wounds, prompts one of the biggest scandals in South Korea’s history, and – eventually – helps to bring down a President.

Everyone’s heard of Samsung: more than a billion people have one of their smartphones . This is the drama behind the tech giant that changed the world.

From a fruit and vegetable store to a global empire, Samsung’s story is more than business—it’s an epic family saga. Behind the success lies a dynasty driven by ambition, wealth, tradition and rivalries, where power struggles shaped not just the company but South Korea’s economy.

In this brand-new 10-part series from the BBC World Service, we take you behind closed doors- inside the billion-dollar deals and the family power struggles that shape global empires. When your relatives are also your business partners, every decision is personal. In these dynasties, the boardroom isn’t just about profit - it’s about survival.

You can hear episode 1 right here but for the whole series search "Inheritance: Samsung" wherever you get your podcasts.

Host: Elise Hu

Producers: Simon Tulett and Sally Abrahams

Fact-checkers: Matt Toulson and Su-Min Hwang

Music: Thomas Ross Fitzsimons

Mixing and sound design: Charlie Brandon-King.

Series Editor: Matt Willis

With special thanks to Geoffrey Cain, Sojin Lim, Jaeyeon Lee, Jake Kwon and, also, Mary Wilkinson.

Senior Commissioning Producer: Sarah Green

Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Inheritance is a BBC Long Form Audio Production

We meet Alexander Rinke, the co-CEO and co-founder of Celonis, a billion-dollar company that started life as a university project between three friends.

We learn how the Munich-based company raised capital like a Silicon Valley startup without ever having to go to Silicon Valley. And we hear how its pioneering "process intelligence" idea, which he likens to "x-raying" a business, is used by some of the biggest companies in the world - and even the beer industry.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producers: Luke Jarmyn and Craig Henderson

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: CEO of Celonis, Alexander Rinke. Credit: Celonis)

Conflict in the Middle East has sent shockwaves through the global food system. Even with signs of a ceasefire, the impact may not be over.

Disruption to fertiliser supplies, combined with rising energy and shipping costs, is pushing up the price of growing food around the world.

Farmers are facing tough choices over how much to plant and how much to spend, while global markets aren’t always keeping pace with those rising costs.

For now, there is enough food and shelves remain stocked. But even if tensions ease, experts warn the real impact could come later this year and into the next, with higher food prices and growing pressure on the most vulnerable countries.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: A woman seen shopping for meat at a supermarket in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Getty Images)

Anthropic’s rise from startup to one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence has been staggering, but so in recent weeks has been its row with the US Government.

Today, we look at that journey to becoming a 380 billion dollar company, ask why Claude has become one of the hottest names in AI, and question whether its fall out with the Pentagon over how its software is used in war could stifle its phenomenal growth.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: The Anthropic logo is displayed on a smartphone screen in this photo illustration in Brussels, Belgium, on the 31st of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

Headspace started life as a mindfulness app. Now it's partnering with the US Navy and investing in artificial intelligence for mental health support.

The company's CEO Tom Pickett speaks to us about therapy, the increasing role of technology, and tackling burnout at scale.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: CEO of Headspace, Tom Pickett. Credit: Headspace)

Highly exposed to volatile fossil fuel prices and intensifying climate change, island nations around the world are starting to ask: could they make a fortune from the gusty seas that surround them?

Advances in offshore wind technology are prompting island communities to consider whether they can become energy independent - or even electricity exporters.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Tyler Dunn

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Offshore wind farm on the edge of an island. Credit: Getty Images)

We hear from a founder who taught himself how to code as a child, set up several businesses, and now with his drone delivery firm Manna Air Delivery - one of the largest in Europe - is trying to challenge aviation regulations around the world. Serial entrepreneur Bobby Healy talks about how being from a poor background helped him build a leading company, which is now becoming a major global player, and why, even as a busy CEO, he still loves writing computer code into the early hours.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sarah Rogers Producers: Niamh McDermott and Jay Behrouzi Sound mix: Nathaniel Danter

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Bobby Healy next to a drone. Credit: Bobby Healy)

We look at the fallout from the recent court case which found Meta and Google liable for harming the mental health of one their young users and deliberately making their platforms addictive.

Some have suggested this is “a tobacco moment” for Big Tech – comparable to the time when cigarette companies were forced to acknowledge that their products were harmful.

We ask if social media companies should be brought into line, and if they can be. And if reforms are agreed, what would a responsible social media landscape look like?

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Gideon Long Producer: Josh Martin

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Left to right, Victims families and supporters Shelby Knox, Amy Neville, Mary Rodee, Laura Marquez-Garrett, Sarah Gardner, and Lennon Torres react to the verdict outside the Los Angeles Superior Court on the 25th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore the growing industry built around the legacies of celebrities after their deaths. We hear from estate managers, the agents representing the deceased and from those reviving these stars in a market the ethics of which are still being debated.

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sean Allsop

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: The premiere of "EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert" on the 9th of February 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. Credit: Getty Images)

We hear from a man who was once a high-earning, high flyer in the finance industry. But, after he blew the whistle on a major financial scandal, he found himself unemployable and being sued for every cent he owned. Jas Bains tells us his story.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Theo Leggett

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Photo: Jas Bains at the height of his career. Credit: Jas Bains)

For nearly 12 months, a raft of import duties - tariffs - have made it much more expensive to ship consumer goods into the United States. They have shaken up global trade and according to the Federal Reserve, significantly raised inflation. But who is really footing the bill for all of them?

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Craig Henderson

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Photo: US President Donald Trump delivers remarks on reciprocal tariffs as US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick holds a chart during a Make America Wealthy Again event at the White House, Washington DC, 2 April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

We meet the founder of Hero Cosmetics, the brand behind Mighty Patch, a skin patch that's designed to improve the appearance of acne. Patches like these have become increasingly mainstream.

We hear how Ju Rhyu went from being jobless during two recessions to creating a global, best-selling product. And we learn why she prefers being an employee now, rather than the boss.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermott

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Ju Rhyu, founder of Hero Cosmetics. Credit: Ju Rhyu)

With a state of emergency in the Philippines and a series of four-day working weeks and fuel rationing across many countries, the global energy crisis caused by the war in Iran is wreaking havoc on Asia's economies.

