Podcast appearances and mentions of Ed Butler

Consumer goods as well as fuel and cocoa are all crossing Ghana's northern border illegally, and in large volumes. It's costing the government billions of dollars in lost revenues. Ed Butler looks at perhaps the biggest illegal trade - gold - Ghana's number one cash export. But even as the informal economy, unmonitored and untaxed, continues to grow, some are asking: isn't there also a specific economic solution to the problem? In the second of two programmes, based at the northern Ghanaian border with Burkina Faso, he finds out what some are suggesting could be done to change the criminals' incentives. Produced and presented by Ed Butler(Image: Illegal gold mining in northern Ghana)

Consumer goods, fuel, gold and cocoa are all crossing the border illegally - it's costing the government billions of dollars - so can it be stopped? Ed Butler travels to the northern Ghanaian border with Burkina Faso, and hears from cocoa smugglers who are operating in the region. Produced and presented by Ed Butler (Image: A livestock market in northern Ghana. Traders, including those pictured, told the BBC they believe some of the livestock is contraband)

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, Ecuador, the US, Ghana and ItalyDonald Trump's pre-election promise to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours failed to materialise, and this week the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was willing to walk away from talks if a Russia-Urkraine ceasefire deal is not agreed soon. James Waterhouse reports from Sumy, where at least 35 people were killed last weekend, and reflects on how Ukraine is now more vulnerable than ever.Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa was returned to power in a decisive election win last weekend. His popularity is built around his 'iron fist' approach to crime - though murder rates remain stubbornly high. Ione Wells heard about the scale of the challenges ahead in the president's war on drugs.The deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García from Maryland to a super max prison in El Salvador has proven a flash-point in America's debate on immigration - and Donald Trump's battle with the judiciary. Nomia Iqbal reflects on the US President's attempts to test the limits of the executive.The Sahel region of Africa has recently been described as the ‘epicentre of global terrorism' according to the Global Terrorism index, and there are fears that increasingly complex smuggling networks are feeding the violence. Ed Butler has been to the border between northern Ghana and Burkina Faso.Eighty years ago the Second World War in Italy was drawing to a close, and as allied forces raced to liberate cities, the port of Trieste was briefly occupied by Yugoslav communists who handed out violent punishment to locals. Tony Grant finds the ghosts of the past still stalk the city.Series producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Ed Butler is joined by Peter Ryan, ABC's senior business correspondent in Sydney Australia and Gaby Castro Fontoura, Director of Sunny Sky Solutions - a business consultancy from Uruguay.We look at the impact of Western aid cuts on Africa.Heathrow Airport has lifted its usual night-time restrictions to help restore normal air travel after Friday's widespread disruption.Plus, the side hustle is on the rise in the U.S. even among professionals as more people take on second jobs amid growing economic uncertainty.

Sim Tshabalala is the CEO of one of Africa's largest banks, Standard Bank. In this edition of Business Daily, he tells Ed Butler about his journey from growing up under apartheid in South Africa, to be becoming a lawyer, then investment banker.He discusses the risks of lending to companies; how the continent is improving its trade relationships; and what he thinks the future of Africa will look like.If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukPresenter: Ed Butler Producer: Amber MehmoodAdditional material: Reuters/British Pathé(Picture: Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank Group, speaks at Semafor's The Next 3 Billion Summit at The Pierre Hotel on September 24, 2024 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images)

Some forecasts place Africa as the world's second-fastest-growing region in 2025, trailing only East Asia. But with uncertainty clouding the global economic outlook, Ed Butler explores whether the continent can maintain its growth momentum with Sim Tshabalala, CEO of Standard Bank, Africa's largest commercial lender.Meanwhile, Ethiopia's parliament has introduced a new tax on workers and businesses aimed at bridging the funding gap left by the suspension of USAID support.And at London's Heathrow Airport, questions are being asked about its resilience, after a fire at a nearby electrical substation forced Europe's busiest airport to shut down, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.

