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Sri Lanka: Life after an economic crisis Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

In April 2022, Sri Lanka was gripped by a major economic crisis. Prices were rising sharply, protests started in the capital, Colombo,and spread across the country.

Daily power cuts and shortages of basics such as fuel, food and medicines were commonplace.

Inflation was running at more than 50%.

In July, after months of unrest, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country.

Three months on, Rahul Tandon asks whether Sri Lanka's economic situation has improved, and explores how the country could improve its fortunes - when everyone wants to leave.

Rahul hears from people in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, where there are queues for the passport office, a Colombo business owner, and a Sri Lankan academic now living in the UK who says she's not going back.

Presented and produced by Rahul Tandon.

(Image: Sri Lankan tea seller in the rain. Credit: Getty)

A special interview with the boss of the World Bank Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

In a wide ranging interview, David Malpass, president of the World Bank, speaks to presenter Sam Fenwick about the global economic situation.

He talks about the consequences of rising global debt and high inflation, and how poorer countries are bearing the brunt of the economic crisis.

Mr Malpass says the debt caused by the coronavirus pandemic will take decades to pay off, and says many of the subsidies were not targeted. He says a similar situation is being created again with the energy crisis.

Presented and produced by Sam Fenwick.

(Image: David Malpass. Credit: Getty)

The rise and fall of the hot tub Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

In mid-2021 hot tub companies were king. Unprecedented demand through covid pushed up sales as people stayed at home. Some of Europe's well known suppliers boasted up to a 400% increase in sales compared to 2019. Companies simply could not get a hold on enough stock. In China on/off lockdowns caused a part shortage. Waiting lists across Europe went as far as six months. Some of the world's biggest tub producers made record profits.

Then in early 2022 an industry went from its heyday to doomsday in a matter of months. The reason: The cost of electricity. Across Europe, some owners are draining their pools as the cost of living crisis bites. One in five hot tub owners say they now never use them, while a further third said they hardly ever use them, according to a new major survey.

Business Daily's Rick Kelsey speaks to Chris Hayes from BISHTA, the trade association for hot tub installers in the UK and Ireland, about the type of people who can now afford a tub. We travel to Valencia in Spain to hear how health spas are affording to heat their water. Sophie Clarke, who’s selling her tub on a European forum tells us how upset she is to see it go and we hear from international hot tub supplier Christina Mantoura Clarke on how her business survived when so many competitors went bust.

Presented and Produced by Rick Kelsey

(Image: A man and child in a hot tub. Credit: Getty)

Business Daily Meets: Dr Natalie Kenny Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

When you’re conducting a scientific experiment, you must prepare for it to fail.

Lab researchers work by this motto. But for Dr Natalie Kenny, founder of international lab testing and medical training firm BioGrad, it’s proved true in every aspect of life.

It’s been a whirlwind ride: from growing up in a working-class family in Liverpool, England, to battling tropical diseases in the Amazonian rainforest, and losing almost everything before going on to found a multi-million dollar business.

In this episode of Business Daily, she sits down with Alex Bell to reflect on a remarkable life in science, discussing the pharmaceutical industry, gender equality in the laboratory, and being on the frontlines of the Covid pandemic. as well as the personal tests she’s had to overcome.

(Picture: Dr Natalie Kenny at BioGrad’s headquarters in Liverpool, UK. Credit: BioGrad.)

How social media is changing farming in Kenya Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

We hear from some of the many small-scale farmers in Kenya who are using apps like What’sApp, Facebook and Instagram to share information about the best way to grow fruit and veg and sell direct to consumers. From the vibrant markets of Nairobi to the lush green slopes of Mount Kenya Sam Fenwick investigates how farming entrepreneurs are using smartphones to grow profits as well as peas. But running a business online can be challenging in Kenya where internet connections can be patchy and data bundles expensive. Safe access to the internet is seen as development goal. At the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly governments, the private sector, philanthropic funds and international organisations agreed that investment in digital infrastructure would help drive growth in emerging economies. US$295 million was committed to advance inclusive digital public infrastructure.

