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Business Daily

2,034 episodes — Page 21 of 41

Cash in a conflict

How does day-to-day survival work in a war when cash and food are in short supply? Rahul Tandon speaks to a woman in Russian-occupied Kherson where the rouble has just been introduced as an official currency. He also hears from Zaporizhzhia entrepreneur Vitali Ivakhov about how he's keeping his businesses going, and paying wages. A survivor of Mariupol explains how day-to-day life continued during the siege, and Bosnian journalist Aida Cerkez talks about her personal experience of the siege of Sarajevo - the longest in modern times.Former Ukrainian finance minister Natalie Jaresko tells us about the crucial role digital payments have played, and how frozen Russian assets must be used to help pay for the rebuilding of Ukraine.Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: James Graham Photo: Five hryvnia notes (Credit: Getty Images)

May 11, 202217 min

The Royal Family: How strong is its brand?

Samira Hussain investigates the brand of the British Royal Family. It's estimated to be one of the biggest brands in the world, steeped in history, tradition and of course scandal... In the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year we look at how recent events have changed things for the royal brand and what coming changes and challenges could mean going forward. Pauline McLaran, professor of marketing and consumer research at Royal Holloway University and co-author of Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture explains how this multi-faceted brand actually functions and what she thinks are the biggest problems it faces. We'll also explore whether being associated with brand Royal is still good for business. Jason Bell is a photographer based in New York. He took the photographs of Prince George’s christening and tells us about the media interest in him being linked with that job and the global response to his pictures. Chef Darren McGrady, who cooked for the Queen and Princess Diana for many years, also joins us. Darren now runs a business in Dallas, Texas called Eating Royally. He says working for the royals definitely opened doors for him, but has questions about the future of the brand.Presenter: Samira Hussian Producer: Carmel O'Grady(Image: Queen Elizabeth II and members of the royal family; Credit: Victoria Jones / PA Wire)

May 10, 202218 min

Turning waste into money

How does plastic get from your bin to the recycling plant? According to The Pew Charitable Trust, 60% of plastic recycling globally comes from individual waste pickers, an informal economy of millions of people who go out picking up plastic every day. As the world starts to look at ways to reduce our plastic waste, how might this impact the livelihoods of the waste pickers who rely on it?We hear from Gladys Mwamba at Plastic for Change in Zambia, who spotted an opportunity to use her Chinese language skills by acting for local waste pickers selling to Chinese recycling firms. On a larger scale, a for profit social enterprise called The Plastic Bank in Canada is working with over 20,000 waste collectors in Brazil, Indonesia, The Philippines and Egypt. They offer above market prices for plastic, alongside subsidised education programmes and other necessities such as food and fuel. Rich Gower, a senior economist at Tearfund, a Christian international development charity, tells us why an international plastics treaty this year is a key moment for waste pickers. In many countries waste pickers are organising into unions or co-operatives. We speak to representatives from SWaCH, a co-operative of waste pickers in Pune, South India, that has been running since 1993. Presented and produced by Beatrice Pickup. Additional reporting by Mutuna Chanda.Image: Gladys Mwamba at Plastic for Change in Kitwe, Zambia; Credit: Mutuna Chanda

May 9, 202218 min

Million by 30: Hertzy Kabeya

Hertzy Kabeya – the first in our million by 30 series - tells us how he developed and launched what’s become an enormously successful education tech company. Hertzy overcame huge setbacks as founder and CEO of Student Hub. The company almost went bust but Hertzy's drive and leadership ensured the business survived and went on to secure multi million dollar investment. Find out how he did it, what he thinks his business superpower is and what he learned on the way to hitting that million benchmark by his 30th birthday.Presenter: Felicity Hannah Producer: Helen Thomas Image: Hertzy Kabeya, Credit: Hertzy Kabeya

May 6, 202218 min

How the war in Ukraine has affected global tourism

Exclusive flight data from ForwardKeys shows a huge reduction in the number of Russian tourists going to Turkey and other popular resorts. We hear from businesses in Antalya about the impact it has had so far, and about what might happen over the coming holiday season. Experts Olivier Ponti from ForwardKeys, which analyses tourism trends, and Ana Nichols from EIU, which produces economic insight, explain the economic causes and effects of this reduction in travellers and the knock-on effects of the war. A B&B owner in The Seychelles tells us about a boom in Russian tourists last year, which has now completely vanished due to the invasion of Ukraine. We also hear from a Russian man who had booked a holiday there, but has changed his plans to go somewhere slightly colder instead. Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Hannah Bewley Photo: Getty Images

May 5, 202217 min

The DNA sequencing revolution

Fast and portable genome testing is unlocking the secrets to ourselves and the environment we live in.It's impact could lead us to fundamentally remake our approach to medicine, agriculture, the environment, conservation and our selves.In this episode we hear from Dr Lara Urban, a geneticist studying the kakapo in New Zealand, Dr Gordon Sanghera, CEO of Oxford Nanopore Technologies and Professor Anna Schuh, professor of molecular diagnostics at the Department of Oncology at Oxford University and visiting professor at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Tanzania.Presenter / Producer: David Reid Photo: Kakapo; Credit: Liu Yang