Hear our host Ben Rodgers as he sits down with state representative Ed Butler to talk about which districts he serves, legislation updates for this year, how these changes happen, introducing students to Mock meetings of the house, and more! Listen To The Local Matters Podcast Today! News Talk 94.1

Thousands of people have been forced to work in Chinese-run scam centres in Myanmar, carrying out online fraud targeting victims around the world. Ed Butler explores why these centres exist—and hear the remarkable story of one woman who managed to escape.Also, China imposes a fresh wave of tariffs on Canada.And Russia and Ukraine discuss a potential ceasefire on energy infrastructure—but who will benefit most?

Dr Joachim Nagel isn't just Germany's chief central banker, he's one of the most powerful economic policy-makers in Europe.In this exclusive interview, originally recorded for the BBC World Service's Business Daily podcast, Ed Butler asks how he thinks Germany, and the European Union as a whole, should be responding to a time of unprecedented economic peril.It's a shaky time for the world's third-largest economy, which has been experiencing stagnant growth for five years. As a trade war between Europe and the US escalates, what does the future look like for Germany?

Join us as we head back to New Orleans for a closer look at the relationship between LHO & Bill Stuckey, Ed Butler, Alton Ochsner and INCA.Become A Channel Member! - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGGeqs_2dgfnKfm4L2zydTg/joinSilik City Hot Sauce - https://silkcityhotsauce.com Use code GUNMAN at checkout to save 20% off entire order!Merch Store- https://the-lone-gunman-podcast.myspreadshop.comMusic By Lee Harold OswaldA Loose Moose ProductionBBB&JOEBBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-lone-gunman-podcast-jfk-assassination--1181353/support.

For years now, an Islamist insurgency in the Sahel region has been claiming thousands of lives and displacing millions of people. There are fears that it is spreading to one of West Africa's most stable countries. Ed Butler investigates some new and disturbing indications that fighting on Ghana's northern border with Burkina Faso has the potential to spread south as well. It is not just the Islamist insurgency, but homegrown conflicts inside Ghana that have the potential to spread. And we hear accounts of smuggled livestock, fuel and weapons, as well as stories of Ghanaian fighters joining the Islamist uprising in the north.

Ed Butler travels to Kantamanto market in Accra, Ghana. 15 million used garments arrive in Ghana every week from all over the world - most ends up at Kantamanto but a lot can't be sold because it's in poor condition. That ends up as landfill. Just weeks after Ed's visit, a disastrous fire raised it to the ground, so he's been back in touch with some of the vendors he spoke to as they try and get the market, and their livelihoods, up and running again. Produced and presented by Ed Butler

Ed Butler travels to northern Ghana in search of one of the country's growing exports. Cashew nuts have become a feature of crop production, but there are problems. How does Ghana best add value to cashews in a way that benefits the country and doesn't just see it exploited overseas?And could solving the cashew issue help Ghana's economy in other ways?Produced and presented by Ed Butler(Image: A worker at a cashew processing company sorting nuts in Ghana)

The French businessman was Director-General of the WTO from 2005–2013, and European commissioner for trade for five years from 1999 – 2004. Ed Butler speaks to Pascal Lamy about the trading relationships between the US and China, and the US and the EU, what a second Trump presidency might mean for world trade. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProducer: Amber Mehmood(Picture: Pascal Lamy, photo taken in Paris, November 2022. Credit: Getty Images)

How will countries handle challenges like rising debt, inflation, and political tensions? And what new opportunities might arise as the world adapts? The BBC's Economics Editor, Faisal Islam, and our Chief Economics Correspondent, Dharshini David, join Ed Butler to discuss the year ahead. If you would like to get in touch with the show, please email: businessdaily@bbc.co.ukProducer: Izzy Greenfield(Picture: Numbers 2-0-2-5 printed on blocks of wood, each sitting on top of a stack of coins. Credit: Getty Images)

