The Intelligence from The Economist

General disarray: Russia’s military failures

Before the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s armed forces were believed to be lean, modern and fighting fit. We ask why they have performed <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/04/30/how-rotten-is-russias-army?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">so poorly</a>. A <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/04/30/a-turkish-court-sentences-activist-osman-kavala-to-life-in-prison?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">life sentence</a> for a Turkish activist portends heightened repression as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads for a tough election. And celebrating master harmonica player Toots Thielemans on the centenary of his birth. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Pipe down: Russia cuts gas to Poland and Bulgaria

By shutting off gas to Poland and Bulgaria, Russia has made <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/russia-cuts-off-gas-to-two-european-countries/21808988?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">an aggressive move</a> that may draw yet more European sanctions. How might the escalation end? The popularity of Singapore’s ruling party has slipped, a bit, so it has selected a <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/04/23/lawrence-wong-is-singapores-presumptive-next-prime-minister?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">kinder, gentler leader</a> ahead of elections in 2025. And why the delayed Art Biennale in Venice was <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/04/22/an-enthralling-show-inspired-by-leonora-carrington-opens-in-venice?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">worth the wait</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Strong suits: climate litigation

<p>Activists are tired of waiting for governments and companies to act on climate change. So increasingly they’re taking the matter <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2022/04/23/lawsuits-aimed-at-greenhouse-gas-emissions-are-a-growing-trend?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">to court</a>—with success. Egypt’s leaders claim the country is open for business, but the army has a <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/21/why-egypt-isnt-open-for-business?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">growing stranglehold</a> on the private sector. And even the trails up Mount Everest are being <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/04/16/the-fallout-from-europes-war-reaches-the-himalayas?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">affected</a> by the war in Ukraine.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

A bird in the hand: Elon Musk buys Twitter

The world’s richest man now <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/elon-musk-is-taking-twitters-public-square-private/21808958?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">has the keys</a> to one of the most influential social-media platforms. Can it be the free-speech wonderland he is aiming for? Should it? In America marriages involving those under the age of consent remain <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/02/26/child-marriage-in-america-has-fallen-sharply-but-not-far-enough?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">surprisingly common</a>; we examine why reform remains distant. And a look at the push to <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/spacesuits-are-showing-their-age/21808842?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">redesign</a> outdated, clunky spacesuits. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Le Pen pusher: Macron wins again

<p>Emmanuel Macron’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/04/24/emmanuel-macron-wins-a-second-term-as-frances-president?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">re-election</a> is historic and, for many, a relief. But, as we discuss in the final instalment of our French-election series, the campaign revealed divisions that will trouble his second term, and that he must now try to heal. A <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/the-west-needs-to-send-ukraine-more-and-better-weapons/21808849?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">staggering flow</a> of foreign weaponry has been a significant factor in Ukraine’s resistance; we examine the geopolitical implications of all that hardware. And the <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/04/13/the-cost-of-personalised-number-plates-is-rising-in-britain?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">pricey phenomenon</a> of Britain’s personalised licence plates.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Rwanda-on-Thames: Britain’s asylum proposal

BRITAIN’S GOVERNMENT has proposed sending asylum-seekers to <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2022/04/23/shipping-asylum-seekers-to-rwanda-could-wreck-the-refugee-convention" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rwanda</a>. The plan has been widely criticised as expensive and ineffective—but the greater danger is that the plan works. New research suggests that diversification, rather than boosting domestic production, may keep <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/04/23/new-research-spells-out-the-benefits-of-diverse-supply-chains" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">supply chains</a> resilient. And our correspondent considers the legacy of <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/04/21/charles-mingus-born-100-years-ago-was-a-unique-unruly-genius" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Charles Mingus</a>, an American composer and bassist born 100 years ago today. <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>

