Business Daily

Indonesia’s president has now been in power for a year but having won the election on policies to support the lower classes, the economy is struggling. That struggle led to violent protests across the country making global headlines. We speak to businesses, young people and families about the changes they’ve seen in the past year and discuss whether the new government can fulfil their economic pledges. Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Hannah Mullane(Image: Students eat food supplied by the Indonesian government's free meal programme at an elementary school in Darul Kamal, Aceh province on 13 October 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The country has dropped tariffs on a wide range of US products, a major U-turn in the trade war. It comes after Prime Minister Mark Carney said he had reached a “new economic and security relationship” with US President Donald Trump. But with almost 40% of small Canadian businesses warning they might not survive another year under tariffs, and the province of Ontario losing tens of thousands of jobs, what will this shift mean for the economy? We break down why Canada is changing course and what it could mean for businesses and consumers. Presented by Sam Gruet Produced by Megan Lawton(Image: US President Donald Trump, right, and Mark Carney, Canada's prime minister, shake hands during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington DC on 7/10/25. Credit: Getty Images)

Thailand has one of the highest levels of consumer debt in the world as a proportion of its GDP. We hear from people who have borrowed and cannot pay back. They are struggling to get regular work to make payments and cover interest. We also speak to a private money lender - are they helping people or making the problem worse?Producer/presenter: Ed Butler(Photo: Jie Ae Nattarin, a money lender in Thailand wearing her trademark headband)

The South African grew up under the racist apartheid system as one of 14 children. He looked set for a life in farming, until a chance event took him down a different path – ultimately becoming CEO of the multinational banking group, Investec. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected]: Leanna Byrne Producer: Elisabeth Mahy Additional production: Amber Mehmood, Luke Jarmyn, Bisi Adebayo(Image: Fani Titi. Credit: Investec)

We head to Switzerland, a small but very successful country with a population of just 9 million.And now coping with some of US President Donald Trump’s highest tariffs. In August the original threat of 31% tariffs was raised to 39%. Two months on, efforts to negotiate with Washington have proved fruitless and the Swiss economy, regularly ranked as the most competitive in the world, is starting to slow down. Produced and presented by Imogen Foulkes(Swiss watch brands, including Zenith and Hublot, in a shopping arcade in Geneva, Switzerland. Credit: Getty Images)

Passengers are suffering more disruption as technology at airports, airlines and air traffic control is failing.But why is aviation software becoming more prone to failure and vulnerable to cyber-attacks, and what is the solution to preventing delays?Presented and produced by Russell Padmore(Image: Passengers wait at Heathrow Airport in London, as European airports experienced disruption due to a cyberattack on the check-in and boarding system in September 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

For the first time in nearly seven years, federal operations have been drastically curtailed as the US government shuts down. As it enters a second week, we look in detail at how the collapse in funding for government services is affecting America at large - from the Federal worker fearing for his job, to the wider concerns of slowing growth and rising inflation. What does this say about the state of the world’s largest economy?Produced and presented by Ed Butler(Image: "Closed" signage in front of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, US, on 5 October 20205. Credit: Getty Images)

We look at how the European country is trying to lure talent back home.It is specifically targeting people from science, technology, engineering and innovation sectors, using tax breaks and a campaign to remind people about the benefits of returning.A number of countries are bringing in similar initiatives, so is it forward thinking? Or will it create a two-tier system?Produced and presented by Daniel Rosney(Picture: Two women relax in a waterfront cafe during the day in the Mediterranean port of Limassol, Cyrpus. Credit: Getty Images)

