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The curtain has now come down on the COP29 climate summit in Baku. And while a trillion dollar deal for climate financing was done at the last minute, some campaigners have called it a betrayal - as much of that figure will have to come from private financing or new sources which have yet to be agreed.
 
 To consider where the meeting really leaves us, and our planet, on this edition of The Agenda podcast, Juliet Mann speaks to Jeremy Rifkin, Author of many books including "Planet Aqua: Rethinking Our Home in the Universe", Christine Loh, Chief Development Strategist at Institute for the Environment at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Jacopo Bencini from the Florence School of Transnational Governance and Michael Wilkins, Executive Director and  Professor of Practice at the Centre For Climate Finance And Investment at Imperial College London.

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In 1944 delegates from 44 countries gathered in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire in the United States to agree on a system of economic order and global cooperation. Eighty years later, the seeds sown there for the likes of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank still dominate the world. 
 
But with the rise of countries like China and the rest of the global south, many think it's time for a substantial rethink of those Bretton Woods institutions, especially in the wake of the recent meetings of APEC, G20 and COP29.

In this special edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann gets the opinions of Professor Marc Uzan, Executive Director and Founder of the Reinventing Bretton Woods Committee.

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The Farnborough International Air Show is one of the world’s largest. Hundreds of thousands of people descend for the week to examine the very latest technology the aviation industry has to offer.

But this year, things were a little different, with much of the talk focused on supply chain issues and the ongoing woes of industry titan Boeing – which made a big statement by deciding not to take part in any aerial displays at this years event.

To take the true temperature of the sector, on this edition of The Agenda Juliet Mann heads to Farnborough to talk to Matteo Peraldo, Aviation Expert at AlixPartners and Sebastian Borel, Chief Commercial Officer at Lilium, a company hoping to revolutionize short-haul travel with its all electric vertical take off and landing plane.

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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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 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. 

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This week we examine whether the world's high streets can recover from the COVID-19 lockdown.

The pandemic has been a disaster for many retailers across Europe, with shops forced to shut during nationwide lockdowns and then having to spend money on implementing drastic safety measures prior to reopening their doors.

With public confidence still low and unemployment rising, the retail sector is likely to suffer for at least the foreseeable future. Many more shops are expected to be forced to shut down in the months ahead. 

Joining Stephen Cole is brand expert Mark Pilkington, trend forecaster Joe McDonnell and fashion journalist Dana Thomas to discuss if the traditional bricks-and-mortar shopping experience has changed forever.

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The global alcoholic drinks industry has an estimated value of more than $1.4bn and is
growing by two percent every year.

This week, The Agenda with Stephen Cole is raising a glass to its success by looking at the latest trends with a cocktail of guests. He also considers how drinking habits may have changed since the coronavirus pandemic.

First on the podcast today we are joined by Olly Wehring, Drinks Editor from Global Data, who explains how the drinks industry has responded to the pandemic [00:56]. 

He reveals how drinks trends have been changing in the industry and why it fits in with some of the trends that he’d noticed before the lockdown [04:36].

Also on the podcast are Justin and Anna Matterson, a couple distilling gin in southern France. They reveal why they chose to make gin in one of the wine capitals of the world [09:01]. Finally, we look to China to find out how Chinese wine has been growing in stature
all around the world [13:10].

 Janet Z Wang explains why she thinks we’re in the middle of a Chinese wine renaissance and what we can expect from the Chinese wine industry in the
next few years [14:00].

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When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the multibillion-dollar performing arts industry was forced to shut down almost overnight. Theatre, concert halls and comedy clubs suddenly went dark. So what does the future hold for the sector? As some venues start to reopen, what exactly is the theatrical experience going to look like in a socially distanced world?

First on the podcast we have Ignacio García-Belenguer, director general of Madrid's Teatro Real opera house. He tells us how his theatre has dealt with the uncertainty of COVID-19 and how they have found new ways to reach their audience [03:31].

We also talk to Edinburgh International Festival director Fergus Linehan, who explains how one of the world’s biggest arts festivals is coping with COVID-19 [07.00]. He tells us exactly how much revenue has disappeared and how the festival is trying to chart a course through the pandemic. 

Finally we talk to award-winning actor, director and writer Simon Callow. Simon explains why he is trying to be optimistic for the performing arts in dealing with the pandemic [12:58]. He also explains why he believes that the theatre addresses an intrinsic human need, and why it’s important to support the theatre and the performing arts [17:24]. 

