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.

Weather forecasting got its start as a public good, based on shared data across international borders.

But that may be changing.

We look into the remarkable, vast, computationally intensive global collaboration that is predicting the weather and where it's headed.

And do you like getting close to wildlife? Maybe it's time to plan a trip to Japan.

As many people move from rural areas to the cities, and those left behind stop hunting and farming,

the animals are moving in. Just make sure you wear a bear bell.

First up, though.

The

applause was loud, but not as loud as it might have been.

Last night, Ursula von der Leyen became the first woman to be appointed president of the European Commission,

after a secret ballot by members of Europe's parliament.

But she only squeaked by with 383 votes, just nine more than the minimum.

As Commission President, Mrs. von der Leyen will be at the heart of a legislature that represents half a billion people.

The trust you placed in me is confidence you placed in Europe.

Ahead of the vote, she laid out her vision to the European Parliament,

speaking about trade,

gender equality, climate change, migration and defence.

Mrs. von der Leyen was a latecomer to the presidential race, and there are questions about what kind of leader she will be.

Ursula von der Leyen was never the frontrunner to be the next president of the European Commission.

Jeremy Cliff writes Charlemagne, our column about European politics.

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