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The ongoing geopolitical turmoil aside, the rise of artificial intelligence once again dominated the conversation at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. 

Almost daily now we hear stories of how AI will change our lives and many new tech companies came here to the Swiss Alps to share their innovations with the world. 

So what emerged from this year’s gathering? And what does it mean for the future of humanity?

Joining Juliet Mann on this special edition of The Agenda from Davos are Gong Yingying, founder and Chair of Chinese healthcare giant Yidu Tech, Faroz Sheikh,  Chief Information and Digital Officer at agritech firm, Syngenta, Harvey Mason Jr, CEO at the US Recording Academy, and multiple grammy-award winning tech entrepreneur, will.i.am.

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Keir Starmer has now become the first British Prime Minister to visit China in eight years. He met both President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, calling China “a vital player on a global scale” with whom the UK was seeking “a more sophisticated relationship”. 

 For his part, President Xi called on China & the UK to jointly advocate and practice “true multilateralism”.  But what does all this really tell us about UK-China relations?

On this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann is joined by Professor Jinghan Zeng, Department of Public and International Affairs at City University of Hong Kong, Professor Kerry Brown, Director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College London and Steven Lynch, Director of the British Chamber of Commerce.

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While China discussed the details of its next five year plan in Beijing – this week Juliet Mann went to Nicosia where an incredible mix of politicians, academics and broadcast experts gathered for the China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum – an event designed to consider how increasing media exchanges and cooperation can shape a better future for relations between China and Cyprus, and indeed the rest of Europe.

And as at the 4th Plenum in Beijng, technology was at the forefront of the event – especially how AI is changing the economic and media landscape.

So in this special edition of The Agenda, from the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation Headquarters in Nicosia, Juliet Mann is joined by Thanasis Tsokos, Director General of the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Liu Zhen, Vice President of Kuaishou Technology, Rita Fatiguso, China expert and former Beijing Correspondent of the Italian channel Il Sole 24 Ore,  Professor Fu Xiaoguang from the Communication University of China in Beijing, and Elli Kotziamani, Chair of the Cyprus Media Ethics Committee and Director of the News Department at the Greek network, Ant1.

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At the recent Two Sessions gathering in Beijing, Foreign Minister Qin Gang announced that China had "pressed the acceleration button" and "sounded the clarion call" for diplomacy. 
 
And the world – and especially Europe - certainly seems to have answered that call. In the past weeks Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, French President Emmanuel Macron and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have all been in Beijing to meet President Xi Jinping.

To find out what China’s re-opening post-pandemic really means for the rest of the world on this edition of The Agenda Juliet Mann speaks to Justin Vaïsse, Director General of the Paris Peace Forum, who was part of President Macron’s delegation, three time Spanish Ambassador to China, Eugenio Bregolat and – ahead of his own trip to Beijing -  Mohcine Jazouli, Morocco’s Investment Minister.

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The start of 2023 has had worrying echoes of 2008 for the global banking sector. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the US and the Credit Suisse takeover in Europe saw banking stocks plunge around the world. 

 So in this edition of The Agenda, we consider whether the world is sleepwalking into another financial crisis – or have the lessons of 2008 been learned and implemented?

 Juliet Mann speaks to Professor David Blanchflower, Economics Professor at Dartmouth College and former member of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee, and Joe Oliver, former Finance Minister of Canada.

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China’s Ambassador to the UK, Zheng Zeguang, has just been on his first visit to Belfast. He was in Northern Ireland  to talk about cooperation, communication and especially how China and the UK can work together on a cleaner, greener form of energy - hydrogen.

On this special edition of The Agenda from Queen's University, Juliet Mann speaks to Professor Cheng Yibing, Strategic Scientist at the Xianhu Lab in Foshan, And Professor David Rooney, Director of the Sustainable Energy Research Programme at Queen's about 

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AUKUS is the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK and the United States, focusing on military capability and technology including cyber, AI, hypersonic and electromagnetic warfare. It will eventually provide Australia with a fleet of up to eight nuclear powered submarines and could cost Australia up to $368bn between now and the mid-2050s.

But far from being a simple defense alliance, many, including China, Indonesia and Malaysia are far from happy with the deal, claiming it’s an attempt to exploit a loophole in global nuclear non-proliferation treaties and could destabilize the entire region. 

In this episode, Juliet Mann speaks to George Yeo, former Foreign Minister of Singapore, and Professor Peter Kuznick, Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington DC to see what AUKUS really reveals about existing geopolitical fault lines.

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Stability, development and prosperity. 

 That was the message from President Xi Jinping as China's first Two Sessions since the country opened up post-pandemic came to an end. The emphasis throughout the political meetings was very much on common prosperity, peaceful development and especially modernization. 

So in this special show, The Agenda examines China’s future – from the focus on high quality growth to enhancing its global diplomatic and peace-making efforts – and considers what impact this will have on the rest of the world as we move further into the 21st Century. 

Juliet Mann is joined by Danilo Türk, Former President of Slovenia and now Chair of the Club de Madrid and a panel of top global experts who share their insight into the future of a truly Modern China.

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Of the world’s 100 largest cities, more than a quarter are in China. In 1980, about 20% of the population lived in a city, by 2020 that had risen to more than 60%. 

Rapid urbanization has seen improved transport links and housing giving millions of people access to better healthcare, education and jobs. Poverty rates have fallen sharply, while at the same time the economy has boomed. 