Women and girls in Afghanistan have been excluded from much of the working world, as well as from the chance to get an education. Many are finding ways to bring in an income for their families, but a 48-hour internet shutdown threatened this recently.We hear the experiences of shopkeepers, tech workers and charity bosses in the country.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected]/presenter: Hannah Bewley(Photo: Afghan women in burkas walk along a road in the Argo district of Badakhshan province, 28 August, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Thailand’s Pichaya Soontornyanakij, widely known as Chef Pam, was this year named the best female chef in the world by a panel of more than 1,000 gastronomists assembled by 50 Best, a food and drink sector brand. She’s the first Asian woman to win that award. Gideon Long meets her at her Michelin-starred restaurant in Bangkok, in a building which has deep personal meaning for her and which she and her family have lovingly restored. She takes him on a tour of the gastronomic delights of Bangkok’s Chinatown and tells him about her Thai-Chinese heritage and the challenges of the restaurant business. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected] and produced by Gideon Long (Image: Thai chef Pichaya Soontornyanakij at her restaurant in Bangkok.)

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order stopping subsidies for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. He has called attempts to boost green energy in the US the "Green New Scam". We head to Middletown, Ohio, where a hydrogen-powered furnace for the steel mill, which was subsidised under the Biden administration, has been cancelled under President Trump. Supporters of the new furnace say it would have made a much cleaner plant in the town and created many jobs. We hear from residents, community leaders, and economists, and ask - what happens when industry clashes with politics?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected]: Erin Delmore Producer: Nathalie Jimenez(Picture: Cleveland-Cliffs Middletown Works in Middletown, Ohio, in 2024. Credit: Getty Images)

What happens when a controlling partner takes over your income and spending?More countries are now recognising the harm that economic or financial abuse can cause, but it's still a but it’s still a huge problem - particularly for women.Could financial institutions be doing more to help?Produced and presented by Felicity Hannah(Image: A woman lying back in a chair with her head in her hands. Credit: Getty Images)

The country has one of the fastest growing aging populations in the region - we hear how businesses and politicians are adapting to the situation.We visit a cafe exclusively employing women aged over 50, and hear about the sectors trying to change attitudes to maintain productivity.Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: Senior hvac technician checking air conditioning unit pressure with manometer in Chile. Credit: Getty Images)

The French government has launched a campaign against what it calls “the last discrimination”: ageism. It’s one that a lot of people in the country consider to be justified, and which makes it about three times more difficult to get a job interview. But it’s costly.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email us at [email protected] and produced by John Laurenson(Picture: Job-seeker, Geraldine Coquand.)

Thirty years ago, India made its first mobile call. Back then, Rahul Vatts was just starting out at India’s telecom giant, Airtel. Now the company’s Chief Regulatory Officer, he’s witnessed the country transform into one of the world’s largest digital markets. We hear about his career journey and learn how new technology is being rolled out in rural parts of India. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected] and produced by Devina Gupta(Picture: Rahul Vatts.)

Is the dream of home ownership slipping out of reach for many Americans? Prices are climbing, supply can’t keep up with demand, and high interest rates are keeping sellers on the side-lines.Tariffs and rising construction costs are squeezing builders too, piling more pressure on families and the economy. We hear from first-time buyers, builders and real estate agents all trying to navigate the changing market.Produced and presented by Monica Miller(Image: A family look at a new home in the US. Credit: Getty Images)

Once a niche product for runners, footwear that makes you feel like you’re not wearing any is now crossing into the mainstream. We’ll hear from fans chasing everyday health benefits as well as from brands in the UK, India and US. And we’ll ask whether the barefoot movement is here to stay…Produced and presented by Helen Ledwick(Image: Barefoot shoes on display at a 'try on' event in Birmingham, UK)

In the early 2000s, the country had one of the biggest real estate booms seen anywhere in the world - at its peak accounting for 30% of GDP. But in 2020 that quickly started to unravel. Now, the largest Chinese companies are being taken to court and dismantled, and property bought by ordinary citizens who invested in real estate has plummeted in value.What went wrong, and how does the crisis affect the rest of the world?You can get in touch with the programme by emailing us at [email protected] and produced by Matt Lines(Picture: A China Evergrande property development is in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, in August, 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

