Business Matters

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the Omicron coronavirus variant poses a high risk of infection surges around the globe. The head of the organisation, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, renewed a call for a global push to get vaccines to poorer nations meanwhile in the US, workers in one of Amazon's warehouses in Alabama have been allowed to rerun a vote on whether they can join a union. Employees voted not to form a union in April, but the National Labor Relations Board found Amazon illegally interfered in the elections. Rebecca Rainey, Labour and Immigration Reporter for Politico, explains. Plus, Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is stepping down as chief executive of the company. Mr Dorsey, who co-founded Twitter in 2006, will be replaced by the current chief technical officer, Parag Agrawal. We ask the Financial Times correspondent Dave Lee why Mr Dorsey has given up the top job. Later in the programme, an episode of the cartoon The Simpsons, which refers to Tiananmen Square, does not appear on the Disney+ video streaming platform in Hong Kong. The omission of the episode by Disney has added to growing concerns about censorship and self-censorship in Hong Kong. And we talk to Karen Chan, a neon light designer in Hong Kong, about the movement to revive the use of neon in art, commercial spaces and signage. We're joined throughout the programme by Rachel Cartland, an author, writer and expert on Hong Kong and Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland in Washington. (Picture: Commuters wearing face masks. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

South Korea's Samsung has chosen Taylor, Texas for a new $17bn computer chip factory. The US is hoping to bring more such hi-tech manufacturing back on to American shores, and we explore the implications with Justin Sayers from the Austin Business Journal. And would you want to live to 150? With leaps in technology, science and medicine, it's becoming an increasingly realistic possibility; the BBC's Elizabeth Hotson reports on the science - and business - of longevity. Plus, at its annual Golden Joystick awards, the video games industry celebrated 50 years of games, marking the November 1971 launch of Computer Space. Dan Dawkins is content director at Games Radar, and tells us more about the event. And we're joined throughout the programme by Catherine Yeung from Fidelity in Hong Kong and in Washington DC, Dante Disparte, Head of Global policy at Circle Pay. (Picture: Samsung flags outside a building. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

The US has said it is releasing 50 million barrels of oil from its reserves in an attempt to bring down soaring energy and petrol prices. The move is being taken in parallel with other major oil-consuming nations, including China, India, Japan, South Korea and the UK. Also in the programme, you'd imagine winning the lottery and spending the winnings would be an incredible feeling. But not for a nursery in Southern Mexico. Parents say they are being threatened by a gang following their $950,000 win - many have fled the area. Plus, we meet the so-called scambaiters who are taking revenge on telephone scammers. PHOTO: Getty Images

Jerome Powell has been nominated for a second term as chair of the US Federal Reserve by President Joe Biden. Mr Powell is set to stay in the role, which includes managing inflation and regulating the financial system, for a further four years. El Salvador plans to build the world's first "Bitcoin City", funded initially by bitcoin-backed bonds. We hear from a key strategist of the plan, Samson Mow. Sasha Twining is joined throughout the programme by Mehmal Sarfraz, co-founder of The Current PK, and journalist in Lahore, Pakistan and Alexander Kaufman, from the Huffington Post in New York. (Picture: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Thousands are stranded by floods and mudslides in British Columbia in Canada – Chris Walker of CBC Radio One, who flew over the affected area on Thursday, joins us. In New York, Sotheby's auctions a rare copy of the US Constitution, but a crowdfunding project has raised over $45m in cryptocurrency in an attempt to bring it into public ownership. We speak to one of the members behind the project, and to Matt Binder of Mashable. Elsewhere in the US, the House of Representatives looks set to vote on President Biden's Build Back Better Bill later on Thursday- we bring you the latest. Fergus Nicholl looks at gold smuggling in Mali, and the BBC's Sameer Hashmi is in Dubai speaking to the boss of the Etihad airline. Throughout the programme we're joined by Peter Ryan, ABC's Senior Business Correspondent in Sydney, and by Alison van Diggelen of freshdialogues.com in California. Picture: A man paddles a canoe through floods in Canada Credit: Reuters

President Biden visits Motor City: Detroit, Michigan, where General Motors unveiled their new electric vehicle plant. Biden was there to talk up his infrastructure bill and to promote the transition to electric vehicles which he says will bring jobs to America. We hear from Steve Carmody, a reporter for Radio Michigan, and speak to Edward Alden at the Council on Foreign Relations about how the infrastructure bill could ruffle feathers in Canada and Mexico. In India, taxation on alcohol is undergoing huge reforms as government run retailers are replaced by private outlets; the BBC's Davina Gupta tells us more. Apple concedes that its customers can repair their own products after lengthy disputes against the so-called Right to Repair – Nathan Proctor of the US Public Interest Research Group explains what it all means. A Korean movie has become the biggest grossing film in the world this year, and troubling allegations are made against one of Kenya's largest conservation agencies. Throughout the programme we're joined by Jyoti Malhotra, National & Strategic Affairs Editor at The Print in Delhi, and Steven Bertoni, Editor at Forbes in New York. Picture: President Biden in a GM car Credit:Reuters

