Category Archive: 5) Global Macro

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Don’t mention the war: Russia’s internal tensions

2025-01-01

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There is no simplistic split of sentiment about Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine. But what most Russians want is a return to normal that now seems impossible (https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/11/28/the-war-in-ukraine-is-straining-russias-economy-and-society?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). Our The...

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Billions of voices heard: a year of elections

2024-12-31

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In some places, votes resulted in political chaos; in others they showed a promising shift away from identity politics. Our deputy editor looks back on 2024’s pile of polls. Looking ahead, we examine the Chinese cities...

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"Too Big to Care" and the Illusion of Choice

2024-12-30

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2024-12-30

In a functional economy with real competition and transparency, every one of these cartel-corporations would be driven out of business by their 'too big to care' incompetence.

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2024 in 90 seconds

2024-12-30

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Our pages have been full of suffering in 2024. War has raged on three continents: the world watched Gaza, Lebanon and Ukraine most closely, but the fighting in Sudan was the most deadly. Storms, tempests, floods and fires have ruined lives, and taken them. ⁠ ⁠ All the while, the rivalry between countries siding with China and the American-led Western alliance has deepened, even as America has chosen as president a man whose commitment to that...

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Of peanuts and principles: Jimmy Carter dies

2024-12-30

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After a single term and a landslide loss to Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter’s presidency was judged unduly harshly. What matters, though, are the principles he held dear...

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Passing mentions: the notable lives lost in 2024

2024-12-27

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From a legendary baseball slugger (https://www.economist.com/obituary/2024/06/26/willie-mayss-philosophy-was-simple-they-throw-the-ball-i-hit-the-ball?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) to a beloved comic actor...

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Tomes will tell: books that predict the future

2024-12-26

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Some people read books to escape. Others turn to them for instruction. As the new year looms, our correspondents – and listeners – consider which titles can help forecast what’s coming next. Picks include “Rainbows End” by Vernor Vinge, “Nuclear War” by Annie Jacobsen, “Not the End of the World” by Hannah Richie and “Orbital” by Samantha Harvey. This is a full list of the books mentioned in the show: “Rainbow’s End, A Deepness in the Sky and A...

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Good moos: cows could help the climate

2024-12-24

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Cows (https://www.economist.com/international/2024/12/12/what-has-four-stomachs-and-could-change-the-world?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) produce far more milk in rich countries than in poor ones. Our correspondent explains how beefing up bovine productivity could feed more people and reduce...

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The club rules? India’s RSS

2024-12-23

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Is it a community-minded boys’ club, like the Scouts? A breeding ground for seething Hindu nationalism? A paramilitary puppetmaster of India’s governing elite? Our correspondent attends the annual bash of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. As Gulf countries diversify away from oil, their leaders are shifting their focus to science and innovation (11:03). And introducing our word of the year...

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Country of the year: The Economist picks

2024-12-20

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In the past 12 months, there has been no lack of news. Editors at The Economist have picked their way through the rubble to uncover some optimism: which country (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/12/19/the-economists-country-of-the-year-for-2024?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) has seen the greatest...

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Between Estonia and a hard place: NATO meets

2024-12-19

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At the icy border between Russia and Estonia, the anxieties of NATO member states are clear, our correspondent reports. Leaders there have been debating defence spending...

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Mass graves: revealing Syria’s horror

2024-12-18

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Ten days after the fall of Syria’s dictator Bashar al-Assad, the full brutality of his rule (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/12/09/inside-bashar-al-assads-dungeons?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) is being uncovered. Our correspondent travels to a site near Damascus, thought to be a...

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Why Putin is in an economic bind #Putin #Russia #Ukraine #geopolitics

2024-12-17

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Most central banks are cutting interest rates. But Russia has recently hiked them—to 21%. Why? Because Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine is overheating his economy

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Scholz fired: Germany calls snap election

2024-12-17

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After Olaf Scholz (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/12/13/what-to-expect-after-germanys-confidence-vote?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), Germany’s chancellor, lost a confidence vote in parliament yesterday, Germany is preparing for a snap election. Urban waste is a growing problem...

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Will Russian troops stay in Syria?

2024-12-16

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Since the fall of Assad’s regime there’s been speculation over the future of Russia’s presence in Syria. Our Middle East correspondent reports on negotiations that might mean Russia will be able to keep its military bases #syria #assad #middleeast #russia #geopolitics

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Off-side: Georgians reject new president

2024-12-16

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This weekend, the ruling Georgian Dream party elected a new president – but only one name was on the ballot. That sparked further street protests, as our correspondent reports. Why a new US administration will find it hard to cut costs at NASA...

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Minds blown: are we getting dumber?

2024-12-13

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Many adults perform worse (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/12/12/can-you-read-as-well-as-a-ten-year-old?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) in tests of literacy and numeracy than the average ten year old. And results have worsened in the past decade. Are our brains rotting? Russia’s economy...

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Intel in slide: a chipmaker on the ropes

2024-12-12

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Layoffs, suspended dividends, a share price in free fall, a chief executive hustled out the door: Intel is in a bad way (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/12/02/intels-troubles-deepen-as-its-boss-makes-an-abrupt-exit?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). But America needs a chipmaking champion, so what...

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Could AI build cities in space?

2024-12-12

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Fast forward into the future, when building in space is normal, from huge satellites and spacecraft in orbit, to entire cities on the Moon and Mars. Could robots guided by AI make it happen? Video supported by @mishcon_de_reya 00:00 - Future of building in space 00:43 - Machina Labs 02:15 - Could we 3D print in space? 02:44 - Infrastructure on the Moon 03:25 - AI & robotics on Mars 04:41 - History of AI in space 05:41 - Challenges to...

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Bye, cell: inside a notorious Syrian prison

2024-12-11

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As Syrians awoke to a new era, thousands rushed to fling open the dark, filthy prisons (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/12/09/inside-bashar-al-assads-dungeons?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) where Bashar al-Assad locked up dissenters. Our correspondent followed along. The first of...

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