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The Economist
@economist.com
· Nov 18
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Also on the daily podcast: a satellite bonanza puts astronomy at risk and one penmaker thrives in the digital age
“You’re…fired?” A momentous Supreme Court case
Also on the daily podcast: a satellite bonanza puts astronomy at risk and one penmaker thrives in the digital age
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Also on the daily podcast: a satellite bonanza puts astronomy at risk and one penmaker thrives in the digital age
The hard-right party languishes behind a Brandmauer (“firewall”), excluding it from government participation. But this has not halted its rise. Some think it has accelerated its radicalisation econ.st/3KxIHH0
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
December 9, 2025 at 1:00 PM
The hard-right party languishes behind a Brandmauer (“firewall”), excluding it from government participation. But this has not halted its rise. Some think it has accelerated its radicalisation econ.st/3KxIHH0
Photo: AFP
Photo: AFP
Even as Americans increasingly disapprove of Donald Trump’s performance, they still trust Republicans more on crime, immigration and the economy. Central to any Democratic resurgence in 2026 will be working out why
What’s next for the Democrats?
Democrats have a good chance of retaking the House of Representatives in the midterms in November. But even that would not solve their problems
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Even as Americans increasingly disapprove of Donald Trump’s performance, they still trust Republicans more on crime, immigration and the economy. Central to any Democratic resurgence in 2026 will be working out why
In 2026 the most significant bogus election will be held in Ethiopia. The scale of the prime minister’s domestic ambitions, and fervent belief that he is divinely anointed, suggest he has no plans for retirement
Another year of cynical election theatre beckons in Africa
Ethiopia will organise the continent’s most farcical poll in 2026. South Africa and Zambia offer some hope, but Uganda and South Sudan face bleak elections
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In 2026 the most significant bogus election will be held in Ethiopia. The scale of the prime minister’s domestic ambitions, and fervent belief that he is divinely anointed, suggest he has no plans for retirement
A rattled, divided leadership is having to heed calls for change
Iranians want their own Deng Xiaoping, writes Vali Nasr
A rattled, divided leadership is having to heed calls for change
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A rattled, divided leadership is having to heed calls for change
Germany’s promise to undermine the hard-right party’s support by governing well remains unfulfilled: it is still soaring in national polls. That this challenge is not unique to the country hardly makes it easier to swallow
Can Germany’s AfD breach the electoral firewall?
In September the German approach to the hard right will face a stern test in two state elections. The vote in Saxony-Anhalt will be especially crucial
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 12:00 PM
Germany’s promise to undermine the hard-right party’s support by governing well remains unfulfilled: it is still soaring in national polls. That this challenge is not unique to the country hardly makes it easier to swallow
With these titles you can try your luck as a museum curator, detective or samurai. Explore our list of the best video games of 2025
The best video games of 2025
Try your luck as a museum curator, detective or samurai
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 11:00 AM
With these titles you can try your luck as a museum curator, detective or samurai. Explore our list of the best video games of 2025
The inefficiencies of Europe’s paper-based bureaucracies are legendary. The rest of the continent should see Greece's digital transformation efforts as a call to action
Greece is teaching Germany how to get government online
A legendary bureaucracy is making Olympian efforts at digitalisation
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The inefficiencies of Europe’s paper-based bureaucracies are legendary. The rest of the continent should see Greece's digital transformation efforts as a call to action
The number is hardly a flood, more like a trickle
Are Brits really leaving the country in droves?
No. We estimate that emigration is lower now than it was five years ago
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The number is hardly a flood, more like a trickle
When lots of parties have similar levels of support, small shifts in their share of votes can lead to huge shifts in their share of seats. Our election model brings some clarity to this baffling new order in Britain
Our new model captures the lottery of Britain’s electoral system
Similar results, our data analysis shows, can yield strikingly different outcomes
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 AM
When lots of parties have similar levels of support, small shifts in their share of votes can lead to huge shifts in their share of seats. Our election model brings some clarity to this baffling new order in Britain
Governments elected on a small share of the vote do not have a mandate for the sweeping reform Britain needs. It is a recipe for disillusionment with democracy
Britain’s slot-machine politics
Voting is becoming a high-stakes, wildly unpredictable gamble
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Governments elected on a small share of the vote do not have a mandate for the sweeping reform Britain needs. It is a recipe for disillusionment with democracy
At its core policing is about intelligence, and involves processing vast troves of information. That makes it a good test case of AI
Why Britain’s police forces are taking to AI
There are big benefits if they can overcome the obstacles
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 8:00 AM
At its core policing is about intelligence, and involves processing vast troves of information. That makes it a good test case of AI
If liberal European leaders can defend their national sovereignty from Donald Trump’s attacks, he “will not be just a populist firecracker”, writes Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “He will also be a catalyst for a new centrist European politics”
It’s time Europe got to grips with the MAGA challenge, writes Mark Leonard
How Donald Trump can be used as a weapon against his ideological allies on the old continent
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 AM
If liberal European leaders can defend their national sovereignty from Donald Trump’s attacks, he “will not be just a populist firecracker”, writes Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations. “He will also be a catalyst for a new centrist European politics”
The lessons Japan has learned from economic warfare with China, may be helpful for other countries struggling to cope with China’s rare-earths bullying. They also show how hard this will be
Lessons from Japan’s efforts to wean itself off Chinese rare earths
Numbers one, two and three: it’s a lot harder than it sounds
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:20 AM
The lessons Japan has learned from economic warfare with China, may be helpful for other countries struggling to cope with China’s rare-earths bullying. They also show how hard this will be
In the spring, Viktor Orban will be on the ballot for the seventh time since 2002. Longevity has not made the Hungarian prime minister popular among his EU counterparts
Hungary’s election could change Europe
In 2026 Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party will be on the ballot for the seventh time since 2002. All eyes are on whether the strongman can be defeated
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:00 AM
In the spring, Viktor Orban will be on the ballot for the seventh time since 2002. Longevity has not made the Hungarian prime minister popular among his EU counterparts
It is a particularly panicky British parliament at the moment. In the coming year, not even historic success guarantees immunity against challenge
British parties will engage in bouts of regicide in the coming year
The leaders of almost every major political party in Britain, including Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Sir Ed Davey, will face a challenge in 2026
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:40 AM
It is a particularly panicky British parliament at the moment. In the coming year, not even historic success guarantees immunity against challenge
At this stage it is difficult to know who to believe about who fired first. But leaders on both sides face pressure not to appear weak in the face of a historic rival
Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia breaks out again
Hundreds of thousands of refugees are back on the move
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:20 AM
At this stage it is difficult to know who to believe about who fired first. But leaders on both sides face pressure not to appear weak in the face of a historic rival
The Danish post is the first to end letter collection, but others will follow
Denmark gets ready to cancel Christmas cards
The Danish post is the first to end letter collection, but others will follow
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:00 AM
The Danish post is the first to end letter collection, but others will follow
Sweden is embarking on a borrowing spree. For the few bond traders Stockholm has, business is about to roar
Stockholm is Europe’s new capital of capital
And with Sweden embarking on a borrowing spree, it is a bond trader’s paradise
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Sweden is embarking on a borrowing spree. For the few bond traders Stockholm has, business is about to roar
As pro-democracy protests swelled in cities around China in 1989, leaders decided that only the army could put a stop to them. One major-general objected to the order
The general who refused to crush Tiananmen’s protesters
A leaked video of his court-martial has suddenly appeared
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 AM
As pro-democracy protests swelled in cities around China in 1989, leaders decided that only the army could put a stop to them. One major-general objected to the order
Hong Kong’s leader has fudged questions about local governance and instead vowed to accelerate plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding
After a terrible fire in Hong Kong, public fury smoulders
The government is determined to suppress protest
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Hong Kong’s leader has fudged questions about local governance and instead vowed to accelerate plans to phase out bamboo scaffolding
It is possible that the relationship recession will not correct itself. A striking 7% of singletons say they would consider a robo-romance with an AI companion.
AI is patient, AI is kind and it won’t ask you to clean the bathroom or get a better job
AI is patient, AI is kind and it won’t ask you to clean the bathroom or get a better job
The rise of singlehood is reshaping the world
In good ways and bad
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is possible that the relationship recession will not correct itself. A striking 7% of singletons say they would consider a robo-romance with an AI companion.
AI is patient, AI is kind and it won’t ask you to clean the bathroom or get a better job
AI is patient, AI is kind and it won’t ask you to clean the bathroom or get a better job
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord—as Donald Trump grandiosely called it—was never much more than a rickety ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. And it seems to have fallen apart completely econ.st/4aJgR50
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
December 9, 2025 at 2:00 AM
The Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord—as Donald Trump grandiosely called it—was never much more than a rickety ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia. And it seems to have fallen apart completely econ.st/4aJgR50
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Japan’s relations with China have been on the rocks. Japanese officials are bracing for more economic warfare. Compared with 2010, this time they are better prepared
Lessons from Japan’s efforts to wean itself off Chinese rare earths
Numbers one, two and three: it’s a lot harder than it sounds
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Japan’s relations with China have been on the rocks. Japanese officials are bracing for more economic warfare. Compared with 2010, this time they are better prepared
Donald Trump had reasonable concerns about how Joe Biden’s relatives enriched themselves through his service. Yet his own family is making the “Biden crime family” look small-time
How Donald Trump is turning into Joe Biden
It’s about more than denying inflation
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 1:01 AM
Donald Trump had reasonable concerns about how Joe Biden’s relatives enriched themselves through his service. Yet his own family is making the “Biden crime family” look small-time