May 4, 202218 min

Female digital entrepreneurs in Africa

During the pandemic businesses shut down and traditional jobs were lost forcing people to rethink how they earn a living. Since then one of the biggest shifts in the economy has been the rise of digital platforms – online market places which sell everything from fruit and veg to TVs and kitchen appliances. In Africa women have found new careers using Facebook and WhatsApp as well as ride-hailing apps like Uber and Bolt. Sam Fenwick meets three women who have found financial independence by starting businesses on these platforms. Josephine Adzogble from Accra in Ghana has a business selling electrical appliances via social media. Ayobami Lawal drives taxis in Lagos, Nigeria. The single mum of four talks about the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated environment. And Sharon Tarit from Eldoret, Kenya sublets properties through AirBnB. She started her business after she was forced to permanently close her shop selling baby clothes during the pandemic. Sam Fenwick is also joined by lead researcher at Caribou Digital, Grace Natabaalo who explains why it’s important for women to have financial independence and the impact female workers can have on a country’s economy. Presenter / Producer : Sam Fenwick Photo : Josephine Adzogble, Ayobami Lawal, Sharon Tarit; Credit: BBC

May 3, 202218 min

Living face-to-face with climate change

What’s it like to live in a country on the sharp end of climate change? Today Tamasin Ford takes you to Sâo Tomé and Príncipe, the twin island nation in the gulf of Guinea. With the smallest economy in Africa, it has few means to fight what the UN calls the biggest threat modern humans have ever faced. We hear from coastal communities whose homes have been washed away because of rising sea levels. President Carlos Vila Nova, who spoke at the United Nation’s climate conference in Glasgow last year, lays out the challenges small island nations face. While Luisa Madruga from the charity, Flora and Fauna International, explains how a new initiative could save fish stocks from disappearing altogether.Presenter: Tamasin Ford Producer: Russell Newlove Photo: Principe, the community of Praia de Burras; Credit: BBC

May 2, 202218 min

Disney's Florida fallout

We look into the decision by Florida's governor Ron DeSantis to dissolve Disney's special status in the state. It follows Disney's criticism of a new law restricting discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools. What will the row mean for the company, and what questions does it raise for other companies navigating the so-called 'culture wars'?We hear from Disney historian Richard Foglesong, and a former vice president of operations at Disney World, Lee Cockerell. The New York Post columnist Karol Markowicz and Christina Huguet, an analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, give their perspectives on whether companies should take a stand on the issues of the day.Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: James Graham Photo: A Disney employee protests against the company's initial silence on a controversial new law restricting discussion of LGBTQ issues in schools. (Credit: Getty Images)

Apr 29, 202218 min

The power of the brooch

We look into why sales of brooches have soared, and why they can be such a powerful accessory. Governor of the bank of Russia Elvia Nabiullina says the brooches she wears contain clues to understanding policy decisions, and the late Madeleine Albright, former USA Secretary of State, used to wear them as a diplomatic tool.Brooches are currently gaining popularity among consumers and fashion brands are taking note, as Dolce & Gabbana’s Carlos Palacios and British Vogue’s Carol Woolton tell us.Paul Paradis, an art historian from L’ECOLE School of Jewellery Arts in Paris, takes us through the history of brooches, and jewellery historian Vivienne Becker tells us what it was like to work with Madeleine Albright, and help pen her novel Read My Pins.And we speak to Cindy Chao, one of the world’s most famous brooch makers, who became the first Asian female to get her work inducted into the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.Presenter: Vivienne Nunis Producer: Izzy Greenfield(Photo: Lady Gaga at the inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States. Credit: Getty Images)

Apr 28, 202217 min

False banana: A new superfood?

As the spectre of food insecurity grows and climate change threatens lives and livelihoods, could enset play a part in assuaging hunger? Elizabeth Hotson delves into the many and varied properties of a crop consumed mainly in parts of Ethiopia and she asks how it might be possible to widen the appeal of a plant which takes months to turn into an something edible. Dr Wendewek Abebe from Hawassa university in southern Ethiopia is a leading researcher of enset and he explains why it’s known as the ‘tree against hunger.’ Dr Abebe also takes us on a trip to meet a farmer who cultivates the crop and considers it a superfood. Back in the UK, Dr James Borrell, a research fellow at Kew Gardens in London explains why cultivating - and ultimately consuming enset - takes a lot of time, energy and local knowledge. And Berhanu Tesfaye, owner of Zeret Kitchen, an Ethiopian restaurant in London, shares a rare meal of kocho - bread made from enset. (Photo: Enset crop in Southern Ethiopia. Credit: Getty Images)Presenter/producer: Elizabeth Hotson

Apr 27, 202218 min

The cost of China’s zero-Covid policy

Millions of people have been locked down in China for weeks, as the country battles a surge in Omicron cases, with a zero-Covid policy.We follow one young woman’s journey across the country as she tries to reach her home in central China amid layers of bureaucracy and travel restrictions.We hear how the lockdown is causing some major disruptions to the Chinese economy from Julian Evans-Pritchard, a China Analyst at Capital Economics.Businessman Kent Kedl, who works at a Shanghai based risk consultancy firm, tells us what business – and life – has been like in lockdown.And US-based epidemiologist Eric Feigl-Ding explains the advantages and disadvantages of China's Covid policies.Presenter/Producer: Vivienne Nunis Picture: Reuters (person sits behind barrier)

Apr 26, 202217 min

Wealth from waste: can urban mining save the planet?