We look at why the continent seems so exposed, and what governments and businesses are doing in response, with some extreme steps being taken including four-day weeks and the ditching of office attire.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Josh Martin Additional production: Tran Vo in Bangkok Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Employees of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) queue at lobby elevators at office headquarters in Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines. Following a directive from Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., government offices began implementing an interim four-day on-site working week scheme as part of energy conservation efforts. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Last year, around 4000 federal officers were deployed in Minneapolis in a major immigration crackdown.

Local firms say the resulting upheaval and protests didn’t just disrupt local people’s lives, they also damaged the economy. But has the anti-immigration drive had a similar impact across the US?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Masked federal agents wearing a Police ICE jacket, stand in a hallway at the New York Federal Plaza Immigration Court inside the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building in New York on the 17th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore the potential and the challenges for Arctic shipping. As global warming causes sea ice to retreat, passages are opening up through this vast frozen Arctic Ocean. We explore what these routes are, who’s using them, and examine the players with big ambitions to develop these shipping shortcuts.

We also take a closer look at the realities of operating in extreme conditions so far north, asking if the rewards really outweigh the risks?

And we hear from local Arctic leaders, concerned about the growing shipping traffic. Might the global trade map really be redrawn?

To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Adrienne Murray

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Arctic ship leaving Tasiilaq in Greenland after having unloaded at the docks in the harbour. Credit: Getty Images)

Cuba is in the grip of a deep economic crisis. The country’s communist government says it will open up the struggling economy to greater private investment in an effort to tackle it. But will these reforms be enough? And can they happen quickly enough to slow the record number of Cubans leaving the country in search of a better life abroad?

If you'd like to get in the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Craig Henderson

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: A man rides a tricycle at a corner of Havana during a blackout on the 16th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

We meet Chika Madubuko, the founder and CEO of Greymate Care, an online platform that connects people that need support with professional caregivers in Nigeria. It’s a business that was born in 2016 after her family struggled to find a trustworthy carer for her grandmother.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Ahmed Adan and Niamh McDermott

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Chika Madubuko. Credit: Chika Madubuko)

As the world faces another energy crisis, what can past shocks teach us?

We look back at earlier oil crises to understand how conflict has disrupted global supply - and what that means for markets today.

We hear from a former boss of one of the world’s biggest oil companies, BP, on the challenges the business faced when Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait.

And as many of us are now facing rising prices at the pumps, we explore how reliant we’ve become on oil and whether it’s possible to reduce our dependence on it anytime soon.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: Rebecca Smyllie and Josh Martin

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Plumes of smoke rise over the oil depot tanks hit by joint Israel-US overnight in a station north west of the Iranian capital, Tehran, the 8th of March 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

If you’re living thousands of miles from home, how do you keep in touch, especially when your loved ones don’t have reliable internet?

There’s a growing market across Africa and beyond for apps helping to cut the costs of international calls to older phones. And some operators have much grander ambitions.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Matthew Kenyon

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Oluseyi Akinnibosun, Nigerian entrepreneur and app developer who's living in the Netherlands, about to make a call.)

Germany is in the throes of a demographic crisis, in which there are not enough young people entering the labour market to replace those who are retiring.

There is an annual net loss of 400,000 to the workforce and the shortage is particularly acute in many of the traditional craft industries.

One solution appears to lie overseas and in particular, India. We hear from young Indians who have signed up for apprenticeships in a range of industries in Germany’s south-west, close to the border with Switzerland.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Tim Mansel

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Ajay Kumar Chandapaka, an apprentice mechanic from India at Dold Spedition, a haulage firm in Buchenbach in the Black Forest in Germany.)

We look at what China’s latest “Two Sessions” reveal about the direction of the world’s second-largest economy.

With Beijing setting its lowest GDP growth target since 1991, the focus appears to be shifting from rapid expansion to stability in an increasingly uncertain global economy. We explore what that means for businesses, investors and young people trying to find work in China today.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Chinese President Xi Jinping, centre right, and Premier Li Qiang, centre left, arrive at the closing session of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People on the 12th of March 2026 in Beijing, China. Credit: Getty Images)

We meet the founder of one of India’s largest private aviation companies who overcame several life challenges before starting the business.

After doctors initially told her she had months to live, Indian entrepreneur Kanika Tekriwal went on to build JetSetGo, one of the country’s largest private aviation marketplaces. She talks about overcoming illness, sexism and family opposition to launch her company.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: Amber Mehmood, Ahmed Adan and Niamh McDermott

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Kanika Tekriwal, founder of JetSetGo. Credit: Kanika Tekriwal)

Ever since the US and Israel began their war against Iran, economies around the world have been coping with the impacts of energy prices and food security.

South Korea has introduced an energy price cap, universities have closed in Bangladesh and India has been granted access to sanctioned Russian oil to ease pressures.

We hear where is being impacted the most and how quickly, and if this will see the world move away from its reliance on imports.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: Matt Lines and Sarah Rogers Additional reporting: Sarah Rogers

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Motorists wait in line to purchase fuel at a petrol station in the Mohammadpur area of Dhaka, Bangladesh, amid concerns over global oil supply disruptions linked to escalating tensions in the Middle East. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at the rising threat of kidnap for ransom. In West Africa, it's a growing criminal industry.

But how should any of us respond if or when the worst happens to us and a loved one is taken?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.

(Picture: Security officers stand guard next to a bus carrying freed worshippers at the Government House in Kaduna on the 5th of February 2026. More than 160 Christian worshippers were initially feared kidnapped during coordinated attacks on three churches in Kurmin Wali, Kajuru area, on the 18th of January. Credit: Getty Images)

From humble beginnings in England in the 12th century, to landmark civil rights court cases in the US in the 1960s, class actions are now rarely out of the headlines.

They’re a means of bringing together large groups of people – sometimes millions – under the umbrella of a collective claim for damages.

Their popularity has spread from the US back to Europe and beyond, which is becoming a concern for businesses fearful of finding themselves in multi-million-dollar litigation cases. Now, there are growing calls for legislation to curb their rise.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Craig Henderson

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: High angle view of lawyers researching at a table in a board room. Credit: Getty Images)

250 years ago, on the 9th of March 1776, a book was published that didn’t just explain the economy, it changed it. The Wealth of Nations, written by "the father of economics" Adam Smith, sparked debates that still rage today, shaping everything from global trade to how much you earn.

