The Economist - Latest world, politics and business news

Why the fires in Hawaii have been so bad

environment

Published on Nov 27, 2023 10:13 AM IST

Fires need dry fuel and high winds, and both were in plentiful supply

In this photo provided by the Maui Fire Department, firefighters work to extinguish a wildfire in Kihei, Hawaii on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023. The Maui Fire Department fully contained and extinguished the small fire that broke out during a warning that gusty winds and low humidity posed a risk that fires could spread rapidly in the western parts of the Hawaiian islands. (Rylan Yatsushiro/ Maui Fire Department via AP)(AP)

The Economist

El Niño has started. Preparations must too

It will bring chaotic weather to much of the world

El Nino is characterised by an unusual warming of waters in the eastern equatorial Pacific. (Twitter)

environment

Published on Nov 27, 2023 10:00 AM IST

The Economist

The five best books to understand AI

Specialists outside the field do better at explaining the implications

Artificial intelligence tools can now even write for you.(Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash)

books

Published on Nov 27, 2023 09:00 AM IST

The Economist

Eight of the best spy novels

Former spooks make especially strong authors

Alec Guinness as John le Carré’s most famous spy, George Smiley, in the BBC adaptation of the novels.(BBC)

books

Published on Nov 26, 2023 11:00 AM IST

The Economist

The (sort of) isolationist case for backing Ukraine

Or: What America can learn from Sparta

Ukrainian soldiers take part in a sniper shooting exercise at a training facility outside Kyiv, Ukraine(AFP)

world news

Published on Nov 26, 2023 10:00 AM IST

The Economist

Taiwan’s presidential election will be a three-way race after all

Even with a divided opposition, polls point to a tight contest

world news

Published on Nov 26, 2023 08:00 AM IST

The Economist

The agony of 24 hostages is over. The Gaza war isn’t

Israel and Hamas trade captives during a four-day truce

Smoke billows after an Israeli strike on Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip on November 23, 2023, amid continuing battles between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. (AFP)

world news

Published on Nov 26, 2023 12:30 AM IST

The Economist

Progress on climate change has been too slow. But it’s been real

And the world needs to learn from it

The main driver of global warming is the cumulative amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. (AP)

environment

Published on Nov 26, 2023 12:30 AM IST

The Economist

Microbiome treatments are taking off

Faecal transplants are just the start of a new sort of medicine

The microbiome process takes a strong stomach, for the donations are of fresh faecal matter. “I don’t smell it any more,” says Dr Prossomariti.(Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay )

science

Published on Nov 20, 2023 02:05 PM IST

The Economist

What can inflation-strugglers learn from inflation-killers?

Why America, Australia, Britain and Canada are lagging behind

Inflation’s stickiness may reflect the fact that fiscal stimulus across Anglophone countries in 2020-21 was about 40% more generous than in other rich places. (MINT_PRINT)

business

Published on Nov 20, 2023 11:11 AM IST

The Economist

As Israel fights on in Gaza its dilemma gets worse

Does it prioritise victory, civilians, hostages or relations with America?

A view of damaged buildings in Gaza,, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, November 17, 2023. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko(REUTERS)

world news

Published on Nov 20, 2023 09:15 AM IST

The Economist

Lessons from the blaze that levelled Lahaina

A deadly wildfire on Maui steals Hawaiians’ homes and history

A view of flames as wildfires engulfed the historic town of Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, U.S. August 9, 2023. Erin Hawk/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.(via REUTERS)

environment

Published on Nov 19, 2023 11:13 AM IST

The Economist

Failing to reintegrate Iraq’s Sunni rebels could prove costly

Mistreating people once linked to Islamic State is a mistake

Iraqi Army soldiers with new US-made weapons take combat positions at the front line in an eastern suburb of Ramadi, backed by Shiite and Sunni pro-government fighters (AP Photo)

world news

Published on Nov 19, 2023 11:10 AM IST

The Economist

Even doctors can struggle to diagnose concussions

A new test could make it much easier

One of the problems, though, is properly diagnosing concussion in the first place. (Shutterstock)

science

Published on Nov 19, 2023 11:00 AM IST

The Economist

Invading Taiwan would be a logistical minefield for China

Russia’s problems in Ukraine make it look even more daunting

China-Taiwan Conflict: A Chinook helicopter carrying a Taiwan flag flies over the city during the country's National Day celebration in Taipei, Taiwan.(Reuters)

world news

Published on Nov 19, 2023 07:00 AM IST

The Economist

El Niño and global warming are mixing in alarming ways

Havoc in poor countries and commodities markets is inevitable

environment

Published on Nov 06, 2023 03:00 PM IST

The Economist

Herders and farmers seek reasons for east Africa’s drought

Was it climate change, conflict, or the wrath of God?

A local farmer herds livestock near a section of the Kingfisher Feeder Pipeline, part of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), in Kikuube, Uganda, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023. The $4 billion EACOP infrastructure will transport 16,000 barrels of oil a day from Western Uganda to Tanzania's Tanga port on the Indian Ocean coast. Photographer: Luke Dray/Bloomberg(Bloomberg)

environment

Published on Nov 06, 2023 03:00 PM IST

The Economist

How to stop turmeric from killing people

How consumption of turmeric can lead to lead poisoning - the article sheds light on the issue.

health

Published on Nov 06, 2023 12:15 PM IST

The Economist

| Posted by Tapatrisha Das, Delhi

Forget Teslas, India’s EV revolution is happening on two wheels

Electric scooters are spreading fast

Say the words “electric vehicle” and racy images of Tesla and its boss Elon Musk spring to Western minds. (HT File)

business

Published on Nov 06, 2023 12:00 PM IST

The Economist

Sam Bankman-Fried’s downfall is complete

The erstwhile crypto king is convicted of seven counts of fraud

Former FTX chief Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the Federal Courthouse following a bail hearing ahead of his October trial, in New York City on July 26, 2023.(AFP)

technology

Published on Nov 05, 2023 04:00 PM IST

The Economist

How adult brains learn the new without forgetting the old

They keep a stock of unused synapses in reserve, to be activated as needed

Learning is a result of changes in the pattern of neural connectivity in the brain.

science

Published on Nov 05, 2023 01:00 PM IST

The Economist

When should Rishi Sunak call the next British election?

The economic signs suggest the prime minister has no good options

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves from 10 Downing Street in central London.(AFP)

world news

Published on Nov 05, 2023 09:00 AM IST

The Economist

Could the Israel-Hamas war trigger unrest across the Arab world?

Three countries are now more vulnerable to instability, according to EIU’s risk modelling

A picture taken from the southern Israeli border city of Sderot shows smoke rising above buildings in the Gaza Strip during an Israeli strike (AFP)

world news

Published on Nov 04, 2023 10:07 PM IST

The Economist

Is Hizbullah stepping back from the brink of war?

In a bombastic speech its leader signals restraint

Supporters of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group shout slogans, as they wait the speech of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, during a rally in Beirut, Lebanon, on November 3.(AP)

world news

Published on Nov 04, 2023 10:01 PM IST

The Economist

Six books you didn’t know were propaganda

Governments influence a surprising amount of literature. Some of it pretty good

books

Published on Nov 04, 2023 10:01 PM IST

The Economist

China approves the world’s first flying taxi

EHang could soon take passengers on pilotless joyrides over Guangzhou

FILE PHOTO: China's national flag flutters at a business district in Beijing, October 29, 2015. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo(REUTERS)

world news

Published on Oct 29, 2023 11:12 AM IST

The Economist

The most typical place in Britain is Basildon

The Economist has crunched the numbers to find the most median spot in the country

world news

Published on Oct 29, 2023 11:00 AM IST

The Economist

Is there too much football?

The game’s growth is hurting players. It should learn from other sports

Players pause to remember those affected by the war between Israel and Hamas militants that has devastated much of Gaza, ahead of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur at Selhurst Park in south London on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (AFP)

sports

Published on Oct 29, 2023 10:15 AM IST

The Economist

The women’s World Cup has broken new ground

But data suggest the old guard, including America, hasn’t weakened

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - FIFA Women's World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 - Final - Spain v England - Stadium Australia, Sydney, Australia - August 20, 2023 Spain's Olga Carmona and Ona Batlle celebrate with the trophy after winning the World Cup REUTERS/Carl Recine/File Photo(REUTERS)

sports

Published on Oct 29, 2023 10:00 AM IST

The Economist

America would struggle to break Iran’s oil-smuggling complex

After years of sanctions, it has become a sophisticated operation

A general view of Abadan oil refinery in southwest Iran, is pictured from Iraqi side of Shatt al-Arab in Al-Faw south of Basra, Iraq September 21, 2019. (REUTERS File Photo)

world news

Published on Oct 28, 2023 02:59 AM IST

The Economist

Fires need dry fuel and high winds, and both were in plentiful supply

It will bring chaotic weather to much of the world

Specialists outside the field do better at explaining the implications

Former spooks make especially strong authors

Or: What America can learn from Sparta

Even with a divided opposition, polls point to a tight contest

Israel and Hamas trade captives during a four-day truce

And the world needs to learn from it

Faecal transplants are just the start of a new sort of medicine

Why America, Australia, Britain and Canada are lagging behind

Does it prioritise victory, civilians, hostages or relations with America?

A deadly wildfire on Maui steals Hawaiians’ homes and history

Mistreating people once linked to Islamic State is a mistake

A new test could make it much easier

Russia’s problems in Ukraine make it look even more daunting

Havoc in poor countries and commodities markets is inevitable

Was it climate change, conflict, or the wrath of God?

How consumption of turmeric can lead to lead poisoning - the article sheds light on the issue.

Electric scooters are spreading fast

The erstwhile crypto king is convicted of seven counts of fraud

They keep a stock of unused synapses in reserve, to be activated as needed

The economic signs suggest the prime minister has no good options

Three countries are now more vulnerable to instability, according to EIU’s risk modelling

In a bombastic speech its leader signals restraint

Governments influence a surprising amount of literature. Some of it pretty good

EHang could soon take passengers on pilotless joyrides over Guangzhou

The Economist has crunched the numbers to find the most median spot in the country

The game’s growth is hurting players. It should learn from other sports

But data suggest the old guard, including America, hasn’t weakened

After years of sanctions, it has become a sophisticated operation

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