Ivana Davidovic investigates urban mining - the process of reclaiming raw materials from spent products, buildings and waste. She looks at what new technologies are helping us to recycle waste and the benefits that could bring. In Antwerp, Belgium, she visits Umicore, once a traditional smelting company, which now specialises in extracting precious metals from electronics - and then puts them into new products, like catalysts or car battery components. On the other side of the world - in Sydney, Australia - professor and inventor Veena Sahajwalla explains her innovative way to produce so-called "green steel." Jessika Richter, a researcher from Lundt University in Sweden, tells us why the booming electric vehicles industry will increasingly have to find raw materials for batteries outside of conventional mining. Heather Clancy, the editor of the US-based Green Biz magazine, says US carmakers are now investing in urban mining.Pascal Leroy, the director-general of the WEEE Forum, discusses how re-using waste can help the rest of the world become less dependent on rare earth materials which come from Russia, China and Ukraine. PHOTO: Aerial view waste management facility with cityscape background/Getty Images

Apr 25, 202217 min

Sporting Sanctions

How has the world of sport reacted to the invasion of Ukraine - and what does the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes or teams mean for them and for the finances of world sport?Ashish Sharma speaks to Michael Payne, who was for many years head of the marketing division of the International Olympic Committee.He also hears from Cheri Bradish, an expert in sports marketing and the Director of the Future of Sport Lab at Ryerson University in Toronto, and Rob Koehler, the Director General of Global Athlete and formerly the World Anti-Doping Agency Director of Education and Deputy Director General.Plus there's the Ukrainian tennis players Elina Svitolina and Alex Dolgopalov, the Ukrainian high jumper Yaroslava Mahuchikh, and Marius Vizer Jr, General Secretary of the international Teqball federation.Presenter: Ashish Sharma Producer: James Wickham(Image: Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh in action during the high jump at the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships. Credit: Reuters)

Apr 22, 202217 min

Fleeing danger

What do you do when your staff are stuck in a conflict zone or dangerous situation? How do you get them out? Who pays for it? How do you persuade them to go back later?Rahul Tandon speaks to Alex Nichiporchik whose gaming business tinyBuild has evacuated staff from Ukraine and Russia. He hears from Priscilla Dickey who was part of the US government evacuation from Wuhan in 2020.Dale Buckner from Global Guardian explains the business of evacuation while Ian Umney discusses the rescue of his family from Ukraine.Plus, Ema Boccagni from ECA International, which helps companies manage global workforces, reflects on the incentives required to attract workers back to some places.Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producers: Helen Ledwick and James Graham Photo: An evacuation flight from Wuhan in February 2020. (Credit: Getty Images)

Apr 21, 202217 min

Will satellite internet technology connect the world?

After a volcanic eruption severed Tonga’s communication cable Elon Musk donated 50 Starlink terminals, allowing the government and residents to connect to the network of satellites orbiting above earth. The company have also sent the technology to Ukraine after Russia’s invasion, and we hear from Stepan Veselovskyi of Lviv IT Cluster using it to keep vital services online and Kyiv resident Oleg Kutkov, who bought a dish online before the war and now hopes to use it as a back-up in case conventional communication networks fail. It’s proved extremely useful, but is this the future for bringing internet to remote corners of the globe? We also hear from expert on space law Professor Melissa De Zwart about the race among SpaceX and other companies to put more of these satellites in low earth orbit, and how too many of them could impede dreams of further space exploration.Presenter: Sam Fenwick Producer: Hannah Bewley (Image: Oleg Kutkov with his Starlink dish; Credit: Oleg Kutkov)

Apr 20, 202217 min

Why whales matter

Baleen whales were almost hunted to extinction. Now they face a new threat – global shipping. But despite humans blighting their lives, can they now recover and help revive ocean life?Justin Rowlatt speaks to two researchers who observe these intelligent, sociable giants up close. Matt Savoca at Stanford University explains the scale of the slaughter inflicted by whalers in the twentieth century, while Ryan Reisinger of Southampton University describes how modern ships continue to harm whales.By virtue of their sheer enormity, these animals also underpinned entire ocean ecosystems that have since collapsed, as veteran oceanic researcher Victor Smetacek explains. So with their numbers finally recovering, what can we humans do to help? Justin asks Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping.Presenter: Justin Rowlatt Producer: Laurence Knight Picture: Aerial view of a whale getting up close to a boat in the Sea of Cortez in the Gulf of California; Credit: Mark Carwardine/Future Publishing/Getty Images

Apr 19, 202217 min

The future of job interviews

We’re looking at the future of the job interview in a world forever changed by the pandemic. Elizabeth Hotson asks whether video conferencing software will hasten the demise of the traditional face to face grilling. And we also find out how virtual reality and artificial intelligence can help level the playing field for candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds. Over a long and distinguished career in business, Heather McGregor, Executive Dean of Edinburgh Business School, has been on both sides of the desk - as interviewer and interviewee and she gives her take on how we’ll get jobs in the future. RADA alumna and confidence coach and trainer, Imogen Butler-Cole tells us how to put our best foot forward - over video conferencing. Christophe Mallet, founder and CEO of immersive soft skills simulator, Body Swaps, explains how technology can provide invaluable interview training to inexperienced candidates. Plus, Michael Platt, a marketing professor and neuroscientist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania explains why the interview could soon be redundant in some industries.Presenter/producer: Elizabeth Hotson Image: A man sits at a table with lights pointing in his face; Credit: Getty Images