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In this special edition of The Agenda podcast, Stephen Cole talks to Russia’s ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin. In an exclusive interview, he discusses the global pandemic and relations between the U.S. and the UK.  

Kelin also discusses relations between the U.S. and Russia and why he thinks that the diplomatic relationship between the two countries has started to decay [6:14]. He says that while Brexit will “not seriously” affect Russia’s relationship with the UK, Russia is observing a tendency for UK policy to be linked to that of the U.S. as opposed to being linked with the EU [10:02]. 

For the full interview, and more content from the Agenda with Stephen Cole, visit https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-08-09/A-view-from-Russia-with-Ambassador-Andrei-Kelin-The-Agenda-in-full-SLRQS7ZyXC/index.html

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Reform resolution was the key message from the recent Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee. More than 300 reform measures were announced, from deepening reform itself to expanding opening up, promoting high quality innovation at home to making China a first-class business environment for foreign investors.

The Third Plenum set out an expansive and inclusive plan for the future. It is, as Han Wenxiu,  Executive Deputy Director of the Office of the Central Financial and Economic Affairs Commission put it – "a significant opportunity for the world."

So, on this special programme - Shaping the Future, Juliet Mann speaks to experts from across the globe to get their take on the economic, technological and geopolitical advances envisioned at the Third Plenum. She’s joined by Alfred Schipke, Director of the East Asian Institute and Professor of the Practice of International Finance at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, Markus Hermann Chen, Co-Founder and Managing Director of China Macro Group, Michele Geraci, , Visiting Professor of Finance and Economics at New York University Shanghai and Former Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, Thorsten Jelinek, senior fellow and Europe director at the Taihe Institute, Erik Baark, Professor Emeritus at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and Vuk Jeremič, Former Foreign Minister of Serbia and Former President of the UN General Assembly.

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As the UK’s long divorce from the EU continues, food and farming remain two of the most important sticking points for negotiators on both sides. On the latest Agenda Podcast, we look at how Brexit could change attitudes to fishing and farming for Britain and for the rest of Europe. 

First on the podcast, I talk to Nick von Westenholz, director of EU Exit and International Trade at Britain's National Farmers Union. He’s joined by Philip Clarke, executive editor of industry news magazine and website Farmers Weekly. Von Westenholtz explains to us where UK farming is in terms of becoming self-sufficient [01:20]. While Clarke tells us why UK farmers won’t necessarily have less red tape to deal with now Britain has left the EU [04:34]. 

We also speak to Marcel van der Vliet, president of CELCAA, the voice of European traders in agri-food commodities. He explains why a no-deal Brexit could destabilize the food-supply chain in the UK and in Europe [11:20].

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There are currently more than 30 armed conflicts across the planet. Syria and Yemen grab global headlines, while others, like those in Paraguay and Mozambique, continue unnoticed. This week on The Agenda podcast, we hear how Northern Ireland is resolving differences and how one person in South Africa achieved forgiveness. 

John Alderdice played a key role in the Good Friday agreement which brought peace to Northern Ireland after decades of sectarian violence. He explains the three things he believes make up all armed conflicts [04:45] and proposes how two sides in conflict can achieve peace, and more crucially, how they can maintain it [06:46]. 

In our second story we talk to Candice Mama, the author of Forgiveness Redefined. She tells us how she forgive her father’s killer - an Apartheid-era assassin in South Africa. [11:03]. 

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Of all the sectors most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline industry might have had it the hardest. The head of the IATA,  the industry's trade body, has described the pandemic as the gravest crisis aviation has ever faced.

Today we talk to Akbar Al Baker, the CEO of Qatar Airways. He explains to Stephen how he thinks the airline industry as a whole will operate in the future. 

In an exclusive interview with the Agenda Podcast Al Baker explains to us why he thinks social distancing won’t work on airplanes and what his airline is doing to make sure that passengers will be able to travel safely in a post Covid-19 world [06:01].  

Al Baker also tells us about the personal toll the crisis has taken on him, and how he sees his role of CEO during this uncertain time for the aviation industry [11:22]. 

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Today on the podcast we look at how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted the poorest around the world and what those in power can do to address the situation. Economic growth, diversification and sustainable development have all contributed to a fall in the number of people living in poverty over the past 20 years. 