Ghana is a global gold mining powerhouse and Africa's biggest producer. The informal mining sector of gold – known locally as “galamsey” - is a big election issue here. There have been recent marches demanding tougher action against illegal miners in Accra. But illegal mining is also a major source of employment. More than a million Ghanaians make their living from galamsey. We hear from local galamsey miners and look at the negative impact this industry is having on both the workers in terms of health, the environment, and the wider community. (Picture: Man holding a bucket in an open-pit gold mine in Ghana.)Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Elon Musk's record setting pay package has been rejected for a second time by a Delaware judge Opposition parties in France say they'll bring down the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier within days. This after he forced his social security budget through without a vote in parliament. As Ghana approaches an election, Ed Butler reports on the economic turmoil facing the country

In the first of a two part series ahead of Ghana's presidential election, we are in Accra asking how much the economy is influencing how people vote. The country has faced one of Africa's worst financial crises in recent years, and the recovery seems to be underway, but is this translating to how workers and business owners feel?There are 13 presidential candidates, and we hear from representatives of the two front runners. We find out about their plans for the economy. Produced and presented by Ed Butler

Opposition parties in France say they'll bring down the minority government of Prime Minister Michel Barnier within days. This after he forced his social security budget through without a vote in parliament.As Ghana approaches an election, Ed Butler reports on the economic turmoil facing the countryAnd the Consumer Federation of America tells us about consumer sentiment following Black Friday and Cyber Monday

Ed Butler discusses why Italy has decided to criminalise couples who pay for a surrogate birth. Elsewhere in the U.S, we find out from retailers what they want to hear from the new incumbent in the White House. And finally, have you ever found yourself unwittingly paying for a subscription that you thought was free. We are joined throughout the programme by Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus at Hitotsubashi University in Japan and Allie Garfinkle, Senior Finance Reporter at Fortune based in L.A.

We hear of the plight of vulnerable women in Lebanon—domestic workers who've been cast out by their employers as the crisis in the country deepens. The US' Federal Trade Commission tells Ed Butler how it plans to enforce new rules requiring American businesses to make it as easy to cancel subscriptions and memberships as it is to sign up to them.We'll also look at Ethiopia's bold leap into the financial markets with its first-ever IPO, aiming to raise $255 million and lay the foundation for a stock exchange. And Amazon dives into the nuclear energy race, joining AI giants in a quest for dominance in the energy sector.

Ed Butler is joined by Stefanie Yuen Thio, joint managing partner at TSMP Law in Singapore and Sergio Guzman, director at Colombia Risk Analysis in Colombia.We explore the IMF's prediction that global sovereign debt will exceed $100 trillion by the end of the year. We also look into reports that biotech firm 23andMe may be on the brink of collapse. Once a tech industry favourite, the company now faces legal challenges and questions about its business model. Plus, we follow Kamala Harris on her campaign trail in Georgia, where she's focused on energising Black and Latino voters.

The IMF says the debt held by countries is likely to exceed $100tn by the end of this year. How concerned should that figure make us?And while Ed Butler finds out why it's been a bad day for chips (the computer ones), but a good one for (authentic) wine – as French police have uncovered a multi-billion dollar fake wine racket. The suspects are accused of creating counterfeit labels of renowned French vineyards, allowing them to sell bottles for thousands of dollars.

We hear from a a Nobel prize winner - James Robinson - who has received his award today for research into why poor nations stay poor, and others thrive. We get the latest from the US election campaign trail with our reporter Monica Miller, as the focus turns to Pennsylvania.We also remember Lily Ledbetter, the US equal pay pioneer, who's just died at the age of 86.Ed Butler is joined by Maggie McGrath, the editor of Forbes Women, who is in New York, and Karen Percy, freelance business reporter in Australia.

China says it's introducing a range of bold policies aimed at reviving its economic growth, including measures to strengthen capital markets and stabilise the real estate sector. But detail is thin on the ground - and that's having an effect on global markets. Ed Butler hears from the World Bank as its latest report shines a light on the 26 poorest countries in the world, highlighting the severe challenges they face, from poverty to limited access to essential services.Plus there are tributes to Lilly Ledbetter - a trailblazer for equal pay in the US, with President Biden saying she never stopped fighting for all Americans to be paid what they deserve.