Knocking on hell’s Dvornikov: the battle for Donbas

<p>Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has entered a new phase, and its forces in Ukraine have a new commander—one with a history of targeting civilians. The next few weeks are likely to see huge, bloody battles for control of the eastern <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/russia-begins-a-new-phase-of-its-war-in-ukraine/21808840" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donbas</a> region. As Sunday’s presidential run-off vote approaches our French-election series <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/03/03/emmanuel-macrons-charm-offensive?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">profiles</a> the incumbent, Emmanuel Macron. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/around-the-world-people-like-and-dislike-the-same-scents/21808584" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">smell</a> preferences vary little across cultures.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Sana’a sunrise: A ceasefire in Yemen

<p>In Yemen, fighting between Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths. Recently, a <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/16/war-ravaged-yemen-gets-a-truce-and-dumps-a-tired-president" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ceasefire</a> has taken hold — but whether it presages the war’s end or further fighting remains unclear. A new <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/03/26/a-new-film-on-kashmir-has-found-a-fan-in-narendra-modi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">film </a>about Kashmir has proven popular among Indian politicians, largely because it supports their Hindu-nationalist narrative. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/03/26/why-cricket-is-gaining-popularity-in-brazil" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">cricket</a> is taking off in Brazil.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

In neither camp: Neutrality and war

<p>ONE-THIRD of the world’s population lives in <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/why-so-much-of-the-world-wont-stand-up-to-russia/21808737" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">countries</a> backing neither Russia nor Ukraine. The Biden administration has tried to persuade them off the fence, without much success. In Egypt, social mores make it tricky for <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/09/why-single-women-in-egypt-find-it-hard-to-rent-a-flat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">women</a> to live alone—so they have devised clever tactics to avoid unwelcome attention. And why residents of New Jersey are <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/04/09/self-service-petrol-stations-hit-a-roadblock-in-new-jersey" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">banned</a> from pumping their own petrol—for now.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Running for cover: our Ukraine-refugees special

<p>The war in Ukraine has created the greatest flux of refugees in Europe since the second world war. We visit Poland, where the response has been <a href="https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2022/04/16/warsaws-mayor-explains-how-his-city-is-coping-with-a-17-increase-in-its-population?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">remarkably smooth</a>, and a New York neighbourhood that is <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/03/03/grief-rage-anxiety-voices-from-brighton-beach-new-yorks-russian-neighbourhood?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">no stranger</a> to émigrés from the region. And we consider the displaced who are largely overlooked: why are <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/26/istanbul-has-become-a-refuge-for-thousands-of-russians-escaping-putin?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">so many</a> Russians exiling themselves in Turkey?</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Girls interrupted: Afghanistan

When the Taliban resumed power, there were hopes that women might not be as excluded, repressed and abused as they were previously. Those hopes <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/04/02/the-taliban-are-pushing-females-out-of-public-life?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">have faded</a>. As smartphone sales plateau, tech giants are furiously searching for new platforms to conquer. Augmented and virtual reality are the new <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2022/04/09/from-apple-to-google-big-tech-is-building-vr-and-ar-headsets" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">battlefields</a>. And the rise of giga-everything: how the scale of science <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/04/09/as-the-scale-of-science-expands-so-does-the-language-of-prefixes?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">drives</a> linguistic innovation. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Food haul: aid trickles into Tigray

<p>A ceasefire agreed weeks ago should have mitigated the suffering of starving Ethiopians <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/13/ethnic-cleansing-of-tigrayans-may-prolong-ethiopias-civil-war?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">caught up in war</a>; we ask why so little aid has got through. Rebuilding Ukraine’s infrastructure and economy will require <a href="https://www.economist.com/briefing/2022/04/16/what-will-it-cost-to-rebuild-ukraine?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">staggering sums</a>—and a vast, international plan of action. And South Africa’s lockdown-era alcohol bans had a curious knock-on effect: crippling <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/04/16/why-south-africa-is-running-out-of-marmite" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shortages</a> of a beloved yeasty goo.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Just fine: Boris Johnson and “partygate”

