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The Economist
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· Nov 18
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Across the world, state capacity is the issue of the age. Politicians promising to make government leaner and more effective hold power from America to Argentina, and from India to Vietnam. So too in Britain
State capacity is the issue of the age
The Labour Party and its rivals agree on much about what is wrong with government
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Across the world, state capacity is the issue of the age. Politicians promising to make government leaner and more effective hold power from America to Argentina, and from India to Vietnam. So too in Britain
Sir Keir Starmer’s first full calender year in power was a bruising one. Yet the prime minister has asserted that Britain would “turn a corner” in 2026.
Will it? This is what our tracker says
Will it? This is what our tracker says
Hope springs eternal for Sir Keir Starmer
The latest reading from our Starmer tracker
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 7:20 AM
Sir Keir Starmer’s first full calender year in power was a bruising one. Yet the prime minister has asserted that Britain would “turn a corner” in 2026.
Will it? This is what our tracker says
Will it? This is what our tracker says
The scale of the unrest now gripping Iran is the largest since the demonstrations of 2009. Some veteran observers reckon the protests are the biggest since the overthrow of the shah 30 years before that econ.st/4qcWIt0
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
January 10, 2026 at 7:00 AM
The scale of the unrest now gripping Iran is the largest since the demonstrations of 2009. Some veteran observers reckon the protests are the biggest since the overthrow of the shah 30 years before that econ.st/4qcWIt0
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
The country’s economy, bolstered by surging exports, grew by 8% in 2025. This year’s target of 10% looks even harder to achieve, but there are reasons for optimism
Vietnam’s growth is fast—but fragile
The economy is unduly reliant on a handful of conglomerates
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 6:40 AM
The country’s economy, bolstered by surging exports, grew by 8% in 2025. This year’s target of 10% looks even harder to achieve, but there are reasons for optimism
Siemens started to undo its conglomerate structure under Joe Kaeser, chief executive from 2013 to 2021. Now others in German business are treading a similar path
Germany’s industrial conglomerates are breaking up to stay alive
Economic woes are accelerating a trend of divestments
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 6:20 AM
Siemens started to undo its conglomerate structure under Joe Kaeser, chief executive from 2013 to 2021. Now others in German business are treading a similar path
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
January 10, 2026 at 6:00 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
Dissent inside MAGA rarely travels far. On Venezuela, Donald Trump’s supporters once again appear less committed to a fixed doctrine than to backing whatever course their leader chooses
Our polling with YouGov shows what MAGA-land thinks about Venezuela
Comparing polls before and after the capture of Nicolás Maduro reveals a sharp turn in Donald Trump’s base
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 5:40 AM
Dissent inside MAGA rarely travels far. On Venezuela, Donald Trump’s supporters once again appear less committed to a fixed doctrine than to backing whatever course their leader chooses
Foreigners are only about 3% of Japan’s population; the average across the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries, is 15%. This is what the country should do instead of discouraging tourists and cracking down on foreign workers
Does Japan have a “foreigner problem”?
Yes—but it is not what populist politicians say it is
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Foreigners are only about 3% of Japan’s population; the average across the OECD, a club of mostly rich countries, is 15%. This is what the country should do instead of discouraging tourists and cracking down on foreign workers
AI technology may be shifting risks from actors in front of the camera to everyone else, whether through creation of violent and illegal pornography or through the spread of sexually explicit “deepfakes”
AI is upending the porn industry
Synthetic smut will soon be flooding the internet, bringing new opportunities and perils
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM
AI technology may be shifting risks from actors in front of the camera to everyone else, whether through creation of violent and illegal pornography or through the spread of sexually explicit “deepfakes”
Monastic misbehaviour is not new. But the latest scandals in Thailand stand apart, even by that country’s poor record
Can Thailand rein in its “mafia monks”?
Lurid scandals have rocked the country’s powerful Buddhist institutions
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 4:00 AM
Monastic misbehaviour is not new. But the latest scandals in Thailand stand apart, even by that country’s poor record
Nearly three years after a shocking outbreak of ethnic violence that killed several hundred people, the state in India’s north-east remains on edge—and partitioned along ethnic lines
Ethnic conflict festers on India’s eastern frontier
Manipur is a warning for the rest of the country
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 3:40 AM
Nearly three years after a shocking outbreak of ethnic violence that killed several hundred people, the state in India’s north-east remains on edge—and partitioned along ethnic lines
While Taiwan’s armed forces are better equipped and trained than Venezuela’s, they have long worried about Chinese decapitation strikes, potentially involving sleeper agents already on the island
China and Taiwan both see lessons in America’s raid on Venezuela
It won’t change China’s calculus but is a case study for “decapitation” strikes
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 3:20 AM
While Taiwan’s armed forces are better equipped and trained than Venezuela’s, they have long worried about Chinese decapitation strikes, potentially involving sleeper agents already on the island
This week on “Drum Tower”: Corbin Duncan travels to the world’s largest iron ore mine to find out how it could help China dominate a new supply chain
Red dirt: China’s bid to control a new supply chain
Our weekly podcast on China. How a mine in Guinea could help China break out of its iron ore chokehold
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 3:00 AM
This week on “Drum Tower”: Corbin Duncan travels to the world’s largest iron ore mine to find out how it could help China dominate a new supply chain
The Chinese government acknowledges that its cities will expand more slowly in the future. But it still expects the urbanisation rate to increase. What exactly counts as urban?
It’s not just China’s total population that’s falling
The number of people in China’s towns and cities is in decline
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 2:40 AM
The Chinese government acknowledges that its cities will expand more slowly in the future. But it still expects the urbanisation rate to increase. What exactly counts as urban?
The story goes that the country has been overrun by ill-mannered migrant workers, misbehaving tourists and opportunistic foreign investors. But Japan’s real problem is not that it hosts too many foreigners. It is that it has too few econ.st/4sDdGmi
Photo: AP
Photo: AP
January 10, 2026 at 2:30 AM
The story goes that the country has been overrun by ill-mannered migrant workers, misbehaving tourists and opportunistic foreign investors. But Japan’s real problem is not that it hosts too many foreigners. It is that it has too few econ.st/4sDdGmi
Photo: AP
Photo: AP
A trip on the Docklands Light Railway is a tour through a corner of England that is forever Margaret Thatcher’s domain
Thatcher-on-Thames
Docklands is a corner of England that is forever Maggieland
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 2:20 AM
A trip on the Docklands Light Railway is a tour through a corner of England that is forever Margaret Thatcher’s domain
An ICE agent shot and killed an American citizen in Minneapolis. The evidence demands a sober investigation. The official response from the Trump administration suggests that may not happen
Checks and Balance: A chilling week in Minnesota
The shooting of an American citizen by an ICE agent raises grave questions, argues Charlotte Howard, our New York bureau chief
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 2:00 AM
An ICE agent shot and killed an American citizen in Minneapolis. The evidence demands a sober investigation. The official response from the Trump administration suggests that may not happen
Decorated military officers already defer to her. But some observers wonder whether a society as patriarchal as North Korea’s could accept a female leader
The teenage girl who may rule North Korea
Even her name is a matter of debate
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Decorated military officers already defer to her. But some observers wonder whether a society as patriarchal as North Korea’s could accept a female leader
Israel’s prime minister is not seeking the full renewal of his ten-year American military assistance package, which totals $3.8bn a year. In an interview, Binyamin Netanyahu talks for the first time about tapering American aid to zero over a decade
Binyamin Netanyahu’s plan to win Israeli—and global—hearts and minds
Israel’s longest-serving prime minister is determined to regain his nation’s trust and restore its image abroad
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 1:20 AM
Israel’s prime minister is not seeking the full renewal of his ten-year American military assistance package, which totals $3.8bn a year. In an interview, Binyamin Netanyahu talks for the first time about tapering American aid to zero over a decade
Unless coercion is balanced by attraction, Donald Trump’s hemispheric doctrine will eventually fail and, in doing so, weaken the United States
In Donald Trump’s world, the strong take what they can
That will be bad for America—and everyone else
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Unless coercion is balanced by attraction, Donald Trump’s hemispheric doctrine will eventually fail and, in doing so, weaken the United States
A year after Donald Trump ordered ICE to protect America from “invasion”, the wider risks are becoming evident—both to individual Americans and to the rule of law
Checks and Balance: A chilling week in Minnesota
The shooting of an American citizen by an ICE agent raises grave questions, argues Charlotte Howard, our New York bureau chief
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 12:50 AM
A year after Donald Trump ordered ICE to protect America from “invasion”, the wider risks are becoming evident—both to individual Americans and to the rule of law
Since the pandemic the amount of time fathers spend with children has risen further. Yet our charts show that for mothers, who typically shoulder the bulk of domestic tasks, changes were more modest
Millennials spend more time than past generations with their children
America’s child-care gender gap is narrowing rapidly
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Since the pandemic the amount of time fathers spend with children has risen further. Yet our charts show that for mothers, who typically shoulder the bulk of domestic tasks, changes were more modest
It is not clear that Donald Trump will really be able to bend Venezuela to his will, much less the Americas as a whole. The dauntless president is nonetheless itching to embark on more foreign escapades
Donald Trump asserts control over Venezuela—and all the Americas
But the president’s claim of dominance over the western hemisphere may backfire
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 12:20 AM
It is not clear that Donald Trump will really be able to bend Venezuela to his will, much less the Americas as a whole. The dauntless president is nonetheless itching to embark on more foreign escapades
Which countries will thrive in 2026, and which political leaders might struggle? Explore our list of places and people to watch in the coming year
The World in Numbers
People to watch in 2026, and forecasts for 81 countries
econ.st
January 10, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Which countries will thrive in 2026, and which political leaders might struggle? Explore our list of places and people to watch in the coming year
Donald Trump has won praise for ousting Nicolás Maduro. But removing a head of state—and seizing a country’s assets—comes with consequences. Listen to “Checks and Balance”
Crude behaviour: Trump’s Venezuelan adventure
Our weekly podcast on democracy in America. This week, Donald Trump asserts his power in the Americas.
econ.st
January 9, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Donald Trump has won praise for ousting Nicolás Maduro. But removing a head of state—and seizing a country’s assets—comes with consequences. Listen to “Checks and Balance”