Latest from Jonathan Frewin

• May 18, 2022

  U.K. inflation rising at fastest pace in 40 years

  

  From the BBC World Service: U.K. inflation jumped to 9% in the 12 months to April, up from 7% in March, as higher energy bills hit millions of households. Also, could Chevron get the green light to re-start work in Venezuela? And Spain’s government proposes new laws around abortion rights.

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• May 17, 2022

  FDA takes more steps to mitigate baby formula shortage

  

  Help is on the way for the baby formula shortage, but it’s going to take some time. Plans are underway to reopen a plant in Michigan that, when it was in operation, was the largest formula producer in the United States. However, the process of restarting the plant and producing enough formula to start filling empty spaces on store shelves will take weeks upon weeks. A program that helps people pay for heating now has to pivot to concerns on the other side – air conditioning. We look into some of the dynamics behind condo prices, which remain high.

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• May 17, 2022

  How global threats can bring nations together

  

  If the world is going to find solutions to its toughest problems, it’s going to need a new infrastructure that fosters cooperation among nations. That’s the argument made by Ian Bremmer, president of political-risk consultancy Eurasia Group, in his new book “The Power of Crisis.” We look into the driving forces behind consumer spending in the face of inflation and economic uncertainty.

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• May 17, 2022

  Sri Lanka has officially run out of fuel

  

  From the BBC World Service: Sri Lanka is now a country with an empty tank, as the worst economic crisis in its independent history continues to spiral. Also, what the White House’s shift in approach to Cuba could mean for the island’s economy, and we hear memories of McDonald’s in Moscow as the golden arches get set to be packed up for good in Russia.

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• May 16, 2022

  The labor shortage from the perspective of nursing

  

  The shortage of nurses in hospitals and other healthcare facilities is affecting care across the country, and providers have tried plugging the gaps. We spoke to Deborah Burger, president of National Nurses United, the largest nursing union in the country, about the issues that contribute to the current nursing environment. Online delivery could provide help to areas that don’t have easier access to groceries with fresh food, but there are still some obstacles to consider. The BBC checks in on China’s economy (the world’s second largest) as there are growing COVID-19 lockdowns and a rising jobless rate.

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• May 16, 2022

  Solar panels’ origin story could dim prospects for industry, U.S. projects

  

  The Department of Commerce is investigating whether solar panels imported from Southeast Asia are really coming from China, and if so, should be subject to tariffs. Trade groups say the investigation casts a shadow on the industry and is also slowing down progress on certain projects. The labor shortage has affected Walmart to the point where the retail giant has launched a program to find store managers, hoping to entice college grads with the chance at eventual six-figure salaries. This year’s Memorial Day sales could provide a glimpse into how both retailers and consumers view inflation.

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• May 16, 2022

  China unemployment rate near pandemic peak

  

  From the BBC World Service: China’s jobless rate rose to the highest level since the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic. It comes as widening lockdowns led to a sharp slowdown in activity for the world’s second largest economy. Also, Switzerland votes to force global streaming giants to pay towards making more Swiss content. And the impact India’s new ban on wheat exports could have on global prices. 

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• May 13, 2022

  Elon Musk casts doubt on his acquisition of Twitter – through tweets

  

  Tesla CEO Elon Musk tweeted that his purchase of Twitter is “temporarily on hold” as he works to acquire more information on spam and fake accounts on the platform. The claim has been met with some skepticism. We have the second part of our chat with Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal about his discussion with Fed chair Jerome Powell. The U.S. and its allies are talking about ways to stabilize oil prices. One idea comes from Italy’s prime minister, who suggested banding together against oil producers. The gambling industry has recovered to the point where its putting up pre-pandemic numbers.

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• May 13, 2022

  Add stablecoin instability to the stack of cryptocurrency troubles

  

  A bank run. Panic selling. These are some of the not-so-enviable descriptions of what’s going on right now in cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin looks set for a record seventh week of losses, and so-called stablecoins have shown weakness. What’s going on? Also, we hear the first part of our discussion with Marketplace’s Kai Ryssdal about his sit-down interview with Fed chair Jerome Powell.

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• May 13, 2022

  How many jobs has the war in Ukraine cost?

  

  Ukraine’s former economy minister gives us a sense of the job losses the war has caused, and on the rebuilding plans already in progress. Also, the dollar shortage causing a crunch for Kenyan businesses.

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