Rob Young looks at an original copy from 1776, assesses Smith's importance, and speak to economists about the state of Adam Smith's free market today.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rob Young Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the boom in weight-loss drugs, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: A first edition of The Wealth of Nations, in two leather bound volumes, with gold lettering on the spine.)

Rahul Tandon talks to a man whose family chocolate business – founded by his father in Syria in the 1980s - was destroyed by war. His family was ripped apart and he had to flee, via a refugee camp in Lebanon, to Canada where he resettled and re-launched the business.

Today, it’s thriving, enjoying global sales. The company is called Peace by Chocolate, and our guest, Tareq Hadhad, is its founder and CEO.

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Ahmed Adan

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the boom in weight-loss drugs, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Tareq Hadhad. Credit: Tareq Hadhad)

From Hollywood adverts fronted by Idris Elba to glittering skylines and global events, Gulf countries have spent decades pitching themselves as stable hubs for international investment.

But as conflict spreads across the Middle East, investors are watching the region more closely.

In this edition of Business Daily, Sam Fenwick investigates whether the Gulf’s carefully built reputation for stability can hold — and what rising geopolitical tensions could mean for foreign investment, business confidence and the region’s economic ambitions.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producers: Sarah Rogers, Gideon Long, David Cann and Rebecca Smylie

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the AI boom, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: A green motorway sign points the way to Dubai as smoke rises in the background. Credit: Getty Images)

In the final episode of our series on the weight-loss drug boom, we explore how the global surge in demand for obesity medications could be reshaping the business landscape. From established companies rethinking their business models, to start-ups seeking to capitalise on shifting consumer habits, the ripple effects are already being felt across several industries.

We also examine what the future may hold for the weight-loss market and the wider economy, as this sector continues to grow and evolve.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Hannah Mullane

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the AI boom, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: Close-up of a woman's hand shopping for yoghurt along the dairy aisle in supermarket, reading the nutrition label on the pot. Credit: Getty Images)

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are reshaping the treatment of obesity around the world. But even when these medicines are judged “cost-effective”, access often depends on who can afford to pay. In the second episode of our Business Daily series on the global weight-loss economy, Sam Fenwick examines how different countries are funding — or rationing — access to these high-priced injections. In England, the state's National Health System says the drugs offer good value for money, and yet rollout is being phased in slowly because of cost and capacity pressures. In the United Arab Emirates, most patients rely on private insurance or pay out of their own pockets. And in India, where obesity is rising fast, affordability remains a major barrier, although lower-cost generics may soon change that. If these medicines can prevent diabetes, heart attacks and strokes, they might save health systems money in the long run. But right now, governments, insurers and patients are grappling with the same question: Can we afford the weight-loss revolution?

Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick

If you’d like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small start-up stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: A man gets his waist measured. Credit: Getty Images)

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro are reshaping the treatment of obesity — and transforming the global pharmaceutical market.

Originally developed to treat type-2 diabetes, these injectable medicines — including semaglutide and tirzepatide — are now widely prescribed for weight loss, with growing evidence they can also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

But in the United States, access to GLP-1 drugs often depends on insurance coverage — and on who can afford to pay.

In this first episode of a three-part Business Daily series on the global weight-loss economy, Sam Fenwick examines the real cost of obesity drugs in the U.S. healthcare system.

How much do GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro actually cost? Are they cost-effective in the long term? And can insurers and employers afford to provide them to millions of Americans living with obesity?

If you’d like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs.These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Person standing on weighing scales. Credit: Press Association)

Today - from a teenage DIY invention, to US national TV, to changing legislation, and now global sales. What started as a way to protect a friend who’d been drugged at a college bar became a product made from an old hair scrunchie and her mum’s stockings.

Shirah Benarde tells us how she set up NightCap, a business that’s grown from a bedroom prototype, to securing investment on the Shark Tank show in the US, to a global safety brand in just a few years.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Ahmed Adan

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the AI boom, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Founder of NightCap, Shirah Benarde. Credit: Shirah Benarde)

Today, we’re looking at a wooden house revolution that's happening in Europe. Concrete’s carbon footprint is turning architects and construction companies towards trees.

In Portugal, a rush of new residents to the sparsely populated rural areas – and a lack of builders – is driving the flat-pack and modular wooden house market. Many of these rural plots often have a ruined, abandoned house on them, creating opportunities for faster construction.

We also meet an architect who has dedicated his life to building in wood, championing a material he believes is key to more sustainable design.

If you’d like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Alastair Leithead

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, CEO of Canva Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: Wooden modular house. Credit: Getty Images)

The use of electronic travel authorisations or ETAs is growing worldwide. Dozens of countries have brought them in, or are bringing them in this year, but many passengers are forgetting to complete them - and missing flights. It is costing customers and business big money to re-book. We hear the arguments for and against the new digital border checks and how to navigate the changes.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter/producer: Rick Kelsey

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Canva CEO Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: A cheerful toddler sits on top of a suitcase, enjoying a playful moment with her father at the airport. Credit: Getty Images)

India is home to more than a billion people. For decades, many families lived with uncertainty around food, water and work. Even as incomes rise and the economy grows, for many people the fear of not having enough remains.

It's called 'scarcity mindset'. We find out how it impacts daily lives.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, Canva CEO Melanie Perkins, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: A person's hand holding a brown leather wallet filled with Indian Rupee currency bills. Credit: Getty Images)

Fraudsters are increasingly using deepfake videos of CEOs and other company executives to trick firms out of millions of dollars. And with the evolution of AI, these videos are becoming ever-more sophisticated and convincing.

We speak to two CEOs who have been deepfaked: the head of the Bombay stock exchange and the boss of password security company LastPass. And we hear how criminals used deepfake videos to trick British engineering firm Arup into handing over $25 million.

How easy is it to make these videos? Ed Butler visits a cybersecurity company which shows him how it can be done, using readily available software. Ed's hosts make a deepfake of him and we compare the real Ed to the fake Ed. We also put figures on the size of this problem and explain how much it's costing businesses.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Gideon Long Sound Mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: An image of a man in a cap being deepfaked. Credit: Getty Images)

We meet Melanie Perkins, the CEO and co-founder of graphic design platform Canva, which has hundreds of millions of users and a valuation of nearly $40 billion.

