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Hello and welcome to The Intelligence from The Economist. I'm your host, Rosie Blore. Every weekday, we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world. France's colonies in Africa gained independence in the 1960s, but France has maintained a foothold and often a military presence in many of them. Now its troops are finally withdrawing, our correspondent considers the implications. And the Maha Kummela, a Hindu festival where pilgrims take a dip in a holy river to cleanse their sins, takes place once every 12 years. These days, says our correspondent, its popularity isn't just about the alignment of the planets. It also serves a political purpose. This week, European leaders lined up in Washington for a charm offensive. I
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thought we had a very productive discussion, obviously, as the president says. The deal has to come first. But yes, our teams are going to be...
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Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in the Capitol yesterday, touting the special relationship. And a letter from King Charles inviting Donald Trump for a second state visit. President Macron was a very special man in my book. We were
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together. We did it
