Tasting menu from Economist Radio

To understand the future of Silicon Valley, look across the Atlantic, where the European Union is pioneering a new way of controlling big tech. Plus, the hackers perfecting the art of getting free stuff, and why civilisations create the gods that suit their needs. Josie Delap hosts. This is the last episode of “Tasting menu”. For highlights from The Economist every Thursday, search for “Editor’s Picks”, from Economist Radio, wherever you listen to podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Theresa May’s deal was decisively rejected for a second time, Brexit will almost certainly be delayed. It is time for Parliament to seize the initiative. Plus, how sharing a plate of food could help international diplomacy. And, the world wide web has turned 30—what does its future hold? Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new “scramble for Africa” is taking place. This time Africans themselves stand to benefit the most. Also, a dispatch from the frozen Antarctic, and what the samba-dancers of Rio de Janeiro reveal about Brazil’s neglected history – and its present. Christopher Lockwood hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India’s prime minister Narendra Modi may be hoping brinkmanship against Pakistan will fire up voters ahead of April’s elections. Both countries must stop playing with fire. Plus a tour of the neglected treasures of ancient Peru—and is there such a thing as a perfect guide to the English language? Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chinese economic model of steroidal state capitalism is facing a global backlash and offering diminishing returns. Can President Xi be persuaded to reform? Plus, how gumbo tells the story of the American South and why a good astronaut needs a sense of humour. Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After three decades in the wilderness, socialism is back. Millennial socialists offer a sharp critique of what has gone wrong in Western societies—are they right? Also, why atomic clocks, like wine, get better with age and government-sanctioned science fiction hits big screens in China. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite wildfires and polar freezes, energy firms are planning to increase fossil fuel production. The climate consequences could be grave. Also, the challenge of putting the morals back into McDonald’s. And the next express beauty trend – botox-to-go. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The world’s democracies are right to seek change in Venezuela. The question is how. Plus, why Christian pilgrims are flocking to Abu Dhabi, the joy of missing out, and who really was Wild Bill Hickok? Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global flow of money and goods is stagnating. The world needs to prepare for a new era of “slowbalisation”. Plus, why more people are braving the bullring in America. And we introduce “The Intelligence”, a new daily current-affairs podcast from Economist Radio. Josie Delap hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's cover story analyses Britain's Brexit mess and argues the case for a second referendum as the only way out of it. Also, why modern work is so miserable and a night ride with the rebel bikers of Yangon. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Could China become a scientific superpower? Plus, the perils of competitive parenting and a movement for gender equality in European street names. Josie Delap hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Donald Trump enters the second half of his first term, his luck may be about to change. Plus, the young economists to watch this decade. And should companies monitor their employees’ health? Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a taste of our Christmas double issue, Jon Fasman takes a walk across Queens, New York City, and through America’s past, present and future. He hears from recent and long-standing Queens residents about why they made their lives there. Congresswoman Grace Meng explains the racial tensions bubbling under the surface and the importance of homemade dumplings. And down in Jamaica Bay, a more ancient migration is taking flight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economist’s editor-in-chief, Zanny Minton Beddoes, and deputy editor, Edward Carr, discuss the cover stories of 2018. From Donald Trump swinging on a wrecking ball, to likening Brexit to toilet roll (softer is better), how does a picture sell a thousand words? Anne McElvoy hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s issue, family offices are a new force in global finance – but their billionaire owners will soon face uncomfortable questions. Also, how obsolete technologies could protect against new threats and the art of the perfect copy. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As anti-government protests engulf France, how a little humility could yet save Emmanuel Macron. Plus, why sensible people fall for online scams and the lessons of Greek myths for artificial intelligence. Anne McElvoy hosts. (A previous version of this podcast included a story on new business regulations in Cuba which is now out of date.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China still relies on the outside world for its computer chips – how far should America go to maintain silicon supremacy? Also, democratising lunar landings and why it is so difficult to open a pub in Ireland. Christopher Lockwood hosts Music by Chris Zabriskie "Candlepower" (CC x 4.0) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s issue, why America is the exception to a global decline in suicides. Also, a glimpse of the future of flight and the extraordinary powers of Stan Lee, creator of superheroes. Josie Delap hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s issue, why modern capitalism needs a competition revolution. Also, how Brexit might change the face of British football and the perils of finding online fame in China. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After America's mid-term elections, how do the Democrats need to change their game to succeed in 2020? Also, a tour of the entrepreneurial city that brought blue jeans to the Soviet Union, and five minutes that changed an astronaut’s life. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this week’s issue, could America’s mid-term elections stop the toxic polarisation of federal politics? Plus, how artificial intelligence could transform life for urban commuters. And a glimpse of the treasures to be found in translation. Anne McElvoy hostsMusic: “Sad Marimba Planet” by Lee Rosevere (CCx4.0) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Australia’s economy has been growing for a record 27 years without a recession—could the rest of the world benefit from playing by Aussie rules? Also, how China’s tech giants are revolutionising pig farming. And the ethical dilemmas of programming autonomous cars. Christopher Lockwood hosts. Music: "Super Hero" by TeknoAXE, "Candlepower" by Chris Zabriskie (CCx4.0)  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The era of engagement is over. America now sees China as an increasingly dangerous rival. Plus, how Bollywood is boosting domestic tourism in India. And a portrait created by AI goes under the hammer, but is it art or artifice? Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many economies are not ready to deal with even a mild recession—they need to start preparing now. Also, winemakers square up to the weed entrepreneurs of California. And why London is the money-laundering capital of the world. Josie Delap hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese investment in Europe is soaring, with benefits for both parties, but Europeans are beginning to worry. The design decisions in our favourite technologies that bring out the worst versions of ourselves. And why potatoes are no longer cheap as chips. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As America fights over the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, does the #MeToo movement risk becoming just another battlefield in the culture wars? Why aping the lives of top executives is not the secret to professional success. And the final chapter for China’s most beloved storyteller. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why Europe should embrace ties with Africa, the wildlife photographer who built an assault course for badgers, and an impressive display of bonhomie on the Korean peninsula. Lane Greene hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special episode marking the culmination of the Open Future initiative, launched this year to celebrate 175 years since The Economist's founding to remake the case for liberal ideals. Featuring contributions from James Comey, Angelina Jolie and Bjorn Ulvaeus from ABBA. Anne McElvoy hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ten years after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, has finance been fixed? Plus, the benefits of 3D-printing human organs in space, where not to build your capital city, and a taste of our new series in collaboration with Slate, “The Secret History of the Future” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The global influence of Silicon Valley may have reached its peak – does this mean a new age of opportunity for the rest of the world? Also, Republicans and Democrats remember Senator John McCain. And what to do about the scourge of honey fraud. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans will soon have to face a simple question: is Donald Trump above the law? Plus, the Cambridge Analytica whistleblower, Christopher Wylie, on how big data is changing the political game. And a tribute to the queen of soul. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Online dating has revolutionised the way humans couple up, but the impact of this mass social experiment is only just becoming clear. Plus, the bashful decline of European nudism, and The Economist gazes into the future and asks, what if 50% of CEOs were women? Anne McElvoy hostsMusic by Chris Zabriskie, “Divider” and "Candlepower" (CC by 4.0 UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inevitable but unforgivably outdated – why today’s tax systems need to be brought into the 21st century. Also, how NASA prepared to explore a place 300 times hotter than the surface of the sun, and France's love affair with the high-speed train. Robert Guest hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the northern hemisphere continues to smoulder through this long hot summer, is mankind losing the war against climate change? The American humourist Davis Sedaris talks about the beauty of eavesdropping. Plus, just how valuable is your accent? Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Britain’s churches are being turned into quirky campsites. Congo’s Catholics are standing up for democracy. And why open-plan offices can lead to closed minds. Richard Cockett hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The WTO and the global system it oversees are both under threat. Can they be saved? The Cook Islands could soon achieve rich-country status, but becoming the world’s newest developed country may not be all good news. A metal used to harden steel could help prevent global warming. And how to find the many fossils buried within language. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can Theresa May deliver a soft Brexit? Her new plan is the most realistic one yet, but it has unleashed fresh political chaos. Plus, the latest currency insights from the Big Mac index and a trip through the mean streets of Old Shanghai. Anne McElvoy hostsMusic by Chris Zabriskie “Divider” (CC by 4.0 UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A transatlantic rift is growing – why is NATO worth saving? Plus Jaron Lanier, a pioneer of VR, on why people should delete their social media accounts and get back to reality. And how the longest heatwave for nearly half a century is disrupting both Britain’s courts and its pubs. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Netflix is the tech giant everyone is watching. It has so far managed to avoid the techlash, but will it be happily ever after? Plus Madeleine Albright, America’s first woman secretary of state, on her country’s relationship with Russia; Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the world wide web, on the failures of the internet; and the urban gardens blossoming in the big smoke. Richard Cockett hosts  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women at the wheel in Saudi Arabia are the most visible symbol of a social revolution led by Muhammad bin Salman. The crown prince has a chance to transform the Arab world for the better, but failure could bring more chaos. Also, why America’s small-town newspapers are down but certainly not out. And the fight for free speech, from campuses to stand-up comedy. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Around the world, from Turkey to Venezuela, democracy is in trouble – the least-bad system of government ever devised needs defenders. Also, why nearly half of businesses in Sicily still pay protection money to the Mafia. And a dispatch from the land of the midnight sun. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although Donald Trump may strike a deal with North Korea after this week’s historic summit, in the long run his destructive approach to foreign policy will damage America and the world. Plus, the remote villages in rural China receiving express delivery by drone. And is the beautiful game a religion, a science or a fine art? Richard Cockett hosts. Music by Chris Zabriskie “Divider” (CC by 4.0 UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Italy finally has a government – how will the maverick populist coalition reshape the country and the wider eurozone? Plus, why British politics is sobering up, and the discovery of the gene for genius. Anne McElvoy hosts. Music by Chris Zabriskie “Divider” (CC by 4.0 UK) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Corporate America is betting that Donald Trump is good for business, but executives are counting their profits before their costs. The best-selling author Jordan Peterson has an unusual suggestion for preventing sexual harassment in the workplace. And could your smart speaker help you talk to God? Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After last week's bloodshed in Gaza, how Israelis and Palestinians can find a better way. Also, the unexpected environmental consequences of peace in Colombia, and the human fascination with the sound of silence. Rob Gifford hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Masayoshi Son is betting $100bn on the world's most exciting technology startups. Win or lose, his Vision Fund is shaking up the tech industry and those that invest in it. Plus, the Pulitzer-prize winning playwright David Mamet on his new comedy inspired by Harvey Weinstein. And are smartphones the key to escaping poverty? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite euphoria about the Korean summit, global arms control is unravelling. Historian John Lewis Gaddis assesses whether there might be order in Donald Trump's chaos. And a glimpse of the first neighbourhood built "from the internet up". Rob Gifford hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A basic level of universal healthcare is sensible, affordable and practical – including in poor countries. Also, Imran Khan, star cricketer turned politician, on the role of the army in Pakistan, free media and the full-face veil. And the Chinese Buddhist shrines that are floating on the stockmarket. Sarah Maslin hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Republican party is organised around one man. Our cover story explains why Donald Trump’s takeover of the GOP is dangerous. Plus, the psychologist Steven Pinker launches our Open Future season with his case for radical optimism. And the cities where licence plates are more expensive than cars. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Germany is becoming more diverse, open, informal and hip. With the right leadership, it could be a model for the West. Also, disrupting the business of death. And the son of a Swiss peasant who revolutionised London’s high society. Rob Gifford hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Murder is set to soar in some cities of the developing world. How to curb the killing? Latin America, which has 8% of the world’s population but 38% of its murders, holds the answers. Also, the abiding power of the words of Martin Luther King, and could Britain’s queen be related to the Prophet Muhammad? Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook is facing the biggest crisis in its history – it needs not just to repent but to reform. The Oscar-nominated director Darren Aronofsky on pushing his audiences and his actors to their limits. Plus, the astronomer’s guide to the perfect haiku. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The battle for digital supremacy between America and China. Plus, the legacy of Stephen Hawking. And can Jesus save El Salvador's gangs? Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump's protectionism is the greatest threat to the global trading system since its inception after the second world war. Plus, Tina Tchen, one of the lead lawyers on the #Time’sUp campaign, on how to bring down sexual harassment. And a tribute to Bollywood's most adored screen siren. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Japan’s ageing drivers refuse to give up their wheels, how your sense of smell affects politics, and the bell tolls—for whom Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russian meddling is exposing weaknesses in Western democracy – the West needs to do something about it. Also: the new gold rush to the stars, and why South Korea’s fortune-telling industry foresees a rosy future. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can the world prevent Africa’s worst war from reigniting? Also, the inbuilt prejudice of the algorithms that can dictate whether you get a credit card or a place at university. And why the myth of “Frankenstein” is still electrifying after 200 years. Sarah Maslin hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As volatility returns to the markets, America is taking an extraordinary economic gamble. Also, could the Olympics help promote peace between North and South Korea? And the man to blame for the world’s flat-pack furniture woes. Anne McElvoy hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Economist Intelligence Unit has published its annual Democracy Index. How is America faring under President Trump? Also, what to do if you feel queasy in a driverless car.  And the last blast of the trumpet for Hugh Masekela. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to prevent the next great war, Donald Trump tries to trump Davos, a chilly forecast for winter sports - and a tribute to France’s greatest chef. Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How to tame the giants of the tech industry, why Ferraris are getting fatter in 2018, and a global celebration of the greatest American musician of the 20th century. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the menu this week: all work and no play for modern teens; a weed census in Canada; and why Indian tea is in a slump. Lane Greene hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An economist’s guide to dieting; bullets, white-knuckle landings and a chocolate fountain in our run-down of the world’s worst airports; and we ask Ana Brnabic, prime minister of Serbia, whether she will ask Vladimir Putin a personal question. Anne McElvoy hosts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A special festive edition of Tasting menu. Our language columnist Lane Greene speaks to Dr Ruth Sanders, Professor Emerita at Miami University of Ohio, about how isolation and determination have kept the Icelandic language so stable for centuries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Doug Jones became Alabama's first Democratic senator in 25 years; Helle Thorning-Schmidt, former prime minister of Denmark, on the top three trouble spots facing the world in 2018; and... er... the importance of... um… hesitating... in good conversation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Melinda Gates on how contraception will change the developing world; Anne McElvoy tickles the ivories to learn the secrets of creativity; and why the best place to make a killing in cryptocurrencies is Siberia Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rebellion in the 21st century from Russia's Pussy Riot; the world champions of Scrabble in Nigeria; and the man who taught Britain to make—and eat—pasta. Lane Greene hosts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: something fishy in the Dutch herring industry; an eloquent defence of the humble pager; and just how rich do you have to be to get hitched? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the sudden end of an era in Zimbabwe, trouble in the American marijuana industry and the sound of silence in the frozen Baltic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: our Washington correspondents go head-to-head to find out who knows more about the first year of the Trump presidency; how crapsules might just save your life; and the consolations of philosophy for the middle-aged Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Richard Dawkins on the only source of absolute truth; the croissant crisis in France; and a tribute to Fats Domino, the real king of rock ’n’ roll Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Armando Iannucci on the farce in the White House; the bad side of driving in Myanmar; and a cultural history of hauntings for Halloween Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hilary Clinton ran a close race when it came to being America’s first woman president. But what does she think the Democrats need to do to win back the White House? Also, why artificial intelligence no longer needs its human helpers. And the man who zipped up Neil Armstrong. Lane Greene hosts.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: why Latin America’s left needs a new hero, the author Salman Rushdie on identity politics and how your sense of smell could determine who you fall for Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: why the home towns of African leaders are raking in Chinese aid, Berlin defends its most radical theatre, and a requiem for the Playboy emperor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After five years reporting on American politics, our departing Lexington columnist talks about political partisanship, how he prepares his articles and why some elections are like bad pizzas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Venezuela pushes rabbit as a food source, Russia celebrates a new national hero, and the pros and cons of the serial comma Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Japan adopts Western-style entertaining, Parisian drivers are under siege and how Germany’s election differs from that of America Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the pitfalls of obscure journalese, Alaska’s rubbish problem and how British spy novels reveal some core truths about the country. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a bad joke becomes a bad President, how quantum entanglement could help keep conversations secret and the Great British Bake Off goes global. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: religious music is purged in China, knocking down linguistic roadblocks in Peru and the diamonds raining down on Uranus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode we celebrate our iconic former office building, as The Economist begins the next chapter of its history in The Adelphi building off The Strand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: eye-watering transfer fees in the world of football, baths running out in Japan and the best puns in the world Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: China stops importing foreign rubbish, a trip to a Disneyfied Paris and how to make better holograms Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a potential cure for goat plague, why Dumbo is one of the most sought after areas of Manhattan, and how much people really know the animals they love Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: An exorcism in Paris, a challenge to the cult of Che, and how American English is influencing that of the British Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Russia’s dissident superheroes, how climate change will affect America’s GDP and the stories and techniques behind fine-art photography Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Ethiopia’s cunning pirates, how to use Twitter to study dialects and Colombia’s colourful future in ecotourism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: The chocolate curtain dividing Europe, frozen treats behind battle lines and how science got women wrong Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

his week: Japan’s government grapples with its own smoking policy, political road rage hits Zambia and whether women really do talk more than men Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Civilian drones lift off, South America’s lithium hotspots and why there is now gender parity in hurricanes Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Competitive climbing is getting a leg-up, a new camera system to lead the blind and the green-fingered Jesus trying to save the world’s plants Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Miami’s homeowners try to fend off climate change, why queens are more warmongering than kings and how the horse shaped the history of mankind Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Translators struggle against technological change, France embraces positive psychology and why Hong Kong’s dolphins are in peril Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: A political fight breaks out over Rome’s Colosseum, Australians debate how to deal with sharks and what a future utopian society might think of humanity today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Mumbai plans the world’s tallest statue, the underlying maths of life and whether the English language will survive in the European Union Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Food inspections start up in Pakistan, what the journey of a T-shirt says about African industrialisation and how to invest in art Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: yogic tycoons in India, sub-par propaganda in Venezuela and sinister surveillance programmes on the net Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: China pushes pedal power on its city streets, fast-food restaurants in Japan look for a little more sizzle and is Argentina’s flag the wrong shade of blue? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: India’s booze ban hits businesses, China announces a new megacity and a profitable way to stop computers from being racist Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Cuba’s revolutionary economy is holding back tourism, Swiss watchmakers try to keep pace and why Egypt’s president loves Donald Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Kenya takes a stance against plastic bags, the world thirsts for exotically-priced bottled water and the chilling new health fad sweeping America Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Why cities should respect street-food vendors, China’s football season is greeted with grumbles and how the business model of the Olympics is running out of puff Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Quantum leaps for quantum physics, the fat cats of Istanbul and a decline in Britain’s youth crime Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Mexico’s anti-corruption tour bus, Japan’s ultranationalist kindergarten and the medicinal benefits of dragon blood Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Indie films struggle in the digital era, sleeper trains could soon reach the end of the line and why defensive cows protect endangered jaguars Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Electric vehicles pick up speed, the late greatness of artists and a battle over Trump brand toilets in China Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a big brother bust up in Nigeria, dodgy stats in North Korea and the film that pits online reviewers against the Chinese government Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Cubans find a way to dodge a digital blockade, Japan struggles to encourage its people to gamble and the booming industry of pet healthcare Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: China’s new year goes global, how to make America date again and the case for rational compassion Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a tobacco merger shows the industry’s resilience, Argentina’s economic woes hit the dance floors and Mumbai’s hawkers feel some legal heat Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: The harsh environment for startups in the Middle East, China’s bullet trains to nowhere and why an Uber for kids may struggle to reach maturity’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Why sub-national currencies flounder, Europe’s toll crisis and China’s Shakespeare is thrust into