Despite her immense wealth, Melanie Perkins says the label “billionaire” has never felt quite right. Instead, she plans to give away most of her fortune during her lifetime. She also tells us why she believes young people should be educated differently to adapt to the growth of AI.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Zoe Kleinman Producer: Philippa Wain Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders - like Melanie Perkins - and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Melanie Perkins speaking at a conference in 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

In just a few months, the country has signed or advanced several major trade deals with other nations.

Is it a reflection of the growing size of the Indian economy - it is on course to become the third largest in the world - or it is because of a global economic realignment due to US President Donald Trump's tariff policies?

And is India ready to open its markets to foreign competition, or is there a danger that it will lead to job losses in some sectors?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa and President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen in Hyderabad House, New Delhi, India on the 27th of January 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in France, where traditional eateries, bistros, and brasseries, once a huge part of the economy, as well as the culture of the country, are disappearing fast.

A few years ago, if you drove through France, you’d come across dozens of little restaurants. Now, in many small towns, you’ll only find a boulangerie and a takeaway. Restaurants serving traditional French food like steak and chips or coq au vin are closing at a rate of about 25 a day. The main problem: they’ve become too expensive.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by John Laurenson Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Tables and chairs in a village square in Provence, France. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in Toronto in Canada, North America's second-biggest financial centre after New York, where so-called ethical investing has become big business, with many investors choosing funds they believe are better for people and the planet. But amid growing concerns about misleading environmental claims, it can be hard to know what’s genuinely ethical and what’s just clever marketing.

We explore how politics is reshaping corporate commitments and hear from campaigners and regulators working to crack down on financial greenwashing.

If you wouild like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: Sustainability consultant Lindsay Hampson works with companies around the world, helping them navigate ESG frameworks. Credit: Jon Evans)

We go right to the cutting edge of food production and glimpse into the future of farming.

Farmers are increasingly using artificial intelligence-powered machines to try to maximise their crops and reduce their spiralling costs.

We speak to farmers, those behind the AI systems, and hear concerns about the growing use of automation in agriculture.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Rob Young

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Farmer inspects humidity of sunflower crops with AI driven software on laptop at dusk. Credit: Getty Images)

Jennifer Riria grew up in a rural village in Kenya, juggled motherhood and university studies in her late teens, and ended up running one of the biggest microfinance institutions for women in Africa, which allows women to access loans for their businesses. The entrepreneur pioneered giving small loans to women at a time when they were not allowed to get finance. We hear about her story in life and in business.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Ahmed Adan and Amber Mehmood Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders - like Jennifer Riria - and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: Jennifer Riria.)

Six weeks after the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela appears to be shifting its economic strategy.

The government is reopening its crucial oil industry to foreign investment and redirecting oil exports back toward the United States.

Presenter Rahul Tandon is joined by producer Gideon Long, who spent five years reporting from Venezuela, to examine the changes introduced since Maduro’s capture and explore what further steps may be required to persuade international companies to return and invest. They also consider whether Venezuela can reduce its reliance on oil and develop a more diversified, resilient economy.

We hear voices from inside and outside the country, including acting president of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, as well as US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenters: Rahul Tandon and Gideon Long Produced by Gideon Long and Elisabeth Mahy

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: A man on a motorcycle transports water bottles past pumpjacks, beside deteriorating oil infrastructure on the shores of Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela. Credit: Reuters)

Biohackers say they're making their bodies and brains run better by hacking their biology. And it's not just kitchen counter experimentation anymore. There's now an entire industry promising to optimise you with supplements, treatments and increasingly strange gadgets.

Are these expensive, unproven “hacks” worth the investment?

To get in touch with the team, send an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury and Midtown Biohack owner Chuck Morris, standing over a client trying out a red light therapy headset.)

Sri Lanka: a country long loved and marketed as a tropical paradise is reeling after Cyclone Ditwah, which hit the island nation last November.

The storm left a third of the island in ruins. Hundreds of lives were lost, homes were destroyed, and hundreds of thousands of people were displaced. The country's President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has called it the country's worst-ever economic disaster. Can it recover?

We hear from citizens and businesses affected by the latest disaster to hit a country that has already endured so many setbacks.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Vishala Sri-Pathma

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Photo: An aerial view of Warsaw, Poland, including modern skyscrapers. Credit: Getty Images)

Poland’s economy is expected to be the fastest-growing in Europe this year according to the European Union, with the spending power of its average worker on course to overtake that of Japan.

So how, three and a half decades after the fall of communism, has it become a case study of capitalism?

We hear from some of the country's biggest companies on that increased consumer power, their ambitions to take on the world with international expansion, and ask what hurdles lie in the way for what one economist calls "Europe's growth champion."

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Will Bain

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Starbucks, Brian Niccol.

(Picture: An aerial view of Warsaw, Poland, including modern skyscrapers. Credit: Getty Images)

In our first edition of Meet the Founders, we meet Luana Lopes Lara, creator of Kalshi, a prediction markets startup that allows users to trade on the outcome of real-world events - from inflation and interest rates to elections and geopolitics.

Kalshi drew attention for showing Zohran Mamdani as a favourite in the NYC mayoral race, as prediction markets gain traction as political barometers. But the wider industry has also faced scrutiny: a trader on rival platform Polymarket reportedly made nearly half a million dollars betting on the capture of Venezuela’s former president Nicolás Maduro before it was announced.

The controversy around prediction markets has placed Lopes Lara and her company at the centre of a growing regulatory and ethical debate in the US. In this episode, the Brazilian founder explains how the discipline and resilience of ballet has shaped her approach to building a business, and why she believes markets can often forecast the future better than experts.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Mehmood Sound mix: Toby James

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders - like Luana Lopes Lara - and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Luana Lara Lopes, founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kalshi.)

As Japanese people prepare to head to the polls, economic concerns are back at the centre of public life.

We explore how inflation, wages, demographics and geopolitics are shaping expectations, and whether the country can finally move beyond the "lost decades".

To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Office workers cross a road near Tokyo station in Tokyo, Japan, on the second of December 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The Spanish government has announced plans to legalise the status of half a million undocumented migrants. Many arrive with student or tourist visas but overstay and start working on the black market.

Migration is a polarising issue in western Europe, so why is Spain keen to hurry up the process of regularisation? One reason is that Spain’s economy has been outstripping its European Union partners. In 2024 the economy grew by 3.5% but in sectors that struggle to recruit enough workers, so Spain wants its migrant population to work in a legal way to keep its economic momentum going.

We meet some of the people the Spanish government wants to give legal status to and speak to organisations that are helping them to work legally.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, you can send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Photo: View of Madrid city skyline from a sky bar terrace where people are gathered. Credit: Getty Images)

As governments cut back on how much they spend on global aid, the head of the Gates Foundation Mark Suzman speaks exclusively to Business Daily about how the world’s poorest are being affected.

He tells us world governments “should be embarrassed” that the Foundation has overtaken them to become the largest financial backer of the WHO.

When governments reduce their air spend, the organisation inevitably becomes more prominent. But is there too much reliance on the Gates Foundation globally for an institution with little democratic accountability? And are its priorities the right ones?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt Lines

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Photo: Gates Foundation CEO Mark Suzman speaking at an event in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)

It’s probably the world’s best-known coffee chain but just over a year ago, business wasn’t doing well. Sales had slipped, customers were drifting away and the buzz had gone.

Newly-arrived CEO Brian Niccol was handed a tough task: stop the fall and make the coffee shops somewhere people wanted to return to.

In an interview with our North America business correspondent Michelle Fleury, he explains why customers are returning and seem to be giving the company another shot.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producers: John Mervin and Justin Bones

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and billionaire founder Judy Faulkner of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers.

(Picture: Brian Niccol, CEO of Starbucks, sitting in one of the company's coffee shops in downtown New York.)

From the deserts of Tunisia to the boardrooms of global tech giants, we meet Karim Beguir, the mathematician who turned two laptops and 2000 dollars into Africa’s biggest AI firm.

We hear how his company, Instadeep, caught the attention of Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and how it helped to track dangerous new variants in the Covid pandemic using large language models.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producers: Niamh McDermott and Hannah Mullane

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the billionaire founder of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers, Judy Faulkner.

(Picture: CEO of Instadeep, Karim Beguir, at a photoshoot in Paris in 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

We lift the curtain on how everyone from toothpaste brands to the United Nations is using science to influence your choices in ways you’re probably not aware of. Behavioural science has even made its way into TV drama.

How does it work? And why is it so effective?

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Rowan Bridge

Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.

Each episode is a 17-minute deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.

Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, why bond markets are so powerful, China's property bubble, and Gen Z's experience of the current job market.

We also speak to some of the world's most influential business leaders. These interviews include the CEO of Google Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the billionaire founder of Epic Systems, one of the world's largest medical record software providers, Judy Faulkner.

(Picture: The hand of a woman about to cause a chain reaction by pushing over a domino. Credit: Getty Images)

Demand has been surging for copper around the world - from renewable energy projects, to AI data centres, to infrastructure networks.

Production, however, has struggled to keep pace, pushing prices close to record highs in late 2025 and early 2026.

As the value of the metal has risen, criminals have increasingly targeted copper for theft - stripping it from telephone cables, railway power lines and solar panels. The resulting damage and disruption is costing economies billions.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

Picture: Train passengers look at a train information board at Zwolle station in Zwolle on the first of December 2025 after an extensive track damage caused by an attempted copper theft disrupted train services. Credit: Getty Images)

Country music is in the midst of a grand renaissance. The genre - whose popularity was previously confined to the American South - is now climbing the charts, grabbing the attention of Gen Z audiences, and changing the perception of what it means to be a country listener. Streaming of the genre in the US rose by nearly 110% in the five years to 2024. And it’s taking over markets all around the world. In the UK, the genre more than doubled its share of the singles market in two years. And Australia is now the third largest country music market globally. From ‘music city’ - Nashville, Tennessee - we speak to artists and industry leaders to better understand where the country music boom came from, and where it’s headed this year. How did country become so cool?

To get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Ellie House

(Picture: Neon lights spelling 'Music City Tonight' at Robert's Honky Tonk, Nashville. Credit: BBC)

One of the world’s largest airline groups has told Business Daily that airspace closures, due to war zones, are now forcing substantial rerouting of flights.

Lufthansa says the ban on using Russian and Ukrainian airspace is having a measurable cost impact on its long haul network, with typical detours of one to two hours.

A recent Conflict Intensity index report shows that areas affected by armed fighting have grown by 89% over the past five years, that is one and a half times the size of the European Union.

We examine the cost to consumers, and the environmental impacts of these changes.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Rick Kelsey

(Photo: Planes landing and taking off against a coloured sky. Credit: Getty Images)

When Lew Frankfort joined Coach, it was a family run, wholesale handbag business worth six million dollars.

He spent 35 years at the company, from opening the company's first shop to growing the business now valued at over five billion dollars.

We find out what led Lew to an unlikely career in fashion and how a chance meeting with a US president sparked his social consciousness.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producers: Hannah Bewley and Hannah Mullane

(Photo: Lew Frankfort, chairman emeritus and former CEO of Coach)

Forty years ago Japan made more than half of the world's semiconductors. Today, it produces just over 10%. But the country has big ambitions to turn that around.

We hear from the CEO of a company at the centre of the government's high-stakes gamble to revive its semiconductor industry, and more broadly, its tech power.

And we'll learn how the island of Hokkaido is now the site of billions in investment to turn what has long been an agricultural powerhouse into a global chip manufacturing hub.

If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Suranjana Tewari Producer: Jaltson Akkanath Chummar

(Picture: A lavender field and colourful flower garden in Hokkaido, Japan. Credit: Getty Images)

When Slovakia was part of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic, the cars it made were noisy, thirsty and slow by western standards at the time. But when Volkswagen bought the car-maker Skoda, that was the beginning of a major change.

Now, Slovakia makes almost a million cars a year and with Volvo opening a factory here in 2027, it’ll be a quarter of a million more. Extraordinary for a country of five million people.

We visit a factory and find out why this small nation is attracting so much car industry investment.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

(Picture: Workers on a production line in a car factory, Slovakia. Credit: BBC/John Laurenson)

In the second of two programmes, we look at Donald Trump's record on the economy one year into his second presidential term. Today, we are asking is the United States still facing a cost of living crunch?

