A focus on the growing issue of global debt

With the IMF saying earlier this month that about 25% of emerging and 60% of low-income countries are having trouble paying their debts, we take a closer look at the scale of national debts around the world. We examine China’s role as creditor for emerging countries and speak to Shanta Devarajan, who’s a former acting chief economist at the World Bank and is also liasing between international financial institutions and the Sri Lankan government. Zambia is renegotiating its debts with a series of creditors, including China. We hear from Thabo Kawana, Director of the Ministry of Information in Zambia. Elsewhere, Patagonia’s billionaire founder has given the company away to a charitable trust. Yvon Chouinard announced that all the company’s profits will go towards tackling climate change. We speak to Julia Davies, co-founder of eco-friendly backpack-maker Osprey Europe, who now campaigns for the group, Patriotic Millionaires UK.