A great deal to be desired: Europe-Britain trade

<p>Europe’s parliament has overwhelmingly voted to extend a stopgap trade agreement. But the rancour behind the vote, and the deal’s thin measures, say much about <a href="https://www.economist.com/britain/2021/03/27/hopes-of-a-better-post-brexit-relationship-with-the-eu-are-fading?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">future relations</a>. Female soldiers are entering armed forces in big numbers, but they still face <a href="https://www.economist.com/international/2021/04/24/female-soldiers-are-changing-how-armed-forces-work?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">barriers</a> both in getting the job and in doing it. And China’s homegrown Oscar-winning director is <a href="https://www.economist.com/china/2021/04/27/news-of-chloe-zhaos-nomadland-oscar-win-is-censored-in-china?utm_campaign=the-intelligence&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_source=third-party-host&amp;utm_content=show-notes" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">scrubbed</a> from its internet. 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></p> &#10;&nbsp;<br /><hr><p style='color: grey; font - size: 0.75em; '>See <a style='color: grey; ' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for privacy and opt-out information.</p>