So, what lessons can be learned from that? And how can the benefits of urbanization be balanced with inevitable environmental consequences?

In this episode, Juliet Mann speaks to Chris Hamnett, Professor of Geography at Kings College London, Dr Yan Song, the Director of North Carolina University’s Program on Chinese Cities and world-renowned urbanization expert, Alain Bertaud. 

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As the annual Two Sessions gatherings get underway in Beijing,  this week we consider the real extent of China’s global reach as we speak to the Presidents of two  developing nations to get their take on future cooperation. 

Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Chaves Robles and East Timor’s Jose-Ramos Horta speak to Juliet Mann about the state of relations with Beijing, and why those relationships are so vital to their nations.  We also hear their take on the future of global cooperation, and what needs to happen to ensure the vital transition to a greener future runs smoothly.

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As the world works to hit increasingly tough climate targets by the end of the decade, the need for sustainability in all business practices has never been greater
One of the company’s leading the way in one of the world’s most polluting sectors – agriculture – is fertilizer giant Yara International. On this episode of The Agenda,  the company’s CEO, Svein Tore Holsether joins Juliet Mann to  discuss how Yara is working to drive sustainability across the world.
Juliet also speaks to Stéphane Vernède, CEO & Co-founder of Enwise, an award-winning Chinese tech start-up helping in the race to net-zero by converting organic waste into clean energy.

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Over the next four weeks, 2 billion people are expected to tune in as Europe's top footballers battle it out to be crowned the champions of Europe. Euro 2020 is finally under way, after COVID-19 forced a 12-month delay and a major reorganization.

On this edition of The Agenda Podcast, Stephen Cole looks at the financial health of international football. Steven Zhang, Chairman of Inter Milan, discusses the challenges ahead for the club and for European football in general in the wake of the coronavirus [00:44]. 

Then Dan Jones, head of the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, discusses where power sits in the world of football since the failure of the proposed European Super League - do club owners ignore fan power at their peril? [09:09].

Finally, Cole is joined by Laura McAllister, former Wales women's team captain and current deputy chair of UEFA's Women's Football Committee. She tells us why the future of football could be female and looks ahead to the logistical and political issues facing next year's World Cup in Qatar [16:23].

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As governments around the world set increasingly tough environmental targets, it's becoming clear that investment from business is also going to increase. A new report from the UN Environment Programme, the World Economic Forum and the Economics of Land Degradation say that by 2030, investment in nature-based solutions are going to have to treble from the current level of $133 billion. 

This week on The Agenda podcast, Stephen Cole looks at who is likely to foot the bill to reverse climate change.

Justin Adams, director of nature-based solutions at the WEF, discusses some of the key issues highlighted in the report [00:39].

With concerns over private companies' interest in such solutions rising, so is the demand for sustainability consultants. Armen Dallakyan is the director of sustainable finance consulting at KEN Associates, and he tells Stephen Cole about the growing demand for his services [10:22].

Finally, Richard Lancaster, CEO of electricity supply company CLP Holdings, explains how a company can ensure every part of its business is fully sustainable, and why managers and investors alike are finally starting to realise sustainability is no longer something which is done just for show [16:20]. 

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The United Nations is now celebrating its 80th anniversary. Set up in the wake of the Second World War, it was designed to maintain peace across the globe, fostering friendly relations between nations.

But eight decades on, with the world a markedly different place, what does the organization need to do to maintain its position at the heart of 21st century geopolitics?

In this editon of The Agenda, Juliet Mann travels to Madrid to speak exclusively to Maria Fernanda Espinosa – who served as the President of the 73rd General Assembly – one of only five women in history to have held that position.

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The COVID-19 pandemic has, of course, had an extraordinary effect on all our lives. But for women, according to a new report, it's had a particularly devastating impact. The World Economic Forum's (WEF) annual Global Gender Gap Report shows the coronavirus has pushed back gender parity by an entire generation. In this episode of the Agenda podcast, Stephen Cole will look at when, if ever, we might finally reach true gender equality.

First on the podcast Cole talks to one of the people behind the WEF report, Till Leopold, who explains precisely how the report came to this rather shocking conclusion – and what can be done to address it [00:39]. 

According to the paper, the economic gender gap won't be closed for at least another 267 years. So why is it that in an apparently advanced society, women are still paid less than men for doing the same jobs?

To find out more Cole talks to Wanda Wyporska of The Equality Trust and Rachel Verdin, a former trade union representative and now academic at the University of Sussex Business school. They discuss some of the issues surrounding the gender pay gap and how it's been affected by COVID-19 [09:17]. 

Finally, Kate Maclean from the Centre for International Development at Northumbria University explains why female political leaders – such as New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern – have come to the fore in this time of crisis [18:10].

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The world's largest biodiversity summit was due to take place in Kunming, China on March 16 but has been postponed once again due to the global pandemic. 

In a year which has been dominated by COVID-19, Stephen Cole looks at the future of the world's flora and fauna and the fundamental connections between all life on Earth. 

The pandemic has provided an opportunity to pause for reflection and shown that protecting nature's health is essential if we are also to protect our own.

First on the podcast Stephen talks to Executive Secretary for the UN's Convention on Biodiversity Elizabeth Maruma Mrema about how to ensure the targets for 2030 yield better results [01:30]. 

