THERE IS LITTLE reason to cheer the cooling of relations between America and the European Union. But it’s an ill wind that blows no one any good. In the fast-growing world of artificial intelligence (AI), Mistral, a French startup, may be a beneficiary of the transatlantic tempest. More
In the whirlwind of activity in his first few weeks in the White House, Donald Trump has sought to remake the world to his advantage by blowing up alliances and trading relationships that took decades to build. His latest attempt to bend America’s allies to his will came on March 4th, in the form of tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, originally due to take effect a month earlier. The tariffs will hurt the neighbours, but they are also a blow to carmaking in America, an industry of both economic heft and outsize cultural significance. They will push up the price of the mode of transport that Americans hold most dear. More
In the whirlwind of activity in his first few weeks in the White House, Donald Trump has sought to remake the world to his advantage by blowing up alliances and trading relationships that took decades to build. His latest attempt to bend America’s allies to his will came on March 4th, in the form of tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, originally due to take effect a month earlier. The tariffs will hurt the neighbours, but they are also a blow to carmaking in America, an industry of both economic heft and outsize cultural significance. They will push up the price of the mode of transport that Americans hold most dear. More
GERMANS ARE a brooding bunch. After all, their language gave the world “angst”. After five years of trouble some may even be feeling a sense of Niedergeschlagenheit (literally, beaten-downness). Covid-19 was followed in 2022 by war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices and cooling Chinese demand for German wares. Europe’s biggest economy last grew year on year in the first quarter of 2023—and then only by a downbeat 0.2%. More
Dear Max, I am hiring for an open position on my team. We are having trouble finding good candidates, and my boss just came in to tell me that we shouldn’t waste time looking for a purple squirrel. I had absolutely no idea what he meant but did not want to let on, and said that we probably shouldn’t hold out for a crimson gerbil either. He paused for what seemed like a year, then nodded and agreed with me. What the hell is going on? More
Secondhand fashion, once relegated to charity shops, is now in style. Vestiaire Collective, a luxury resale site, featured in an episode of the latest season of “Emily in Paris”, a Netflix drama known for its designer costumes. eBay, an online marketplace, has partnered with “Love Island”, a cult British reality show, to kit contestants out in used clothes. At London Fashion Week last year Vinted, a Lithuanian resale site, and Oxfam, a charity, showcased second-hand outfits. More
Boeing might have hoped that coughing up $1m for Donald Trump’s inauguration fund would ease relations with America’s incoming president. Yet “not happy” was the verdict he delivered on February 20th. His displeasure concerns a contract that the American aerospace giant signed during his first term to replace the twin planes that serve as Air Force One. The new jets, which should have arrived in time for Mr Trump’s second term, may no longer be delivered during his current stint in the White House, after difficulties with supply chains, the customisations required and a shortage of workers with the right security clearance. Mr Trump has said he is considering buying secondhand instead. More
When tucked between lip and gum, a small white pouch of Zyn is intended to give the user a pleasant nicotine hit. Its maker is getting a lift, too. Shares in Philip Morris International (PMI), the world’s largest publicly traded tobacco company, are at record highs. Investors’ enthusiasm, which has surged since a bumper earnings report in early February, has little to do with sales of Marlboro or PMI’s other cigarettes. It is fuelled by the firm’s booming “smoke-free” products (broadly, anything but burning tobacco)—and chiefly by Zyn. More
Notifications