Business Daily

Many of us started working from home in the coronavirus pandemic - and never went back.

Now, office space in many cities around the world is standing empty. We visit Mumbai, New York and London, where an increase in home working means buildings in business districts standing empty. And Singapore, which seems to be bucking the trend, with demand as high as ever.

We also hear from the CEO of US-based commercial real estate company Remax - are we witnessing the end of the traditional office?

Produced and presented by Alex Bell.

The humble wine cork, once the main way to stop a bottle of wine, had its market share decimated in the 1990’s when screw caps were favoured. However, the problem of 'corked' wine has been almost completely solved and cork is recognised as a more sustainable, if slightly less convenient material for wine makers to use.

In this episode we visit the world’s largest cork producing region in Portugal to find out more about how the cork industry has hit the good times once again. We explore which wines taste better with cork and how supermarkets are cutting down on wine packaging.

Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey

Working irregular hours, including overnight, means meal times can be disrupted.

So what impact does this have on the body and overall health?

We hear from workers in Mumbai and Lagos about their experiences, plus get advice from a dietician about what and when you should be eating.

Produced and presented by Marie Keyworth.

(Image: Workers in a construction camp cutting metal at night. Credit: Getty Images)

The government in Bangladesh is trying to modernise its economy and has announced a policy to create digital only banks. The idea is to move away from traditional bricks and mortar banks and provide more financial services to people in remote areas.

For fintech companies that operate digital wallets – this is a gamechanger. However, many people in the country don’t have access to smartphones or the internet, so how will these banks work for them and for Bangladesh’s economy?

Presenter / producer: Devina Gupta

Dive into a world of amazing cakes and cafes, where look and taste combine in the hope of tempting customers to part with their cash for sweet treats.

Explore how our tastes and habits are changing when it comes to buying and eating cakes and puddings – and find out why social media is now crucial to the baking and dessert café industry.

Presenter / producer: Emb Hashmi

What’s the best way to help people in need?

In the past, humanitarian aid has focused on providing shelter and food, but there’s a growing move towards direct cash payments.

We'll take you to Syria, Egypt and Kenya to find out how it works and why it's being embraced.

We speak to Rory Stewart, president of the US charity Give Directly, which is based entirely on direct cash payments. And hear from two women who’ve

Elias Abu Ata explains how the International Rescue Committee used cash in the wake of the earthquake in Syria earlier this year, and Rasha Batarseh, UNHCR cash programme officer for Egypt tells us how it’s being used to help refugees fleeing the conflict in Sudan.

Finally, is cash assistance more vulnerable to fraud? Oliver May, former head of counter fraud at Oxfam, gives his view.

Producer/presenter James Graham

(Image: Rory Stewart from Give Directly visiting a project in Malawi. Credit: Give Directly.)

Ida Tin coined the term Femtech after she founded the period tracking app, Clue, which has since been downloaded more than 100 million times.

We hear how she managed to turn her idea into a business, how she went about funding it over her 10 year stint as CEO and how she sees it evolving as technology becomes more advanced.

Producer/Presenter: Hannah Mullane

The country is not just facing record-high levels of youth unemployment - more than 20% of 16-24 year olds in urban areas at the latest count.

It is also facing growing discontent among many young people about the type of work they can find, often involving long hours, no overtime pay, and insecure contracts.

It is prompting some to opt out of the rat race altogether. And many experts think the current problems aren't just prompted by the global slowdown. They're structural.

Even the government's economic advisors think it may be time for a new economic plan if China is to avoid years of stagnation.

That change could slow and painful though. Will Xi Jinping and the country's other Communist Party leaders go for it?

Produced and presented by Ed Butler.

(Image: College students choose jobs at a job fair for 2023 graduates in Huai 'an City, East China's Jiangsu Province. 01/07/23. Photo credit: CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Image)

Is trouble brewing for the world’s second largest economy?

China’s exports are down, the property market’s creaking, and millions of young people - more than one in five - are officially classed as unemployed.

It's not just the lack of jobs, it's the quality of employment that's now on offer - much of it informal in sectors like hospitality or food delivery.

In the first of two programmes assessing the economic challenges, Ed Butler asks, what's gone wrong?

Produced and presented by Ed Butler.

(Image: A job-seeker look for employment at a job fair for college graduates in Nanjing in east China's Jiangsu province in Feb 2023. Credit: ZHONG NAN / Feature China/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa tell us how they turned a side hustle into a full-time business.

In 2017 they moved their family from London to Scotland to set up their distillery, creating an African-Scottish business.

Presenter/producer Dougal Shaw.

(Image: Paul and Jacine Rutasikwa. Credit: BBC)