Hello and welcome to the intelligence from the economist.

In New York, I'm John Fassman.

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

Bangladesh and Northern India are suffering their worst floods in recent memory, with millions

displaced.

But thanks to increasingly effective architectural and social adaptation efforts, the death toll

has been far lower than expected.

And every year, our sister company ranks the world's cities to determine the best places

to live.

Which city came out on top this year?

Let's just say, there's no hiding from the truth.

But first.

It's Pride Month.

In many countries, Pride is a time when people of all sexualities and genders are celebrated,

with music, dancing, and copious rainbow flag.

But Pride started as a protest to reject the shame felt by lesbian, gay, bi, and trans

people.

And these protests were often stamped down by local authorities.

In some countries, they still are, including China.

China's only large LGBTQ celebration, Shanghai Pride, hasn't occurred since 2020, when police

interrogated several of its organizers.

Alice Sue is a senior China correspondent for the economist.

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