Diplomacy up in smoke: Biden visits Israel

<p>A fatal explosion at a hospital-cum-shelter has led to outrage and the canceling of the very summit that the US president had flown in for. <a href="https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2023/10/17/biden-steers-a-risky-course-in-the-israel-hamas-war?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">America’s support</a> for Israel is unwavering but could this escalation prompt the involvement of regional neighbours? Modi’s meddling in <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2023/10/04/narendra-modi-has-seized-and-politicised-indian-cricket?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">India’s cricket</a> is bad for the game (10:53). And <a href="https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/09/03/lots-of-people-mourn-when-famous-writers-and-musicians-die-why?utm_campaign=a.io&amp;utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&amp;utm_source=theintelligence&amp;utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&amp;utm_term=sa.listeners" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">mourning</a> dead artists (19:19).</p><br><p>Sign up for <a href="http://www.economist.com/podcastsplus-intelligence" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Economist Podcasts+</a> now and get 50% off your subscription with our limited-time offer. You will not be charged until Economist Podcasts+ launches.</p><br><p>If you’re already a subscriber to The Economist, you’ll have full access to all our shows as part of your subscription.</p><br><p>For more information about Economist Podcasts+, including how to get access, please visit our <a href="https://myaccount.economist.com/s/article/What-is-Economist-Podcasts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAQs page</a>.</p><br /><hr><p style='c