Next on the podcast Stephen talks to Dimitri De Boer from Client Earth in Beijing who explains the role China has to play in the biodiversity conversation as this year's host of the 15th Conference of Parties [10:11]. 

And finally - Stephen is joined by Frederick Kumah and Jia Qiao from the African Wildlife Foundation to understand why the continent is facing unprecedented levels of extinction despite being home to a third of the world's biodiversity [15:08]. 

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Oil fueled the 20th century—its cars, its wars, its economy and its geopolitics. As the US returns to the Paris Climate accord and after President Biden pledged to halve carbon emissions  by the end of 2030, the world is speeding up the shift to a new, greener order. But what does that really mean? Will we finally say goodbye to fossil fuels? This week, The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole talks to people in "power" to see what the future of energy may look like.

First on the podcast Stephen talks to Joseph McMonigle, Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum. He tells Stephen that limited fossil fuel use could continue even with net-zero emissions [00:40]. 

As the world looks to alternative sources of energy, oil and gas companies are facing more pressure to transition and survive. Stephen asks Ulrika Wising, Global Vice President of Customer Solutions and Renewable Energy Solutions at Shell about what they are doing to help customers to de-carbonize [07:02]. 

Nuclear is considered a clean energy  - in relation to carbon -  but many people are hesitant about nuclear power or rather nuclear power plants. Dr. Jonathan Cobb from the World Nuclear Association explains that it is an energy source that's providing an enormous benefit at the moment, supplying 10 percent of electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. [11:23]. 

Finally we talk to Francesco La Camera, the director general of IRENA. He explains that last year saw the biggest ever increase in renewable energy capacity[16:23].

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Before the pandemic, tourism was growing faster than the world's economy and traveling had never been easier. Then COVID-19 brought globetrotting to a halt and left the trillion-dollar industry in tatters. 

But with rapid vaccination bringing optimism, can the sector now get back on the move? How different will the travel experience be? And which parts of the world are open for business?

First on the podcast we talk to Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission. He explains why his organization is optimistic about the European summer and why it could be make or break for the travel industry [00:36]. 

Next we talk to Angela Gerekou, president of the Greek National Tourism Organization. She tells Stephen Cole how every effort is being made to prepare and how she wants the country to be a global center of sustainable tourism by 2030 [06:50].

Another restless sector is the hotel industry. Travel restrictions wiped out more than $138bn in turnover, ending a decade of growth. Rocco Forte, chairman of the luxury chain Rocco Forte Hotels, explains how he plans to battle the ‘Zoom boom’ and bring back leisure and corporate customers [13:08].

The airline industry has far from escaped the turbulent times of the past 16 months, losing $126 billion in 2020, with a further $47 billion loss expected this year. Despite this, Bjorn Tore Larsen has founded a new airline, Norse Atlantic Airways, and explains why he's pinning his hopes and money on a great travel take-off by the end of 2021 [18:25].

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Is the world ready for electric cars on a large scale? The Agenda Podcast finds out whether Europe – and remote parts of the world – are prepared for such an accelerated change to the way we travel.

First on the podcast is Bjorn Annwall, head of Volvo's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region and newly-appointed Chief Financial Officer. He tells us how the Swedish car manufacturer plans to make electric-only vehicles by its 2030 deadline and talks about  the challenge of convincing EV-hesitant consumers [00:40].

Jaap Burger is Senior Advisor to the Regulatory Assistance Project, which works to advance the transition towards clean and reliable energy sources and explains that the rate of growth for the electric car industry is reliant on sufficient investment in infrastructure [08:37]. 

Finally we talk to Gerard Barron, the  CEO and Chairman of DeepGreen (soon to be known as The Metals Company) which recovers these metals from the ocean floor instead of on land. He believes there are enough on the seabed to power a global electric transport system [14:41].

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Since January 1, the UK has been trading under new systems agreed in the post-Brexit trade deal. So what problems have the first 100 days exposed for the UK and Europe? 

Agenda is joined by the CEO of Eurochambres, Ben Butters, and the head of international affairs for small businesses, James Sibley. They discuss the impact of Brexit on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the continent and try to dissect how much of the 40% decrease in trade across the channel is down to Brexit teething problems and how much is down to the ongoing pandemic. [00:44].

We also talk to Amelia Hadfield, head of politics at the University of Surrey, and Karel Lannoo, CEO of the Centre for European Policy Studies, about the future of the European Union [11:32].

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Questions over efficacy, blood-clot fears, threats to block exports, and its sluggish supply – the distribution of vaccines has been causing a major division across Europe, particularly between the EU and the UK. 

This week on the Agenda Podcast we look at how the two blocs have approached the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and how today's disputes could affect the vaccine procurement of tomorrow and beyond.

With France and Germany both having witnessed vaccine hesitation within their populations, we ask Pieter Cleppe, editor-in-chief of Brussels Report, about why that might be – as well as whether Brexit is to blame for a seemingly cold reception towards the UK's AstraZeneca jab [02:34]. 

We also speak to Lawrence Young, virologist and specialist in molecular oncology at the University of Warwick. He explains how damaging vaccine nationalism can be to fighting COVID-19 [10:24].  

Finally we also speak to David Henig, director of the UK Trade Policy Project. He explains what he thinks the EU must do to emerge from the vaccine setback with strength and stability going forward [12.42].