Europe's eastern borders are convulsing under the pressure of gas, military aggression and human migration. Germany suspends its approval of the long controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline, Polish forces use tear gas on migrants attempting to cross the Belarusian frontier into the country, while Ukraine worries Russian troops on its border threatens its own pipelines. We speak to Professor Sergey Radchenko from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies to pull the threads together. Further west Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and Ireland have all imposed strict curfews to mitigate against rises in Covid infections; we hear from the BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna. The Global Prosperity Index is published, we look at how different parts of the world have recovered, or not, from the Covid-19 pandemic by talking to Alastair Masser at the Legatum Institute. Throughout the programme we're joined by APM's Marketplace presenter Andy Uhler in Louisiana, and Simon Littlewood - author broadcaster and consultant in Singapore. Picture: A gas pipe line Credit: Reuters

Joe Biden will speak to Xi Jinping over video call as the two leaders meet virtually to discuss US China relations – our correspondent in Beijing Stephen McDonnell gives us the latest, plus there's analysis from Rui Zhong at the Wilson Centre in Washington DC. There's a lockdown in Delhi, but this time it's due to pollution; schools have closed and the authorities are considering imposing a city-wide curfew to keep people out of the smog. We hear from the BBC's Arunoday Mukherjee in the capital. In the US President Biden signs his infrastructure spending bill into law, in Portugal the BBC's Alison Roberts explains how bosses have been banned from contacting workers after they've left the office, and Peter Morgan explains how to resign from a job with style and grace. Throughout the programme we're joined by Sushma Ramachandran, an independent business journalist and columnist for The Tribune newspaper in Delhi, and Peter Morici, emeritus professor at the Robert H Smith Business School of University of Maryland. Picture: Biden delivers a speech Credit: EPA

President Lukashenko of Belarus has threatened to cut off gas supplies to Europe if sanctions are imposed over an escalating migrant crisis at the country's border. Thousands of people are at the border with Poland, enduring freezing conditions in the hope of crossing into the European Union. We get analysis from James Waddell, senior global gas analyst at Energy Aspects. Indonesia's council of religious leaders has forbidden the use of crypto assets as a currency for Muslims. The country's National Ulema Council has declared cryptocurrency as haram, or banned, as it has elements of uncertainty, wagering and harm. Umer Suleman an Islamic Finance expert explains Sharia law when it comes to finance. The BBC's Ed Butler reports on whether Hong Kong's long term future as a global finance hub is sustainable, against the backdrop of the new national security law in the territory, as well as stringent coronavirus quarantine measures. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: Jessica Khine a financial professional in Nusajaya, Malaysia and Les Williams, associate professor at the School of Engineering, University of Virginia and co-founder of Risk Cooperative, in Arlington Virginia. (Picture: Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko. Credit: Getty Images.)

The US conglomerate General Electric is to split into three publicly listed companies. We find out what's behind the move from the BBC's Michelle Fleury in New York. Also in the programme, the aircraft engine maker Rolls Royce has secured funding to develop small modular nuclear reactors, aimed at producing green electricity. Tom Samson is chief executive of Rolls Royce SMR and explains the background, while South African energy analyst Chris Yelland is sceptical. Plus, German media giant Axel Springer is understood to have plans to force workers to disclose intimate relationships they have with colleagues. Erika Solomon, Berlin correspondent of the Financial Times and Ben Smith, media correspondent of the New York Times, bring us the details. Also in the programme, Mexico's president has outlined a global anti-poverty plan to the United Nations that he says would help 750 million people living on less than two dollars a day. Plus, the BBC's Russell Padmore reports on the growing problem of restaurant-goers booking a table and then not turning up. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: Sarah Birke of the Economist, in Mexico City and in James Maygar, Bloomberg's correspondent in Beijing. (Picture: General Electric logo. Credit: Getty Images.)

President Biden has set a mandate which says workers at firms with more than 100 employees must be double vaccinated by 4th January. We get reaction from our reporter Michelle Fleury in New York. As more and more of us shop online, many customers are choosing to 'buy now, pay later' with interest free credit options. But is this just tempting young shoppers to get into debt? Ed Butler has a special report. Also in the programme, from COP26 we hear from Jen Jenisch, chief executive of Swiss cement maker Holcim Group, about the company's plans to go green. Plus, a study in the US has shown that employees now take fewer sick days since the pandemic forced people to work at home. We speak to Erica Pandy, business reporter at Axios, about the results of the report. Sasha Twining is joined throughout the programme by Jasper Kim, professor at Ewha University in Seoul, and by Erin Delmore, political reporter in New York. (Picture: Joe Biden. Credit: Getty Images)