That progress could be wiped out in a matter of months as the International Monetary Fund predicts a 4.9 percent reduction in the global economy following the COVID-19 crisis. To find out more I speak to Oxford University's Dr Juan Palomino who explains why those in poorer paid jobs will struggle most due to Covid-19. He explains to us which essential occupations are more likely to struggle during the pandemic [02:44]. He also tells us which countries in Europe are likely to struggle most due to the pandemic [04:01]. 

We also spoke to UNICEF's David Stewart who tells us that children are twice as likely to be forced into poverty from COVID-19 compared to adults. He also tells us what UNICEF is doing in order to help prevent children falling into poverty [08:57].  

Finally we also talk to Li Yong, deputy chair of the Expert Committee of China Association of International Trade. He  explains why China is still targeting poverty reduction despite an unprecedented international crisis. Li explains how China managed to uplift millions out of poverty, but must now focus on stopping them from falling back into poverty [13:08]. 

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The killing of George Floyd in the United States earlier this year, has put the issue of racism and prejudice back in the headlines. There has been an outpouring of rage and protests around the globe, as many tried to come to terms with racism on a personal and an institutional level. Today on the podcast we look at prejudice and why and how human beings discriminate against each other. We also look at what we as a society  can do to address that. 

As statues of slave owners are being torn down all across the world, on today’s episode we want to know if this is the most effective way to tackle racism and address the wrongs of our past. I spoke to political activist Chumani Maxwele and Heriot-Watt University's Sir Geoff Palmer to find out more. Sir Geoff tells us about the injustices he had to face living in Britain and brings home the weight of the problem in the UK [01:55]. 

Chumani Maxwele is a part of the Rhodes Must Fall movement, who are responsible for bringing down the statue of 19th century colonialist Cecil John Rhodes at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.  The two men passionately debate the merits of taking down statues and the effectiveness of removing statutes of slave owners in an attempt to address systemic racism in society [04:02]

We also speak to Mary Kite, co-author of the key university textbook The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination who tells us about the psochological origins of prejudice and what we can do to try and address it on a personal level [12:07]. 

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Covid-19 has taken the attention away from one of the most seismic shifts in European politics in recent memory  - Britain’s prolonged withdrawal from the European Union. 

Some might think the process was done and dusted on Brexit Day earlier this year, but the truth is that there is still a long way to go in determining what the UK/EU relationship will look like in the future. 

Speaking to guests ahead of the June 30 deadline we found out what is still at stake for Britain and Europe. Political Scientist Sir John Curtice looks behind the politics at how the people of Britain now feel about Brexit.  Curtice explains what the polling data suggests about attitudes toward Brexit and Brexit negotiations [02:29]. Curtice also tells us why some of the doubts about Boris Johnson’s handling of the coronavirus crisis has also extended to how well his government will be able to negotiate Brexit [05:03]. 

We are also joined by Terry Reintke, MEP and founder of the EU-UK Friendship group. Terry explains to us why she feels the UK government is not ready to negotiate on the really difficult paths of a potential future agreement [09:09]. We also talk about the role that Germany might have to play in assisting other European economies in a post Covid-19 world [12:22].

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So far, Africa appears to have been spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The virus is certainly spreading more slowly across the continent than elsewhere in the world. On this week’s Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we examine exactly why that might be, as well as considering what the economic effect will be on a continent where trade has been increasing and poverty falling for the past decade.

First on the podcast we talk to the World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, who says the continent’s case numbers are under-reported.

She also takes us through the timeline of Africa’s response to the crisis and explains why the virus hasn’t moved as quickly there as it did in other parts of the world [03:20]. And we learn why it's important to understand the other priorities African countries have at the moment, as they address them alongside the coronavirus [06.39]. 

Stephen also talks to Dirk Willem te Velde from the Overseas Development Institute, who explains the economic impact of COVID-19 on sub-Saharan Africa – and what richer countries such as the UK, U.S. and China should be doing to help [14:55]. Te Velde also tells us why development gains could disappear after a long period of economic growth across the continent [17:32]. 

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As the COVID-19 pandemic rolls on, many around the world are still stuck indoors practicing social distancing. And while this may keep us safe from the virus, it can have a tremendous strain on our mental health and wellbeing. Today on the Agenda Podcast, we examine how the coronavirus has affected our hopes, fears and lockdown dreams.  

