Gabrielle Maes is on the path to becoming one of France's top managers. She comes from the right family, lives in the right area and is attending the right university. Is wealth and power in France in the hands of a tightly-knit elite?

High net-worth family-run companies often enlist the help of a professional to manage sensitive financial issues. From investment decisions to questions of inheritance, discretion is key.

Who are the 1000 people in Germany making all the important decisions? 80% of all management board members come from the upper echelons of society. Ascending the rungs of social mobility is especially hard for those whose families have roots abroad.

Eight years after the reactor disaster in Fukushima, operator Tepco is preparing to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. Residents are nervous, but the power plant promises to create jobs and boost the local economy.

Although Germany is phasing out atomic energy by 2022, it still has several operating nuclear power plants. A storage facility for low-level waste is in the works – but a site for final repository for spent fuel rods still needs to be found.

Reprocessing spent nuclear fuel is a huge challenge for nuclear plant operators - it contains highly toxic radioactive material. The La Hague nuclear reprocessing facility in France is built to recycle spent fuel. Our reporter paid a visit there.

While Germany is turning away from atomic energy, startups, engineers and investors around the world believe nuclear power can play an important role in the future of energy. Is their vision a realistic option - or are they ignoring the risks?

Could nuclear power save the global climate? If so, at what cost? Its supporters say nuclear power plants generate power with zero CO2 emissions. But what about nuclear waste, the expense of building new plants and the high electricity prices?

While a lot of people are willing to give up meat, many still yearn for a nice Sunday roast or grilled sausage. The business of producing food to please the palates of vegans and vegetarians is booming, meat substitutes in particular. Why is that?

The whole debate over conventional farming is driving increased research into lab-grown meat. Many startups see it as a business opportunity. But the challenges they face are huge.