Its economy - the largest in the world - is still growing faster than most others and the stock markets are hitting record highs, yet many Americans say they are still struggling to make ends meet. What's going on? We get the view from our North America business correspondent, Samira Hussain; a data scientist; an economist; and consumers from across the country.

If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Craig Henderson Additional production (audio diaries): Niamh McDermott

(Picture: A woman walks down the aisle at the grocery store with her shopping cart looking at shelved goods. Credit: Getty Images)

Twelve months into Donald Trump’s second term as President, we examine what it’s meant for the US workforce.

For government workers it has been a year of cuts, sackings and Elon Musk’s now disbanded DOGE - Department of Government Efficiency - group. Some sections of the workforce have felt their rights under attack. Meanwhile, many Republicans feel DOGE has been a success.

Has the past year also provided opportunities for those switching to the private sector?

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Craig Henderson

(Picture: President Donald Trump listens during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on the 26th of February 2025 in Washington, DC. He was holding the first Cabinet meeting of his second term, joined by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, then head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Credit: Getty Images)

We meet retail turnaround expert Joanna Reynolds, the woman behind the revival of the Folio Society, one of Britain’s oldest publishing houses.

Ten years ago, the company was losing money and facing an existential threat from the digital revolution.

Joanna explains how she transformed the business from a failing book club to a profitable, employee-owned publisher.

If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: David Cann

(Picture: Joanna Reynolds, CEO of the Folio Society, holding a book. Credit: Dunja Opalko)

Festive celebrations at Christmas and New Year often involve increased alcohol consumption in many parts of the world. For some, that’s followed by a decision to take a break from drinking. It's become widely known as Dry January.

However, data shows that more people are choosing to reduce their alcohol intake all year round.

Alcohol-free drinks only make up about 1% of the total industry, but their popularity has risen quickly, and the vast majority is beer.

How influential is Dry January really in this growing trend? And how will the smaller producers, who pioneered the non-alcoholic sector, fare now that the drinks giants are producing their own zero percent products?

We examine the changing adult drinks market.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Imran Rahman-Jones

(Picture: Sonja Mitchell, founder of Jump Ship Brewing, based in Scotland, UK, holding a glass of non-alcoholic beer up in the air. Credit: Jump Ship Brewing)

Outrage has been growing in Iran over the country's struggling economy. Any growth this year or next looks unlikely.

Protests starting in the capital have spread around the country, driven by mounting economic pressures, sanctions and rising consumer prices. They've been met with a violent crackdown by the government. More than two thousand people are reported to have been killed since the protests began and Iran remains under a days-long internet blackout.

In this edition of Business Daily, we examine what has gone wrong with Iran’s economy and why financial pressures have led to so many people taking to the streets.

If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: David Cann and Matt Lines

(Picture: An employee arranges a shelf at a store in the Iranian capital Tehran on the 7th of January 2026. Credit: Getty Images)

The power of the global bond market seems to have grown in recent years, to the extent that it can now dictate government policy and even topple political leaders. How much clout do the debt markets actually have and should they be reined in?

Many rich nations are more indebted than they have ever been in modern times, meaning that some are spending more simply on servicing their debt than on schools, hospitals or military defence.

In the second of two programmes on the bond market, we ask, how sustainable is that debt and should we be worried about it?

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Gideon Long

(Photo: A view of financial buildings in the City of London. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore how the world became so dependent on bonds, those IOUs from governments and firms that helped build the modern economy. Bonds are often dismissed as a dull corner of finance, but behind the scenes they have played a central role in major economic dramas around the world.

We hear about their history, how they have shaped companies and countries, and why some fear the bond market could trigger the next global meltdown.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rob Young Producer: Gideon Long

(Photo: A bond issued in 1648 by a Dutch water board to finance improvements to a local dike system. The bond, written on vellum, is held at Yale University Beinecke Library and is believed to be one of the oldest in the world that still pays interest. Credit: Yale University)

We hear from a man who is immersed in the world of startups, innovation, venture capital, and the work of policymakers whose job it is to strengthen Europe's standing in all those fields. He's also a Prince of the Netherlands and the brother of the Dutch King.

Constantijn van Oranje has worked as a business consultant and at the European Commission. He is now a champion of the Dutch tech sector through his organisation, Techleap, set up to support the founders and startups hoping to shape the future of Europe's economy. It's given him a platform to have his say on some of the most pressing issues facing Europe today - but how does he balance his role with that of Prince?

We talk politics, regulation and unicorns.

If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Matthew Kenyon

(Photo: Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands presents the annual report of Techleap during the conference State of Dutch Tech on 12 February, 2025 in The Hague, Netherlands. Credit: Getty Images)

The United Arab Emirates has become the largest state investor in Africa. It's spending billions of dollars across the continent; building ports, power plants and renewable energy projects.

We look at why Emirati companies are expanding so rapidly, and find out how much this investment is reshaping economies.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Sameer Hashmi

(Picture: General view of Berbera Port and Bebera city in Somaliland in the Horn of Africa, on 31st August 2021. Dubai-based port operator DP World and the Government of Somaliland, opened a container terminal at Berbera Port in June 2021. Credit: Getty Images)

Will the boom in artificial intelligence continue in 2026? We hear how the world’s biggest companies are jockeying for position in the race to dominate the field. After a year of record spending on AI, we look at how sustainable that type of investment might be in the year ahead.

Plus - what gadgets could become mainstream in 2026?

The BBC's Technology Editor, Zoe Kleinman, and North America technology correspondent in Silicon Valley, Lily Jamali, give Will Bain their predictions.

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

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines

(Picture: Guests including CEO of Meta Mark Zuckerberg; Amazon founder Jeff Bezos; CEO of Google Sundar Pichai; and CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, X and xAI Elon Musk, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, on Monday, 20th of January 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore how economies and companies rode out the tariff-driven economic storms of 2025 and hear how many continue to forge new partnerships in a changing world of global trade.

Asia business correspondent, Suranjana Tewari, and India business correspondent, Arunoday Mukharji, join us from Singapore and Delhi to discuss what the year might hold for the region's biggest economic players.

