Bear hug? China’s take on Ukraine

The detainment of King Charles’s brother is almost without precedent in Britain’s long royal history. He denies wrongdoing, but damage to “The Firm” is already assured. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have fallen into a very public spat that may have grave implications far beyond the region. And our obituaries editor reflects on the life of Jesse Jackson. Guests and host: Sonny Loughran, Britain writerGregg Carlstrom, Middle East correspondentAnn Wroe, Obituaries editorJason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Britain’s royal family, Jeffrey EpsteinSaudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, diplomacyJesse Jackson 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 link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korea’s ex-president, has been handed a life sentence for insurrection. That is by no means the end of the story of division in the country. Nervous AI-watchers fret about which workers might be replaced; our analysis suggests white-collar workers can breathe easy. And the memoir of Gisèle Pelicot, a rape survivor turned global symbol of strength. Guests and hosts: Noah Sneider, East Asia bureau chiefAlex Domash, economics correspondentAlexandra Suich Bass, Culture editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  South Korea, Yoon Suk YeolAI, white-collar jobsGisèle Pelicot, memoir 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 link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Income inequality abounds and today’s rich are staggeringly rich, implying that tax regimes are giving the wealthy more and more of a pass. Our dig into the numbers suggests the opposite. We ask why so many of the world’s international mercenaries hail from Colombia. And despite the signs, Spanish may be reaching its peak in America. Guests and hosts: Callum Williams, senior economics writerCarla Subirana, news editorLane Greene, senior digital editorRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  Taxation, welfare state, inequalityColombia, international mercenariesSpanish 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 link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many scientists are considering the notion of actively cooling the region that is warming fastest. We examine the merits and the risks—both environmental and geopolitical—of messing with the polar climate. We ask why the kind of gig economy that has struggled in many markets is booming in India. And an unsettling peek into the first social network for AI agents. Guests and hosts: Oliver Morton, senior editorCatherine Brahic, environment editorKira Huju, Asia correspondentAlex Hern, AI writerRosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”Jason Palmer, co-host of “The Intelligence” Topics covered:  The Arctic, climate change, geoengineeringIndia, gig economyAgentic AI, social networking, Moltbook 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 link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our data journalists trawled through the vast email archive of Jeffrey Epstein, a dead sex offender. It is a revealing look at how and with whom he communicated. As interest grows in banning young people’s use of social media, we argue there are better ways to mitigate harms. And a blindfolded introduction to “blouge”, a new, more climate-resilient wine variety. Guests and host: Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”Dan Rosenheck, data editorTom Wainwright, media editorTom Standage, deputy editor of The Economist Topics covered:  The Epstein filesSocial-media bans“Blouge” wine 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 link your account. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.