Apr 18, 202217 min

The chocolate islands

The mountainous archipelago of SãoTomé and Príncipe was once the world’s biggest exporter of cocoa. The twin island nation in the Gulf of Guinea was uninhabited until their discovery by Portuguese explorers in the fifteenth century. They brought slaves to work the land producing cash crops like sugar and coffee. In the 1890s these crops were replaced by cocoa and the islands became known as the biggest cocoa exporter in the world. The plantations were farmed first by slaves and then by forced, exploited islanders. When the horrific working conditions were exposed in the 1920s, chocolate manufacturers switched their source of beans to Ghana and Ivory Coast. SãoTomé’s ignominious reputation as the chocolate nation was over. Presenter Tamasin Ford went to visit the islands to take a look at the cocoa sector now.Produced by Russell NewloveImage: Chocolate making; Credit: Russell Newlove/BBC

Apr 15, 202217 min

Nike’s most controversial ad campaign

Remember the Colin Kaepernick advert for Nike? It’s one of the most controversial and successful advertising campaigns of the past decade. Former US President Donald Trump said the advert sent a terrible message but Nike saw a 30% boost in sales. In this episode of Business Daily former Nike Chief Marketing Officer, Greg Hoffman, the creative force behind the campaign, tells us how it came about and why diversity in advertising really matters. Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: Carmel O’Grady Image: San Francisco 49ers players Eli Harold, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid take a knee prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys; Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers/Getty Images

Apr 14, 202217 min

Sri Lanka's debt crisis

Why is Sri Lanka facing its biggest economic crisis for decades? It's left the population enduring months of power cuts, while essentials are in short supply. How has the country's debt spiralled out of control and what will a debt default mean for ordinary people? We hear from protestors on the street who are demanding a change of government, and how an IT entrepreneur is grappling with power cuts. Plus, Shanta Devarajan, a former chief economist at the World Bank who will be negotiating with the International Monetary Fund on behalf of Sri Lanka, tells us what the talks will involve.Presenter: Rahul Tandon Producer: James GrahamPhoto: Sri Lankan protestors in Colombo, April 2022. Credit: Getty Images

Apr 13, 202217 min

Russian and Ukrainian seafarers: working together during a war

Thousands of Russian and Ukrainian sailors crew cargo ships that carry goods around the world, so how are they coping living in such close quarters while their countries are at war? We hear from those anxiously watching events back home, and we get an update on the hundreds of ships stranded in the Black Sea, unable to sail in case they are caught in the crossfire. Vivienne Nunis speaks to Guy Platten of the International Chamber of Shipping and chaplains belonging to the seafarers' charity Stella Maris. Image: A Russian and a Ukrainian sailor. Credit: Marine Digital

Apr 12, 202217 min

Lebanon's wheat crisis

The price of bread is soaring in Lebanon. More than half of the country's wheat imports came from Ukraine - they've now stopped because of the conflict.Inflation also continues to rise to record levels. We speak to ordinary people who are struggling to buy food. Brant Stewart, the founder of Mavia Bakery in Beirut, explains how he's found a solution in growing and milling his own wheat - as well as helping local women.Rami Zurayk, the Director of the Food Security programme at the American University of Beirut, tells us he believes Lebanese people need to be less reliant on bread in their diet. Presenter: Anna Foster Producer: Jo Critcher(Picture: Women at work in Mavia Bakery; Credit: Maria Klenner, photographer)

Apr 11, 202218 min

Europe's gas crisis: How did we get here?

We're taking the long view on Europe's energy headache. For decades, Russia has been using its vast natural gas reserves as a powerful political tool. So what can the past teach us about the current crisis? Vivienne Nunis speaks to the author and journalist Oliver Bullough who's been following the gas trail from the USSR to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Also in the programme, Ajit Niranjan reports from the German coastal resort of Lubmin, where the Nord Stream pipelines transporting Russian gas to Europe come to an end. What do people there make of a future without Russian gas? Producer: Carmel O'Grady. Image: Part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Credit: Getty Images

Apr 8, 202217 min

Youth unemployment in France

The BBC’s International Business Correspondent Theo Leggett is in France ahead of the Presidential elections to explore an issue important to many voters – youth unemployment. In the northeast of the country a quarter of young people aren’t in work, education, or training. We explore what the issues are, the problems with inequality and recruitment. We hear from Sebastien Bento Soares, CEO of Darquer, a lace manufacturer based in Calais that is struggling to recruit younger workers, André Dupon, director of Vitamine T, a social enterprise that helps unemployed people reintegrate the world of work. Salomé and Soufiane, young people based in Boulogne-sur-Mer, tell Theo what’s going on in their lives and Florence Jany-Catrice, economist at the University of Lille talks about the political issues underpinning the youth unemployment problems. Presenter: Theo Leggett; Producer: Josh Thorpe (Photo: Lucas, a young unemployed person learning carpentry skills at Vitamine T, a social enterprise outside Lille; Credit: BBC)

