Thicket and boarding pass: travel’s tangle of rules
About this episode
<p>Restrictions are opaque, fickle and often <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2021/08/14/most-covid-19-travel-restrictions-should-be-scrapped?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">illiberal</a>—and it is not even clear how much they help curb the coronavirus. Chinese officials want to boost the economy of the province of Xinjiang, but our correspondent says plans predicated on repressing the Uyghur minority are <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2021/08/07/chinas-efforts-to-lift-xinjiangs-economy-may-smother-it?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">unlikely to work</a>. And bidding <a href="https://www.economist.com/business/2021/08/14/flexibility-is-the-key-to-success?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=third-party-host&utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">farewell</a> to our work-and-management columnist, who still hates useless meetings.</p><p>For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a></p> <hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
Listen to this episode in English to learn English
Podcast episodes are one of the highest-density ways to absorb English at native pace. Thicket and boarding pass: travel’s tangle of rules from The Intelligence from The Economist gives you natural dialogue, unscripted speech, and vocabulary that actually appears in real conversations.
In the Hinto app, every word in the transcript is tappable. Tap an unknown word, see the translation in your language instantly, and keep listening without breaking flow.
Episodes to Learn English
- “Britain is back”: an interview with Andy Burnham Nov 6, 2026
- Forever young: the business of longevity drugs Nov 5, 2026
- Not in Kansas any more: Republicans get a thrashing Nov 4, 2026
- Fertile ambitions: scientists’ plans to slow the biological clock Nov 3, 2026
- Off to the races: our American-midterms preview Nov 2, 2026
- Silver-year strongman: 25 years of Narendra Modi Oct 30, 2026
- Effective non-altruism: Elon Musk’s foundation Oct 29, 2026
- Bye bye Bibi? Israel’s election results Oct 28, 2026
- Act of Claude: Anthropic’s IPO bid Oct 27, 2026
- From this day, fourth: Lula’s surprise win Oct 26, 2026
- Songs of disenchantment: the sorrow of Nigeria Oct 23, 2026
- Dunes and gloom: MBS’s annus horribilis Oct 22, 2026
- Cash test: can Europe support Ukraine alone? Oct 21, 2026
- Disorder of magnitude: France’s riots Oct 20, 2026
- Independence eh? Canada’s referendum Oct 19, 2026
- Schrödinger’s chat: can AI and scientists co-exist? Oct 16, 2026
- An interview with Alice Weidel Oct 15, 2026
- Who wants to be a millennial? Generation comeback Oct 15, 2026
- Kicking Kyiv: Trump’s doubtful deals Oct 14, 2026
- Unrest in peace: misery in Gaza Oct 13, 2026
- Saudi under siege: Houthis attack airport Oct 12, 2026
- Saving your bacon: healthy-eating policy evolves Oct 9, 2026
- Valley of the shadow of debt: bond-market jitters Oct 8, 2026
- Gilets jeunes? France’s school protests Oct 7, 2026
- House call: Spain’s snap election Oct 6, 2026
- Here comes the son? Brazil’s election tips rightward Oct 5, 2026
- Coffer stop: AI may shrink tax base Oct 2, 2026
- Trial and terror: Russia escalates Kyiv campaign Oct 1, 2026
- Cheques and the City: Premier League disgrace Sep 30, 2026
- Brazil rut: Lula v Bolsonaro, again Sep 29, 2026