Business Daily

The CEO of the international private healthcare firm Bupa started the role in January 2021, right in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.He speaks to Dougal Shaw about the challenges the company faced, and about lessons learnt for the future. Plus we find out how routine helps to keep Mr Ereño grounded.Produced and presented by Dougal Shaw.,Image: Iñaki Ereño. Credit: BBC)

Every year, India faces blistering heatwaves. In many parts of the country the temperatures are soaring, making it difficult for people to go about their daily lives. It’s the poor who are the most affected. They live in congested slums and have to step out in the heat to earn money. We explore what is being done, and what more could be done, to help them.Presenter / producer: Davina Gupta Image: Woman in Chennai; Credit: EPA/Idrees Mohammed

Portugal has welcomed thousands of high value, short stay workers with an attractive new visa. They’re the so called Digital Nomads, who can live and work where they please - but the locals say they’re skewing the economy, we find out why. Producer / presenter: Ciaran Tracey Image: Flexible working: Credit: PA

The small Caucasian country, which borders Russia, has experienced increased demand for surrogates after the war in Ukraine meant that Russia and Ukraine were no longer options for couples wanting a baby. Those countries used to be international hubs for surrogacy - when a woman carries a pregnancy for another couple or individual. In Georgia, commercial surrogacy is legal, and regulations are extremely liberal. Affordable prices make Georgia an even more attractive alternative. We hear from clinics who say they are struggling to keep up with demand, plus from a surrogate mother who says it has been life-changing for her financially. Producer and presenter: Khatia Shamanauri (Image: A pregnant woman looking at her phone. Credit: Getty Images)

How TV series, films and social media can impact the travel industry.We are in Paris to explore how the Netflix show Emily in Paris has changed tourism in the city. We also hear from a tour guide in New Zealand who changed his business when the Lord of the Rings film series became more popular. Presenter / producer: Nina Pasquini Image: Paris; Credit: BBC

How special interest cruises for fans of music, yoga and sci-fi are revamping the industry. Deborah Weitzmann goes on a blues cruise to find out how the speciality cruise industry works and why it's growing in popularity. She also heads off the ship to find out what happens to on-shore businesses when all the entertainment is on the ship. Presenter / producer: Deborah Weitzmann Image: Legendary Rhythm and blues cruise; Credit: BBC

The number of all inclusive resorts is growing but do they help local businesses? All-inclusive holidays now make up more than half of all package holiday sales in the UK for the first time, and across Europe and North America the amount of resorts available is growing. Rick Kelsey explores whether these resorts are good for local economies and communities.Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey Images: Sun loungers; Credit: BBC

Why African tourists are key to helping the travel sector recover post-pandemic.We hear from businesses in Gambia, Tanzania and Zambia to explore how well these countries recovered after Covid-19 lockdowns. We also explore why promoting tourism within Africa could be key to keeping global visitor numbers going up. Presenter / producer: Bisi Adebayo Image: Gambia; Credit: Getty Images

Find out about the destinations that are top of the list for Muslims travellers wanting to go on holiday without compromising their religious beliefs and practices. Explore what resorts and tour operators have to put in place to be certified halal friendly and examine why this is such a growth area for the global travel industry. Presenter / producer: Emb Hashmi Image: Zahra Rose and friends on holiday; Credit: Zahra Rose

The Nigerian tech entrepreneur on how he built two billion dollar businesses. Iyinoluwa Aboyeji co-founded talent marketplace Andela and payments company Flutterwave, both of which have been valued at more than a billion dollars.He tells Rob Young he wants to use his wealth to help Africa achieve its economic potential. Presenter / producer: Rob Young Image: Iyinoluwa Aboyeji; Credit: Getty Images

Femtech, or businesses building technology to support women’s health are growing fast but how much of that growth is supporting women in the parts of the world where access to healthcare can sometimes be difficult?Hannah Mullane speaks to businesses who are providing technology to support women’s health in low income countries. We hear how apps are adapted to work in places where internet is intermittent and access to electricity can be limited and we discuss how a business operates when the consumer doesn’t always have the means to pay. Producer/Presenter: Hannah Mullane(Image: Two of the users of one of the apps. Credit: Grace Health)

When high inflation has hit all our budgets has the way we date changed? Are we approaching finding a potential partner differently? When is the right time to ask about money and their approach to their finances? Are you asking the right questions? Our experts answer your questions on money and love and offer their advice on how to marry the two. Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta Image: Heart and cash; Credit: Getty Images

This is the story of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and how in the last year it has played an enormous role in keeping the lights on in EuropeThis special edition of Business Daily comes from inside the biggest LNG terminal in Europe. Rick Kelsey looks into the role the fuel is playing as sanctions mean gas pipelines from Russia into Europe are restricted. LNG terminals which were half empty are now full, but should the cutting usage of Russian gas automatically mean importing more gas from elsewhere in the world? Is there a greener option? Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey (Image: Isle of Grain terminal, Kent; Credit: National Grid)

In March 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapsed. It was the second largest banking failure in US history. The regulator, the FDIC, fired the management team and brought in a new person to run the institution while a buyer was found.As the former CEO of Fannie Mae, Tim Mayopoulus has experience of steering a bank through financial turmoil. He speaks to Sam Fenwick about how he steadied the nerves of SVB employees, customers and the global banking sector.Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick(Photo: Man walking past SVB branch. Credit: Getty Images)

With the cost of living crisis forcing many of us to try and limit what we spend, more and more people are looking to repair the things they own. It’s giving momentum to an international network of ‘repair cafes’ and a global campaign for manufacturers to make products fixable.In this episode, we hear from World Service listeners about their do-it-yourself repairs - some more successful than others.Laura Heighton-Ginns visits a bustling repair cafe, where all sorts of household and sentimental items are given new life, including Rosebud, a doll who was first played with 70 years ago.Laura also speaks to Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the international Restart Project, about the need for durability to be built back into product design.Presenter/producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns

The cocaine trade generates billions of dollars for criminal gangs right around the world but most of the supply of the drug comes from Colombia. Some the money made in this illegal economy does filter into the legal one and by some estimates the cocaine business now accounts for 4% of Colombian gross domestic product.How does the cocaine business generate so much money and for who? We also ask what would happen in places like Colombia if the world legalised the cocaine trade, if it could be taxed and revenue earned by Governments much in the same way as products like tobacco and alcohol. We hear from a former Colombian president and Nobel Prize winner who says it should.Presenter/producer: Gideon Long(Image: Coca plants. Credit: Getty Images)

Nigeria's most well-known economist Tony Elumelu tells us why Africa needs to rethink it's relationship with business. He explains "Africapitalism", the idea that the private sector can transform Africa's economy and society for the better. He also discusses a number problems slowing economic growth in Africa, including young, well-educated people leaving for better opportunities elsewhere and a lack of investment in the tech sector. Presenter / producer: Peter MacJob (Image: Tony Elumelu: Credit: Getty Images)

We hear about one Sri Lankan woman’s struggle with debt after taking out a small loan - what does her story tell us about how to lend to people unable to access finance through banks all over the world?In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler investigates what's gone wrong with microfinance. It was once seen as a progressive way to help people like Renuka Ratnayake improve their lives, but has it led to a new wave of predatory lending? If you are affected by any of the issues covered in this programme, you can find information at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Renuka Ratnayake; Credit: BBC

Offering small unsecured loans to the world’s poorest was meant to transform the lives of millions but in Sri Lanka microfinance has left many women with debts they simply can't repay.In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler visits the villages in Sri Lanka where many of those otherwise excluded from organised finance have taken small loans only for their finances to spiral into debt. What's gone wrong with mircofinance? Has it led to a new wave of predatory lending? Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Women in Welioya; Credit: BBC

Musicians, promoters and comedians take us inside the grass roots gigging industry.David Reid speaks to guitar band Vernons Future about their experience gigging at small venues in the UK and getting their music out to international audiences via streaming platforms. We also hear from gig promotions company Bugbear about organising gigs and comedians trying their luck at an open mic night, hoping to make it onto the comedy circuit. Presenter / producer: David Reid Image: Vernons Future; Credit: BBC