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.

There's a big election coming up and there are real concerns that it will be marred

by misinformation on Facebook. Of course, I'm talking about Myanmar, where for many people

Facebook is the internet. And bookshelves are heaving under the weight of memoirs this

year, the political kind. As the cut and thrust of international politics becomes more like

entertainment, the kinds of celebrity tell-alls that used to top charts are falling by the

wayside.

First, today Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson can expect vicious questioning in

Parliament, where he will explain his decision for a second national lockdown.

We've got to be humble in the face of nature.

On Saturday, details of his plans leaked to the media, but his press conference to outline

them was repeatedly delayed. Eventually, Mr. Johnson interrupted prime time television

to lay out the option he'd previously all but ruled out.

And so now is the time to take action because there is no alternative. And from Thursday

until the start of December, you must stay at home. You may only leave home for specific

reasons.

Strict measures will be put in place just in England. Non-essential shops, pubs, restaurants

and gyms will all close. England is clocking up about 20,000 new coronavirus cases every

day. Government scientists have warned that their previously modeled worst case scenario

of 80,000 deaths could well be exceeded. The sharp and sudden U-turn has raised

iron among members of Mr. Johnson's conservative party and fatigue among the English public.

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