Many skilled professionals working within creative fields are unhappy about how AI is impacting their industry. They want to protect their work and the creative process from artificial intelligence because of fears over things like job protection, devaluation of skills, and a loss of control over their work. Some small and medium-sized companies in other industries also say they plan to never use AI technology.We discuss why that is, and ask whether those businesses that don’t embrace the technology may fall behind.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, send us an email to [email protected] and produced by Hannah Mullane(Picture: Actress and filmmaker Justine Bateman, who runs the CREDO 23 film festival, which is billed as a non-AI event, in Los Angeles, California. Credit: Steven Meiers Dominguez)

In December 2023, a video was posted on X that generated a lot of attention. Gaining more than five million views in 24 hours, it showed a team of AI-generated TV anchors flawlessly delivering the day’s top headlines.We investigate how the media industry is embracing artificial intelligence; from the outlets using the technology to re-voice presenters, to the start-ups that use it to script entire news reports.We also look at the editorial issues facing journalists, ask about the public appetite for AI news, and speak to those fighting AI disinformation around the world.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected]: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton(Picture: An AI-generated female TV news presenter on Channel 1 News. Credit: Channel 1)

When US president Donald Trump visited the Middle East earlier this year, he announced a number of deals between the US and countries in the region. One major deal was for a partnership to build a massive data centre in Abu Dhabi that is expected to be the largest artificial intelligence (AI) campus outside the US. We ask whether the Gulf can become a major AI power - and at what geopolitical cost?Produced and presented by Sameer Hashmi(Image: US president Donald Trump and UAE president Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan unveiled a model of the AI campus. Credit: WAM)

The US and China dominate the field of artificial intelligence - between them they’re responsible for 90% of the world’s AI infrastructure. Where does this leave the rest of the world? We speak to an AI business in Kenya, a country that doesn’t benefit from lots of investment in the sector. We discuss the difficulties of trying to innovate in Argentina. And we explore the divide between regions seeing a lot of investment in the industry compared to those that aren’t, and what this could mean for the future.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected] and produced by Hannah Mullane(Picture: Computer science professor Nicolas Wolovick, in Argentina, next to a supercomputer. Credit: Nicolas Wolovick)

Entry level jobs are likely to be the most affected by artificial intelligence. AI can already do a lot of tasks typically given to junior staff, and businesses are already looking at their hiring policies as a result. We speak to recruiters, businesses, and graduates about what the job search is like right now, and how the world of work could be shaped by advances in technology in the future.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email us at [email protected] and produced by Hannah Mullane(Picture: A team of young people in a modern office discussing their project. Credit: Getty Images)

Around the world, entertainment companies are spending hundreds of millions of dollars on shiny new theme park rides and attractions. It's a highly competitive market.They're big money-spinners for the owners and can help boost local economies too. We look at why a medium-sized town in southern England could soon become a magnet for thrill-seeking tourists, and we travel to Sweden, where a theme park with a very local flavour has been celebrating its 100th anniversary.But what happens if you live next door to the planned site of a major new attraction? And do the promises of new jobs and improved infrastructure in an area always come to fruition?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected] and produced by Elizabeth Hotson(Picture: People hanging upside down on a roller coaster track. Credit: Getty Images)

It's the newest generation to enter the workforce, in their late teens and twenties, but many say they already feel burned out.From fears about AI taking their jobs, to lower pay and clashing values with older colleagues, we hear what’s driving Gen Z’s discontent in the workplace, speak to the bosses trying a new approach, and get tips on how to recruit and keep them.Produced by Sam Gruet Presented by Megan Lawton(Image: A young person looking tired and stressed out. Credit: Getty Images)

Transport regulators around the world are forcing the automotive industry to fix faults in their cars, even if they are discovered years after the model rolled off the assembly line. It seems the drive to use more complex technology in vehicles is undermining reliability. We find out how tighter global scrutiny by road safety watchdogs is making manufacturers recall cars to repair them, even if the process is expensive for the industry. Produced and presented by Russell Padmore(Image: In May 2024 Tesla announced that the recall of over 125,000 of their vehicles in the US due to a possible seat belt warning system malfunction that can increase the risk of injury in a collision. Credit: Getty Images)

