大象传媒

The German engineering giant Siemens has decided to proceed with a giant mining project in Australia despite protests from climate change activists.

Sven Teske,a director of research at the Australian Institute for Sustainable Futures, tells us more about the economic aims behind the project and the opposition to the plan.

Our correspondent in Manila tells us about the disruption caused by the Taal volcano in the Philippines, which the authorities have warned could rain ash down with an eruption within hours or days.

We explore the cultural significance of Japan reducing the coming of age for young people, when they are finally regarded as adults.

Plus the directors of American Factory, a documentary that has been nominated for an Oscar, explain the impact of globalisation, the threat of automation and the rights of workers.

Throughout the programme we hear analysis from our two guests, Professor Peter Morici, an economist at the University of Maryland in Washington and Yumika Marikami, the head of the Tokyo Centre of the OECD, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

(Picture:Protests in Munich against Siemens developing a coal mine in Australia. Copyright: Andreas Gebert via Getty Images.)