The Federal Reserve begins its long-anticipated tapering of asset purchases, effectively ending the Covid stimulus package which started more than 18 months ago. The BBC's Business Correspondent in New York Samira Hussain tells us what it means for the future of the American economy. On the third day of COP26 in Glasgow it's the turn of the private sector to announce its plans for how to decarbonise the various industries – we talk to Paul Simpson of the Carbon Disclosure Project to find out how it can be done; while Shell's CEO Ben van Beurden insists the company can go carbon neutral, but it will need to be paid for using profits from fossil fuels. Private equity manager Guy Hands tells us about his most infamous deals, and the BBC's AnaMarie Silic talks to the TikTokers using the social media platform as a digital resume. Throughout the programme we're joined by Mehmal Sarfraz – co-founder of the Current PK – in Lahore in Pakistan and by Andy Uhler of our sister programme Marketplace in Austin, Texas. Picture: The Federal Reserve building in Washington, DC Credit: Reuters Presented by Sasha Twining and produced by Nisha Patel and Russell Newlove

The 26th annual Conference of Parties, COP26, begins in Glasgow. World leaders met to rally each other into action against catastrophic climate change, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who urged developed economies to financially assist the developing economies to meet their emissions pledges. We speak to Aayushi Awasthy, a PhD scholar in Energy Economics at the University of East Anglia and Rishikesh Ram Bhandary, Assistant Director of the Global Economic Governance Initiative at the Boston University Global Development Policy Centre. Japan has a new prime minister, Fumio Kishida, and he has new ideas for the country – dubbed socialism by some and even mocked as similar to policies of the Chinese Communist Party. In Canada, a tussle for control over a media empire mirrors that of HBO's hit comedy Succession – we hear from Jesse Brown, host of the Canadaland podcast. And Stephanie Hare talks about how best to spend that most precious asset: time. Throughout the programme we're joined by peter Morici, Professor Emeritus of International Business at the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and in Japan by Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus, Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. Photo: Indian Prime Minister arrives at the COP26 Credit: Getty Images

There are just days to go until the much anticipated COP26 climate conference, which is taking place in Glasgow, Scotland. Net zero emissions appears to be the target that many countries have committed to - but is the right objective for all, and which nations need to be more ambitious? Trophy hunting, paying to kill large animals, often in African game reserves, promotes strong feelings; many oppose it, but some conservationists argue it adds value to wildlife and their habitats. Vivienne Nunis has an extended report. Plus, one of the most legendary music back catalogues is up for sale - David Bowie's estate is in talks with buyers and has attracted bids of around $200m. And last year, assets under management using sustainable investing strategies in the United States reached $17.1 trillion, according to the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment; Kai Ryssdal from our sister show, Marketplace talks to Emily Stewart from Vox, about the socially responsible investing trend. Plus, we're joined throughout the programme by Colin Peacock of Radio New Zealand. Picture description: coal fired power station in China. Picture Credit: Getty Images

Oil companies are accused of misleading the public about climate change and the companies say they hope to highlight their recent efforts on the issue. We hear from the BBC's Samira Hussain, who's following the hearing from New York. And following Facebook's name change to Meta, we get analysis from Alex Heath at The Verge. Plus, the government in Beijing is calling a halt to Chinese cities' race to the heavens by imposing height limits for sky scrapers. We hear from Sherry Fei Ju, a business reporter in Beijing. And we'll hear how the changing climate is causing problems - and creating opportunities - for Europe's wine makers. Plus we're joined throughout the programme by Alexander Kaufman, senior climate reporter at the HuffPost and Stefani Yuen Thio, joint managing partner of TSMP in Singapore. Picture of an oil well in Ohio. Picture Credit: Getty Images

There are intensive discussions on Capitol Hill to try and break the deadlock over his proposed $3.5 trillion spending plans. Those plans have lead to deep divisions in his own Democratic Party. So how close to a deal are we? We get analysis from Natalie Andrews, Congress Reporter for the Wall Street Journal. And is Russia using energy as a political weapon? The question is frequently asked in Europe and it's now being asked in Moldova, a former Soviet Republic that's been trying to move away from Russia's orbit and develop closer ties to the EU. It follows the decision by the Russian state-owned gas company Gazprom to reduce supplies to Moldova and to threaten to suspend them completely. Moscow correspondent Steve Rosenberg has been to Moldova to find out what's behind the latest gas crisis. Also in the programme, we look at why has the iconic French fashion house Jean Paul Gaultier - known for cone-shaped corsets worn by Madonna for example - decided to allow people to rent some of its most iconic pieces? And Fergus Nicoll investigates what efforts are some cities making to combat climate change. And we're joined throughout the programme by Tony Nash Tony Nash of Complete Intelligence in Houston, Texas and Jeanette Rodrigues, South Asia Managing Editor of Bloomberg in Dubai. Picture description: Joe Biden Picture Credit: Chip Somodevilla for Getty Images

