346 - BRICS: its aims and how it challenges G7 influence
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
Release Date: 11/29/2024
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Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
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396 - GLP-1 Inhibitors
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
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393 - The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam - Bonus D2V (Members only)
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
In this Members-only Bonus Vocabulary episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan provide bonus vocabulary explanations and examples for words and phrases used in . After explaining the words and expressions in the context of how they were used in ‘’, Skip and Dez demonstrate how these words and phrases can be used through a business conversation role-play. The words they explain are: To be under the weather (idiom) To carry weight (verb phrase) To do something unilaterally ‘(adjective) To denounce (verb) To settle (verb)
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394 - Jaguar
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
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392 - The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
Brief Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is Africa’s biggest hydroelectric project. It is a great step forward for Ethiopia’s development, but it is also a source of conflict with Egypt and Sudan, which depend on the Nile River for almost all of their water. Overview In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega talk about how the GERD was built, why Ethiopia needs it, and why its neighbors are worried about its impact. They also look at how the project could bring both opportunities and risks to East Africa’s energy and business sectors....
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390 - Image Washing
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
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388 – The Stablecoin Gold Rush — Why Wall Street Is Betting on Digital Dollars
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
Brief Stablecoins are suddenly the hottest topic in global finance. From Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan, to governments in the U.S., Japan, and even China, everyone is rushing to get a piece of the digital dollar market. But what exactly are stablecoins, and why are they attracting so much attention? Overview In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega unpack the booming world of stablecoins. They explain what makes stablecoins different from cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, why new U.S. regulations (the GENIUS Act) have given them legitimacy,...
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Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
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382 - Reimagining Wearables
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
Brief Smart glasses are making a comeback, with big tech companies hoping these AI-powered wearables will soon become part of everyday life. But will smart glasses finally become popular, or will they fail again like before? Overview In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan talk about the return of smart glasses. They discuss why Google’s first smart glasses did not succeed, and how companies like Meta, Amazon, Snap Inc., and Google are trying again with new features and better technology. Insights Skip and Dez’s conversation will help you better...
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380 - Back to the Workshop: The Rise of Blue-Collar Careers
Down to Business English: Business News to Improve your Business English
Brief Blue-collar jobs are making a comeback around the world. As white-collar office work loses some of its shine, skilled trades are attracting more people than ever before—with higher pay, job security, and newfound respect. But what’s driving this shift, and what challenges still face blue-collar workers today? Overview In this episode of Down to Business English, Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega dive into the rising popularity of blue-collar careers. They explore why young people are increasingly choosing trade roles over office jobs, how wages are changing, and what it all means for...
info_outlineBrief:
The BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa— are taking steps to challenge the influence of the G7 by promoting economic cooperation, reducing reliance on the US dollar, and creating opportunities for the Global South.
Overview:
In this episode of D2B, Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan explore the origins and evolution of BRICS, from its beginnings as a term coined by a Goldman Sachs economist to its expansion as a formal organization. They discuss the group's goals, including fostering economic collaboration among member nations, reducing dependence on Western-dominated systems like SWIFT, and advocating for a multipolar world order. Skip and Dez talk about how BRICS’ growing membership positions it as a potential counterweight to the G7.
Insights:
- BRICS: Initially a term coined in 2001 to describe emerging economies.
- Goals: Economic cooperation, equitable global governance, reduced reliance on the US dollar, and greater representation for developing economies.
- Expansion: Recent additions include Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the UAE, creating "BRICS+," with other nations cooperating as partners.
- Comparisons with the G7: BRICS+ represents 33% of global GDP and 3.5 billion people, surpassing the G7 in population and rivaling its economic influence.
In Summary:
D2B 346 examines how BRICS is evolving to challenge the G7’s dominance and support the interests of developing nations. Skip and Dez discuss the group’s initiatives, including fostering trade, advocating for a new global reserve currency, and encouraging a multipolar world order. They also highlight how BRICS+ nations could reshape global economic policies while navigating their internal differences.
Take Action:
Follow Down to Business English to stay informed on international economic developments and join the D2B community for discussions on how global organizations like BRICS and the G7 shape the world economy.
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