Business Daily

Will the next war be waged online? Ed Butler talks to Nicole Perlroth, winner of the 2021 Financial Times Business Book of the Year for This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends - an investigation into the how governments, spies, criminals and corporations are dealing with - and exploiting - the risks associated with doing business in the digital era.

What can be done to stem the tide of carers quitting the industry? Before the pandemic the healthcare sector struggled to recruit enough workers. Today they're leaving in droves. Citing physical and mental exhaustion, poor working conditions, a lack of appreciation and miserly pay, carers are leaving their jobs - a trend with all the makings of a future skills crisis. The BBC's Rebecca Kesby speaks to Ged Swinton, a member of the Royal College of Nursing who had to leave his job as a frontline nurse after losing patience with an unappreciative government - and abuse from the public. Will Hunter recently returned to his job as an accident and emergency junior doctor, but could only handle part time work after an intense year of pandemic conditions. In the USA we hear from Vicki Good, former president of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, who tells us people are leaving the care sector almost as soon as they join, despite spending years in training beforehand. We speak to Lori Peters of the Nati

But are apps that deliver from the shop floor to your front door in minutes just a pandemic-era fad or are they here to stay? Have you ever been in a situation where you needed something delivered right away? A toothbrush you forgot on a trip? Or butter for a recipe you've already started preparing? There are many apps for that – a whole fleet of them – that are now competing for your dwindling time. They promise to get everyday items to you, sometimes in 10 minutes or less. But, is it just a pandemic-era trend, or does it have staying power? The BBC’s Victoria Craig speaks to the boss of eight-year old US-based super-fast delivery company, GoPuff. Yakir Gola started the business while at university and has grown it to become a dominant player in the American market. He talks about why the company has decided to expand in the UK, and how it plans to compete in a red-hot space. Plus, we hear from Adrian Maccelari, the director at London-based bakery Sally Clarke about whether partnering with super-fast deliv

At any given time, about a million American families are looking to adopt and most prefer newborns. The industry is regulated on a state-by-state basis and many advocates argue that, not only the existing rules are not enforced properly, but that much greater federal regulation is needed to ensure that the whole process is ethical and safe. Ivana Davidovic hears from Shyanne Klupp, who says she felt pressured by an adoption agency to give her son up for adoption when she wanted to change her mind. She is now a reform campaigner and wants the private adoption industry, in its current form, abolished. Maureen Flatley, who has been working in the field of adoption legislation for two decades, is very concerned about the internet blurring the lines of legality and ethics and "trading of children" on social media without proper oversight. She hopes that 2022 will see some federal legislation governing this field finally implemented. And adoptive parents from Ohio explain why, after spending $70,000 on their firs

The world’s biggest clothing retailer, Inditex, has a new boss, the 37-year old daughter of the company’s founder. Will Marta Ortega manage brands like Zara, Pull & Bear and Massimo Dutti in the same way her father did or will she take a different path? And do consumers still want fast fashion? Plus, we hear why mining the metals and minerals used in green technologies can contribute to the world’s climate change problems and what is needed to ensure that they are mined in a way that doesn’t infringe on human rights or damage local communities. Also, one of the founders of Transparency International tells us the money stolen by corrupt leaders is being ploughed into western assets like property – with the help of an army of financial and legal professionals. Meanwhile, Covid has forced many workers to re-assess and re-evaluate their lives and as a result, they are quitting their jobs in record numbers. It's being called the Great Resignation. And the increasing appeal of the ukulele; how the small guitar-

Could a more equitable global vaccine rollout have stopped the new variant? As the world waits for more information about just how contagious and dangerous the new Covid-19 variant is, we ask if the emergence of a variant like Omicron could have been avoided – or at least slowed - if people all around the world had been vaccinated at the same pace. Instead, richer countries race to give booster vaccines to their own populations as many poorer countries are still waiting to receive their first jabs. Tamasin Ford hears from Dr. Richard Mihigo, who coordinates the WHO’s immunisation and vaccine development progamme in Africa. He says it’s not just about shipping jabs to countries; the international community could also step up to help with planning and logistics for the distribution of vaccines. Dr. Atiya Mosam, a public health specialist in South Africa, was disappointed in the way the world reacted when news the new variant came out of her country. She argues that the travel bans that many countries quickly i

The collapse of the US energy giant Enron remains one of the most dramatic scandals in modern capitalism, but 20 years on did we learn any of the lessons from the fall of a corporate giant? The BBC's Lesley Curwen covered the story every step of the way back in the 2000's right up to the company's collapse, and the jailing of some of its most senior executives. She takes Ed Butler back through Enron's tale of deceit, intimidation and collapse with archive and fresh interviews with some of the scandal's key figures. And Ed hears from Dr Howard Schilit, of Schilit Forensics accountancy firm, a witness at Enron's Senate hearing and a man with a serious warning for the corporate world, two decades on from the Enron scandal. Picture Credit: Getty Images

