Empire of the sun: a solar power revolution
2024-06-20
No energy source has ever increased as fast as solar photovoltaics. The technology will transform humanity’s energy consumption–even when the sun doesn’t shine. Many people associate champagne with success but wine collectors often shun it. Now global sales are fizzing (10:51).
One dam thing after another? Ukraine and reconstruction
2024-06-07
When Russia attacked the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine a year ago, lives were lost, families stranded and towns submerged. But from that devastation emerged discussion on post-war reconstruction (https://www.economist.com/interactive/europe/2024/06/05/russias-explosion-of-a-huge-ukrainian-dam-had-surprising-effects). Our correspondent spent months investigating Narendra Modi (https://www.economist.com/audio/podcasts/the-modi-raj), the strongman who was humbled at this week’s Indian election (10:02). And remembering Barry Kemp (https://www.economist.com/obituary/2024/06/06/barry-kemp-spent-his-career-digging-up-akhenatens-abandoned-city), the Egyptologist who dug up Akhenaten’s abandoned city (17:18).
Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and
Labour’s pains: Britain’s growth problem
2024-06-06
As Britain’s general-election campaign heats up, party leaders are vague on their economic plans (https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/06/03/can-britains-economy-grow-as-fast-as-it-needs-to). With growth so slow, how could the victor energise the economy? We visit the D-day beaches 80 years on, as war rages in Europe once again (10:19). And Venice’s new daytripper fee (https://www.economist.com/culture/2024/05/13/venices-new-admission-fee-cannot-curb-overtourism) is designed to curb crowds. But putting a price on protecting beauty is proving controversial (17:42).
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Choose this podcast: abortion and the election
2024-05-31
In 2022 the Supreme Court gave control of abortion back to “the people and their elected representatives.” This November will be the greatest test yet of what that means. Democrats are running hard on the issue (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/05/30/the-pro-choice-movement-that-could-help-joe-biden-win?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=checksandbalance&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners) and as many as 16 states will vote directly on abortion. A grassroots movement
Sam Altman on AGI: people will freak out then move on
2024-01-18
If artificial general intelligence is achieved, it will be able to outperform humans on most intellectual tasks. The Economist asks Sam Altman, the boss of OpenAI, how worried the world should be about AGI.
Watch the full interview here: https://econ.st/3RUSgzm
Altman: there’s no magic red button to stop AI
2024-01-17
Sam Altman, chief executive of OpenAI, talks to The Economist’s Editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, about how he navigates the risks raised by artificial intelligence.
Click here to view the full interview: https://econ.st/3RUSgzm
Why is Ethiopia risking war for a port?
2024-01-09
Ethiopia’s president, Abiy Ahmed, has signed a deal with Somaliland to get his landlocked country direct access to the sea. Abiy hails this as an act of diplomacy, but could it destabilise an already volatile part of the world?
00:00 – a new dispute in the Horn of Africa
01:00 – the historical context
01:29 – the implications of the new deal
Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: https://econ.st/3QAawvI
Read more about the region: https://econ.st/4b1lIwv
Ethiopia’s deal with Somaliland: https://econ.st/3tJGQGB
Why does Ethiopia want access to a seaport?: https://econ.st/3H9RA45
Why Somaliland isn’t a recognised state: https://econ.st/48pfwMY
Conflict in the Horn of Africa: https://econ.st/48mt7of
The most important elections to watch in 2024
2023-12-31
More than half the people on the planet live in countries that will hold nationwide elections in 2024. In theory it should be a triumphant year for democracy. In practice it will be the opposite
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