Iran’s former crown prince on its potential path to democracy
2026-01-16
The exiled son of Iran’s former shah says citizens are getting “butchered” by the regime and explains how he would plan to lead the country during a transition period.
In an interview with The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, Reza Pahlavi said his role would be to act as a neutral arbiter, oversee free elections and then transfer power to an elected parliament.
Watch our latest Insider show on Iran here: econ.st/49YL67h
What the collapse of Iran would mean: econ.st/49EBmh5
America’s options in Iran: econ.st/49TaDib
Bereft of legitimacy, the reeling regime in Iran massacres its own people: econ.st/4sFufxX
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Netanyahu on why journalists can’t enter Gaza without the IDF
2026-01-09
At least 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war and the international media has been barred from independently entering the strip altogether. In an interview with The Economist, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu says the Israel Defence Forces don’t target journalists and that their access is restricted because “it’s a warzone”.
The boundaries of superhumanity will be tested in 2026
2026-01-04
Derided as the “doping Olympics”, the Enhanced Games has drawn intense criticism from sporting bodies. But, as The Economist’s health editor Natasha Loder explains, human enhancement is already a $125bn industry.
Why Bangladesh sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death
2025-11-18
What does Sheikh Hasina’s conviction mean for Bangladesh’s future? Vishnu Padmanabhan, our Asia correspondent, and Rosie Blau, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, discuss how the former prime minister’s death sentence could reshape the country’s politics—and whether India will hand her over to authorities in Dhaka
00:00 – How was Sheikh Hasina sentenced?
00:34 – What caused last year’s protests?
01:45 – What has Sheikh Hasina been found guilty of
02:42 – How has the verdict been received in Bangladesh
03:36 – Was it a fair trial?
04:18 – What happens next for Bangladesh?
05:38 – How will this test India-Bangladesh relations?
Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/4o8cnrT
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Smoking is down, but why are profits up?
2025-11-16
People are smoking less so why are cigarette companies’ profits soaring? Jason Palmer, co-host of The Intelligence podcast, and Callum Williams, our senior economics writer, discuss why the tobacco industry is thriving despite the number of American adult smokers falling by around 20m people in the past decade.
00:00 – The economics of smoking
00:13 – Less people are smoking
00:52 – Why are tobacco shares thriving?
02:31 – Will cigarettes keep getting more expensive?
Listen to the full episode: https://econ.st/3LABV3i
The counterintuitive economics of smoking: https://econ.st/488Y41i
What nicotine does to your brain: https://econ.st/484bJH3
How harmful are electronic cigarettes?: https://econ.st/49eNgjw
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#economics #health
What is the future of the UN?
2025-09-24
Is the United Nations still fit for purpose? Anton La Guardia, diplomatic editor at The Economist, discusses the future of the UN as it marks its 80th birthday with co-host of The Intelligence Jason Palmer.
0:00 – What is the state of the United Nations at 80?
0:44 – Macron recognises aPalestinian state: why is this significant?
2:11 – Why does American funding matter so much?
5:00 – What does the UN look like without America?
5:45 – Will the UN decay or be “Trumpified”?
7:02 – Could the UN come through this period stronger?
Listen to the full episode:https://econ.st/3Vw8pxn
The UN’s grim future: https://econ.st/4mxJHrE
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#theeconomist #unitednations #donaldtrump
How OnlyFans transformed porn
2025-08-05
OnlyFans transformed the online porn industry by charging users to subscribe. Its most famous creator, Bonnie Blue, told The Economist she made $250,000 from the site in March 2025. With the platform now on sale for $8bn, who might buy it?
Why are people dying for gold?
2025-07-25
As the price of gold has risen so has the violence linked to mining it. Cartels in Peru and Colombia now make more money from gold than cocaine. In South Africa dozens of illegal miners died after they were sealed in an abandoned mine.
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