but, after five decades in business reinventing whole industries, sir richard branson has been tested as never before, both financially and emotionally. the pandemic left the 72 year old fighting to save his empire and his reputation. he faced questions over how he has used women to promote his brand, and sceptics have asked why someone who campaigns on climate change is sending rockets into space. the original rebel entrepreneur continues to grab the headlines and confound his critics. i ve come to miami to hear the whole story. sir richard branson, thank you so much for speaking to me and to the bbc. how are you? i m good. i always think sitting down to do interviews like this is a bit like i ve never been a psychiatrist s chair, but it s a bit like being in a psychiatrist s chair. of course i m nervous. we ll see how you are in an hour. just to be clear, you have not seen or approved of the questions in advance. nothing is off the table, right? i m afraid that s the case
gonein the elysee palace in paris and has gone in for dinner with president macron. thank you for your company, you are watching the bbc news. stay with us. now on bbc news amol rajan interviews: richard branson. oh, yes, hello. oh, my goodness, hello! the shy schoolboy who became a global celebrity. sir richard branson is a very british bundle of contradictions. the dyslexic who set up a student magazine. the record label founder who didn t listen to music. the 60s hippie who became a multibillionaire. today he s got his own island, and his brand has dozens of companies to its name, from virgin atlantic to galactic. but, after five decades in business reinventing whole industries, sir richard branson has been tested as never before, both financially and emotionally. the pandemic left the 72 year old fighting to save his empire and his reputation. he faced questions over how he has used women to promote his brand, and sceptics have asked why someone who campaigns on climate
well, my guest today is the director general of the wto, ngozi okonjo iweala. will rising geopolitical tensions lead to the weaponisation of trade? ngozi okonjo iweala, welcome to hardtalk. thank you, stephen. now, you are one of the world s key advocates of ever freer trade, more globalisation. what s it like to be doing your job when the political tide across the world is running against you? the wto s purpose, the world trade organization, is. its purpose is to enhance living standards, to help create employment and to support sustainable development. there could be nothing more worthy than that. so, it s supposed to deliver for people. and that s what i want people to know about it, therefore. nobody could quarrel with those objectives and that sentiment, but the truth is you are a membership organisation with 160 plus members. you have clearly key members like the united states and china, and you can only work if there is an element of trust, of co operation, of a desire
in brussels in return for a reduced prison sentence. both qatar and morocco deny claims they bribed officials to win influence in parliament. good morning, sally will be with you at the top of the hour but now, hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk from geneva. i m stephen sackur. this place is home to the world trade organization, the institution whose purpose is to maximise free and fair international trade on the assumption that globalisation is good. so what happens when many governments and people around the world question that premise? well, my guest today is the director general of the wto, ngozi okonjo iweala. will rising geopolitical tensions lead to the weaponisation of trade? ngozi okonjo iweala, welcome to hardtalk. thank you, stephen. now, you are one of the world s key advocates of ever freer trade, more globalisation. what s it like to be doing your job when the political tide across the world is running against you? the wto s purpose, the world trade organization, is.
this is bbc news. we ll have the headlines and all the main news stories for you at the top of the hour as newsday continues, straight after hardtalk. welcome to hardtalk from geneva. i m stephen sackur. this place is home to the world trade organization, the institution whose purpose is to maximise free and fair international trade on the assumption that globalisation is good. so what happens when many governments and people around the world question that premise? well, my guest today is the director general of the wto, ngozi okonjo iweala. will rising geopolitical tensions lead to the weaponisation of trade? ngozi okonjo iweala, welcome to hardtalk. now, you are one of the world s key advocates of ever ngozi okonjo iweala, welcome to hardtalk. thank you, stephen. now, you are one of the world s key advocates of ever freer trade, more globalisation. what s it like to be doing your job when the political tide across the world is running against you? the wto s purpose, the wor