President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in the Oval Office of the White House.

Finance & economics

Trump’s “Liberation Day” is set to whack America’s economy

A rush of new tariffs will hurt growth, raise prices and worsen inequality

Europe

Zelensky, Trump and Putin may all have done a U-turn on elections in Ukraine

Preparations are under way for a presidential vote, though many doubt they can be done in wartime


United States

DOGE comes for the data wonks

America may soon be unable to measure itself properly





The world in brief

Myanmar’s junta continued air strikes on rebel groups across the country, even as the UN and neighbouring countries called for a ceasefire to allow the passage of humanitarian aid following Friday’s 7.7-magnitude earthquake...

A transitional government in Syria was sworn in, with President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointing 23 people to his cabinet...

Donald Trump said he would impose tariffs of 25-50% on countries that buy Russian oil if the Kremlin does not co-operate with his attempts to end the war in Ukraine...

Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, vowed to maintain his country’s offensive against Hamas, claiming that “cracks” were appearing in the militant group’s negotiating position...


Sudan's military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan greeted by troops as he arrives at the Republican Palace, recently recaptured from the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group, in Khartoum, Sudan.

Khartoum changes hands, heralding a new phase in Sudan’s civil war

The national army may now try to push into Darfur

The junta’s spite worsens Myanmar’s catastrophic quake

The generals have a dire record of exploiting natural disasters

Jonathan Powell.

Jonathan Powell: Britain’s foreign-policy fixer

The influential intermediary faces perhaps his toughest challenge yet


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Elon Musk’s efficiency drive

Is Elon Musk remaking government or breaking it?

So far, there is more destruction than creation

A Tesla on the lawn of the W\hite House, with mud flying everywhere.

Elon Musk is powersliding through the federal government

But to what end?


An illustration of Elon Musk as a Napoelan-style bust statue.

Musk Inc is under serious threat

SpaceX has new competition, Tesla is in trouble and the world’s richest man is distracted


Can Musk put people on Mars?

Whether successful or not, his attempt to do so will reshape America’s space programme



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The Vatican wants him to be the next Mother Teresa. But what did Carlo Acutis really believe?

Navy submarine

Climate change may make it harder to spot submarines

The sound of their engines will not travel as far


Trump is driving American scientists into Europe’s arms

But the continent will have to invest more to lure top talent


How safe is your DNA in a bankruptcy?

23andMe’s demise raises thorny legal questions



The consequences of Trumponomics

A $100 bill with 'MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN' cut out of it, placed on a red background with letter fragments scattered below

Trump’s tariff pain: the growing evidence

As “liberation day” nears, American businesses suffer 

Illustration of American flag balloon floats between tall green cacti against a soft pink sky

The Trump administration is playing a dangerous stockmarket game

American investors are extremely exposed to a sell-off—and so is the economy


Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange

Even the Trumpiest stocks are suffering

Investors may have misjudged which firms would thrive under the new administration


Will Trump’s tariffs turbocharge foreign investment in America?

Companies from Asahi to TSMC are expanding production in the country—for now


Technology Quarterly: March 1st 2025

The age of CRISPR

Ida Emilie Steinmark explores whether it can deliver on its promise


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Edition: March 29th 2025

Elon Musk’s efficiency drive


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