Aug 28

Bots on the ground: China leads humanoid race

Our correspondent goes inside a Chinese robot facility to see thousands of droids being taught to complete useful tasks. Is it worth the time and money? How Meta’s $17bn settlement at its blockbuster trial could change teen social-media use. And 75 years of the Paris bookshop Sha ... Show More

24m 48s

Aug 27

Big shot: does a cancer vaccine work?

Personalised vaccines could offer a breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Our correspondent analyses the latest trial. Canada’s oil market is flourishing, despite the trade war. And, why we will always love Dolly Parton.Guests and host:Natasha Loder, health editorSarah Lawryn ... Show More

22m 5s

Aug 26

Slip the surly bonds? Scott Bessent goes on a yield trip

Amid record-tickling yields, the bond markets are now trying to make sense of what Scott Bessent, America’s Treasury secretary, has announced—a move that might put him on a collision course with the Federal Reserve. We ask why it is so easy for hackers to infiltrate America’s wat ... Show More

22m 36s

Jun 2025

No good options: how Iran will respond

After America’s strikes intended to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, one question is whether they succeeded. Another is how Iran will respond; all of its options are bad ones. In the West people have been shedding religion for decades, but that secularist shift now seems to be s ... Show More

22m 29s

Apr 2021

Fission expedition: nuclear-site attack in Iran

An apparent act of <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2021/04/12/israel-apparently-strikes-an-iranian-nuclear-facility-again?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" targe ... Show More

21m 22s

Jun 2025

Was US Iran Mission Successful?

This morning we explore the aftermath of the US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. The big question: Did they accomplish the goal of dismantling Iran's nuclear program? President Trump and his allies say yes. They're now warning Iran not to attack US forces. Learn more about y ... Show More

46m 41s

Apr 2024

The Intelligence: Iran and Israel’s new era?

A missile has reportedly struck a site in the Islamic Republic. If this is retaliation for Iran’s most recent attacks, then it is a muted response. But is there still a risk of escalation? As India’s election kicks off, a look into why the opposition is likely to have a poor show ... Show More

27m 7s

Sep 2025

Under Pressure: Will Snapback Sanctions Bring Iran Back to the Table?

With Iran's nuclear program devastated, the reimposition of UN sanctions looming, and Tehran grappling with the fallout of the 12-Day War, is the time ripe for Iran to return to the negotiating table? MEI Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow Alan Eyre — former senior US diplomat and m ... Show More

32m 1s

Jun 2025

Truce and consequences: a fragile ceasefire in Iran

Iran’s strikes both before and apparently after a ceasefire began seem to threaten peace. If it holds, what will that mean for Iran’s ambitions, and for the wider region? A meeting of NATO-country leaders seems precision-engineered to appease the alliance’s most fickle member. An ... Show More

24m 44s

Jun 2025

Special Edition: Striking Iran – Risky Move or Strategic Win?

The recent U.S. airstrike on Iranian soil — a rare and targeted move — has sparked debate about its effectiveness and the risks of deeper military entanglement in the Middle East. Today we break down what led to the strike, what damage was done, and how Iran may respond. We also ... Show More

23m 14s

Jun 2025

Can dropping bombs stop Iran's nuclear programme?

The US says it has 'obliterated' Iran's nuclear capabilities. But is that true? Tehran says it removed all nuclear material before the US air strikes. And insists its know-how can't be destroyed. So, is bombing the answer for Iran's nuclear ambitions? In this episode: Laura Rockw ... Show More

24m 59s

Oct 2025

Iran is Down, Not Out

In this episode of MEnbar, Marc Owen Jones speaks with Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East and Africa Programme in Chatham House, about the Twelve Day War between Israel and Iran and its impacts on Iran’s nuclear program. Vakil discusses the implications of these attacks on ... Show More

33m 52s