As US President Donald Trump tries to lure wealthy foreigners with a $5m Gold Card residency visa, we explore the growing global marketplace of so-called golden passports and visas.Do the super-rich use them as a tax plan, an insurance plan, or something else? And should jet-setters with deep pockets be able to skip the queue?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected] and produced by Josh Martin(Picture: US President Donald Trump holds the $5 million dollar Gold Card as he speaks to reporters while in flight on board Air Force One, en route to Miami, Florida on the 3rd of April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The billionaire entrepreneur was sent to England at the age of 13 after getting into trouble in his native India. His family shared a house and his mother worked two jobs - something he said instilled in him the work ethic that led him to found his own hospitality businesses. An interest in air travel led him to London's Heathrow Airport, the 4th largest airport in the world. But it was on the ground, in the hotel industry, that he made his fortune, with the Arora Group.We hear Surinder Arora's story, and his proposals for an alternative way to expand Heathrow's capacity.Produced and presented by Will Bain(Image: Surinder Arora. Credit: Surinder Arora)

You might have seen it online - social media influencers sharing their morning routines before work. Some start as early as 4 or 5 AM, turning those hours into their personal 5-to-9 before the traditional 9-to-5 grind. Michelle Obama, Bob Iger, and Apple CEO Tim Cook all claim to be up between 4 and 5 AM. There’s a “5 AM club”, inspired by the habits of very successful people. But does waking up that early actually make us better at work? And there’s even a whole industry of how to optimise your morning routine with supplements, journals and beauty products. In some cases, ice baths.Against his better judgement, Business Daily's Matt Lines signed himself up to a week of 4 AM starts and met those for whom this is a way of life. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected] and produced by Matt Lines(Image: Matt Lines braving an ice bath as part of his research)

It started with a man and a couch. Today, it’s an industry worth half a trillion dollars. The growing demand for therapy has made it a lucrative sector, with more and more digital mental health tools emerging. We ask if ethics can keep pace with change in the industry, and if the tech is serving those who need it the most?Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns(Picture: A home-based online therapist in virtual counseling session. Credit: Getty Images)

We’re in Myanmar, a country that’s been ravaged by intense fighting for decades. But especially so since a military coup overthrew the elected government in 2021. We’re asking who and what is paying for each side’s war effort, and the military hardware, in what’s becoming an increasingly high-tech war.If you'd like to get in touch with Business Daily, our email address is [email protected] and produced by Ed Butler(Picture: 3D printers are used to make parts of assault rifles produced in a clandestine weapon factory in Myanmar. Credit: Getty Images)

Turkey is facing a growing global problem: a declining birth rate. The number of babies being born reached an all-time low in 2024, of 1.48 children born per woman - that’s well below the replacement level of 2.10. The country's President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is calling the drop in fertility rate "a disaster" and has declared 2025 the "Year of the Family", promising incentives for parents. President Erdoğan is focusing on saving traditional family values, which he says are under threat, and is encouraging women to have at least three children. However, many in Turkey say it is the faltering economy - with inflation at around 35% - that is making it impossible to grow their families.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us: [email protected] Presented and produced by Emily Wither with Zeynep Bilginsoy(Picture: A mother holds her baby during a visit to Anitkabir, the mausoleum of Turkish Republic's Founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk on National Sovereignty and Children's Day, a national holiday dedicated to children, in Ankara. Credit: Getty Images)

From taking on the role of Kenya Airways' CEO in the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, to leading the company to profitability after years of financial turbulence, we hear the difficult decisions Allan Kilavuka has made during his time at the helm of one of Africa’s largest airlines - and the challenges that lie ahead for African aviation.Allan Kilavuka also tells us about his time growing up in Western Kenya, and his unusual career path, including a stint as a marriage guidance counsellor. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected] Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: CEO of Kenya Airways, Allan Kilavuka. Credit: Getty Images)