the limelight Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: What the Norman conquest did for England’s economy, the difficulties with silence and how Mario became the world’s most beloved character Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: How plastic could protect the planet, why environmentalists are cutting down trees and the strange consciousness in the tentacles of an octopus Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: worried workers in China, ancient eclipses shedding new light on the earth’s rotation, and a spot of bother in Brazil Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: America finds a new way to end a marriage, badly botched currency reform in India and the rise of AirBnB for dogs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: treasure-hunters head out West, the pizza-making robots trying to take a slice of the food industry and why camel trading is increasingly lucrative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Samsung’s leap into connected cars, an anti-corruption hotline in Sierra Leone and a concise history of nothing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Uber hits some potholes in Africa, mobsters take on Quebec’s maple monopoly and a victorian naturalist, both intellectually and literally omnivorous Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Britain’s High Court and the Brexit vote, the rise of the niche smartphone and what Christianity gave to the West Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a potential independent victory in Utah, how to crack Russian hacking, and Donald Trump’s unsettling fondness for Vladimir Putin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Bhutan’s surprising success, experiments in automated consumption and why clowning is on the rise in Cuba Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: China’s disgruntled police, a corruption crackdown in South Korea and an existential trip into the Amazon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Brazil’s record-breaking ballot spoiling, Nigeria’s blossoming trade in love literature and a glimpse inside the world of a superyacht owner Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Aleppo’s descent from riches to rubble, the real reasons for Hungary’s referendum and how a stealthy bit of business in the printer industry has left people crying over spilt ink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: The surprising success of landlocked Paraguay, Portland pops up in Tokyo and the joys of grammar that people all know, but don’t even know that they know Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Canada’s proposals for peacekeeping come under fire, Communist-era beers are back in fashion and why staff at India’s banks have been putting their own money into customers' bank accounts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the speedy, cheap way to reach Wall Street, why companies should encourage introverts to thrive and how anti-globalists are ruining guacamole Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Florida’s war on Zika, how Zalando became a shoo-in for online fashion and why despite what humans think, the world is getting better Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the pious and the prosperous in Zimbabwe, Mafia bosses as business leaders and Hollywood's gulf war wild west Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the future of television, how to win more olympic medals and the economic history of skyscrapers Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Ethiopia goes overboard on football facilities, how a good surf can bring economic success and why Spain is out of sync with the sun Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Taiwan’s canine couture, the world develops a sweet tooth for posh chocolate and artificial minds edge a little closer to our own Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: South Africa’s dancing President, China’s eclectic electric cars, and the old-fangled printers with new-fangled jobs Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: DIY design in South Korea brings down the house, sewing sensors into skin, and why even intense stress could be good for us Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: What’s next for Gibraltar after being hauled out of the EU, how to monitor the high seas for illegal fishing and why Canada is throwing money at whistleblowers’ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Italian banks on the brink, a rat powered robot stingray, and the Khans that rule Bollywood. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Indian politicians facing off on Twitter, the trains with energy as freight, and a scramble for passports in Ireland Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Pakistan's army fires up the country's film industry, the compass deers use to dodge death and why even poets hate poetry Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: How used fruits can suck up toxins, China’s officials meet reality television and our analysis as to what makes a hit show on Broadway Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Fixing the global scourge of potholes, green spaces are in retreat in the Middle East and airships may soon be delivering groceries to the Arctic Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Why grit matters more than talent, how life coaches are popping up all over Nigeria and what Italy’s pride for food reveals about its economic problems Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: What business executives are learning from Formula One drivers, a Brazilian guide to cutting corners and some snippets from America’s campaign trail Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: A kerfuffle over Cypriot cheese, why demand for beef in France is getting rarer and Britons lose their taste for a