Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

In London, I'm Jason Palmer.

And in New York, I'm John Fassman.

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

The World Cup begins this weekend in Qatar, a hosting first for the Gulf country.

Fans are excited of course, but controversy threatens to overshadow the football, from

questions of human rights to whether the country is even ready for the event.

And New York is a city of 8 million people and 2 million rats.

The two species have long lived in uneasy coexistence.

But Eric Adams, the city's new mayor, has had enough.

He's declared open season on rodents.

First.

Yesterday, Britain's Finance Minister Jeremy Hunt stood before Parliament to deliver a

stinging package of tax rises and spending cuts.

In the face of unprecedented global headwinds, families, pensioners, businesses, teachers,

nurses and many others are worried about the future.

So today, we deliver a plan to tackle the cost of living crisis and rebuild our economy.

Eye-watering energy bills and double-digit inflation have destroyed any chance of a quick

post-pandemic recovery.

The UK, like other countries, is now in recession.

Mr. Hunt's plan is a far cry from the disastrous mini-budget of his predecessor, quasi-quartang,

who promised sweeping but unfunded tax cuts.

...