The Economist is a global weekly magazine written for those who share an uncommon interest in being well and broadly informed. Each issue explores domestic and international issues, business, finance, current affairs, science, technology and the arts.
The world this week • To 6am GMT February 24th 2022
Where will he stop? • Russia’s president has launched an assault on his neighbour. History will judge him harshly
Wasting a windfall • America’s states have more green stuff than grey matter
The private-equity delusion • Why private markets are likely to disappoint investors
Courting trouble • South Africa must do more to protect its judges
Rise of the robots • The world should welcome the rise of smart machines
Letters
A bad beginning • KYIV, MOSCOW, SLOVYANSK AND WASHINGTON, DC
By invitation
Take the money and run • WASHINGTON, DC
The unexpected governor • NEW YORK
Firefall and footfall • HORSETAIL FALL, YOSEMITE VALLEY
Miserable marriages • WASHINGTON, DC
A pushback against cancel culture • Some students and academics are rethinking university education
Reality against Putin • The administration is countering Russian disinformation on Ukraine
Why Uruguay? • MONTEVIDEO
The price of high prices • SÃO PAULO
The fall of Juan Orlando Hernández • Can Honduras clean up its act?
K-popular • SEOUL
What’s in a name? • Why so many Asian cities adopt an alias
No mercy • LAHORE
The chastened cowboy • KUALA LUMPUR
Fearful symmetry? • The implications of the war in Ukraine for the Asia-Pacific region
Choosing sides • China drew closer to Russia on the eve of war. Will Xi Jinping come to regret it?
Clinging to zero • HONG KONG
A horror from another age • The story of a trafficked bride has shaken China in revealing ways
Judging judges • JOHANNESBURG
Lines in the sand • JACQUEVILLE AND ABIDJAN
Here comes Trouble • JOHANNESBURG AND LILONGWE
Cleaning up the laundromat • ABU DHABI
A ban on the van • CAIRO
Beak demand • The market for falcons is soaring as wild populations decline
Frenemies • ISTANBUL
Bills to pay • PARIS
Holy See-saw • ROME
Thunder on the right • MADRID
Free as air • Controlling the flow of gases, even in canisters, turns out to be tricky
The free-rider continent • Europe thrives by letting others do the legwork - but should wonder if that can last
A more flexible approach • Britain’s post-Brexit trade policy is slowly maturing
A new routine • SOUTHEND-ON-SEA
A tale of two crises • A slow-burn crisis in the NHS could hole the Tories, rather as the financial crisis did Labour
The techno-independence movement • HONG KONG
Perfect storm • HONG KONG
Dirty work • Work confers dignity. But some jobs are also a source of stigma
Culture vultures • Buy-out firms are snapping up America’s newspapers
Burger flip-out • What is Carl Icahn’s beef with McDonald’s?
Reverse gear • Two German carmakers are set to uncouple
Putin’s python • How Gazprom helps the Kremlin put the squeeze on Europe
The economic fallout • Expect inflation, lower growth and disruption to financial markets
Artful dodging • WASHINGTON, DC
Lost and fund • WASHINGTON, DC
Karat and stick • NEW DELHI
Ciao, salotto buono • The retro campaign of two grandees of Italian business
Getting sticky • ISTANBUL
The sun also rises •…