Vietnam has enjoyed more than 6% annual growth every year for the last thirty years or more, a staggering growth path, transforming one of Asia's poorest economies into a major global trading hub. It's now one of the world's top twenty economies. But are there challenges ahead. A high-profile anti-corruption drive, extreme weather events, and the death of its long-term leader have raised questions about the country's path to prosperity.(Picture: Aerial view of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, at night, showing high-rise buildings, the Landmark 81 supertall skyscraper, and transport networks. Credit: Getty Images.) Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Former Italian Premier and former ECB chief Mario Draghi has authored a European Commission report calling for €800 billion euros of additional annual investment. The report says the EU needs a new industrial strategy for Europe to avoid a decline in living standards.The iPhone 16 has just launched, but Apple's sales of this famous handset have not been stellar of late. Cheaper and some say equally smart rivals are making their claims on consumer attention these days. So how has Apple, one of the world's biggest firms, responded?Also in the programme, presenter Ed Butler looks at China and concerns it could it be entering a dangerous deflationary spiral. China's industrial producer prices had fallen by nearly 2 per cent in the last 12 months. Ed is joined by Economist at the University of Maryland Peter Morici, and Sushma Ramachandran independent journalist and columnist with the Tribune newspaper in Delhi.

Former Italian Premier and former ECB chief Mario Draghi has authored a European Commission report calling for €800 billion euros of additional annual investment. The report says the EU needs this alongside more innovation and faster decision-making to avoid seeing living standards decline. A fall in Chinese producer prices has fuelled concerns that deflation may be taking hold in the world's second-largest economy. Industrial producer prices fell 1.8 per cent in August, the most in four months. Steel and agriculture were among the sectors hit. Meanwhile, consumer prices rose 0.6 per cent. Apple releases the brand-new iPhone 16. We examine what are the latest features on offer, what makes it stand out from previous releases and is upgrading to latest model worth it for consumers?Also, in the programme, presenter Ed Butler discusses a shake up in the fashion world as Sarah Burton is appointed creative director at Givenchy.

Gold prices hit new record high as investors pile back into the commodity ahead of expected interest rate cuts in the US. We look into the details. PwC China has told clients it expects a six-month business ban to be imposed by Chinese authorities as early as September. We hear about the reasons.Also in the programme, we find out why protesters in Serbia are against a lithium mine that could cover 90% of the metal's demand in Europe.Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Anneke Green, US Republican Political Strategist at Reach Global Strategies, and Nicholas Gordon, Associate Editor of Fortune magazine in Hong Kong.

The Democratic National Convention continues, with Barack and Michelle Obama expected to address the public. We get the latest.A federal judge in Texas has barred a US Federal Trade Commission rule from taking effect. It was meant to ban agreements that prevented workers from joining their employers' rivals or launching competing businesses. We get the details.'Black Myth: Wukong', a new game made by Chinese developers, has become one of the most played ever on one of the top gaming platforms. We hear about the game's plot, and why it's so popular.Tesla's Chinese-made electric vehicles imported into the European Union will be subject to lower tariffs than those produced by competitors. We listen to the EU's arguments, and look at the implications this can have on the European market. Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: David Kuo, financial analyst and the co-founder of the Smart Investor based in Singapore, and Emily Peck, markets correspondent at the Axios news website. .

The Democratic National Convention kicks off in Chicago, in a four-day event that will see Kamala Harris formally confirmed as the party's presidential candidate. We hear from correspondents on the ground. The government in Nicaragua has outlawed 1,500 civil society groups in one day. They're accused of failing to report their finances and face the confiscation of all their property. We hear about the economic implications. And British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among the missing along with his 18-year-old daughter after the superyacht they were sailing in sank in Sicily. We get the latest. Ed Butler discusses these and more business stories with two guests on opposite sides of the world: Angel Zhong, an Associate Professor of Finance at RMIT University in Melbourne, and researcher on technology and ethics Stephanie Hare, in London.