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For more than a year now, millions of people have been forced out of their offices by the pandemic to work from home. But is that a situation that's here to stay or a temporary blip – an "aberration," as Goldman Sachs boss David Solomon has put it?

The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole considers the future of work, and asks what are the real benefits and potential pitfalls of a post-pandemic return to the office?

First we talk to Kate Lister, president of Global Workplace Analytics. She explains how employers can ensure that their employees remain productive with a flexible work schedule [00:42]. 

Then Heejung Chung from the University of Kent's school of social policy, sociology and social research explains how there could be real benefits to the new working normal, especially in bridging the gender pay and opportunities gap [06:17]. 

On the downside, Yasuhiro Kotera,  academic lead in counselling, psychotherapy and psychology at the University of Derby explains why many employees have struggled with working from home and what companies can do to make things easier for their employees. He also highlights the intangible benefits of working in an office and the value for both employers and employees in heading into a designated workplace [11:34]. 

Finally we are joined by Mathieu Proust, the general manager for the UK, Ireland and emerging markets at WeWork who enthuses on how short-term leases and shared workspaces could be the way of the future [18:12]. 

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As a relatively new invention, cryptocurrencies have up to now largely escaped regulation.

But if they're ever to really cross over into the mainstream that will have to change. So what rules are actually needed? How might they be enforced? And how exactly might that shape the future of digital currencies?

Today on the Agenda Podcast, we look at what could be the future of money. First we’re joined by Laith Khalaf, financial analyst at stockbroker AJ Bell. Khalaf explains why investors should be wary of heading into cryptocurrencies [00:39].

We also speak to Zhou Yong, assistant general manager of XW Bank, who explains how China has adapted to digital currencies and why it’s well-poised to take a leading role in the cryptocurrency market [08:11].  

Finally we talk to Iwa Salami, a senior lecturer in financial law and regulation at the University of East London, and Gavin Brown, associate professor in financial technology at the University of Liverpool. They explain why governments may want to regulate the cryptocurrency and why that would be a difficult task to carry out [13:56]. 

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Apple, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft and Google – it's become nearly impossible to live in the modern world without the services of these five companies. In this episode of The Agenda Podcast, Stephen Cole looks at what sets Big Tech apart from other digital platforms and why it's now facing unprecedented levels of scrutiny and calls for regulation.

First he speaks to Stephen Scheeler, former Facebook CEO for Australia and New Zealand, who explains whether Australia's landmark media law will set a precedent for other countries hoping to force Big Tech to pay for journalism [00:55].

Also on the show is Jonathan Taplin, author of Move Fast and Break Things: How Facebook, Google, and Amazon Cornered Culture and Undermined Democracy [06:33]. Having worked with the likes of Martin Scorsese and Bob Dylan, Taplin explains the cultural impact of allowing platforms like YouTube to expand without proper regulation.

Finally Stephen speaks to two veteran tech journalists – Kate Russell and Wired magazine’s Editor-At-Large Stephen Levy – about who we can trust with our data and how to regulate Big Tech without impinging on innovation [13:08].

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Despite Donald Trump’s claim that “Europe is in serious trouble” over illegal immigration, UN data shows arrivals have actually fallen sharply. Yet migration remains one of Europe’s most divisive issues, shaping politics, fuelling populism, and driving tough new border policies.
 
 On this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann explores whether Europe’s approach to migration is working and if the continent is being fuelled by fear rather than facts with Heaven Crawley, Former Director of the Migration for Development and Equality Hub, Klaus Jurgens, Director of EconomyFirst and Dr Paolo Novak,  Senior Lecturer in Development Studies and Co-Director of Centre for Migration and Diaspora Studies at SOAS

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With global interest rates at record lows, and pandemic volatility everywhere you look, The Agenda podcast with Stephen Cole looks at the safer and more risky options for investors. 

[00:39] Moira O'Neill, head of personal finance at Interactive Investor, who explains why ethical investment is a trend that's here to stay, and which sectors we should be watching for a decent return in a post-pandemic world.

[07:14] Arturo Bris, professor of finance at Geneva's International Institute of Management Development discusses GameStop, Reddit and Robin Hood – and whether this year's David and Goliath battle between the little people and the hedge funds is likely to change the face of investment as we know it.

Of course bricks and mortar has always been something of a safe haven investment but is that still the case in 2021? Uma Rajah, CEO and co-founder of property investment firm CapitalRise, gives an insider's view [12:10]. 

What about the more alternative investment opportunities out there? Dominic Brennan, Director of Noble Rot Fine Wine explains why a good Bordeaux or a fine Burgundy are much more than just a tasty tipple [17:06].

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In the past, addicts were considered weak-willed but now the medical profession is starting to treat addiction as a disease. Also, as times change, the kinds of things we become addicted to change too, as does the number of people who fall victim to addiction.

In this episode of the Agenda podcast we look at why people become addicts and the approaches different countries and cultures have to treating addiction.  

First we talk to Alexis Goosdeel, director of the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, about the changing nature of the problem in Europe [00:00:33]. 

One of the countries the EU is working most closely with in this area is China. Explaining exactly how they're working together is Shan Yehua, acting director of the international cooperation division at China's national Narcotics Control Commission [11:26].

Erin Khar – who took her first pill aged just eight – tells her story of addiction, what her life was like before, during and after her 15-year addiction to heroin [15:52].