<p>Police have served Britain’s prime minister, among others, with a fine for breaching the lockdown rules he instituted. He may yet again emerge unscathed, but Britain’s politics is <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/boris-johnson-broke-his-own-lockdown-rules/21808734?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">damaged nonetheless</a>. Florida’s natural environment has made it one of America’s fastest-growing states, yet environmental challenges represent its <a href="https://www.economist.com/special-report/2022/03/30/florida-faces-a-triple-threat-to-its-environment?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">biggest long-term challenge</a>. And Ukraine’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/ukraines-most-famous-rock-star-is-singing-for-victory/21808451?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">most famous rock star</a> joins the war effort.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

A stretch and a run: Brazil’s ex-president returns

<p>Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva left office with a sky-high approval rating, having raised millions from poverty—but was then convicted of corruption. <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/04/09/hailed-as-a-saviour-derided-as-a-thief-lula-is-back" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Now</a> he wants his old job back. Forced labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton fields, once widespread, is swiftly <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/03/05/uzbekistan-has-succeeded-in-abolishing-forced-labour" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">vanishing</a>. And an old hypothesis confirmed: <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/songbirds-get-more-colourful-the-closer-they-live-to-the-equator/21808592" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">birds</a> get more colourful the closer they live to the equator.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Le Pen is mightier than before: France’s election

<p>President Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen of the nationalist-populist National Rally party will advance to a run-off; in the continuation of <a href="https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2022/04/09/frances-election-could-be-a-cautionary-tale-for-centrists-everywhere-our-special-series-on-the-race" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our series</a>, we ask what to expect in an <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/04/10/emmanuel-macron-will-battle-marine-le-pen-for-the-french-presidency?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">unexpectedly tight race</a>. Russian military communications have proven <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/03/28/why-russian-radios-ukraine-war-intercepted-heavy-metal" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">easy to intercept</a>, leading to poor co-ordination and heavy battlefield losses. And South Korea’s millennials are <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/04/02/south-korean-millennials-battle-to-get-hold-of-pokemon-snacks?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">frantically hunting</a> for Pokémon-themed snacks.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Laïcité, extrémité, fragilité: our French-election series in full

<p>The first round of the presidential election is on Sunday and our first-ever series has been following the race closely. This compendium of the first six dispatches looks at the candidates, their platforms and the sharply shifting political landscape in France. </p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Gota the trouble: Sri Lanka’s crises

Through ineptitude and bad timing, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa—known as Gota—has driven his country toward ruin. Its people <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/sri-lankas-economic-crisis-has-created-a-political-one/21808595?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">want him out</a>. Russian forces have occupied <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/ordinary-ukrainians-are-resisting-vladimir-putins-occupying-force-in-kherson-and-elsewhere/21808101" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kherson</a> since early March. We hear a report from the ground about life under foreign occupation. And tasting awamori, a Japanese spirit that distillers may lift from the doldrums simply by <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/02/19/distillers-in-okinawa-are-trying-to-reinvent-the-local-firewater?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">watering it down</a>. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Nasty, brutish and long? The war’s next stage

Russian troops have withdrawn from suburban Kyiv to focus on the eastern Donbas region. With Western weapons for Ukraine flowing in, a grinding war of attrition looms. For our French-election series we meet members of Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, which has <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/france-2022?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">found success</a> by shifting the focus away from its extremist image. And why <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/03/26/a-guide-to-renamed-cities?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">a bid</a> to rename Turkey will be so fraught. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Zero's intolerance: Shanghai’s messy lockdown

China’s zero-covid policy is being <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/what-shanghai-lockdowns-mean-for-china-inc/21808450?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">stretched</a> to breaking point as the virus makes its way through the city. Supplies are low, residents are angry and there is no end in sight. The debate about air conditioning in America’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/03/19/debate-over-air-conditioning-in-american-prisons-will-heat-up?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">sweltering prisons</a> will only heat up further. And how a dispute about time from exactly a century ago remains timely today. Additional audio provided courtesy of Matthew Florianz. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

