The Intelligence: Israeli hostages’ fortunes

Air strikes and border raids have turned cross-border tensions into hot conflict. We ask what raised the temperature, and whether the Iran war may act to lower it. Meanwhile that war’s oil shock brings with it fears of rising inflation; we examine how recent disruptions might inf ...  Show more

As the war in Iran progresses, none of the options available to Donald Trump looks good. We examine each of them. Thailand’s Buddhist monks are implicated in lots of lawless and dodgy behaviour—but clearing out the bad apples is more complicated than it seems. And gene-editing co ...  Show more

A network of captives’ families has <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/10/24/netanyahus-handling-of-the-hostage-crisis-enrages-israelis?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous. ...

As its ground offensive appears to be expanding, Israel is acutely aware that time and international support will run out; we examine its <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/12/03/israel-is-now-fighting-hamas-and-the-clock?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_mediu ...

As country after country in the Sahel has fallen prey to coups, President Macky Sall’s Senegal seemed an outpost of stability. Yet our correspondent finds him <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/10/26/senegals-president-asks-if-democracy-can-work-in- ...

The US Congress is refusing to scroll past the app’s links to China. If the bill they passed becomes law, <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/03/12/time-for-tiktok-to-cut-its-ties-to-china?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm ...