Sri Lanka: economics and politics of a country in crisis

Sri Lanka’s foreign currency reserves have virtually run dry, and the president has fled the country after months of protests over soaring prices and a lack of food and fuel. Vivienne Nunis gets an update from the BBC’s Anbarasan Ethiragan from outside the main protest site, and Shanta Devarajan, advisor liaising between international financial institutions and the Sri Lankan government.

Inflation in the United States has increased as its fastest rate since November 1981. Everyday goods are now, on average, 9.1% more expensive than they were a year ago. Business Correspondent Samira Hussain explains the reasons behind this from New York.

Iceland has topped the overall rankings as the most gender-equal country in the World Economic Forum's Global "Gender Gap" Report this year- the second year running. The author of the report, Saadia Zahidi explains why the world’s two biggest economies are at opposite ends of the rankings.

Today Russian and Ukrainian delegations are meeting Turkish and UN officials to find a solution to the grain exportation crisis. Daniil Melnychenko is a data analyst at Informil Business group in Odessa, which analyses cargo in the Black Sea. He shares his view on negotiations.

And finally, Australia’s biggest hardware chain, Bunnings, and retailer Kmart, are using facial recognition technology in their stores. Kat Power from consumer group Choice Australia, joins us.