The Intelligence from The Economist

The aims of France, Britain and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state are laudable—but now is not the time [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/07/30/in-recognising-palestine-britain-and-france-wont-advance-peace?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 deploy what little leverage they have. AI optimists reckon the era of superintelligence will bring about explosive growth; we ask what that world would look like [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/07/24/the-economics-of-superintelligence?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]. And remembering Tom Lehrer [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/07/31/tom-lehrer-found-matter-worth-roasting-everywhere-he-looked?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], whose rare gift for satirical song skewered anything and anyone. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE, to use its proper name, is led by Bernard Arnault, who is credited with creating today’s luxury industry. Can he turn the firm around [https://www.economist.com/business/2025/07/26/can-bernard-arnault-steer-lvmh-out-of-crisis?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] after its missteps? Why do fluffy K-dramas tempt North Koreans [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/07/03/the-tv-shows-people-risk-death-to-watch?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 brave the firing squad? It is not the political messages. And our Big Mac index [https://www.economist.com/interactive/big-mac-index?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] shows trade-tantrum effects on the dollar. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

President Donald Trump’s animus [https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2025/07/24/trumps-astonishing-battering-of-brazil?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] towards his Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is best seen as solidarity with Jair Bolsonaro, another ousted president who clung to power. India has surpassed China as Asia’s biggest private-jet buyer [https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/07/24/the-new-private-jet-pecking-order?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 not only because of rising numbers of super-rich. And Hong Kong’s quirky fusion cafes bloom abroad [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/07/22/cha-chaan-teng-hong-kongs-quirky-fusion-cafes-are-going-global?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] as they thin out at home. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

Localised “tactical pauses” in Gaza relieve international pressure [https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/07/24/the-continuation-of-the-war-in-gaza-disgraces-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] on Israel more than they relieve the pressure of starvation on Gazans. We ask how the aid effort looks on the ground. Japan’s law on couples sharing surnames [https://www.economist.com/asia/2025/06/26/japans-civil-war-over-surnames?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 coming under fire; repealing it might actually help with the birthrate. And how Bad Bunny brought Spanish to the top of the charts [https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/07/10/how-bad-bunny-leapt-to-the-top-of-the-global-music-charts?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].   Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.

The European Union will swallow 15% tariffs in exchange for promises to buy American. We examine the accord [https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/07/28/europe-averts-its-trumpian-trade-nightmare?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] and ask what will stick. The English region of the Midlands is unjustly overlooked [https://www.economist.com/britain/2025/06/19/the-english-midlands-is-unjustly-overlooked?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 correspondent says; how can it get its due? And Fauja Singh [https://www.economist.com/obituary/2025/07/24/fauja-singh-took-up-running-somewhat-late-in-life?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] ran his first marathon aged 88—or thereabouts. Our obituaries editor reflects on his relationship with running. Get a world of insights by subscribing to Economist Podcasts+ [https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus]. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page [https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts] or watch our video [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY] explaining how to link your account.