We explore the largest infrastructure project in the history of the Baltic states - a new high-speed line connecting Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania with their Western allies.

The project is supposed to be an economic boost to the region, and yet getting it on track hasn't been straightforward.

We speak to those in charge of the project, and to businesses in the cities en-route.

Produced and presented by Lisa Louis.

(Image: The partly-built Rail Baltica Riga central hub in Riga, Latvia, in June 2024. Credit: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

In this programme, we look at some of the key issues for voters in the crucial, so-called ‘swing states’ in the 2024 US Presidential Election.

From Pennsylvania and the battle for blue-collar workers’ votes in Pittsburgh, to the cost of living in Nevada and the auto industry in Michigan. While for voters in Georgia, housing is proving to be a key issue.

We hear from people in each of these states about what matters to them and what could bring in those crucial votes for each candidate.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Hannah Mullane

(Picture: A 'Welcome to Nevada' road sign next to a Nevada State boundary sign. Credit: Getty Images)

On the character's 50th birthday, we hear from the boss of the Japanese company which created her.

Sanrio CEO Tomokuni Tsuji took over from his grandfather who founded the company in Japan.

The company struggled to be profitable for years - we find out how under the leadership of Tomokuni Tsuji, the brand has grown to a trillion yen company, and speak about some of the challenges around counterfeits.

Produced and presented by Mariko Oi

(Image: A woman poses with Hello Kitty plushies at the exhibition CUTE in London, United Kingdom on January 24, 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

Once difficult to find outside of Japan, the green tea has made it onto the menus of major coffee chains.

The matcha tea industry is projected to reach US$5bn in revenue by 2031.

We look at the role TikTok, celebrity and wellness endorsements have played, and ask whether the matcha we drink in the west is healthy.

Plus we hear from producers who say the industry needs regulation.

Presented and produced by Megan Lawton

(Image: Matcha tea in a cup. Credit: Getty Images)

They’re the interactive games where players race against the clock to solve puzzles and break free.

And now major brands are tapping into the trend.

Companies are investing in escape rooms to enhance internal communications and team-building, and they’re now being seen as a powerful external communication tool too.

And we learn how escape rooms are being used to engage customers and showcase their products, crafting unusual marketing experiences.

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

It has already inspired the hit HBO television series Succession, but now Rupert Murdoch’s family drama is playing out in real life in a courtroom in the US state of Nevada.

The 93-year-old media mogul is trying to change the terms of a family trust he made years ago that states that after his death, his four eldest children should get equal voting rights in his empire. Murdoch wants to alter it to give his eldest son Lachlan greater control.

We hear from outside the courtroom, look back at Murdoch’s extraordinary career, and talk to two people who know the Murdoch family story well. And we reflect on what the court case might mean for one of the world’s most powerful media empires.

(Picture: Rupert Murdoch arriving at a courthouse in Reno, Nevada. Credit: Reuters)

Presented and produced by Gideon Long

We look at how some leaders in the battleground state of Pennsylvania are fighting for the approval of a deal for a Japanese company to purchase US Steel Corporation. That’s despite strong opposition from the unions and both presidential candidates.

(Picture: Edgar Thompson Plant in Braddock, PA. Credit: Getty Images/Washington Post)

Presented and produced by Monica Miller

From growing up as a refugee to leading the most recognised sustainability label in the world, Sandra Uwera talks about the challenges she's faced, and her drive to improve the lives of around two million farmers and workers around the world, through Fairtrade International.

(Picture: Sandra Uwera. Credit: Fairtrade International)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

In today’s episode we look at some ingenious solutions to water related problems.

We start our aquatic journey by going on a tour of one of Victorian England’s most important feats of engineering.

We discover a cheap and easy way to test for water quality, and learn about one of the biggest and most ambitious flood defence and general infrastructure projects in the world.

And we hear how a water and sanitation engineer in Nairobi, Kenya, is trying to prevent huge volumes of H2O being wasted in leaks.

(Image: The Octagon at Crossness Pumping Station, London. Credit: P. Scrimshaw)

Presented and produced by Elizabeth Hotson

In the second of a two-part series, we travel to the US-Canada border to find out what people, businesses and industries are thinking ahead of the US election. From one of North America’s busiest border crossings, to Canada’s energy capital, we hear from those who might be impacted by November’s result.

South of the border, in Mexico, we hear how tension with China is benefitting America’s closest neighbours.

Presenter: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton

(Photo:: A road sign in Fort Erie, Ontario points in the direction of the Peace Bridge crossing to New York. Credit: Getty Images)

The US presidential election on 5 November 2024 will have major consequences for its neighbours, Canada and Mexico. Trade, immigration, and diplomatic relations all hinge on the election's outcome.

This episode explores how the two countries are preparing for either a Donald Trump or Kamala Harris presidency. From business owners and farmers to international trade specialists, we learn what is at stake for North America’s economies.

Presenter: Sam Gruet Production: Sam Gruet and Megan Lawton

(Photo: Canadian farmer Dave Braden who produces organic grass-fed beef from his 50-acre Ontario farm. Credit: Megan Lawton)

Theo Leggett reports on the latest trends and concerns preoccupying the automobile industry at this year’s Paris Motor Show. Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have established that they can manufacture vehicles more cheaply than their European counterparts, and now they are looking to move into that market. Theo hears from Chinese and French car manufacturers about what this will mean for consumers.

China is not the only country selling EVs to European consumers, a big American name is reviving a classic brand with a new electric offering. And in a city where driving and parking is always a challenge, Theo checks out the latest solution – a tiny car produced by a toy manufacturer.

Producer/presenter: Theo Leggett

(Photo: visitors browsing the manufacturer displays at the Paris Motor Show 2024. Credit: Nathan Laine/Getty Images)