One of the UK's most renowned anthropologists, University of Oxford professor Robin Dunbar, explains how understanding behavioral science can help slow the spread of the virus and why we need to maintain social bonds in lockdown to prevent our social connections “decaying[03:00].” 

We’re also joined by Dylan Selterman who explains why so many people have recently reported strange dreams – and what this says about their mental health. He explains how our dreams can illuminate issues in our everyday lives and what they tell us about who we are [09:23]. Selterman also explains how our dreams are trying to help us navigate the post-COVID-19 world [10:26]. 

On the positive side, we could be entering one of the most creative periods in human history.  According to Sandi Mann, author of The Upside of Downtime, the pandemic lockdown might lead to a creative renaissance – explaining how experiments she’s conducted in conditions resembling the current lockdown led to an increase in subjects’ problem-solving abilities [14:44]. 

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In a bid to avoid filing for bankruptcy, airlines are practically racing to make sure their planes are pandemic-proof. Today on the Agenda Podcast we find out how airlines will function in a post-COVID-19 age. 

Our first guest is Toppi Manner, the CEO of Finnish Airline Finnair. I asked him how his airline is charting a course through one of the most difficult periods in the history of his industry. Manner is confident that his airline will survive an aviation crisis that he describes as bird-flu, SARS and the financial crisis rolled into one [01:18]. He also explains how his airline has tried to adapt to Covid-19 and how flying might look different as we chart a course out of the pandemic [03:41]. 

Our second guest is John Strickland,  who has over 30 years' experience working in the aviation industry. He says the airlines have no choice but to rethink their business models if they want to stay relevant in a post Covid-19 world. He also says that airlines using social distancing on planes is “not ideal” and would necessarily not be economically viable [10:20]. John also explains why we will more than likely see further consolidation of the airline industry, especially in Europe, where he predicts several airlines will disappear [14:10]

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On The Agenda Podcast this week, Stephen Cole is joined by China's Ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming, to discuss China's position on the world stage in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 

In his interview with Stephen Cole, Ambassador Liu touches on a variety of topics. Ambassador Liu talks about trade, the unrest in Hong Kong and why it is not yet the time for an investigation into the COVID-19 outbreak. 

Ambassador Liu explains why we are still in the golden era of cooperation between China and Britain [2:00]. Liu also explains why those critical of Britain’s relationship with China share a “minority view”. The ambassador also takes a stern stance against those who remain critical of the  “one country, two systems” policy in Hong Kong, especially those in the western countries who attempt  to undermine China’s position on the matter [07:27]. 

Liu also talks about the pandemic and the negative impact that Covid-19 has had on the global economy. He also explains why this pandemic is potentially more damaging to global business interest than the recession of 2008 [10:35]. 

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No sooner has the the Euros Football finished in Germany, than in just a few days  the Paris Olympics will begin with the largest opening ceremony in history. 

So with thousands of athletes and millions of spectators spending the summer in Europe - and alongside promises from both events they’ll be the most sustainable ever, this week on The Agenda, Juliet Mann looks at just how green global sport really is.

She’s joined by Marie Sallois, Corporate and Sustainable Development Director of the  International Olympic Committee and Dr Martin Cames from the Öko-Institut, who was a co-author of the UEFA feasibility study into how to minimise Euro 2024’s environmental impact. 

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Economists around the world are being kept awake at night by the financial implications of COVID-19. Public debt in emerging markets has surged to levels not seen in 50 years and many countries are having to take on more and more debt in an effort to control the pandemic. Today on the Agenda Podcast we look at  possible solutions. To get a broader understanding of the Covid-19 debt issue Stephen spoke to international sovereign debt advisor Lee Bucheit. 

Lee explains why the current debt situation is “unprecedented” and why what we’re seeing now is the “bleakest picture” of the international economy he’s ever seen [06:04]. Lee also explains how financial institutions printing more money could be a short-term solution, but that it might lead to problems in the future [03:37]. 

We also talk to Zhang Jianping, Director General of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, to find out what lessons the rest of the world might learn from the Chinese economic approach. Jianping explains that every country needs to look at making a careful assessment of its fiscal policy when responding to the Covid-19 crisis [09:17]. He also tells us why international cooperation is critical and why no country can beat Covid-19 on its own [12:07]. 

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If the world is ever to return to anything like normality, experts agree we need to find a vaccine for Covid-19 as soon as possible. In today’s episode of the Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we talk to Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccines Institute in Seoul to find out more. 

