Business Daily

For the first time in nearly seven years, federal operations have been drastically curtailed as the US government shuts down. As it enters a second week, we look in detail at how the collapse in funding for government services is affecting America at large - from the Federal worker fearing for his job, to the wider concerns of slowing growth and rising inflation. What does this say about the state...

We look at how the European country is trying to lure talent back home. It is specifically targeting people from science, technology, engineering and innovation sectors, using tax breaks and a campaign to remind people about the benefits of returning. A number of countries are bringing in similar initiatives, so is it forward thinking? Or will it create a two-tier system? Produced and presented by...

Women and girls in Afghanistan have been excluded from much of the working world, as well as from the chance to get an education. Many are finding ways to bring in an income for their families, but a 48-hour internet shutdown threatened this recently. We hear the experiences of shopkeepers, tech workers and charity bosses in the country. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email...

Thailand’s Pichaya Soontornyanakij, widely known as Chef Pam, was this year named the best female chef in the world by a panel of more than 1,000 gastronomists assembled by 50 Best, a food and drink sector brand. She’s the first Asian woman to win that award. Gideon Long meets her at her Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok, in a building which has deep personal meaning for her and which she and...

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stopping subsidies for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. He has called attempts to boost green energy in the US the "Green New Scam". We head to Middletown, Ohio, where a hydrogen-powered furnace for the steel mill, which was subsidised under the Biden administration, has been cancelled under President Trump. Sup...

What happens when a controlling partner takes over your income and spending? More countries are now recognising the harm that economic or financial abuse can cause, but it's still a but it’s still a huge problem - particularly for women. Could financial institutions be doing more to help? Produced and presented by Felicity Hannah(Image: A woman lying back in a chair with her head in her hands. Cre...

The country has one of the fastest growing aging populations in the region - we hear how businesses and politicians are adapting to the situation. We visit a cafe exclusively employing women aged over 50, and hear about the sectors trying to change attitudes to maintain productivity. Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: Senior hvac technician checking air conditioning unit pressure with...

The French government has launched a campaign against what it calls “the last discrimination”: ageism. It’s one that a lot of people in the country consider to be justified, and which makes it about three times more difficult to get a job interview. But it’s costly. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by John Laurenson(...

Thirty years ago, India made its first mobile call. Back then, Rahul Vatts was just starting out at India’s telecom giant, Airtel. Now the company’s Chief Regulatory Officer, he’s witnessed the country transform into one of the world’s largest digital markets. We hear about his career journey and learn how new technology is being rolled out in rural parts of India. If you'd like to get in touch wi...

Is the dream of home ownership slipping out of reach for many Americans? Prices are climbing, supply can’t keep up with demand, and high interest rates are keeping sellers on the side-lines. Tariffs and rising construction costs are squeezing builders too, piling more pressure on families and the economy. We hear from first-time buyers, builders and real estate agents all trying to navigate the ch...

Once a niche product for runners, footwear that makes you feel like you’re not wearing any is now crossing into the mainstream. We’ll hear from fans chasing everyday health benefits as well as from brands in the UK, India and US. And we’ll ask whether the barefoot movement is here to stay…Produced and presented by Helen Ledwick(Image: Barefoot shoes on display at a 'try on' event in Birmingham, UK...

In the early 2000s, the country had one of the biggest real estate booms seen anywhere in the world - at its peak accounting for 30% of GDP. But in 2020 that quickly started to unravel. Now, the largest Chinese companies are being taken to court and dismantled, and property bought by ordinary citizens who invested in real estate has plummeted in value. What went wrong, and how does the crisis affe...

Many skilled professionals working within creative fields are unhappy about how AI is impacting their industry. They want to protect their work and the creative process from artificial intelligence because of fears over things like job protection, devaluation of skills, and a loss of control over their work. Some small and medium-sized companies in other industries also say they plan to never use...

In December 2023, a video was posted on X that generated a lot of attention. Gaining more than five million views in 24 hours, it showed a team of AI-generated TV anchors flawlessly delivering the day’s top headlines. We investigate how the media industry is embracing artificial intelligence; from the outlets using the technology to re-voice presenters, to the start-ups that use it to script entir...

When US president Donald Trump visited the Middle East earlier this year, he announced a number of deals between the US and countries in the region. One major deal was for a partnership to build a massive data centre in Abu Dhabi that is expected to be the largest artificial intelligence (AI) campus outside the US. We ask whether the Gulf can become a major AI power - and at what geopolitical cost...

The US and China dominate the field of artificial intelligence - between them they’re responsible for 90% of the world’s AI infrastructure. Where does this leave the rest of the world? We speak to an AI business in Kenya, a country that doesn’t benefit from lots of investment in the sector. We discuss the difficulties of trying to innovate in Argentina. And we explore the divide between regions se...

Entry level jobs are likely to be the most affected by artificial intelligence. AI can already do a lot of tasks typically given to junior staff, and businesses are already looking at their hiring policies as a result. We speak to recruiters, businesses, and graduates about what the job search is like right now, and how the world of work could be shaped by advances in technology in the future. If...

Around the world, entertainment companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on shiny new theme park rides and attractions. It's a highly competitive market. They're big money-spinners for the owners and can help boost local economies too. We look at why a medium-sized town in southern England could soon become a magnet for thrill-seeking tourists, and we travel to Sweden, where a theme...

It's the newest generation to enter the workforce, in their late teens and twenties, but many say they already feel burned out. From fears about AI taking their jobs, to lower pay and clashing values with older colleagues, we hear what’s driving Gen Z’s discontent in the workplace, speak to the bosses trying a new approach, and get tips on how to recruit and keep them. Produced by Sam Gruet Presen...

Transport regulators around the world are forcing the automotive industry to fix faults in their cars, even if they are discovered years after the model rolled off the assembly line. It seems the drive to use more complex technology in vehicles is undermining reliability. We find out how tighter global scrutiny by road safety watchdogs is making manufacturers recall cars to repair them, even if th...

As US President Donald Trump tries to lure wealthy foreigners with a $5m Gold Card residency visa, we explore the growing global marketplace of so-called golden passports and visas. Do the super-rich use them as a tax plan, an insurance plan, or something else? And should jet-setters with deep pockets be able to skip the queue? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at...

The billionaire entrepreneur was sent to England at the age of 13 after getting into trouble in his native India. His family shared a house and his mother worked two jobs - something he said instilled in him the work ethic that led him to found his own hospitality businesses. An interest in air travel led him to London's Heathrow Airport, the 4th largest airport in the world. But it was on the gro...

You might have seen it online - social media influencers sharing their morning routines before work. Some start as early as 4 or 5 AM, turning those hours into their personal 5-to-9 before the traditional 9-to-5 grind. Michelle Obama, Bob Iger, and Apple CEO Tim Cook all claim to be up between 4 and 5 AM. There’s a “5 AM club”, inspired by the habits of very successful people. But does waking up t...

It started with a man and a couch. Today, it’s an industry worth half a trillion dollars. The growing demand for therapy has made it a lucrative sector, with more and more digital mental health tools emerging. We ask if ethics can keep pace with change in the industry, and if the tech is serving those who need it the most? Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns(Picture: A home-based online...

We’re in Myanmar, a country that’s been ravaged by intense fighting for decades. But especially so since a military coup overthrew the elected government in 2021. We’re asking who and what is paying for each side’s war effort, and the military hardware, in what’s becoming an increasingly high-tech war. If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukP...