podcast

The Intelligence from The Economist

by The Economist

Who will deal the final blow? Israel, Lebanon and Hizbullah

20.03.2026 • 00:25:02

As attention has focused on war in Iran, Israel sees an opportunity to crush a weakened Hizbullah in Lebanon. Our correspondent says it would be far b...

An act of self-harm: Trump’s latest war might be his undoing

19.03.2026 • 00:24:43

A rash entry into a war of choice exposes President Donald Trump in a number of ways—and he may prove more dangerous as he becomes weaker. Turkey’s fo...

Flagging carriers: war shuffles the Gulf-airline flight deck

18.03.2026 • 00:18:40

Cancelled flights, longer routes, higher prices: the war in Iran is taking its toll on the airline industry. The conflict may force lasting change on ...

Barrel vault: a Nigerian refining giant rises

17.03.2026 • 00:21:04

Nigeria sorely needed the enormous oil refinery built by Aliko Dangote, who was already Africa’s richest man. We ask what that new capacity means for ...

Let me get this strait: the Iran-war escalation risk

16.03.2026 • 00:23:09

Control of the Strait of Hormuz has become the focus of the war in Iran. The options available point to an acute risk of a broadening regional conflic...

Lone goals: will US-Israel war aims diverge?

13.03.2026 • 00:25:22

As Israel continues to pound Iran and expands its offensive against Hizbullah in Lebanon, there are rumblings of disunity with America over the path a...

Blood from a drone: Iran’s deadly arsenal

12.03.2026 • 00:21:24

Iran continues to retaliate against attacks with ferocity. Though many of its ballistic missile facilities have been razed, its vast drone armoury is ...

Strait of shock: Iran economic fallout

11.03.2026 • 00:24:57

Overnight, the Pentagon said it “eliminated” 16 Iranian mine-laying ships, raising further jitters about the global impact of the war in Iran. Fifteen...

Oil rise: Trump gets the jitters

10.03.2026 • 00:23:16

After oil prices climbed to nearly $120 a barrel yesterday, Donald Trump signalled a possible abrupt end to the conflict in Iran. Markets calmed, but ...

Follow the leader: Iran picks the son

09.03.2026 • 00:26:38

After Iran appoints a new supreme leader, what does the choice tell us about the resilience of the regime and how the war will progress? Scientific re...