Alle afleveringen van Business Daily – pagina 15 van 40

Why are we ageist?

24 januari 2024 · 18 min

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We look at how many employers still base decisions on a person's age, despite the strong pressures in higher income countries to retain and encourage older staff. Lees meer

What are the underlying reasons for this prejudice?

And Ed meets a cosmetic doctor at a central London clinic to discuss the increase in demand for anti-ageing procedures, for people who want to look younger at work.

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Picture: A man and a woman sit at a table at work, with a woman standing up talking to them. Credit: Getty Images)

Tackling ageism at work

22 januari 2024 · 18 min

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One in two people are ageist, according to the World Health Organization. Ed Butler looks at the scale of the perceived problem, hearing from workers and experts. Lees meer

In the UK and US, for instance, more than a quarter of over-50s report experiences of ageism in the last 12 months. One recent global survey found that it’s the most socially accepted prejudice, more widespread than either racism or sexism.

And how much is ageism a factor in this year’s US presidential race?

(Picture: Timothy Tan working alongside a colleague at a computer)

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Amber Mehmood

The business of bed bugs

18 januari 2024 · 18 min

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Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to deal with - and they're a nightmare for any town or city that relies on a thriving hospitality industry. In October 2023, French government officials had to act rapidly following news headlines claiming there'd been a rise in infestations in Paris, in the run-up to the 2024 Olympic Games. Lees meer

Infestations can damage reputations, and lead to financial losses due to compensation claims and costly pest control treatments. But scientists are developing solutions to deal with the problem.

In this edition of Business Daily, we speak to hotel owners, entrepreneurs, and travellers who’ve been bitten - plus the companies creating technology to help hospitality bosses tackle the problem.

(Picture: A hand in a blue glove, holding a magnifying glass over some bed bugs. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

Goodbye blue tick?

17 januari 2024 · 18 min

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Once a much desired badge of authority and quality, on some social media platforms the blue tick (or check) is now available to anyone who chooses to buy one. Lees meer

But has this been a popular move?

And has the monetising of verification meant that the blue tick has lost its credibility?

We hear from industry experts who can shed some light on verification, which has dramatically changed since Elon Musk bought Twitter, now X, in October 2022.

Presenter: David Harper
Producer: Victoria Hastings

(Image: Two workers look at a phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Can cars and tourism boost Spain's economy?

16 januari 2024 · 18 min

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We look at how the country can grow its economy in 2024. Lees meer

In November 2023, Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez won a second term as Spain's prime minister, and said his focus would be reducing public debt and helping key sectors such as tourism and the automotive industry.

Plus the government wants to become a leader in renewables.

Presenter: Ashish Sharma

(Image: Woman takes a selfie in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)

The race for the perfect running shoe

15 januari 2024 · 19 min

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The running shoe industry is worth around 50 billion dollars across the world, with more and more of us taking part in the sport. Lees meer

With more popularity comes more competition, so what are brands doing to keep consumers interested? We ask the chief marketing officer at Swiss sportswear company, ON, and find out how it helps sales when a top athlete wears their shoes.

And as the debate around 'super shoes' rumbles on, are they really worth the expensive price tag? US marathon winner Kellyn Taylor tells us about the pros and cons of carbon plated shoes - which played a big role in marathon records being smashed in 2023.

(Picture: A group of runners racing through a park. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

Business Daily meets: Michele Arnese

12 januari 2024 · 18 min

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It's widely recognised that we are bombarded with fast-paced imagery in the modern world, whether it's social media videos, or digital billboards in city spaces. Lees meer

But there has been a similar explosion in sound, says advertising entrepreneur Michele Arnese. He thinks brands can only compete with the help of artificial intelligence (AI).

Dougal Shaw speaks to the Italian tech entrepreneur who trained as a classical musician, but founded an advertising company that helps companies stand out with distinctive sounds.