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One in 18 people around the world now owns their own business, and experts predict that far from proving a hindrance, the current COVID-19 pandemic will actually be a help to millions more who may be using lockdown to perfect their potentially billion-dollar business ideas.

On this episode of The Agenda podcast, Stephen Cole talks to Dan Vahdat, Founder and CEO of Huma – an A.I. business designed to democratize healthcare – about how he came up with his idea and how the pandemic has transformed his operation [00:47].

We also hear from Deborah Meaden, entrepreneur and one of the "dragons" on the British TV show Dragons' Den, on which millionaires look to invest in the next generation of entrepreneurs [07:08].

Scott Omelianuk – the Editor-in-Chief of Inc., a magazine designed to inspire current and future magnates – describes himself as an "underachieving entrepreneur” [12:16]. 

Finally, we attempt to answer the age-old question of whether a true entrepreneur is born or made. Shaheena Janjuha-Jivraj, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurial Leadership at Henley Business School explains just how we can all learn to be a business tycoon [17:13].

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Are vaccines interchangeable? Who should get priority? If your parents received the vaccine can you visit them? 

In this episode of The Agenda podcast, Stephen Cole puts some of the most prominent queries and concerns from listeners to Jerome Kim, director general of the International Vaccine Institute.  

Stephen also talks to Jane Williams, doctor of Public Health Ethics at the University of Sydney's Center for Values, Ethics and the Law, who explains the various strategies and tough decisions countries face – especially if there is a vaccine shortage.

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It's virus versus vaccines... but which countries are leading the fight? If vaccine nationalism can be overcome, what other obstacles are there in the vaccine supply chain? How concerned should we be about new variants? 

To discuss vaccine nationalism and the risk it could pose to global progress, we speak to  Siddhartha Datta, regional adviser for Europe at the World Health Organization (WHO) [00:51].

We’re also joined by Chen Jian, former adjunct professor of finance at Johns Hopkins University. He explains his work in the medical sector and creating a model for COVID-19 forecasting [05:22]. 

Israel's health ministry is now offering coronavirus vaccines to anyone aged above 16, as the country continues to impress the world with its rapid vaccination campaign. To learn more about this, we speak to Nathan Jeffay, health correspondent for The Times of Israel, who says the country's health system has been a major factor in the pace of its roll-out. [11:20].

And a warning that millions of doses could be spoiled during transportation has heated up the cold chain conversation. The WHO fears vaccine vulnerability in terms of temperature requirements could mean up to 50 percent of vaccines being ruined during transport. 

Thermal stability researcher Asel Sartbaeva from the University of Bath discusses the problem this poses to the global inoculation effort and explains why her team believes silica could be the answer [16:03]. 

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This year, the world's space superpowers are set to launch brand new lunar missions. This week on the Agenda podcast we set our sights on space, and see what the future of space exploration might look like. First on the podcast we’re joined by Xu Yansong, the Director for International Cooperation in the China National Space Administration [01:41] He explains what China’s ambitions are in space.  

We also speak to veteran space journalist Leonard David about the first phase of NASA's new mission, Artemis 1, which begins this year [04:06]. He explains why countries and private enterprises are interested in the moon again and what the United States stands to gain from going back after almost 40 years. 

But what about Europe? Bernhard Hufenbach, Lead of Commercialization and Innovation Team at ESA explains which sort of industries are going to thrive in a lunar economy [08:38]. He also explains how what we’re doing in space can benefit us here on earth [10:26]. 

Finally we talk to space journalist Sarah Cruddas and the director of the UK national space academy Anu Ohja [11:31]. They explain why studying the moon can give us more insight into our own planet and why the renewed interest in space is important for Earth’s future. 

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With Donald Trump out of the White House, attention now shifts to how Europe and the United States continue their relationship.  

But just because there's a new man in the White House, does that mean all wounds are healed, and that both sides are ready to work together to create a new world order? Or will Europe, now it's had a taste of true transatlantic independence, be ready to tread its own path going forward? 

On this edition of the Agenda podcast with Stephen Cole we speak to Allie Renison, the Institute of Directors’ head of Europe and trade policy, and former Italian Treasury chief economist Lorenzo Codogno. They warn that while the style of the Biden White House may be very different from that under Trump, the substance may not actually be that different when it comes to dealing with Europe. 

We also talk to Michael O'Hanlon, director of foreign policy research at Brookings Institution, to discuss the future of European defence and NATO [14:23]. 

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The number of obese people in the world has tripled in the past 50 years – costing health services across the globe trillions of dollars. 

Recent research shows people who are obese are twice as likely as those of a healthy weight to be hospitalized with COVID-19. They are also 78% more likely to end up in intensive care and 50% more likely to die from the virus.

We speak to Barry Popkin, professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, who explains why COVID-19 is more dangerous to people if they are obese and what the scientists can do to address the issue [03:32]. 

We also chat to Jane Ogden, professor of health psychology at the University of Surrey. She explains how genetics, society and changing work practices contribute to obesity and what can be done to reverse people’s expanding waistlines.  [09:21]. 

Finally, we talk to Morag Dunbar, who recently shed 50kg, much of it during lockdown. She explains why she started to overeat, what made her stop and what’s behind her rapid and impressive weight loss. [15:17]. 

