Business Daily

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...

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...

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 las...

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 coco...

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...

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...

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...

We examine the fallout from the cuts to US foreign aid. We meet projects in Rwanda and Nepal that were close to shutting down - and hear the story of a mystery donor who stepped in to keep them going. But how long will the support last? Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick (Image: Beatha making soap in Rwanda as part of one of the projects funded by USAID. Credit: Village Enterprise) MARKET DATA...

One of world sport's biggest rivalries gets underway this week, with England and Australia going head to head in the Ashes. Most matches will last around four or five days, but it's actually the short form of the game that is growing the fastest - and bringing in big audiences and revenues. The IPL or Indian Premier League, has recently been valued at $18.5bn - that's a T20 format played over a fe...

We speak to the tech executive leading Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai gives us his take on the 'AI bubble', saying no company is immune if the bubble bursts on the "irrational elements" of the boom. He says AI will cause "social disruption" for jobs, even replace CEOs, and says people will have to adapt. Is the world ready? If you'd like to get in touch with the programm...

After the collapse of a landmark deal, with opposition from both the US and Saudi Arabia, we hear from those in the industry. What's next for a sector responsible for 3% of global emissions? We also find out what it means for shipping's path to net zero. And ask whether technology and innovation are the answer. Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann(Image: A cargo ship loaded with foreign trade...

As war becomes more high tech than ever, artificial intelligence companies are making software which is increasingly being used on the battlefield. Will Blyth served in the British military as an army major and has used this experience to build his own company, connecting hardware systems from different manufacturers deployed by armed forces. Presented and produced by Rob Young(Picture: Will Blyth...

From Ukraine and Russia to Gaza and Sudan, drones have become a key weapon of war. Which companies are making them, and profiting from this rapidly expanding but controversial sector within the defence industry? We hear from a woman in Ukraine who used to own a flower shop in Kyiv, but who is now making drones to send to the front-line; and we hear from a Russian who left his homeland as a teenage...

The superfan culture involves doing everything you can to be closer to your idols - often through concerts, merchandise, and streaming support. And now oshikatsu is being praised by some economists for helping pull Japanese retail sales out of a long slump. Figures suggest the role of fan purchasing power has boosted Japan’s annual retail turnover by 2%. But what is so different about the way of s...

We find out whether new rules could allow it to move away distance itself from previous accusations of "greenwashing" and fraud? There have been previous false starts for a system which in theory allows for companies and countries to offset their carbon emissions by paying for projects which reduce or mitigate emissions elsewhere. But new UN legislation - which has been a decade in the making – no...

As the country shifts away from fossil fuels, thousands of homes and businesses have been left on waiting lists to connect to its electricity grid. Has the Netherlands moved too fast in its switch to renewable energy, like solar, wind and hydropower? Some commentators are calling it a “grid crisis” – so, could this affect economic growth? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can e...

Tim Brown is a former footballer who went on to co-found Allbirds, a billion-dollar brand known for its woollen shoes. We hear how Tim balanced his passions for football and shoe design, while growing up in New Zealand. The challenges that came when making a career changeAnd how his brand was inspired by a dream to rescue New Zealand's declining wool industry. Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Ambe...

We go to the heart of street photography in Berlin, Germany, to visit an independent camera shop where sales of analogue cameras are flying because of celebrities opting for old school tech. And we go behind the lens to the development labs to discover the rising demands and rising costs as equipment is sparse. What is the price of taking a good photo? If you'd like to get in touch with the progra...

We find out why the country Japan ranks so poorly in the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap Index and hear about what’s being done to change thingsFrom bottom-up initiatives to raise the next generation of female entrepreneurs and businesses leaders and to the work being done by one of the country’s top educational institutions as it tries to shake off its men–only image. And will the country’s fir...

When is a bubble a bubble? When is hype around a new technology signalling the dawn of a new industrial revolution? We assess the arguments for and against AI and its inflated valuations. AI firms and their stocks have surged in the last year, accounting for more than 80% of America’s economic growth. But is there real demand underpinning this? To get in touch with the programme, you can email us...

New York City is in the midst of a cost of living crunch. As a result, the race to become its next mayor this week has been dominated by how to make the city more affordable. We hear about radical plans and ask whether they add up, and look at what the race to run the capital of capitalism might teach other cities about how to fight an affordability crisis. If you'd like to get in touch with the p...

We speak to the American founder and CEO of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the world, Stine Seed Company. Harry Stine recalls working in a field on the family soybean farm at the age of four, and says he was soon driving tractors before officially starting work with his father. It was then that he realised the potential of plant breeding and seeds, leading him to start his own com...

As Canada’s trade war with the US rumbles on, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced ambitions for the country to become an "energy superpower" in clean electricity, oil and gas. Supporters say it could boost jobs and investment, but critics warn it may come at an environmental cost. We’ll hear about the projects underway, the challenges that could hinder them, and look at how other countries ha...

Since the Taliban took over from a US-led government in Afghanistan in 2021, the economic challenges facing the country have been huge. The amount of aid going in to the country has dropped, the banking system is difficult to navigate, and international investors are staying away. That is before considering the economic impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts, which ha...

Renowned for its multi-step skincare routine and its foundation in the ever trendy Korean culture, K-beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe. The term covers a wide range of skincare, make-up and cosmetics from South Korea and is lauded for its quality and value. But as demand grows, tens of thousands of companies are claiming to be K-beauty, and not all of them are base...