Independence eh? Canada’s referendum

<p>The province of Alberta will vote on secession today. It is unlikely to go ahead, but the separatist vibe is just one of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s <u><a href="economist.com/briefing/2026/10/15/donald-trump…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">many headaches</a></u>. Our correspondent examines China’s efforts toward brain-computer interfaces, finding the country is <u><a href="economist.com/business/2026/10/06/china-wants-…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">closing the gap</a></u> with America. And Britain’s “<u><a href="economist.com/britain/2026/10/08/conservationi…; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">bug superhighways</a></u>” link up the shrinking number of lush insect habitats.</p><p>Guests and host:</p><ul><li>Robert Russo, Canada writer</li><li>Don Weinland, China business and finance editor</li><li>Bella King, news editor</li><li>Rosie Blau, co-host of “The Intelligence”</li></ul><p>Topics covered: </p><ul><li>Canada, Alberta, separatists, referendum</li><li>China, brain-computer interfaces</li><li>Britain, insects, conservation</li></ul><p><em>Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—<u><a href="subscribenow.economist.com/podcasts-plus"; rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">subscribe to The Economist</a></u>.</em></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a>; for more information.</p>