France, the world's second-biggest arms exporter, is expected to double military spending in the next two years. We visit a factory in the north of the country that's switched production from civilian to military equipment, as part of what French President Emmanuel Macron is calling a "war economy". If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by John Laurenson (Picture: President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech to army leaders a...
Aug 03, 2025•18 min
The university academic was working in Australia when he developed an interest in Myanmar. He then became an adviser to Aung San Suu Kyi but was jailed for nearly two years by the country’s military regime following the 2021 coup. Sean Turnell recalls the moment of his arrest and tells us about the harsh conditions he endured – and how books, along with pacing the length of his tiny cell, helped him survive. He also reflects on Myanmar’s deepening economic crisis – and shares his hopes for the c...
Jul 31, 2025•17 min
Around a fifth of the workforce in both come from abroad. That’s much more than in most high income countries - and these workers are key to powering growth and economic development. However as we hear, life can be incredibly difficult for migrant workers in South East Asia. Produced and presented by Ed Butler (Image: A Myanmar migrant worker harvests chilies on the bank of the Moei River, which separates Thailand and Myanmar in July 2025. Credit: Getty Images)
Jul 30, 2025•19 min
We're in Chile, where it’s grape harvesting time and vineyard workers are busy cleaning their barrels to make way for new batches. The South American country has more than a thousand different varieties of grapes, but it’s proving hard to reach a new generation of wine drinkers. It’s not just young people drinking less. Around the world wine production is in decline. This is often due climate change causing extreme droughts which affects harvests. How do wine-producing countries like Chile respo...
Jul 30, 2025•21 min
The African nation relies heavily on its copper industry and exports – the football team is even nicknamed Chipolo-polo - The Copper Bullets. Now, US President Donald Trump has announced a new 50% tariff on copper imports from early August. We explore the impact this could have on major copper producers, like Zambia and neighbouring DR Congo. Price volatility could affect earnings, but some companies are saying the long-term outlook still looks strong because of global demand for copper in data ...
Jul 29, 2025•17 min
Syria remains an unstable country, with outbreaks of deadly violence, yet many refugees in Turkey are still choosing to return home after their brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December. We’re in Little Syria, in Turkey’s largest city Istanbul, where lines of Arabic businesses once stood and where the streets are now noticeably quieter. As Syrians return home, what impact is that having on the Turkish economy? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email businessd...
Jul 28, 2025•17 min
When Italian luxury brand Prada showcased leather sandals that looked a lot like India’s traditional Kolhapuri chappals, and didn't credit their roots, it sparked a debate over fair pay and recognition for local artisans. The company has since tried to make amends and has been speaking to local producers. We travel to Kolhapur, where these sandals are made to explore what this example means for the economics of luxury fashion. Presenter: Devina Gupta Producer: Andrew Clarence (Image: A shopkeepe...
Jul 28, 2025•17 min
The Indian billionaire speaks to Rahul Tandon about his journey from selling sim cards in a small Indian town to founding OYO, a global hospitality chain, at just 19. A fellowship from US entrepreneur Peter Thiel gave Ritesh Agarwal $100,000 to pursue his start-up dreams. Despite rapid growth, OYO later faced serious challenges to its business. Now 31, the entrepreneur reflects on how he brought the company back from the brink. If you'd like to contact the show, send an email to businessdaily@bb...
Jul 24, 2025•17 min
The founders of Dutch women's team Hera United are finalising preparations for their first ever season in the Netherlands' top flight. They're the first women's-only professional team in the country, and want to drive the development of the sport by stepping out of the traditional male dominated club format. We hear from Hera's founders on persuading investors to back them and the impact they're hoping to have on the game as a whole. We talk to the founder of Glasgow City FC, who followed the sa...
Jul 23, 2025•17 min
Films for children and young adults are giving a major boost to cinemas. The recent A Minecraft Movie smashed records, making $301 million globally in its opening weekend - the biggest ever for a video game adaptation. In 2024, Inside Out 2 led the global box office earning $1.69 billion, followed by Despicable Me 4 and Kung Fu Panda. Now, film studios are following these trends; fast-tracking sequels, producing more animations, and adapting popular video games into stories geared towards family...
Jul 22, 2025•18 min
A boom in betting - both online and in shops - is fuelling addiction and debt among young people. We speak to teenage gamblers, whistle-blowers, and campaigners who reveal how social media influencers and lack of regulation are driving a growing crisis in Nigeria. If you are affected by harmful gambling or are suffering distress or despair you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available for despair in some countries can be found at Befr...
Jul 21, 2025•17 min
In the first of a two part series, we investigate the explosive growth of online gambling since the Covid-19 pandemic. While betting company revenues have soared, many South African individuals and families are facing the consequences. We hear from recovering gambling addicts and explore how economic hardship, weak regulation, and the prevalence of mobile betting platforms are fuelling a national crisis. If you are affected by harmful gambling or are suffering distress or despair you could speak...
Jul 21, 2025•17 min
It may be a key plot point in films and video games like Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider, but the real-life looting of ancient artefacts has reportedly reached unprecedented levels – and research suggests that even terror groups could be cashing in on stolen relics. What’s being done to stop it? If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Ryan Keane (Picture: A looted Etruscan urn recovered by the Carabinieri Command for the Prot...
Jul 16, 2025•17 min
Mortgages - or home loans - are commonly taken out in countries with high homeownership rates. In some parts of the world, the majority of people own their homes outright, but in the US, parts of western Europe and the UK, most buyers require a mortgage to get on the property ladder. Home loans are sensitive to interest rates, which have been falling in many major economies. We hear how that’s changing mortgage lengths and styles in different jurisdictions. We hear how the Dutch mortgage is beco...
Jul 15, 2025•17 min
The US has plans for a strategic Bitcoin reserve - effectively a massive stockpile of cryptocurrency. Countries hold reserves of all sorts of assets and commodities like gold, grain and medicine. As Bitcoin becomes the latest addition to the US reserves, what does this say about crypto's credibility? We head to the Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to hear from delegates who are excited for the future. Producer/presenter: Gareth Mitchell (Image: People walk past an advertisement featuring Do...
Jul 14, 2025•17 min
China's automotive companies have accelerated their global expansion in recent years, leaving the competition struggling to keep up. We explore what's driving Chinese brands' acceleration into international markets. And we look at how established carmakers are having to tighten their belts to compete with low-cost rivals. Some claim Chinese cars are a security risk because they could, in theory, be hacked - but could they really be used to spy on their owners? Presented and produced by Theo Legg...
Jul 13, 2025•18 min
The fintech entrepreneur tells us about co-founding PayPal, and how an embarrassing personal moment when trying to buy a car, led him to start the buy now, pay later company Affirm. Produced and presented by Leanna Byrne (Image: PayPal Co-Founder & Affirm CEO Max Levchin in 2019. Credit: Getty Images)
Jul 10, 2025•18 min
We're in the US state of Georgia, where huge data centres need water to keep cool. But how is this need for cloud storage and AI capability affecting local residents and the environment? Presenter: Michelle Fleury Producer: Nathalie Jimenez (Image: Georgia resident Beverly Morris looks at sediment build up in her toilet, which she says makes it impossible to flush. Instead she has to pour through a bucket of water)
Jul 09, 2025•18 min
Graduates are facing one of the toughest jobs markets in decades. We hear from students in India, the US and UK about whether they feel a university or college degree is worth it as we discuss the cost of attending university around the world and what your job prospects might be when you graduate. Ritesh Agarwal, billionaire and founder of Oyo Hotels dropped out of university - he tells us how he thinks the education system needs to change, and we hear from experts about where they see the futur...
Jul 08, 2025•17 min
The UN estimates that nearly seven million Ukrainians have left their home country since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Many have set up businesses in their new country - around 90,000 of those in Poland. We hear about the challenges they’ve faced, and the sectors which have thrived. And we ask; would they return to Ukraine if the war ended? Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney
Jul 07, 2025•18 min
Grab your briefcase, we’re heading into the negotiation room, to find out about the art of the trade deal. With deals being drawn up around the world, and many more negotiations underway, we speak to experts and negotiators about overcoming stalemates and bargaining chips. And we ask if US President Donald Trump has upended the way global trade deals are made. Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet (Picture: US President Donald Trump holds a signed US-UK trade deal next to British Prime Min...
