Latest Interviews

Why India’s election has stoked conflict

Narendra Modi, Anamika, Alam

India's 2019 general election centers on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP party leveraging rising Hindu nationalism and a recent military conflict with Pakistan to reframe the contest as a defense of cultural integrity against terrorism. This political strategy coincides with intensified enforcement of cow protection laws that has fueled communal violence, economically marginalized Muslim communities, and driven a shift in voter sentiment from economic modernization to security-focused nationalism. Consequently, the election serves as a critical juncture determining whether India will sustain its historical secular traditions or pivot toward a state defined by Hindu nationalist governance.

Mandela's legacy: 25 years on

This analysis examines the deepening conflict surrounding Nelson Mandela's legacy and the "Born Free Generation" in South Africa, highlighting how unfulfilled post-1994 promises regarding housing, education, and economic justice have fueled systemic inequality. Decades of ANC rule have intensified these issues through corruption and Black Economic Empowerment policies that critics argue have only entrenched a new elite while failing to dismantle apartheid-era wealth disparities. Consequently, widespread social unrest and plummeting public trust underscore a critical divide between the state's historical pledges and the lived reality of a population facing high unemployment and a severe education crisis.

Why is chicken so cheap? | The Economist

David Speller

Driven by the 1940s "Chicken of Tomorrow" competition, the global poultry industry now sustains a population of 23 billion birds through intensive genetic breeding that compresses broiler lifespans to 38 days. Consultant David Speller exemplifies this scale by managing millions of genetically uniform chickens with automated environmental controls, prioritizing rapid growth over natural maturity to meet high-volume, low-cost consumer demand. While organic and free-range systems offer significantly longer lifespans and better welfare conditions, their higher production costs and lower turnover rates keep them marginal compared to the dominant industrial model.

The future of work: is your job safe?

Samantha, Justin, Frank Boulier, Joseph Kamau, Max Dewhurst

This event examines the complex transition toward a future where automation and artificial intelligence reshape the global workforce by displacing 45% of jobs while simultaneously generating 133 million new roles through human-technology collaboration. It details the surge in location independence driven by a digital nomad population forecast to reach one billion by 2035, alongside the rapid expansion of co-working spaces and the polarized impacts of the $50 billion gig economy on both developing regions and wealthy nations. Furthermore, the presentation analyzes the ethical and operational implications of workplace surveillance technologies, such as sociometric badges and robotic swarms, which are currently redefining employee monitoring and productivity metrics at companies like Ocado.

What will people wear in the future?

Dr Amanda Parkes, Francesca Muston

The fashion industry is undergoing a radical transformation as biofabrication and textile computing replace traditional manufacturing with sustainable, lab-grown materials and embedded electronic sensors. Companies like Bolt Threads and Mayant are leading this shift by producing alternatives to animal-derived fabrics and interactive garments capable of transmitting real-time biological data. Simultaneously, the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning has elevated fashion forecasting from an art to a data-driven science, prompting venture capital firms to invest heavily in startups that merge these technologies with innovative business models.

What will be the biggest stories of 2019? | Part Two

In 2019, global advancements will see augmented reality headsets deployed in major surgical centers like St. Mary's to enhance precision, while Japan launches the Rugby World Cup to stimulate tourism and enacts legislation to admit 345,000 foreign workers amidst demographic decline. Simultaneously, the United States faces heightened political friction as Democrats assume House control to subpoena President Trump, and the European Union navigates a contentious parliamentary election that threatens to deepen fragmentation between populist and established factions. These domestic and international shifts coincide with a renewed surge in space exploration, marked by private and national lunar missions aiming to utilize frozen resources and achieve greater demographic diversity in orbit.

What will be the biggest stories of 2019? | Part One

The 2019 global landscape features significant technological advancements including the market launch of assistive robotic suits for aging workforces, the opening of mega-hubs in Istanbul and Beijing to drive down airfares, and the commercial deployment of driverless car services by companies like GM and Waymo. Concurrently, the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots highlights ongoing legal battles for LGBTQ+ rights in Kenya and other former colonies, while exhibitions commemorating Leonardo da Vinci's 500th death anniversary draw inspiration from his designs to influence modern aviation. Despite projections of massive industry growth, these developments face scrutiny regarding safety risks, environmental costs, and the challenge of transitioning from niche innovation to mass adoption.

The best place to be a woman?

Egill Bjarnson

For nearly a decade, Iceland has led global gender equality rankings through targeted interventions such as single-sex schooling in Reykjavik that encourages non-traditional traits and a 2000 "daddy quota" mandating paid paternity leave used by over 70% of fathers. The nation recently became the first to criminalize pay gaps by requiring companies with more than 25 employees to prove equal pay for work of equal value, a measure Reykjavik Energy has already applied to correct disparities between male and female unskilled roles. Although a 6% residual wage gap remains and critics cite compliance costs, proponents maintain these structural changes are essential to treating equal wages as a fundamental human right.