The U.S. Trade Representative's office said tariff increases on an array of Chinese imports will be delayed by at least two weeks. It will affect many industries including judiciary and trade. We hear from the President and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities and still trader.Also, in the programme, Ed Butler looks at the ongoing protests in Venezuela following Sunday's Presidential elections, and finds out how the US sanctions are affecting Georgia.

Lebanon and the Lebanese people are still suffering a debilitating economic crisis that has gripped the country since 2019. On Monday Israel struck a major blow against the Iranian backed Hezbollah with an attack on Beirut. There are fears this will further hurt an already weak economy. We hear from the local business owner who's struggling to run a restaurant.Also, in the programme, Ed Butler looks at the ongoing protests in Venezuela following Sunday's Presidential elections, and finds out how the US sanctions are affecting Georgia.

United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has called for a warning label to be placed on social media platforms advising of the damage to adolescents' mental health. We hear from a whistleblower on his experiences of working in a social media company. Our colleague Ed Butler explores ‘over tourism', where locals feel left out of tourist hotspotsAnd The Pixar film Inside Out 2 has dramatically exceeded ticket sales predictions on its opening weekend, bucking a trend of poor performances from new film releases. Rahul Tandon asks why.

United States Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, has called for a warning label to be placed on social media platforms advising of the damage to adolescents' mental health.In a historic move, the governor of a US state has pardoned more than 175,000 marijuana convictions.The BBC's Ed Butler explores ‘over tourism', where locals feel left out of tourist hotspotsAnd The Pixar film Inside Out 2 has dramatically exceeded ticket sales predictions on it's opening weekend, bucking a trend of poor performances from new film releases. We ask why?

When is tourism good tourism, and when is it just too much?Current projections suggest global travel is going to carry on rising for the foreseeable future, as low-cost air travel and budget rentals make package holidays ever more affordable for ever more people. But from Tenerife to Venice, more and more tourist destinations are feeling the pressure of these rising visitor numbers. In holiday hotspots, local people are complaining of congested streets, rising housing costs, and environmental degradation. And some have even taken to the streets to protest about the issue. So what's to be done?(Image: Thousands of people demonstrate against tourism policies on the island of Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain in 2024)Presented and produced by Ed Butler

As one Silicon Valley titan unveils its latest Apple Intelligence software, we examine the generative AI that's creeping onto a smartphone near you - just how unnerved should you be? Plus, the concept of subscription streaming arrives in the world of console. Ed Butler examines if it is worth the cost…And intimacy at the office - is BP right to demand that all its workers to fess up about their workplace love affairs? Sharing their thoughts we speak to Yoko Ishikura, Professor Emeritus at the Hitotsubashi University in Japan and currently a member of the World Economic Forum's Expert Network, while here in the UK, we have Stephanie Hare, writer, journalist and all-round luminary on tech, ethics and much more.[MAGE CREDIT: REUTERS]

As EU countries adopt a plan to use profits from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine defences and rebuilding, Ed Butler, looks at how the scheme might work and whether the idea risks undermining the rule of law. Hollywood actress Scarlett Johansson is taking legal advice after a new version of the AI bot, Chat GPT, was released with a voice she claims is eerily similar to her own - how can AI seek to develop while staying on the right right side of copyright laws? And, Red Lobster, was once one of the world's largest seafood chains but as it files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, how did the once successful seafood franchise end up in such deep water?

We speak to the head of Sweden's central bank, after it voted to cut interest rates; making it one of the first to do so in the region. The bank moved ahead of the U.S Federal Reserve for the first time this century.Elsewhere, Ed Butler looks at why Ghana could face issues with the World Bank over its LGBT policies, and why the rising prices of doner kebabs in Germany is becoming a political issue.

Saudi's state-oil company Aramco saw profits drop this week, but its payout to the government will still reach an eye-watering $31 billion. We see if the Saudi economy can cope with all its expensive mega projects.Also, Ed Butler explores the latest issues at Boeing, and finds out why India is becoming a hot new destination for big concerts.

