Business Daily

It's transforming the world of road haulage, but has the recent ‘Uberisation' been good news for truckers? From Nanjing to Nairobi, we discover how digital freight matching platforms are changing the way drivers access work, plan routes and the impact it's having on the climate. But with driverless trucks on the horizon, what does the future hold for truckers and trucking firms? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton(Picture: A white 18 wheeler truck on the road. Credit: Getty Images)

Pakistan closed its border with Afghanistan in October following sporadic fighting between the two countries.Since then, the movement of goods has stopped, and lines of trucks have been waiting to cross. We look at the impact of this key trade route being shut and what it means for livelihoods and businesses on both sides of the border. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Will Bain Producer: Hannah Mullane(Picture: Lorries and a group of people congregating at the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Credit: BBC)

We meet the real estate developer who's been tasked with turning Saudi Arabia into a global tourism hub.It's part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's vision for the Kingdom, diversifying the economy away from oil. Red Sea Global CEO John Pagano has managed massive development projects including London's Canary Wharf, a luxury holiday resort in the Bahamas, and now, a tourism mega project on Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Coast. We hear about his career to date and why he likes an ambitious project. This is his biggest yet - can he pull it off?Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Elisabeth Mahy Additional production: Niamh McDermott(Picture: John Pagano, CEO of Red Sea Global. Credit: Red Sea Global)

More countries are considering selling state-owned postal services - many have failed to make a profit for years. As businesses and people send fewer letters, there's also strong competition from global package delivery companies. We hear about the challenges facing postal services in Ireland, many of which have been in business for more than a hundred years. And we look to the US, where President Donald Trump favours privatising the national mail service; while in India, the state-run post office network will remain under government control. We also examine efforts to modernise postal services, which could mean delivery by drones and robots in the near future, supervised by AI.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProduced and presented by Russell Padmore(Image: A green pillar postbox in Ireland)

This week the country becomes the first in the world to implement a social media ban for under 16s. We look at the impact on content creators, tech companies and on businesses which sell via social media?We find out how they're navigating this change, and ask if other countries will look to follow suit.Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Matt Lines(Image: A group of young people looking at phones. Credit: Getty Images)

It's one richest sports in the world but it still needs to adapt to the times. F1 is now trying to appeal to a younger fan base through deals with Netflix and Lego.Plus it's trying to break that lucrative US market with races in Las Vegas and huge broadcasting deals. We hear from the key figures at F1 and from former F1 driver David Coulthard, who witnessed the end of tobacco sponsorship and saw the likes of Red Bull coming into the paddock.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Victoria Turner(Image: Max Verstappen races down the Las Vegas Strip during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix on 22 Nov 2025. Image credit: Getty Images)

Miishe Addy started her first company in California's Silicon Valley followed by another business in Accra, Ghana. Now, she runs one of Africa's fastest-growing logistics tech firms.She describes how she's tackling the hidden costs of African trade, and what she's learned as a female founder building companies in two continents.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sam Fenwick Producers: Ahmed Adan and Niamh McDermott(Picture: Miishe Addy. Credit: Jetstream)

Whether you call it football or soccer, next summer, the US, Mexico and Canada will host the FIFA World Cup. It's the first time three countries have organised the tournament.A record 48 teams will compete across 16 host cities, with millions attending games across North America and billions watching at home.But how much does it cost to host a World Cup? What does it take for a city to welcome hundreds of thousands of fans? And does that investment really boost the local economy? We go pitch-side to find out.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Megan Lawton Producer Sam Gruet(Picture: Sharon Bollenbach, Executive Director of World Cup Hosting for Toronto, Canada.)

In Lugano, Switzerland, the cryptocurrency is accepted in some shops and for local municipal services.But the drive towards using what can often be a volatile payment method instead of Swiss francs, hasn't been welcomed by everyone.We hear from businesses, officials and consumers who are navigating this new world.Produced and presented by John Laurenson(Image: View of town on shore of Lake Lugano, Switzerland. Credit: Getty Images)

TV channels dedicated to them are shutting down around the world and some superstars have even stopped making them, so are music videos in decline, or are they more vital than ever to grab our attention? We hear from industry insiders in the US, Europe and in South Korea on how the streaming era has changed how we consume music - and shifted the way record labels make money. Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney(Image: Ne-Yo on set during the filming of a music video for his song "Closer" at the Santa Clarita Studios on 10 April 2008 in California (Credit: Matthew Simmons/WireImage)

Staff shortages and strikes are leaving passengers and airlines frustrated. So why are there such problems in recruitment? Industry bodies estimate over the next decade we could be short of 70,000 air traffic controllers around the world. We hear what is luring some controllers out of Europe and why others are leaving the sector all together. And what could the financial and safety implications be for passengers and airlines?Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Josh Martin(Photo: NATS Swanwick ops room,. NATS is a UK-based air traffic control company. Credit: NATS)

