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.

Yesterday, Amsterdam's mayor announced proposals to reform the city's famed red light district.

Some campaigners are pushing for more to criminalize the purchase of sex.

A look at other countries shows that approach gravely endangered sex workers.

And inside the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant that melted down in 2011, piles of robots have been left for dead.

Clean-up efforts have stalled because existing robots just can't bear the conditions inside nuclear facilities.

Now, there's a big research push aiming to make them tougher and smarter.

But first...

Today, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting Rome, where he can expect a warm welcome.

Italy has the most pro-Putin government in Western Europe.

Italian politicians, including Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte and his deputy, Matteo Salvini,

have been supportive of Mr. Putin.

They've called for Russia to be allowed to rejoin the G7 group of world powers.

The country was suspended after annexing Crimea in 2014.

Mr. Salvini of the far-right Northern League Party has called too for the lifting of sanctions on Russia. Mr. Putin has done much to infuriate the international community,

but this Italy visit is the latest in a series of meetings and media appearances

aimed at rehabilitating Russia's standing in the world

and building fresh alliances. If you sit in the Kremlin, look at the events of the past few days.

Russia has been readmitted to the parliamentary assembly and the Council of Europe. President Trump

again praised Putin saying he's a great guy. Arkady Ostrovsky is the economist, Russia editor.

Rewarded him with a one-to-one meeting,

even though previously Trump said he would not meet him until Ukrainian sailors,

...