If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines

(Picture: India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping shaking hands at the Brics summit of emerging economies held in Russia in 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

After American forces arrested and removed the leader of Venezuela, Rahul Tandon looks at what the future might hold for the world's largest oil reserve, and what can we learn from the country's past.

Many US companies were forced out of Venezuela when the oil industry was nationalised in the 1970s. The type of oil found there is also hard to reach and complicated to refine.

We look at its difficult history, where the oil it produces now goes to, and whether US oil companies will want to spend the tens of billions of dollars it is thought will be needed to fix Venezuela's oil infrastructure.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Reporter: Gideon Long Producer: Justin Bones

(Picture: A man wearing a face mask walks past a mural depicting an oil pump and the Venezuelan flag in a street of Caracas, on 26 May, 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

Tariffs and trade wars dominated 2025, but what does the year ahead have in store? And what about the prospect for rising prices we’ve seen around the world?

The BBC’s Deputy Economics Editor, Dharshini David, and North America Business Correspondent, Michelle Fleury, pick through what we learned last year and explore the trends likely to shape the global economy in 2026.

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

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines

(Picture: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the G7 summit in Kananaskis on June 16, 2025. Credit: AFP via Getty Images)

Doorstep delivery services boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic and they're still popular in many parts of the world: ordering hot meals, or groceries, via a mobile app to your door at the click of a button.

For the customer, it's a fast and convenient service. For the rider, it's flexible work, but there's no guaranteed income, the work is physical and the hours are often antisocial - especially during major holidays like Christmas and New Year. Why, then, do so many people do it?

We speak to riders in the US and UK about their experiences delivering food, drinks and other essentials to customers at all hours of the day.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings

(Picture: A delivery rider on a scooter, travelling through a city at night. Credit: Getty Images)

With 250 years of brewing history behind his family, Arthur Edward Guinness was discouraged from taking on the responsibility that the men of his family had for centuries.

Now Ned, or Lord Iveagh, grows crops, brews beer and is in pursuit of being able to pour the perfect pint in one of the two pubs he owns in the rural east of England.

He tells Leanna Byrne about the extraordinary family history he sees as his legacy, and talks about how the famous brewery at St James's Gate in Dublin, Ireland became one of the most successful in the world.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Hannah Bewley

(Image: Ned Guinness, 4th Earl of Iveagh, attends the "House Of Guinness" London Premiere at Picturehouse Central on 23 September 2025 in London, England. Credit: Getty Images)

We're in Santa’s grotto – sort of - a Chinese city that some call the Christmas capital of the world.

With 75,000 traders, across 50,000 stores, Yiwu offers the world’s largest wholesale market across a labyrinth of arcades.

But at a time of growing trade tensions with the US, who’s actually buying the tinsel this year?

If you'd like to send us an email, our address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann Additional production: Victoriya Holland

(Picture: Crowds of people walking through Yiwu wholesale market. Credit: BBC/Wang Xiqing)

We look at what makes a great Christmas marketing campaign. From a budget-friendly advert based around coffee cups, to multi-million dollar epic commercials featuring Hollywood A-list celebrities.

We unwrap the secrets behind the world's most iconic festive advertising.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson

(Picture: A woman and a man wearing Santa hats, sitting in front of a TV with Christmas tree, candles and food. Credit: Getty Images)

Festive spending habits are changing, with many, especially younger shoppers, predicted to cut back.

We look at what’s driving the shift, the impact on retail, and how artificial intelligence is starting to shape the way shoppers choose gifts and search for lower prices.

Plus - we hear from members of the World Service audience on what their holiday spending priorities are.

You can get in touch with the programme - our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

(Picture: Nelmar Cornes, a stationary enthusiast and the owner of the Toronto Pen Shoppe in Toronto, Canada.)

As millions of households around the world put up their Christmas trees, we hear from the founder and CEO of US-based company Balsam Hill - one of the world’s biggest artificial Christmas tree retailers.

Mac Harman tells us about his journey as an entrepreneur, how he's addressing sustainability concerns, and how the company's managing the pressures of tariffs.

If you'd like to contact the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann

Correction, 22 December 2025: This episode, which first aired on 19 December, has been amended to include more detail and to clarify the sourcing of the materials used in the manufacture of Balsam Hill's trees.

(Picture: Mac Harman. Credit: Balsam Hill)

You might be familiar with the term "ghosting" when it comes to dating. One minute you’re talking to someone, the next they disappear.

The same thing is now happening in the job market, with employers not responding to candidates or posting roles that never existed.

It’s a problem thought to affect millions.

In this programme, we hear why "ghost jobs" have become so common, look at the new rules meant to curb the practice, and hear directly from job seekers about how it makes them feel.

You can email us - our address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

(Picture: Woman applying for a job online. Credit: Getty Images)

We return to Peru’s mega port - the Chancay Port. This $3.5bn project is a joint venture between China’s state-owned shipping company Cosco Shipping and Peruvian mining company Volcan. It’s already starting to have an impact on local businesses.

We find out what’s giving it the edge, how local fruit producers are particularly benefiting, and what obstacles still need to be overcome, both politically and logistically.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Jane Chambers

(Picture: Fruit producer, Percy Perez, in Peru.)

It’s transforming the world of road haulage, but has the recent ‘Uberisation’ been good news for truckers?

From Nanjing to Nairobi, we discover how digital freight matching platforms are changing the way drivers access work, plan routes and the impact it’s having on the climate. But with driverless trucks on the horizon, what does the future hold for truckers and trucking firms?

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

(Picture: A white 18 wheeler truck on the road. Credit: Getty Images)

Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan in October following sporadic fighting between the two countries.

Since then, the movement of goods has stopped, and lines of trucks have been waiting to cross.

We look at the impact of this key trade route being shut and what it means for livelihoods and businesses on both sides of the border.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Hannah Mullane

(Picture: Lorries and a group of people congregating at the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Credit: BBC)

We meet the real estate developer who’s been tasked with turning Saudi Arabia into a global tourism hub.

It is part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision for the Kingdom, diversifying the economy away from oil.

Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano has managed massive development projects including London's Canary Wharf, a luxury holiday resort in the Bahamas, and now, a tourism mega project on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast. We hear about his career to date and why he likes an ambitious project. This is his biggest yet - can he pull it off?

Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Elisabeth Mahy Additional production: Niamh McDermott

(Photo: John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global. Credit: Red Sea Global)

More countries are considering selling state-owned postal services - many have failed to make a profit for years.

As businesses and people send fewer letters, there's also strong competition from global package delivery companies.

We hear about the challenges facing postal services in Ireland, many of which have been in business for more than a hundred years.

And we look to the US, where President Donald Trump favours privatising the national mail service; while in India, the state-run post office network will remain under government control.

We also examine efforts to modernise postal services, which could mean delivery by drones and robots in the near future, supervised by AI.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

(Image: A green pillar postbox in Ireland)

This week, the country becomes the first in the world to implement a social media ban for under 16s.

We look at the impact on content creators, tech companies, and on businesses that sell via social media.

We find out how they're navigating this change, and ask if other countries will look to follow suit.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Matt Lines

(Photo: A group of young people looking at phones. Credit: Getty Images)

It’s one richest sports in the world but it still needs to adapt to the times.

F1 is now trying to appeal to a younger fan base through deals with Netflix and Lego.

Plus it's trying to break that lucrative US market with races in Las Vegas and huge broadcasting deals.

We hear from the key figures at F1 and from former F1 driver David Coulthard, who witnessed the end of tobacco sponsorship and saw the likes of Red Bull coming into the paddock.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Victoria Turner

(Image: Max Verstappen races down the Las Vegas Strip during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on 22 Nov 2025. Image credit: Getty Images)

Miishe Addy started her first company in California’s Silicon Valley followed by another business in Accra, Ghana. Now, she runs one of Africa’s fastest-growing logistics tech firms.

She describes how she’s tackling the hidden costs of African trade, and what she’s learned as a female founder building companies in two continents.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producers: Ahmed Adan and Niamh McDermott

(Picture: Miishe Addy. Credit: Jetstream)

Whether you call it football or soccer, next summer, the US, Mexico and Canada will host the FIFA World Cup. It’s the first time three countries have organised the tournament.

A record 48 teams will compete across 16 host cities, with millions attending games across North America and billions watching at home.

But how much does it cost to host a World Cup? What does it take for a city to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans? And does that investment really boost the local economy? We go pitch-side to find out.

If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer Sam Gruet

(Picture: Sharon Bollenbach, Executive Director of World Cup Hosting for Toronto, Canada.)

In Lugano, Switzerland, the cryptocurrency is accepted in some shops and for local municipal services.

But the drive towards using what can often be a volatile payment method instead of Swiss francs, hasn't been welcomed by everyone.

We hear from businesses, officials and consumers who are navigating this new world.

Produced and presented by John Laurenson

(Image: View of Lake Lugano, Switzerland)

TV channels dedicated to them are shutting down around the world and some superstars have even stopped making them, so are music videos in decline, or are they more vital than ever to grab our attention?

We hear from industry insiders in the US, Europe and in South Korea on how the streaming era has changed how we consume music - and shifted the way record labels make money.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: Ne-Yo on set during the filming of a music video for his song "Closer" at the Santa Clarita Studios on 10 April 2008 in California (Credit: Matthew Simmons/WireImage)

Staff shortages and strikes are leaving passengers and airlines frustrated. So why are there such problems in recruitment?

Industry bodies estimate over the next decade we could be short of 70,000 air traffic controllers around the world. We hear what is luring some controllers out of Europe and why others are leaving the sector all together. And what could the financial and safety implications be for passengers and airlines?

Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin

(Photo: NATS Swanwick ops room,. NATS is a UK-based air traffic control company. Credit: NATS)

We hear how a free online encyclopaedia, run by volunteers, became one of the internet's most popular sites.

Co-founder Jimmy Wales tells about the ideals which helped him build the site, and the challenges its now facing, from AI to political criticism.

Presenter: Chris Vallance Producers: Hannah Bewley and Niamh McDermott

(Image: Jimmy Wales photographed at Web Summit 2022 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at the record-breaking sale of the Los Angeles Lakers which has just been approved by the board of the NBA - or National Basketball Association.

The Buss family had owned the team since 1979.

The new majority owner of the franchise is TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.

Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professional US baseball team that won the World Series last year, as well as investments in Chelsea FC.

Produced and presented by Guy Kilty Edited by Helen Thomas

(Image: Los Angeles Lakers star player LeBron James drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz during the game on 23 November 2025. Credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modifications, but others are keen to see the rules come into force as planned. They apply to a number of raw materials, including cocoa.

There’s a big challenge facing the world’s biggest market for chocolate: balancing sustainability goals and the price consumers are willing to pay.

If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, you can send us an email at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Presented and produced by Hannah Bewley Additional reporting: Matthew Kenyon

(Picture: Close up of three cocoa beans hanging from a cocoa tree. Credit: Getty Images)

It’s one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across Southeast Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it’s estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes.

But now these centres could be coming under threat, with both military and legal moves by global enforcement challenging their apparent impunity.

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

(Picture: An aerial photo showing the KK Park complex in Myanmar, taken in September 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains.

It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local and international businesses.

But Machu Picchu is in trouble.

Social conflicts, fights over who benefits from the money being made through ticket sales and transport are just some of the problems its facing.

Jane Chambers visits Peru to find out what's going on and if there are other local sites for tourist to visit instead.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers Editor: Helen Thomas

(Image: A group of tourists waves while leaving on foot due to a protest by residents in Machu Picchu on 16 September 2025 over which bus company should run the local route. Credit: Getty Images)

In the second of our two-part series on tightening aid budgets, Sam Fenwick explores what shrinking donor support means for global health — from the sudden halt to major US-funded projects, to the pressure on low-income countries to increase their own health spending.

As G20 leaders gather in Johannesburg for the Global Fund’s Eighth Replenishment Summit, we hear from Zambia’s minister of commerce on how his country is trying to plug the aid gap through investment in critical minerals, and from Peter Sands, head of the Global Fund, on why he believes wealthy nations must keep funding global health even as more countries take on greater responsibility for their own systems.

With global aid budgets under strain, we examine what’s at stake at today’s summit — and what the future of funding for essential health programmes might look like.

Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick

(Image: An anonymous woman looks out over her local fishing community near the Zambezi River in Zambia. Credit: Action Aid)