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Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers.

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world.

From Our Own Correspondent: China, the USA and Chile

China, the USA and Chile

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, China, the USA and Chile

Justin Rowlatt sees Vegas and Macau bet on success; Gideon Long's on Robinson Crusoe isle.

Pascale Harter introduces personal stories from BBC correspondents abroad. Justin Rowlatt notes China's lessons for Las Vegas; Gideon Long visits the island which inspired the tale of Robinson Crusoe.

Insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers from around the world - presented by Pascale Harter. In this edition:


Betting on success - but for how long?

The unprecedented economic boom in China has been accompanied by a building boom, too. All around its cities, whole new suburbs and gleaming new skyscrapers spring up. But even the flashiest town can be brought back down to earth with a bump when economic growth starts to falter. 

Justin Rowlatt, visiting Las Vegas, asks whether its recent fortunes have any lessons for China - and wonders how long China's own winning streak might hold. 



Forget the palms - think pines and penguins

It's a fair bet that Daniel Defoe got inspiration for his novel 'Robinson Crusoe' from the real-life tale of castaway Alexander Selkirk. This 18th century Scottish sailor really did spend four years, marooned, alone, on a tiny island. But it was in the south Pacific, a world away from the Caribbean of Defoe’s book. 

The 'true' site is now called Robinson Crusoe Island, and Gideon Long - based in Chile - travelled 700 kilometres westward out to sea, to measure fact against  fiction.

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