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2020 will go down as one of the most extraordinary years on record. The COVID-19 pandemic, as unexpected as it was all-encompassing, changed all our lives, perhaps forever.  On this special podcast, we'll hear the views of some of the world's top experts on what we can expect from 2021 and how the world will be dealing with the fallout from 2021. 

Economy 

First on the podcast we speak to former head of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, Jim O'Neill. He tells us why he expects a significant bounce back in the economy [00:46]. We also talk to Li Wei, director of China Economy at Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business. He explains why he thinks China will reach its target of 8 percent GDP growth in its COVID-19 recovery [02:57]. 

WHO

The World Health Organization has rarely, if ever, dominated the headlines as much as it did in 2020, in charge of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic. To examine how the WHO will deal with the pandemic in 2021 we speak to spokesperson Margaret Harris. She explains what the WHO has learned from the COVID-19 outbreak and how they will apply those lessons in the future [05:41]. 

The Environment

In October, COP 26, the UN's delayed climate change conference will take place in Glasgow. And in May, delegates will gather in Kunming in China for COP 15, the Convention on Biological Diversity. We speak to Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the person in charge of COP 15. Mrema tells us why businesses have a vested interest in focusing on biodiversity and supporting local indegenous communities [08:49]. 

We also speak to Manuel Pulgar-Vidal [10:09] former Peruvian environment minister and now climate and energy global practice leader at the Worldwide Fund for Nature, as well as Tasneem Essop [13:25] executive director of Climate Action Network. 

Travel

There were few industries that were hit harder in 2020 than aviation as passenger demand fell by more than half. Hundreds of billions of dollars of revenue were lost and tens of thousands of jobs disappeared across the industry. To find out more we speak to Alexandre de Juniac CEO of the International Air Transport Association [16:57] as well as Simon Calder [19:16], the senior travel editor of the Independent newspaper. 

Sports

2020 was a bad year for sports as the Olympic Games and football’s European Championships were both postponed. To discuss how the sporting calendar will respond to the challenge of COVID-19 we speak to double Olympic gold medalist and president of world athletics, Lord Sebastian Coe. [21:39]. 

Astrology

Finally we talk to astrologer Susan Miller [26:02] who gives us her own little insight into what 2021 has in store for us. 

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[00:00:11] Britain has left the European Union, the transition period is over, a new deal has been done. But just what does the future hold for relations between the UK and the EU? Today on the Agenda podcast we look at the deal struck between the EU and Britain and what we can expect in the future. 

To discuss this further we’re joined by Pieter Cleppe, policy analyst at Open Europe in Brussels, and Amelia Hadfield, head of politics and the director of the Center for Britain and Europe at the University of Surrey. 

Hadfield explains why the concept of a “level-playing field” between Britain and the EU, became such a contentious issue and what it means for both sides [04:28]. She also clarifies what the deal covers and why we could be in for more tense negotiations again in March. 

Cleppe explains that historically the UK has taken on a role of slowing down further centralization of power in the EU so which countries might fulfill that role in its absence? [13:48]. He also tells us what he thinks the EU should take away from the UK leaving the EU and what lessons can be learned in the aftermath of Brexit [21.38]. 

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The rise of AI is set to send the semiconductor industry skyrocketing to a value of over $1 trillion by 2030. But as the market expands, so too does the battle for global control. 

So who's really leading the way? Just where do chips fit in to the current global trade tensions? And is the race to sign up a new generation of tech talent the next vital battleground?
 

On this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to Dr Steven Hai, Assistant Professor in Tech-Innovations at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University & Affiliate Fellow at King's Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Malcolm Penn, founder and CEO of Future Horizons and Christopher Thomas, Chairman of Integrated Insights.

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This year the United Nations released a devastating report revealing how the world failed to meet a single one of the 20 Aichi biodiversity targets agreed in Japan in 2010. Some of these goals included harvesting fish sustainably, improving the conservation status of endangered species and minimizing the impact on coral reefs.

This week on the Agenda Podcast we look at why these goals weren’t met and what will happen if we don’t get serious about promoting biodiversity. First on the podcast we have Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biodiversity. Mrema explains why attitudes toward biodiversity are different in developing countries compared to richer nations [05:05].  

We also speak to Wu Changhua, CEO of Beijing's Future Innovation Center. She explains the responsibilities that come with hosting next year's biodiversity conference (COP15) in Kunming . Wu explains what China’s role is on the global stage when it comes to promoting biodiversity and leading the way on environmental protection [09:25]. 

Finally we talk to Thomas Crowther, the Chief Scientific Advisor to the UN's Trillion Tree Campaign. He explains why this ambitious target is one worth striving for [14:24].

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As the world's population continues to expand, and climate change bites harder across the globe, access to water has never been a bigger issue.  Today on the Agenda Podcast, we look at how access to water has become a vital issue in many countries around the world. 

First on the podcast we speak to Piers Clark, the founder & Chair of Isle Utilities. Clark explains why climate  change is making it difficult for us to hold on to rain water and why this contributes to water shortages and restrictions [03:45].

We also speak to Adam Loch from the Centre for Global Food & Resources at the University of Adelaide. He explains why water theft has become an issue and who it hurts the most [06:48].  Loch also goes into depth about what water theft looks like and why it’s important to address it especially against the backdrop of climate change [09:44]. 