He tells us how a vaccine is created and what we can expect in the search for a Covid-19 vaccine [00:51]. Kim also explains the difficulties involved with finding a vaccine and the complications surrounding the distribution of a vaccine [02:13]. Kim is also optimistic about how much we’ve learned about the disease since the outbreak of the crisis. He also sketches out the compressed timeline of when we can expect the vaccine to be tested on humans on a large scale [05:05]. 

I also spoke to Stephen Kissler at the Harvard School of Public Health and Evan H. Bloch from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine about the different therapies being used in the hunt for a Covid-19 vaccine. Stephen Kisslier explains why that while social distancing might be the best course for treating the disease, but is still an incomplete measure in terms of fighting the disease [09:30]. We also learn about plasma transfusions and why this could hold the key to treating Covid-19 [10:50]. 

For more information on Covid-19 check out The Pandemic Playbook, CGTN Europe's major investigation into the lessons learned from COVID-19

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Artificial intelligence and how we program machines used to belong to the realm of science fiction and men in white lab coats looking at complicated spreadsheets. But now, technology has progressed so far that we have to start contemplating how AI can have a real impact on our lives. What are the dangers of AI and how does it benefit society? 

In a special episode of the Agenda Podcast recorded live at the The AI Summit in London we asked a panel of experts to explain to us exactly how AI will impact our lives in years to come. We’re joined by Shafi Ahmed, a surgeon and Digital Health Adviser who talks about the possibility that he could be replaced in the operating room [02:35]. 

We also speak to Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg an experimental artist who wants to interrogate the human desire for creating artificial intelligence and what it could mean for nature [ 05:30]. 

Dekai Wu is a Professor in Computer Science and Engineering and is interested in how algorithms learn and work and what we can learn about ourselves in trying to teach machines. Professor Wu explains why humans “suck” as a species and why language and language-learning is vital to understanding AI [07:20]. 

We also talk to Aldo Faisal from Imperial College London about why we need to be concentrating on understanding the relationships between AI and human interactions and why this “interaction loop” is vital to understanding artificial intelligence [11:00].

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The dating business is estimated to be worth $12 billion worldwide in what is an increasingly competitive market, with more than 300 million active users of the thousands of dating apps out there. Today on the Agenda Podcast we talk to a relationship historian about the potential damage that dating apps could be doing to our relationships.

But first we talk to the founder of Eden Blackman, founder of the app , “Would Like To Meet” about starting his own dating app. He takes us through his thought process in setting up his company and why he feels like user verification is important to the online dating process [01:30]. Eden also tells us why he thinks we’ve been through the first backlash against dating apps and why the stigma of being on a dating app has been removed [02:49]. He also tells us what he thinks is the difference between how men and women use dating apps [03:30]

Dating apps have potentially  changed the way an entire generation approaches romance. Has this change been for the better, or has something been lost in the rush to move dating online? To answer these questions I spoke to relationship historian Zoe Strimpel about how this new form of dating could have unforeseen consequences. 

First Zoe gives us a historical overview of the great changes in romantic relationships and why they aren’t all confined to the online dating era [07:06]. She also explains why the dating apps have brought in “a new era” and how we came to this point [08:44]. Zoe also goes on to explain why dating apps tend to lend themselves to shallow dating encounters and why we have to be careful about the addictive nature of dating apps [11:24]. 

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COVID-19 has pulled down shutters of stadiums, postponing – and in some cases cancelling – events around the world. For the Olympics, gold has been put on hold. In this edition of The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we look across the sporting world and speak to some of its biggest players to ask them how they're taking on their toughest opponent yet.

First we talk to Sebastian Coe, President of World Athletics about why postponing the Olympics was “the right decision” and why it was important for the integrity of the global competitions [03.20]. 

We also talk to Simon Chadwick, professor at the Centre for the Eurasian Sport Industry, who explains to us how sport has been hurt financially by COVID-19 [05.10]. He also tells us why he has been looking at China's handling of sporting events during this time to predict when European stadiums will be able to open their doors again [06:54]. Professor Chadwick also explains why playing games behind closed doors is not necessarily a desirable solution for sporting institutions. 

Finally we talk to Emily Scarratt, England rugby international and World Rugby’s Women's Player of the Year about how she’s been handling being in lockdown. Emily explains what it's like to play behind closed doors [12.46]. She also tells us why she’s optimistic about the interest in women’s rugby post-lockdown and why she has faith that the rugby community will continue to be strong post COVID-19 [14:00]. 

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The human mind is an incredible thing. It allows us to think, speak, perceive and imagine everything from the ordinary to the extraordinary. But what is the difference between the mind and the brain? And can we really train our minds to be better, healthier people?

Today on The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we talk to Professor Steven Pinker, a Johnson Family Professor of Psychology at Harvard University, about what we understand so far about the human mind. 

Professor Pinker goes into detail about the difference between the mind and the brain and what that difference means for us in our everyday lives [01:30]. He also dispels the myth that we only use a small percentage of our brain, and tells why this myth persists despite the best efforts of brain scientists [04:12].

Professor Pinker explains the areas where there are differences in the mind between men and women [08.03]. Finally, Professor Pinker talks about his book Enlightenment Now and how the progress that we’ve made in society affects the way we think [10:48]. 

We also speak to Paul McKenna, Britain's best-selling non-fiction author. Paul tells us how a run-in with a hypnotist started his journey into exploring and studying the mind [12:28]. He also explains he thinks we might have some innate psychic or intuitive protection mechanisms that prepare us for big world events [18.30].

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This week on the Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole we look at elections and how how we vote can be as important as who we vote for. To look into electoral systems, and how they work, first we address the issue of vote swapping. 

We talk to Tom de Grunwald the founder of SwapmyVote.com about the new phenomenon of vote-swapping and how it influences elections [01.01]. Tom goes into the legality of the process and also talks about why he would prefer electoral reform in the UK, even if it means closing down his website [04.49].

We also talk to Albert Weale, Emeritus Professor of Political Theory and Public Policy at the University College London. Professor Weale explains why there is really no such thing as a perfect electoral system [06.01]. 

He also goes into detail about what makes the UK’s first past the post system so unique within the realm of global electoral systems [10.11]. Finally Professor Weale tells about his latest book, The Will of the People: A Modern Myth, and what electoral system comes closest to the best electoral system in the world [11.50]. 

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Space is the final frontier, but who can afford to go there? As America, China and Europe look to kick-start a new space race - who will be the winners and losers? Where is the real money to be made?  This week on the Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole try and answer these questions for you. 

We talk to space journalist Sarah Cruddas and ask her why she has chosen to build her career around the subject [00.59]. She also tells us what she suspects space exploration could do for us in the coming decades [02.02]. 

Also joining our panel is Dr. Christoph Beischl, Research Fellow at the London Institute of Space Policy and Law. We ask Dr. Beischl about space law and the challenges surrounding the commercialisation of space [03.01]. 

Mitch Hunter-Scullion, the CEO and founder of Asteroid Mining Corporation, also discusses the new field of asteroid mining and what his company is trying to accomplish [05.01].

And finally we are joined by the director of the UK's National Space Academy, Professor Anu Ojha. Professor Ojha tells us why there is a need for a national space academy in the UK and the benefits that it brings to society as a whole [08.20]. 

For more topics like this subscribe to The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole with these links below. Apple Podcasts, Spotify , Stitcher, Google Podcasts 

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Today on the Agenda we take a look at what makes us happy.  How do we define happiness? Is trying too hard to be happy – in fact making us miserable?

To answer these questions We’re joined on the podcast by Dr. Loretta Breuning, a celebrated author and also the founder of the Inner Mammal Institute – an organisation dedicated to highlighting how our brain chemistry can impact our sense of well-being. Dr. Breuning explains how the chemical make-up our brains has a profound impact on how we experience happiness [01:20]. She also explains how its possible to remain happy in an unhappy world [02.36]. 

I also caught up with Professor Trudy Chalder from the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London to see how happiness and sadness are inextricably linked. Professor Chalder goes into detail about why its important to not ignore feelings of depression and anxiety when we discuss what happiness is and means [06.06]

 I also talk to Mike Wiking from the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen about how governments are starting to take the happiness of their citizens more seriously. Mike tells us how politicians are addressing happiness and why the happiness of a population is becoming increasingly important [11:35]. He also explains the six factors that explain the wide divide in happiness between countries across the globe [13.20]. 

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Money might make the world go around, but borrowing by governments and individuals has now reached record levels. 

Now, The Agenda looks at the role debt plays in the global economy and in our daily lives. Debt is now an international problem and today on The Agenda, we discuss how we can address it. 