We hear how a free online encyclopaedia, run by volunteers, became one of the internet's most popular sites.Co-founder Jimmy Wales tells about the ideals which helped him build the site, and the challenges its now facing, from AI to political criticism.Presenter: Chris Vallance Producers: Hannah Bewley and Niamh McDermott(Image: Jimmy Wales photographed at Web Summit 2022 at the Altice Arena in Lisbon, Portugal. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at the record-breaking sale of the Los Angeles Lakers which has just been approved by the board of the NBA - or National Basketball Association.The Buss family had owned the team since 1979.The new majority owner of the franchise is TWG Global CEO Mark Walter.Mr Walter also has a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers, the professional US baseball team that won the World Series last year, as well as investments in Chelsea FC.Produced and presented by Guy Kilty Edited by Helen Thomas(Image: Los Angeles Lakers star player LeBron James drives to the basket during the game against the Utah Jazz during the game on 23 November 2025. Credit: Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)

Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modifications, but others are keen to see the rules come into force as planned. They apply to a number of raw materials, including cocoa. There's a big challenge facing the world's biggest market for chocolate: balancing sustainability goals and the price consumers are willing to pay. If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, you can send us an email at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk Presented and produced by Hannah Bewley Additional reporting: Matthew Kenyon (Picture: Close up of three cocoa beans hanging from a cocoa tree. Credit: Getty Images)

It's one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across South East Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it's estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes. But now these centres could be coming under threat, with both military and legal moves by global enforcement challenging their apparent impunity.Presented and produced by Ed Butler(Picture: An aerial photo showing the KK Park complex in Myanmar, taken in September 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local and international businesses.But Machu Picchu is in trouble. Social conflicts, fights over who benefits from the money being made through ticket sales and transport are just some of the problems its facing. Jane Chambers visits Peru to find out what's going on and if there are other local sites for tourist to visit instead.Produced and presented by Jane Chambers Editor: Helen Thomas(Image: A group of tourists waves while leaving on foot due to a protest by residents in Machu Picchu on 16 September 2025 over which bus company should run the local route. Credit: Getty Images)

In the second of our two-part series on tightening aid budgets, Sam Fenwick explores what shrinking donor support means for global health — from the sudden halt to major US-funded projects, to the pressure on low-income countries to increase their own health spending.As G20 leaders gather in Johannesburg for the Global Fund's Eighth Replenishment Summit, we hear from Zambia's minister of commerce on how his country is trying to plug the aid gap through investment in critical minerals, and from Peter Sands, head of the Global Fund, on why he believes wealthy nations must keep funding global health even as more countries take on greater responsibility for their own systems.With global aid budgets under strain, we examine what's at stake at today's summit — and what the future of funding for essential health programmes might look like.Produced and presented by Sam Fenwick(Image: An anonymous woman looks out over her local fishing community near the Zambezi River in Zambia. Credit: Action Aid)

We examine the fallout from the cuts to US foreign aid.We meet projects in Rwanda and Nepal that were close to shutting down - and hear the story of a mystery donor who stepped in to keep them going. But how long will the support last? Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick (Image: Beatha making soap in Rwanda as part of one of the projects funded by USAID. Credit: Village Enterprise)

One of world sport's biggest rivalries gets underway this week, with England and Australia going head to head in the Ashes. Most matches will last around four or five days, but it's actually the short form of the game that is growing the fastest - and bringing in big audiences and revenues. The IPL or Indian Premier League, has recently been valued at $18.5bn - that's a T20 format played over a few hours. So has the sport now changed irreversibly? And does the longer form of the game have a future?Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines(Royal Challengers Bengaluru's Virat Kohli, along with his former teammates AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle, celebrate with the trophy after winning the Indian Premier League T20 final in June 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

We speak to the tech executive leading Google and its parent company Alphabet Inc. Sundar Pichai gives us his take on the 'AI bubble', saying no company is immune if the bubble bursts on the "irrational elements" of the boom. He says AI will cause "social disruption" for jobs, even replace CEOs, and says people will have to adapt. Is the world ready?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Faisal Islam Producers: Priya Patel, Elisabeth Mahy, Hannah Bewley(Picture: Google CEO, Sundar Pichai. Credit: Getty Images)

After the collapse of a landmark deal, with opposition from both the US and Saudi Arabia, we hear from those in the industry. What's next for a sector responsible for 3% of global emissions?We also find out what it means for shipping's path to net zero. And ask whether technology and innovation are the answer. Presenter: Will Bain Producer: David Cann(Image: A cargo ship loaded with foreign trade containers heads towards Qingdao Port in Qingdao City, Shandong Province, China, on 5 November 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