Ed Butler travels to Kosovo to find out what the prospects are for this young, ethnically divided population. After Ukraine, it's Europe's poorest region, where a brutal past still casts a shadow. But it's also a territory full of economic promise – with precious minerals buried underground, and vast vineyards. If only the politics would stop getting in the way.(Image: A wine maker in Kosovo, Milan Lakicevic, standing in front of stainless steel tanks, while holding a bottle of his wine.)Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the giant crypto exchange, Binance, will spend 4 months in a US prison. He had pled guilty to charges of enabling money laundering at the exchange. Ed Butler asks what it means for crypto.Meanwhile, in Argentina, a series of key reforms were passed which could spell privatization of a dozen companies. We speak to a former presidential candidate who says the reforms will spell trouble.Finally, Beijing, Brussels and Washington are preparing for a major showdown over electric cars.

Energy ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies have agreed to phase out the use of coal power by 2035, putting a critical timeline on the plans first announced last year in Dubai. Also in the programme, Ed Butler looks at the new spending cap set to apply to football teams in the English Premiere League. And, we hear about the retreat of the grocery courier firm Getir from Europe and the U.S, and the future of the sector.

After months of delay, the US House of Representatives appears poised to hold a vote this weekend on tens of billions of dollars worth of American military aid for Ukraine and Israel. The Republicans in Congress have been holding out on this issue for many months - tying it to immigration reform - but now House leader Mike Johnson says he's determined to bring the matter to a vote.Also, Ed Butler finds out why the number of bitcoin being produced will halve and what is happening in India as its general election begins.

worrying reports for Donald Trump's campaign of what may be an impending cash shortfall. The Financial Times has calculated that he's raised $75mn less for his presidential bid than Joe Biden in recent months, and has 270,000 fewer unique donors than he had at the same stage of his White House run four years ago.So what difference does money make when it comes to winning US elections?Also, Ed Butler finds out why German sportswear giant Adidas hits huge profits from sales its Yeezy collection and what will be the cost of reconstruction of the Copenhagen's 17th-century old Stock Exchange.

The global economy is set to grow 3.2% this year, slightly more than previously expected, according to the International Monetary Fund. It's optimistic assessment in today's keenly awaited Global Growth forecast, suggests the world is heading for a soft landing rather than a crash over the next few months. Ed Butler talks to a former deputy director of the IMF.He also finds out what matters to young Indian voters as the country's election gets closer, and talks to a Kenyan doctor about why he's been joining the strikes for a month.

We depend on online reviews for everything from hotel and restaurant bookings to what products to buy, and as we hear in this programme, medical and cosmetic procedures. But what happens when customers and companies start resorting to lawsuits as a result? We hear from patients who have had legal action taken against them for reviews they've written.(Image: A surgeon putting on surgical gloves. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Ed Butler

In this special episode, Ed Butler brings you a podcast from our friends at Good Bad Billionaire. In the series, presenters Simon Jack and Zing Tseng find out how the richest people on the planet made their billions, and then they judge them. Are they good, bad, or just another billionaire? This episode focuses on Warren Buffett - how did he became the richest investor in history?Listen to every episode of Good Bad Billionaire wherever you get your BBC podcasts.

The world's major consulting firms make an estimated trillion dollars a year, directing governments and businesses on how best to govern.But the economist Mariana Mazzucato argues that outsourcing the brain power of governments to private firms is a dangerous trend. Ed Butler asks her why she thinks it isn't money well spent.(Picture: Mariana Mazzucato. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Ed Butler

Today, the richest 10 per cent of the world's population own more than three quarters of its wealth, while the bottom half have 2%.To halt the growing wealth gap, one economic philosopher, Ingrid Robeyns, has come up with a striking proposal - to impose legally enforced limits on people's personal wealth. No one individual, Professor Robeyns suggests, should be allowed to have more than 10 million dollars.It's a provocative idea. And would it work in practice?(Picture: Ingrid Robeyns. Credit: Keke Keukelaar/United Agents)Presented and produced by Ed Butler