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The Economist
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· Nov 18
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Last week Netflix announced an $83bn acquisition of most of Warner Bros Discovery. Then Paramount, a smaller rival, offered $108bn for the whole company.
We explain why the Looney-Tunes sums could yet grow even higher
We explain why the Looney-Tunes sums could yet grow even higher
Netflix and Paramount are battling for more than just Warner Bros
They present rival visions for the future of entertainment
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Last week Netflix announced an $83bn acquisition of most of Warner Bros Discovery. Then Paramount, a smaller rival, offered $108bn for the whole company.
We explain why the Looney-Tunes sums could yet grow even higher
We explain why the Looney-Tunes sums could yet grow even higher
Donald Trump has approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to “approved customers” in China, in exchange for a 25% cut for Uncle Sam. Yet the Communist Party seems to be deeply uncomfortable with the situation
Donald Trump is tearing up America’s chip-control policy
His administration wants China hooked on American technology. China has other ideas
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Donald Trump has approved the sale of Nvidia’s H200 chips to “approved customers” in China, in exchange for a 25% cut for Uncle Sam. Yet the Communist Party seems to be deeply uncomfortable with the situation
The question of who gets one of the biggest names in old-fashioned moviemaking will shape the future of Hollywood, and of entertainment more widely econ.st/3MjpJ7D
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
December 9, 2025 at 9:20 PM
The question of who gets one of the biggest names in old-fashioned moviemaking will shape the future of Hollywood, and of entertainment more widely econ.st/3MjpJ7D
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping share a dangerous nostalgia
What’s worse for innovation: MAGA or Mao?
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping share a dangerous nostalgia
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Donald Trump and Xi Jinping share a dangerous nostalgia
Politics in Brazil, as elsewhere, has been shaken up in recent years by populism. What path might the country take in 2026? econ.st/4oJjBmC
Illustration: Ricardo Santos
Illustration: Ricardo Santos
December 9, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Politics in Brazil, as elsewhere, has been shaken up in recent years by populism. What path might the country take in 2026? econ.st/4oJjBmC
Illustration: Ricardo Santos
Illustration: Ricardo Santos
Why are “mum jobs” causing a social-media storm in China? Find out on this week’s “Drum Tower” podcast
Mama drama: the row over China’s “mum jobs”
Our weekly podcast on China. This week, what are “mum jobs”—and why don’t Chinese women want them?
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Why are “mum jobs” causing a social-media storm in China? Find out on this week’s “Drum Tower” podcast
Student-athletes now face a torrent of abuse from losing gamblers. Last year the governing body of American college sport recorded 740 instances of harassment directly attributed to sports gambling
College campuses are at the fore of America’s sports-betting boom
The fun is undeniable but so is the toll it is taking on young men
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Student-athletes now face a torrent of abuse from losing gamblers. Last year the governing body of American college sport recorded 740 instances of harassment directly attributed to sports gambling
We’ve assessed 36 mostly rich countries to find the best-performing economy of the year. Find out which are the winners—and the losers
Which economy did best in 2025?
Our annual ranking returns
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 8:00 PM
We’ve assessed 36 mostly rich countries to find the best-performing economy of the year. Find out which are the winners—and the losers
What if autism is not a single condition, but several? Research into the spectrum’s enormous diversity could help lead to better treatments and interventions
Why autism should not be treated as a single condition
A better understanding of its biology will lead to better interventions
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
What if autism is not a single condition, but several? Research into the spectrum’s enormous diversity could help lead to better treatments and interventions
“When the world is in crisis, people are drawn to cuteness.” Vendeline von Bredow tells “The Intelligence” why one Italian firm is bucking the downward trend in penmaking bit.ly/4ptlpBj
December 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
“When the world is in crisis, people are drawn to cuteness.” Vendeline von Bredow tells “The Intelligence” why one Italian firm is bucking the downward trend in penmaking bit.ly/4ptlpBj
His administration wants China hooked on American technology. China has other ideas
Donald Trump is tearing up America’s chip-control policy
His administration wants China hooked on American technology. China has other ideas
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:10 PM
His administration wants China hooked on American technology. China has other ideas
Russian fertilisers are cheap, plentiful and nearby. And rising EU tariffs that are intended to render them uncompetitive may not do the job
Europe bans Russia’s gas exports, but still buys its gas-based fertiliser
The EU’s rising tariffs may not solve the problem
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Russian fertilisers are cheap, plentiful and nearby. And rising EU tariffs that are intended to render them uncompetitive may not do the job
In a guest essay, the American history professor argues that “the current Gilded Age will end when a new movement abandons today’s politics and tackles the all-too-obvious problems of the past half-century”
The Gilded Age holds lessons for today, says Richard White
The professor of American history at Stanford University considers what might come next, in a guest essay for The World Ahead 2026
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:40 PM
In a guest essay, the American history professor argues that “the current Gilded Age will end when a new movement abandons today’s politics and tackles the all-too-obvious problems of the past half-century”
The Chinese Communist Party is “only going to double down on incentives to promote marriage and childbearing”, says Sarah Wu on this week’s “Drum Tower”
Mama drama: the row over China’s “mum jobs”
Our weekly podcast on China. This week, what are “mum jobs”—and why don’t Chinese women want them?
