Money Talks

Kenya is home to one of Africa's most spectacular game reserves. The country is a popular destination for tourists, but also a prime target for poachers and loggers. But as Usman Aliyu Uba reports, one team of rangers is working to preserve the habitat of thousands of wildlife species.

#Kenya #Deforestation #Seedballs

British Chancellor Rishi Sunak has delivered his keenly awaited budget. Just as elsewhere, UK public finances have been battered by the pandemic and the huge public spending committed to supporting the economy under lockdown. So far the government has spent 550-billion dollars and at some point that money has to be clawed back. Sunak has revealed that schemes to protect jobs and businesses will be extended, but has warned that higher taxes are on the way. Simon McGregor-Wood has more. For more on this, Rajneesh Narula joined us from London. He's a Professor of International Business Regulation at the University of Reading's Henley Business School.

#UKbudget #BritishEconomy #Pandemic

The US state of Texas has disregarded doctors' advice and announced it's lifting all social distancing rules from next Wednesday, even as it reports thousands of coronavirus cases each day. Authorities say the move will revive the Lone Star state's economy.. and comes as President Joe Biden announces there'll be enough vaccines for every American adult by the end of May. Paolo Montecillo reports. For more on this, we spoke to Joann Weiner, economics professor at George Washington University.

#Texas #COVID19 #SocialDistancingRegulations

One of the world's major ocean currents is slowing down and this could have a devastating effect on our climate and livelihoods. The Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, which helps warm Europe, is at its weakest level in a thousand years and if this continues, it could lead to more extreme and intense winters. Faisal Mohammad has more. Martin Koehring is the Head of the Economist Group's World Ocean Initiative. He joined us from London.

#AtlanticOceanCirculation #OceanSummit #GulfStream

One of Europe's biggest cinema showcases has kicked off - with no glitz and little hype. Due to the pandemic, Germany's Berlinale film festival is being held as an industry- only online event. It's the only big film festival that usually admits the public to its screenings, so the restricted access is a major blow for movie fans. But as Sibel Karkus reports from Berlin, organisers have come up with a solution.

#BerlinFilmFestival #Pandemic #Cinemas

The US government is slapping sanctions on Russian officials and entities that it says are responsible for poisoning and subsequently jailing opposition politician, Alexey Navalny. The Kremlin, which denies the allegations, says these restrictions are part of a plot to hurt Russia's economy and it's threatening to strike back. Mobin Nasir reports. Dana Lewis is a London-based journalist who's reported extensively on Russian politics. He says the restrictions show Washington and Brussels are getting tougher on Moscow's crackdown on dissidents.

#RussiaSanctions #USsanctions #AlexeyNavalny

Shares in the video conferencing app Zoom have rallied after the firm reported record revenues and profits for 2020. Its earnings shattered analyst expectations, as the pandemic turned what had been a little-known service into an indispensable tool for governments and companies alike. And investors are optimistic the Zoom boom will continue in coming months, even as the world starts to turn the corner on the pandemic. Paolo Montecillo reports.

#Zoom #VideoConferencingApp #VirtualMeetings

Netflix and Disney bagged the lion's share of trophies at this year’s Golden Globe awards. The success of streaming services at the awards mirrors the boom they’ve experienced in the last 12 months, with subscriber numbers boosted by coronavirus lockdowns. But as they celebrated their victories, the awards show itself was an unexpected loser.

#GoldenGlobes #Netflix #Disney

Spanish police have raided FC Barcelona's offices and stadium as part of an investigation into the football club's finances.

Several arrests were made, with former president Josep Maria Bartomeu reportedly among them. The operation stems from last year's 'Barca-gate' affair in which the club was found to have contracted marketing consultancy I3 Ventures to monitor social media activity. It led to protests from supporters and to board members stepping down, including Bartomeu later in October. The arrests come just days before the club's presidential elections are set to take place. Kieran Maguire is a sports finance specialist at the University of Liverpool. He joined us from Manchester in the UK.

#Barcagate #BarcelonaFootballClub #JosepMariaBartomeu

Global markets have rallied after US lawmakers moved one step closer to approving a fresh round of economic stimulus. The House of Representatives has approved the 1-point-9 trillion dollar proposal put forward by the White House, and it's expected to pass the Senate along party lines. But as Paolo Montecillo reports, the package neglects one important concern, and is likely to disappoint progressives. We spoke Mickey Levy who joined us from New York. He's the chief US economist at Berenberg Capital Markets.

#Senate #USstimulus #AidBill