Country of the year: The Economist’s pick for 2025

The Intelligence podcast presents a year-end review, focusing on The Economist's annual "country of the year" debate. The discussion involves editors and correspondents who analyze global events and consider nations that have shown the most improvement. Contenders like Canada, Brazil, and South Korea are evaluated, with Syria and Argentina emerging as the finalists. Ultimately, Syria is chosen as the country of the year due to the significant improvement in the lives of its citizens after years of civil war and oppressive rule, despite ongoing challenges. The episode also includes a segment on The Economist Educational Foundation's efforts to promote news literacy among students, highlighting the importance of critical thinking in navigating the media landscape.