Jul 06, 2025•18 min
The entrepreneur grew up in a small village in the foothills of the Himalayas with no electricity. He went on to found a cloud-based cyber-security company with a value of $47 billion, trying to protect digital data for businesses and governments. Jay Chaudhry tells us about his daily battle to stay ahead of the “bad guys”. Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Amber Mehmood (Image: Jay Chaudhry giving the keynote speech at Zenith Live. Credit: Zscaler)
Jul 03, 2025•17 min
Billionaires, scientists and start-ups are all trying to get in on the action. And it's not all about sending rockets and satellites into space. Space-enabled technologies are informing climate forecasting and disaster planning, as well as playing a role in logistics, defence and food security. State funded and private investment has reach an all time high. We head to the IAC in Milan to meet some of the industry experts leading the charge. Produced and presented by Ru Abbass Image: An illustrat...
Jul 02, 2025•17 min
In the 24/25 season the club finished in it's worst ever Premier League position. It also failed to qualify lucrative European football. Off the pitch, talk of worsening financial difficulties and redundancies at its Old Trafford HQ. Can new part-owner - and Britain's wealthiest man - Sir Jim Ratcliffe turn things around? And as the club looks to replace Old Trafford, is now really the right time to be investing in a new stadium? Produced and presented by Matt Lines (Image: Diogo Dalot of Manche...
Jul 01, 2025•17 min
The Öresund Bridge, which connects Sweden and Demark, opened exactly 25 years ago today. It is one of Europe’s most iconic bridges, carrying road and rail passengers between Copenhagen and Malmo. We look at how it has helped boost business and tourism and find out what other cities and countries might learn from its cross-border successes and challenges. Producer/presenter: Maddy Savage (Image: The bridge on a calm day. Credit Getty Images)
Jun 30, 2025•17 min
It's one of the world’s most versatile crops and a critical source of food security - it’s also a commodity under increasing global demand. Nigeria is the world’s largest producer of the root vegetable, cassava, but export numbers are tiny. Currently, the country imports products that compete with the indigenous crop. We hear from farmers, entrepreneurs and leading agronomists on plans to industrialise Nigeria’s cassava industry and realise its economic potential. Produced and presented by Laura...
Jun 29, 2025•17 min
We're in Dubai looking back on two weeks of uncertainty and concerns the world’s busiest oil shipping channel, The Strait of Hormuz, might shut. The UAE is a major global trading hub and home to the biggest port in the Middle East. We’ll be hearing how some countries are looking for alternatives to the Strait, such as pipelines or developing refineries. And what could this mean for the future relationship between Gulf states like this one, and Iran? Produced and presented by Sameer Hashmi Additi...
Jun 26, 2025•17 min
What happens to our data once it's been handed over to DNA testing companies? One such firm, 23andMe, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. The company was set up to help people could track their ancestry - one of a number of similar sites using DNA data to create links and matches between users. However the company has been dogged by privacy concerns over its use of customer information and was fined for a data breach that exposed UK customers. What lessons can be learned now the company's be...
Jun 25, 2025•17 min
We look at job security and long-term options for esports players after they hang up their controllers. The industry is worth billions of dollars and players win big prizes, but many make more money as content makers, and plan to move away from esports long-term. We head to an esports event in Birmingham UK to speak to professional gamers about their career prospects - and to young people who idolise these players and want to enter this field themselves. Produced and presented by Will Chalk (Ima...
Jun 24, 2025•20 min
From 1 July 2025 there will be complete ban on untargeted advertising of online gambling in the Netherlands. That's a dramatic reversal in policy from just four years ago, when the market was first regulated. The move will have a particularly significant impact in the Dutch sports world, where federations and clubs have benefited from intense sponsorship spending in the few years it has been legal. But now that flow of money is coming to an end. What impact will the new rules have, in sport and ...
Jun 23, 2025•17 min