Finally we talk to Konstantina Toli, Senior Programme Officer at Global Water Partnership-Mediterranean -  an organisation focusing on water security. She tells us why education is important when trying to make sure individuals and institutions have a healthy attitude toward water conservation [13:57]. 

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This year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union. On this episode of the Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole, we sit down for an exclusive interview with Zhang Ming – China's Ambassador to the European Union. 

Zhang gives an in-depth explanation of the level of cooperation between China and the EU when it comes to creating and sharing a Covid-19 vaccine. The ambassador also explains why he thinks certain groups are trying to score political points by making an unfair connection between China and the Covid-19 pandemic.  

The discussion then moves to the economic relationship between the EU and China. What areas can we expect to see economic growth between the two regions? The ambassador explains why China’s domestic market remains an important part of its “development paradigm”.  Zhang also outlines how China hopes to address climate change by focusing on green technology and green finance. 

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Today on the Agenda Podcast we talk to Frederick Forsyth, acclaimed author of espionage thrillers like The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File and The Fourth Protocol. We ask him about how the genre has changed since he first started writing and where he sees it going in the future. 

Forsyth explains how he started writing spy fiction and what he did differently compared to his peers [04:16]. He tells us why technology has changed the genre forever and how he would write a spy novel in 2020 [08:19]. Forsythe also explains some of the insights he had that helped make his work unique [10:21]. 

James Bond remains the most famous spy in the world, but modern viewers have had to square his glamorous adventures with accusations of racism and sexism perpetrated by Agent 007. To understand this better, Stephen spoke to Penny Fielding, Edinburgh University professor and organizer of Edinburgh's Spy Week, and to Monica Germana, author of the book Bond Girls: Body, Fashion and Gender. 

Fielding explains that while the legend of Bond is extremely exaggerated and hyper masculine, the author Ian Fleming saw his books as more realistic and grounded in reality [16:34]. Germana talks to us about Bond girls in the age of MeToo and how spy fiction has treated women in general. She explains what she thinks about calls to have a female James Bond [19:34].  

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As technology races ahead, the future of war is uncertain. On this episode of The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole, we consider what the future of war could look like. Has technology rendered boots on the ground irrelevant? What will be the new theater of war? What weapons will we be using? For the answers to these questions and more we speak to Lawrence Freedman, emeritus professor of war studies at King's College London. He explains why cyber attacks are likely to play an increasing role in future conflicts [00:56].  

We also speak to former BBC war correspondent Martin Bell. He tells us that war has been “completely transformed” since he was a soldier, with technology at the forefront of those changes[06:35]. He also explains why he thinks future winners will be those who have the “superior scientists”. [08:59]. 

Finally, Stephen talks to Alexandra Sickings, research fellow in space policy and security at the Royal United Services Institute, who explains what could lead to confrontation in space and what lawmakers need to do to address it [16:51].

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In this episode we’ll be looking at the future of news, including the challenges facing the industry and how the way we get our information is changing. First on the podcast we talk to David Boardman, former editor at The Seattle Times and dean of Temple University in Philadelphia. He explains how newsrooms are trying to combat fake news in increasingly fractious times. He also explains why “solutions journalism” is valuable and outlines how it can positively impact society [04:11].  

We also speak to Richard Sambrook, former BBC executive and director of Cardiff University’s journalism center. He’s joined by strategic advisor and digital disruption expert  Lucy Küng.  Sambrook and Küng outline the major issues facing legacy news organizations, including how to get an audience to pay for news that it can easily find for free [10:05]. Other topics include journalism training, issues of trust in news organizations and the shifting demographics of news consumers. 

Finally we’re joined by Rolf Dobelli, the founder of non-profit foundation World Minds and the author of The Art of Thinking Clearly. He explains how he doesn’t consume any daily news but still manages to stay “informed”[18:58]. Dobelli also gives advice to young journalists in terms of how they can make meaningful contributions to the news discourse and what they should focus on when starting their careers [20:28]. 

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This week we look at how scientists have fared in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine.

We speak to Helen Yang, senior director of global strategy and business development at Sinovac Biotech. She tells us how her company has been fighting the coronavirus. Yang explains why it's been difficult to trial a vaccine in China and why her company has been testing them in Brazil, Turkey and Indonesia instead [02:20]. 

We also speak to Paul Offit, head of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Offit outlines the timeline attached to finding a new vaccine and explains why we shouldn’t be concerned if there are temporary setbacks in testing [09:00]. 

Finally, we are joined by Jerome Kim, director-general of the International Vaccines Institute in Seoul. He spoke to us earlier in March, and he was optimistic about the chances of finding a cure for COVID-19. Find out if he still remains hopeful [15:01]. 

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For many, COVID-19 will change the way we look at work forever. This week on The Agenda podcast with Stephen Cole we look at how the pandemic has changed where we work and also where we live. 

First on the podcast we speak to Carlos Moreno, professor at the Sorbonne and scientific advisor to the Mayor of Paris. He is a driving force behind the concept of the 15-minute city: a city where you can live, work and play all within a 15-minute walk. 

He tells us why this concept could change the way planners look at designing cities [02:00]. He also explains why this concept has taken so long to introduce and what needs to happen on a planning level in order to make it a reality [05:19].

Across Europe, and especially in Britain, out-of-town countryside homes are suddenly selling at a premium, as working from home means you no longer need to worry about how long it takes to commute to the office.

