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Business Daily

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BBC World Service

The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.

#1625

Corruption at port

It’s estimated that 90% of traded goods travel over the oceans. But for the seafarers who make that happen, it’s not always an easy process. Thousands of incidents of corruption within the industry have been reported to the Maritime Anti-Corruption Network, who in this episode, tell Ruth Alexander what they’re doing to help the problem. Seafarers can often be put in an impossible position, and one former captain tells us how he was arrested at gunpoint after refusing to hand over a carton of cigarettes to officials. (Picture: A bird's eye view of a container ship at sea. Credit: Getty Images) Presenter: Ruth Alexander Producer: Izzy Greenfield ... Read more

Yesterday

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17:28

Yesterday

#1624

The rise of women voters in India

As India enters election season, we look at the crucial female vote. For decades, the number of women turning out to vote in India has been low, but that’s changed in the last decade. Now, political parties are deliberately targeting policies at women, to try and win over this key group. We hear from a group of women about their priorities in the 2024 general election - for the workplace, in business, and their day-to-day lives. (Picture: A group of women in India lining up to vote. Credit: AFP) Presented and produced by Devina Gupta ... Read more

16 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:28

16 Apr 2024

#1623

Can you be sued for writing a bad review online?

We depend on online reviews for everything from hotel and restaurant bookings, to what products to buy, and as we hear in this programme, medical and cosmetic procedures. If a customer feels unhappy with a service they've paid for, they might want to leave a bad review. But what happens if the company they're complaining about doesn't like it? In the UK, a cosmetic surgery company, Signature Clinic, is taking some of its former patients to court after they posted negative reviews or comments on support groups. We hear from some of them. (Image: A surgeon putting on surgical gloves. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Ed Butler ... Read more

14 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:28

14 Apr 2024

#1622

Business Daily meets: game designer Brenda Romero

Brenda Romero's breakthrough game Wizardry is legendary, and she’s made and contributed to more than 50 titles since. Now, with her own company in Ireland, what does she think is the key to a great game? And in a vulnerable time for the industry, what does she think its future holds? (Picture: Brenda Romero. Credit: John Press photos) Presenter: Steffan Powell Producer: Izzy Greenfield ... Read more

11 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:29

11 Apr 2024

#1621

Africa's video gaming boom

There are an estimated 200 million gamers on the African continent. The industry is growing fast, and generating millions of dollars for gaming companies. However, there's a problem - many gamers in Africa don't have access to the credit and debit cards needed for in app purchases. We meet the fintech companies who think they've got a solution. Produced and presented by Mo Allie (Image: A woman gaming on her phone. Credit: Getty Images) ... Read more

10 Apr 2024

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17:28

10 Apr 2024

#1620

Video games in concert

The music composed for video games has come a long way. Once limited to simple tunes generated by early synthesizer chips, it now encompasses complex musical works composed for full orchestra. Video game music is now also considered a key access point to orchestral music among young people, and concert venues around the world are seeing new and diverse audiences attend live performances of gaming soundtracks. This could a development the classical music world is looking to embrace - although it wasn't loved at first. A study by League of of American Orchestras suggests audiences for concerts have dropped by 26% since 2020, with young people being the minority group of attendees. In this episode, we'll hear about the origins of music written for video games; speaking to composers and orchestras who are embracing new audiences and exciting musical works. And we'll go backstage before opening night of a concert tour showcasing music from a major video game franchise. (Image: Gaming Prom – From 8-Bit to Infinity, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Robert Ames, in the Royal Albert Hall, on 1 August 2022, as part of the BBC Proms.) Presented and produced by Sean Allsop ... Read more

08 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:28

08 Apr 2024

#1619

What’s happening to the gaming business?

Tens of thousands of people in the video game industry have lost their jobs in the past year. The industry itself is valued around 200 billion dollars - one of the biggest in the world. And last year saw some of the biggest releases so far. So with so much success, why are there so many struggles? We speak to two workers who recently lost their jobs in the industry, and hear about the effect it’s had on their lives. Tech expert Matthew Ball tells us why there’s a simultaneous battle between success and struggle, and whether it’ll get any worse. But it’s not all bad news. There’s a lot of opportunity out there for smaller gaming companies in some parts of the world. William Sampson of Roro Interactive tells us why he thinks the future is positive. (Picture: A rear-view shot of a young woman sitting at a desk playing a video game, she is using a mouse and keyboard and wearing a headset. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield ... Read more

07 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:29

07 Apr 2024

#1618

Business Daily meets: Maarten van der Weijden

The Dutch swimmer won gold in Beijing, having been diagnosed with cancer seven years earlier. We hear why he decided to stop competing, and instead turn his attention to charity fundraising - setting up his own foundation and raising millions for cancer research through long-distance swimming endurance events. And how he ensures that the money raised is correctly managed. Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon. (Image: Maarten van der Weijden setting a new world record in 2021, by swimming continuously against a current for more than 31 hours and 7 minutes. Credit: Getty Images) ... Read more

