Business Daily

Will Bain is joined by Nga Pham in Jakarta and Carsten Brzeski in Frankfurt to take stock of the week's business stories.They discuss the economic impact of heatwaves around the world, as extreme temperatures affect productivity, energy demand, and economic growth. The panel also examines Germany's plans to reform its pension system and what they could mean for Europe's largest economy.Plus, a dispute over fruit imports is raising fresh tensions between China and Taiwan, as Beijing's purchases of custard apples spark concerns on the island. And after a volatile week for technology shares, including sharp movements in SpaceX stock, the panel asks whether investors are becoming more nervous about the future of the tech sector.Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann Executive Producer: Justin BonesYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPhoto: People cool off in the Trocadero fountain in front of the Eiffel Tower as temperatures rise in Paris during a heatwave affecting a large part of France, June 23, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Abdul Saboor)

Toy Story 5 broke opening weekend box office records, handing Josh D'Amaro a welcome gift as he settles in to the top role at Disney. But he inherits many challenges at the global media company as well - theme park attendance has dipped, overall cinema sales are down compared with pre-pandemic box office takings, while its streaming service Disney+ is yet to make a profit. And while Toy Story 5 recreated the magic of the original animated adventure, recent releases linked to Marvel or Star Wars have bombed.This is the latest episode of our weekly Power Players show, hosted by Rahul Tandon and Will Bain in the UK, and North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury in New York.Producer: Rebecca SmyllieYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture:A general ambiance of atmosphere during the "Toy Story 5" Paris Premiere at Le Cirque d'Hiver Bouglione on June 14, 2026 in Paris, France. Credit Julien Hekimian/Getty Images)

We hear how a childhood in Guatemala, a fascination with computers and a belief that education should be accessible to everyone helped inspire the world's most popular learning apps. Luis von Ahn tells us how he went from creating CAPTCHA and selling reCAPTCHA to Google, to building Duolingo into a multi-billion-dollar education technology company used by millions around the world. He reflects on his mother's sacrifices to fund his education, the lessons he learned as an entrepreneur, and why he struggles with conflict in his life as a tech CEO. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber Mehmood If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Artificial intelligence is transforming industries and creating vast new fortunes. But behind every chatbot, image generator and AI model is a physical product: a semiconductor chip.In this edition of Follow the Money, we trace the global supply chain powering the AI revolution. From the companies designing the world's most advanced chips, to the factories manufacturing them, and the specialist machines needed to produce them, we examine who is profiting from the surge in demand.We also explore why so much of the world's most advanced chip production is concentrated in one place, Taiwan, and what that means for the global economy at a time of growing tensions between China and the West.As governments compete for technological leadership and businesses spend billions on AI infrastructure, we ask a simple question: who's getting rich from the AI boom, and what happens if the supply chain breaks?Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: David Cann

Preparing for the worst might sound a little paranoid, but more people are embracing the prepper mindset and buying emergency supplies. As preparedness becomes a growing business, we visit a survival demonstration, speak to a supplier of emergency kit, and hear from a Swedish Civil Defence official. What's behind the rise of prepping, and why are so many people getting ready for the unexpected?Presenter: David Harper Producer: Victoria HastingsYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Rahul Tandon is joined by Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Singapore and Walter Todd in South Carolina, USA. They discuss which jobs may be most resistant to the rise of AI and whether skilled trades such as plumbing and locksmithing could offer greater job security. They also compare the challenges facing the US and Chinese economies in light of the latest data releases. And can Toy Story 5 match the box-office success of its predecessors?Producers: Neil Morrow and Bisi Adebayo Executive Producer: Justin BonesYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

The US and Iran are on the verge of a major deal aimed at reopening one of the world's most important shipping lanes. But even if an agreement is signed, how quickly can things return to normal? How soon can oil tankers and LNG shipments return to service? When might energy supplies begin to ease? And how long before drivers, businesses and households actually feel the benefit through lower prices? Markets may react within hours, but the real-world impact could take much longer.This is the latest episode of our weekly Power Players show. It's hosted by Rahul Tandon in the UK and our North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury in New York, in conversation with the BBC's Economics Editor Faisal Islam.Producer: Niamh McDermott Editor: Stephen Ryan Executive Producer: Justin Bones(Picture: People drive past an anti-U.S. billboard depicting U.S. President Donald Trump and the Strait of Hormuz, in Tehran, Iran, May 17, 2026. Credit: Majid Asgaripour/WANA - West Asia News Agency)

Greek-born billionaire John Catsimatidis rose from working in a New York grocery store to build the Gristedes supermarket chain and a wider business empire after leaving university before graduating. Now head of the Red Apple Group, with interests spanning real estate, energy, aviation and media, he remains a prominent figure in US business and politics, regularly discussing business with President Trump, despite setbacks including a collapsed airline venture and an unsuccessful run for New York mayor.Founders - the stories of the emotions from the highs and lows of starting a successful businessPresenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber MehmoodYou can email the time: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: John Catsimatidis attends the Economic Club of New York in New York City, U.S., May 28, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Jeenah Moon)

When the US and Israel struck Iran in March 2026, Wall Street was opening as missiles were still flying. Within hours, a small number of investors and companies stood to make billions. The conflict has already cost an estimated $40 billion. Sam Fenwick follows the money; from defence contractors replacing weapons systems, to gas exporters benefiting from disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, and to anonymous traders who appear to have bet on the strikes before the news broke. Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt Lines You can email the team on businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Off the coast of Sierra Leone, Sherbro Island has been earmarked for an ambitious transformation: a new centre for international business and investment, designed to rival cities like Singapore or Hong Kong. The BBC's Ed Butler travels to the island to investigate the project and speaks to developer Siaka Stevens, who is leading the effort alongside supporters including film-star Idris Elba, about the vision and what it will take to deliver it. But how realistic is the ambition, and can it become more than a promise?Presenter/producer: Ed Butler Editor: Stephen RyanEach Monday on Business Daily, we take you around the globe to the heart of the stories and meeting those living through them.You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Connecting the timezones we get different perspectives on the key global business stories of the week, setting you up for the weekend. Rahul Tandon discusses OpenAI's plans to sell shares with Emily Peck from Axios and David Kuo from The Smart Investor. Plus, who are their business heroes and villains of the week?Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Josh MartinYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: CEO of OpenAI Sam Altman waves as he speaks with reporters, following meetings on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. in June 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper)

It's not just about rockets. This week, Michelle, Rahul and Will explore one of the most anticipated stock market debuts in history: the SpaceX IPO. With a potential $1.75 trillion valuation and intense global investor interest, it's widely tipped as one of the biggest market launches ever. But can the company live up to the hype — or is this Elon Musk's biggest gamble yet? Plus: what does SpaceX actually do, and why does it matter to investors?This is the latest episode of our weekly Power Players show, hosted by Rahul Tandon and Will Bain in the UK, and North America Business Correspondent Michelle Fleury in New York.Producer: Rebecca SmyllieYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk reacts during an event in London, UK in 2023. Credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo)

We meet Caecilia Chu, founder of one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing fintech companies, YouTrip.Growing up in a small public housing flat in Hong Kong, she watched her father study at night for years to become an accountant, only to later struggle to secure a bank loan to start his own business. The experience left a lasting impression and sparked her interest in making financial services more accessible. She tells Leanna Byrne how she went from a failed first startup and hundreds of investor rejections to building a company that now processes billions of dollars in payments each year. She also shares how the pandemic-era collapse in travel nearly wiped out the business overnight, forcing a dramatic pivot that ultimately helped YouTrip survive.Founders with Leanna Byrne - The stories of the emotions from the highs and lows of starting a successful business Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Caecilia Chu)You can contact us by email to businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

World Cup 2026 will span the United States, Canada and Mexico, with demand for tickets at record levels. Fifa stands to earn nearly $9 billion from the tournament, more than the entire Paris 2024 Olympics. So who pays, and where does the money actually go? Sam Fenwick follows the cash through the business of the World Cup: the rising price of tickets, Fifa's own resale platform, the billions generated by broadcast rights and sponsors, and the host cities covering security and transport costs while receiving little direct revenue in return.Featuring Mark DiDonato (Florida State University), ticketing consultant Jim McCarthy, Amir Somoggi (Sports Value), and Alan Rothenberg, who led the 1994 US World Cup and now sits on the Los Angeles host committee.On Tuesdays, we Follow the Money with Sam Fenwick. Discover where the cash you're spending goes.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt LinesYou can contact the team on businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Photo: A Germany fan during training at the Fifa World Cup 2026 in North Carolina, USA. Credit: Chuck Burton/Reuters)

Each Monday, Ed Butler takes you around the globe to the heart of the stories and meeting those living through them. West Africa is currently the global epicentre for illegal fishing, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation. An estimated 40% of the world's illegal industrial fishing occurs in its waters, costing the region up to 10 billion dollars a year in lost revenue, and severely depleting stocks essential for the food security and livelihoods of over 7 million people. Ed Butler has been hearing about the practice in Sierra Leone, trying to ascertain who is behind it, and finding out how much the government is doing to help. Presenter/producer: Ed Butler(Picture: Thomas Turay, Sierra Leone Artisinal Fishermens Union. Credit: BBC/Ed Butler)Our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

We hear how karate, being laughed out of a bank boardroom in a cash-obsessed country helped shape one of India's most valuable fintech companies. Harshil Mathur shares how discipline, resilience and a leap of faith helped him build Razorpay into a $7.5 billion company at the heart of India's digital payments revolution.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Amber Mehmood and Niamh Mc Dermott(Picture: Harshil Mathur)

This week, Michelle, Rahul and Will explore the world of dynamic pricing, where prices go up when demand is high and come down when demand drops. It's already standard in travel and hospitality. Now, it's expanding into live events, and this year, it reached the World Cup. Supporters say it's simple economics, charging what people are willing to pay. Critics argue it risks pricing ordinary fans out of the experiences they love. So how does dynamic pricing really work? Why has it become one of the most controversial trends in live entertainment? And as organisers push to maximise revenue, are we seeing the future of events, or the point where fans push back?Hosts: Will Bain, Michelle Fleury and Rahul Tandon Producer: Rebecca Smyllie(Picture: The 2026 FIFA World Cup logo is placed over the original logo of the Hard Rock stadium in Miami, Florida, USA. Credit: CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA/Shutterstock)

Many graduates are reluctant to work in the country's large tourism and service sectors, looking instead for roles that match their university skills. That can make finding a first job after graduating a real challenge.Presenter/producer: Ashish SharmaIf you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Spanish Secretary of State for Labour Joaquin Perez Rey speaking about how unemployment in April 2026 fell below 2.4 million people for the first time since June 2008. Credit: JAVIER LIZON/EPA/Shutterstock)

From cafes and gyms to supermarkets and restaurants, content creators are moving into everyday spaces, searching for attractive backdrops for their photos and videos. But as the influencer economy grows, their presence is dividing companies, customers and creators. Megan Lawton speaks to business owners, influencers and digital culture experts about what the rules should be.Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet(Photo: Tony Marks, owner of the Starfish and Coffee cafe in Brighton in the UK; Credit: Megan Lawton)

Nigeria pharmacist Abimbola Adebakin tells us how a failed start-up and the struggle to access essential medicines inspired her to build Advantage Health Africa, a company connecting pharmacies and helping deliver medicines across Nigeria.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer Amber Mehmood(Photo: Abimbola Adebakin. Credit: Studio 24)

This week, Michelle, Rahul and Will explore prediction markets — online platforms where people can bet on future events, from elections to pop culture and even world conflicts.Concerns about insider trading are on the rise and platforms are being banned in an increasing number of countries. So as talk of regulation increases, we try to predict the future of the prediction market.Presenters: Michelle Fleury, Rahul Tandon and Will BainProducer: Rebecca Smyllie(Photo: Getty/Yuichiro Chino)

When the Iran war and the Strait of Hormuz's closure disrupted global oil supply, some experts predicted crude oil prices as high as $150, or even $200 per barrel. That hasn't happened. Why not? And is it because the way the global oil markets work mean the pain for households and businesses is still to come?Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin

It is an invaluable material that has enabled global trade and modern medicine, but experts say our reliance on plastic has created a problem the planet is struggling to manage. With plastic waste threatening landscapes and our health, we meet innovators from the UK, Ecuador and India who are trying to get the global economy off its reliance on plastic.Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan LawtonYou can email us on businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: A view of the sewage line covered with plastic waste and other litter in Mumbai, India, 22 April 2026. Credit: Photo by DIVYAKANT SOLANKI/EPA/Shutterstock)

A California jury tossed out Elon Musk's high-profile lawsuit against OpenAI and its boss Sam Altman. But who actually wins and what does this public row mean for the reputation of their companies? Michelle Fleury and Rahul Tandon are joined by the BBC's Lily Jamali, who spent weeks in court following the twists and turns in a battle of the tech titans.Producer: Gideon LongYou can email us: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: A combination photo shows OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Tesla CEO Elon Musk during a trial at a federal courthouse in Oakland, California, United States. Credit: REUTERS/Manuel Orbegozo)

How will President Trump get on with Kevin Warsh, who is starting out as the Chair of the Federal Reserve, America's Central Bank? Trump famously clashed with his predecessor Jerome Powell. Can the US central bank remain truly independent from the government?Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin(Photo: Kevin Warsh testifies during a Senate Banking Committee confirmation hearing at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, USA, 21 April 2026. Credit: Will Oliver/EPA/Shutterstock)

In the 1990s, the video game industry was locked in competition between gaming giants Sega and Nintendo, battling for dominance in living rooms around the world as they raced to deliver the best games on their consoles while attacking one another in advertising. This rivalry reshaped the landscape of gaming, helping it grow into the world's biggest entertainment industry today. We hear from Sega America CEO Tom Kalinske, who took on Nintendo by targeting a more mature audience, focusing on lower prices. Central to that plan was the creation of Sonic the Hedgehog, a character designed to challenge Mario as the face of gaming. We also travel to the heart of Madrid, to the OXO video game museum to explore the legacy of the console wars and how they helped the industry level up.Presenter/producer: Sean AllsopIf you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Data centres are becoming and ever bigger part of our daily lives and our landscapes – great big warehouses, packed with computers, that power pretty much every digital thing we do, from using AI chatbots or filing our tax returns. They've popped up around the world in recent years and – whether we like it or not - more are coming. But people don't necessarily want to live next to these places. They're often big, faceless facilities, built close to the towns and cities they serve, and there's a perception that they're pushing up electricity costs and consuming precious water. So as the AI revolution rolls on, fuelling the need for ever greater digital storage capacity, how do we learn to live with data centres? Presenter/producer: Gideon Long If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Aerial view of a large Google Data Centre in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, UK on 30th November 2025. Credit: Richard Newstead/Getty Images)

As US President Donald Trump travels to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, we look at the tensions and the relationship between the world's two biggest economies. Presenters: Will Bain, Michelle Fleury and Rahul Tandon Producer: Gideon Long(Picture: U.S. President Donald Trump shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Busan, South Korea, October 30, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein)

How has the development and aid sector in Africa adapted in the 15 months since the Trump administration started closing USAID? Have predictions of mortalities come to pass, and how can the funding gaps be filled? We hear from the people who used to be in charge of multi-billion-dollar budgets, as well as those receiving funds on the front lines of the HIV crisis in Tanzania.Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin(Picture: 29-year-old Rashida Musa tends to her sick child who was sent home from the hospital due to malnutrition following the aid cut by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Tudun Gambo, Bauchi State, Nigeria, May 8, 2025. Credit: REUTERS/Sodiq Adelakun)

We look at the multi-billion-dollar toy industry. We ask why backing the right movie, YouTube show, or social media trend can affect your bottom line. And we hear about the challenges making products based on surprise hits, and how the humble puzzle could be the in-toy for 2026.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter/producer: Elizabeth Hotson(Picture: Figures from the "KPop Demon Hunters" toy series are on display at Mattel's booth at the New York Toy Fair in New York City, U.S., February 17, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/ Jeenah Moon)

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Argentineans cross the Andes looking for bargains. We'll be finding out why, and if it's a trend that's going to last.

We meet the creator of a dessert business whose story starts in her parents' bakery. Vivien Wong tells us how she faced a family loss and eventually channelled that experience into building a company making mochi with a twist: taking a traditional Japanese rice cake and wrapping it around balls of ice cream. She shares how she turned a niche treat into a global brand, Little Moons.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: Niamh McDermott, Victoriya Holland and Jay Behrouzi(Picture: Vivien Wong. Credit: Jack Ladenburg)

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world, according to the World Bank, and most founders there are women. Why, then, do so many of those startups fail to grow? We look at why many female entrepreneurs struggle to access investment and ask three business leaders what might change that.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Will Bain Producer: Ahmed Adan(Picture: Worker and partner with data analytics, charts and graphs paperwork. Credit: Getty Images)

Artificial Intelligence has upended the market for entry-level jobs, but could AI be blocking graduates from getting a foot on the jobs ladder altogether? In this episode, we look at the new AI arms race in recruitment. Tech advancements have allowed graduates to apply for more jobs than ever, and hiring managers can let AI do the initial shortlisting and interviews, so why do both sides of the employment equation feel short-changed? And what can graduates do to stand out in a crowded market of thousands of applicants when an AI app is making the decision? We discuss the pros and cons of the AI hiring pipeline.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Ed Butler Producer: Josh Martin(Picture: Young woman sitting at a kitchen table looking at a laptop screen searching for job. Credit: Getty Images)

Getting a barrel of crude oil out of the ground in Saudi Arabia costs around $25. The market price right now is around $95. So where does that $70 go - and why has the price at the pump jumped so sharply since the war in the Middle East began?We follow the money behind a tank of petrol: from the oil field, through the world's most dangerous shipping lane, through the commodity markets, through a refinery, and right back to you, waiting at the pump. We hear from the former Saudi Aramco executive who oversaw production of the world's largest oilfield, one of the world's biggest tanker operators making real-time decisions about whether to sail through a war zone; the chief economist of one of the world's largest commodity traders; and an energy analyst who has been tracking the refining crisis that most commentators have missed.What product do you want us to follow next? Get in touch with the team by sending us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt Lines(Photo: A worker pumps gasoline into a car at a petrol station in Bangkok, Thailand, on the 26th of March 2026. Credit: Rungroj Yongrit/EPA/Shutterstock)

Amsterdam has become the world's first capital city to ban commercials for low-cost flights, petrol and diesel cars, and burgers from its billboards, bus and metro shelters. The travel and meat industries say it's over-reach, and violates their rights. We explore whether stripping adverts from public spaces can really change what we eat and how we travel. If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter/producer: Anna Holligan(Picture: A bike being ridden through Amsterdam, Netherlands.)

We speak to the Emirati entrepreneur who set up a business making biodegradable cutlery made from discarded date palm trees, driven by the goal to replace single-use plastics in UAE.Lamis Al Hashimy, co-founder of Palmade, shares how a hobby project became a business producing millions of items, the early failures that nearly stopped it, and the challenges of competing with cheap plastic. How did a failed prototype including a fork that melted in pizza, lead to a growing business?If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sarah Rogers Producers: Bisi Adebayo, Victoriya Holland and Jay BehrouziBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: Lamis Al Hashimy)

The world of sport is being reshaped for the algorithm, with new formats emerging for quick, shareable moments online. From influencers managing sport teams to bite‑sized versions of traditional games like 3-a-side football, more sports are fighting for the attention of younger fans. But is this paying off?If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Matt LinesBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: M7 FC in action against Wembley Rangers FC during Baller League UK at the Copper Box Arena, London, on Monday, 24th March, 2025. Credit: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)

The price of natural gas has shot up around the world after the war began in Iran, but how is the gas price linked to electricity in some countries more so than others? We'll be looking at how gas still sets the power prices so often. We'll also look at Ethiopia, to see if hydropower could be a solution for other places who want renewables to bring down the cost of bills.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Rick KelseyBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: Gas flare at petroleum and natural gas offshore power plant. Credit: Getty Images)

Diamonds in places like Sierra Leone have long had a tarnished association with war and corruption – blood diamonds, as they're known. There's now also the economic threat of synthetic, lab-grown diamonds. Can traditional mining compete? And are natural diamonds really so much worse for us, for the planet, than their new rivals, grown in a lab? To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Ed Butler Sound mix: Toby JamesBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: A diamond specialist inspects an uncut rock. Credit: Getty Images)

We're in Sierra Leone where the gems have helped to fuel war and, many would say, decades of corruption. The closure of the country's biggest diamond mine has added to the economic uncertainty as well as the fear of further conflict. In the first of two programmes, we look at the clouds hanging over West Africa's diamond industry. To get in touch with the team, send us an email to businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Ed ButlerBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: A man washing diamonds in a mine in Kono, Sierra Leone. Credit: Getty Images)

We meet Kate Kallot, the founder and CEO of Amini AI, a startup working to make farming and environmental data easier to obtain across Africa and other emerging economies. The entrepreneur set up the company with the aim of improving access to reliable information, shaped in part by her family's experience fleeing the Central African Republic after her grandfather, an Interpol agent, was assassinated.If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Victoriya Holland and Niamh McDermottBusiness Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and work. From small startup stories to big corporate takeovers, global economic shifts to trends in technology, we look at the key figures, ideas and events shaping business.Each episode is a 17-minute, daily deep dive into a single topic, featuring expert analysis and the people at the heart of the story.Recent episodes explore the weight-loss drug revolution, the growth in AI, the cost of living, the economic impact of the war in the Middle East, and why bond markets are so powerful.We also feature in-depth interviews with company founders and some of the world's most prominent CEOs. These include Google's Sundar Pichai, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, and the CEO of Canva, Melanie Perkins.(Picture: Kate Kallot. Credit: Kevin Allen/Devex)