We're joined on the podcast by  Dr. Johnna Montgomerie, author of 'Should We Abolish Household Debts?'  and Lynn James - also known as personal finance blogger Mrs Mummypenny, who turned her life around after finding herself nearly $30,000 in debt.

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It wasn't the swing to the far right many had expected, but President Emmanuel Macron's decision to call a snap election in the wake of the European poll in June doesn't appear to have done his centrist Ensemble group much good. Unexpectedly it was the left leaning New Popular Front that took the most seats - but not enough for an outright majority.
 
So what does this mean for the future of France - both at home and on the global stage?
In this edition of the Agenda, Juliet Mann looks at how the result might shape France’s future with Renaud Foucart, Senior Lecturer in Economics at Lancaster University, Jacques Reland, Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute, and Nabila Ramdani, French-Algerian journalist and author of "Fixing France: How to Repair a Broken Republic".

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Opioid addiction is a global epidemic claiming hundreds of thousands of lives around the world. It needs an urgent solution. Who is to blame for the alarming rise in addiction? How did it happen? And what can be done to solve the crisis?

Joining The Agenda Podcast with Stephen Cole is Ruth Dreifuss, Former President of Switzerland and now Chair of the Global Commission on Drugs Policy. I also spoke to Nicki Hari, a former prescription drug addict who has turned her life around and become an addiction councellor. 

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Environmental issues have shot to the top of many political agendas around the world. It’s no longer a fringe issue that few are passionate about. Now, looking after the environment has become one of the most talked about issues of our time. 

In this  episode we’ll be talking to an expert from the World Wildlife Foundation about the impact of the wildfires that have devastated Australia in late 2019. We also speak to Professor Alexandre Antonelli, a specialist on biodiversity about the importance of protecting our natural resources. 

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Personal data is big money in the modern world and companies like Facebook and Google are making big money from selling it but the data extracted from us, the consumers, often disappears to places we know very little about. 

 In this episode we take a look at personal data to determine how what we share in the digital world can have a very impact on our everyday lives. 

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China's Chang'e 6 is now back on terra firma with the first ever rock samples taken from the dark side of the moon. As well as Chinese technology, the mission involved cooperation with scientists from France, Sweden, Italy and the European Space Agency. So what does this mean for future lunar missions, and further international cooperation in space?

To find out, in this episode of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to Andrew Coates, Professor of Physics in the Department of Space and Climate Physics at UCL, Clive Neal, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at Notre Dame and, to get a view from someone who’s actually been into orbit above the earth, Yi So-yeon, South Korea's first astronaut.

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The world’s population may have recently topped 8 billion for the first time, but where the worries were once about the world becoming too crowded, now the concern is about a drop in global fertility rates. 

There are very real fears that a shrinking, ageing population could be catastrophic for the global economy and its healthcare systems. But some experts argue that there might in fact be an upside to population decline – especially when it comes to the earth’s natural resources.

In this episode of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to Stephen J Shaw, data scientist, demographer and Director of the documentary "Birthgap - Childless World", Peter Elwin - Director of Fixed Income & Head of Food & Land Use Programme at Planet Tracker, Haleh Nazeri, Longevity Economy lead at the World Economic Forum and Dr Jennifer Sciubba - demographics expert and author of the book "8 billion and counting: How sex, death and migration shape our world”.

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As the pollsters had predicted, far-right groups made big gains in last weekend's EU parliamentary elections. In France, Germany, Austria and Belgium to name just a few, there was a large swing to the right - even leading French President Emmanuel Macron to call a surprise snap election.
 
But with the centre-right European People's Party group still the largest in Parliament, what impact will all this really have on the future of Europe?

To consider the results, on this edition of The Agenda Juliet Mann speaks to Jean-Yves Camus - an expert on the far-right in Europe at the Fondation Jean Jaurès at the IRIS think tank , Frank Schwalba-Hoth, founding member of the German Greens and former MEP, Ariadna Ripoll Servent - Professor for Politics of the European Union at Salzburg University and Kristian Vigenin - MEP and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria.

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In just a few weeks’ time, the torch will be lit in Paris to begin the 33rd Olympic summer games. It’s promising to be the largest and most sustainable games ever, with around 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees expected to compete.

 But against a backdrop of global conflict, and huge arguments in sport over issues like prize money and transgender athletes, what will Paris 2024 say about the state of the Olympic movement?

