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Inside Europe's biggest LNG terminal

Inside Europe's biggest LNG terminal

This is the story of liquefied natural gas (LNG), and how in the last year it has played an enormous role in keeping the lights on in Europe

This special edition of Business Daily comes from inside the biggest LNG terminal in Europe. Rick Kelsey looks into the role the fuel is playing as sanctions mean gas pipelines from Russia into Europe are restricted.

LNG terminals which were half empty are now full, but should the cutting usage of Russian gas automatically mean importing more gas from elsewhere in the world? Is there a greener option?

Presenter / producer: Rick Kelsey (Image: Isle of Grain terminal, Kent; Credit: National Grid)

The US banking system on life support

The US banking system on life support

In March 2023 Silicon Valley Bank collapsed. It was the second largest banking failure in US history. The regulator, the FDIC, fired the management team and brought in a new person to run the institution while a buyer was found.

As the former CEO of Fannie Mae, Tim Mayopoulus has experience of steering a bank through financial turmoil.

He speaks to Sam Fenwick about how he steadied the nerves of SVB employees, customers and the global banking sector.

Producer/presenter: Sam Fenwick

(Photo: Man walking past SVB branch. Credit: Getty Images)

The 'right to repair' movement

The 'right to repair' movement

With the cost of living crisis forcing many of us to try and limit what we spend, more and more people are looking to repair the things they own. It’s giving momentum to an international network of ‘repair cafes’ and a global campaign for manufacturers to make products fixable.

In this episode, we hear from World Service listeners about their do-it-yourself repairs - some more successful than others.

Laura Heighton-Ginns visits a bustling repair cafe, where all sorts of household and sentimental items are given new life, including Rosebud, a doll who was first played with 70 years ago.

Laura also speaks to Ugo Vallauri, co-director of the international Restart Project, about the need for durability to be built back into product design.

Presenter/producer: Laura Heighton-Ginns

The economics of cocaine

The economics of cocaine

The cocaine trade generates billions of dollars for criminal gangs right around the world but most of the supply of the drug comes from Colombia. Some the money made in this illegal economy does filter into the legal one and by some estimates the cocaine business now accounts for 4% of Colombian gross domestic product.

How does the cocaine business generate so much money and for who? We also ask what would happen in places like Colombia if the world legalised the cocaine trade, if it could be taxed and revenue earned by Governments much in the same way as products like tobacco and alcohol. We hear from a former Colombian president and Nobel Prize winner who says it should.

Presenter/producer: Gideon Long

(Image: Coca plants. Credit: Getty Images)

Business Daily Meets: Tony Elumelu

Business Daily Meets: Tony Elumelu

Nigeria's most well-known economist Tony Elumelu tells us why Africa needs to rethink it's relationship with business.

He explains "Africapitalism", the idea that the private sector can transform Africa's economy and society for the better.

He also discusses a number problems slowing economic growth in Africa, including young, well-educated people leaving for better opportunities elsewhere and a lack of investment in the tech sector.

Presenter / producer: Peter MacJob (Image: Tony Elumelu: Credit: Getty Images)

Microfinance in Sri Lanka: part 2

Microfinance in Sri Lanka: part 2

We hear about one Sri Lankan woman’s struggle with debt after taking out a small loan - what does her story tell us about how to lend to people unable to access finance through banks all over the world?

In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler investigates what's gone wrong with microfinance. It was once seen as a progressive way to help people like Renuka Ratnayake improve their lives, but has it led to a new wave of predatory lending?

If you are affected by any of the issues covered in this programme, you can find information at www.bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Renuka Ratnayake; Credit: BBC

Microfinance in Sri Lanka part 1

Microfinance in Sri Lanka part 1

Offering small unsecured loans to the world’s poorest was meant to transform the lives of millions but in Sri Lanka microfinance has left many women with debts they simply can't repay.

In a special two-part Business Daily report, Ed Butler visits the villages in Sri Lanka where many of those otherwise excluded from organised finance have taken small loans only for their finances to spiral into debt.

What's gone wrong with mircofinance? Has it led to a new wave of predatory lending?

Presenter / producer: Ed Butler Image: Women in Welioya; Credit: BBC

Music and business: Gigging

Music and business: Gigging

Musicians, promoters and comedians take us inside the grass roots gigging industry.

David Reid speaks to guitar band Vernons Future about their experience gigging at small venues in the UK and getting their music out to international audiences via streaming platforms.

We also hear from gig promotions company Bugbear about organising gigs and comedians trying their luck at an open mic night, hoping to make it onto the comedy circuit.

Presenter / producer: David Reid Image: Vernons Future; Credit: BBC

Music and business: Gospel

Music and business: Gospel

Gospel: Is the spiritual message of the music getting lost in the world of commercialism?

It's the two billion dollar music industry with faith at the forefront. We investigate whether mainstream music artists are diluting an industry that dedicates itself to the word of god.

Hear from one of gospel's best selling artists, Marvin Sapp, and a gospel choir leader in Rwanda.

Presenter / producer: Izzy Greenfield Image: Marvin Sapp; Credit: Marvin Sapp

Music and business: Breaking in

Music and business: Breaking in

The music industry is worth billions of dollars and creates thousands of jobs across the world, but how do you become part of such a lucrative but exclusive industry?

The global head of music operations at Tik Tok tells us how the app has become a game-changer in the industry. Kenyan DJ Coco Em talks about about the barriers African artists have to overcome and British rapper Aitch’s manager explains how he came to work with one of the biggest rap artists in Europe.

Presenter / producer: Izzy Greenfield Image: Coco Em; Credit: Jente Vanbrabant

Jason Derulo: Music and business

Jason Derulo: Music and business

All this week on Business Daily, we’re focusing on the music industry, which is worth $26 billion a year globally. Today, we’re joined by the hugely successful musician, content creator and businessman Jason Derulo. He tells us what it takes to build a brand as successful as his, and about the unlikely investment that's made him millions of dollars.

Presenter/producer: Izzy Greenfield

Image: Jason Derulo (Credit: Joe Scarnici/LIV Golf via Getty Images)

The game that shocked the world

The game that shocked the world

Grand Theft Auto changed gaming forever. In this programme we find out how.

Chris Warburton meets the creative team from Dundee in Scotland who came up with the concept for Grand Theft Auto 25 years ago. We look into how it was picked up, marketed and ultimately sold to millions and millions of us.

Grand Theft Auto was revolutionary, but it was also controversial with its depictions of shocking, graphic violence. This is the story of how the game and its makers overcame moral panic, political opposition and naysayers to become one of the most successful entertainment brands of a generation.

Presenter: Chris Warburton Producer: Ciaran Tracey Image: GTA: Credit: Getty Images

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