The greatest civilisations of the past 3,000 years were the opposite of MAGA

The Economist

Indian states have been spaffing cash on handouts and other bungs to voters. A sensible, remunerative and politically feasible proposal for booze taxes might bring a surge in revenue

The Economist

Educators across every academic field are struggling to contain AI-assisted cheating. Our charts illustrate which students are the heaviest users of such tools

The Economist

India’s demographic transition is the most striking example of a global trend. For it is no longer just wealthy places where families have few, or no, kids. Curious as to why? Register to continue reading (it’s free)

The Economist

The Treasury’s new creditors may have troubling flaws, but America cannot afford to turn them away

The Economist

Baby-boomers are keeping their bad habits into retirement

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A study in France shows a striking gender gap within the first months of school

The Economist

Could you survive 72 hours without outside food, water or electricity?

The Economist

Carmakers usually talk up a new model. Yet Ferrari is not like other car firms

The Economist

Stopping North Korea’s nuclear-weapons programme appears to have fallen off China’s agenda. Register for free to learn why

The Economist

Japan’s sprawling sex industry is thought to be worth ¥2trn-5trn ($12bn-31bn) a year. Lately a debate has raged over how the work is policed

The Economist

Indian states have been spaffing cash on handouts and other bungs to voters. Register for free to read why a sensible, remunerative and politically feasible proposal for booze taxes might bring a surge in revenue Illustration: Lehel Kovacs

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Migrants are helping South Korean shipbuilding companies fulfil a flurry of orders from foreign buyers. Now their presence is making waves

The Economist

The show now averages 8m American viewers per episode. A third of them rewatch episodes; 15% have watched five times or more

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“Recursive self-improvement” is both tantalising and worrying

The Economist

TV title sequences were once simple cards displaying static text. By the 1950s they served as prologues. The form peaked in the era of prestige TV at the turn of the millennium. But now they are dwindling

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The company’s AI-first PC is another sign of how fiercely contested the chip business has become, with firms venturing ever further from their original turf

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Although Donald Trump may be willing to tear a strip off Binyamin Netanyahu, he still is reluctant to break with his ally. Register for free to understand why

The Economist

Since Donald Trump took office in January 2025 America’s overall labour force has shrunk, lowering the pace of job creation needed to keep unemployment stable. Against that backdrop, jobs growth has been exceptionally strong

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A new book about the military leader combines analysis with good old-fashioned fun, offering a lesson in how history can be both academically ambitious and readable. Register to continue reading (it’s free)

The Economist

A question that will define the 21st century