Business Daily

We’re in Madrid to discover a new way to power urban electric vehicles. No longer charging but swapping your batteries, or charging at your desk.

We meet the people trying it out, and speak to leading motor journalists to see if this really is a game changer in electric vehicle driving in cities.

(Picture: Black Electric SUV swapping battery pack in battery swap station. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey

A year ago, the Commonwealth Games looked dead and buried. The Australian state of Victoria had pulled out of hosting the 2026 edition due to spiralling costs, and in Canada, the province of Alberta had stepped back from bidding for the 2030 edition.

But now Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, has ridden to the rescue, agreeing to host the 2026 Games. It says its scaled back, lower-budget model for doing so could encourage poorer countries to do the same in the future.

How realistic is that? Is Glasgow 2026 the last hurrah for an anachronistic sporting event, inextricably tied to the British empire, or does it really represent a fresh start?

(Picture: A Commonwealth Games Glasgow 2026 delegation in Glasgow, UK. Credit: BBC)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

The Suez Canal was once one of the busiest global shipping routes – a third of the world's shipping containers normally pass through it.

Since the Houthis began to attack passing ships last year, the volume of vessels going through has declined rapidly.

The canal is run by the Egyptian government, and fewer ships means less foreign currency coming into the economy.

And it’s not just revenue from ships that Egypt is losing, it’s also losing tourists, as many people cancel their trips and spend their dollars elsewhere.

We speak to businesses in Cairo to see how they’re being impacted by these changes, and ask, as Egypt loses out, are other countries winning? Presented and produced by Hannah Mullane (Image: A ship transits the Suez Canal towards the Red Sea on November 3, 2024 in Egypt. Credit: Getty Images)

From spiced lattes to scented candles, autumn has become a staple in marketing calendars and on social media. We speak to businesses who thrive at this time of year; hear from content creators fuelling fall fever; and look at how the season is embraced in parts of the world without autumnal temperatures.

(Picture: Friends Amina, Ayesha and Noor in front of some pumpkins at Downey’s Farm, near Toronto, Canada. Every year they go to recreate a photo in the pumpkin patch. Credit: Megan Lawton/BBC)

Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet

It was on a university trip that Kenyan entrepreneur Joseph Nguthiru first came across water hyacinth in Lake Naivasha.

It is an incredibly harmful and invasive weed that is currently blocking waterways and devastating fish populations all over the world.

Joseph, who was an engineering student at the time, tells us how he came up with a solution to use the plant as a material for making packaging - and how he's founded a successful business, HyaPak Ecotech, as a result.

Produced and presented by Zawadi Mudibo

(Image: Fishermen removing water hyacinth from the net in Lake Victoria in Kisumu, western Kenya in 2018)

We look at the issues facing two of Europe’s major economies.

Germany’s downturn has deepened with existential fears about its major export industries. And now, political turmoil means industry leaders are calling for a snap election as soon as possible.

Meanwhile in France, there is weak growth as consumers feel poorer and politicians can’t agree on spending.

(Picture: French and German flags waving next to each other. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Rob Young

Climate change is changing the way winemakers plan, harvest and make their product.

On the Greek island of Santorini we find out how new techniques of vine planting are helping to preserve water amid more frequent drought conditions.

Investors in England have realised areas in the south of country have similar weather conditions to Champagne in France, 30 years ago.

Plus we hear from experts in France and Australia to discover different methods the industry is using, and find out how new businesses are advising the global wine industry to ensure its survival in a changing world.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: A picker throws the collected grapes from the vine in a tank at the Gusbourne Estate, Appledore near Ashford, England on October 28, 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

Attracted by Argentina’s right-wing libertarian president Javier Milei, and fearful of political breakdown and even the prospect of a widescale war in the northern hemisphere, some US citizens say they are planning to move to the South American nation to start afresh.

We speak to a few of them, and to an Argentine tech entrepreneur who left his country years ago due to its political and economic instability, but who is now spending more time there – attracted by Milei’s promises to slash the state.

What will these converts to Argentina find there, and will it match their expectations?

(Picture: Argentina's president, Javier Milei, on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Natalio Cosoy

Colonel Chris Hadfield is a former fighter pilot who became an astronaut and served as a commander of the International Space Station (ISS).

While in orbit he became a social media star, posting breath-taking pictures of earth, as well as videos demonstrating practical science and playing his guitar. These days, the Canadian invests in businesses and has written several best-selling fiction and non-fiction books.

In this programme, Chris Hadfield tells Russell Padmore how he was influenced by Star Trek, and the Apollo missions to the moon, as a child. He outlines why he welcomes private investment in space and he explains how he has become known for being the musical star in orbit.

(Picture: Chris Hadfield with a night sky in the background. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

They’re the kind of mega vessels which only a handful of people on the planet can afford.

We go to the Netherlands, where building and maintaining the most expensive yachts in the world is big business.

We visit Dutch yacht builder Heesen to look at the intricate design of these vessels, their opulence, and the huge amounts of money involved in building and selling them.

Plus we hear from those who actually help put the boats together.

And we get an expert view on the importance of the Superyacht sector to the country's overall maritime industry, and hear how politics, public perceptions, regulation and international sanctions have impacted the industry in recent years.

Presented and produced by Matthew Kenyon

(Image: Vida superyacht 55m built by Heesen Yachts and owned by Brooks Smith moored in Malaga, Spain in April 2023 (Photo by John Keeble/Getty Images)

It's a familiar feature of our oceans and beaches and yet its environmental impact has largely been overlooked.

Now supporters say seaweed can help us address climate change by reducing our reliance on fertilisers, and by reducing the methane emissions produced by cows. On top of that, proponents say a new material produced from the sugars in seaweed could provide a biodegradable alternative to the millions of tonnes of single-use plastic we throw away each year.

No wonder the World Bank is predicting a global seaweed boom worth $12bn this decade.

We hear from scientists and entrepreneurs from Australia to Zanzibar who say we are only just beginning to understand the exciting possibilities posed by this ubiquitous underwater species.

The Irish folk tune Dúlamán, about the island’s traditional seaweed gatherers, is used with the permission of musician Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh.

Produced and presented by Vivienne Nunis.

(Picture: Seaweed farm. Sumbawa. Indonesia. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore the largest infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic states - a new high-speed line connecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with their Western allies.

The project is supposed to be an economic boost to the region, and yet getting it on track hasn't been straightforward.

We speak to those in charge of the project, and to businesses in the cities en-route.

Produced and presented by Lisa Louis.

(Image: The partly-built Rail Baltica Riga central hub in Riga, Latvia, in June 2024. Credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In this programme, we look at some of the key issues for voters in the crucial, so-called ‘swing states’ in the 2024 US Presidential Election.

From Pennsylvania and the battle for blue-collar workers’ votes in Pittsburgh, to the cost of living in Nevada and the auto industry in Michigan. While for voters in Georgia, housing is proving to be a key issue.

We hear from people in each of these states about what matters to them and what could bring in those crucial votes for each candidate.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Hannah Mullane

(Picture: A 'Welcome to Nevada' road sign next to a Nevada State boundary sign. Credit: Getty Images)

On the character's 50th birthday, we hear from the boss of the Japanese company which created her.

Sanrio CEO Tomokuni Tsuji took over from his grandfather who founded the company in Japan.

The company struggled to be profitable for years - we find out how under the leadership of Tomokuni Tsuji, the brand has grown to a trillion yen company, and speak about some of the challenges around counterfeits.

Produced and presented by Mariko Oi

(Image: A woman poses with Hello Kitty plushies at the exhibition CUTE in London, United Kingdom on January 24, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

They’re the interactive games where players race against the clock to solve puzzles and break free.

And now major brands are tapping into the trend.

Companies are investing in escape rooms to enhance internal communications and team-building, and they’re now being seen as a powerful external communication tool too.

And we learn how escape rooms are being used to engage customers and showcase their products, crafting unusual marketing experiences.

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

Once difficult to find outside of Japan, the green tea has made it onto the menus of major coffee chains.

The matcha tea industry is projected to reach US$5bn in revenue by 2031.

We look at the role TikTok, celebrity and wellness endorsements have played, and ask whether the matcha we drink in the west is healthy.

Plus we hear from producers who say the industry needs regulation.

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

(Image: Matcha tea in a cup. Credit: Getty Images)

It has already inspired the hit HBO television series Succession, but now Rupert Murdoch’s family drama is playing out in real life in a courtroom in the US state of Nevada.

The 93-year-old media mogul is trying to change the terms of a family trust he made years ago that states that after his death, his four eldest children should get equal voting rights in his empire. Murdoch wants to alter it to give his eldest son Lachlan greater control.

We hear from outside the courtroom, look back at Murdoch’s extraordinary career, and talk to two people who know the Murdoch family story well. And we reflect on what the court case might mean for one of the world’s most powerful media empires.

(Picture: Rupert Murdoch arriving at a courthouse in Reno, Nevada. Credit: Reuters)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

We look at how some leaders in the battleground state of Pennsylvania are fighting for the approval of a deal for a Japanese company to purchase US Steel Corporation. That’s despite strong opposition from the unions and both presidential candidates.

(Picture: Edgar Thompson Plant in Braddock, PA. Credit: Getty Images/Washington Post)

Presented and produced by Monica Miller

From growing up as a refugee to leading the most recognised sustainability label in the world, Sandra Uwera talks about the challenges she's faced, and her drive to improve the lives of around two million farmers and workers around the world, through Fairtrade International.

(Picture: Sandra Uwera. Credit: Fairtrade International)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

In today’s episode we look at some ingenious solutions to water related problems.

We start our aquatic journey by going on a tour of one of Victorian England’s most important feats of engineering.

We discover a cheap and easy way to test for water quality, and learn about one of the biggest and most ambitious flood defence and general infrastructure projects in the world.

And we hear how a water and sanitation engineer in Nairobi, Kenya, is trying to prevent huge volumes of H2O being wasted in leaks.

(Image: The Octagon at Crossness Pumping Station, London. Credit: P. Scrimshaw)

Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson

In the second of a two-part series, we travel to the US-Canada border to find out what people, businesses and industries are thinking ahead of the US election. From one of North America’s busiest border crossings, to Canada’s energy capital, we hear from those who might be impacted by November’s result.

South of the border, in Mexico, we hear how tension with China is benefitting America’s closest neighbours.

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

(Photo:: A road sign in Fort Erie, Ontario points in the direction of the Peace Bridge crossing to New York. Credit: Getty Images)

The US presidential election on 5 November 2024 will have major consequences for its neighbours, Canada and Mexico. Trade, immigration, and diplomatic relations all hinge on the election's outcome.

This episode explores how the two countries are preparing for either a Donald Trump or Kamala Harris presidency. From business owners and farmers to international trade specialists, we learn what is at stake for North America’s economies.

Presenter: Sam Gruet Production: Sam Gruet and Megan Lawton

(Photo: Canadian farmer Dave Braden who produces organic grass-fed beef from his 50-acre Ontario farm. Credit: Megan Lawton)

Theo Leggett reports on the latest trends and concerns preoccupying the automobile industry at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have established that they can manufacture vehicles more cheaply than their European counterparts, and now they are looking to move into that market. Theo hears from Chinese and French car manufacturers about what this will mean for consumers.

China is not the only country selling EVs to European consumers, a big American name is reviving a classic brand with a new electric offering. And in a city where driving and parking is always a challenge, Theo checks out the latest solution – a tiny car produced by a toy manufacturer.

Producer/presenter: Theo Leggett

(Photo: visitors browsing the manufacturer displays at the Paris Motor Show 2024. Credit: Nathan Laine/Getty Images)

We meet the Team Principal at Williams Racing - who says he's determined to restore one of Formula 1’s most historic teams to its former glory.

From facing rejection early in his career to working with Honda, Brawn GP and Mercedes, James Vowles recounts his journey in the sport.

He is now focussed on transforming Williams, who have not claimed a championship since the late 1990’s.

Presenter: Theo Leggett Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: James Vowles at Williams Racing HQ in Oxfordshire. Credit: Amber Mehmood)

We look at a growing trend using artificial intelligence (AI) to 'connect' people to loved ones who have died.

The grief tech sector, also called "death tech", is now valued at more than £100bn globally, according to tech news website TechRound.

We hear from the people using technology, from the businesses building it, and we find out about the ethical challenges they face.

Is it going too far?

Produced and presented by Isabel Woodford

(Image: Woman looking at her phone in the dark. Credit: Getty Images)

We get the views of three American retailers - how do they see the economy and what do they want from the next US president?

We hear from a department store owner in Indiana, a bookshop owner in Texas and a snack company based in New York City.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler Additional production by Matt Lines

(Image: A shop owner holding an open sign. Credit: Getty Images)

We look into the implications of what has been described as sport's 'trial of the century'

If Manchester City are found guilty of breaching the English Premier League's financial rules - allegations Manchester City and the club strongly deny - the team could face relegation, while the Premier League risks serious reputational damage.

Produced and presented by Alex Capstick

(Manchester City celebrate winning the 2023/24 Premier League title. Credit: Getty Images)

People have been participating in mass rallies in India seeking justice for a young medical trainee who was raped and murdered in a hospital.

It’s put a spotlight once again on women’s safety at work - particularly for those women doing night shifts.

There are laws to protect women from sexual harassment in the workplace, but campaigners say it can be slow to get justice.

So what more can be done to improve women's safety and encourage female participation in the workforce? We talk to some night shift workers about their experiences.

(Picture: Activists and medical professionals shout slogans during a protest march to condemn the rape and murder of a doctor. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

Ruth Alexander talks to Nagi Maehashi, founder of the hit food site, RecipeTin Eats.

Back in 2014, Nagi gave up a high-flying job in corporate finance to start her blog. The gamble paid off and her blog now gets half a billion hits a year. She is also the author of two cookery books.

Nagi tells Ruth what those early days were like, how she built the business, and what mistakes she made along the way.

Plus - we hear about the crucial role of the blog's co-star Dozer, Nagi's much-loved Golden Retriever.

(Picture: Nagi Maehashi with her dog Dozer, surrounded by print-outs of her recipes. Credit: Rob Palmer)

Presenter: Ruth Alexander Producer: Lexy O'Connor

We look at the impact of a new 10 year deal with Madrid - does it mean one of the longest-serving venues - Barcelona - will lose out?

We speak to businesses and hotels in Barcelona who are looking to the future.

Is it really sustainable for one country to host two F1 events each year?

Produced and presented by Ashish Sharma.

(Image: Max Verstappen drives by the crowd during the 2024 Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit De Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain. Image: Getty Images)

The minimalist, flat-packed furniture company has revolutionised living spaces globally.

Originating from a small Swedish farm in the 1940s, it quickly grew and gained household recognition in the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, Ikea stands as the world's largest furniture retailer.

We speak to CEO Jesper Brodin to explore Ikea's brand evolution and its ability to adapt to consumer trends over the span of eight decades.

And how realistic are its sustainability targets?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer Amber Mehmood

(Image: Jesper Brodin. Credit: Getty Images/ Archive Credit: British Pathé, Homes Limited 1945)

Islands around the world rely on ships as their lifeline service - for everything from their domestic supplies, to making hospital visits, as well as supporting vital industries like tourism. When the services go down, for weather or technical reasons, these remote communities are cut off from the mainland, with no back-up option.

We hear from opposite sides of the world - Scotland and New Zealand - where unreliable car ferries disrupt the daily lives of residents and visitors.

And we hear from a company running one island ferry service that's working to improve its reliability.

(Picture: Caledonian MacBrayne ferry coming into Brodick harbour, Scotland.)

Presented and produced by Neil Morrow

Is selling off abandoned homes for a dollar or a pound the answer to invigorating a city?

We meet some of the people in the port cities of Baltimore in the US and Liverpool in the UK who have taken part in similar housing revival schemes. Is it an easy win, or is solving a city's problems more complicated?

(Picture: Maxine Sharples, who bought a house in Liverpool for a £1, holding a photo showing her undertaking renovation work in her home.)

Presented and produced by Rowan Bridge

Carl Allen is a multi-millionaire former businessman who ran a trash bag company in the US.

He's now the owner of an island in the Bahamas, a philanthropist and deep-sea treasure hunter, scouring the seabed for sunken Spanish galleons, slave ships and long-lost treasure. He tells us about his relentless search for one Spanish galleon that’s fired his imagination for the past 40 years. We discuss the ethics of treasure hunting and his belief that the best way to bring up relics from the bottom of the ocean is through PPPs - public-private partnerships. Produced and presented by Gideon Long

(Image: Carl Allen on a boat with some treasure. Image credit: Brendan Chavez at Allen Exploration)

There are more than three million vessels on the world's sea beds, and plenty of explorers looking for them.

But if they find something valuable, do they get to keep it? We talk to an arbitration lawyer about the laws governing the sea, and hear from maritime archaeologists about the perils of rummaging around on the ocean floor, disturbing long-sunken wrecks that offer a priceless glimpse into history. Some say we should leave these ships be, especially when they’re graveyards. Others say we should bring them to the surface, put them in museums to educate people, make money from them and perhaps even sell off some of their treasure.

Produced and presented by Gideon Long

(Image: A diver looks at a shipwreck. Credit: Getty Images)

In the first of our three part series looking at the money behind shipwrecks, we start with what's been called "the most valuable shipwreck in the world".

The San José is a Spanish galleon sunk by the British off the Colombian coast more than 300 years ago.

The treasure onboard is estimated to be worth $18bn, which means plenty of people are looking for it, and trying to lay claim to it.

A salvage company, the Colombians, the Spanish and a Bolivian indigenous community all say the shipwreck and treasure is theirs.

We hear their claims and find out more about this "holy grail of shipwrecks".

Presented and produced by Gideon Long.

(Image: Wagner's action of Cartagena (depicting the moment the San Jose exploded) by Samuel Scott. Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London)

It’s the second largest landmass in the world, famous for its lakes and spectacular forests, yet Canada’s travel industry has faced challenges since the Covid pandemic hit in 2020.

International visitor numbers still haven't recovered, and extreme weather events like wildfires have destroyed some of its best-known resorts. Plus difficult diplomatic relations have meant a reduction in tourists from a key market - China.

But Canada’s government says it has a plan for the sector which is worth $38bn CAD to Canada’s GDP.

We’ll hear about it from the country’s tourism minister and from business owners and tourists too.

Presenter/producer: Megan Lawton

(Photo: Jack Rivers is an indigenous cultural guide on Manitoulin Island, he runs tours around the Wiikwemkoong Reserve)

As the world gradually adopts 5G, there’s already talk of the next generation.

It’ll be around 2030 before 6G arrives, but network operators in Japan and South Korea are gearing up.

Meanwhile, some predict that 6G will render smartphones obsolete within a decade.

Devices like sensors, displays, drones and electronics in vehicles will spontaneously create their own networks, sending and receiving at super-fast data rates and low latency.

So, why the early excitement over 6G? How should businesses be preparing and what difference will it make to our lives?

Presenter: Gareth Mitchell Reporter: Michael Kaloki Producer: Izzy Greenfield

(Image: A person holds a mobile phone next to a cell tower. Credit: Getty Images)

Former fund manager Ruchir Sharma spent most of his career as a money manager on Wall Street. Lately though, he’s become a fierce critic of modern capitalism – arguing that the economic system is less fair and less efficient than it has ever been.

What’s the fix?

Produced and presented by Vivienne Nunis

(Image: Ruchir Sharma)

We visit an archaeological dig and meet the heritage consultants who ‘rescue history’ before the developers move in.

In wealthy countries, these consultants are paid in advance, and this has led to a growing industry. In lower income countries that’s not the case – so what’s happening there?

Plus - we look at how the very definition of heritage is fundamentally shifting.

(Picture: Archaeologist excavating part of human skeleton and skull from the ground. Credit: Getty Images.)

Presented and produced by David Reid

Ever been stuck in a meeting drowning in buzzwords? Terms like "synergies", "low-hanging fruit" or "deliverables"?

They're just a few examples of corporate jargon. A lexicon of colourful metaphors, buzzwords and acronyms that you’d never use with friends or family but have become common parlance in the world of international business.

Workplace lingo might serve as a useful industry short-hand, or a way to gel with colleagues, but it can also irritate, obscure meaning or even hide unpleasant truths. And it's more prevalent than ever.

In this episode, we team up with our colleagues at BBC Learning English to explore the origins and purpose of corporate language and why we love to hate it; hearing from workplace culture and linguistics experts, professionals in the City of London, a plain-talking CEO, and some of you - the BBC World Service audience.

(Picture: Business people looking at sticky notes on a glass board as part of an upskill workshop. Credit: Getty Images.)

Presenters: Ed Butler and Pippa Smith Producer: Elisabeth Mahy

Want to learn more about this topic? Click on Related links or go to: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/business-jargon/240925

Billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, as well companies like Boeing, believe a future where more satellites are put in orbit, alongside new space stations, as well as plans for bases on the moon, will prove very profitable.

But it is not proving easy for Boeing in particular, following problems with its Starliner space craft on its maiden flight to the International Space Station.

We hear from astrophysicists, companies that advise on space investment, and former astronaut Cady Coleman.

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

(Image: Artist's concept of the Boeing Starliner craft travelling in Earth orbit. Credit: Boeing)

Vietnam has enjoyed more than 6% annual growth every year for the last thirty years or more, a staggering growth path, transforming one of Asia’s poorest economies into a major global trading hub. It's now one of the world’s top twenty economies.

But are there challenges ahead. A high-profile anti-corruption drive, extreme weather events, and the death of its long-term leader have raised questions about the country’s path to prosperity.

(Picture: Aerial view of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at night, showing high-rise buildings, the Landmark 81 supertall skyscraper, and transport networks. Credit: Getty Images.)

Presented and produced by Ed Butler

From experiencing a stroke at the age of 17, to various corporate jobs that never quite fit, we hear about Glenn Fogel's journey to becoming CEO of Booking Holdings, the parent company of online travel site Booking.com.

We learn why the EU-based company is in the sites of competition authorities having been dubbed a “gatekeeper” in the travel market, and we hear what Glenn thinks about the impacts of mass tourism.

(Image: Glenn Fogel. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

Tech titan Elon Musk says he’s backing Donald Trump to win the US election this November. But is he representative of what the wider industry thinks? And what does Silicon Valley, traditionally a Democratic heartland, want from either a Kamala Harris or a Donald Trump presidency? We explore what the two presidential candidates are offering this important sector of the US economy.

(Picture: A smartphone screen shows the live broadcast of the presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A hand painted sign above it says ‘Trump or Harris?’ Credit: VCG/VCG via Getty Images.)

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Lexy O'Connor

The 2024 women's basketball season has broken records from attendances at matches, to points scored by rookie Caitlin Clark.

As it draws to a close, we look at whether success on the court is leading to profitability off it.

Despite some major media deals, the WNBA is still struggling to turn a profit.

So is it really a major player in the sports industry?

Produced and presented by Izzy Greenfield

(Photo: A'ja Wilson, on court for the Las Vegas Aces. Credit: Getty Images)

From Paraguay to Portugal, Tokyo to Tel Aviv, more than 80 cities and countries around the world have introduced a ‘mayor for the night’. Several more are trying to introduce 24-hour zones to their nightlife – allowing alcohol to be served all day and night.

But what are the benefits?

We take you to the dancefloors of Montreal, Canada’s largest French-speaking city, where the local government is introducing a 24-hour zone.

We travel to Berlin, the club capital of the world, where all-nighters have been the order of business since 1949.

And we stop by Amsterdam to find out how electing a night mayor has boosted tourism and led to a drop in anti-social behaviour.

(Image: Montreal at night. Credit: Catrine Daoust)

Presented and produced by Sam Gruet

We use global positioning systems (GPS) for our sat navs and our mobile phones, and it's used extensively in aviation and shipping navigation.

But what happens when it's disrupted?

GPS jamming, when the signal isn't able to get through - and spoofing - which tricks the receiver into calculating a false position, is happening more and more.

We look into the impact on the transportation sector - and on our everyday lives.

Produced and presented by Gareth Mitchell

(Image: An airline cockpit. Credit: Getty Images)

One of the world's biggest logistics firms sits down with us to talk about freight costs, the German economy and his route to success.

DHL employs more than half a million people globally. It was as US-based logistics firm when it started out, but by 2001 was owned by Deutsche Post.

