Category: Politics and Government

Xi Jinping Quit Smoking. China Still Cannot.

China’s tobacco monopoly has become so financially vital to the government that even its powerful leader has failed to curb the country’s smoking habit.
G.D.P. Is a Flawed Measure of Prosperity. Alternatives Are On the Way.

The United Nations has a new plan for weighing economic gains alongside health and environmental progress. But consensus is elusive.
China Wants A.I. to Flourish, but Not at the Expense of Jobs

A series of precedent-setting rulings signals that Chinese courts are being enlisted to shield workers from displacement by artificial intelligence.
Federal Prosecutors Move to Drop Bribery Case Against Indian Magnate

Gautam Adani had been accused of lying to American investors about payoffs in India. The end of the case came as President Trump has signaled a transactional approach to justice.
Senate Ruling Threatens Ballroom Funding in G.O.P. Budget Bill

Democrats announced Saturday night that the Senate’s top parliamentary referee had determined that the $1 billion provision did not comply with budget rules.
Some Medicare Patients Can Now Get Free CBD

The Trump administration has authorized a test program to see if the cannabis compound can ease some symptoms and reduce health care costs among older patients.
How China Could Wield Its Control of Rare Earths Against Trump

A central question hanging over the summit this week is whether China will agree to extend a temporary postponement of even tougher rare-earth export controls.
As Trump Heads to Beijing, China Is ‘Locked and Loaded’ for a Fight

Beijing is signaling that it is ready for a trade showdown, and it is building up a legal arsenal in preparation.
Modi’s Triumph in West Bengal Elections Puts Him Closer to an Opposition-Free India

With his triumph in West Bengal state elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved closer to his dream of an opposition-free India.
Prime Minister Mark Carney Says Canada’s Economy Is Expected to Grow and Deficit to Fall

Prime Minister Mark Carney’s budget update keeps to his path of diversifying away from the United States.
Immaculate Wilderness, Uncertain Future: Paddling the Boundary Waters

A proposed copper mine in northern Minnesota has become a battleground for politicians and environmentalists — and a pressing reason to explore the waterways.
How We Traced U.S. Government Gold to a Drug Cartel

Three reporters followed supply chains to reveal that the U.S. Mint buys gold that comes from foreign pawn shops and drug dealers, then claims it is from the United States.