Business Daily
The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.
10
The worldwide weight-loss revolution
<p>GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound are reshaping the treatment of obesity around the world. But even when these medicines are judged “cost-effective”, access often depends on who can afford to pay. In the second episode of our Business Daily series on the global weight-loss economy, Sam Fenwick examines how different countries are funding — or rationing — access to these high-priced injections. In England, the state's National Health System says the drugs offer good value for money, and yet rollout is being phased in slowly because of cost and capacity pressures. In the United Arab Emirates, most pat...
Weight-loss drugs. Who pays?
<p>GLP-1 weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound and Mounjaro are reshaping the treatment of obesity — and transforming the global pharmaceutical market.</p><p>Originally developed to treat type-2 diabetes, these injectable medicines — including semaglutide and tirzepatide — are now widely prescribed for weight loss, with growing evidence they can also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.</p><p>But in the United States, access to GLP-1 drugs often depends on insurance coverage — and on who can afford to pay.</p><p>In this first episode of a three-part Business Daily series on the global weight-loss economy, Sam Fenwick...
How a spiked drink led to a startup
<p>Today - from a teenage DIY invention, to US national TV, to changing legislation, and now global sales. What started as a way to protect a friend who’d been drugged at a college bar became a product made from an old hair scrunchie and her mum’s stockings. </p><p>Shirah Benarde tells us how she set up NightCap, a business that’s grown from a bedroom prototype, to securing investment on the Shark Tank show in the US, to a global safety brand in just a few years.</p><p>If you'd like to get in touch with t...
How modular homes are rebuilding Portugal’s ruins
<p>Today, we’re looking at a wooden house revolution that's happening in Europe. Concrete’s carbon footprint is turning architects and construction companies towards trees. </p><p>In Portugal, a rush of new residents to the sparsely populated rural areas – and a lack of builders – is driving the flat-pack and modular wooden house market. Many of these rural plots often have a ruined, abandoned house on them, creating opportunities for faster construction.</p><p>We also meet an architect who has dedicated his life to building in wood, championing a material he believes is key to more sustainable design.</p><p>If...
Are passengers ready for digital borders?
<p>The use of electronic travel authorisations or ETAs is growing worldwide. Dozens of countries have brought them in, or are bringing them in this year, but many passengers are forgetting to complete them - and missing flights. It's costing customers and business big money to re-book. We hear the arguments for and against the new digital border checks and how to navigate the changes.</p><p>If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk</p><p>Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey</p><p>Business Daily is the home...
Why 'scarcity mindset' still persists in India
<p>India is home to more than a billion people. For decades, many families lived with uncertainty around food, water and work. Even as incomes rise and the economy grows, for many people the fear of not having enough remains. </p><p>It's called 'scarcity mindset'. We find out how it impacts daily lives.</p><p>If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk</p><p>Presented and produced by Devina Gupta</p><p>Business Daily is the home of in-depth audio journalism devoted to the world of money and...
The deepfake CEOs
<p>Fraudsters are increasingly using deepfake videos of CEOs and other company executives to trick firms out of millions of dollars. And with the evolution of AI, these videos are becoming ever-more sophisticated and convincing. </p><p>We speak to two CEOs who have been deepfaked: the head of the Bombay stock exchange and the boss of password security company LastPass. And we hear how criminals used deepfake videos to trick British engineering firm Arup into handing over $25 million. </p><p>How easy is it to make these videos? Ed Butler visits a cybersecurity company which shows him how it...
Canva CEO Melanie Perkins
<p>We meet Melanie Perkins, the CEO and co-founder of graphic design platform Canva, which has hundreds of millions of users and a valuation of nearly $40 billion. </p><p>Despite her immense wealth, Melanie Perkins says the label “billionaire” has never felt quite right. Instead, she plans to give away most of her fortune during her lifetime. She also tells us why she believes young people should be educated differently to adapt to the growth of AI.</p><p>If you'd like to get in touch with the team, our email address is businessdaily@bbc.co.uk</p><p>Presenter: Zoe...
Why is India striking so many trade deals?
<p>In just a few months, the country has signed or advanced several major trade deals with other nations. </p><p>Is it a reflection of the growing size of the Indian economy - it is on course to become the third largest in the world - or it is because of a global economic realignment due to US President Donald Trump's tariff policies? </p><p>And is India ready to open its markets to foreign competition, or is there a danger that it will lead to job losses in some sectors? </p><p>If you'd like to get in...
Why are so many French restaurants closing?
<p>We’re in France, where traditional eateries, bistros, and brasseries, once a huge part of the economy, as well as the culture of the country, are disappearing fast. </p><p>A few years ago, if you drove through France, you’d come across dozens of little restaurants. Now, in many small towns, you’ll only find a boulangerie and a takeaway. Restaurants serving traditional French food like steak and chips or coq au vin are closing at a rate of about 25 a day. The main problem: they’ve become too expensive.</p><p>If you'd like to get in touch wi...
