Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

In New York, I'm John Fassman.

And in London, I'm Jason Palmer.

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

Arab governments have never been too enamored of an unfettered free press.

But a combination of old-fashioned intimidation and sophisticated financial pressure are

returning the region into a wasteland for news and reporting.

And most often, when an animal is the main character of a popular movie, it's a saccharine

family-friendly affair.

But a film called E.O. is something different, a troubling if tender imagining of what it's

like to be a donkey.

Next up, though.

Yesterday, Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and American ambassador to

the UN, announced her long-shot presidential candidacy for 2024.

I'm Nikki Haley and I'm running for president.

She's the second person to formally launch her bid for the Republican nomination, and

she could stand alone for weeks or even months, as the party's only announced challenger

to former president Donald Trump.

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests and my fellow citizens, America's comeback

starts right now.

This morning, Haley is set to deliver her first official campaign speech at an event in Charleston.

Should she win the GOP primary, Haley would make history as the first woman and

...