So how is the now German-based company navigating global economic challenges, including political tensions and conflicts?

Produced and presented by Leanna Byrne

(Image: Tobias Meyer. Credit: Getty Images)

What links the lightsabre, Scream mask and Wilson the volleyball?

They’re all film props - objects that help bring stories to life on screen. Behind the scenes, they support a whole industry of specialist expertise.

We speak to prop masters about the pressures on budgets and safety, following the death of Halyna Hutchins, who was killed on set by a prop gun.

Produced and presented by Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Image: Harry Potter's glasses on display in June 2021 at Prop Store in California, US. Credit: Getty Images)

RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 claiming the lives of more than 1500 people. Just over 700 survived the disaster.

The events surrounding the sinking of the luxury ocean liner, the identities of those on board, plus the stories of heroism and heartbreak on the night have generated global fascination in the vessel, which continues to this day. And that interest in Titanic has generated huge commercial appeal and revenue - for writers, film and documentary makers, museums and auction houses.

We examine how some mysteries surrounding the doomed ship continue to spawn so many, varied business ventures around the world - and the ethical questions that arise from the continued fascination in the Titanic story.

(Picture: Woman looking down at some binoculars inside a glass case at a Titanic exhibition in Paris, France. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

2023 was a record year of live music, with an all-time high in worldwide ticket sales.

Beyoncé and Taylor Swift’s world tours broke records, however fans trying to get tickets faced big problems.

We hear from musicians, fans and global ticket selling giant Live Nation (of which Ticketmaster is a part) to find out what’s happening, and if it is broken, what is being done to fix it?

Produced and presented by Sam Gruet

(Image: Beyoncé performs onstage during the Renaissance World Tour in October 2023, Kansas City, Missouri. Credit: Getty Images)

The campaign teams supporting Donald Trump and Kamala Harris in the race to the White House are expected to spend a total of more than $10 billion.

A journalist with the CBS network, Larry Magid, explains why most of the money will be spent on political advertising on television.

Professor Natasha Lindstaedt, from the University of Essex explains analyses why spending on American political campaigns continues to escalate.

The marketing expert, Allyson Stewart Allen, explains how the creative teams behind the political messages have learned lessons from advertising products like a new brand of drink.

We also hear from Robin Porter, the Head of Political at Loop Me on how the company’s artificial intelligence is helping to target voters, notably in swing states.

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

(Image: Voters in Santa Monica. Credit: Getty Images)

They’re the 300 dollar subscription fitness bands being worn by a host of celebrity-backers in 2024. But who is the business leader behind the billion-dollar Whoop brand?

The son of an Egyptian migrant to the US, Will Ahmed was always interested in sports. During his college years he started to notice the dangers of doing too much sports training. He describes this as a ‘rabbit hole’ as he began researching sleep and recovery patterns in professional athletes.

This led him to create a fitness tracker company that is a 3.4 billion dollar venture today, attracting famous athlete-investors like Michael Phelps and Cristiano Ronaldo and taking on established names in fitness tech like Apple, Google, Garmin and Fitbit.

We hear how he did it, and what challenges he’s faced along the way.

(Picture: Will Ahmed in his office, wearing a Whoop device. Credit: Whoop)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

After protests and political turmoil, we look at the challenges facing the new interim government.

We'll hear from the biggest suppliers to global fast fashion brands and talk to students about their hopes and anxieties.

Plus we have an exclusive interview with the country’s new central bank governor.

Presenter: Nikhil Inamdar Producer: Jaltson Akkanath Chummar

(Image: A garment worker at a sewing machine in Bangladesh)

Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande and even Donald Trump have signed up to the manifesting philosophy - the trend in believing that dreams can come true if you envision a positive outcome.

But does it hold the secret to financial and professional success or is it a pseudoscientific fad? And what's behind the meteoric rise of this new-age practice?

From books and podcasts to thousands of creators and videos on social media, Megan Lawton traces the history, investigates the methods and explores the latest wave of this 'positive mindset phenomenon'.

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

(Picture: Alicia Tghlian runs manifesting platform, Growth for Girlies, from her condo in Toronto, Canada.)

As many countries and cities around the world rally against over tourism, we're in Albania which is investing huge sums in growing its infrastructure to welcome visitors in.

The UN ranks Albania 4th globally for tourism growth and it places top spot in the European list of countries. Around 14 million visitors are expected in 2024 but with a tourism boom comes huge investment, construction and a changing economy, but at what cost to the environment? We hear about plans to build a luxury resort - funded by Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner - and travel to a construction site for a new airport serving the coastal resorts.

Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Image: Aerial view of a crowded sand beach with umbrellas and lots of people at sunset in Ksamil, southern Albania. Credit: Getty Images)

We hear from farmers in Montana, Iowa and Georgia.

What do they want to hear from the presidential candidates ahead of the US election?

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann

(Image: A farmer using a combine in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

It is transfer deadline day for football's most competitive league - the Premier League - when clubs can add players to their squad who were previously under contract with another club.

In the cut and thrust of football's transfer market are the agents. Among them, Kees Vos - who has been described as one of the most influential figures in world football. As agent to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, he is said to control the ins and outs of the club.

Matt Lines talks to him about the stories behind the headline transfer sagas and how the industry has changed during his 20 years in the business.

(Photo: Kees Vos. Credit: SEG Entertainment)

Presented/produced by Matt Lines

As temperatures rise, productivity falls.

Extreme global temperatures are draining tens of billions of dollars in economic productivity every year from some of the world’s biggest cities. It’s not just outdoor jobs that are impacted, but office work too.

In this episode, we ask work leaders, economists and employees what can be done to work around hot weather. From changing working hours to introducing heatwave insurance.

(Picture: Labourer drinking from a water bottle, in the sunshine. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

Cities and countries across the world are bringing in measures to restrict the type of lets popularised by companies like Airbnb and Vrbo.

The regulations are to address concerns that homes in tourist areas are being used by visitors rather than being available for local people to rent on a long-term basis.

We hear from Barcelona where its hoped thousands of flats will now be available for local people, and we're also in Halifax in Canada, where restrictions been in place for nearly a year.

Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey

(Image: A couple pressing a doorbell on a street in Spain. Credit: Getty Images)

Chocolate is very important to Switzerland’s economy: with more than 200,000 metric tonnes produced each year, sales are worth almost $2 billion.

