Business Daily

Diageo, the company that owns Guinness, Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and more than 200 drinks brands worldwide, has announced a major reset after a tough couple of years in which its profits have fallen and its share price has struggled. British businessman Sir Dave Lewis has been brought in to steer a turnaround, including a $1bn savings plan over the next three years. Known as "Drastic Dave" for cost-cutting at other companies, can he revive growth as more consumers drink less alcohol or switch from global brands to local ones?Presenters: Will Bain and Rahul Tandon Producer: Gideon Long(Picture: People drink Guinness at The Devonshire pub in Soho, London. Credit: REUTERS/Hollie Adams)

Mike Repole is the entrepreneur behind drinks brands including Vitaminwater and BodyArmor. He tells Hannah Mullane how he went from stocking supermarket shelves in Queens, New York, to building billion-dollar businesses with investors including Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady.Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producers: Niamh McDermott and Amber MehmoodYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Mike Repole)

John Laurenson reports from La Défense in Paris on how Europe's biggest business district is turning vacant office space into housing. As hybrid working leaves more offices underused, cities are rethinking the future of these buildings. We compare developments in Paris with efforts in London and Washington DC and ask whether converting offices into homes could help tackle housing shortages and revive struggling business districts.Presenter/producer: John LaurensonYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: People walking in La Défense business district in Paris. Credit: John Laurenson)

Denmark is preparing to scrap its royal warrant system, ending a centuries-old royal seal of approval used by businesses to market everything from beer to cars. Similar warrants are used by monarchies around the world and awarded to everyone from brewers and carmakers to pest controllers. What do the Danish companies affected think, and could other royal households follow Denmark's lead?(Photo: Packets of sweets with a Danish Royal Warrant in a Copenhagen shop. Credit: Daniel Rosney)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProducer/presenter: Daniel Rosney

What is driving the global shift towards economic protectionism? Will Bain is joined by Jennifer Pak, NPR's China correspondent, and Trevor Simumba, an international business consultant in Zambia, to discuss why the trend has accelerated since Donald Trump's tariffs and why global trade remains resilient despite growing barriers. Plus, why Africa's Lobito Corridor matters for trade, what AI means for jobs in China and beyond, and why drinks giant Diageo is cutting costs. And, two food heroes: China's baozi and Uganda's matoke.(Photo: A ship docks at Lobito Port in Angola, 4 December, 2024. Credit: Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann

In a highly unusual move, the US has stepped in to back Japan's currency, the yen. Donald Trump calls it a "signal of friendship" but what is Washington hoping to achieve? And what does the move reveal about Japan's economy, after years of deflation and ultra-low interest rates? Rahul Tandon and Will Bain assess the intervention with the help of the BBC's "yen geek" Mariko Oi.Presenters: Rahul Tandon, Will Bain and Mariko Oi Producer: Gideon LongYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: A woman walks past a stock market indicator board in Tokyo, Japan, 03 August 2026. Credit: EPA/Shutterstock)

Ola Sars has spent two decades helping shape the way music is discovered, streamed and licensed. He co-founded Beats Music, the streaming service that helped lay the groundwork for Apple Music, before launching Soundtrack, a company that provides licensed music to restaurants, cafés and other hospitality businesses. After moving to the US as a child and learning English from scratch, how did he become a music-tech entrepreneur? And was selling his stake in Beats before Apple acquired the company the right decision? Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Niamh McDermottYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Ola Sars. Credit: Rickard Croy)

With Europe sweltering in intense heat and demand for air-conditioners soaring, who is making money from supplying them? We follow the supply chain from a factory churning out air-con units in China to retailers across Europe scrambling to secure stock as demand surges. In France, where repeated heat waves have driven sales higher, shoppers have been fighting in supermarkets to get hold of them.We also examine the cost of powering air-conditioners and the impact their growing use is having on energy prices. How much pressure is Europe's growing appetite for air-conditioning putting on electricity grids?(Photo: People cool off in the Trocadero fountain by the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a heatwave in June 2026. Credit: Yoan Valat/EPA/Shutterstock)Presenter: Sam Fenwick   Producer: Gideon Long

In the second of two episodes, Ed Butler tracks the whereabouts and connections of one of Europe's most wanted drug criminals. Despite denials from the President's family, law enforcement agencies say Jos Leijdekkers is enjoying privileged status in Sierra Leone. The country's Justice Minister responds.

Is China rapidly catching up with the United States in the race to dominate artificial intelligence? Rahul Tandon is joined by Walter Todd in the US and Rebecca Choong Wilkins in Singapore to discuss, following a week of sharp moves in AI-related markets and growing questions over where the next wave of innovation will come from. They also explore what India's "cockroach protest" says about the growing challenge of youth unemployment around the world. (Photo: People walk past the Unix AI booth during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai, China, 17 July, 2026. Credit: Go Nakamura/Reuters)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann

This Podcast was first published June 9th 2026With the future of football's governing body under discussion, we're giving you another chance to hear how FIFA makes most of its money from the World CupFIFA President Gianni Infantino has proposed the creation of a subsidiary body to run tournaments, which would include some outside investment.Fifa has given all 211 member associations until 19 September to say whether they agree with the plan, with a straight majority to decide whether to proceed.But there has been criticism of the plans over lack of clarity and the impact it could have on FIFA's independence. Ahead of the World Cup, Sam Fenwick looked at how the event generates billions of dollars for FIFA - where the money comes from and how it gets spent.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Matt Lines Editor: Stephen Ryan(photo: Silhouette of Gianni Infantino, FIFA President and rising stock graph are seen in this illustration taken, July 28, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

This week, Will and Rahul speak to business correspondent Arunoday Mukharji in Delhi about how India's youth unemployment crisis helped force the resignation of the country's Education Minister and why it could mark a turning point for India's Gen‑Z. Exam leaks and a shortage of opportunities have sparked some of the biggest youth protests in years, raising difficult questions for the government. Nearly two-thirds of Indians are under 35, and more young people are graduating than ever before. But many can't find jobs. Can India create enough jobs for a generation with rising expectations? And what happens if it can't?Presenters: Will Bain, Rahul Tandon and Arunoday Mukharji Producer: Rebecca SmyllieYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Leah Solivan, founder and former CEO of TaskRabbit, reflects on building one of the world's most successful gig-economy platforms. She discusses the pressures of scaling a multi-million-dollar business, the stress-related illness that left her in hospital, and the decision to eventually sell TaskRabbit to IKEA. Presenter: Sarah Rogers Producer: Niamh McDermottYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Leah Solivan. Credit: Audrey Anne Photography)

This episode of Business Daily begins with a real call to 911There's an antidote for an opioid overdose. It costs a few dollars. The nasal spray technology means it can be administered without needles and can restart a person's breathing within minutes. So why doesn't it always reach the person on the floor? We're following the money through the antidote economy. A life-saving drug that costs pennies to make. Sold over the counter for $52. But when drug companies were sued for their role in America's opioid crisis, some pharmaceutical companies' settlements included paying out using antidote kits valued at $125. Who profits, who pays, and what determines whether an overdose kit is ever in the room when it's needed?Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producers: Josh Martin and Matt LinesYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

In the first of two episodes, Ed Butler investigates how one of Europe's most wanted drug smugglers, Jos Leijdekkers, ended up in Sierra Leone while evading justice. He also explores reports linking Leijdekkers to the family of Sierra Leone's president, including claims that he has married the president's daughter.Presenter/producer: Ed Butler You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Will Bain is joined by Nga Pham in Hanoi and Takara Small in Toronto. Following the latest results from Alphabet and Tesla, both companies are under pressure to sustain spending as competition in artificial intelligence intensifies. Is Wall Street beginning to question the cost of the AI race? Plus, the mounting economic impact of Canada's wildfires, why ketchup-flavoured crisps have become such a uniquely Canadian phenomenon, and what Donald Trump's renewed tariff negotiations could mean for global trade.Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David CannYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(The Google logo on the Google house at the CES consumer electronics trade show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. January 10, 2024. Credit: REUTERS/Steve Marcus)

Cheap flights transformed the way we travel, helping millions of people fly more often and opening up destinations that were once out of reach. But rising fuel costs, changing passenger habits and growing pressure on the low-cost airline model are forcing budget carriers to adapt. Rahul Tandon and Will Bain explore what's driving the turbulence and what it could mean for fares, competition and the future of air travel.Producer: Rebecca SmyllieYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: easyJet aircraft at Berlin Brandenburg Airport, April 21, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Lisi Niesner)

Tessa Clarke is the co-founder and CEO of Olio, the food-sharing app helping millions of people reduce waste by sharing food and household items with their neighbours. She explains how a simple idea grew into a global movement, the challenges of convincing investors to back it, and why changing human behaviour may be key to tackling climate change.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Barbara GeorgeYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Tessa Clarke. Credit:Annabel Staff)

Search for "memecoin" on social media and you'll find plenty of videos offering advice on how to invest and grow your money, with some claiming they can help you make a million. But you don't have to look far to find people who have lost money, and lots of it. So where does the money actually go? Sam Fenwick explores the cryptocurrency phenomenon that almost anyone can launch, including presidents.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producers: Matt Lines and Gideon LongYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: A representation of cryptocurrency dogecoin is seen in front of a stock graph and U.S. dollar in this illustration taken, January 24, 2022. Credit: Reuters/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo)

Artisanal mining accounts for around 20% of global gold production and generates an estimated $30 billion a year for some of the world's poorest communities. But the trade is also linked to criminal networks and environmental damage. Ed Butler explores the forces behind the global gold rush and who is bearing the cost. Presenter/producer: Ed Butler You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Gold miner Kelly Mbayo in Sierra Leone. Credit: Ed Butler/BBC News)

Connecting the timezones this week are Will Bain in London, David Kuo in Singapore and Emily Peck in New York to unpack the week's biggest business stories. China's economy has recorded one of its weakest quarterly growth rates on record, raising fresh questions about the country's outlook and the impact on the global economy. Plus, why prices for durian, the 'king of fruits', are tumbling across Asia. And New York's move to target AI data centres.Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David CannYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: People walk in the Lujiazui financial district, in Shanghai, China, 14 July 2022. Credit: ALEX PLAVEVSKI/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

This week, Will and Michelle speak to Reuters entertainment business correspondent Dawn Chmielewski about how the Paramount–Warner merger could reshape Hollywood. Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery want to combine in a $110 billion deal that would create an entertainment giant. Executives say it's the only way to survive the streaming wars, but now twelve attorneys general, regulators and a host of creators are saying "no deal". So how do Paramount and CEO David Ellison make this deal a reality? And what could it mean for what's on our screens, big, small or handheld?Presenters: Will Bain and Michelle Fleury Producer: Rebecca Smyllie Editor: Stephen RyanYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: California Attorney General Rob Bonta holds a press conference as he announces California will be suing to block Paramount's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery in Los Angeles, California, U.S. July 13, 2026. Credit: REUTERS/Daniel Cole)

With the 2026 World Cup underway, here's another chance to hear how England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham became one of football's most marketable names. The face of several major brands, Bellingham has built a successful business beyond football. We explore the Jude Bellingham brand, his sponsorship and endorsement deals, and what makes him so valuable to some of the world's biggest companies.Presenter/producer: Matt Lines. Episode first published on 15 August 2024.You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: England's Jude Bellingham during the football World Cup 2026 quarter final vs Norway. Credit: REUTERS/Mike Segar)

Sumant Sinha is the founder of ReNew, one of India's largest renewable energy companies. He explains why he left a successful corporate career to pursue renewable energy, the challenges of building a business in a fast-changing market, and whether India can become a clean-energy superpower.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Barbara GeorgeYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Sumant Sinha. Credit: Mushtak Mohammad)

Why have US beef prices risen around 13% over the past year? Who is making money from the burgers and steaks Americans eat? Presenter Sam Fenwick speaks to a cattle rancher in South Dakota, an agricultural economist in Wisconsin, a meat packer in North Carolina and a restaurant owner in Nebraska to find out what is happening in this quintessentially American corner of the food market. We unpack the US beef supply chain to discover why prices are rising, who is making money from it and who is getting squeezed. (Photo: A cow waiting to eat at a feedlot in Saltillo, Mexico, 1 June, 2026. Credit: Daniel Becerril/Reuters)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Gideon Long

Ed Butler speaks to the man who coined the term BRIC for the emerging economies of Brazil, Russia, India and China. Now back in the headlines as an adviser to Britain's likely next Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, Jim O'Neill argues that Western nations must abandon what he calls their neo-colonial attitudes towards the world's new industrial powerhouses.(Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, 23 October, 2024. Credit: China Daily/Reuters)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProducer/presenter: Ed Butler

Will Bain is joined by Seijiro Takeshita in Japan and Yael Selfin in the UK to discuss the week's biggest business stories. As Nato members agree to greater defence spending, we examine how economic conditions in the UK and Japan are shaping their ability to fund these commitments, as governments balance growing security demands with pressure on public finances. Plus, what Microsoft's layoffs at Xbox reveal about the global gaming industry after years of rapid growth.(Photo: Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and US President Donald Trump meet on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, 08 July 2026. Credit: Filip Singer/Reuters)You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann

Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani rode a wave of anti-Trump sentiment and cost-of-living pressures to win the New York City mayoralty. But talk of new taxes to fund spending spooked some on Wall Street. Six months in, has he found a balance? Presenters: Michelle Fleury and Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin Editor: Stephen RyanYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Image: New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani waves to his supporters after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race. Credit: Jeenah Moon/ Reuters)

Noubar Afeyan helped bring one of medicine's biggest breakthroughs to the world through Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. In this episode, he explains why what looked like an overnight success was actually decades in the making.Presenter: Will Bain Producers: Barbara George and David Cann Researcher: Aleeza Siddiq

They are one of the biggest rock bands in the world and are releasing their 25th album this week. So, in a world where artists can make billions from touring alone, should the band release new material or just go on the road?They have earned more than $200 million across six tours, more than $100 million over 10, while many musicians earn less that $0.01 per stream of their songs.Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producer: Matt Lines and Neil MorrowYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Photo: Mick Jagger on the Pyramid Stage during a Rolling Stones set at Glastonbury in 2013. Credit: BBC)

Sameer Hashmi travels to Riyadh to examine the progress of Vision 2030, an ambitious plan launched nearly a decade ago to transform one of the world's biggest oil producers into a more diverse economy. The kingdom has invested hundreds of billions of dollars in tourism, entertainment, sport and mega-projects, while introducing sweeping social reforms that have reshaped everyday life. But oil remains central to the economy, some flagship projects have been scaled back, and now the conflict with Iran is creating fresh uncertainty over the kingdom's plans to diversify its economy.Presenter/producer: Sameer HashmiYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: A Saudi man walks past the logo of Vision 2030 after a news conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia June 7, 2016. Credit: REUTERS/Faisal Al Nasser)

Rahul Tandon is joined by Han Lin in Shanghai and Allison Schrager in New York to examine a set of stories where markets, politics and consumer behaviour collide. They begin with Donald Trump's financial disclosures and what they reveal about the relationship between politics, markets, and wealth, before discussing the growing role of governments and billionaires in major technology firms, including OpenAI. And are billionaires heroes or villains? Plus, in China, some western consumer brands are finding strong demand among local consumers, including unexpectedly popular pancake chains. So why are companies such as Nike reporting weaker sales in the country? Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: David Cann You can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Photo: US President Donald Trump raises a clenched fist to shoulder height after stepping off the new Air Force One, a plane gifted by the Qatari government, after arriving at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, US, 1 July, 2026. Credit: Evan Vucci/Reuters)

For decades, Nike was the sports brand - a global symbol of winning. One estimate suggests it sells 26 pairs of shoes every second. Elite athletes wore it as they chased titles, while millions of children wore it as they dreamed of sporting glory. But as competition intensified and consumer tastes changed, the company that once dominated the market began to lose momentum. This year alone, Nike's stock market value has fallen by around 35%. So what went wrong? And can Nike find a way back to winning?Presenter: Rahul Tandon, Michelle Fleury and Will Bain Producer: Rebecca Smyllie Editor: Stephen RyanYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Photo: Shoppers walk past a Nike store in the King of Prussia Mall in Pennsylvania, US, 3 April, 2025. A giant Nike tick is displayed in the window. Credit: Rachel Wisniewski/Reuters)

Charlotte Tilbury, makeup artist and founder of the global beauty brand Charlotte Tilbury, reflects on building an international cosmetics business after spotting a gap in the market. She discusses the role beauty and confidence have played throughout her career, the company's growth and the challenges of navigating Covid-19.Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Amber Mehmood and Barbara GeorgeYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Charlotte Tilbury)

It's the most successful tennis tournament in the world, expected to generate $500 million over two weeks. Yet day tickets still start at around $40, strawberries and cream cost less than $4, and courtside sponsorship remains remarkably restrained. So how does Wimbledon generate so much revenue? We examine the business model behind one of sport's most valuable brands and the debate over how its profits are shared with players.Presenter: Hannah Mullane Producer: Matt LinesYou can email the team: businessdaily@bbc.co.uk(Picture: Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus at a Wimbledon practice session on 26 June 2026. Credit: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA/Shutterstock)

Rob Young reports on the huge task of rebuilding Gaza, which the United Nations estimates will cost $70 billion. Across Gaza City, earthmovers load piles of waste onto trucks bound for landfill, while in neighbourhood after neighbourhood, rubble stretches into the distance. Yet businesses are trying to get up and running again: markets are slowly refilling, and supply chains are beginning to reopen. Presenter/producer: Rob Young(Photo: Palestinians ride past the rubble of residential buildings destroyed during the Israeli offensive, in Gaza City, 23 June, 2026. Credit: Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters)

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