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BBC World Service


The daily drama of money and work from the BBC.


Business Daily

Since the Taliban took over from a US-led government in Afghanistan in 2021, the economic challenges facing the country have been huge. The amount of aid going in to the country has dropped, the banking system is difficult to navigate, and international investors are staying away. 

That is before considering the economic impact of natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods and droughts, which have frequently ravaged rural areas. Government investment seems unlikely, so experts and business owners hope that the private sector can help to rebuild Afghanistan after years of turmoil. 

To get in touch with the programme, you can email us at businessdaily@bbc.co.uk

Producer/presenter: Hannah Bewley

(Photo: A man selling used household appliances in a street in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 2020. Credit: Getty Images)

Afghanistan: Can its private sector step up?

Renowned for its multi-step skincare routine and its foundation in the ever trendy Korean culture, K-beauty has become a multi-billion dollar industry across the globe.

The term covers a wide range of skincare, make-up and cosmetics from South Korea and is lauded for its quality and value.

But as demand grows, tens of thousands of companies are claiming to be K-beauty, and not all of them are based in South Korea. This has raised questions about its identity and authenticity. 

In the midst of its identity crisis, counterfeiters are now getting involved.

So, what puts the K in K-beauty?

We hear from manufacturers, retailers and industry bodies who might have an idea.

Presented and produced by David Cann
Sound mix: Ben Houghton

(Picture: A young Asian woman applying a moisturising cream in front of a mirror. Credit: Getty Images)

The blurring of K-beauty

We head to Sweden where a handful of mechanics are taking on one of the world’s richest companies - and the world's richest man Elon Musk.

The strike at Tesla’s workshops has now reached its second anniversary. 

It’s a clash of ideologies, in which each side has much at stake. 

And after two years there is still no prospect of a resolution.

Presenter: Tim Mansel
Sound mix: Annie Gardiner

(Image: Striking worker Janis on the picket line in Malmo, Sweden.)

The two-year Tesla strike

Bill Ready started his working life in his parents' auto repair shop. Now, his world looks very different as CEO of the social media platform, Pinterest. It's an app where you can search for things like recipes, home decor, and fashion.

Pinterest has enjoyed strong growth since the company was launched in 2010. The platform has been valued at more than 22 billion dollars. But when it added controls for younger users the share price tanked. 

Bill Ready tells Business Daily how the company's tried to make the platform safer for younger users, where the business is growing globally, and what the future might look like for the company as AI technology develops apace. 

Presenter: Shiona McCallum
Producers: Niamh McDermott and Hannah Mullane

(Picture: Bill Ready speaking at a conference. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: Pinterest CEO Bill Ready

From private equity Mega funds to Hollywood actors and hip hop stars, we look at the appeal of British football. 

More than a third of clubs in England's professional football leagues are now owned in part or entirely, by US investors. 

So why do so many Americans seem to want to invest in UK football clubs and what makes the so called ‘beautiful game’ such an attractive investment?

Presenter: Will Bain
Producer: Matt Lines

(Tom Brady, Birmingham City co-owner and film director Matt Alvarez in the stands during the match between Birmingham City and Leeds United in 2023 in Birmingham, England. Credit: Getty Images)

The Americans investing in British football

We head to the Eastern European country to find out why it's become so popular with people from the UK and elsewhere in the world, who are going there to study medicine.

And we hear how Bulgaria is dealing with its own issues in retaining healthcare workers, as it faces a 'brain drain' to other countries and sectors. 

Produced and presented by Gill Dummigan

(Image: An international student in a tuition session in Plovdiv, Bulgaria)

Why are medical students going to Bulgaria?

We look at a growing industry where candidates are spending on career coaching, résumé redesigns, AI tools, and job boards.

In a tough job market, with companies cutting staff due to artificial intelligence and rising costs, is this the way to get ahead?

We talk to job seekers about whether these tools really help and share what you can do to find work without spending money. 

Presenter: Megan Lawton 
Producer: Sam Gruet

Correction, 27 October 2025: In this episode, which first aired on 22 October 2025, we introduced one of the contributors as Nicole Leeder. This was incorrect. The correct name was Nicole Gable, US country president for LHH and president for Recruitment Solutions in North America. We apologise for the error, which has been corrected in this updated version of the episode. 

(Image: Giovanna Ventola, who runs an online community for job-hunters. Credit: Frank Ventola)

Can you buy your way into a job?

As China’s Communist Party conclave gets underway, we take a look at one of the biggest things affecting the country’s economy; debt. 

2024 saw an estimated 25 - 34 million people default on their personal loans while household debt has now reached more than 60% of GDP. 

With the government using subsidies and handouts to get people spending, can China’s debt problem be solved?

Presenter: Ed Butler
Producer: Matt Lines

(Image: Diners in Shanghai, China during Golden Week, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Can China’s debt problem be solved?

The president and CEO of Lamborghini doesn’t just sell supercars, he sells a symbol of status, speed, and style. 

But what does it take to lead one of the world’s most iconic luxury brands?

Theo Leggett meets Stephan Winklemann at a Lamborghini showroom in London, UK, to explore his journey from paratrooper to CEO of some of the top automobile companies. 

We hear how he steers businesses through a worldwide economic recession, a pandemic, and global trade wars. Plus, with the rise of electric vehicles – what is the future for the luxury car company?

Produced and presented by Theo Leggett
Additional production: Niamh McDermott

(Image: Stephan Winkelmann sat in front of a yellow Lamborghini wearing a suit and grinning into the camera)

Business Daily meets: Lamborghini's Stephan Winklemann

Can your smartphone bring you spiritual fulfilment? 

We look at the growth of religion-based apps, as the “faith tech” industry sees rapid growth. 

Much of the tech charges a fee to use it, but not everyone is convinced.

Produced and presented by Rob Young 

(Image: The "Text With Jesus" chatbot app which has thousands of paying subscribers. It lets people ostensibly ask questions of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and nearly all 12 apostles. Credit: Getty Images)

God in your pocket

The Spice Islands' urban planning director, Dr Muhammad Juma, is a pioneer in mapping technology, using drones to get a clear picture of Zanzibar's urban sprawl. But it was an innovation borne out of necessity - the archipelago's population is booming, and so are its slums.

Katie Prescott travels to the Tanzanian province to meet the man. She also speaks to drone pilot Khadija Abdulla Ali, one of hundreds of young people involved in the mapping project, and - unusually in this traditional Muslim country - a woman in charge of a team of men. Plus Sebastian Dietzold, who is building an entire new eco-friendly conurbation called Fumba Town.

(Picture: Dr Muhammad Juma, director of Zanzibar Urban and Rural Planning; Credit: Chris Morgan/BBC)

The Man Mapping Zanzibar with Drones

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