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.

The president of Burundi wants to run for a third term.

Problem is, his country can't afford to hold a poll.

So he's instituted an election tax.

For some officials, that's become an excuse for extortion.

For some citizens are reason to flee the country.

And it's easy to imagine that you really, really want that next promotion. But be careful

what you wish for. Our columnist updates a half-century-old management maxim that makes that next step

up the ladder look less attractive.

First up, though.

Every year in Tokyo, a pride parade winds its way through the city.

There are people waving rainbow flags on floats, dancing all around, but it's not a very big parade. And civil rights for gay, transgender, and queer people in Japan are still in their early stages. Same-sex

marriage is not recognized. Some people are trying to change that. I would like to fight this war

together with sexual minorities all around Japan.

This is activist Kenji Iba.

On Valentine's Day, he and his partner joined 12 other same-sex couples across the country,

suing to demand the right to marry.

Their cases continue.

They hope Japan will follow the example of Taiwan, which recently

legalized same-sex marriage, the only country in Asia to do so. Their cases continue. Other

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