tipple Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the business of breeding crocodiles looks as snappy as ever, the importance of growing wine in the desert and how to make something useful out of broken egg shells Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Venezuela scrambles to keep its lights on, China tries to exterminate foreign names and media companies bet big on theme parks Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: how sharing power could free phone users from dead-battery tyranny, why the blue-sky thinking of billionaires should be welcomed and ready-made city centres pop up all over Florida Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: how to determine good jazz from bad, the reason people sleep badly in a new bed and why central banks might start dropping money from helicopters Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: some snippets overheard on America’s presidential campaign trail, running clubs take off in Cairo and some genetic superheroes emerge—though their identity remains a mystery Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alaska's fishermen put their yarns to good use, the subtle advantages of working in two languages and a Russian way to make "patriotic" Parmesan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: some self-help for white-collar workers, signs of happier times for Baghdad’s restaurant scene and a lucrative trade in souvenirs from America’s presidential campaign Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a brief visit to an existentialist café, how to map city soundscapes, and what happens when you crowdsource a name from the internet Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Kim Jong Un releases some revealing photographs, a cyber-heist befalls Bangladesh’s central bank and why you should treat evil bosses like vampires Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the rise of India’s guru-entrepreneurs, financing divorce becomes big business and how to become an astronaut Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canada is cool again, talk shows in Egypt are farce and we say farewell to a daring, veteran pilot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Hollywood’s big stars lose their sparkle, the thrills of becoming an animal and how jogging can stave off cancer Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: soggy sales in the cereal world, the ups and downs of Utopianism and India’s penchant for hard liquor Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the first glimpse of gravitational waves, how con artists fool the world and the economics of dating Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: North Korea tests the world’s patience, HSBC has an identity crisis (again) and Algeria’s president remains absent Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: an illiberal alliance in central Europe, Thailand’s craze for haunted dolls and how to sniff out the perfect pinot Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: why to be optimistic about podcasts, ranking of America’s university professors and the benefits of believing in divine retribution Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: unpacking the myths of marriage, why working in a tech startup isn’t all free lunches and bean bags and how pollution speeds up homing pigeons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a gene-editing company files for an IPO, why accurate growth forecasting remains elusive and the death of the European night club Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: the history of election betting, what whaling taught the world of finance and a glance back at 1916 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: what happened when slaves and free men were shipwrecked together, agony aunts through the ages and a day in the life of a Beijing park Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: how to mix comedy and economics, why repetitive pop music is a high art form and some notes from a festival of beards Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Hong Kong's controversial post boxes, ridiculous business names and the link between birth order and intelligence Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: a blue period for China’s art market, a poison test for shellfish and a British political giant is laid to rest Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Volkswagen makes a shocking confession, Generation XXX and Picasso's dazzling sculptures Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: The Great Fall of China, the economics of croissants and a tennis-loving physicist serves his final match Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Asia's floundering fertility rates, how to invest like the Amish and why arachnophobes shouldn't look up Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Morrisey mania in Mexico, workforce stereotypes hit Generation "Y" and why we worry more Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Elephants that can pick up the scent of landmines, Mexico's authorities let slip a drug lord and the health conundrum of social mobility Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: The French turn their backs on baguettes, South Koreans tighten their apron strings and a forgotten pope is resurrected Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: A turtle lands in Tokyo, the death of a much-loved villain and how friendship encourages romance Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Sex in the boardroom, spying on spies and the benefits of strong social bonds Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Shrinking cities, insuring insurers and growing money on trees Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week: Kiwis as guinea pigs, China's deep roots and a red card for Egyptian football fans Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.