Apr 7, 202217 min

How tech is being used to help Ukraine

Technology is being used in creative ways to help Ukrainian people stay safe. From offering refugees spare rooms to targeting humanitarian aid to specific shelters, tech entrepreneurs are developing software solutions to try and help in the war effort. Ukraine is an innovation hub. Before the Russian invasion it was home to hundreds of tech start-up firms. Now many of those young entrepreneurs have had to leave the cities where they worked. Eugene Gusarvo and Andrii Tagansky tell Sam Fenwick they felt like traitors leaving their home city, Kyiv on February 24th but they have found purpose creating a website which has helped more than 3,000 refugees find temporary shelter. Four million people have left Ukraine for neighbouring countries, according the United Nations. Those arriving in Georgia can find support from a service set up by 37 year old Stanislav Sabanov. Originally from Russia he says he wants to help because he disagrees with the war. But there are concerns this new tech might be exploited by criminal gangs. Human Rights organisations are warning that there are not enough online checks and sex and human traffickers might use them to target vulnerable people. So could this new technology do more harm than good? Presenter / Producer : Sam Fenwick (Image: tech entrepreneurs; Credit: Eugene Gusarvo and Andrii Tagansky)

Apr 6, 202217 min

Australia's tourism industry breathes a sigh of relief

We’re in Queensland, home to a tourism industry that – usually – contributes billions of dollars to the Australian economy. The coronavirus pandemic saw the country's borders close for the best part of two years, so how did business owners cope without their usual customer base? Vivienne Nunis speaks to the owner of a mini golf course, a scuba diving company and a restaurant on the Queensland coast. We also hear the tale of José Paronella, a Spanish migrant who built a pleasure garden and ballroom deep in the tropical rainforest. Image: a kangaroo on an Australian beach. Credit: Getty Images.

Apr 5, 202218 min

The aid trail to Ukraine

Millions of Ukrainians have fled the country since the Russian invasion began, some leaving with little more than the clothes on their backs. It's prompted an outpouring of support from around the world - with ordinary people loading lorries with donations and shipping them thousands of miles to help refugees. We follow the aid trail from a small business in north west England to the Ukrainian border and explore whether it's better to give goods or money.We'll hear from Bob Kitchen, the International Rescue Committee's head of emergencies about giving cash directly to refugees and from Joung-ah Ghedini-Williams, Head of Global Communications at UNHCR about sustaining the support going forwards. Presenter: Helen Ledwick Reporter/Producer: Jo Critcher(Image: Aid lorry; Credit: Jason Shinks, Recycling Lives)

Apr 4, 202217 min

The Russians leaving their country

Rahul Tandon reports on the thousands of young Russians who have decided to leave the country since it invaded Ukraine. Economist Konstantin Sonin tells us as many as 300,000 may have travelled to countries like Armenia, Georgia and Turkey. Sanctions have made it harder to do business and the weaker rouble has devalued assets. Two businessmen, now living in exile, tell their stories, and we also hear from those who’ve chosen to stay, like Moscow journalist Tatyana Felgenhauer. Plus, former Russian prime minister Mikhail Kasyanov explains the economic impact of losing skilled workers.Producer: James GrahamPhoto: Getty Images

Apr 1, 202217 min

What are Russia's mercenaries doing in Africa?

The secretive Wagner Group has a history of violence in Africa. In this episode, we ask why leaders are outsourcing security to an unaccountable army accused of murders, rapes and torture. We look into the crimes they're accused of committing, the governments they're keeping in power and the business deals making it all possible.Aanu Adeoye, an Africa expert at London's Royal Institute of International Affairs, tells us about the propaganda machine behind Wagner. Keir Giles, a Russia specialist at Chatham House, explains just how intertwined the group is with the Russian state, and Dr Sorcha MacLeod, chair of the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries, explains why the presence of groups like Wagner in unstable countries often makes things worse.Presenter: David Reid Editor: Carmel O'GradyAudio for this episode was updated on 31 March 2022.(Photo: Protesters in Mali's capital, Bamako, waved Russian flags during an anti-France demonstration in May 2021. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

Mar 31, 202217 min

Will a new gas pipeline be built in a 'pristine' Australian sea?

Aboriginal people from Australia's Tiwi Islands have joined forces with marine scientists and other environmentalists in the fight against a new gas field planned for the Timor Sea. Vivienne Nunis reports on the multi-billion dollar Barossa gas development, which has already been partially approved by Australian regulators. The oil and gas giant Santos plans to build a 300km gas pipeline from the gas field to Darwin, through a marine park that is home to turtles, sponges and other sea creatures. Experts describe the tropical waters as 'pristine'. So who will win out? The oil and gas industry or those fighting against the wells, rigs and drills? Image: an Olive Ridley sea turtle, the most common species nesting on the Tiwi Islands. Credit: Getty

Mar 30, 202218 min

How drones are helping to save lives

Drones, which were originally developed by the military, are now being used all over the world for humanitarian purposes. Shamim Nabuuma Kaliisa, the founder of CHIL-AI, tells Jo Critcher how she was inspired by her own experience of cancer to use drones to give more women in Uganda access to screening.In Sweden, the CEO of Everdrone, Mats Sällström, describes how drones are being used to quickly transport life-saving equipment to emergency situations. There are more challenges to using drones in smaller, more densely populated countries like the UK but Elliot Parnham, the CEO of the drone operator Skyfarer, says he believes they can be overcome. His company is starting a pilot scheme to help the NHS transport critical medical supplies. Presenter/Producer: Jo Critcher(Photo: PWOne drone; Credit: Skyfarer Ltd.)