But there are challenges – not just over sustainability, but over exploitation. And the volatile price of cacao.

We meet the researchers who are coming up with solutions – including new, and potentially healthier, types of a favourite indulgence.

And ask: Is this enough to secure the future of chocolate?

Produced and presented by Imogen Foulkes

(Image: A scientist developing a new chocolate product)

The US-based lawyer and managing partner at litigation firm Wisner Baum, in Los Angeles, has made his name taking on large pharmaceutical companies in high-stakes legal battles. He is the youngest attorney in US history to win a multi-billion dollar jury verdict.

We hear how Brent transitioned from child actor, to successful lawyer, and how one ground-breaking case has now caught the attention of film-makers.

(Picture: Brent Wisner delivers opening remarks in the Monsanto trial in San Francisco, California on July, 09, 2018. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Amber Mehmood

Each year millions of Indians go abroad to study and work. A lot of them end up sending money back home, a transfer known as remittances.

The money is a crucial source of household income in low and middle-income countries, according to the World Bank. India is the only country to have received more than 100 billion dollars through this route - but it comes at a loss of its human capital. We speak to Indian expats and economists to explore the effect of remittances on the Indian economy.

Presenter/ producer: Devina Gupta

(Photo: Closeup view of a man counting Indian currency. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in Manisa on Turkey’s west coast.

It’s one of the country’s manufacturing centres for home appliances like washers, dryers, and refrigerators.

But soon, thanks to a $1bn investment deal, it will also be a local factory hub for China’s BYD - the world’s second biggest maker of electric vehicles.

The Turkish government is desperate for international investment to turn around its economy, and the region would benefit from 5,000 jobs. China is keen to get another foothold into the European market. So is it win-win?

Produced and presented by: Victoria Craig

(Image: BYD vehicles in Istanbul as the Chinese automotive giant announced a huge factory investment. Credit: Getty Images)

In February 2024, huge forest fires destroyed 90% of the land and plant species. Workers were killed and homes destroyed.

We travel to the seaside town of Vina del Mar to find out how the country’s oldest and most important botanical garden is recovering.

The garden’s described as the green lung of the region, and used to be home to hundreds of different plant species, many of them native to Chile.

We’ve follow the gardens as they try to reopen and get visitors and tourists back through the gates.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: Park rangers clean roads after the fires in February 2024. Image: Getty Images)

We catch up on the ongoing disruption to the shipping industry after Houthi attacks on commercial vessels.

The Iran-backed group said it was targeting ships linked to Israel, the US and the UK in support of Hamas.

We look at the cost of diverting cargo away from the Red Sea, and hear about the impact of months of disruption.

Plus a new remote shipping route is getting more traffic, as ships travel over the top of the world via the Arctic.

Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey

(Image: A Houthi military helicopter flies over a ship in the Red Sea. Credit: Reuters)

Ginny Gilder won silver as a US Olympic rower in 1984. Today, she's a multimillionaire owner of a women's professional basketball team.

How did success in the water inspire Ginny's breakthrough to the board room?

We look at a life given to sport and business - and what drives her.

(Image: Ginny Gilder. Credit: Getty Images)

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood

As Spain's La Liga gets underway, we explore the global advertising appeal and earning potential of one of its newest football stars.

Jude Bellingham is a 21-year-old midfielder from England who plays for Real Madrid, and he's hitting the peak of his career.

The face of several brands, with major endorsement deals and more courting his attention, we explore his global advertising appeal, and how he might manage these partnerships while still focusing on his game.

Presented and produced by Matt Lines

(Image: Jude Bellingham holding the UEFA Champion's League trophy on 1 June 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

We explore professional dog-walking around the world. We hear from walkers from the United States, Argentina and Europe about how they operate, the growing market, and the challenges of making a career from taking other people's pets on daily walks - sometimes several at a time.

And we join a dog walker in Paris, Caroline, to find out why the relationship between walker and dog is the most important when securing clients.

Expect plenty of barks.

(Image: Caroline, a professional dog-walker in Paris, with three dogs)

Presented and produced by Sean Allsop

From Instagram-famous dogs to viral kittens, pet influencers are revolutionising brand marketing with viral content and endorsements.

It's a lucrative market in which companies are leveraging these furry celebrities to drive engagement and sales.

We'll uncover why this trend is proving to be so profitable.

(Image: Tika, an Italian greyhound, modelling canine fashion. Credit: Thomas Shapiro)

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

With animal adoptions skyrocketing during the pandemic, pet care has evolved dramatically.

From self-cleaning cat litter trays to smart feeding bowls, interactive toys, and pet cameras, we'll hear from some of the brands reshaping the way we care for our furry friends.

But are we missing out on the meaningful connections our pets need as automation becomes more prevalent?

(Picture: Rupert the British Shorthair cat, inside his litter robot. Credit: Deborah Weitzmann/BBC)

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

As prices for homes and rents continue to rise in many towns and cities, it's one of the key issues for voters.

In 2023 the average price of a home in the United States was $495,100, six per cent higher than a year earlier, though the signs are prices may now be starting to fall.

That’s partly because mortgage rates have spiralled as high as 7% for many new buyers – making repayments prohibitive.

We ask business owners working in housing to tell us why, and what’s the fix?

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: David Cann

(Image: A "Now Leasing" sign outside the Willows at Valley Run, an affordable housing development, in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Credit: Getty Images)

Have you decided when you'd like to retire? Will it be your choice, or is there a set age in your country or profession?

More than a million people took part in protests in France last year when the government proposed an increase to the retirement age without a vote.

Age has also played a big factor in the replacement of Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential candidate.

So is a fixed retirement age a good idea – or workplace outdated? Should it be more fluid – a matter of personal choice?

Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria Hastings

(Image: Two women holding up placards that read, '64years it's no' march during a nation wide strike called for by French trade unions, in Rennes, northwest France on January 19, 2023. Credit: Damien Meyer/AFP via Getty Images)

Four sportsmen have reached 10 figures according to financial magazine Forbes.

However the wealthiest sportswoman, tennis star Serena Williams, could triple her wealth and not get there.