(Picture: Michele Arnese of Amp looking at AI-generated music with a colleague.)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

The race to secure semiconductor supply chains

11 januari 2024 · 18 min

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Semiconductors hit the news during the Covid-19 pandemic, as issues with supply chains led to shortages of cars and soaring prices. Lees meer

Since then, geopolitical tensions have impacted the industry. 90% of the world's most advanced chips are made by TSMC in Taiwan.

Now, countries all over the world are investing billions of dollars into the industry, so that manufacturing of these chips can happen in more places and alleviate some of the problems supply chains have faced in the last few years.

In today’s episode, we visit a new semiconductor fabrication plant in the UK - the first to develop a low-cost, flexible semiconductor, as companies, and nations, race to diversity the industry.

(Picture: Two workers in PPE inside the Pragmatic semiconductor plant in Durham, England. Credit: Pragmatic)

Produced and presented by Hannah Mullane

Food security in Puerto Rico

10 januari 2024 · 18 min

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The Caribbean island imports around 90% of its food and by law only US ships can be used to transport it – which pushes up the price. Lees meer

We speak to islanders who think that needs to change, and are pushing for Puerto Rico to become more self sufficient.

Weather events like Hurricane Maria, which left many without power and water for months, have brought the issue to the forefront once again.

We meet a new generation who are leading the way, using new technology to try and make it easier, and cheaper, for people to buy local and rely less on imports.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: Puerto Rican farmer Fernando Maldonado. Credit: Jane Chambers)

What is a digital twin city?

9 januari 2024 · 18 min

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Almost 60% of the world’s population live in cities. And this trend is expected to continue - by 2050 nearly 7 of 10 people will live in urban environments. Lees meer

Although more than 80% of global GDP is generated in cities, there are challenges: increasing carbon emissions and environmental pollution, traffic congestion and urban vulnerability, exposed by natural disasters such as floods and storms.

The creation of a digital twin - a digital representation of a real city, infrastructure or even a whole country - could help decision-makers simulate real situations, allowing them to make better decisions. Situations like floods and other extreme weather events.

We look into the technology and find out what the benefits and limitations are...

And the former foreign minister of Tuvalu, Simon Kofe, explains how climate change has forced his country to consider preserving their whole statehood and culture in the metaverse.

Produced and presented by Ivana Davidovic

(Image: A digital representation of Singapore. Credit: Singapore Land Authority)

How to fix the US budget

8 januari 2024 · 18 min

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Twice in 2023, the American government faced the prospect of having to shut down because politicians in congress couldn’t agree on a budget to fund it. Each time, a shutdown was narrowly averted – by last minute, short-term deals. Lees meer

Now, a third deadline is looming in mid-January. It leaves politicians – with fierce disagreements over what services the government should pay for, and how – little time to reach an agreement.

We look at the impact of this uncertainty on businesses, and ask, in an election year, what can be done to bring the chaos to an end?

Presented and produced by Rob Young

(Image: An employee walks past a sign at the entrance of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History during a 35-day partial government shutdown in Washington, DC, January 28, 2019. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: Kathryn Jacob

5 januari 2024 · 18 min

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For 70 years, Pearl & Dean has been at the forefront of cinema advertising in the UK. Its CEO, Kathryn Jacob has been leading the company for 18 of them. Lees meer

But it's been a rocky few years for the movie industry, as it battles the economic effects of the Covid pandemic.

In this edition of Business Daily meets, Kathryn discusses how cinemas are recovering, and how the advertising industry is slowly embracing diversity.

(Picture: Kathryn Jacob)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

Being unbanked

4 januari 2024 · 18 min

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How easy is it to open a bank account in your country? Lees meer

Around the world, 1.4 billion people can’t get a bank account, and two-thirds of them are in low and middle income countries.

People from migrant communities also struggle to access formal banking services.

We hear from 19 year-old Josue Calderon. Originally from El Salvador, he arrived in the United States when he was 16. He tells Sam Fenwick about the challenges of only being able to use cash when he first arrived in the US.

Sam also speaks to BBC World Service listeners about their experiences of opening a bank account.

(Picture: The hand of a woman about to take money out of her purse. Credit: Getty Images)

Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick
Additional production by Barbara George

Tricking the brain – are holograms the future?