 To find out, in this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann heads to Lausanne in Switzerland to the Headquarters of the International Olympic Committee to speak to its President, Thomas Bach.

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On June the 6th the first polling stations will open in The Netherlands to begin one of the largest elections in the world. Nearly 400 million people across 27 countries will get the chance to decide who will sit in the 720 seats in the European parliament.

So with concerns mounting over the conflict in Ukraine, the future of trade, the green transition and the rise of the far right - just what might Europe look like after the vote? And what might it all mean for European relations with the rest of the world?

In this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to Jacques Reland, Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Instiutute,  Karel Lannoo, Chief Executive of the Centre for European Policy Studies, Professor Amelia Hadfield, Dean International and Head of Politics at the University of Surrey and Klaus Jurgens, Director of Economy First to find out.

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Nearly 300 million people from across the globe are currently facing severe food insecurity. And according to the latest report from the United Nations, that figure is set to rise sharply unless immediate action is taken. Conflict in places like Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine, as well as the rising impact of climate change has left the world facing a devastating struggle to feed its population. 

On this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann examines what can be done to address the looming catastrophe.

She speaks to Dr Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters, Senior Researcher in Food Systems at Wageningen University, Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Health, Nature, and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau, Morgan Ody, a French vegetable farmer and General Coordinator of peasants’ movement, La Via Campesina and Tess Ingram from UNICEF, who’s just returned from Gaza.

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As world leaders cross the planet to attend the APEC meeting in Peru, the G20 Summit in Rio and COP29 in Aerbaijan, the voice of the global south has never been more vital.  

At all of these gatherings, developing nations are fighting to get their voices heard, and pushing to create new forms of global governance that can change the way the world is run. We’ve heard a lot of talk in the past weeks, but what does the rise of the global south really look like in practice?

Joining Juliet Mann on this episode of The Agenda are Erik Solheim, Former Under-Secretary General of the UN and former head of the UN Environment Programme, Alicia García-Herrero - Senior fellow at Bruegel and Chief Economist for Asia Pacific at Natixis, and Yin Zhiguang, Professor of International Politics at Fudan University.

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China’s President Xi Jinping is now back in Beijing following his first trip to Europe in five years.

Stopping is France, Serbia and Hungary, the talk was of increased trade ties and new investment deals, and how China can work with European nations to improve peace and stability across the globe. 

 On this edition of The Agenda. Juliet Mann examines what the long term impact of the visit will be, for the three individual nations, and for the wider world.

 She speaks to Former French Finance Minister and ex-President of the European Central Bank, Jean-Claude Trichet, Former Serbian Foreign Minister and ex-President of the United Nations General Assembly, Vuk Jeremić, and Sándor Mészáros, Hungary’s former Ambassador in Beijing. 

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With less than three months to go until the 2024 Paris Olympic Games the International Olympic Committee has unveiled its "AI Agenda".  As with so many other sectors, AI is set to revolutionise sport - from training to judging, identifying new talent to cutting the cost of hosting global events.

In this episode of The Agenda, Juliet Mann visits the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, home of the 2012 London Games, for the IOC launch and speaks to President of the IOC Thomas Bach, the committee's Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi, five time Olympic champion gymnast Nadia Comăneci, and Professor of AI, Amit Joshi.

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With China's commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Europe and US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Beijing this week – accusations of overcapacity in the EV market have been top of the agenda around the world – accusations China has strongly denied. 
 
So with the need for more electric powered cars only growing as the world seeks to hit tough net zero targets, where is the sector really headed?

In this edition of The Agenda, Juliet Mann speaks to Tu Le, Founder and Managing Director of Sino Auto Insights and Bill Russo, Chief Executive of consultants Automobility to find out.

And with the focus on the future of EVs, Juliet also speaks to Kiva Allgood from the Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Supply Chains at the World Economic Forum to find out why the sector can only really work if we move towards a truly circular system.

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Last week, the first ever Nuclear Energy Summit took place in Brussels. Leaders and experts from around the world – including China’s Vice Premier Zhang Guoqing -  gathered to discuss the competitiveness, usability, and sustainability of nuclear power in the race to net zero. 

So in this episode of The Agenda, Juliet Mann investigates just what role nuclear has in the world’s energy future, and whether there’s any real chance the world can reach its climate targets without it.

She speaks to Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of World Nuclear Association and Nuclear policy analyst Mycle Schneider to find out.