The United States has revoked China Telecom's licence to operate in the country, citing “national security” concerns. The BBC's Zhaoyin Feng is based in Washington and tells us what this means for relations between the two countries. During a rocky time for the shipping industry, after the impact of the pandemic on global freight, companies are grappling with how to keep customers who want to go green. Fergus Nicoll has been looking at ways the industry is developing environmentally sustainable alternatives. And the return of rodeos in the US is helping to boost small town economies. We discuss all this with guests Lien Hoang, a reporter for Nikkei Asia who is based in Vietnam, and Mitchell Hartman from Marketplace in Portland, Oregon. (Image: A woman in Wuhan, China uses a iPhone to record a video near a wall of flags. Credit: Getty Images)

Tesla surpassed a market value of $1 trillion on Monday, making it the fifth such firm to reach the milestone. Shares in the electric automaker climbed 12.6% after it struck a deal to sell 100,000 vehicles to the international car rental company Hertz. We speak to Bloomberg's Business reporter Dana Hull about Tesla's fortunes. Also in the programme, Facebook's latest financial results showed better than expected earnings. It comes as the whistleblower Frances Haugen appeared in front of the UK parliament and told MPs that the social media company was "unquestionably making hate worse". We ask Imran Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, if he agrees. And should the private sector intervene to save the Amazon jungle from destruction? We hear how a new platform aims to connect tropical forests with private sector cash. Later, Coca-Cola was named the world's biggest plastic polluter. Emma Priestland from the Break Free from Plastic Research Group, tells us how to reduce the amount of plastic we use. Plus, do we need to spell in this age of autocorrect? Our regular commentator Peter Morgan shares his views. All through the show, we'll be joined by Alison Van Diggelen, host of Fresh Dialogues in Silicon Valley and Jyoti Malhotra, editor of The Print website in New Delhi. Picture: Tesla car. Picture credit: Tesla .)

US officials are warning about China's ambitions in artificial intelligence, saying that the country could come to dominate in the field, giving the country unprecedented military advantage. Chris Meserole, an AI researcher with the Brookings in Washington DC, explains the concern. Also in the programme, The social media platform Twitter amplifies tweets from right-leaning political parties and news outlets more than from the left, its own research suggests. The tech giant said it made the discovery while exploring how its algorithm recommends political content to users. Anna Kramer at tech site Protocol explains the significance of this research. Plus, the BBC's Rahul Tandon explores the future of lavish Indian weddings, after they got a lot smaller during the pandemic. All through the show we'll be joined by Sharon Brettkelly of Radio New Zealand. Picture: US and China flags. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

Shares of the office-leasing company WeWork closed up more than 13.49 per cent on Thursday, after the company went public through a special purpose acquisition. We hear from Peter Eavis of The New York Times, who has been following the ups and downs of the company. A dispute between Brussels and Warsaw threatens to overshadow a summit for EU leaders. A Polish court recently found parts of EU law were incompatible with the country's constitution, and there have been calls from some quarters to withhold EU funds from Poland in response. Anna Wojcik is a researcher at the Polish Academy of Sciences and editor of the Rule of Law publication, and discusses the background to the dispute. The company behind a new cryptocurrency called Worldcoin wants to give away its tokens for free. But in exchange, users have to agree to have their eyes' iris scanned. This is, the website says, to "prove that they are indeed human... and that they have not received their free share of Worldcoin already". But there are already privacy concerns, as we hear from Sam Biddle of The Intercept. Shares in the Chinese property conglomerate Evergrande fell by 11.5% when they resumed trading in Hong Kong today. Sherry Fei Ju is a freelance journalist in Beijing, and brings us the latest developments. The Austrian city of Vienna is known for its collection of art galleries and museums. But some of the exhibits, it seems, are a little too racy for some social media networks. So the tourism board is posting images on the website OnlyFans, the only social network that permits depictions of nudity. We hear from Norbert Kettner of the Vienna Tourist Board. Plus, it's the beginning of India's festival season, and our workplace commentator Sandip Roy considers the challenges of trying to work through the mega festival Durga Puja, when millions are on the streets partying til dawn. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: Paddy Hirsch, a contributing editor at US National Public Radio, in Los Angeles. And writer Rachel Cartland, in Hong Kong. (Picture: A WeWork office building. Credit: Getty Images.)

President Jair Bolsonaro rejects claims that he prioritised the economy over his peoples' health in Brazil, as people give moving testimony to senators, who want to bring criminal charges against him. Latvia re-enters lockdown – evening curfew, home schooling and working from home are all back in place. We speak to investigative journalist Inga Springe. An oil tanker has been marooned in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen for years – loaded with crude oil, and rusting away, it's stuck near one of the world's biggest shipping lanes. The BBC's Ed Butler investigates why nobody is doing anything about it so far. Finally, the Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the biggest of its kind, is back: as people have dived in to reading during the pandemic to escape, we speak with Bodour Al Qasimi, founder and chief executive of publisher Kalimat, who is there. We discuss all this with guests Zyma Islam who is a journalist for the Daily Star in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and in Canada Ralph Silva, educator and broadcaster. (Image: President of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro. Credit: Andressa Anholete/Getty Images)

The yellow taxi is a symbol of New York, but the industry has collapsed under compounding economic pressures, and many drivers say the city's response has been woefully inadequate. Now they're planning a hunger strike. Medallions are permits that allow drivers to own their taxis. Buying one used to be a path to a middle-class life. With prices reaching $1 million, buyers were pushed toward reckless loans, while the city made a profit. The drivers have lobbied for relief and the city's Taxi and Limousine Commission has finally proposed a relief plan. We hear more from one of the drivers camping in front of the City Hall - Augustine Tang. Also in the programme, Credit Suisse Group is to pay $475 million to American and British authorities to resolve bribery and fraud charges related to a $2 billion scandal over Mozambican government-guaranteed loans which came to be known as tuna bonds - they were originally intended to help build up a domestic tuna fishing fleet in the country. A Credit Suisse subsidiary also pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge in New York. Plus - the BBC's Clare Williamson reports on whether edible insects are likely to become a significant source of protein for humans in the coming years. And, the television show Squid Game has become streaming giant Netflix's most popular series. But it has led to a row between South Korea's SK Broadband and Netflix, as the internet service provider is suing Netflix to pay for costs from increased network traffic and maintenance work, thanks to the surge in viewers. PHOTO: New York City taxi drivers protesting/Augustine Tang

The firm was questioned over its business practices and accused of copying other peoples' products, and rigging search results to boost its own branded products. The US car giant Ford has unveiled a $300m plan to convert a plant in the UK to make electrical components. Plus, after a BBC investigation about online hatred against women, we hear from former Scottish politician Ruth Davidson and Love Island's Kaz Kamwi about their experiences – and why tech companies aren't doing as much as they could. And finally, Apple's latest slew of products have proven to be lacklustre for some – the BBC's James Clayton at the latest tech giant launch tells us why. We discuss all this with live guests Peter Morici, Professor Emeritus of International Business at the R.H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland, and in Hong Kong, Shuli Ren, Bloomberg Opinion columnist. Presented by Jamie Robertson, and produced by Gareth Barlow. (Image: Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos testifies via video conference during the House Judiciary Subcommittee. Credit: Graeme Jennings-Pool/Getty Images)

The British Conservative MP Sir David Amess has died after being stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery in Essex, England. We get an update on the tragedy from Rob Watson, the World Service's political correspondent. Also in the programme, Italy has made it mandatory to prove Covid vaccination, or a negative test, to go to work. Thousands of workers at Trieste port have gone on strike over the mandate, and we get reaction to the new policy from Alessandro Borghese, who is a chef with two restaurants in Milan, and another opening soon in Venice. The BBC's Vivienne Nunis heads to the TED Countdown climate summit in Edinburgh, to find out about innovative approaches to tackling climate change. And Lucy Burton talks to Katherine O'Brien of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service about why women are deciding that it's not a good idea to have a baby in these uncertan times. Plus, we have a report from Arunoday Mukharji in India as the country's festival season gets under way. He hears that whilst there seems to be more enthusiasm on the streets compared to last year, it does not necessarily mean more business. Additionally, a report from Kai Ryssdal from our partner programme Marketplace; Kai has been speaking to the CEO of a flower deivery company to see how she's been affected by the last year. Lucy Burton is joined throughout the programme by Sinead Mangan of the ABC in Perth, Western Australia. (Picture: Conservative MP Sir David Amess. Credit: UK PARLIAMENT)

Claims that Russia is using the high gas price as a political weapon are "drivel", according to President Vladimir Putin. His comments come as there is intense focus on the energy markets. Energy prices in the UK, Europe and Asia have hit record highs in recent weeks triggering inflation concerns. The International Energy Agency says that targets to limit global warming are in very real danger of not being met. Their chief energy economist Tim Gould explains what's going wrong and we get reaction from Simon Harrison, head of strategy at consultancy Mott MacDonald, which advises governments and businesses on how to move to cleaner energy sources. Also in the programme, China's banning of Bitcoin mining has prompted what some have called the great mining migration. Alex De Vries, who runs the Digieconomist blog, explains where the miners are going and how much energy are they consuming. Plus, the BBC's Frey Lindsay reports on what's being called a housing affordability crisis in Australia, where the cost of buying a home has risen sharply relative to what people earn. And our regular commentator Stephanie Hare makes the case for actively using our senses to transform our experience of the world of work. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: in Taiwan, Samson Ellis, Taipei bureau chief for Bloomberg News and Takara Small, technology reporter for CBC News in Toronto, Canada. (Picture: Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Russian Energy Week plenary meeting in Moscow on October 13, 2021. Credit: Getty Images.)