Can the ambitious renewable energy plans of the incoming government overcome domestic nimbyism and Russian gas politics?Ed Butler hears from one member of the new left-liberal-green coalition, Social Democrat MP Jens Zimmermann, about their plans to phase out coal entirely by 2030, and replace 80% of electricity generation with wind and solar. But building new wind turbines already faces substantial red tape and vociferous opposition from bird conservation groups, as industry man Steffen Lackmann explains.Meanwhile, how will the government tackle a more pressing matter - Russian President Vladimir Putin's alleged restriction of gas supplies to Europe this winter in order to force German approval for the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Ed speaks to Gustav Gressel, geopolitical analyst at the ECFR think tank, and to Melissa Eddy at the New York Times' Berlin bureau. Plus Yuri Vitrenko, head of Ukraine's gas pipeline company Naftogaz, explains why he fears approval of the pipeline could mean war in his country.(Pict

Authoritarian regimes are working closer than ever to keep each other afloat - with plenty of help from the West's financial system.Ed Butler speaks to Frank Vogl, who helped found the global anti-corruption organisation Transparency International. He claims that the world's kleptocrats are enabled by an army of bankers, lawyers and accountants who are helping them squirrel away their ill-gotten money in Western real estate and investments.And for regimes like those of Belarus, Venezuela or Syria, who find their power contested by their own people and their economies in tatters, there is plenty of support to be found these days from other authoritarians - chief among them Russia and China. That's according to the historian, journalist and author Anne Applebaum. The questions is whether the world's democracies will ever get their act together and do something about it?(Picture: Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro (left) embracing Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko; Credit: Sergei Gapon/AFP via Getty Images)

In Afghanistan, high schools are currently closed to girls, and women have been banned from TV dramas. So how hard is life for the female half of the population, as the Taliban reassert control?Tamasin Ford hears from her colleague Yalda Hakim, who recently returned to the Afghan capital Kabul, the city of her birth, where she quizzed members of the new regime about their intentions for girls' education. Tamasin also speaks to Mahbouba Seraj of the Afghan Women Skills Development Center in Kabul about what life is now like in the city. Meanwhile Marianne O’Grady, who worked in Afghanistan for the charity CARE International until she was evacuated in August, says that with food now running desperately short in the country, there are even more pressing concerns than the treatment of women.(Picture: Afghan girls look out next to a building in Sharan, Afghanistan; Credit: Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

On Business Weekly, we look at inflation in different countries, and in particular, how price rises are hitting the citizens of Turkey and the United States. We hear how two different presidents are trying two very different ways of getting it under control. We also hear how baristas in Starbucks are trying to unionise and how the coffee shop chain has reacted. Plus, we look at green hydrogen and hear from the producers in Denmark hoping the sustainable fuel will help meet climate change targets. Business Weekly is presented by Sasha Twining and produced by Matthew Davies.

Can the minerals needed to decarbonise the global economy be dug up fast enough? And can it be done without the human rights and environmental abuses of the past?Tamasin Ford speaks to KC Michaels of the International Energy Agency says there will need to be a staggering increase in the amount of nickel, lithium, cobalt and rare earths being mined, in order to build all the batteries, wind turbines and solar panels needed. But mining consultant Dr Patience Mpofu says that the mines required can take anything up to 15 years to commission.With many of these critical minerals concentrated in the developing world, the fear is that a rapid increase in global demand may outstrip the supply from the formal mining industry, with the gap filled by much less responsible mining operations. Emmanuel Umpula of the Congo-based NGO African Resources Watch fears a worsening of human rights abuses and pollution from such mines. But Mark Cutifani, chief executive of mining giant Anglo American, says the industry is working har

Turkey's currency has been in free fall this week, reaching a record low against the US dollar. The Lira's collapse has been sparked, in part, by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubling down on his controversial economic policies, such as demanding that the central bank cut interest rates despite rapidly accelerating inflation. Ed Butler explores why President Erdogan is so attached to the policy, at the expense of three central bank governors in the last three years, and asks what impact the currency crisis is having on Turkey's economy. Ed speaks to Gulcin Ozkan, professor of finance at King's College London, economist and former fund manager Mohamed El-Erian, and to a forlorn wealth manager in Istanbul. Producer: Will Bain(Picture: Turkish Lira notes; Credit: Getty Images)

Starbucks workers in Buffalo, New York, are this month balloting to join a union - part of a surprise post-pandemic trend in union activism across America, as retail and hospitality workers find that the tight post-pandemic labour market is giving them more bargaining power with their employers.Ed Butler speaks to Michelle and Jaz - two baristas in Buffalo, New York, who are encouraging their colleagues to organise - and to Richard Bensinger, who hopes to represent them as part of the Workers United union. He reckons this marks a turning point for unions in the US, which have for decades seen thin membership numbers.We also hear from Stephen Delie at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan-based think tank and advocacy group for "right-to-work" laws, which discourage union membership. Unions, he says, take workers' hard-earned money for little or no return.(Picture: Starbucks union supporters posing in a group photo with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez; Credit: Michael Sanabria)

