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

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

The security forces in Bangladesh are a fearsome bunch. Beatings and rapes are common, and

as the Prime Minister's protection force, they've been acting with impunity. But there's

a glimmer of hope that new American sanctions may change that.

And Japan has done good work in raising the life expectancy of its citizens, but that brings

different challenges. So the government is learning how to help people make those latter

years healthier and happier.

Talks resume this week on resurrecting a nuclear deal with Iran. It's been tough going.

The joint comprehensive plan of action or JCPOA negotiated by the Obama administration in

2015.

Today, we have stopped the spread of nuclear weapons in this region.

The deal limited Iran's nuclear program and tightened inspections in return for lifting

lots of sanctions on the country. But since America's withdrawal, Iran has spun its way

well past uranium enrichment limits and the time limits of the original JCPOA are getting

closer. So for all of that negotiation, not to have been for nothing, a return to the

deal has to be struck soon.

It depends on whom you ask. Everybody is saying this is crunch time.

Anton LaGuardia is our diplomatic editor. But there is disagreement as to whether we

are close to a breakthrough or close to a breakdown.

And this is now the eighth protracted round of negotiations in the meantime where Iran's

nuclear capability has got to.

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