We speak to agent Stuart Duguid, who looks after four-time Grand Slam winner Naomi Osaka, who tells us how elite sportswomen are investing their money and what barriers there are to growing their fortunes.

We ask if, and when it might happen, and what that would mean for women’s sport.

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt Lines

(Serena Williams playing in the 2022 US Open. Credit: Al Bello/Getty Images)

The sudden closure of the huge open pit copper mine, Cobre Panamá, has created a dramatic economic fallout, with its loss of jobs and damage to the country’s reputation for investors.

It was shut down by Panama's Supreme Court after months of protests against it.

We look at the impact, and also ask what could happen next?

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers Additional sound mixing by Grant Cassidy

(Image: The Cobre Panama mine. Credit: Reuters)

The founder of one of Ireland's largest recruitment agencies, Staffline, shares how her upbringing during one of the most politically tumultuous periods in Northern Ireland's history, known as 'The Troubles', shaped her career path.

From working in her parent's taxi firm, to the probation service to recruitment. And even a foray into politics.

So what does Tina McKenzie MBE envision for the future of the country?

Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: Tina McKenzie. Credit: Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

Football clubs must work under a strict policy of Financial Fair Play - or FFP - but what does it mean? And how does it work?

With the summer transfer window now open, clubs are in business, buying and selling players. But football’s governing bodies are keeping a close eye on how much they spend.

We take a look at how top-flight clubs in the Spanish league, La Liga, are managing the financial constraints.

(Image: Real Madrid unveils new signing, Kylian Mbappe, at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Spain, in July 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma.

More than 25 years after the Kosovo war, a music festival in the capital Pristina is hoping to change the image of the country around the world by inviting international artists and fans to learn more about the country’s cultural scene. Sunny Hill Festival is organised by global pop star Dua Lipa and her dad Dugi, who’s from Pristina.

They are using their industry contacts to bring acts like Bebe Rexha, Stormzy and Burna Boy to party with tens of thousands of people, as well as inviting top industry experts. But more than 15 years after Kosovo declared independence, could politicians be doing more to help boost the country’s music scene rather than relying on the Lipa family? Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

(Dua Lipa performs on stage with her father Dukagjin Lipa during her first concert held in her hometown Pristina in 2016)

We look at Japan's policy to boost its economy by getting more women into the workforce.

It was announced back in 2013 by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and dubbed 'Womenomics'.

Mr Abe gave a deadline of 2020 to significantly increase the number of women in leadership roles. But that date quietly came and went without the target even getting close.

However could things could be starting to change? Japan Airlines new CEO Mitsuko Tottori is a woman, and that has restarted conversations. We hear from her, and from young women in the country about their hopes for the future.

Produced and presented by Mariko Oi

(Image: Mitsuko Tottori, chief executive officer of Japan Airlines Co. Credit: Getty Images)

We hear from 4-time Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett and her entrepreneurial husband Liam.

Libby Trickett (Lenton) competed for Australia at the highest level, winning gold in the pool in Beijing and London.

At the height of her swimming career she married fellow swimmer Luke Trickett, who had left the sport and was using the skills he'd learnt as an athlete to enter the business world.

We hear how the Global Financial Crisis inspired Luke’s entrepreneurial spirit. And through it all, how teamwork has been their ultimate key to success in transitioning to new careers after retiring from competitive sports.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood Editor: Lis Mahy

(Photo: Libby and Luke Trickett. Credit: Getty Images)

Paris 2024 will see the debut of the competitive street dance, Breaking.

From the streets of the Bronx in the 70s to sport's biggest stage, we hear from the pioneers and the athletes hoping to turn their passion into a lucrative career.

Breaking isn’t currently on the list for the next games in LA in 2028, so could it be a one-hit wonder?

(Image: Man doing a headstand outside with his crew cheering in the background. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Matt Lines

The running shoe industry is worth around $50bn across the world, with more and more of us taking part in the sport.

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.

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield.

(This programme was first broadcast in January 2024. Picture: Runners on a race track. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re used to fashion giants like adidas and Nike designing athlete uniforms for the Olympics and Paralympics.

This year however, it’s likely we’ll see smaller labels on the podium.

In this programme we hear from the diverse list of designers and learn why the fashion industry is so keen to work with sports stars.

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

(Image: Portugal's Gabriel Ribeiro competes during the Skateboarding Men's Street Preliminaries of the Olympic Qualifier Series 2024.Image: Getty Images)

People arriving at Paris’s Orly Airport for the 2024 Olympic games will be able to take an underground train straight to Saint-Denis where most of the Olympic action is taking place.

It's thanks to a line extension that opened on June 24. And that is just the ‘hors d’oeuvre’. The Grand Paris Express is a metro expansion on a massive scale whose aim is to transform the city from a normal-sized European capital to a metropolis the size of London.

What could it do for the Parisian, and French, economies?

(Image: Saint-Denis–Pleyel station in Paris, France. Copyright: Société des grands projets / Kengo Kuma & Associates / Sylvain Cambon)

Presented and produced by John Laurenson

We go to India to find out what it takes to manage one of the country's most iconic brands – Bisleri.

It is so popular that it has become synonymous with the product itself - bottled mineral water.

We hear from CEO Angelo George about the ethics of paying for water, plastic pollution and the challenges of shrinking water resources.

Produced and presented by Devina Gupta

Sound mixing by Wayne Parkes

(Image: Angelo George. Credit: Angelo George)

For decades, Nigeria has struggled to grow its domestic automotive industry while vehicles made by manufacturers from Japan, Korea, Europe and the US have dominated. But critics say many of those cars are not suitable for Nigeria’s roads.

Lately, there has been a surge of “made in Nigeria” brands, of vehicles manufactured and assembled locally, which have been designed with the country’s challenging road conditions in mind.

But as Nigerians are gearing up to the idea of replacing their trusted foreign brands with local alternatives, China has introduced a range of vehicles tailored to the Nigerian market - but cheaper.

(Image: A Nord Tank SUV. Credit: Tobi Ajayi)

Presented and produced by Peter Macjob

We head to Montreal, host city of the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.

It's the country's largest tourist event, with an estimated 345,000 fans attending in 2023.

And the sport is growing in popularity, thanks in part to the Netflix series, Drive to Survive.

