At Airbus, our products make the world a safer place and help nations protect their sovereignty,

whether it's air ambulance services at home, or evacuations overseas, our technology protects citizens, safeguard security, and

aid responses to crises.

At Airbus, we're pioneering sustainable aerospace for a safe and united world.

Learn more at Airbus.com. The Economist.

Hello and welcome'm Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the economist.

I'm Ora Ogumbee.

And I'm Jason Palmer.

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

A 28 year old mom is building America's first nickel cobalt refinery.

She hopes to reduce the World's Alliance on Metals from the Democratic

Republic of Congo, which are mostly mined unethically. But at home, she's run into ethical issues

of her own.

And it's nothing short of impossible to pick the funniest books ever written.

But our correspondent reckons it's worthwhile coming up with at least a good handful of rib-tickling front runners. But first. Just over two years ago, Thousands of residents of Ukraine's northeast province of Harkiv were forced to flee.

Under fire they took to the railways and the roads,

desperate to escape the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian victories in 2022

pushed the Russian invaders back

and many were able to return to their homes. But now a familiar threat looms.

There's been intense fire in cranes northeast. Evac evacuation orders have been issued for dozens of villages near the front line.

...