Mar 29, 202217 min

Rise of the high-tech border industry

AI, data analytics and automated surveillance are ever more shaping refugees' futures around the world. From the external borders of the EU to the US-Mexico border, "smart border" solutions, developed by private companies for states, are being used to surveil and control people on the move. Lawyer and anthropologist Petra Molnar tells the BBC's Frey Lindsay how she's seen these technologies creep into borders and camps around the world, and Dr Emre Eren Korkmaz of Oxford University describes how this global "border industrial complex" has become hugely profitable for private companies. We'll also hear from a new high-tech refugee camp on the Greek island of Samos, where refugees feel oppressed and dehumanised by the litany of technology that surrounds them. Sae Bosco, of Samos Volunteers, explains that these technologies don't do much to protect people within the camp, despite the EU's claims. And Sarah Chander of European Digital Rights tells Frey that the EU appear aware of the harms algorithmic surveillance and control can bring to people, and so is moving to protect EU citizens, but not migrants.(Picture: the Samos CCAC refugee camp. Picture credit: Getty Images)

Mar 28, 202217 min

The cost of growing food

Global fertiliser prices are reaching record highs, as supplies from Russia, one of the world’s largest exporters dry up. As the war in Ukraine intensifies there are warnings of food shortages as farmers struggle to get hold of fertilisers and starting to rationing its use. Soybean farmer Karl Milla tells Sam Fenwick he is rationing how much fertiliser he uses. He says he is worried what effect that will have on crop sizes later in the year. Laura Cross from the International Fertiliser Association explains why government sanctions on Belarus and countries like China, Turkey and Egypt restricting exports have contributed to soaring fertiliser prices. And German pig farmer, Dirk Andresen tells us he cannot afford to buy enough food to feed his pigs. Presenter/producer : Sam Fenwick (Photo: Karl Milla with kind permission)

Mar 28, 202217 min

Pacific Islanders working for their futures

Climate change and disasters continue to threaten peoples’ livelihoods and wellbeing in the Pacific Islands. Jon Naupa, a Kava farmer in Vanuatu, tells the BBC’s Frey Lindsay how difficult it’s getting to break even at the moment. In response to the challenges, young Pacific Islanders are taking advantage of regional labour mobility schemes to make money and help their families. Australia's Pacific labour mobility schemes have seen tens of thousands of Pacific Islanders filling job shortages in Australia, particularly in the agriculture sector. Telusa Tu'i'onetoa, a PhD candidate at Australian National University, explains how the schemes are supposed to work, and the impact the separation has on families. We’ll also hear from Fiona, a young mother of two working in South Australia. While the schemes offer the chance to earn money at a time when opportunities are limited at home, they are also areas with high risk of exploitation and abuse of vulnerable workers. Tukini Tavui, the CEO of the Pacific Islands Council of South Australia, tells Frey how they work to help protect workers, and what he’d like to see done to help workers break the cycle of wage dependency.(Picture: Samoans picking fruit in Australia; Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 24, 202217 min

Is sustainable finance just greenwash?

ESG funds - which claim to promote environmental, social and corporate governance best practice - are all the rage. But are investors being taken for an expensive ride?Ed Butler speaks to one man with his doubts - Tariq Fancy, who used to be in charge of sustainability investing at BlackRock, the gigantic fund management firm, whose boss Larry Fink is an advocate for the role that big finance can play in accelerating the transition away from fossil fuels.Today investors are faced with a confusing menagerie of products that purport to be climate-friendly, as described by Dylan Tanner of the lobbying research firm InfluenceMap. In reality, many of them charge high fees for some pretty questionable environmental benefits. But if investors feel misled, could they find legal recourse in the form of a class action lawsuit? Ed asks Fiona Huntriss of the UK law firm Pallas Partners.Producer: Victoria Broadbent(Photo: $100 bill covered in green paint; Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 23, 202217 min

The women fleeing Ukraine

Two young women recall how they fled the Russian invasion of their homeland, and discuss their hopes and dreams for the future.Alexandra from Kyiv tells Tamasin Ford how she had to say goodbye to her parents at the packed Polish border, and now suffers survivor's guilt, living in the safety of Berlin. Meanwhile Elena recalls the first explosions of the war, and describes how she now finds herself the sole breadwinner for her family, living in exile in Warsaw.Producers: Sarah Treanor and Tom Kavanagh(Picture: Refugees from Ukraine at the Medyka border crossing with Poland; Credit: Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP via Getty Images)

Mar 22, 202217 min

Brazil at work: Black and held back

Despite the quotas and positive discrimination, many black Brazilian professionals still struggle to feel accepted and get promoted.Ivana Davidovic hears from Luiza Trajano - Brazil’s richest woman and the owner of the country’s largest retailer, Magazine Luiza - who explains why she decided to launch a coveted management trainee scheme for black people only. Former model and director of the Identities of Brazil Institute NGO, Luana Genot, talks about her own experiences of being held back because of the colour of her skin and her work helping companies change their culture around black staff.Alabe Nujara recalls being the first in his family to go to university and feeling out of place as a black man, which inspired him to successfully campaign for the introduction of quotas for historically disadvantaged students at federal institutions. Plus Brazilian sociologist Graziella Moraes Silva discusses why Brazil has an image of a racially inclusive society, which many black people would not recognise as their reality.(Picture: Worried young businesswoman in office corridor in Brazil; Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 21, 202217 min