Would you want to live to 150? With leaps in technology, science and medicine, it's becoming an increasingly realistic possibility.Elizabeth Hotson talks to Sergey Young, founder of Longevity Vision Fund and author of The Science and Technology of Growing Young. Sergey tells us why he embarked on a mission to help us live longer. Plus, Dr Michael Hufford from biotechnology company, Lygenesis tells us about organ regeneration technology, which enables a patient's lymph nodes to be used as bioreactors to regrow functioning ectopic organs.We also go on a voyage of discovery into the world of cryonics with Dennis Kowalski, president of the Cryonics Institute in Michigan, where you can have your body frozen and stored until the technology exists to bring you back to life some time in the future. We also hear from Paul Hagen, who's planning to follow his father's footsteps by undergoing the cryonics procedure.(Picture of an energetic older couple via Getty Images)

Texas has introduced the most stringent abortion law in America. Tamasin Ford assesses some of the reaction to this law by employers and employees who have traditionally been attracted to the Lone Star State because of its low taxes and lower house prices. Ashley Lopez, NPR journalist in Austin explains the complexities of the law and how it will disproportionately affect women of colour. Curtis Sparrer, co-founder of PR firm Bospar, explains how his company is offering to help relocate employees who want to move out of the state. And Vivek Bhaskaran, CEO of Austin-based QuestionPro, explains how his company will offer financial assistance to employees who need to get a termination. We also hear from Valerie Veteto, who moved to Texas, attracted by its job prospects and low house prices, but is now preparing for a move to New York.Producer: Nisha Patel(Picture: Protests outside the Supreme Court in the US Credit: Getty Images)

On Business Weekly, we look at the new wave of Covid-19 that’s hitting several European countries. We hear how the different take-up rates of vaccinations and booster shots are making things difficult for governments and how some are now resorting to lockdowns just for the unvaccinated. We also hear about the growing incidences of mobile phone spyware, and how unwitting victims are having their every movement tracked by modern day stalkers. Plus, we look at period poverty and sanitary sustainability, as the market for menstruation products widens. Business Weekly is presented by Sasha Twining and produced by Matthew Davies.

Happy World Toilet Day! It is that day of the year when we all need to overcome our embarrassment and discuss what is normally a taboo topic. Hundreds of millions of people still have no access to a toilet, putting them at risk of disease, sexual assault and public humiliation.Tamasin Ford speaks to the inventor of World Toilet Day, Jack Sim, about how much has been achieved since he founded his World Toilet Organisation 20 years ago to promote discussion of this topic. We also hear from Catarina de Albuquerque, who served as the first United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, and made it one of the UN's sustainable development goals.Also, consultant Timeyin Uwejamomere talks about the challenge of introducing proper sanitation in the slums of his native Nigeria. Plus Chilufya Chileshe, policy director at the charity WaterAid, explains how the lack of a toilet leaves women and girls vulnerable to sexual harassment, and interferes with their education.(Photo: An eco-

Is it time to stop the freeze of the country's financial assets and donor aid or will that just legitimise the Taliban? Ed Butler speaks to John Sifton, the Asia advocacy director for the campaign group Human Rights Watch, who says the west should ease up on its sanctions to help alleviate the situation. But Alex Zerden, who worked with the US Treasury department in Kabul from 2018 to 2019 and is now a senior fellow at the Centre for New American Security in Washington DC, defends the current US refusal to open the financial taps, says the Taliban itself is primarily responsible for the mess the country's in. Ed also speaks to health worker Karsten Noko from MSF (doctors without borders), who is desperately trying to keep its operations running without properly functioning bank services. And Masuda Sultan, a US-Afghan aid worker, who campaigns for the non-profit Unfreeze Afghanistan, tells him how bad the situation is there. (Picture: Afghan grandmother and her grandchildren, members of one of the Afghan fami

Can this multi-million dollar industry help the climate and fight period poverty? Tamasin Ford speaks to Marisa Meltzer, a writer in New York who recently tried them out. Maria Molland is the CEO of period underwear company, Thinx, who says that sales of their underwear, ranging from $17 to $34 a pair, boomed during the pandemic. Rochelle Burn is the Executive Director of the Environmental charity, Greener Future in Toronto, who focus on litter clean-ups. She says one of the main things they find washing up on the beach is tampon applicators. And Helen Lynn from the Women’s Environmental Network, a charity working on issues that connect gender, health and the environment says that the unaffordability of sanitary products as well as the taboos surrounding periods are still a problem. (Picture: Period pants; Credit: Getty Images)