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.

In Germany, the party of Angela Merkel has elected Armin Lashet as its new leader.

He has a strong chance of becoming the country's next chancellor.

We look at the battles still facing him and what the changing of the Guard will mean for Europe.

And a Korean immigrant family making its way in the backwaters of Arkansas is standard American Dream Fair.

We examine a film that was a hit at Sundance,

but ineligible for Best Picture at the Golden Globes,

because much of it is in Korean.

First up, though... Dear custom is this your captain.

I ask you to follow the rules of contact from passengers on board of our...

In Berlin yesterday, the Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny

boarded a plane to head home to Moscow, five months after he was poisoned with the nerve agent Novichok.

His homecoming was no secret.

The plane was packed with journalists and supporters who applauded when he got on board.

But things didn't exactly go to plan, prompting international outcry. It's clear that Mr. Nivalny's return is putting President Vladimir Putin

in a tough spot in dealing with his most focal opponent.

This was probably the most surreal flight I've certainly ever been on.

Our Russia editor, Arkadyovstrovsky, was on board with Mr. Navalny.

It turned into a bit of a political circus.

Everybody knew at boarding that Alexei Navalny was going to be on that flight.

...