How European businesses are helping Ukrainian refugees

People across Europe are opening up their homes and businesses to Ukrainians as the refugee crisis tops 3 million. Ivanka, a Ukrainian social worker who has fled to Poland, tells us about the generosity of hotelier Dorota Baranska, who is now housing her and hundreds of other refugees in her hotels. And Eugen Comandent, COO of Purcari Wineries in Moldova, explains why his company has transformed its estate into a refugee centre. Matthew Saltmarsh from the UN’s refugee agency says this is Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War Two and that generous countries on Ukraine’s border are starting to run out of resources. But some people based farther west are trying to create virtual ways to help. Ivan Kychatyi, a Ukrainian based in Berlin, has created the job portal UAtalents.com to that helps Ukrainians who are internally displaced or who have fled the country to find a job. And in Amsterdam, Guido Baratta has set up Designers United for Ukraine, specifically to help Ukrainians in the creative industries find work. This programme is presented by Tamasin Ford and produced by Sarah Hawkins and Tom Kavanagh(Photograph: Women distribute food and hot drinks at a Moldovan winery close to the Ukrainian border, Credit: Purcari Wineries)

Mar 18, 202217 min

Pacific Islanders building climate resilience

Climate change and disasters continue to imperil the livelihoods and well-being of people in the Pacific Islands. This is the most pressing issue facing the Pacific today, Ofa Ma'asi-Kaisamy, manager at the Pacific Climate Change Centre, tells the BBC’s Frey Lindsay. And Dr Salanieta Saketa, senior epidemiologist at the Pacific Community's Public Health Division, explains how such events seriously impact people’s health. We also hear how people are fighting to build resilience and forge new futures. Lusia Latu-Jones, director of Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship, tells Frey how young Pacific Islanders are creating their own opportunities. And Flora Vano of ActionAid Vanuatu explains how a women-led collective works to help each other prepare for and withstand the challenges they face.(Photo: High-tide flooding on Majuro Atoll in the Marshall Islands, December 2021; Credit: Giff Johnson/AFP/Getty Images)

Mar 17, 202217 min

Penalties for Chelsea?

What now for Chelsea FC? After the UK government imposed sanctions on Russian owner Roman Abramovich, the club has been denied access to the funds that enabled investment in some of the world's best players and helped it become one of the biggest clubs in European football. No income, either, from ticket or merchandise sales can be made by the club, throwing its short term future into doubt. It's unclear whether Chelsea can even pay its squad and staff next month, such is the punishing nature of the sanctions put upon Mr Abramovich over his ties to the Kremlin and Vladimir Putin in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. So how will this play out on and off the pitch? We speak to Kieran Maguire who lectures in football finance at the Liverpool University; Justine Walker, an anti-money-laundering compliance specialist based in the UK; Jai McIntosh, a sports writer and Chelsea fan and former Chelsea player Pat Nevin. The programme is presented by Ed Butler and is produced by Elizabeth Hotson and Russell Newlove.Picture: Chelsea FC's crest Credit:PA

Mar 16, 202217 min

War in the time of crypto

Financial sanctions are being used against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine so we’re exploring the role of cryptocurrency in the war. Is crypto being used to evade sanctions as assets are sezied and bank transactions blocked? Or is it simply a means of survival for millions of people in the region who can’t access any other forms of money? We find out by talking to Gaby Hui from Merkle Science, former US government advisor Ari Redbord head of legal and government affairs at TRM labs, Artem Afian a Ukrainian lawyer who has compiled a blacklist of crypto wallets connected to Russian politicians, Sir Julian Lee, former EU commissioner for the Security Union and Sandra Ro, CEO of the Global Blockchain Business Council - a non-profit organisation focused on developing the blockchain industry. Presented by Tamasin Ford and produced by Clare Williamson. (Image: Representation of Bitcoin and Russian flag, Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 15, 202217 min

Emotional and financial complications of fundraising during war

As Russia’s war in Ukraine continues, people across the country prepare for the possibility of a long, drawn out conflict.. Some, are determined to help their loved ones survive. But sending aid to a war zone isn't easy. Not just because access to cash locally is often hard to come by, but rules around fundraising are complicated.Olia Hercules, cookbook author and chef, explains how, over the past two weeks, she’s rushed to fundraise and send protective gear to her brother fighting on the front lines in Kyiv. Like so many others, she ran into problems getting money where it needed to go. James Maloney, a partner at London-based law firm Farrer & Co. tells of the legal parameters charities can operate and fundraise for relief efforts. And, we hear from Mike Noyes, director of humanitarian aid at Action Aid UK who is leading the effort to help women and children fleeing the war at Ukraine’s border with Poland.Photo: Victoria Craig/BBC Olia Hercules sits with her friends, showing them a video message from her brother after he received protective supplies she raised funds to procure and send him.

Mar 14, 202217 min

How much is the Ukraine war costing Russia?

Munitions, equipment losses, sanctions, isolation - Vladimir Putin's decision to invade has come with a rapidly increasing price tag. Just the cost of prosecuting the war is proving astronomical, as Edward Arnold of military think tank RUSI tells Ed Butler. Then there's the economic blowback - the freezing of the central bank's reserves, the exclusion from international finance, the boycotting by key international companies. Over the coming months, Russian industry could grind to a halt, while citizens could face food shortages, according to economist Maxim Mironov of IE Business School. Take the example of aviation - soon half the planes in Russia could be grounded for lack of spare parts, says consultant Rob Watts of ACC Aviation. But will this be enough to convince Putin and the political elite around him to pull out of Ukraine? The Ukrainian political scientist Olga Chyzh says don't hold your breath.Producer: Laurence Knight(Picture: Troop train carrying Russian tanks; Credit: Russian Defence Ministry\TASS via Getty Images)

