Latest from Olie D'Albertanson

• Aug 3, 2023

  The enduring allure of UK soccer

  

  From the BBC World Service: Tom Brady is the latest American star to invest in U.K. soccer. The NFL legend has taken a minority stake in Birmingham City, a club which plays in the second tier of English soccer. What’s the attraction? And, can his star power take them to the top? Meanwhile, in Argentina inflation is running at over 100% — we look at how economic pressures are forcing some people to consider new lives in the United States. And, do you still watch live television? The U.K.’s broadcasting watchdog, Ofcom, says older viewers are increasingly switching off in favor of streaming services.

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• Aug 2, 2023

  The economics of allowing immigrants in, and letting them stay

  

  Ankle monitors and other electronic tracking tech have found a market in immigrant surveillance — a lucrative market. We’ll also visit Chile, where migrating might get more difficult.

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• Aug 2, 2023

  What is the U.S.’s credit score?

  

  It actually just got worse. We’ll talk about what the debt ceiling has to do with it, and whether this will raise borrowing costs for the Treasury Department. Plus, young people are being recruited to drive migrants beyond the southern border through social media.

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• Aug 2, 2023

  Niger coup shakes its economy

  

  From the BBC World Service: Talks are taking place in the African state of Niger to re-instate democratic rule, but European nations have already suspended financial support to the country and foreign citizens are being evacuated. For years Chile has been a destination for migrants in South America but now the government wants to restrict the numbers coming into the country, pushing more people north, to the US. And, China’s internet watchdog has introduced stricter regulations aimed at controlling how much kids use smartphones and other devices.

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• Aug 1, 2023

  How Latin America is dealing with this inflationary economy

  

  We’ll get the World Bank perspective first, and then hear from our partners at the BBC on the ground in Colombia. Part of the story? Inflation and immigration are inextricably linked.

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• Aug 1, 2023

  This app helps migrants cross the border

  

  WhatsApp is increasingly used to support the business of smuggling people through Latin America and into the U.S. We’ll look at who’s turning a profit. Plus, Biden’s focus on EV manufacturing could be non-residential construction’s saving grace.

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• Aug 1, 2023

  Are savers in Europe getting a raw deal?

  

  From the BBC World Service: One of the primary ways to try and tackle rising inflation is for central banks to raise interest rates, but are savers getting a fair deal? Mohamed El Erian, chief economic advisor at the financial firm Allianz gives us his view after Europe’s biggest lender, HSBC doubled its profits. Plus the BBC’s Catherine Ellis reports on Colombia’s battle with inflation and an influx of immigrants from Venezuela. And finally, we hear from Frank Strang who bought a disused Royal Airforce radar station with his wife 15 years ago and turned it into a spaceport.

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• Jul 31, 2023

  A crucial trade route, disrupted by climate change

  

  The lock system that moves ships through the Panama Canal requires huge amounts of water. Climate change-driven drought will complicate things. Plus, part one of “Barriers to Entry,” our series why people are leaving Latin America.

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• Jul 31, 2023

  Not your father’s Republicans

  

  These Republicans have some unusual economic policy ideas. We’ll discuss why discharging student debt during bankruptcy is one of them. Plus, coal is still a big deal globally and Yellow, a trucking company, is shutting down operations.

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• Jul 31, 2023

  Immigration Special: From Latin America to the USA

  

  From the BBC World Service: Immigration will be one of the areas the 2024 Presidential election will be fought over, and figures show the number of Latin Americans migrants coming to the U.S. is hitting fresh highs. As of June, there were 1.7 million encounters with migrants on the southwest land border with Mexico. That is up a little on the same period last year, and already at the levels of 2021. Will Grant, the BBC’s Mexico, Central America and Cuba correspondent, has been taking a look at this as part of a week-long series.

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