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The classic cars going electric

The classic cars going electric

Some owners are converting their vehicles into EVs.

The idea is to boost the performance of these cars and make them ready for a green future.

The process is not cheap - it requires specialists who can retain the vintage value of these cars while fitting them with a modern electric engine.

Critics feel that such a transition takes away the emotional and engineering legacy of these vehicles. So we travel across the UK to find out about the challenges and the future of this niche business that is helping classic cars go electric.

Produced and presented by Devina Gupta.

(Image: 'Isetta', owned by Aleks Hughes which has been converted to electric. Credit: Richard Heeley, Bite the Hand)

How has war changed the lives of Ukraine’s working women?

How has war changed the lives of Ukraine’s working women?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 saw millions of Ukrainian women and children flee to safety; causing massive upheaval and hitting the economy hard.

For the women who have stayed, their lives have been transformed; many have taken on new roles, like Tetiana, who is now working underground in a coal mine, and Evgeniya, who is now a sniper on the frontline.

Others, like Alina Kacharovska, have managed to grow their businesses; in this case, shoes and accessories, or are stepping into leadership positions, like Yulia Burmistenko, in the crisis group at energy company D-Tek.

In this edition of Business Daily, we also hear from Iryna Drobovych from the Ukrainian Women’s Congress, and Yuliya Sporysh, founder & CEO of NGO Divchata, on how the war could change things for gender equality in Ukraine.

(Image: Tetyana Ustimenko, manager of underground installations at DTEK. Credit: DTEK)

Presented and produced by Clare Williamson

Business Daily meets: Silvina Moschini

Business Daily meets: Silvina Moschini

The Argentinian-American tech entrepreneur moved to the US in 1997 and carved out a career in the corporate world before breaking free and setting out on her own.

In late 2020, the remote working company TransparentBusiness, which she co-founded 12 years earlier, achieved a $1bn valuation.

Now she continues to push for gender and racial equality in the workplace, is an investor on the TV show Unicorn Hunters, and has also established a new asset-backed cryptocurrency.

She explains her journey, the setbacks she’s faced along the way and opens up about what keeps her motivated.

Presenter/producer: Sam Clack

(Image: Silvina Moschini. Credit: Dasha Horita)

Last orders for the Irish pub?

Last orders for the Irish pub?

Fears are growing for the future of the country's bars - especially in rural areas.

In less than 20 years almost a quarter of Irish pubs have closed, many of them businesses which have been run by the same family for generations. R

Russell Padmore travels across the Emerald Isle to hear how the closure of pubs is a setback for rural communities, but also a worry for the country’s tourism industry.

We hear from owners of pubs in County Donegal, a beer brewing company and a hospitality sector expert in Dublin, and a tourism marketing advisor.

Presenter: Russell Padmore

(Image: A closed pub sign. Credit: Getty Images)

Caste bias in corporate America

Caste bias in corporate America

There is a growing debate in the US about the caste system - an ancient social ranking system where the community you are born into determines what kind of job you do, who you marry, and much more.

The caste system in India dates back over 3,000 years and divides Hindu society into different social strata. In many South Asian countries, it is outlawed. But members of the South Asian diaspora in the US say this type of caste bias persists, and there is often very little protection at workplaces against it.

For the community, opinions are divided. Seattle in Washington was the first city to ban discrimination based on caste. But the fight continues for activists in California, where a bill that sought to ban discrimination was vetoed in October. Opponents called it a "divisive bill" that "implicitly singles out" South Asians.

In this edition of Business Daily, Devina Gupta speaks to workers who have experienced such discrimination, and explores some of the challenges for lawmakers seeking to ban it.

(Image: A group from Equality Labs at a rally in September 2023, pushing for a law to ban caste discrimination. Credit: Getty Images)

Presented and produced by Devina Gupta

The Chinese migrants trying to get into the US

The Chinese migrants trying to get into the US

We travel to South America to meet the Chinese migrants who are making their way to the United States using an unexpected route - the established migrant trail through South and Central America to the southern border with Mexico.

Citing economic challenges at home - and using inspiration from social media - a growing number are making this perilous trek.

Reporter Shawn Yuan travels along the route speaking to migrants about their journey and their aspirations for the future. Presenter: Shawn Yuan Producer: Shawn Yuan, with additional production from James Graham

(Image: Chinese migrants wait to get inside a bus to continue their route to the US. Credit: Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia's multi-billion dollar football powerhouse bet

Saudi Arabia's multi-billion dollar football powerhouse bet

The Saudi Pro League has attracted some of the top players from around the world - with transfer fees and salaries amounting to millions of dollars.