UK, US and Chinese ports are all suffering from congestion for a number of reasons, compounding the disruption to global supply chains that started with the pandemic. LoriAnn LaRocco, maritime trade analyst and author explains why so many different parts of the world are suffering all at the same time. The IMF has lowered its projections for global economic growth and warns on inflation, meanwhile G20 countries pledge billions to support Afghanistan's economy, a former World Bank employee, Mohib Iqbal gives us his opinion. The world's cement producers aim to drastically reduce their CO2 emissions, Thomas Guillot, CEO of the Global Cement and Concrete Association tells us how, and we hear about measures to control rising rents in Berlin. Our guests are Alexis Goldstein, financial reform advocate in Washington DC and Dimuthu Attanayake, journalist and researcher from Colombo, Sri Lanka. (Photo: Credit Getty Images)

This year's Nobel prize for economics has been shared by three recipients. David Card, Joshua Angrist and Guido Imbens were awarded the prize for their use of "natural experiments" to understand how economic policy and other events connect. Professor Card, of UC Berkeley, tells us about his work on the minimum wage. Also in the programme, with energy prices rising across the US and Europe, we ask David Shepherd, energy editor at the Financial Times to explain what's been happening. And the President of the Environmental Defense Fund, Fred Krupp talks us through methane emission cuts and the difference they can make to climate change . We're joined throughout the programme by Karen Lema, Reuters Bureau Chief for the Philippines and Andy Uhler, Marketplace reporter in Austin Texas. (Picture: The Nobel economics prize is announced. Picture credit: Reuters.)

Streaming platform Twitch has had its source code and payout details leaked online after a security breach - we talk to Mikael Thalen of the Daily Dot and to an agent representing one of the streamers whose details were included in the leak. Chip-maker Intel has opened a new factory in Arizone and the BBC's Samira Hussain was given a guided tour. In the UK, Amazon's first non-food, bricks-and-mortar store has opened - Neil Saunders of GlobalData Retail tells us more. The WHO approves a new malaria vaccine to be rolled out across most of Africa, and in attempt to crack down on plagiarism in universities, England is to make it illegal to offer essay-writing services to students for a fee. Throughout the programme we're joined by Ralph Silva of the Silva Research Network in Toronto, and Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo. (Picture: A Twitch log in screen Credit: Reuters)

Frances Haugen, who worked at Facebook, told a US Senate committee that she believed the company had put its profits first when executives knew what harm its platform could do to children and democracy. Facebook has pushed back against claims. We get details from Kari Paul, technology reporter, Guardian US. Also in the programme, the electric car giant Tesla has been ordered to pay nearly $137 million to a former Black worker who said he suffered racial abuse at the electric carmaker's factory. Plus, Snapchat is rolling out a new “Run for Office” in-app tool to encourage young people to run for local office. And the BBC's Dougal Shaw reports on a new dating app that uses people's music tastes to try and make a match. We're joined throughout the programme by Simon Littlewood of ACG Global in Singapore and Ann Dwyer, Editor of Crain's Chicago Business. (Picture: Frances Haugen, former Facebook employee. Picture credit: Getty.)

Social media services Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram appear to be recovering after an outage that lasted almost six hours. All three services are owned by Facebook and could not be accessed over the web or on smartphone apps; we get details from the BBC's James Clayton. Also in the programme, a data leak, named the Pandora Papers, has shone a light on the previously secret financial affairs of the world's rich and powerful; we get global reaction to the revelations. Plus, the head of Airbus has told the BBC that the aerospace business is now also experiencing significant problems with its supply chains, which will inevitably lead to higher prices. We get the details from the BBC's Michelle Fleury. And workers in Hollywood could go on strike, bringing movie production to a halt. Members of the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees voted overwhelmingly to approve a strike over pay and conditions, as we hear from Gene Maddaus, a senior writer for Variety. Plus, we're joined throughout the programme by Peter Morici, Professor Emeritus of International Business at the University of Maryland and in Delhi, Jyoti Malhotra, National & Strategic Affairs Editor at The Print newspaper. (Picture: A Facebook logo on a smartphone. Picture credit: Reuters.)

