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Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s crown prince, is a huge video-game fan . Now his hobby is becoming a multi-billion-dollar industry for the kingdom, which is acquiring some of the world’s biggest gaming firms. How Finnish icebreakers became a focus for polar power politics. And the NBA plays its first basketball game on Chinese soil in six years. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information abou...
Donald Trump has brokered an agreement between Israel’s government and Hamas. It’s a momentous breakthrough. Our correspondent analyses what comes next. We launch “ The Economist Insider ”, our new TV show for subscribers, where senior editors debate the news. And, do red-light masks actually work? Jason tries one… Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+...
France’s newly-appointed prime minister has resigned only weeks into the job. Now President Emmanual Macron has given him 48 hours to come up with a plan for next year’s budget. Can Macron survive the turmoil? As driverless taxis take over San Francisco, what will happen to the human drivers? And remembering Jilly Cooper, queen of the bonkbuster Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about ho...
The swiftest way for Prime Minister Mark Carney to ease pressure on Canada’s economy is to convince President Donald Trump today to pare back tariffs. But he has far broader plans afoot, too. A heady online mix of e-commerce and entertainment is creating a new generation of shopping addicts. And why John Singer Sargent’s posh-folk portraits are again in fashion. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vis...
As negotiators gather in Egypt, appetite for a short-term peace seems high on all sides. But there is much ambiguity surrounding a lasting accord. In New York, renters fear being evicted far less than they once did—but pity flat-hunters. And remembering Kim Seong Min , a North Korean defector who dedicated his life to getting information back to his erstwhile countrymen. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, ...
A telling local-election loss, persistent allegations of scandal and an American pledge to prop up the peso: much is chipping away at the experiment of Argentina’s President Javier Milei. Long after the twin troubles of a pandemic and interest-rate rises, America’s commercial-property sector might at last be recovering . And we return to an interview with Jane Goodall from our archives. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Econo...
Russia’s dark-fleet maritime operations and brazen incursions into NATO airspace appear to be precision-engineered to test Western resolve. We ask how this new phase of aggression may end. Our correspondent reports from Madagascar, where young people are leading unprecedented anti-government protests . And a return to the topic of sunlight’s benefits : we sift through the mailbag of listeners’ questions and comments. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more inform...
After Republicans and Democrats failed to compromise on the budget bill, money to US federal agencies has officially been cut off . Donald Trump threatens “irreversible cuts”. The gaping security flaws in generative AI. And don’t call your colleague a moron, and other tips on how to prevent office feuds . Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please v...
After pressure from US President Donald Trump, Israel’s Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has been strong-armed into agreeing a deal for Gaza . Will Hamas sign up too? Our correspondent analyses the path to peace. Lululemon needs a legging-up. And why leopards, crows and monkeys populate India’s cities. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit o...
The collapse of Russia’s wartime economy has long been foretold, yet massive fiscal stimulus has compensated for the effect of sanctions. Though the pinch is now being felt, the labour market is surprisingly resilient. Protesters in China are getting more creative. And why car touchscreens are a hazard. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vis...
President Donald Trump’s executive order ostensibly puts a years-long debate to bed. But questions persist about who will own— and influence —TikTok’s American operations. We examine the evidence on how climate change will aid the spread of dengue fever, a brutal and potentially deadly disease. And a tribute to Patrick McGovern, who obsessively recreated boozy beverages of yore. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Pod...
A snapshot of the country reveals deepening military and economic problems—and, perhaps above all, political ones . America’s efforts to clamp down on skilled-worker visas will have far-reaching unintended consequences . And globally, more children today are obese than underweight. We look at which countries are worst affected. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our vide...
A long-suspected defence partnership between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan has burst into the open . We ask what Pakistan’s extension of its nuclear umbrella will mean. As Chinese brands sweep the world, some (such as Biemlfdlkk) are wisely changing their names . And a look through history at how authoritarians deal, or do not, with the comedians who mock them . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit ...
This episode delves into the precarious state of the United Nations at its 80th anniversary, examining how US actions and geopolitical shifts threaten its future, and exploring potential scenarios for its survival. It also highlights the growing importance of small language models in the AI industry as alternatives to computationally intensive large models, and meets London's determined black cab students navigating the rigorous "Knowledge" test amidst competition from ride-hailing services and the looming advent of driverless cars.
Part commemoration, part megachurch meeting , largely political rally—the memorial service for Charlie Kirk revealed much about how the Trump administration intends to respond to his killing. Sunlight may have got a worse rap than it deserves; we examine the evidence of its benefits . And why today’s pop songstresses sing less about men’s evil deeds and more about their mediocrity . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist...