We investigate smartphone thefts - which are rising in number in some major cities. What's the impact, and where are the phones going? And how can people protect themselves?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email us at [email protected] and produced by Deborah Weitzmann(Image: A phone is taken from a rucksack. Credit: Getty Images)

As the continent aims to grow the sport, we hear from professional golfers who say they’re having to take on other jobs because there’s not enough money in the sport yet. Would a more organised competition structure, with more regular competitions, offer more opportunities to win prize money?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email us at [email protected] and produced by Zawadi Mudibo(Image: Zambian professional golfer Dayne Moore. Credit: Getty Images)

Generation Z - people born in the mid-to-late 1990s up to the early 2010s - is reportedly the new driving force behind retail investing. We look at the areas they are investing in, and why financial influencers are not always what they seem. To get in touch with the programme, send us an email to [email protected] and produced by Rick Kelsey(Picture: Young male investor showing smart phone screen with stock market investment app. Credit: Getty Images)

On the morning of the 28th of April, Spain lost electric power equivalent to that generated by ten nuclear plants, leaving the whole of the Iberian Peninsula, including Portugal and parts of France, without electricity for up to 12 hours. We examine the cause of the blackout that affected millions of people, and the role of renewable energy.If you'd like to email us, our address is [email protected] and produced by Ashish Sharma(Picture: People shop for groceries using their phone as a flashlight during the widespread power outage that struck Spain and Portugal in April 2025. Credit: Getty Images)

The South African entrepreneur tells us about his experience growing up under the apartheid regime, before securing a scholarship that would take him to Harvard University in the US.He's now returned home to set up Cloudline, an airship company which aims to deliver goods and carry out surveys in remote parts of Africa.Airships are seeing something of a comeback, with investors seeing an opportunity for quick, green transportation without the need for complex infrastructure.The sector is still in its early stages, but Spencer Horne explains why he's so passionate - and why he believes the technology is the answer to African growth. If you'd like to get in touch with our programme, you can email us at [email protected] and produced by Russell Padmore(Image: Spencer Horne. Credit: Cloudline)

The trend has taken off on social media as it's resonated with office workers around the world. So what value does an extroverted colleague bring to a company? And is it fair, or even legal, for businesses to recruit for specific personality types?Produced and presented by Imran Rahman-Jones(Image: Two colleagues laughing together. Credit: Getty Images)

Farmers in Denmark are getting ready for an ambitious new scheme that will transform the country's landscape from 2030.As well as giving land back to nature, the Green Tripartite Agreement will see farmers taxed on the greenhouse gas emissions coming from livestock - the first country in the world to do so.Animals like cattle, sheep and pigs release the greenhouse gas methane as part of their digestive processes. Will the tax push up the price of food as some fear, and put farmers out of business? Or is it a model that other countries can and should follow?Plus - we meet Hilda, the Scottish calf bred to emit lower levels of methane.if you'd like to get in touch with the programme, you can email us at [email protected] and produced by Lexy O'Connor(Picture: Calves - including Hilda - in a shed.)

Cyberattacks are on the rise, with retail, banking, and airline industries all targeted in recent months. The cost to the economy is huge and thought to be worth billions of dollars. As businesses scramble to stay secure, we investigate the ransomware gangs behind the breaches and the experts working to stop them. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email us at [email protected]: Sam Gruet Producer: Megan Lawton(Photo: A computer popup box screen warning of a system hack. 3D illustration. Credit: Getty Images)

Does a row between one of the world's most powerful politicians, and one of the world's most powerful bankers, have real consequences for the global economy?We look at the showdown between US President Donald Trump and the head of the US central bank, Jerome Powell, who was appointed by President Trump in 2017 during his first term. We’ll hear how the relationship appears to have broken down - and try and work out what happens next.If you'd like to email the programme, email [email protected]: Will Bain Producer: Matt Lines Business Correspondent in New York: Erin Delmore(Picture: US President Donald Trump with Jerome Powell at the Federal Reserve’s $2.5 billion headquarters renovation project, on 24 July 2025, in Washington, DC. President Trump has been critical of the cost of the renovations. Credit: Getty Images)

