Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

The first of May brings out protesters all over the globe, campaigning for better labor

conditions. But in France, weekly demonstrations by the so-called Gilles-Légeon have been going

on for months. Yesterday's May Day gatherings brought out a violent fringe that threatens

Gilles-Légeon's message and President Emmanuel Macron's attempts to address it.

And we take a look at a new study that tries to measure which English-speaking country

produces the most bullshit.

And first, last week, China's Navy celebrated its 70th birthday in Grand Style.

As President Xi Jinping peered through binoculars into rain and mist, a flotilla swept through

the South China Sea.

China's rose of white-clad sailors stood on warships and saluted Mr. Xi, who was a

board of brand-new destroyer. China has also boasted of its nuclear submarines and says

it's building a new aircraft carrier. America sees China as a growing rival, not just

a military threat, but also an economic one. And the contest is being felt by America's

closest allies. In Britain yesterday, Gavin Williamson, the Defense Secretary, was fired

by Prime Minister Theresa May. He was accused of leaking details of how the country plans

to let Huawei, a Chinese tech firm, build part of its future 5G mobile phone network. In

response to that plan, America has threatened to cut back intelligence sharing with Britain.

Beyond this, America and China are leading the world in a rearmament race, as a new report

makes clear.

Well, essentially, the world is spending enormous sums of money on defense.

...