Sep 16th 2023

How AI can revolutionise science

The world this week

Leaders

The real threat from Europe’s hard right

A fresh wave of hard-right populism is stalking Europe

In Germany, the AfD are weaponising climate change

When robots do research

How artificial intelligence can revolutionise science

Consider the historical precedents

One country, 28 systems

Modi’s “one India” goal is good for the economy, but not for politics

In the next decade regional tensions will build in India

When Kim met Putin

The dangers posed by a deal between Russia and North Korea

It would make life harder for Ukraine—and heighten nuclear risks in Asia

Incentives matter

Why are so many Britons not working?

Don’t blame covid or NHS waiting lists. The problem is the welfare system

Letters

On Germany’s economy, Gandhi, the slave trade, attacking the Assad regime, the hobby lobby

Letters to the editor

By Invitation

Israel and the Palestinians

Martin Indyk reflects on the Oslo accords, 30 years on

Germany’s economy

Robert Habeck responds to The Economist’s “sick man of Europe” cover

Briefing

Swell of pride

The hard right is getting closer to power all over Europe

It does not need to join governments to affect policymaking

Asia

One nation under Modi

Narendra Modi is widening India’s fierce regional divides

Otterly loriculus

Hornbills, otters and even a tapir: Singapore is rewilding

Desperate despots

Why is Vladimir Putin looking to North Korea for arms?

Banyan

How to unite India, Bollywood-style

China

Assimilation game

China’s push to create a single national identity

Singing in the ruin

A Chinese opera star’s ode to Russia—from a Ukrainian bomb site

Shock and awe

China’s government launches a campaign against medical corruption

Chaguan

Xi Jinping builds a 21st-century police state

United States

Striking times

Joe Biden’s love of unions runs into a giant strike

More smoke

Hunter Biden’s woes, and a new impeachment saga, will go on and on

Raising the alarm-clock

America’s school day starts too early. That’s beginning to change

A Prozac moment?

Drugs to treat alcohol addiction are underused

Crypto cowboys

Wyoming wants to become America’s crypto capital

Before the firing squad

Texas Republicans may oust Ken Paxton, one of their own

Lexington

Why some GOP candidates don’t act as aggrieved as Donald Trump

Middle East & Africa

Earth and water

The lethal negligence of politicians in Morocco and Libya

A court of their own

The judge and the attorney-general fighting for Israeli democracy

Long road to nowhere

The Oslo accords were always doomed to fail

Kenya, Africa’s climate laboratory

Kenya wants to pioneer a new African approach to global warming

Snarling or smiling

Kenya’s president, William Ruto, shows two sides

The Americas

Southern spooks

Latin America remains a playground for Russian intelligence

Rio roulette

Short of cash, Brazil’s government may end its gambling prohibition

Europe

Staying the course

Donald Trump will “never” support Putin, says Volodymyr Zelensky

Not so Nazi

Ukraine’s small Jewish community is thriving

Help wanted

Italy needs more migrants, but has trouble admitting it

Running with wolves

Germany’s rampant hard-right AfD puts other parties in a fix

Charlemagne

Meet Matus Vallo, Bratislava’s hipster mayor-architect

Britain

Welfare

Why Britain has a unique problem with economic inactivity

Britain and China

A spy for China in Britain’s Parliament?

Local government crisis

Why more English councils will go bust

Prisons in Britain

The (not so) great escape

New universities

Britain’s surprising, upstart universities

Doomsday

How to get ready for the end of the world

Bagehot

Centrists need to stop worrying and learn to love politics

International

Counsels of war

Are Ukraine’s tactics working?

Business

Survival guide

The plucky firms that are beating big tech

Search in the dock

A showdown between the DoJ and Google begins

Bartleby

Who is the most important person in your company?

New battlegrounds

Apple is only the latest casualty of the Sino-American tech war

Inspecting under the bonnet

Chinese carmakers are under scrutiny in Europe

Swap teams

Electric two-wheelers are creating a buzz in Asia

Schumpeter

The Mittelstand will redeem German innovation

Finance & economics

Keep digging

How to avoid a green-metals crunch

Buttonwood

Why diamonds are losing their allure

Upwards

India’s property market is ready for take-off

Tuition drag

The resumption of student-loan payments will hit American growth

Whatever it wants

Has the European Central Bank become too powerful?

Free exchange

Does China face a lost decade?

Science & technology

AI Science (1)

How scientists are using artificial intelligence

Robot scientists

Could AI transform science itself?

Culture

Scare-brained

How fear has shaped human affairs

Of ties and lies

Conspiracy theorists are obsessed with the Rothschild family

Johnson

The importance of handwriting is becoming better understood

Rough waters

A history of solitary sailing asks why people seek out its danger

Forget me not

“North Woods”, a new novel, explores the limits of memory

Messiah, menace or both?

Impulsive and self-destructive: Elon Musk as depicted in a new book

Economic & financial indicators

Indicators

Economic data, commodities and markets

Graphic detail

Measure for measure

Global democratic backsliding seems real, even if it is hard to measure

Obituary

Rules in the millions