Latest Interviews
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Clear all filters- The Economist22 min
Remote control: Rwandan proxies occupy Congo
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Emmett Livingston, Robert Guest, Slaweja Čankova, Vishnu Padmarabhan
Following a collapse of government defenses, the M23 rebel group and alleged Rwandan troops captured Goma, displacing millions while exploiting the region's resources amid accusations of a proxy war strategy. Concurrently, medical research published in the *New England Journal of Medicine* identifies microplastics in half of a patient sample with arterial plaque, linking their presence to a quadrupled risk of heart attacks and stroke. Simultaneously, the global astrology market is surging to $23 billion by 2031 as Gen Z users increasingly turn to AI-driven platforms for guidance amidst declining religious adherence and rising societal stress.
- The Economist23 min
Playing the fuel: reforming Nigeria’s subsidies
Rosie Bloor, Jason Palmer, Ore Ogunbiyi, Robert Guest, Rebecca Jackson, Joko Anwar
Nigeria is transitioning to market-based fuel prices following the activation of the Dangote refinery, a move that ends decades of costly subsidies but triggers immediate inflation and necessitates difficult shifts in public spending. Simultaneously, Texas regulators are tightening restrictions on cryptocurrency mining after data centers and miners drove energy demand to critical levels, creating a political stalemate between grid stability and pro-crypto lobbying ahead of the 2024 elections. In the entertainment sector, Indonesia has established itself as a global horror film powerhouse by leveraging local folklore and cultural identity, securing significant streaming success and attracting Hollywood collaboration offers while domestic production volumes soar.
- The Economist23 min
Food for thought: raising the world’s IQ
Jason Palmer, Rosie Bloor, Robert Guest, Shashank Joshi, Emily Steinmark
The event examines the critical impact of early-life malnutrition on cognitive development and global economics, highlighting the success of Uganda's NutriCash pilot and the potential for $12 billion in targeted investment to reverse slow progress. Concurrently, analysts assess growing geopolitical threats to the 600 undersea fiber-optic cables sustaining global telecommunications, noting state-sponsored sabotage risks from Russia and China alongside the strategic vulnerability of limited repair infrastructure. Finally, the discussion presents a breakthrough in menstrual product innovation where alginate polymers transform blood into a firm gel, marking the first significant design evolution since the 1931 applicator tampon.