In 2022 news broke that $2.5bn had been stolen in Iraq, the biggest bank heist ever. Nicolas Pelham, The Economist's Middle East correspondent, follows the money
01:41 - The investigation begins
02:28 - Where did the money come from?
03:55 - Who was Nur Zuheir?
04:29 - Following the trail in Baghdad
08:11 - Corruption in Iraq
13:21 - The government changes course
15:46 - Who is complicit, really?
16:50 - What happened to the money?
Artwork based on illustrations by Mike McQuaid
Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: https://econ.st/3QAawvI
Sign up to 1843’s newsletter, The Extraordinary Story: https://econ.st/3OdEkys
The Baghdad job: who was behind history’s biggest bank heist? https://econ.st/44KnMoM
After 20 years of trauma, Iraq is struggling to recover:
https://econ.st/4757kBo
“What was once the world’s most dangerous road is lined with new real estate”—Iraq, 20 years later:
https://econ.st/3QajZg5
Iraq’s new prime minister vows to clean up the country: https://econ.st/43GURRj
The Iraqi militias are copying their overmighty cousins in Iran:
https://econ.st/44Afi3y
Iraq’s parliamentary plague:
https://econ.st/44B9uqt
Shia Muslims are no longer in the ascendant:
https://econ.st/44ZTWMH
How the Iraq war became a threat to American democracy:
https://econ.st/3Kc8Pnv
Why Baghdad may have the worst traffic in the Middle East:
https://econ.st/3Qb2kVE
,News,News & Politics,YC-BK02LzKM,UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, Politics,Society, channel_UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, video_YC-BK02LzKM,In an interview with Javier Milei (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/11/28/javier-milei-my-contempt-for-the-state-is-infinite?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), our correspondent probes how far the “anarcho-capitalist” president plans to push his promise to slash spending and reform the state. Can seaweed (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/11/28/could-seaweed-replace-plastic-packaging?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) and other fibrous packaging replace plastic (11:51)? And remembering Celeste Caeiro (https://www.economist.com/obituary/2024/11/28/celeste-caeiros-small-gesture-named-a-revolution?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), who named the carnation revolution in Portugal in 1974 (18:20).
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,News,News & Politics,i5MIy_3vplE,UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, Politics,Society, channel_UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, video_i5MIy_3vplE,Donald Trump (https://www.economist.com/topics/united-states?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) had been facing a swathe of lawsuits this year. Now he has won a second term in office, the cases against him are falling away. Why wellness trends may be contributing to iodine deficiency (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/11/06/as-wellness-trends-take-off-iodine-deficiency-makes-a-quiet-comeback?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) (8:02). And the secrets of elevator etiquette (https://www.economist.com/business/2024/11/21/how-to-behave-in-lifts-an-office-guide?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) (13:58).
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,News,News & Politics,QG5WQJXB9vU,UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, Politics,Society, channel_UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, video_QG5WQJXB9vU,The country’s civil war never ended—it became a fragile stalemate that fell out of the news. A surprise rebel advance (https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2024/11/30/syrian-rebels-sweep-into-aleppo-in-an-embarrassing-rout-for-bashar-al-assad?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) reveals how the war’s international players are busy facing their own challenges. Our correspondent found it so difficult to disappear from the internet that she gave up (https://www.economist.com/1843/2024/11/08/why-i-gave-up-trying-to-delete-myself-from-the-internet?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) (10:30). And who were the stockmarket winners (https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2024/11/22/which-shares-have-done-best-from-the-trump-trade?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) as “Trump trades” fired up again (16:54)?
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,News,News & Politics,dSvc6GCtC5o,UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, Politics,Society, channel_UC0p5jTq6Xx_DosDFxVXnWaQ, video_dSvc6GCtC5o,America feared that letting Ukraine use US weapons (https://www.economist.com/topics/ukraine?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) to attack far-off targets in Russia would escalate the conflict. Why has President Joe Biden finally changed his mind? Markets soared (https://www.economist.com/leaders/2024/11/14/whats-about-to-hit-the-world-economy?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) when Donald Trump was elected, but the longer-term impact of Trumponomics may be less positive (9:42). And why airships are back (https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2024/10/30/airships-may-finally-prove-useful-for-transporting-cargo?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) in our skies (18:12).
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,1,Why are two old, unpopular men the main candidates for the world’s most demanding job? It’s the question John Prideaux, The Economist’s US editor, gets asked the most. And the answer lies in the peculiar politics of the baby boomers.
Since 1992, every American president bar one has been a white man born in the 1940s. That run looks likely to span 36 years - not far off the age of the median American. This cohort was born with aces in their pockets. Their parents defeated Nazism and won the cold war. They hit the jobs market at an unmatched period of wealth creation. They have benefitted from giant leaps in technology, and in racial and gender equality.
And yet, their last act in politics sees the two main parties accusing each other of wrecking American democracy. As the boomers near the end of their political journey, John Prideaux sets out to make sense of their inheritance and their legacy.
Launching July 2024.
To listen to the full series, subscribe to Economist Podcasts+: https://subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus
If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription. For more information about how to access Economist Podcasts+, please visit our FAQs page: https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts
Or watch our video explaining how to link your account: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gczo71bg1uY
,1,In 2022 news broke that $2.5bn had been stolen in Iraq, the biggest bank heist ever. Nicolas Pelham, The Economist's Middle East correspondent, follows the money
01:41 - The investigation begins
02:28 - Where did the money come from?
03:55 - Who was Nur Zuheir?
04:29 - Following the trail in Baghdad
08:11 - Corruption in Iraq
13:21 - The government changes course
15:46 - Who is complicit, really?
16:50 - What happened to the money?
Artwork based on illustrations by Mike McQuaid
Sign up to The Economist’s daily newsletter: https://econ.st/3QAawvI
Sign up to 1843’s newsletter, The Extraordinary Story: https://econ.st/3OdEkys
The Baghdad job: who was behind history’s biggest bank heist? https://econ.st/44KnMoM
After 20 years of trauma, Iraq is struggling to recover:
https://econ.st/4757kBo
“What was once the world’s most dangerous road is lined with new real estate”—Iraq, 20 years later:
https://econ.st/3QajZg5
Iraq’s new prime minister vows to clean up the country: https://econ.st/43GURRj
The Iraqi militias are copying their overmighty cousins in Iran:
https://econ.st/44Afi3y
Iraq’s parliamentary plague:
https://econ.st/44B9uqt
Shia Muslims are no longer in the ascendant:
https://econ.st/44ZTWMH
How the Iraq war became a threat to American democracy:
https://econ.st/3Kc8Pnv
Why Baghdad may have the worst traffic in the Middle East:
https://econ.st/3Qb2kVE