Tiguidanke Camara shares how her experience of modelling jewellery in New York led her back to her home country - Guinea - where she set up her own business mining gold and diamonds. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected]: Rob Young Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Tigui Mining Company owner Tiguidanke Camara at a mine in Guingouine, a small town in the Logouale locality, near Man, western Ivory Coast. Credit: Getty Images)

B Corp certification is meant to signal that a company is socially and environmentally conscious. The logo graces the packaging and advertising of anything, from shoes and snacks, to steak houses. But as the movement nears nearly 10,000 companies globally, and includes multinational food and beverage giants, is it getting too big to be meaningful? If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email us at [email protected] and produced by Josh Martin(Picture: David Bronner, CEO of Doctor Bronner's Magic Soaps. Credit: Dr Bronner's Magic Soaps.)

Rare earths have been a major sticking point in trade negotiations between China and the United States. China dominates the production of these critical resources – which power everything from electric vehicles to fighter jets and data centres – with Beijing disrupting production around the world when it cut off supplies earlier this year. But one project in Australia is hoping to ease the bottleneck. We visit one of the key sites.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, our email address is [email protected]: Suranjana Tewari Producer: Jaltson Akkanath Chummar(Picture: A rare earth mining site in Western Australia.)

It is three and a half years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Homes, businesses, transport and energy infrastructure have been severely damaged or destroyed.Amid Russia’s onslaught, economists are compiling a list of what has been destroyed and are attaching a value to its rebuilding. They put the cost of reconstructing Ukraine at more than $500 billion.We look at how companies are preparing for the moment they can rebuild.If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email [email protected] and produced by Rob Young(Picture: Rubble of a service station building destroyed by a Russian drone strike in Pisochyn, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine. Credit: Getty Images)

The country was the economic success story of the 2000s. But declining natural gas production has lead to a downturn. Now, fuel and food prices are soaring and Bolivian businesses are floundering. Inflation is around 15% - one of the highest rates in the region. There are protests in the streets - so what could help this once prosperous country?And will the upcoming general election change things? Produced and presented by Jane Chambers(Image: El Alto shoe salesman Fernando Gutierrez in his store. He says business is slow)

It was a significant moment when Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was declared president of Liberia in 2005 - Africa's first elected female head of state. Although she made significant progress in promoting peace and development - which earned her a Nobel Peace Prize - her accomplishments were overshadowed by allegations of corruption and nepotism. She discusses her journey, which includes both achievements and controversies; what she would have done differently; and the various economic challenges that African countries are facing today. If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, email [email protected]: Rahul Tandon Producer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaks after receiving the "Lifetime Achievement Award" during the Forbes 30/50 Summit International Women's Day Awards Gala 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Credit: Getty Images)

We take a tour of one of the world's most famous luxury hotels, the Raffles in Singapore. Raffles' 83-year-old resident historian Leslie Danker tells us about some of the famous guests who have stayed in the Beach Road suites, including the author Somerset Maugham. But with Sikh doormen manning the lobby and a cocktail bar designed to evoke the days when British miners and planters dominated the local economy, the hotel can be read as an unapologetic celebration of the country's colonial era. As Singapore marks 60 years of independence, does it matter how hotels - and tourists - frame the past?If you'd like to get in touch with the programme, please email [email protected] and produced by Vivienne Nunis(Picture: Leslie Danker, resident historian at the Raffles Hotel, Singapore.)

In 2023, Business Daily met Chinese people trying to get into the US using an unexpected route – the established migrant trail through South and Central America. We’ve re-connected with some of those migrants who have made it across the border and are now living in California.Have they managed to find work and accommodation? And what are their plans for the future given US President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration?Presented and produced by Shawn Yuan Additional production by David Cann and Helen Thomas (Image: Pan, a man in his fifties from China, now works at a Chinese restaurant in Barstow, California, after having come to the US by way of Latin America two years ago)