Elon Musk’s satellite internet business may soon face competition from Amazon. The Economist asks if this could bring the entrepreneur back down to Earth.

Read by the world's political and business leaders, The Economist offers authoritative insight and opinion on news, politics, business, finance, science and technology.

The Economist

SpaceX tests Starship, and prepares to face down Amazon

Israel’s declared goal of destroying Hamas for good requires its financial base to be dismantled. But much of the group's finances sit outside Gaza. The Economist examines how Hamas makes money—and why much of it may well be out of reach.

Inside Hamas’s sprawling financial empire

The OpenAI saga marked a significant shift in the industry towards greater commercial pragmatism. The Economist reflects on why Sam Altman's return to OpenAI could lead to more competition and choice for AI users. 

With Sam Altman’s return, a shift in AI from idealism to pragmatism

The 'Simple Sabotage Field Manual' issued by the Office of Strategic Services in 1944 provided advice on physical sabotage during wartime but also outlined tactics to disrupt and delay productivity in the workplace. The Economist argues that behaviour still persists in modern office environments.

The curse of the badly run meeting

Leading in the polls and breezing past his Republican competitors - could we see a Trump victory in 2024? Exploring the global repercussions of another term for the former U.S. president, The Economist argues there's a lot to fear.

Donald Trump poses the biggest danger to the world in 2024

Much of The Crown is nonsense

There are two ways to look at The Crown. One is as a soap opera with added sceptres—the other is as an excellent, if impromptu, education in what history is and what it is not. The Economist reflects on the new season.

Much of “The Crown” is nonsense

Snooping police drones are an increasingly common sight in America. According to a recent survey, about a quarter of police departments now use them. But The Economist reveals that what's even more surprising is where the technology is coming from.

Silicon Valley is piling into the business of snooping

The war in Gaza has enraged the Arab world, inflamed Western capitals and drawn condemnation from many world leaders. The Economist considers how long Israel can rely on America’s support.

Will America pull the plug on Israel’s invasion of Gaza?

As Hollywood’s strike ends, what does the future hold for actors? The Economist suggests that artificial intelligence will transform fame by making the biggest celebrities even bigger by allowing them to be in all markets and formats at all times. 

The dawn of the omnistar

There’s too much lying in hiring. The Economist argues that the typical firm lays out a set of improbable requirements for the “ideal candidate”, someone who almost, by definition, does not exist. Here, they argue that it’s time for some realism.

How to get the lying out of hiring

Even as wars rage and the geopolitical climate darkens, the world economy has been an irrepressible source of cheer. However, the foundations of today’s growth look unstable. The Economist looks ahead at the threats that abound.

The world economy is defying gravity. That cannot last

A significant shift in Western attitudes to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is taking place. Three related forces are driving it: technology, demography, and ideology, The Economist reports.

The culture war over the Gaza war

The idea of making sodium-­ion (or Na-­ion) batteries at scale is gaining traction. Despite some downsides, it could be a promising alternative to lithium. The Economist reports on why dozens of firms are exploring new battery technologies.

Firms are exploring sodium batteries as an alternative to lithium

Leaders communicate and coordinate; managers drill downwards and focus on individuals. Research suggests that firms run by leaders perform better than those run by managers. However, The Economist reveals pointing out the difference can be unhelpful.

Are leaders sexier than managers?

The United States is facing an increasing range of complex foreign threats. The Economist reflects on how Joe Biden manages the war between Israel and Hamas will define America’s global role.

American power: indispensable or ineffective?

Just as some people blindly believe that merit determines success, it's possible to get too hung up on the role of chance. The Economist argues that talent and hard work remain crucial; recognising the significance of luck can help individuals increase their odds of success and guide managerial decision-making.

How big is the role of luck in career success?

The story of bedbugs is not so much one of bad hygiene and dirty trains as it is another cautionary tale of globalisation and evolutionary biology. The Economist reflects on why the insects are becoming resistant to the chemicals used to kill them.

It’s not just Paris. Bedbugs are resurgent everywhere

Only the U.S.A. can pull the Middle East back from the brink. The Economist argues that if Joe Biden fails and the region's security crumbles, it will be a catastrophe for America, too.

Only America can save Israel and Gaza from greater catastrophe

All Nobel prizes have had controversies—but few as ferocious as those raised by the literary one. The Economist reflects on why the world’s most prestigious writing award is so controversial.

The Nobel prize in literature is prestigious, lucrative and bonkers

Voters are realising that curbing carbon emissions will be disruptive. As cost, convenience, and conspiracy-mongering undercut support for green initiatives, The Economist reflects on the alarming partisan gap that makes climate policy more challenging than ever before.