Five years after the American withdrawal from <a href="https://www.economist.com/leaders/2026/08/13/the-taliban-are-vile-democracies-must-still-engage-with-them?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Afghanistan</a>, the Taliban show little sign of moderation. Our correspondent reports from the country on what life is like for ordinary people. A giant earthquake reveals two very different <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-americas/2026/08/12/a-big-earthquake-reveals-two-very-different-colombias?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Colombias</a>. And celebrating the life of Gurkha climber, <a href="https://www.economist.com/obituary/2026/08/13/nirmal-purja-performed-momentous-feats-in-the-death-zone?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nirmal Purja</a>, who died in an avalanche.Watch extended clips from Insider <a href="https://www.economist.com/interactive/insider/previews?utm_campaign=a.brand_fy2627_q1_awareness-imp-tr_prospecting_global-global_direct_na&utm_medium=audio.podcast.pd&utm_source=economist&utm_content=discovery.awareness.anonymous.tr_nativeread_np-tiinsider-apr_na-na_web_na_na_na_na&utm_term=sa.arc-isi" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>, plus the full Elon Musk interview.&nbsp;Guests and host:<ul><li>Tom Sasse, South Asia bureau chief</li><li>Claire McQue, Latin America writer</li><li>Ann Wroe, obituaries editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul>Topics covered:&nbsp;<ul><li>Afghanistan, Taliban, sanctions</li><li>Colombia, earthquake, Espriella</li><li>Nirmal Purja, mountaineer, Everest, avalanche</li></ul>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<a href="https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a>.

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