Mar 11, 202218 min

Australian floods and the billion-dollar clean-up

Recent floods in eastern Australia have caused devastating losses of life and livelihoods. The BBC's Vivienne Nunis visits southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales where the damage bill from torrential rain is said to be in the billions of dollars. Climate change means natural disasters are becoming more frequent but that means insurance premiums are now too costly for many. So what can be done to prevent future disasters causing so much damage to businesses and homes? Picture: flood-damaged belongings piled up outside homes in Tumbulgum, NSW, Australia. Credit: BBC

Mar 10, 202218 min

Superyachts and sanctions

A race is on to spot and catch some of the world's biggest and most dazzling yachts owned by Russian oligarchs with ties to President Vladimir Putin in retaliation for the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine. Several of these multi-million dollar floating assets have been seized by US and European governments. But it's proving difficult to track the vessels, and then there is the issue of what to do with them, often with crew of up to 60 personnel on board. Ed Butler talks to sanctions lawyer Nigel Kushner of WLegal, Alex Finley, writer, former CIA officer and superyacht watcher, Graham Barrow a veteran money-laundering expert and journalist Jack Hogan of Superyacht News.(Image:Luxury yachts and motor cruisers moored in Port Vell, Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 9, 202217 min

Women in the Ukraine war

Today to mark International Women’s Day we are hearing the story of one woman in Ukraine, as her professional and personal life is turned upside down by the Russian invasion. We hear how women are adapting their day-jobs to help with Ukraine’s war effort and as men are banned from leaving the country, we look at the choice facing the women: to leave and survive, or stay to live, fight, and possibly die, alongside the men. Marie Keyworth talks to Tetiana Gaiduk. Produced by Sarah Treanor. (Image: Woman volunteer preparing material for the defense of Ukraine in Odessa, credit: European Pressphoto Agency)

Mar 8, 202217 min

How the war in Ukraine is affecting food prices

Food price inflation was already a problem. Could the conflict make things even worse?Ukraine and Russia are both major food exporters. Tamasin Ford looks at how the war in Ukraine is affecting global prices.Food price inflation was already a major problem in many parts of the world, and there are fears that the conflict will make matters even worse. David Beasley, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, says millions of people in Ukraine will now be at risk of food insecurity as a result of the conflict, and fears knock-on effects for countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Tunisia, which are major importers of grains from Ukraine.Ivanna Dorichenko, managing director of consultancy firm TRADAIDE and an expert in international arbitration, says the situation in Ukraine is devastating, and that much of the country’s agricultural infrastructure has been destroyed by the Russian invasion.Andrey Sizov, head of research firm SovEcon, is an expert on agriculture in the Black Sea region. He says the war in Ukraine is already paralysing exports , with shipping companies refusing to send vessels into areas potentially disrupted by the conflictWandile Sihlobo, chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, says the conflict will have an impact on African countries which buy grains from Ukraine, many of which were already struggling with rising food prices.(Photo: A sign reading 'Danger Mines' in a wheat field in Nizhyn, Ukraine; Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 7, 202217 min

Business Weekly

On Business Weekly this week, as the fighting in parts of Ukraine intensified, a suite of sanctions has been levied on Russia, cutting off the country from the inter-bank messaging system Swift and restricting access to the foreign reserves Russia holds in the West’s central banks. Many large international companies are scaling down their businesses in Russia, including the oil giants BP and Shell. The global shipping giant Maersk is stopping its ships from docking at Russian ports. Chris Weafer, chief executive of Macro Advisory and a 24-year resident of Moscow tells us what life is like for ordinary Russians. Meanwhile, author and journalist Oliver Bullough tell us how badly the oligarchs will be hit by the sanctions. We also look at the impact of the conflict on Russian and Ukrainian grain exports, particularly for countries in Africa and Southeast Asia that already suffer from food insecurity. And we hear about the parallel cyberwar that’s taking place to the one on the ground. Hundreds of thousands of hackers are thought to have signed up to an online army to target Russian banks and institutions. Plus, we analyse Russia’s relationship with Africa. Steven Gruzd from the South African Institute of International Affairs in Johannesburg tells us about the extent of Russian military and economic influence in Africa, and how that influence goes some way to explain why so many countries in the region did not to lend their support to the UN draft resolution condemning Russia’s aggression Ukraine. Business Weekly is presented by Matthew Davies and produced by Philippa Goodrich.

Mar 5, 202250 min

Could Europe turn off Russian gas?

The Ukraine invasion is forcing the European Union to completely rethink its energy policy. Tamasin Ford asks how easily the continent could wean itself off Russian fossil fuels. After all, Europe's oil and gas purchases from Russia helped to fund this war in the first place, according to Kristine Berzina of the German Marshall Fund in Washington DC. The immediate task is to slash dependence on Russian gas before winter returns in nine months, and Simone Tagliapietra of Brussels-based think tank Bruegel says that is doable. However, it's a much tougher task to stop Russian oil exports, according to Jason Bordoff of Columbia University, given that oil - unlike gas - is an integrated global market with many buyers. Nonetheless, there is optimism that the invasion mark a turning point in the Western world's transition to carbon-free energy. Although Rosie Rogers of Greenpeace fears that in the short term, the scramble to turn off the gas pipelines could actually see European carbon emissions increase.Producer: Laurence Knight(Picture: Frozen gas pipeline valve; Credit: Getty Images)

Mar 4, 202218 min