04 Apr 2024

17 MINS

17:27

04 Apr 2024

#1617

Nigeria’s graduates vulnerable to kidnapping

Kidnapping is endemic in nearly all parts of Nigeria, as shown by the recent high profile mass abduction and release of nearly 300 schoolchildren. And for young Nigerians who are taking part in the national youth service programme - NYSC - they are particularly vulnerable as they travel to their postings along the country's long rural roads. Service is mandatory if you want to use your degree - but are the risks just too great now? And what impact does it have on young people’s futures? Produced and presented by Frey Lindsay (Image: National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Ogun State, in 2019. Credit: Getty Images) ... Read more

03 Apr 2024

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17:28

03 Apr 2024

#1616

The business of scent

Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke memories and spark emotional connections. And it's increasingly big business. In this programme, we lift the lid on the multi-billion dollar fragrance industry; finding out how scent can influence customer behaviour, build teams, and even help to sell houses. We hear from a perfume-maker who crowdsources some of the world's most expensive fragrance ingredients, and visit a 15 million dollar house on the market in London, to find out how the right aroma in a property can entice a potential buyer. And we hear why a major drinks brand has created a fragrance for its company headquarters. (Picture: A woman smelling perfume. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson ... Read more

02 Apr 2024

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17:28

02 Apr 2024

#1615

Capturing CO2 from the air

We're in Iceland, where, in attempt to fight climate change, huge machines are being used to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And then locking it away deep underground, turning it into stone. The business behind the technology believes this is a crucial step in reducing the amount of CO2 in the air. But how economical, and impactful, is this carbon capture? Presented and produced by Adrienne Murray (Image: A carbon injection site run by Carbfix in Hellisheidi, Iceland. Credit: Getty Images) ... Read more

01 Apr 2024

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17:29

01 Apr 2024

#1614

The growth of 'quiet luxury'

We explore the fashion trend that involves minimal labels and logos. Loved by celebrities and social media influencers, what is it about the quiet luxury trend that is so appealing – particularly in countries like China? And can you follow the 'stealth wealth' trend on a low budget? (Picture: Woman standing in luxury hotel suite looking at view with curtains blowing in wind. Credit: Getty Images) Presented and produced by Gabriele Shaw ... Read more

31 Mar 2024

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17:28

31 Mar 2024

#1613

Business Daily meets: ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

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

29 Mar 2024

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18:13

29 Mar 2024

#1612

Is tidal power a viable energy source?

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

28 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:26

28 Mar 2024

#1611

The billion-dollar rise of Padel

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

27 Mar 2024

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18:25

27 Mar 2024

#1610

How do you keep food cold?

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

26 Mar 2024

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18:26

26 Mar 2024

#1609

Will high interest rates be cut soon?

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

25 Mar 2024

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18:25

25 Mar 2024

#1608

Business Daily meets: Leigh Steinberg

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

22 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:18

22 Mar 2024

#1607

Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

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

20 Mar 2024

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18:19

20 Mar 2024

#1606

Why is Temu so cheap?

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

19 Mar 2024

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18:20

19 Mar 2024

#1605

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

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

18 Mar 2024

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18:19

18 Mar 2024

#1604

Business Daily meets: CEO of Proton Andy Yen

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

15 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:15

15 Mar 2024

#1603

Stockholm: The capital of music tech?

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

14 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:07

14 Mar 2024

#1602

Nato: Who’s spending what?

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

13 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:21

13 Mar 2024

#1601

The sugar price surge

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

12 Mar 2024

18 MINS

18:12

12 Mar 2024

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#1625

Corruption at port

#1624

The rise of women voters in India

#1623

Can you be sued for writing a bad review online?

#1622

Business Daily meets: game designer Brenda Romero

#1621

Africa's video gaming boom

#1620

Video games in concert

#1619

What’s happening to the gaming business?

#1618

Business Daily meets: Maarten van der Weijden

#1617

Nigeria’s graduates vulnerable to kidnapping

#1616

The business of scent

#1615

Capturing CO2 from the air

#1614

The growth of 'quiet luxury'

#1613

Business Daily meets: ILO Director-General Gilbert Houngbo

#1612

Is tidal power a viable energy source?

#1611

The billion-dollar rise of Padel

#1610

How do you keep food cold?

#1609

Will high interest rates be cut soon?

#1608

Business Daily meets: Leigh Steinberg

#1607

Is Saudi Arabia softening its alcohol ban?

#1606

Why is Temu so cheap?

#1605

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

#1604

Business Daily meets: CEO of Proton Andy Yen

#1603

Stockholm: The capital of music tech?

#1602

Nato: Who’s spending what?

#1601

The sugar price surge