On warhead be it: Saudi Arabia and Pakistan

About this episode

<p>A long-suspected defence partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has burst <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/09/22/would-you-shelter-under-pakistans-nuclear-umbrella?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">into the open</a>. We ask what Pakistan’s extension of its nuclear umbrella will mean. As Chinese brands sweep the world, some (such as Biemlfdlkk) are wisely <a href="http://www.economist.com/business/2025/09/11/how-do-you-pronounce-biemlfdlkk-the-brands-lost-in-translation?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">changing their names</a>. And a look through history at how authoritarians deal, or do not, with the <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/09/22/first-they-come-for-the-comedians?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">comedians who mock them</a>.</p><br><p><em>Get a world of insights by </em><a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>subscribing to Economist Podcasts+</em></a><em>. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our </em><a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>FAQs page</em></a><em> or watch </em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>our video</em></a><em> explaining how to link your account.</em></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>