Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, was brimming with confidence when his government unveiled an interim budget in February. With a general election a few weeks away, his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was widely expected to retain, and possibly expand, its majority in parliament. Such was his sureness of victory that the mini-budget contained...

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. At the start of the war in Ukraine, Russia seemed to have an unassailable advantage. Now, as stocks of Soviet-era armaments begin to run dry, the scales may be balancing.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist...

A handpicked article read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. Today, our cover leader in Asia asks why markets are booming in the face of global tumult and political uncertainty.Listen to what matters most, from global politics and business to science and technology—subscribe to Economist Podcasts+ 获取更多RSS： https://feedx.net https://feedx.run...

America’s big banks released quarterly earnings. Net profit at JPMorgan Chase rose by 25%, year on year, to $18.1bn. At Morgan Stanley it surged by 41%, to $3.1bn. Goldman Sachs exceeded expectations (for once), more than doubling its profit to $3bn. Citigroup’s net income was up by 10%, but profit fell at Bank of America and Wells Fargo. Excluding...

To read more of The Economist’s data journalism visit our Graphic detail page.REGARDLESS OF WHO wins America’s presidential election in November, the next four years are likely to make a bad fiscal situation worse: net government debt has ballooned to 98% of GDP, up from 40% in 1990. Neither the Democrats nor the Republicans have meaningful plans to...

He’s the sword and shield of God, no doubt about it,” a delegate told me, straining to be heard over loud music, before the first session of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. “I’ve been told I’m not supposed to offend our brothers and sisters who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their lord and saviour, so not to make a big...