Bodies in the streets: Russian atrocities

Our correspondent reports from towns around Kyiv, where Russian forces appear to have committed <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/04/03/retreating-russian-troops-leave-behind-harrowing-evidence-of-atrocities" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">war crimes</a>, including summary executions and random murders. The <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/04/04/a-new-ipcc-report-says-the-window-to-meet-un-climate-targets-is-vanishing?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">last instalment</a> of a once-in-a-decade climate report suggests that meeting the more ambitious temperature goals set in Paris requires a “handbrake turn” on global emissions. And why Britain’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/03/26/machines-are-once-again-doing-the-car-washing-in-britain?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">car washes</a> are a rare example of “re-automation”. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

No-confidence interval: Pakistan’s embattled PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be trying everything to avoid an ouster. The powerful military brass may simply want a <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/04/01/who-is-shehbaz-sharif-pakistans-opposition-leader?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">new leader</a> who is less hostile to the West. Calls for tough sanctions on Russian oil are multiplying. But demand for it has already plummeted—and China and India <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/what-can-russia-do-to-sell-its-unwanted-oil/21808447?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">sniff a bargain</a>. And the <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/invasion-of-the-earthworms/21808464?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">earthworm invasion</a> beneath North America’s soil. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a> <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>

All opposed, say nothing: Hungary’s election

<p>Viktor Orban’s eight-year assault on the country’s institutions will help his bid for re-election. But the poll is <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/04/02/hungarys-opposition-struggles-to-beat-viktor-orbans-stealth-autocracy?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">far bigger</a> than Hungary: it is a verdict on autocracies everywhere. Britain welcomes the fees from its staggering number of Chinese university students; we examine the <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2022/03/12/chinese-money-is-pouring-into-british-universities?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">risks</a> that dependence poses. And a prescient Ukrainian <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/03/21/atlantis-envisaged-the-aftermath-of-a-russia-ukraine-war?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">war film</a> gets a new lease on life.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Oil and vodka: Russia’s resilient economy

<p>After Russia invaded Ukraine, Western businesses pulled out and governments imposed punishing sanctions. But <a href="https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/03/30/under-unprecedented-sanctions-how-is-the-russian-economy-faring" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Russia’s economy</a> is proving surprisingly resilient. In the instalment of our French election series, we travel to Provence to better understand <a href="https://www.economist.com/french-election-2022?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">the campaign</a> of the hard-right candidate Eric Zemmour, who has tapped into and stoked anti-Muslim sentiment. And why Lebanon’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/03/26/plastic-surgeons-make-a-bundle-despite-lebanons-economic-crisis" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">plastic surgeons</a> are thriving amid an economic mess.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Capital outflow: Russia changes tack

<p>It appears that Russian forces are withdrawing from Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, to focus on the eastern region of Donbas. We examine what the <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/28/russia-says-it-is-changing-its-war-aims-in-ukraine?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">shifting tactics</a> signify. A court in Singapore has refused to strike a colonial-era <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/03/05/singapores-high-court-retains-an-anti-gay-law?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">anti-gay law</a> from its books, despite the fact it is never enforced; we ask why. And what’s behind Bolivia’s <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/03/05/bolivia-is-awash-with-contraband-cars-from-japan?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">preponderance</a> of contraband Japanese cars.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Talk in Turkey: Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations

<p>Negotiators are again meeting face-to-face, this time in Istanbul. There is <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/23/ukraines-government-is-willing-to-make-big-concessions-to-end-the-war?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">little hope</a> of reaching an agreement at this stage—and even less that it would be adhered to. The metal cages appearing atop Russian tanks are intended to counteract anti-tank munitions; in practice their biggest effects seem to be <a href="https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/russian-tanks-in-ukraine-are-sprouting-cages/21808191?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">psychological</a>. And the extraordinary <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/03/24/parts-of-antarctica-have-been-40degc-warmer-than-their-march-average?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">heatwave</a> hitting the Antarctic.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

