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In an episode first broadcast on 13th February 2020, just a couple of weeks before the Covid pandemic started, Professor Tim Evans of Middlesex University examined why big construction projects such as Crossrail and HS2 go over budget, what ought to be done about the BBC and its licence fee and he cast a look back over the UK's troubled relationship with the EU during its 47-year membership. In the light of Rishi Sunak's cancellation last week of HS2 north of Birmingham, it's interesting to note the strains in the HS2 project which were already evident three and half years ago. Meanwhile here's the link to our more recent commentary, Public Finance Disasters in Small Print: https://www.shareradio.co.uk/thinkingaloud/newsletters/comment-wc-2023-08-07/

James Cameron-Wilson takes Simon Rose through the box office chart, led by The Exorcist: Believer which, despite the presence of Ellen Burstyn, James found boring, underlit & clichéd. He thought Gareth Edwards' sci-fi epic The Creator at #2 visually powerful and his best film to date. While Saw 10 (#3) was ingenious, James found it horribly sadistic and gave him a sleepless night, something a film rarely does. He thought The Great Escaper (#4) with Michael Caine & Glenda Jackson a padded anecdote rather than a film. Ken Loach's The Old Oak (#8) was marred by a contrived ending. Way down at #31, though, he found the documentary 20 Days In Mariupol about the invasion of Ukraine needed a strong stomach but was an amazing record of life in a war zone.

With Simon Rose enjoying a short break, we bring you a short episode featuring two opportunities: the Sustain — Social event in London on 21st October (find all the details and booking arrangements at https://sustain.social and book using the discount voucher code SHARERADIO50), and the need for young adults to claim their Child Trust Fund account via https://findCTF.sharefound.org

Russ Mould of A J Bell looks at the effect conflicts have had on financial markets using the All-Share Index since it was instituted in 1962. While recognising that much else is more important, he concludes that, by and large, the reaction of markets is not long lasting. The big exception was 1973's Yom Kippur War which led to the 73-4 oil price shock. While events may not be directly comparable, with inflation heightened and debt at astronomic heights, we have to hope that the US economy does not hit the buffers. Russ's Nostrodamic view is that as governments can't afford deflation, interest rates will be pushed lower. Please note: Russ's inability to access broadband means that sound quality is variable in places.

Steve Caplin talks tech with Simon Rose. Manchester is to trial AI-controlled traffic lights, Prada are to make spacesuits to go to the moon while there's a watch commemoriating Neil Armstrong which contains moon dust. There's a wheelchair which can climb stairs, Japanese businessmen can nap upright in a Giraffenap and nouvelle cuisine goes mobile with food dancing around the plate. All this and more.

Adam Cox uses the extreme transformation of the caterpillar into a butterfly in order to inspire a radical transformation in attitude: leaving behind a difficult past to step into a new future of hope and opportunity.

BYD is on Tesla’s heels, but we all know Elon Musk loves a challenge. Ron Gross and Bill Mann discuss the jobs report, and why they’re paying attention to mortgage rates, credit card delinquencies and inventory levels heading into earnings season, Meta’s plans to offer a monthly subscription to users in the EU, Cyberattacks hitting Clorox, MGM, and Caesar’s and China’s BYD heating up the race in EVs. Then, 19 minutes in, Elon Musk’s biographer Walter Isaacson explains Musk’s fascination with X and how his fixation on mission fuels his innovative and entrepreneurial spirit. Finally, 33 minutes in, Bill and Matt break down two stocks on their radar: Chevron and Burford Capital. Stocks discussed: META, CLX, MGM, CZR, TSLA, KVUE, ASR. Host - Dylan Lewis; Guests - Bill Mann, Ron Gross, Ricky Mulvey, Walter Isaacson

Not everyone has a bank in the developing world, but mobile phones are everywhere. Mary Long and Asit Sharma discuss the evolution of payments in India, micropayments versus credit cards, how MercadoLibre is gaining traction with cross-border payments in Latin America, and the move for payments companies to become a superapp. Companies mentioned: GOOG, GOOGL, PG, PAYTM, TOST, PYPL, MELI, DLO, BABA. Host - Mary Long; Guest - Asit Sharma

Inflation is easing, food prices are coming down from their peak and the energy price cap dropped last weekend. But you are still paying around 10% more for your groceries now than last year, petrol prices are rising, mortgage rates are still high, and you may end up paying more for your gas and electricity this winter too. But how is that possible? Angharad Carrick, Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane tackle energy bills and look at who might be paying more in the next three months. And when it comes to water bills, some firms are looking at charging 44% more over the next seven years. Why? Crane on the Case tackles a parking charge issued after someone waited too long in a McDonald’s drive-thru queue. Despite that, Helen managed to get a positive result – but why are so many parking charges being dished out every day, and where is the promised government help to stop it happening? Lee gives you a run through of another busy week in the world of savings and banking. NS&I has pulled its best buy one year fix paying 6.2%; NatWest has a secret top 5.2% easy-access deal; Moneybox is offering the top cash ISA of 5%; and Starling Bank is now offering to pay you for having a current account. It’s also been a hairy week for Metro Bank – but we explain why FSCS has you covered. And finally — the list of the UK's 'perfect' retirement locations has been revealed - and there are some surprising names on it, including the Outer Hebrides. Consumer group Which? has taken retirees' wish-lists for their later-life locations to work out its own grouping of the 12 top places to spend your golden years. But does it tally up to what you think is a perfect retirement location?

As the Party Conference season draws to a close, we check out last week's rather lacklustre Conservative event and add some thoughts to Sunak's agenda for education. Meanwhile, for those more focused on how to invest and still meet the net zero targets, don't miss the Sustain:Social Investing Conference on Saturday 21st October! https://sustain.social Background music: 'Communicator' by Reed Mathis