As war becomes more high tech than ever, artificial intelligence companies are making software which is increasingly being used on the battlefield. Will Blyth served in the British military as an army major and has used this experience to build his own company, connecting hardware systems from different manufacturers deployed by armed forces.Presented and produced by Rob Young(Picture: Will Blyth. Credit: Arondite)

From Ukraine and Russia to Gaza and Sudan, drones have become a key weapon of war. Which companies are making them, and profiting from this rapidly expanding but controversial sector within the defence industry? We hear from a woman in Ukraine who used to own a flower shop in Kyiv, but who is now making drones to send to the front-line; and we hear from a Russian who left his homeland as a teenager and now, from Australia, is developing the technology that helps protect Ukraine from Russian attack. And a former Norwegian paratrooper tells us how he can help protect soldiers from drones. Presented and produced by Gideon Long(Picture: Participants in the 'Wild Drones' tournament, organised by the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the city of Kamianets, Ukraine, on the 5th of October 2025. Credit: Maria Senovilla/EPA/Shutterstock)

The superfan culture involves doing everything you can to be closer to your idols - often through concerts, merchandise, and streaming support.And now oshikatsu is being praised by some economists for helping pull Japanese retail sales out of a long slump. Figures suggest the role of fan purchasing power has boosted Japan's annual retail turnover by 2%. But what is so different about the way of supporting our heroes that has created such growth?Produced and presented by Rick Kelsey(Image: Anime and game fans attend the 105th ComicMarket Show in Tokyo, Japan, December 2024. Credit CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

We find out whether new rules could allow it to move away distance itself from previous accusations of "greenwashing" and fraud? There have been previous false starts for a system which in theory allows for companies and countries to offset their carbon emissions by paying for projects which reduce or mitigate emissions elsewhere. But new UN legislation - which has been a decade in the making – now clarified and ready for use those in the sector hope that the next few years will prove fruitful for the industry. However, questions remain about whether overall the system will help to reduce global emissions. Produced and presented by Hannah Bewley(Image: Renwick Drysdale, managing director of akre)

As the country shifts away from fossil fuels, thousands of homes and businesses have been left on waiting lists to connect to its electricity grid. Has the Netherlands moved too fast in its switch to renewable energy, like solar, wind and hydropower?Some commentators are calling it a “grid crisis” – so, could this affect economic growth?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by John Laurenson(Picture: A line of wind turbines in a field in the Netherlands. Credit: Getty Images)

Tim Brown is a former footballer who went on to co-found Allbirds, a billion-dollar brand known for its woollen shoes. We hear how Tim balanced his passions for football and shoe design, while growing up in New Zealand.The challenges that came when making a career changeAnd how his brand was inspired by a dream to rescue New Zealand's declining wool industry.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Amber Mehmood(Image: Tim Brown, co-founder of the shoe brand, Allbirds. Credit: Getty Images)

We go to the heart of street photography in Berlin, Germany, to visit an independent camera shop where sales of analogue cameras are flying because of celebrities opting for old school tech. And we go behind the lens to the development labs to discover the rising demands and rising costs as equipment is sparse. What is the price of taking a good photo?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Sean Allsop

We find out why the country Japan ranks so poorly in the World Economic Forum's Gender Gap Index and hear about what's being done to change thingsFrom bottom-up initiatives to raise the next generation of female entrepreneurs and businesses leaders and to the work being done by one of the country's top educational institutions as it tries to shake off its men–only image. And will the country's first female prime minister be the catalyst for change?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProduced and presented by Phoebe Amoroso(Image: Yumiko Murakami, co-founder of the WPower fund, the first in Japan to focus solely on supporting female founders and women-empowerment businesses)

When is a bubble a bubble? When is hype around a new technology signalling the dawn of a new industrial revolution? We assess the arguments for and against AI and its inflated valuations. AI firms and their stocks have surged in the last year, accounting for more than 80% of America's economic growth. But is there real demand underpinning this?To get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Ed Butler Producer: Gideon Long(Picture: The Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, US, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

New York City is in the midst of a cost of living crunch. As a result, the race to become its next mayor this week has been dominated by how to make the city more affordable.We hear about radical plans and ask whether they add up, and look at what the race to run the capital of capitalism might teach other cities about how to fight an affordability crisis.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines(Picture: The sun sets on the skyline of lower Manhattan and One World Trade Center in New York City on October 24, 2025, as seen from Jersey City. Credit: Getty Images)

We speak to the American founder and CEO of Stine Seed, the largest private seed company in the world, Stine Seed Company. Harry Stine recalls working in a field on the family soybean farm at the age of four, and says he was soon driving tractors before officially starting work with his father. It was then that he realised the potential of plant breeding and seeds, leading him to start his own company. Stine Seed Company now has 1000 patents, and receives fees on about 85% of the acreage in the United States. Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood(Image: Harry Stine. Credit: Stine Seed Company)

As Canada's trade war with the US rumbles on, Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced ambitions for the country to become an "energy superpower" in clean electricity, oil and gas. Supporters say it could boost jobs and investment, but critics warn it may come at an environmental cost. We'll hear about the projects underway, the challenges that could hinder them, and look at how other countries have achieved ‘superpower' status. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton(Picture: A flare stack at the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada. Credit: Getty Images)

Since the Taliban took over from a US-led government in Afghanistan in 2021, the economic challenges facing the country have been huge. The amount of aid going in to the country has dropped, the banking system is difficult to navigate, and international investors are staying away. That's before considering the economic impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts, which have frequently ravaged rural areas. Government investment seems unlikely, so experts and business owners hope that the private sector can help to rebuild Afghanistan after years of turmoil. To get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresented and produced by Hannah Bewley(Picture: A man selling used household appliances in a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2020. Credit: Getty Images)

Renowned for its multi-step skincare routine and its foundation in the ever trendy Korean culture, K-beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe.The term covers a wide range of skincare, make-up and cosmetics from South Korea and is lauded for its quality and value.But as demand grows, tens of thousands of companies are claiming to be K-beauty, and not all of them are based in South Korea. This has raised questions about its identity and authenticity. In the midst of its identity crisis, counterfeiters are now getting involved.So, what puts the K in K-beauty?We hear from manufacturers, retailers and industry bodies who might have an idea.Presented and produced by David Cann Sound mix: Ben Houghton(Picture: A young Asian woman applying a moisturising cream in front of a mirror. Credit: Getty Images)

We head to Sweden where a handful of mechanics are taking on one of the world's richest companies - and the world's richest man Elon Musk.The strike at Tesla's workshops has now reached its second anniversary. It's a clash of ideologies, in which each side has much at stake. And after two years there is still no prospect of a resolution.Presenter: Tim Mansel Sound mix: Annie Gardiner(Image: Striking worker Janis on the picket line in Malmo, Sweden.)

Bill Ready started his working life in his parents' auto repair shop. Now, his world looks very different as CEO of the social media platform, Pinterest. It's an app where you can search for things like recipes, home decor, and fashion.Pinterest has enjoyed strong growth since the company was launched in 2010. The platform has been valued at more than 22 billion dollars. But when it added controls for younger users the share price tanked. Bill Ready tells Business Daily how the company's tried to make the platform safer for younger users, where the business is growing globally, and what the future might look like for the company as AI technology develops apace. Presenter: Shiona McCallum Producers: Niamh McDermott and Hannah Mullane(Picture: Bill Ready speaking at a conference. Credit: Getty Images)

From private equity Mega funds to Hollywood actors and hip hop stars, we look at the appeal of British football. More than a third of clubs in England's professional football leagues are now owned in part or entirely, by US investors. So why do so many Americans seem to want to invest in UK football clubs and what makes the so called ‘beautiful game' such an attractive investment?Presenter: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines(Tom Brady, Birmingham City co-owner and film director Matt Alvarez in the stands during the match between Birmingham City and Leeds United in 2023 in Birmingham, England. Credit: Getty Images)

We head to the Eastern European country to find out why it's become so popular with people from the UK and elsewhere in the world, who are going there to study medicine.And we hear how Bulgaria is dealing with its own issues in retaining healthcare workers, as it faces a 'brain drain' to other countries and sectors. Produced and presented by Gill Dummigan(Image: An international student in a tuition session in Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

We look at a growing industry where candidates are spending on career coaching, résumé redesigns, AI tools, and job boards.In a tough job market, with companies cutting staff due to artificial intelligence and rising costs, is this the way to get ahead?We talk to job seekers about whether these tools really help and share what you can do to find work without spending money. Presenter: Megan Lawton Producer: Sam Gruet(Image: Giovanna Ventola, who runs an online community for jobhunters. Credit: Frank Ventola)

As China's Communist Party conclave gets underway, we take a look at one of the biggest things affecting the country's economy; debt. 2024 saw an estimated 25 - 34 million people default on their personal loans while household debt has now reached more than 60% of GDP. With the government using subsidies and handouts to get people spending, can China's debt problem be solved?Presenter: Ed Butler / Producer: Matt Lines(Image: Diners in Shanghai, China during Golden Week, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

The president and CEO of Lamborghini doesn't just sell supercars, he sells a symbol of status, speed, and style. But what does it take to lead one of the world's most iconic luxury brands?Theo Leggett meets Stephan Winklemann at a Lamborghini showroom in London, UK, to explore his journey from paratrooper to CEO of some of the top automobile companies. We hear how he steers businesses through a worldwide economic recession, a pandemic, and global trade wars. Plus, with the rise of electric vehicles – what is the future for the luxury car company?Produced and presented by Theo Leggett Additional production: Niamh McDermott(Image: Stephan Winkelmann sat in front of a yellow Lamborghini wearing a suit and grinning into the camera)