Uneasy lies the head: Thailand’s under-fire king

Thailand is bracing for a large <a href="https://www.economist.com/asia/2020/08/20/audacious-student-protests-are-rocking-bangkok?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">anti-government protest</a>, with some of the anger directed at the usually-revered monarchy. Some fear that the establishment’s patience will snap, with bloody results. Freemasonry has been one of the most <a href="https://www.economist.com/books-and-arts/2020/08/27/a-global-history-of-the-freemasons?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">contagious ideas</a> of the modern age, spreading to every corner of the world. But the number of masons is shrinking.&nbsp;And in Britain, social distancing may have shut nightclubs. But many ravers <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2020/09/03/why-raves-are-enjoying-a-revival?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">don’t tech-no</a> for an answer. For full access to print, digital and audio editions of <em>The Economist</em>, subscribe here <a href="http://www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer</a><hr /><p style="color: grey; font-size: 0.75em;"> Hosted on Acast. See <a href="https://acast.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="color: grey;" target="_blank">acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>