The Democrats can't agree on the size of a separate social spending plan, which is holding up the vote. We get the latest from Nancy Marshall-Genzer, senior reporter at Marketplace, our sister programme on American public radio. Actor Scarlett Johansson has reached an agreement with Disney after she filed a lawsuit against the company in July over the way it released her film Black Widow - simultaneously in cinemas and on its own streaming platform. We get analysis from entertainment journalist Caroline Frost. And as chess's governing body Fide announces a sponsorship deal for the women's game with breast enlargement company Motiva, we ask Shelia Stanford, a Norwegian who used to play for her national team, what she thinks of the tie-up. Sasha Twining is joined throughout the programme by Colin Peacock of Radio New Zealand. (Picture: The US Capitol building. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

The US Senate has approved spending plans to avoid a government shutdown. We get an update from the BBC's Michelle Fleury in New York. At the same time, Democratic leaders are also trying to reach an agreement over a multi-trillion dollar spending programme. The BBC's Rob Young examines the background to the current impasse. Also in the programme, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, German company CureVac was thought by many to be one of the best prospects to develop a Covid-19 vaccine. The company's chief executive Franz Haas explains why their vaccine candidate was not as effective as had been hoped, and how the firm hopes to move forward with a second generation vaccine for the disease. And as Thailand eases Covid-related restrictions for visitors, we hear from our correspondent Jonathan Head in Bangkok how the country needs to revive its tourism industry. Rahul Tandon is joined throughout the programme by Tribune columnist Sushma Ramachandran in Delhi and by Paddy Hirsch, contributing editor at NPR in LA. (Picture: The US Capitol building. Picture credit: Getty Images)

YouTube has said it will remove content that spreads misinformation about all approved vaccines, expanding a ban on false claims about Covid-19 jabs. Some people are looking for legal exemption from the vaccine, on religious grounds, for example, as we hear from Professor Dorit Reiss at Hastings College of Law, University of California. Also in the programme, US banking giant Citigroup is in court in New York to argue for the return of more than half a billion dollars accidentally transferred to the beauty firm Revlon's lenders. Bloomberg's Katherine Doherty explains the background. A court in Los Angeles has suspended Britney Spears' father as her 'conservator' - the controller of the American pop star's business affairs. We get the latest from Variety's Elizabeth Wagmeister. Plus, the BBC's Elizabeth Hotson reports on the growing trend of influencer-based marketing, by spending time in an influencer house, where social media personalities are temporarily living together to create content on behalf of a plant-based food brand. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: David Kuo of The Smart Investor, in Singapore and Kimberly Adams of Marketplace, in Washington DC. (Picture: A YouTube logo on a cellphone being held in a hand. Credit: Getty Images.)

There have been widespread power outages across China as the country lacks coal. James Mayger, China economy editor for Bloomberg in Beijing, explains the background to the problems. Veterinarian Dr Karen Emerson in Mississippi tells us how covid misinformation has her left and many other vets short of the animal de-wormer drug ivermectin, thought mistakenly by some to treat the coronavirus. Also in the programme, according to Anthony Wheeler, author of the book HR Without People, Human Resources professionals need to prepare for a future where jobs and careers are displaced by technology. He explains how to survive the oncoming fourth industrial revolution. Plus, after several pandemic-related delays, the 25th James Bond film, No Time to Die, will get its world premiere at the Royal Albert Hall in London today. We speak to BBC entertainment correspondent Colin Paterson, who is on the red carpet. All this and more discussed with our two guests throughout the show: Ainslie Chandler, Bloomberg bureau chief in Sydney. And Alexander Kaufman, senior reporter at the Huffington Post, in New York. (Picture: Power pylons in Beijing Credit: Getty Images.)

Residents in north-east China are experiencing unannounced power cuts, as an electricity shortage which initially hit factories spreads to homes. Philippe Benoit at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University, explains why this is significant. Also in the programme, Germany's centre-left SPD party has claimed victory in the federal election. Parties will now try to form a coalition government, the BBC's Victoria Craig in Frankfurt assesses what the outcome of the vote means for the German economy. We discuss urban reforestation across the globe and the impact of latest wildfires in California. Plus, regular contributor Peter Morgan asks whether it's time for greater transparency in the workplace about how much money people are paid. All through the show we're joined by Alison van Diggelen of Fresh Dialogues in Silicon Valley. (Picture: power pylons. Credit: Getty Images.)

Huawei's Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou is released after nearly three years under house arrest in Canada, the BBC's Gordon Correra has the details. China's central bank bans all cryptocurrency activity in the country, sending the price of Bitcoin tumbling – cryptocurrency author Glen Goodman tells us more. Marketplace's Kai Rysdell talks toothpaste, deodorant and supply chain woes, and Victoria Craig is in Germany for the Bundestagwahl – the country's general election. We discuss New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Adern's climate change policies and it's twentyfive years since Spice – the Spice Girl's debut album put Girl Power on the pop podium; we talk to Safiya Lambie-Knight at Spotify. Throughout the programme we're joined by Sharon Brett-Kelly, host of The Detail podcast on Radio New Zealand in Auckland. (Picture: Meng Wanzhou speaks to reporters outside court Credit: EPA)

The embattled Chinese real estate firm Evergrande reaches the deadline for interest payments on its bonds – will Beijing step in to shore up the company? We speak to Sara Hsu, Associate Professor of Economics at the State University of New York. Erin Delmore is in Berlin to take us through the last days of campaigning in Germany's general election, the vote will decide who replaces Angela Merkel after 16 years as Chancellor. Speakers at the UN General Assembly address the inequalities of Covid vaccine distribution around the world, America's FDA withdraws nearly a million e-cigarettes from the market, and the European Commission wants all smart phones to have the same type of charging socket to cut down on waste, but will manufacturers go for it? Throughout the programme we're joined by Robin Harding of the Financial Times and Hayley Woodin, editor of Business in Vancouver.