We travel to Saudi Arabia to look at the country's ambitious plan to become a global football powerhouse - is it an economic move or simply sportswashing?

With Saudi Arabia now it's looking set to be confirmed as the host of the World Cup in 2034, we look at its relationship with football.

Presenter: Sameer Hashmi

(Image: Saudi football club Al Hilal welcomes Brazilian football star Neymar with an introductory ceremony at King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on August 19, 2023. Credit: Getty Images)

Why is the French wine industry struggling?

Why is the French wine industry struggling?

The region of Bordeaux in the south-west of France is perhaps the most famous wine-producing area in the world.

But it’s struggling. While the prestigious, most expensive wines – Saint-Émilions, Pomerols and Margaux are selling well, others are not.

For the producers of the 850 million bottles of the region's famous red wine, it’s a difficult time due to a major decline in consumption.

We look at the reasons for this, the impact it’s having, and what winemakers are doing to help protect their livelihoods.

Presenter: John Laurenson

(Image: A glass of red wine. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily meets: Babbel CEO Arne Schepker

Business Daily meets: Babbel CEO Arne Schepker

Have you tried learning a language online?

We explore the growth of language learning platforms with Babbel CEO Arne Schepker, and how the Covid pandemic lead to an increase in learning digitally.

Mr Schepker explains how more international working and personal relationships has led to an increase in demand. And how smartphones and the internet have changed that age-old aspiration of gaining fluency in another language.

Presenter: Dougal Shaw

(Image: Arne Schepker. Credit: BBC)

The Crypto King and the journalist

The Crypto King and the journalist

Sam Bankman-Fried, the American crypto entrepreneur who went from billionaire to bankrupt, is on trial in New York for fraud.

The 31-year-old who founded the cryptocurrency exchange FTX is accused of lying to investors and lenders.

He has denied those charges, and instead says he was acting in good faith but made mistakes. He says he never set out to defraud anyone.

In the coming days, 12 jurors will decide his fate - he could face a life sentence in prison if convicted.

Vivienne Nunis speaks to financial journalist Michael Lewis, who spent hundreds of hours with Sam Bankman-Fried for his new book Going Infinite.

Presenter: Vivienne Nunis

(Image: Sam Bankman-Fried leaving a court hearing in June 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

Spook-onomics: the global boost of Halloween

Spook-onomics: the global boost of Halloween

Trick or treat and other traditions are now at the centre of a global multi-billion business.

The ancient Celtic and Pagan festival, which started thousands of years ago in Ireland, was taken by emigrants to North America, where it was turned into a major annual event.

The National Retail Federation in the US tells Russell Padmore how spending by consumers is forecast to be a record of more than $12bn. Jadrain Wooten, an economist at Virginia Tech, says the sales promotions for Halloween are getting earlier every year and lasting at least month.

We hear about the economic benefits of Europe’s biggest Halloween Festival in Derry City in Northern Ireland and visit a pumpkin farm in the region.

An Irish cultural historian, Manchán Magan, tells us about the roots of the festival, which used to be called Samhain and we find out how retailers in Australia are cashing in by selling costumes, pumpkins and other items as consumers enjoy the traditions of Halloween.

Presenter: Russell Padmore

(Image: Children trick or treating in the North East of England. Credit: Getty Images)

The electric car race

The electric car race

Countries around the world are racing to achieve targets on the ban of new petrol and diesel cars - but they are hitting stumbling blocks, meaning some are pulling back on their commitments.

Although global sales of electric cars are rising, some countries are struggling to persuade drivers to make the switch. Reasons given include insufficient or unsuitable charging points, and the price tag: criticism is often put to governments that the shift to electric cars is hardest for the least well off.

In this edition of Business Daily, Rick Kelsey looks at one country which is well ahead of the rest: Norway. The country's aim is that all new car sales in 2025 will be of electric vehicles - a plan being supported by financial incentives and policy changes.

He also speaks to business leaders in the car industry, including a man known as "the Godfather of EV", to find out what's needed if countries are to phase out internal combustion engines.

(Picture: An electric car being charged. Credit: PA/John Walton)

Presented and produced by Rick Kelsey

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