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.

As of yesterday, it seems clear that there's at least some water on the moon, potentially

huge news for countries that want to explore or even to colonize it. We examined the opening

salvos in a wider battle, who will own the water rights. And the flag of Australia's

Aboriginal people is one of the country's official flags. But unlike the banners of many nations,

it doesn't actually belong to the people.

First up though.

On this vote, the A's are 52, the A's are 48, the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana

to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States is confirmed.

Amy Coney Barrett was confirmed as a Supreme Court Justice in America yesterday, shifting

the court's ideological balance ever further to the right.

The appointment was a bitterly partisan affair, coming just five weeks after the death of

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon.

It is highly fitting that Justice Barrett fills the seat of a true pioneer for women.

Justice or infuriated by the timing of the confirmation just a week before America's

elections.

The United States Senate has never, never considered a Supreme Court just as this close to a national

presidential election day, especially one in which tens of millions of Americans have

already voted.

But they had little recourse. Justice Barrett could help shape the court's stance on contentious

issues such as abortion for decades.

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