Beirut watch: can Lebanon subdue Hizbullah?
5/1/202623 min
Can peace hold in Lebanon while Hizbullah remains? Our correspondent weighs the balance of power between government forces and the Iran-backed militia. The resale value of Labubus is falling – who cares? And remembering Swedish death-clearer, Margareta Magnusson.
Watch extended clips from “The Insider” on rising oil prices. And listen to our “Weekend Intelligence” episode on “Kidulting: why adults are turning to toys”.
Guests and host:
- Gareth Browne, Middle East correspondent
- Josh Roberts, capital markets correspondent
- Ann Wroe, obituaries editor
- Rosie Blau, host of “The Intelligence”
Topics covered:
- Lebanon, Hizbullah, Israel, ceasefire
- Labubus, PopMart, Funko, financial bubbles
- Margareta Magnusson, death-clearing, decluttering
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Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsGareth Browne0:00
[instrumental music] The Economist.
Rosie Blau· Host0:04
[instrumental music] Hello, and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist. I'm Rosie Bloor. Today on the show, the Labubu bubble is bursting, and remembering Margareta Magnusson, guru of decluttering. [instrumental music] But first.
Gareth Browne0:34
[aircraft carrier] If anything represents the tug of war going on between the Lebanese state and Hezbollah, it is Beirut Airport. The airport is a particularly important institution in Lebanon, and for decades it has been a symbol of Hezbollah's control over the country. Over the years, Hezbollah used the airport to bring Iranian weapons and money in and out of the country.
Rosie Blau· Host1:04
Gareth Brown is a Middle East correspondent.
Gareth Browne1:08
I've traveled through this airport hundreds of times literally, and in the last year or so I've seen a real change as it has become a battleground in the Lebanese government's efforts to reassert sovereignty and reclaim parts of the state that have long been ceded to Hezbollah.
Rosie Blau· Host1:27
So Gareth,