The Economist has been championing progress for almost 200 years,

providing independent journalism for independent thinking.

The Economist helps you tune into the global conversation

with reporting from correspondence around the world.

You gain access to in-depth, deeply researched expert analysis of world events

and topics ranging from business and culture to politics, science

and technology. Available in-app online through podcasts and print. So for facts sake, search the

economist. Hello everyone and welcome to Ammanpur. Here's what's coming up.

I think President Trump lives off actually acting unconventionally.

Germany's former Chancellor Angela Merkel opens up in a rare interview about Trump, Putin, her proudest moments and her biggest regrets as the most powerful leader in Europe.

Plus,

That wave, we have a good 15, 20 feet tall. Easy.

Tsunami race against time.

Hari Srinavasan speaks to director Daniel Bogardo and seismologist Barry Hirshorn about the tidal wave

that crushed Asia 20 years ago. Welcome to the program, everyone. I'm Christiana Manpur in New York.

Democracy appears under threat from Asia, where South Korea has announced martial law,

to America, where Donald Trump soon takes office again, naming

a raft of staunch loyalists to his cabinet whose credentials and character for the job are

in question.

In a moment, we'll bring you my in-depth interview with Germany's longest serving, Chancellor

Angela Merkel, but first to Seoul, and the shocked decision by the President to declare martial law for the first time in four decades.

Protests erupted at the National Assembly and within hours lawmakers unanimously rejected that declaration.

...