Business Daily

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President Biden: What power do the donors have? Jul 11, 2024

Show notes

We hear from Democrat fundraisers who are divided over whether he should pull out of the campaign for re-election.

In the past week, since Joe Biden's disastrous debate performance, a number of donors have publicly warned they will withhold funds unless Mr Biden is replaced as the Democratic party candidate.

Pressure on Mr Biden, 81, to step aside has grown, including from Hollywood celebrities George Clooney and Michael Douglas.

However he has vowed to stay on, taking on Donald Trump, 78, in the November presidential election.

Produced and presented by Ed Butler

(Image: President Joe Biden speaks during a 4th of July event on the South Lawn of the White House on July 4, 2024 in Washington, DC. Credit: Getty Images)

Why is everyone wearing retro football shirts? Jul 10, 2024

Show notes

Two football mad continents, Europe and South America, are competing in international tournaments at the moment.

Fans are all decked out in their teams shirts - but they’re not all wearing the latest versions.

In fact, sales of retro or vintage shirts are booming.

Be it the iconic Italian kits of the 90s, the classic sky blue of Argentina or Nigeria’s viral world cup kit - we look into this trend and speak to the fans who are buying, and the companies cashing in.

Produced and presented by Imran Rahman-Jones.

Image: A fan wears a retro Eric Cantona shirt before a Manchester United match in April 2024. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Louisiana’s billion-dollar coastal restoration project Jul 09, 2024

Show notes

It's the biggest operation of its kind in US history, as the state tries to save its coastline which is vanishing at an alarming rate.

We travel to the Mississippi River and the city of New Orleans to see how billions of dollars are being spent to fix the rapid land loss.

The project to revert the Mississippi to its land-making pathways could restore ecosystems destroyed by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and create buffers to protect against sea level rise and hurricanes.

The Louisiana coastline is disappearing due to human-made and natural factors, such as leveeing the Mississippi for oil and gas infrastructure, erosion, and sea-level rises.

And this is having an impact on local wetlands which are eroding, leaving communities vulnerable to storm surges and flooding.

Produced and presented by Beth Timmins

(Image: Oyster shells painted by members of the community as part of the shorelines project )

The rise of celebrity-backed drinks Jul 08, 2024

Show notes

The global alcohol industry is worth just over one and a half trillion US dollars, and celebrities want a part of it.

Famous faces and their drinks brands are filling up the shelves, from model Kendall Jenner’s tequila to actor Ryan Reynolds’s gin. And it’s not just alcohol: the energy drink market is in the sights of celebrities, too. How much more are customers willing to pay for these products?

In today’s episode of Business Daily, we'll ask those who stock the drinks, and those who serve them, how much difference - if any - a famous name makes, and we'll hear why celebrities and brands benefit from mutual association.

(Picture: David Beckham and Kendall Jenner. Credit: Getty Images/BBC)

Presented and produced by Izzy Greenfield

Could Africa’s anti-LGBT laws have financial implications? Jul 07, 2024

Show notes

Ghana’s parliament has recently passed a tough new anti-LGBT bill.

President Nana Akufo-Addo hasn't yet signed it in to law, after warnings that it could threaten Ghana’s much needed donor funding from places like the World Bank and IMF.

Ghana is suffering a major economic crisis and last year had a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Other African countries have also brought in similar laws. But is it fair for international financial institutions to get involved in politics in this way?

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Immie Rhodes

(Image credit: AFP)

How is AI being used in the travel industry? Jul 03, 2024

Show notes

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being applied in multiple industries all around the world, and in travel, the technology has made big strides.

We travel to Spain to find out how the airline Iberia and the hotel chain Iberostar are using AI to change the way they operate.

At Iberostar, AI applications can analyse and predict the amount of food that restaurants will need, and hopefully reduce food waste as a result.

Meanwhile, Iberia is using the tool as a personal assistant to help high-end travellers plan their trips.

And we hear about some of the limitations of the technology if it's not applied properly.

(Picture: Business woman with an open suitcase, preparing for a trip, while looking at her phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Ashish Sharma

What could France's election mean for its economy? Jul 02, 2024

Show notes

In the midst of a snap general election, we take the opportunity to look at the state of the country’s economy.

France has a huge debt burden and some business leaders are worried that the economy could worsen if Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party get into power. The French stock market has been falling since the parliamentary election was announced - although it has recovered slightly after Sunday's result. Meanwhile the parties on the left have formed a new alliance, The New Popular Front, with radical policies like increasing tax on high earners and reducing the pension age.

Although we are fixated on the rise of the far right, the parties of the left formed a united block to fight RN and they have made gains in the first round of voting.

We hear from a solar panel manufacturer in Paris, plus a former UK Ambassador to Paris who knows President Emmanuel Macron. And economic experts in Brussels and Frankfurt discuss the EU perspective.

Presented and produced by Russell Padmore

(Image: Supporters of the far-right National Rally wave French flags at the party headquarters following voting during the first round of legislative elections on 30 June 2024)

The Tour de France: A global money spinner Jul 01, 2024

Show notes

It is the biggest sporting event on the planet based on the millions of spectators who line roads for a fleeting view, but this year a shake up will mean the loss of the iconic Champs Elysees finish.

We look at how a cycling race became a global money spinner - particularly for its owners, the Amaurys, one of the richest families in sport.

We also visit the Maurienne valley, a regular stop off for the Tour, to find out what’s in it for sponsors and hosts.

And with a new final stage ending in Nice to steer clear of the Paris Olympics, and a date clash with the French election, could 2024 see a change in fortunes for the Tour de France?

Producer/presenter: Laura Heighton-Ginns

(Photo: Mark Cavendish, Davide Ballerini, Elmar Reinders, Michael Morkov Dylan Groenewegen and Cees Bol competing during the 111th Tour de France 2024, Stage 2. Credit: Getty Images)

Fixing El Salvador's economy Jun 30, 2024

Show notes

After tackling its security problem, can the smallest country in Central America get its finances under control too?

We hear from street sellers, economists and locals about the issues they're still facing, and visit a surf town where tourism is having a big economic impact.

Produced and presented by Jane Chambers

(Image: A street market in San Salvador, El Salvador, on Tuesday, March 19, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: Cinema boss Tim Richards Jun 27, 2024

Show notes

The CEO of Vue International started out as a high school drop out as he wanted to concentrate on a snowsports career.

We hear how, when that didn't work out, Tim Richards ended up entering the film industry and eventually starting his own cinema chain in his garage.

Vue is now Europe's largest privately owned cinema chain but it hasn't been an easy ride - Tim tells us how the company has weathered both the Covid pandemic and the Hollywood writer's strikes. Presenter: Leanna Byrne Producer: Amber Mehmood

(Image: Tim Richards. Credit: Getty Images)