In the war room: our exclusive visit to Zelensky’s “fortress”

<p>Our editors traverse layers of security to reach the situation room where Ukraine’s president is so often seen addressing the world. <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/volodymyr-zelensky-on-why-ukraine-must-defeat-putin/21808448?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">They ask</a> about his decision to stay in Kyiv, which countries are proving most helpful and whether he always had all those green clothes. They find a man who speaks of determination and honesty, and whose sense of humour remains remarkably <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/03/27/in-the-war-room-with-volodymyr-zelensky?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">undimmed</a>.</p><p>Find an edited transcript of the interview <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/27/volodymyr-zelensky-in-his-own-words?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">here</a>. </p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>

Under fire: Life in Kharkiv

For the past month, one of our editors has spoken daily with a young man in <a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2022/03/21/like-the-middle-ages-only-with-bombs-inside-the-sieges-of-mariupol-and-kharkiv" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kharkiv</a>. Today he discusses his family's decision to leave their hometown for somewhere safer. <a href="https://www.economist.com/united-states/2022/02/25/joe-biden-nominates-ketanji-brown-jackson-to-the-supreme-court" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Ketanji Brown Jackson</a>, President Joe Biden’s nominee to the Supreme Court, faced questioning this week from a Senate Committee. And we look back at <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/03/23/the-oscars-the-trickiest-gig-in-showbusiness" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Oscars hosts</a> gone by. <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>

What little remains: The destruction of Mariupol

For weeks, Russian forces have besieged the Ukrainian port city of <a href="https://www.economist.com/europe/2022/03/21/hundreds-of-thousands-face-catastrophe-in-mariupol" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Mariupol</a>. Up to 90% of its structures have been destroyed, and while thousands have fled, plenty remain--without food, water, medicine or electricity. Najib Razak, once Malaysia’s prime minister, left office embroiled in scandal. Now <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2022/03/19/malaysias-disgraced-former-prime-minister-is-popular-again" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">he’s back</a> on the campaign trail. And Oman has set <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2022/03/12/why-omanis-are-required-to-dress-up" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">strict sartorial standards</a> around the dishdasha, its national dress. <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>

Vlad the in-jailer: Alexei Navalny sentenced

<a href="https://www.economist.com/1843/2021/05/02/ive-mortally-offended-putin-by-surviving-why-alexei-navalny-keeps-fighting" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Alexei Navalny</a> returned to Russia after being poisoned in an assassination attempt that many believe came from the Kremlin. He was immediately arrested, and yesterday his prison sentence was extended for nine years. But if Vladimir Putin hopes that ends his influence, he may be mistaken. The world has <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/disavow-some-russian-artists-dont-cancel-russian-art/21808190" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">turned against</a> Russian artists. And a new exhibition explores <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2022/03/19/african-americans-have-shaped-american-cuisine-in-surprising-ways" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">African-American contributions</a> to the American table. <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>

Russian to judgment: Putin accused of war crimes

<p>Joe Biden, among others, has called Vladimir Putin “a war criminal.” International tribunals have tried and convicted war criminals from Rwanda and Serbia: will Russia’s president <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2022/03/21/could-vladimir-putin-be-prosecuted-by-a-nuremberg-style-tribunal?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">suffer the same fate</a>? The war in Ukraine will disrupt the world’s wheat market, with potentially <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/how-the-invasion-of-ukraine-will-spread-hunger-in-the-middle-east-and-africa/21808072?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">grave political consequence</a>s in the Middle East. And three public-works projects in Mexico are <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2022/03/19/mexicos-new-megaprojects-may-do-more-harm-than-good?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">stirring controversy</a>.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></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>