Money Talks

Forty-five years ago, the Apple Computer Company was just an obscure start-up run by a pair of college dropouts in a northern California garage. Today, the iPhone maker is the most valuable and most profitable enterprise in the world. Paolo Montecillo tells us more about how Apple grew its 2-trillion-dollar business and where it will branch out next. We were joined by Daniel Ives. He's a tech analyst and the managing director of Wedbush Securities in New York.

#APPLE #TechGiant #TimCook

US President Joe Biden has unveiled a two trillion-dollar plan to upgrade the nation's infrastructure and boost the creation of jobs. The proposal falls in line with his campaign slogan, 'Build Back Better', pledging to kickstart the economy from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. While Biden's plan promises millions of jobs, it's set to face hurdles in Congress, from Republicans who oppose the tax increases that would fund it. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports. We spoke to Jeffrey Tucker in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He's Editorial Director at the American Institute for Economic Research

#JoeBiden #InfrastructurePlan #USeconomy

Video games were once dismissed as an armchair pastime. But with fans, sponsors, and prize money now equalling, and even surpassing, some traditional sports, e-Sports is being taken more seriously. And as Miranda Lin explains, that means more professional demands on its biggest stars.

#Esports #Gaming #T1team

A decade of war has caused 1.2 trillion dollars' worth of damage to the Syrian economy. That's according to aid organisation, World Vision. The United Nations says 50 percent of basic social infrastructure, including electricity, sewage and water, is non-functional. But Syrians who've fled their homeland are now slowly making their way back. And as Obaida Hitto reports, one man is hoping to help rebuild his country, one project at a time.

#SyriaEconomy #SocialInfrastructure #War

In just 12 months, the coronavirus pandemic has set the cause of gender equality back by 36 years, according to the World Economic Forum's latest gender gap report. With higher rates of job losses and growing double burdens of work and household responsibilities, 2020 has rolled back years of advancements. The WEF says it'll be an estimated 136 years before men and women have equal opportunities, as COVID-19 has hit women harder, economically and politically. The report shows poor female representation in managerial positions and wage inequalities remain- especially in fast-growing fields like cloud computing, engineering and artificial intelligence. But there are two bright spots, with nearly all countries making progress in achieving equality in health and education. We spoke to Veselina Ratcheva in Geneva. She's the Insight Lead at the World Economic Forum's Centre for the New Economy and Society.

#WorldEconomicForum #GenderEquality #EqualOpportunities

The World Trade Organization has raised its projections for growth in global trade to eight percent this year - it's biggest increase since 2010. It comes after international trade was severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic last year, when global GDP contracted by 3.8 percent. The W-T-O had previously forecast trade growth of 7.2 percent for 2021. But the trade body warns vaccine shortages and the spread of coronavirus variants could hamper this recovery.

#WTO #GlobalTrade #Pandemic

We begin in the UK, where shares in food delivery service Deliveroo tanked in their market debut. Investors shunned the company for asking too high a price even though it's never made any money. The firm also faces questions over what critics say, is the exploitation of underpaid couriers. Paolo Montecillo reports. Susannah Streeter joined us from Bristol for more on this. She's investment analyst at Hargreaves Landsdown

#FoodDelivery #Deliveroo #IPO

Video and online games aren't the only forms of entertainment to benefit from the pandemic. Global sales for board games jumped 20-percent last year, as people looked for ways to keep themselves occupied at home. Chess in particular has seen a surge in interest, thanks to the hit Netflix series, 'The Queen's Gambit'. And as Tayyibe Aydin reports, demand is so high for one chess set maker in Spain, that it's struggling to keep up.

#QueensGambit #Chess #Boardgames

Street-food vendors, known as 'hawkers', are a treasured - and delicious - part of daily life in Singapore. They were even added to UNESCO's world heritage list in December. But as Miranda Lin explains, the centuries-old tradition is struggling to find a new generation to carry it on.

#StreetFood #Hawkers #CulinaryCulture

Veterinarians are warning of a possible link between a new variant that's emerged in the COVID-19 pandemic and heart problems in cats and dogs. The complications could develop if humans pass on the virus to their pets, and vets suggest pet owners take precautions if they have symptoms of COVID-19. Our health correspondent, Nicola Hill reports.

#Pets #Coronavirus #SecondVariant