We spoke to Anna White, the lead property writer for London's Evening Standard newspaper, who tells us why life outside the city could be the answer for millions post-pandemic.  She explains why Britain is in a “micro-boom” in terms of real-estate prices and why it won’t last [10:56]. She also predicts a regeneration of the British high street as people become tired of working from home in the long term [13:20]. 

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The video game sector is now the biggest entertainment industry in the world. There are an estimated two and a half billion players worldwide. And it’s not just the social impact - there’s a lot of money to be made too. In fact, the global gaming market is worth 10 times as much as the film or music industry.

At the end of last year, one of the world’s most popular games, Fortnite, brought in revenues of $1.8 billion while the world of eSports generated over $1.1 billion globally – a figure that’s expected to rise by at least 50% next year.

First on this episode, we have Richard Garriott – a man who has been described as one of the Founding Fathers of Role-Playing Games [01:12]. 

We also speak to  Leo Lin, head of China for Riot Games, about the hugely successful League of Legends and its rise through eSports. He explains why the game has been so successful in China and how he sees the gaming technology as a whole developing  worldwide. 

Finally we talk to Tina Amini, the editor-in-chief at IGN, about whether she thinks Microsoft's Xbox Series X or Sony's PlayStation 5 will win the next-generation console wars. Amini explains how Microsoft and Sony have been approaching their new generation of gaming consoles and what we can expect from these companies in the future. 

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The latest predictions suggest that without a complete step change in our relationship with plastics, by 2050 there will be more of it in our oceans than there are fish. 

First on this episode of the Agenda podcast, we talk to Costas Velis from Leeds University. Velis is one of the lead investigators on a report that shows how we can cut the amount of plastic flowing into our oceans [00:53]. 

We also talk to David Katz, the CEO of The Plastic Bank who explains why the key to keeping plastic out of our oceans may be a new approach to making recycling pay - especially in the developing world. [07:14]. 

Finally we talk to Emily Pann, co-founder of anti-microplastics group eXXpedition and the website SHIFT. Pann explains what inspired her to start her organization and what each one of us can do to start addressing our dependence on plastic [12:03]. 

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As populations age and birth rates fall, the so-called silver economy is becoming one of the biggest forces shaping our future.
 
On this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann asks whether longer lives will bankrupt the global economy or spark a new era of growth. From Europe’s pension protests to China’s booming elder-care market, retirement no longer looks the way it used to and governments are scrambling to adapt.

Joining Juliet to discuss the risks and opportunities  Du Peng, Dean of the School of Population and Health at Renmin University, Nicholas Barr, Professor of Public Economics at the London School of Economics, and Haleh Nazeri, Longevity Economy Lead at the World Economic Forum.

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 At a virtual summit on 14 September leaders from China and the European Union gathered online to consider the future of the relationship between China and the EU. 

Xi Jinping, Angela Merkel, Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel had their own points to make – the Chinese president calling for commitment to peaceful coexistence and multilateralism, and the EU making it clear they were looking for a more balanced relationship. On this episode of the Agenda podcast, we talk to experts who can shed light on the relationship between China and the EU and what this summit means for both sides. 

First on the podcast we talk to Lin Goethals, program director at the European Institute for Asian Studies in Brussels, and Wang Yiwei, director at the Center for European Studies at Renmin University. Both experts tell us what they noticed at the summit and what we can expect from this complex georelationship [01:18]. 

We also talk to Bernard Dewit, chairman of the Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He explains why companies keep trying to do business in China despite a perception that it is a difficult market to crack [05:31]

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International students make up a significant proportion of the intake at many of the world’s top universities, and an even more significant amount of their income.This week on the podcast we look at international university students, and how they will have to adapt to a post COVID-19 world.

First on the podcast we speak to Vivienne Sterne, the director of Universities UK International, the umbrella group that represents all UK universities. Vivienne tells us why international students are vital for UK universities and how they will cope with the pandemic [02:03]. 

We also talk to 19-year old Wang Yuetong, from Xi’an in China’s Shaanxi province. She has already spent a year in the UK and is due to begin her first year at Sheffield University this  autumn. Yuetong explains why she chose to come to the UK to study abroad and how the pandemic has interrupted her plans [08:12]. She also tells us about what universities have been doing post Covid-19 to make life easier for students [11:01]. 

Finally we talk to Graham Virgo, Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at Cambridge. He tells us how his university has been coping with the pandemic and what they plan on doing to make life easier for students [11:33]. He also explains why Chinese students are particularly important for the university and what they are doing to try and accommodate those students [15:30]. 

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This week on the podcast we examine what a post-COVID-19, nature-forward global economy might look like, and most importantly, what it might be worth. 

First on the podcast we have Akanksha Khatri, the head of the World Economic Forum’s Nature Action Agenda. She’s one of the authors of a recent WEF report suggesting a greener approach by governments and industries. Akanksha explains why we shouldn’t go back to business as usual once the pandemic is over [01:00]. 

We also spoke to Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme. She tells us what the United Nations is doing to make the most of the current opportunity, and why she thinks businesses are balancing using nature as an asset while understanding that we can’t abuse it in an effort to drive growth [07:05].

Finally we talk to Jason Hickel, economic anthropologist and visiting senior fellow at the International Inequalities Institute of the London School of Economics. He explains why a green future for the planet is incompatible with economic growth unless there is a complete overhaul in the way we manage our economies and we make the most of green technology.