More than Sheikh could stick at: Bangladesh’s PM resigns
2Digest
The podcast begins with the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's longest-serving female head of government, following weeks of protests sparked by a crackdown on student demonstrations. The protests, initially focused on a quota system for government jobs, escalated into a wider movement demanding accountability and Hasina's resignation. Next, the podcast delves into the world of robo-taxis in China, with Don Wainand, The Economist's China Business and Finance Editor, sharing his experience with a robo-taxi in Wuhan. While the novelty and low cost are appealing, the technology is still not advanced enough to navigate complex situations, leading to detours and inconvenient drop-offs. Finally, the podcast pays tribute to Thomas Neff, who died at the age of 80. Neff was a key figure in the dismantling of nuclear warheads after the Cold War. He devised a plan based on economic incentives, trading US uranium for Russian warheads, which led to the elimination of 20,000 warheads.
Outlines
Political Turmoil in Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's longest-serving female head of government, has resigned after weeks of protests sparked by a crackdown on student demonstrations. The protests, initially focused on a quota system for government jobs, escalated into a wider movement demanding accountability and Hasina's resignation.
Robo-Taxis in China: A Mixed Bag
The Economist's China Business and Finance Editor, Don Wainand, shares his experience with a robo-taxi in Wuhan, China. While the novelty and low cost are appealing, the technology is still not advanced enough to navigate complex situations, leading to detours and inconvenient drop-offs.
The Legacy of Thomas Neff
Thomas Neff, who died at the age of 80, was a key figure in the dismantling of nuclear warheads after the Cold War. He devised a plan based on economic incentives, trading US uranium for Russian warheads, which led to the elimination of 20,000 warheads.
Keywords
Sheikh Hasina
Sheikh Hasina is a Bangladeshi politician who served as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2009 to 2023. She is the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh.
Robo-taxi
A robo-taxi is a self-driving taxi that uses artificial intelligence and sensors to navigate roads and transport passengers. They are becoming increasingly common in China and other countries.
Wuhan
Wuhan is a major city in central China and the capital of Hubei province. It is known for its role in the development of robo-taxis and its connection to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas Neff
Thomas Neff was an American expert on nuclear energy who played a crucial role in dismantling nuclear warheads after the Cold War. He devised a plan to trade US uranium for Russian warheads, which led to the elimination of 20,000 warheads.
Nuclear Warheads
Nuclear warheads are the explosive devices that are attached to missiles or other delivery systems. They contain nuclear material that is detonated to release a massive amount of energy.
Cold War
The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies. It lasted from the end of World War II until the early 1990s.
Q&A
What sparked the protests that led to Sheikh Hasina's resignation?
The protests were initially sparked by a crackdown on student demonstrations against a quota system for government jobs. However, they quickly escalated into a wider movement demanding accountability and Hasina's resignation.
What are the challenges facing the development of robo-taxis in China?
The technology is still not advanced enough to navigate complex situations, leading to detours and inconvenient drop-offs. There is also pushback from taxi drivers who fear losing their jobs.
How did Thomas Neff's plan to dismantle nuclear warheads work?
Neff proposed trading US uranium for Russian warheads, providing Russia with hard currency and the US with uranium for its civilian power plants. This plan led to the elimination of 20,000 warheads.
Show Notes
Sheikh Hasina, who led the country for 20 of the past 28 years with an increasingly authoritarian grip, was ultimately undone by student protests that would not be quelled. China may be world-leading in autonomous taxis—but our ride in one is not without complications (9:00 ). And remembering Thomas Neff, who rid the world of a third of its nukes (16:38 ).
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