Presenter / Producer: Sam Fenwick Image: Cathy Kamanu; Credit: Cathy Kamanu

How students' right to earn shook up US sport Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

University sport in the US has become huge business. For decades, students' share of those earnings only came in the form of scholarships. As television contracts got bigger, so did the calls for change - and last year students were granted the right to earn off their name, image and likeness. A year on, Will Bain explores how it’s shaken up college sports, providing opportunities and unforeseen challenges.

Hear from former SMU college football player and professional artist Ra’Sun Kazadi, Texas A&M University Athletic Director Ross Bjork, CEO of MSP Recovery John H Ruiz and Courtney Altemus of Team Altemus, part of the advance group of NIL advisers.

Presenter / producer: Will Bain Image: Quarterback Kellen Mond from Texas A&M; Credit: Getty

Why men don’t want to work any more Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

As many as 7 million Americans who could work, aren’t. These are people who have dropped out of the workforce - they have given up on finding a job or are simply not looking.

And similar trends can be seen in other wealthy countries. So what is going on?

Ed Butler speaks to Nicholas Eberstadt, a researcher at the American Enterprise Institute.

He’s recently updated a book which examines the extraordinary increase in men – and it is mainly men in the US - who’ve decided they don’t just want to quit their jobs, they want to leave the workplace for good. And it’s something that’s been going on since the 1960s.

Presented and produced by Ed Butler.

(Image: Men on a building site. Credit: Getty)

Greensill: What went wrong? Oct 14, 2022

Show notes

Greensill Capital was a UK based finance firm and a darling of investors which made its money by lending to businesses. It went into administration in March 2021, leaving investors facing billions in losses.

What went wrong with Greensill? Why did leading politicians like former British Prime Minister David Cameron get involved?

And what does it teach us about the way modern entrepreneurs, like Australian-born Lex Greensill, try and promote themselves?

Ed Butler speaks to Duncan Mavin, a financial journalist who followed the downfall of Greensill – he’s written a book about what happened.

Presenter: Ed Butler Producer: James Graham

(Image: Lex Greensill. Credit: Shutterstock)

Will a multibillion dollar project get Americans back on trains? Oct 13, 2022

Show notes

New York’s Penn Station is the busiest transport hub in the United States - as many as 650,000 people pass through it in a day. But this intercity hub is widely agreed to be outdated and unloved.

Now there are plans to pour billions of dollars into a station facelift - in the hope it will attract Americans back to trains.

In this episode, Laura Heighton-Ginns hears from key stakeholders Amtrak and the Regional Plan Association on why they believe a major overhaul is needed.

Laura also takes a tour of the station and finds out about its much-admired predecessor - the Pennsylvania Station of the early 20th Century.

And she explores the site of the planned demolition work, which controversially includes historical buildings and a busy community church.

Presented and produced by Laura Heighton-Ginns.

(Image: Penn Station scaffolding. Credit: BBC)

Mahira Khan on Pakistan's mental health emergency Oct 12, 2022

Show notes

In this episode we explore mental health provision in Pakistan. Pakistan has a population of more than 200 million people but only around 500 working psychiatrists. This means around ninety percent of those with common mental health issues go untreated.

We hear from Mahira Kahn, a multi award winning Pakistani actress, in April this year Mahira was appointed as an Ambassador for the British Asian Trust. Mahira works with the trust to promote and support it’s current Peace of Mind campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and needs in Pakistan. Mahria tells us about her work with the trust and how her job has affected her own mental health.

We also speak to Sanaa Ahmad who is the British Asian Trust's Mental Health programme manager, and Dr Iffa who works with communities in Pakistan providing mental health treatment.

Presenter / production: Emb Hashmi Producer: Carmel O'Grady

Photo: Mahira Khan; Credit: Getty

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