3 januari 2024 · 18 min

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The use of these endlessly flexible 3D images is increasing rapidly. Lees meer

Not just in entertainment, but in medicine, education, design, defence and more.

Holograms trick the brain into seeing something in 3D when it’s really just a projection, allowing us to feel immersed in something – whether it’s an atom, or a cityscape.

We talk to companies developing this fast advancing technology and ask – will we be living in a holographic future?

Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon

(Image: A citizen watches a hologram of the artwork 'A Panorama of Rivers and Mountains' during a digital art exhibition at an art museum on March 11, 2023 in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province of China. Credit: Getty Images)

Living off-grid: Scaling up

2 januari 2024 · 21 min

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Alastair Leithead and his wife Ana moved to Portugal during the Covid pandemic. They live off-grid, meaning they have no access to mains electricity or water supplies. They also have to manage their own waste water and sewage. Lees meer

Now the former BBC correspondent is embarking on an ambitious project to build and run a hotel, meaning their solar powered utilities will not only have to work for them, but also paying guests.

Produced and presented by Alastair Leithead.

(Image: Alastair and Ana at their property. Credit: Alastair Leithead)

Living off-grid in Portugal

1 januari 2024 · 12 min

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In the first of a two part series, we're in the Alentejo region where people are buying land and empty properties in an area without power or water supply. Lees meer

Former BBC correspondent Alastair Leithead is one of them - he has moved there with his wife, and is trying to build and run a hotel. He travels around the region and speaks to his neighbours about their experiences.

Plus - what do local people think of this influx of foreigners coming to live off-grid?

Presented and produced by Alastair Leithead.

(Image: The sun setting over solar panels in Portugal. Alastair Leithead)

Business Daily Meets: Dr Yasmeen Lari

22 december 2023 · 18 min

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Pakistan's first female architect came out of retirement to help rebuild her country after the 2005 earthquake. Lees meer

Now she's helping communities devastated by the 2022 floods.

Dr Lari talks about her experience starting out in a male-dominated field, the changing focus of her career, and her mission to build a million flood-resilient homes in Pakistan by 2024.

Produced and presented by Emb Hashmi.

(Image: Dr Yasmeen Lari. Credit: Getty Images)

Turkey adjusts to ‘bitter medicine’ of high rates

21 december 2023 · 18 min

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President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heard Turkish voters back in May when they said they wanted change in the economy. Lees meer

So, he appointed a new finance minister and central bank governor to lead the charge.

Despite the president’s strong opposition to using higher interest rates to cool rising prices, he’s allowed rates to rise in each of the last six months.

While that’s helped bring about an economic turnaround, it’s put added pressure on households who have for years been reliant on low borrowing costs.

Will the president’s patience with economic orthodoxy last, or are these early policy changes a sign of long-lasting change?

Presenter Victoria Craig
Produced by Victoria Craig and Ceren Iskit

(Image: Eren and Ümit Karaduman and their children. Credit: Victoria Craig)

Battling snakes to gather Brazil nuts

20 december 2023 · 18 min

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Despite the name, Bolivia is actually the world's biggest exporter of Brazil nuts. Lees meer

We travel to the hot and humid north of the country to look at the production process which can be extremely dangerous.

Plus we hear how the business of Brazil nuts is helping stop deforestation in the Amazon.

Presenter: Jane Chambers
Producers: Jane Chambers and Helen Thomas

(Image: A worker unloading Brazil nuts from the Pando region at a nut processing plant in Riberalta, Bolivia. Credit: Bob Howard)

Was 2023 a bad year for IPOs?

19 december 2023 · 18 min

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When private companies around the world want to raise cash, they can do so by starting a process to list on a stock exchange. This is known as an IPO, or initial public offering. Lees meer

Analysts watch such public listings to gauge the health of an economy.

In 2021, IPOs were booming, but in 2023 there's been a big drop in activity - with a record low number of companies choosing to offer their shares publicly on stock exchanges in the US, UK and Europe.

What's going on, and why does it matter when IPOs don't do well?