India is becoming one of the largest markets for Artificial Intelligence and shaping how the technology develops. Our correspondent assesses what type of AI superpower the country could be. Tracking the meltdown at Swiss chocolatier Nestlé . And celebrating the life of Robert Redford . Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page o...
Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca has paused a £200m investment in Britain and could move its primary listing to America. Can the UK maintain its status as a “life-science superpower”? Why autonomous air wings are the future of war in the sky. And how scientists in the Caribbean are restoring the barrier reef through “coral IVF”. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Econo...
A new United Nations report says Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute “genocide”. That has not deterred Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, from mounting a ground offensive on Gaza City. The stakes – and steaks – of Donald Trump’s state visit to Britain. And life-hacks , Chinese style. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQ...
Falling fertility makes a global decline in population inevitable. That will change the shape and make up of societies. But it may not make us poorer. Are large language models really woke ? And reading is on the wane – and why that matters. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to link your...
After Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years in prison for trying to organise a coup in 2023, Donald Trump accused Brazil of staging a “witch hunt”. How will America respond? Niche sports like padel and tag are now attracting sponsorship and broadcast deals. And meet the real Lord Downton: Julian Fellowes . Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, plea...
A high-stakes tussle about who will take over Fox and News Corp from Rupert Murdoch has concluded ; Lachlan, his eldest son, came out on top. Will the new boss be the same as the old boss? Our correspondent looks at kush , a synthetic opioid tearing through west Africa. And a look back on the life and style of Giorgio Armani . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video...
America’s most prominent young conservative was assassinated while conducting one of his signature campus events. His death might only widen political divides. In Asia a broad trend of deflation points to lower prices but unhealthy economies . And what happens when spiritual leaders are given hallucinogens . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page or watch our video explaining how to ...
Qatar had positioned itself as a regional mediator, a safe space for negotiations. Israel’s previously unthinkable airstrikes have put an end to that reputation, and to near-term peace talks for Gaza. As demand for chocolate grows just as climate change affects supply, science is weighing in on alternatives. And a data deep-dive on whether America’s tourist numbers are slumping. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Pod...
There is a growing awareness of how high temperatures affect expectant mothers and their babies. We look at the evidence for a climate-change effect that is already manifest . Marks and Spencer, a beloved retail chain, is emerging from sales slumps and recovering handily from a cyber-attack. And the policy moves to address India’s notoriously gridlocked roads . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please vis...
An unpopular budget will probably spark the ousting of another prime minister , Francois Bayrou—and with him goes another government. Parliamentary impasse is now business as usual, and voters are fed up. Getting Chinese spenders spending is tricky, so policy wonks are at last considering reforming the stingy pension system. And why so many people listen to podcasts at warp speed . Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ . For more information about how to access Economist ...
When the incoming chief of Britain’s secret services takes the helm on October 1st, she must balance competing priorities and navigate a world in which technology has made spycraft both tougher and riskier. Could nuclear power finally start to fulfil its potential? And remembering refugee and entrepreneur Stephanie Shirley . Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about how to access Economist...
Our correspondent meets Iraq’s prime minister Muhammad al-Sudani to discuss the country’s construction boom, its future aspirations and the obstacles that must still be overcome. Visit America’s YIMBY iest neighbourhood: the place where Americans actually want to increase the local population. And how superstition in Hong Kong can haunt the economy. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information abou...
This episode delves into China's increasing global influence, highlighted by a military parade and a diplomatic summit showcasing new alliances and a challenge to the US-led order. It also explores how AI is revolutionizing cybercrime, making sophisticated attacks cheaper and more frequent, costing businesses billions. Finally, the discussion covers the struggles and regulatory challenges faced by Britain's declining strip club industry.
America’s health secretary, RFK Jr, is known for his opposition to vaccines, particularly mRNA jabs , that have the potential to treat a large swathe of diseases. Slashing funding will have long term implications beyond America. Our correspondent visits Britain’s biggest and newest supercomputer . And why Mexicans love Japanese and Korean culture. Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology— Subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ For more information about ...
Indonesia faces a major crisis with widespread protests ignited by political corruption and economic inequality, testing President Prabowo's populist rule. Meanwhile, scientists warn of a looming climate catastrophe: the potential collapse of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), which could drastically alter Europe's climate and trigger global knock-on effects. The episode also highlights a unique cultural phenomenon in China, where "facekinis" have evolved from beachwear to a popular streetwear item, fueling a multi-billion dollar sun protection industry.