So how valuable is a Grand Prix to a country's economy? And which other cities are trying to get in on the action?

Produced and presented by Megan Lawton

(Image: The start of the Canadian Grand Prix at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Quebec on 9 June 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Love them or loathe them, retailers across the world are installing more automated checkouts, as they aim to reduce staff costs.

But the loss of personal service and the unreliable technology has prompted complaints from customers.

And supermarkets are also facing a significant increase in theft from self-scan checkouts.

We're in Ireland, where shops only installed the technology in recent years. Plus we hear from experts in Australia, China, the UK and United States.

(Image: A man scans some bread through a self checkout. Credit: Getty Images)

Produced and presented by Russell Padmore

Some cities around the world have decided to make public transport free. Services can range from local bus routes to shopping malls to city-wide transit. We're in the rich nation of Luxembourg which became the first country to introduce free public transport nationally, as well as in Delhi where women can travel for free in an effort to boost the numbers of women in the workforce. We're also hearing from Kansas City where the funding model is running out for a scheme introduced four years ago. Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney

Image:A woman boards a bus in New Delhi in October 2019, following a Delhi goverment travel scheme distributing free bus tickets for women. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN/AFP via Getty Images)

We hear from Democrat fundraisers who are divided over whether he should pull out of the campaign for re-election.

In the past week, since Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance, a number of donors have publicly warned they will withhold funds unless Mr Biden is replaced as the Democratic party candidate.

Pressure on Mr Biden, 81, to step aside has grown, including from Hollywood celebrities George Clooney and Michael Douglas.

However he has vowed to stay on, taking on Donald Trump, 78, in the November presidential election.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler

(Image: President Joe Biden speaks during a 4th of July event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty Images)

Two football mad continents, Europe and South America, are competing in international tournaments at the moment.

Fans are all decked out in their teams shirts - but they’re not all wearing the latest versions.

In fact, sales of retro or vintage shirts are booming.

Be it the iconic Italian kits of the 90s, the classic sky blue of Argentina or Nigeria’s viral world cup kit - we look into this trend and speak to the fans who are buying, and the companies cashing in.

Produced and presented by Imran Rahman-Jones.

Image: A fan wears a retro Eric Cantona shirt before a Manchester United match in April 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

It's the biggest operation of its kind in US history, as the state tries to save its coastline which is vanishing at an alarming rate.

We travel to the Mississippi River and the city of New Orleans to see how billions of dollars are being spent to fix the rapid land loss.

The project to revert the Mississippi to its land-making pathways could restore ecosystems destroyed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and create buffers to protect against sea level rise and hurricanes.

The Louisiana coastline is disappearing due to human-made and natural factors, such as leveeing the Mississippi for oil and gas infrastructure, erosion, and sea-level rises.

And this is having an impact on local wetlands which are eroding, leaving communities vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.

Produced and presented by Beth Timmins

(Image: Oyster shells painted by members of the community as part of the shorelines project )

The global alcohol industry is worth just over one and a half trillion US dollars, and celebrities want a part of it.

Famous faces and their drinks brands are filling up the shelves, from model Kendall Jenner’s tequila to actor Ryan Reynolds’s gin. And it’s not just alcohol: the energy drink market is in the sights of celebrities, too. How much more are customers willing to pay for these products?

In today’s episode of Business Daily, we'll ask those who stock the drinks, and those who serve them, how much difference - if any - a famous name makes, and we'll hear why celebrities and brands benefit from mutual association.

(Picture: David Beckham and Kendall Jenner. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

Ghana’s parliament has recently passed a tough new anti-LGBT bill.

President Nana Akufo-Addo hasn't yet signed it in to law, after warnings that it could threaten Ghana’s much needed donor funding from places like the World Bank and IMF.

Ghana is suffering a major economic crisis and last year had a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Other African countries have also brought in similar laws. But is it fair for international financial institutions to get involved in politics in this way?

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Immie Rhodes

(Image credit: AFP)

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in multiple industries all around the world, and in travel, the technology has made big strides.

We travel to Spain to find out how the airline Iberia and the hotel chain Iberostar are using AI to change the way they operate.

At Iberostar, AI applications can analyse and predict the amount of food that restaurants will need, and hopefully reduce food waste as a result.

Meanwhile, Iberia is using the tool as a personal assistant to help high-end travellers plan their trips.

And we hear about some of the limitations of the technology if it's not applied properly.

(Picture: Business woman with an open suitcase, preparing for a trip, while looking at her phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

In the midst of a snap general election, we take the opportunity to look at the state of the country’s economy.

France has a huge debt burden and some business leaders are worried that the economy could worsen if Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party get into power. The French stock market has been falling since the parliamentary election was announced - although it has recovered slightly after Sunday's result. Meanwhile the parties on the left have formed a new alliance, The New Popular Front, with radical policies like increasing tax on high earners and reducing the pension age.

Although we are fixated on the rise of the far right, the parties of the left formed a united block to fight RN and they have made gains in the first round of voting.

We hear from a solar panel manufacturer in Paris, plus a former UK Ambassador to Paris who knows President Emmanuel Macron. And economic experts in Brussels and Frankfurt discuss the EU perspective.

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

(Image: Supporters of the far-right National Rally wave French flags at the party headquarters following voting during the first round of legislative elections on 30 June 2024)

It is the biggest sporting event on the planet based on the millions of spectators who line roads for a fleeting view, but this year a shake up will mean the loss of the iconic Champs Elysees finish.

We look at how a cycling race became a global money spinner - particularly for its owners, the Amaurys, one of the richest families in sport.

We also visit the Maurienne valley, a regular stop off for the Tour, to find out what’s in it for sponsors and hosts.

And with a new final stage ending in Nice to steer clear of the Paris Olympics, and a date clash with the French election, could 2024 see a change in fortunes for the Tour de France?

Producer/presenter: Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Photo: Mark Cavendish, Davide Ballerini, Elmar Reinders, Michael Morkov Dylan Groenewegen and Cees Bol competing during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 2. Credit: Getty Images)

After tackling its security problem, can the smallest country in Central America get its finances under control too?

We hear from street sellers, economists and locals about the issues they're still facing, and visit a surf town where tourism is having a big economic impact.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: A street market in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)