(Picture: The hand of a man holding a phone, monitoring trading data on his phone, tablet, and computer. Credit: Getty Images)

Produced and presented by Frey Lindsay

Has shoplifting become a global problem?

18 december 2023 · 19 min

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Shoplifting has long been a concern for small and large retailers worldwide, but many believe the issue has recently increased - including incidents of retail violence. Lees meer

Sam Gruet speaks to some of these retailers in New Zealand, India, Pakistan and the UK, to explore the possible reasons behind the rise in retail crime and what measures they’re introducing to respond to the escalating issue. These include covert security, body cameras and stab-proof vests.

He also asks if advances in technology can act as a powerful deterrent to potential shoplifters, and if it could be the solution to minimise retail loss.

(Picture: Security camera. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Sam Gruet
Producer: Amber Mehmood

Business Daily meets: Niccolo Ricci

15 december 2023 · 17 min

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Niccolo Ricci is the CEO of Stefano Ricci, a luxury clothing brand whose suits are worn by the rich and powerful. Lees meer

The firm was established more than 50 years ago by his parents, and now, Niccolo, and his brother Filippo, run the family business; supplying high-end luxury attire to clients all around the world. It's a brand that counts heads of state and business magnates among its patrons.

In an era of casual fashion, this is a rarefied world where discretion is the name of the game.

Presenter: Leanna Byrne

(Photo: Niccolo Ricci. Credit: Getty Images)

Putting the 'F' word into climate talks

14 december 2023 · 17 min

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The COP 28 climate talks in Dubai have closed with a deal to "transition away" from fossil fuels. Lees meer

So what does this mean for the future of oil, gas and coal companies?

Sam Fenwick talks to two companies who sent representatives to COP 28; the Norwegian energy giant Equinor and the Middle East's oldest private energy company, Cresent Petroleum. Do they plan to ever abandon fossil fuels entirely?

And she finds out what the leader of COP28’s Greenpeace delegation makes of the agreement.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Photo: Offshore drilling platform during sunrise with work vessel. Credit: Getty Images)

Taiwan: Prepping for war

13 december 2023 · 18 min

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One month before pivotal elections in Taiwan, Ed Butler meets ordinary citizens getting ready just in case growing threats of a Chinese invasion do come to pass. Lees meer

First-aid and weapons training are top of the list. But why isn’t the government doing more to get people ready?

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

(Image: A first aid training exercise)

Taiwan: The political mood

12 december 2023 · 18 min

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The military threat from China, which claims Taiwan as its own, has dominated global headlines of late. Lees meer

But ahead of elections, most voters here say it’s low wages and property prices that are preying on their minds. Are politicians listening?

We also explore Taiwan's low birth rate - is it a financial decision for young couples not to have children and get a pet instead?

Produced and presented by Ed Butler.

(Image: A young couple take a selfie on the city MRT train. Credit: Getty Images)

Kinmen: The Taiwanese islands next to China

11 december 2023 · 18 min

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Sitting just a few kilometres away from mainland China, the tiny Kinmen islands are in an unusual situation. Lees meer

Beijing says they and Taiwan are a part of China, they're a breakaway province, and it wants them back, by force if necessary.

As tensions rise, Ed Butler visits Kinmen to discover how this most exposed population feels about Beijing's claim - and hear about plans to build a bridge to connect the islands with the Chinese mainland.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler.

(Image: A beach on Kinmen Island, with sea defences)

Business Daily meets: Joyce and Raissa de Haas

8 december 2023 · 18 min

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Joyce and Raissa de Hass used to make tonic waters and mixers for their friends. That passion became a university project, which then turned into a successful start-up. Lees meer

In the early days, the twin co-founders from the Netherlands were releasing batches of products they weren't really keen on, but now they think they've found a winning formula for premium mixers. They've won awards for their drinks, and now stock several premium bars and supermarkets.

In this edition of Business Daily, we hear how Joyce and Raissa turned a passion project into a business, why they believe they're shaking up the drinks industry, and what it's like to run a start-up with your identical twin.

(Picture: Joyce and Raissa de Hass)

Presented and produced by Dougal Shaw

Star Wars: The empire strikes cash

7 december 2023 · 18 min

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When Star Wars launched, it helped usher in the era of the blockbuster. In the wake of the film, came the figures. Forty years on from their launch, the original toys have now become highly sought after - some fetching a few hundred thousand dollars. Lees meer

We head to the largest toy fair in Europe dedicated to buying and selling Star Wars figures. We look at how much the toys are now worth and speak to some of the super fans now buying them - and explore how big the market for the vintage figures is.

Presenter/producer: Rowan Bridge

(Photo: Someone dressed in The Mandalorian costume at a Star Wars toy fair, with fans in the background)

Women, sport and business: Merchandise

6 december 2023 · 17 min

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In this episode of Business Daily, the latest in our series on women, sport and business, it's all about the merch. Lees meer

We'll explore how important replica tops and kits actually are for women’s sport in terms of fandom, participation and of course money. We ask what female sports fans and participants actually want to wear and whether they're being adequately catered for.

Dr Katie Lebel is Professor at the University of Guelph in Canada and researches gender equity in sports branding and consumer behaviour. She tells us there is a distinct lack of data in this area and as a result sports wear firms are definitely missing out on revenue.

Dana Brookman is founder of the Canadian girl's baseball league and tells us her biggest challenge has been sourcing suitable uniform for her teams, and Sam Fenwick visits sport wear manufacturer Kukri to see what they have available for women and how they're working to improve their offer.

We’re going to explore what’s available and whether half the population is being properly catered for in terms of sports gear...

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Carmel O'Grady
(Image: Canadian girls baseball; Credit: Dana Brookman)

The K-rice belt: Seeds for self-sufficiency?

6 december 2023 · 19 min

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Could Africa reduce its dependency on imported rice with the help of South Korea? Lees meer

The continent's appetite for rice is growing fast at over 6% per year. And even though rice is grown in about 40 out of 54 countries in Africa, the production only covers about 60% of the demand. This results in 14 to 15 million tonnes of rice being imported each year costing over $6bn.

To remedy this, a new rice variety was developed in co-operation with South Korea: ISRIZ-7 and ISRIZ-8. These high yield rice varieties were bred from the very rice that is credited with bringing self-sufficiency in rice to South Korea in the '70s. Earlier this year 10 African nations launched the ‘Korean Rice Belt’ project to improve rice yields in participating countries.

David Cann looks into the rice co-operation between South Korea and African countries, speaking to the South Korean agricultural minister and farmers in Senegal and The Gambia.

Presenter/producer: David Cann

(Photo: A handful of ISRIZ rice seeds. Credit: Rural Development Administration)

What’s holding women back from work in Sri Lanka?

5 december 2023 · 18 min

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After the catastrophic financial crisis, early signs of stability are returning to Sri Lanka. But there’s arguably a more entrenched economic dilemma in the country that had the world’s first female prime minister - the lack of women in work. Lees meer

With first-hand testimony of harassment and social exclusion, this programme examines the barriers holding women back.

Presenter Laura Heighton-Ginns also visits a women-only employer, successful restaurant chain Hela Bojun, and speaks to presidential advisor Priyanee Wijesekera about the path to cultural change.

Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Image: A woman working in a government back scheme. Credit: Sri Lanka Department of Agriculture)

How to solve fashion’s waste problem

4 december 2023 · 18 min

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More than a quarter of all clothes made are never actually sold - where do they go? Lees meer

We look into new legislation being finalised by the EU, to try and make fashion more sustainable.

There will be a ban on the incineration of unsold goods and each product will need a digital passport so it can be tracked and its lifetime monitored.

Hannah Mullane speaks to businesses across Europe about whether they think the industry is ready for these kind of changes.

We also head to Ghana, to the Kantamanto market - the biggest second-hand market in the world, to understand the impact the fashion worlds unsold garments can have.

Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane

(Picture credit: A pair of shoes hang over power lines at the Kantamanto market in Accra, November 2022. REUTERS/Francis Kokoroko)

Business Daily meets: Konrad Bergstrom

1 december 2023 · 18 min

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Konrad Bergstrom comes from a family of seafarers. And as a business leader, he wants to make navigating the seas environmentally friendly. His business, X Shore, has been dubbed "the Tesla of the seas". Lees meer

Konrad is now considered one of Sweden's leading entrepreneurs, having also founded Zound industries - the tech company that produces electronics for Marshall Amplification and Adidas.

But it's not all been plain sailing for the businessman.

In this edition of Business Daily, Leanna Byrne finds out how a boy selling hot dogs in his home town went from windsurfer to entrepreneur; how he overcame business failure; and how a business disagreement led Konrad back to his home - the sea.

(Picture: Konrad Bergstrom. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Leanna Byrne

Is the corporate world too close to COP?

30 november 2023 · 19 min

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Greenhouse gas levels have never been higher. If we're to limit global warming, businesses have a crucial role to play because they operate in sectors that need to radically change, like energy, transport and finance. Lees meer

Thousands of company bosses are touching down in Dubai for this year's COP28 climate change talks. But environmentalists claim many businesses are not acting fast enough.

They're increasingly concerned about the growing number of fossil fuel companies attending these summits. Are they right to be worried?

(Picture: COP28 venue ahead of the 28th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in Expo City Dubai. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

Can China stop its love affair with coal?

29 november 2023 · 18 min

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It’s the world’s largest user of coal fired energy, and the biggest polluter. Lees meer

However, China is also the world’s biggest producer of green energy. How can it reconcile the two and keep its next zero promises?

Presenter: Rahul Tandon
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Thermal power and solar power in Shanghai. Two power generation methods in one photo. Credit: Getty Images)

Asia's air pollution problem

28 november 2023 · 18 min

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It’s the week of the Climate Change Conference or COP28, and as leaders from around the world meet in the UAE to talk about how to tackle global warming, we take a look at one urgent issue: air pollution. Lees meer

According to World Health Organisation data, nearly seven million lives are lost prematurely each year due to harmful air.

In this edition. Devina Gupta explores the air problem affecting major cities in Asia - to the cities of Delhi, Lahore, Taipei and Jakarta - to find out how lives and livelihoods are being impacted, and what can be done.

(Picture: The Swaminarayan Akshardham temple under a thick layer of smog in Delhi, India. Credit: Harish Tyagi/Shutterstock)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta.

Why is Spain betting on green hydrogen?

27 november 2023 · 18 min

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Spain is trying to position itself as the centre of renewable energy production in Europe, particularly in green hydrogen. Lees meer

The country already boasts one of the first centres worldwide where green hydrogen is produced.

But while it rushes headlong with several projects in the pipeline, we examine the economic viability and the impact of producing green hydrogen.

(Image: A green hydrogen manufacturing facility. Credit: Iberdrola)

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

Who is Sultan Al-Jaber?

24 november 2023 · 18 min

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We find out why he's a controversial appointment for the COP28 presidency. Lees meer

Sultan Al Jaber’s appointment has been widely questioned because he’s also the boss of Abu Dhabi’s state oil company Adnoc.

But supporters point to his work as founder of the green energy giant Masdar.

Is he compromised or uniquely qualified?

We speak to people who’ve interviewed him, worked with him, and can give us the inside track.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick
Producer: Lexy O'Connor

(Image: Sultan Al-Jaber. Credit: Getty Images)

The world's longest subsea power cable

23 november 2023 · 18 min

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They are the cables that run along the sea bed to move power where it’s needed for a cheaper price. Lees meer

Business Daily’s Rick Kelsey goes to the site of The Viking Link - the longest one ever built - just before it goes live between the UK and Demark.

We’ll be hearing what these cables may do for our electricity costs and how safe they are from sabotage.

Rebecca Sedler Managing Director for NG Interconnectors tells us how it will save people money, and engineer Oliver Kitching spent four weeks on the cable laying vessel at sea. We also here from the Danish engineers who often have too much power available, plus Dhara Vyas from Energy UK discusses concerns around sabotage.

Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey.

Image: The Viking power cable. Credit: National Grid)

Kimchi: Korean food goes global

22 november 2023 · 18 min

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Kimchi, the tangy fermented vegetable dish, is now being made and sold around the world. Lees meer

South Korea’s kimchi export value has risen dramatically in the past few years, going far beyond Asia. And it's consumed by not only overseas Koreans but by the locals too.

While kimchi remains a distinctly Korean dish, in recent years, those with little to no connection to the country have been producing and selling kimchi.

What is behind the rise?

In this edition, David Cann looks into the growing popularity of the dish; speaking to kimchi experts, traders and producers.

Presented and produced by David Cann.

(Picture: Kimchi being made at a traditional market in Seoul, South Korea. Credit: Reuters/Kim Hong-Ji)

How to spot a diamond

21 november 2023 · 18 min

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When is a diamond really a diamond? Lees meer

When it’s been formed miles underground a billion years ago, or when has it been created in a laboratory, under temperatures close to the heat of the sun? The answer is – both are true. They look and behave exactly the same, but they are very different in price.

The lab-grown diamonds are marketed as kinder to the environment, and they are far cheaper - and that’s led to concern about whether the two kinds have been mixed together, with man-made stones passed off as natural. So, what is the industry doing to give consumers confidence?

(Picture: Close up of man putting engagement ring on girlfriend. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Lesley Curwen
Producer: Barbara George

Disruption in the diamond sector

20 november 2023 · 18 min

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A few years ago you could have assumed all diamonds had been dug out of the ground – but now it’s true that some of them have been created, at unbelievably high temperatures, in just a matter of weeks. Lees meer

In the first of two Business Daily programmes about the evolving diamond market, Lesley Curwen heads to the glamorous jewellery district of Hatton Garden in London – to see how the jewellery world is being re-shaped by the mass production of laboratory-made stones.

We hear from India how they’re created in temperatures as hot as the sun - and talk to one of the world’s biggest jewellery brands about why they are using only man-made diamonds.

We also look at claims that man-made diamonds are the green and ethical choice.

(Picture: Tweezers holding a diamond. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Lesley Curwen
Producer: Barbara George

Business Daily meets: Cycling boss Doug Ryder

17 november 2023 · 18 min

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The South African former pro rider set up his cycling team in 2007. As MTN Qhubeka they became the first-ever African registered team to ride the Tour de France. Lees meer

He talks about the challenges of putting together a team from scratch - and the steep learning curve he faced moving from cycling to managing.

After a successful stint on the world stage, a combination of financial and sponsorship problems lead to the team, which by then had gone through multiple name changes, being disbanded in 2021.

Doug Ryder has now put a new team together – we catch up with him at the Q36.5 Pro Cycling HQ in the Netherlands.

Produced and presented by Matthew Kenyon

(Image: Doug Ryder. Credit: BBC)

Argentina goes to the polls

16 november 2023 · 18 min

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There are two candidates: one is the current economy minister who has a wealth of experience in power; the other is a maverick libertarian economist who wants to ditch the country’s currency, the peso, and strip the central bank of its ability to print money. Lees meer

We speak to his senior economic advisor, and also to a wine producer from the western province of Mendoza, who tells us about the challenges of doing business in a country with two exchange rates, severe restrictions on imports, a heavy tax burden and a shrinking economy.

And we speak to voters in Buenos Aires about what they want from their next president in a nation which seems to lurch from one economic crisis to the next.

Picture: Composite image of Javier Milei (Credit: Luis Robayo/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock) and Sergio Massa (Credit: Tomas Cuesta/Reuters) in front of an Argentinian flag (Credit: Carl Recine/Reuters)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

Biden and Xi to meet in San Francisco

15 november 2023 · 18 min

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We’re looking ahead to the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco – the first time the two leaders will have met in 12 months. Lees meer

Diplomatic ties between Washington and Beijing have deteriorated this year, with tensions rising over Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Meanwhile, there’s been a tit-for-tat trade spat over semiconductors and raw materials. As the presidents meet on the side lines of the APEC summit, Vivienne Nunis takes stock of the relationship between the world’s two largest economies.

