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The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
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In Scotland in the 1980s, a slump in the whisky market brought about the closure of some of the country's most iconic distilleries. These sites become known as 'ghost' distilleries - where spirit production has stopped, but where some stock...
Elton John, Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran - all artists who've had sell-out world tours in recent years. And new markets, such as India, are being added to the global tour map. But the same can’t be said...
Ed Butler travels to Kosovo to find out what the prospects are for this young, ethnically divided population. After Ukraine, it's Europe's poorest region, where a brutal past still casts a shadow. But it's also a territory full...
Meet Sharvari, Belinda and Brenna, three female bike mechanics from different corners of the world. From setting up a female run workshop in India, teaching skills to other women, or working within elite sport: these three are all making a...
Over its long history women have been mostly excluded from the Tour de France. Until recently. In 2022, after a long campaign by some of female cycling's biggest names, the Tour de France Femmes was introduced. So how is it...
The 'pink pound' or 'pink dollar' is believed to be worth billions of dollars, and tourism is one sector looking to benefit. We find out how the industry is trying to attract LGBT travellers, with countries like Nepal taking steps...
Ireland has just launched a scheme to charge a deposit on bottles and cans which is refunded when consumers return them to recycling machines in supermarkets. The Irish have set up a non profit making company to manage the...
We speak to the Armenian entrepreneur behind the popular photo editing app used by millions on Instagram, and by businesses too. Mr Avoyan tells us about his childhood, growing up in a country which only gained independence when he...
As modest fashion week starts in Istanbul, we look at the growth of this area of the fashion industry. Long considered a faith-based choice, it is gaining in popularity, proven by the modest-friendly options that many leading brands now offer....
What happens when your favourite movies and TV shows fall off streaming sites? We find out why, speaking to industry insiders, and those preserving our film and TV titles. Plus, we speak to a US-based writer whose programme...
Earlier this year, on International Women's Day, the Irish electorate was asked to vote in two referendums on changing Ireland's constitution regarding family and care. One of those questions was whether they wished to remove a reference to the...
More of us are searching for cheaper and efficient ways to power and heat our homes. As energy prices remain high, what about taking matters into your own hands and putting solar panels on your roof, or putting a...
It’s estimated that 90% of traded goods travel over the oceans. But for the seafarers who make that happen, it’s not always an easy process. Thousands of incidents of corruption within the industry have been reported to the Maritime...
As India enters election season, we look at the crucial female vote. For decades, the number of women turning out to vote in India has been low, but that’s changed in the last decade. Now, political parties are...
We depend on online reviews for everything from hotel and restaurant bookings, to what products to buy, and as we hear in this programme, medical and cosmetic procedures. If a customer feels unhappy with a service they've paid for,...
Brenda Romero's breakthrough game Wizardry is legendary, and she’s made and contributed to more than 50 titles since. Now, with her own company in Ireland, what does she think is the key to a great game? And in a vulnerable...
There are an estimated 200 million gamers on the African continent. The industry is growing fast, and generating millions of dollars for gaming companies. However, there's a problem - many gamers in Africa don't have access to the credit...
The music composed for video games has come a long way. Once limited to simple tunes generated by early synthesizer chips, it now encompasses complex musical works composed for full orchestra. Video game music is now also considered a...
Tens of thousands of people in the video game industry have lost their jobs in the past year. The industry itself is valued around 200 billion dollars - one of the biggest in the world. And last year saw...
The Dutch swimmer won gold in Beijing, having been diagnosed with cancer seven years earlier. We hear why he decided to stop competing, and instead turn his attention to charity fundraising - setting up his own foundation and raising millions...
Kidnapping is endemic in nearly all parts of Nigeria, as shown by the recent high profile mass abduction and release of nearly 300 schoolchildren. And for young Nigerians who are taking part in the national youth service programme -...
Smell is a powerful sense that can evoke memories and spark emotional connections. And it's increasingly big business. In this programme, we lift the lid on the multi-billion dollar fragrance industry; finding out how scent can influence customer behaviour, build...
We're in Iceland, where, in attempt to fight climate change, huge machines are being used to pull carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. And then locking it away deep underground, turning it into stone. The business behind the technology believes...
We explore the fashion trend that involves minimal labels and logos. Loved by celebrities and social media influencers, what is it about the quiet luxury trend that is so appealing – particularly in countries like China? And can you follow...
Founded in 1901, the International Labour Organisation works with governments of over 180 countries, to help promote internationally recognised labour rights. In all of its 105 year-history, Gilbert F. Houngbo is the first African to be in charge of the...
The Pentland Firth is the strait that lies between the far north of mainland Scotland and the Orkney Islands. It's a wild area with some of the fastest tides in the world, where the power of the sea is...
Padel is a fast-growing sport, attracting investment from celebrities and major brands. What is it about the game that makes it so attractive? We hear from professional players of the sport, and head to Sweden, where the Padel boom, and...
Up to 40% of food in Africa and India is wasted because of a lack of what's called "the cold chain" - the infrastructure keeping food chilled and fresh, from farm to fork. Many small-scale farmers have no access...
The past few years have been marked by two economic trends that have affected pretty much everyone on the planet. The first is the cost of living crisis that followed the Covid pandemic and was made worse by Russia’s...
Lawyer Leigh Steinberg had no big dream to become a sports agent. He was a huge sports fan, but the job was not something he was aspiring to – more something that he stumbled across. Today, he's built up...
An alcohol shop for diplomats has opened in Saudi Arabia. It’s a significant move in a country that has banned alcohol for over 70 years. Some believe in order to transform the tourism economy it is a sign of...
The Chinese-owned online store has exploded in popularity in the past year, shipping to customers in 49 countries around the world. And its advertising has taken centre stage at one of the world’s most watched events: the Super Bowl. ...
The government of Uruguay has launched ambitious plans to make hydrogen and green fuels. The country generates far more of its electricity from renewables than most countries - Uruguay produces more than 90% of its electricity from sustainable resources, like...
Andy Yen is founder and CEO of tech company Proton, best known for its encrypted email service Proton Mail. He was born in Taiwan, studied in California, then moved to Switzerland to work at CERN as a particle physicist. He...
Spotify and Soundcloud started out as small, music tech startups in Stockholm, and now, several other companies that blend music production and innovation are choosing to set up shop in the Swedish capital. In this edition of Business Daily,...
Wary of the perceived threat from Russia, the countries that make up the Nato Western military alliance are upping their spending on the military. But not fast enough, according to former US president Donald Trump, who has made the issue...
We trace the commodity’s journey from sugar cane farm, to mill, to candy shop, all in a quest to find out why the cost of sugar has gone up. The US is the world's fifth largest sugar producer, with sugarcane...
There's been a wave of farmers' protests across Europe in recent weeks. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Eastern European countries have all seen farmers airing their grievances by driving their tractors into towns and cities and blocking roads....
Sir Ben Ainslie is the most decorated Olympic sailor of all time, winning medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. Since then, he's been sailing in the America’s Cup and more recently in the new SailGP league. Now, he's stepping...
Last summer marked the first time in six decades that Hollywood’s actors and writers went on strike simultaneously. They hit pause on production over pay and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the film industry. The strikes brought the...
The important shipping route runs for 82 km through Central America, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. But a long period of dry weather means the water in the canal is very low, reducing the number of boats that can...
We travel to FITUR - International Tourism Trade Fair. Taking place in Madrid, this year's event was the biggest ever. As the sector is still recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, we speak to representatives from countries...
Up to 10% of areas for major crops and livestock could be rendered unsuitable by climate change by 2050, so what can farmers do to adapt to rising temperatures and extreme weather events? Stefania Gozzer meets a farmer in Spain...
In this special episode, Ed Butler brings you a podcast from our friends at Good Bad Billionaire. In the series, presenters Simon Jack and Zing Tseng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and...
The world's major consulting firms make an estimated trillion dollars a year, directing governments and businesses on how best to govern. But the economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that outsourcing the brain power of governments to private firms is a dangerous...
The idea of settling for ‘good enough’ and being mediocre at work is not new… but the case for prioritising other things apart from work has grown rapidly since the pandemic – and hashtags like #lazygirljob have been getting millions...
Work from home, or go into the office? For many businesses and workers it's an ongoing conversation at the moment. But could there be a third way - working 'near' home? New co-working spaces are providing a place for people...
We look at the implications as the Latin American country gradually reduces from 45 hours. In April 2023 politicians approved a law in congress saying that businesses need to move towards cutting their hours to help get a better work...
It's been 50 years since Sweden introduced state-funded parental leave, designed for couples to share. We hear how the pioneering policy has impacted families and businesses - and ask whether Sweden really deserves its reputation for gender equality. And...
Today, the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population own more than three quarters of its wealth, while the bottom half have 2%. To halt the growing wealth gap, one economic philosopher, Ingrid Robeyns, has come up with a...