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What is Rumble? The streaming platform building an alternative internet Mar 15, 2023

Show notes

If you don’t like the way online speech is regulated, can you build your own internet where you make the rules? This is the story of Rumble, the new king of alt-tech.

Rumble started as a small video streaming platform, hoping to rival YouTube. Recently, it has become the site of choice for Americans frustrated with YouTube moderation, and moved its headquarters to Florida - hailed by some as the new Silicon Valley.

Rumble had been eligible for an economic development incentive grant as part of the move, but the package was scrapped following protests from some locals and Rumble did not receive taxpayer money.

Now, the company is seeking to build the infrastructure for an internet ecosystem that is “immune to cancel culture”. In this episode, we trace the company’s journey from Canadian start-up to Floridian big tech challenger, and ask what this means for the future of public debate online.

Producer/presenter: Ellie House Additional reporting: Annie Phrommayon Sound mix: James Beard

(Photo: Person using phone looking at Rumble app. Credit: Getty Images)

Syria's child labour problem: Abdullah's story Mar 14, 2023

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Abdullah lives in northern Syria. He is 14, he lost his mother and brothers to the Syrian civil war. For years now Abdullah has been working to feed the rest of his family, and he's just survived one of the world’s most devastating earthquakes.

In this episode of Business Daily Ed Butler hears Abdullah's story.

Abdullah works at the Harakat Tarhin oil refinery outside Al Bab in north-west Syria. It's a makeshift oil refinery and they make fuel to feed the cars, trucks and heaters on which the region depends.

Oil is usually refined in massive industrial buildings, run by multi-national firms, but where Abdullah works it’s cooked in the back yard. He tells us he knows how dangerous his job is but that he has no choice and must carry on working.

Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Abdullah; Credit: BBC

Syria: Life after the earthquake Mar 13, 2023

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Last month’s devastating earthquake didn’t just claim thousands of Turkish lives, it ravaged northern Syria as well. International help for that region has struggled to get through. In this episode of Business Daily Ed Butler looks at how the region is battling to pick up the pieces, and whether local business-people are helping or simply profiting from the crisis.

Amnat Soueif, a mother of two, tells Ed how she's providing for her children. Elizabeth Tsurkov, a senior fellow at the New Lines Institute, tells us about conversations she's having with families in the region about their trauma.

Abu Amer runs a vegetable stall in the Idlib area - he tells us how commodity prices have been affected by the earthquake and Bassam Abu Muhammad, a blacksmith, tells us that since the earthquake he's moved into making and selling tents.

Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: A displaced Syrian child; Credit: Getty images

How wearing glasses can improve the economy Mar 11, 2023

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Without being able to see clearly, people in low and middle income countries can find it difficult to secure a job or support their family.

Globally around one billion people need to wear glasses but do not have access to them. We look at what’s being done to help.

Producer / presenter: Sam Fenwick

(Image: Ankit Sharma; Credit: Ankit Sharma)

The modern pilgrimage boom Mar 10, 2023

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We follow in the footsteps of a Viking Saint who's legacy is bringing visitors and their cash to remote areas from Sweden and Norway.

More and more people are choosing to go on modern day pilgrimages, we walk part of the world's most northern pilgrimage trail to find out how businesses on the route are benefitting.

Producer / presenter: Robert Walker

(Image: People walking on grassland. Credit: Getty Images)

Oscars: Celebrity gifting suites Mar 10, 2023

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Ahead of the Oscars, Business Daily goes behind the scenes of a celebrity gifting suite. Before the ceremony and the parties, celebrities are often invited to hotel suites, usually close to where the awards ceremony will happen. The rooms are filled with skincare products, makeup, jewellery, clothes, shoes, bags, you name it.

Celebrities can take the gifts away for free - all companies want in return is a superstar endorsement.

In this episode entertainment reporter KJ Matthews finds out how this business actually works with Nathalie Dubois who has been running these suites for almost 20 years.

We also hear from Nthenya Mwendwa, a designer from Kenya who's bracelet bag was recently chose by a celebrity at a gifting suite and worn on the red carpet. Hear what that photos and the exposure has done for her small business.

Presenter: KJ Matthews Producer: Carmel O'Grady Image: Sharon Stone at a gifting suite in Cannes: Credit: Nathalie Dubois

The unbanked Mar 09, 2023

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Oscar Bilayin Kudor runs a business in Ghana producing cassava flour. He wants to grow his business but traditional banks are reluctant to lend him the money to buy expensive machinery.

1.4 billion people around the world people can't get access to formal banking. Two thirds of them live in low and middle income countries.

One of Ghana’s largest banks, Absa Bank thinks it has a solution. It’s giving small businesses grants to help them access formal banking facilities.

Having a bank account makes it easier for households to budget and businesses are more likely to thrive. In this episode we also look at how digital banks are helping more people get bank accounts and why access to banking is key to empowering women.

Producer/Presenter: Sam Fenwick Image: Oscar Bilayin Kudor; Credit: Oscar Bilayin Kudor

Health apps: Are we sharing too much? Mar 09, 2023

Show notes

The digital health market is growing rapidly - in 2021 the sector was valued at 195 billion US dollars.

Companies offer apps and devices to monitor our vital statistics, our activity, our nutrition, our hormones. And those apps collect a lot of data about us.

Presenter Marie Keyworth visits Web Summit, a large tech conference in Lisbon, to find out what is happening to this information.

And asks how consumers can get the most out of health apps whilst feeling comfortable about data privacy...

Plus Marie explores the aftermath of the Roe v Wade ruling which raised concerns that law enforcement officials could subpoena abortion-related data from data companies and women's health apps, to use in a prosecution.

Eirini Rapti, the founder of the menstrual cycle tracking app Inne tells Marie how her company responded to Roe v Wade, and the impact it might have on international growth.

Russell Glass, the CEO of Headspace Health which started as a mindfulness app, says they follow robust privacy and security rules, but a lot of the burden is falling on the consumer too because regulation can't always keep up.

Presenter and producer: Marie Keyworth

(Image: Woman using mobile phone. Credit: Getty Images)

Do attractive people earn more? Mar 08, 2023

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How much better off are the better looking? A growing body of research seems to confirm that life is simply easier and more lucrative for attractive people.

Labour economist Daniel Hamermesh has been studying this for years and says beautiful people do get paid more, have less difficulty securing bank loans and are typically offered more jobs, opportunities and perks.

South African fashion model Marike tells us very candidly how her looks means she often gets things for free - meals, experiences, perks. She also talks about the role social media advertising plays in this. She says you can make millions of dollars through social media if you are pretty.

We also hear from author Emily Lauren Dick about how unconscious bias around attractiveness and particularly weight can impact recruitment or promotion opportunities in the workplace.

Producer/presenter: Deborah Weitzmann

(Photo: South African fashion model Marike: Credit: Marike)

Opening up Uzbekistan: Part 2 Mar 07, 2023

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BBC journalist Rayhan Demytrie is from Uzbekistan and was recently invited back to her country to explore how after almost 30 years the government is opening up the country and it's economy.

In part two of this two part Business Daily special Rayhan hears how young entrepreneurs are pushing to grow their businesses and increase exports. Rayhan also finds out how digital only banking companies are transforming access to financial services for many Uzbek people.

In the capital city of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Rayhan explores how the city has developed and changed in recent years and finds out more about the corruption that continues to cause problems for businesses.

Presenter / producer: Rayhan Demytrie Image: Tashkent bazaar; Credit: Getty Images