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:25 PM
The Chinese Communist Party is “only going to double down on incentives to promote marriage and childbearing”, says Sarah Wu on this week’s “Drum Tower”
European leaders have said the measures they’re taking to please Donald Trump “are things they would need to do anyway”, says the European Council on Foreign Relations’ director. “But the same is true of what they need to do to respond to MAGA in Europe”
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 6:20 PM
European leaders have said the measures they’re taking to please Donald Trump “are things they would need to do anyway”, says the European Council on Foreign Relations’ director. “But the same is true of what they need to do to respond to MAGA in Europe”
Fernando Cerimedo has run right-wing campaigns across Latin America, forging close ties with MAGA and Donald Trump
MAGA’s man in LatAm
Fernando Cerimedo has run right-wing campaigns across Latin America, forging close ties with MAGA and Donald Trump
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Fernando Cerimedo has run right-wing campaigns across Latin America, forging close ties with MAGA and Donald Trump
Martin Parr was more interested in capturing village fêtes than foreign wars. But the images he took abroad are among the best depictions of globalisation and tourism ever recorded
Martin Parr transformed photojournalism
Six images captured by one of Britain’s best photographers
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Martin Parr was more interested in capturing village fêtes than foreign wars. But the images he took abroad are among the best depictions of globalisation and tourism ever recorded
Brands are busily looking for ways to persuade chatbots to recommend their products. “Search-engine optimisation” is giving way to “generative-engine optimisation”
How AI is disrupting shopping
Looking for Christmas gifts? Just ask a chatbot
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Brands are busily looking for ways to persuade chatbots to recommend their products. “Search-engine optimisation” is giving way to “generative-engine optimisation”
Quizzes are moving with the times
A new breed of quizzer is wresting control of an old hobby
Quizzes are moving with the times
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Quizzes are moving with the times
“We could see around half a million of these things in orbit.” Satellites are going up by the thousands; “The Intelligence” hears why that is bad for earthly astronomers bit.ly/3YewZ78
December 9, 2025 at 5:00 PM
“We could see around half a million of these things in orbit.” Satellites are going up by the thousands; “The Intelligence” hears why that is bad for earthly astronomers bit.ly/3YewZ78
In 2025 Nayib Bukele, once keen to cultivate his public image, took off the mask and went after civil society. He will face two tests in the coming year
Nayib Bukele consolidates his dictatorship in El Salvador
Nayib Bukele holds all the levers of power in El Salvador. He is likely to become more brazen in 2026 as a result of Donald Trump’s backing
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 4:40 PM
In 2025 Nayib Bukele, once keen to cultivate his public image, took off the mask and went after civil society. He will face two tests in the coming year
Fatigue with both the hard right and the left opens up space for a centrist resurgence in Brazil in 2026
Could Brazil’s mega-election herald the end of polarisation?
Brazilians will head to the polls in October. Candidates will have to win over voters who are tiring of both Jair Bolsonaro and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Fatigue with both the hard right and the left opens up space for a centrist resurgence in Brazil in 2026
The question of who gets one of the biggest names in old-fashioned moviemaking will shape the future of Hollywood, and of entertainment more widely
Netflix and Paramount are battling for more than just Warner Bros
They present rival visions for the future of entertainment
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The question of who gets one of the biggest names in old-fashioned moviemaking will shape the future of Hollywood, and of entertainment more widely
Six images captured by one of Britain’s best photographers
Martin Parr transformed photojournalism
Six images captured by one of Britain’s best photographers
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Six images captured by one of Britain’s best photographers
The EU fears that disrupting the fertiliser supply would expose it to Russia’s wrath. But there are two ways for Europe to stop paying Russia billions for plant food while it bombs Ukrainian cities
Europe bans Russia’s gas exports, but still buys its gas-based fertiliser
The EU’s rising tariffs may not solve the problem
econ.st
December 9, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The EU fears that disrupting the fertiliser supply would expose it to Russia’s wrath. But there are two ways for Europe to stop paying Russia billions for plant food while it bombs Ukrainian cities