Idris Kaloun, U.S. policy correspondent for The Economist, sheds light on the backlash of school closures, highlighting how they exacerbate educational inequalities. Matthew Valencia, the Deputy business affairs editor, discusses Dubai’s financial evolution and its struggles with a tarnished reputation amid its aspirations for global prominence. They also explore the resurgence of classic literature during the pandemic, reflecting on how reading has become a refuge for many. Their conversation intertwines pressing educational issues with the dynamic landscape of international finance.