The true cost of fast fashion

Mohammad Patel, Ijeoma Kola, Ryan Gellert

While global apparel production is projected to triple by 2050, overwhelmed recycling infrastructure currently processes only 25% of discarded clothing, resulting in massive landfill waste. Industry pioneers like Patagonia and Rent the Runway have demonstrated that alternative models prioritizing durability, repair, and shared access can achieve significant revenue and profitability while countering throwaway culture. Despite these proven success stories, the document concludes that such sustainability-focused approaches remain rare exceptions within a sector still dominated by rapid volume growth and disposable consumption.

How could veganism change the world?

Jaap Korteweg

Facing a projected 10 billion population and a food system responsible for 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions, experts warn that without a shift toward plant-based diets, climate targets will remain out of reach. Industry leaders like Jaap Korteweg of The Vegetarian Butcher are demonstrating the viability of this transition by repurposing meat-processing infrastructure for plant alternatives, a move projected to save $1 trillion annually in healthcare costs while drastically reducing land use. Although a fully vegan world by 2050 is considered unlikely, policymakers and industry stakeholders agree that widespread adoption of plant-based foods is essential to avoid dangerous climate thresholds and improve public health outcomes.

Discover Hyderabad

Jonty, Usha, Saurabh Chatterjee, Srinivas Kolipara, JNT Raj Gopalan

Hyderabad has evolved from a historic center of diamond and pearl wealth into a vibrant modern metropolis anchored by T-Hub's rapid startup growth and Google's expanding campus in the Cyberabad district. The city's unique identity seamlessly blends this technological boom with deep cultural traditions, ranging from the ancient Charminar markets and royal Taj Falaknuma Palace to innovative experiences like Ayurvedic cocktails and local flower trade photography. Visitors engage with this duality through immersive activities such as traditional haggling, home-style cooking classes, and participation in religious festivals that welcome strangers into local celebrations.

How MDMA is being used to treat PTSD

Rick Doblin, John Lubecki

With standard treatments effective in only 20% of cases, researchers led by Rick Doblin are pursuing FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy after trials showed over 60% of participants no longer met PTSD criteria. The non-profit-funded study utilizes a regimen of three drug sessions paired with psychotherapy to allow veterans like John Lubecki to process trauma without fear, a potential breakthrough for the 8 million Americans suffering from the disorder. Because the drug cannot be patented, this initiative by a small organization aims to transform the illicit substance into a regulated medicine that addresses a public health crisis costing the Department of Veterans Affairs $400 million annually.

The data revolution: privacy, politics and predictive policing

Dr Tom Devlin, Trump, Nick Bowers, Carol Reed, Hal Hodson, David Carroll, Mark Zuckerberg, Jamie Garcia, Hamid Khan, Sergeant David Rich, Anthony, Leo Hu

The event examines how the exponential growth of data generation is transforming healthcare through AI tools like Viz.ai while simultaneously enabling invasive surveillance in consumer marketing, law enforcement, and state control systems. Key case studies include the medical success of stroke detection algorithms, the electoral manipulation via Cambridge Analytica's unauthorized data harvesting, and the controversial implementation of China's Social Credit System. Furthermore, the discussion highlights significant ethical conflicts surrounding predictive policing biases in Los Angeles and the ongoing legal battles to ensure transparency in how personal data is collected and utilized by governments and corporations.

Can a cure for diabetes be found through surgery?

Peter Hansel, Professor Francesco Rubino

Despite the global surge of Type 2 diabetes affecting one in ten people by 2040, Professor Francesco Rubino's research demonstrates that gastric bypass surgery can induce immediate remission by correcting duodenal hormone signaling rather than relying solely on weight loss. While only 0.1% to 1% of eligible patients currently access this life-saving procedure, Rubino is leading clinical trials on non-invasive alternatives and driving updates to international guidelines that recognize surgery as a primary treatment option. This work provides critical biological evidence that challenges the "lifestyle disease" narrative, offering a pathway for future pharmaceutical cures to address the epidemic without requiring invasive intervention.

El Salvador's violent gang members are finding God in prison

Wilfredo Gómez

Following his deportation from the U.S. to El Salvador in 1996, former 18th Street gang member Wilfredo Gómez founded a Christian prison ministry that expanded to house over 900 inmates within a violent, overcrowded system. While the program offered temporary sanctuary and social mobility through a segregated religious zone, its long-term success remains limited as societal stigma and a lack of employment opportunities prevent most converts from maintaining their faith outside prison. Ultimately, the initiative highlights a critical gap between individual rehabilitation within the jail and the structural barriers preventing former gang members from achieving permanent reintegration into Salvadoran society.