President Joe Biden made the pledge at a virtual Covid-19 summit on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, promising an "arsenal of vaccines". The additional jabs will see the total US commitment on vaccine sharing exceed one billion jabs. We'll hear from Lily Caprani, head of Advocacy for Health at UNICEF, Peter Maybarduk at the not-for-profit consumer advocacy organisation Public Citizen, as well as Thomas Cueni, Director General at the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations. Also in the programme: after Canada's most expensive federal election in history, the electoral map is largely unchanged. Guest Takara Small with CBC talks us through the agenda of the new government. Lebanon's inflation rate has become the highest in the world, according to the latest figures from the Lebanon Central Administration of Statistics. Tala Ramadan, a journalist in Beirut, explains how ordinary people in Lebanon are trying to get by, as fuel, food and internet connection become ever more scarce. A multi-billion dollar project to build a new electric train line to link Egypt's Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts, due for completion in 2027, is being described as the Suez Canal on rails. Plus, the east African nation of Kenya has become the first market in which video streaming platform Netflix has launched a free service, in a bid to persuade people to sign up to a full subscription. All through the show we'll be joined by Takara Small with CBC in Toronto, and Lien Hoang with Nikkei Asia in Saigon. (Picture credit: Getty Images)

Travellers will be admitted into the US from November, subject to testing and contact tracing. The announcement comes after a year of tough restrictions. We speak to Todd Knoop, professor of business and economics at Cornell College in Iowa, about the significance of the change. The Dow Jones index fell 1.7% on Monday over fears that the Chinese property developer Evergrande is struggling to repay its debts, which could impact big banks. Our correspondent Michelle Fleury explains the story. More and more countries are abolishing the death penalty. In the US, President Biden has promised to pass legislation at a federal level to eliminate it. Those campaigning for its abolition have found an ally in the business community. We speak to Celia Ouellette, CEO of the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, and Jason Flom, CEO of Lava Records, who has long campaigned for the wrongfully convicted. Jamie Robertson is joined throughout the programme by Michelle Jamrisko, senior Asia economy reporter at Bloomberg in Singapore, and by Peter Morici, economist at the University of Maryland, who's in Washington DC. (Picture: Passengers walk past a picture of Mickey Mouse. Credit: Getty Images)

France is recalling its ambassadors from the US and Australia for consultations in protest after Australia abruptly ended a submarine contract in order to sign a new deal with the US and UK. The security deal is widely seen as an effort to counter China's influence in the contested South China Sea. Also the Russian election gets underway Google and Apple have removed a tactical voting app. Opposition activists have accused the tech giants of bowing to pressure from the Kremlin. We get reaction to the move from Leonid Volkov, who ran jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's campaign in 2018. Plus the international traffic light system is being simplified in England, with double-vaccinated travellers no longer forced to take Covid's pre-departure tests from October. But will this help revive a flagrant travel industry in England? Travel writer Simon Calder tells us more. Plus the BBC's Rebecca Kesby finds out how scientists are using genetic material from wild plants to make agricultural crops more resilient to climate change. Throughout the programme Rahul Tandon is joined by Karen Percy a journalist based in Melbourne. Produced by Philippa Goodrich (Picture: US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture credit: Getty Images.)

The UN secretary general has warned that greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is rising relentlessly after a short dip during the pandemic. Antonio Guterres said he was alarmed how far the world was off course in tackling climate change. We speak to Barbara Davidson from Carbon Tracker who published a report that found many companies do not include their climate impact in their financial statements. And the BBC's Fergus Nicoll explores the prospects for deep sea mining to access metals required in the production of batteries. Gerard Barron is chief executive of The Metals Company which aims to exploit polymetallic nodules, found on the seabed off southern Mexico, and recently listed on the NASDAQ. Michael Lodge is secretary general of the International Seabed Authority, and explains the rules around commercial exploitation of such resources. And we hear about the environmental issues involved from Dr Kirsten Thompson, lecturer in biosciences at the University of Exeter. Plus showbiz reporter Beverly Lyons tells us why Elton John has delayed his UK and European tour until 2023. Rahul Tandon is joined by Patrick Barta from the Wall Street Journal in Thailand and Vonshay Sharpe, president of the Women's Institute for Science, Equity, and Race (WISER) in the US. Produced by Philippa Goodrich (Picture: Power plant. Picture credit: PA Media.)