The Weekend Intelligence: The Apology

2024-10-16

By reshaping the balance between humans and technology on the battlefield, cheap drones are transforming warfare in Ukraine. Shashank Joshi, our defence editor, explains how.

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How cheap drones are transforming warfare in Ukraine: https://econ.st/4eR1Ayr

What are FPV drones?: https://econ.st/4hbUHcL

2024-08-27

Since the invasion of Ukraine, the West has deployed massive economic restrictions (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/08/19/the-mysterious-middlemen-helping-russias-war-machine?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) on Russian trade. So why is Russia’s economy growing? A survivor’s story from the forgotten conflict (https://www.economist.com/podcasts/2024/08/24/the-war-the-world-ignores?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 Sudan (10:47). And Turkey tries to rid its streets of stray dogs

2024-08-22

Predicting political violence is a painstaking job. Now AI is helping analysts (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/07/31/how-america-built-an-ai-tool-to-predict-taliban-attacks?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) look for clues and throwing up fascinating insights into the shifts that may indicate a strike is coming. Why Cuba could be heading towards economic and social collapse (https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2024/07/21/cuba-is-out-of-supplies-and-out-of-ideas?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) (11:01). And

2024-08-20

While many people fear the risk of a wider war breaking out in the Middle East, a parallel battle (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/08/15/irans-electronic-confrontation-with-israel?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 already ongoing – in the digital sphere. Can China challenge a long-standing duopoly (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/07/25/can-china-smash-the-airbus-boeing-duopoly?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 the airline industry (10:16)? And the latest Carrie Bradshaw index

2024-08-16

Inflation, interest rates and jobless numbers are on healthy trends; markets are gaining back ground. As the spectre of global recession fades (https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/08/07/a-global-recession-is-not-in-prospect?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) we ask why fear has persisted. In the second instalment of our series on dating (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/08/08/why-people-have-fallen-out-of-love-with-dating-apps?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) we look at what singles are doing beyond the apps

2024-06-28

America’s president had one primary task at last night’s debate: to close down speculation about his mental faculties. It went so poorly (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/06/28/joe-bidens-horrific-debate-performance-casts-his-entire-candidacy-into-doubt?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) his whole campaign is now in doubt. Tentative results from a newish instrument give tantalising hints

2024-06-19

Both the left and right are likely to do well in France’s upcoming parliamentary poll, with President Emmanuel Macron’s party squeezed in the middle. The snap election could leave the country in chaos (https://www.economist.com/europe/2024/06/16/france-is-being-thrown-into-uncharted-territory). In America, recreational use of weed is now commonplace, but what impact does it have on users’ wellbeing (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/06/06/is-americas-weed-habit-dangerous) (10:06)? And the joy of short books (https://www.economist.com/the-economist-reads/2024/05/31/six-non-fiction-books-you-can-read-in-a-day): the intense pleasure of a quickie (17:40).

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2024-06-14

Britain’s pint-sipping rabble-rouser of the right has joined the campaigning (https://www.economist.com/britain/2024/06/06/the-return-of-the-farage-ratchet?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) ahead of a general election. Win or lose, he will make an impact. America’s stadiums and arenas are often built using taxpayer dollars; they are also often terrible value for money (https://www.economist.com/united-states/2024/06/03/a-new-wave-of-stadium-building-is-busting-budgets-in-america?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) (10:08). And a tribute