Produced and presented by Vivienne Nunis.

(Image: US President Joe Biden and China's President Xi Jinping meet at the G20 Summit in Bali on November 14, 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

The classic cars going electric

14 november 2023 · 18 min

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Some owners are converting their vehicles into EVs. Lees meer

The idea is to boost the performance of these cars and make them ready for a green future.

The process is not cheap - it requires specialists who can retain the vintage value of these cars while fitting them with a modern electric engine.

Critics feel that such a transition takes away the emotional and engineering legacy of these vehicles. So we travel across the UK to find out about the challenges and the future of this niche business that is helping classic cars go electric.

Produced and presented by Devina Gupta.

(Image: 'Isetta', owned by Aleks Hughes which has been converted to electric. Credit: Richard Heeley, Bite the Hand)

How has war changed the lives of Ukraine’s working women?

13 november 2023 · 18 min

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The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 saw millions of Ukrainian women and children flee to safety; causing massive upheaval and hitting the economy hard. Lees meer

For the women who have stayed, their lives have been transformed; many have taken on new roles, like Tetiana, who is now working underground in a coal mine, and Evgeniya, who is now a sniper on the frontline.

Others, like Alina Kacharovska, have managed to grow their businesses; in this case, shoes and accessories, or are stepping into leadership positions, like Yulia Burmistenko, in the crisis group at energy company D-Tek.

In this edition of Business Daily, we also hear from Iryna Drobovych from the Ukrainian Women’s Congress, and Yuliya Sporysh, founder & CEO of NGO Divchata, on how the war could change things for gender equality in Ukraine.

(Image: Tetyana Ustimenko, manager of underground installations at DTEK. Credit: DTEK)

Presented and produced by Clare Williamson

Business Daily meets: Silvina Moschini

10 november 2023 · 19 min

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The Argentinian-American tech entrepreneur moved to the US in 1997 and carved out a career in the corporate world before breaking free and setting out on her own. Lees meer

In late 2020, the remote working company TransparentBusiness, which she co-founded 12 years earlier, achieved a $1bn valuation.

Now she continues to push for gender and racial equality in the workplace, is an investor on the TV show Unicorn Hunters, and has also established a new asset-backed cryptocurrency.

She explains her journey, the setbacks she’s faced along the way and opens up about what keeps her motivated.

Presenter/producer: Sam Clack

(Image: Silvina Moschini. Credit: Dasha Horita)

Last orders for the Irish pub?

9 november 2023 · 22 min

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Fears are growing for the future of the country's bars - especially in rural areas. Lees meer

In less than 20 years almost a quarter of Irish pubs have closed, many of them businesses which have been run by the same family for generations. R

Russell Padmore travels across the Emerald Isle to hear how the closure of pubs is a setback for rural communities, but also a worry for the country’s tourism industry.

We hear from owners of pubs in County Donegal, a beer brewing company and a hospitality sector expert in Dublin, and a tourism marketing advisor.

Presenter: Russell Padmore

(Image: A closed pub sign. Credit: Getty Images)

Caste bias in corporate America

8 november 2023 · 19 min

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There is a growing debate in the US about the caste system - an ancient social ranking system where the community you are born into determines what kind of job you do, who you marry, and much more. Lees meer

The caste system in India dates back over 3,000 years and divides Hindu society into different social strata. In many South Asian countries, it is outlawed. But members of the South Asian diaspora in the US say this type of caste bias persists, and there is often very little protection at workplaces against it.

For the community, opinions are divided. Seattle in Washington was the first city to ban discrimination based on caste. But the fight continues for activists in California, where a bill that sought to ban discrimination was vetoed in October. Opponents called it a "divisive bill" that "implicitly singles out" South Asians.

In this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta speaks to workers who have experienced such discrimination, and explores some of the challenges for lawmakers seeking to ban it.

(Image: A group from Equality Labs at a rally in September 2023, pushing for a law to ban caste discrimination. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta