Curated Video
Saudi Arabia's crown prince: who is Muhammad bin Salman?
Muhammad bin Salman has come under international scrutiny following the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi journalist. Here's what you need to know about Saudi Arabia's crown prince.
Curated Video
Why is Mecca having an $80bn makeover?
Saudi Arabia is investing billions of dollars remodeling Mecca, home of Islam’s holiest site—the Kaaba. Its plans include building the world’s largest hotel. The aim is to double Mecca's capacity to host worshippers, to nearly seven...
Curated Video
California's recreational cannabis legalisation
Cannabis can now be sold legally for recreational use in California. The change in law in the most populous American state has the potential to make marijuana go mainstream.
Curated Video
Xi Jinping, China's president, is the world's most powerful man
Xi Jinping has spent the past five years building his power base at home and abroad. As China's ruling Communist Party starts its five-yearly congress tomorrow, we look at whether China's leader is now the most powerful person on the planet
Curated Video
What makes financial bubbles burst?
Financial bubbles have popped up throughout modern history—from Dutch tulip mania to the more recent sub prime lending boom. Our cartoonist Kal illustrates what makes them burst.
Curated Video
Why are the Baltic states so rattled?
This week, soldiers from Germany and Belgium are settling into a new posting in Lithuania as part of the latest NATO troop deployment. Will their hosts--and the region--feel more secure as a result of their presence?
Economics Explained
Are Economists Too Pessimistic?: Paying Attention to Scary News
Economists have predicted 15 of the past 5 recessions, so should we take them seriously? Helping you become more knowledgeable about how the world works, our content covers the biggest topics and headlines through the eyes of economists....
Curated Video
Why is Alzheimer's still a medical mystery?
Decades of scientific research into Alzheimer’s have failed to find a cure. Little is known about the degenerative brain disease—but this may be about to change.
Economics Explained
Are Economists Too Pessimistic?: Introduction
Economists have predicted 15 of the past 5 recessions, so should we take them seriously? Helping you become more knowledgeable about how the world works, our content covers the biggest topics and headlines through the eyes of economists....
Curated Video
Tim Berners-Lee explains what it will take to make the internet more accessible
The internet is inaccessible to 60% of the world's population. Tim Berners-Lee, the web's inventor, has decided to change this.
The Economist
Are Americans trashing the English language?
Sidewalk. Do the math. Touch base. Americanisms are creeping into British English. But where do American words really come from—and do they pose a threat to the Queen's English? Lane Greene, our language guru, investigates.
Curated Video
The dim reality of South Africa's new dawn
In April 1994, South Africa held its first democratic elections and all races went to the polls to bury apartheid for good. But hopes of a new dawn have been tarnished by fraud and corruption at the highest levels.
Curated Video
Why printed books are still popular
With social-media browsing a central feature in the lives of many, you could be forgiven for thinking that most people have less time to read on paper. But with an estimated value of $123bn, the book industry is doing better than eve
Curated Video
Chinese art at the Guggenheim: a window on the country's modern history
Chinese contemporary art is being showcased at the Guggenheim museum in New York. Many of the artists have been banned from exhibiting in China, but their work gives a unique perspective on a country that censors cultural expression.
Curated Video
How kidnapping became a big business
Kidnapping has created a growing insurance industry, which regulates ransom demands and saves lives. But it's a complicated business model in which poorer victims are losing out. Read more here: https://econ.st/2S97rrl
Curated Video
Trump in two minutes
President Donald Trump has spent one year in office. But what exactly has he achieved? Here's a two-minute snapshot of his presidency so far.
Curated Video
How donuts have benefitted America's immigrants
Donuts are the all-American confectionery. They have also helped a group of immigrants from Cambodia pursue the American dream.
Curated Video
Rugby World Cup: why size matters
The Rugby World Cup saw heavier teams take to the pitch than ever before—England's players are on average over 10% heavier than in 1991. So what impact is the increasing size of players having on rugby? Find out more here:...
Curated Video
Why startups are leaving Silicon Valley
The future of Silicon Valley is The Economist's cover story this week. Why are people leaving, and startups going elsewhere?
Curated Video
Wildfires explained
Wildfires are sweeping through the northern hemishphere as summer temperatures hit record highs. We are losing the battle against climate change. Find out more about The Economist's cover story this week.
The Economist
Where does foreign aid go?
Rich countries are giving more in foreign aid than ever before. But which countries are the most generous?
Curated Video
What percentage of the world is vegetarian?
We all know that eating more vegetables is good for you. But what share of people avoid eating meat altogether? We asked members of the public for their best guesses
Curated Video
The Economist asks how many planets are there in the Milky Way galaxy?
There are 100 billion stars in the Milky Way—but how many planets? We asked members of the public for their best guesses.
Curated Video
Why the melting Arctic matters to us all
Donald Trump is pulling America out of the Paris climate agreement. But if nothing is done to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, cities such as New York and Mumbai will have to defend themselves from flooding by the end of the century as...