Money
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First ever alcoholic Coke to hit shelves
Is Coca-Cola on its way out? The company is constantly launching new products, including a Japanese alcopop. But its flagship drink, Coke, is struggling as the soda market shrinks.
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‘Music bible’ NME stops printing after 66 years
What killed NME? For decades, the popular music magazine had the power to make or break bands. Now it has been broken in turn: as of next week, it will no longer print its weekly edition.
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Anti-gun activists take aim at Amazon
Is Amazon evil? A huge backlash has hit the business for supporting the National Rifle Association. But some say Amazon represents far deeper dangers which put our very democracy at risk.
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May vows to fix ‘broken’ tuition fees system
Is university overrated? Tuition fee cuts could be coming as the PM launches a funding review. But some claim students need better alternatives to university — not just cheaper degrees.
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Pay, education, childbirth: boosts for women
Will gender ever be irrelevant to success? Despite recent scandals the longer-term trend points towards gender equality. And this trend is global, not simply confined to the western world.
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Extreme poverty slashed by half in 30 years
Can we end poverty forever? Despite the news that last year saw the biggest increase in billionaires in history, the proportion of the world’s poorest has tumbled to less than 10%
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World rocked by US stock market turmoil
Is the economy heading for disaster? A slump in US shares has spread uncertainty around the world. It stopped short of a full-on crash, but experts are not sure what will come next…
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The life of Ikea’s penny-pinching billionaire
Has Ikea made our lives better? Ingvar Kamprad certainly thought so. Ikea’s famously frugal founder, flat-pack furniture pioneer and former fascist has died. But his company is here to stay.
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Where billionaires go to change the world
Can global elites solve the planet’s problems? This week, billionaires and politicians will discuss economics on a snowy Swiss mountain — but trust in their message is lower than ever.
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Carillion crisis sparks privatisation storm
Should we start to renationalise key services? The Left is using the collapse of the outsourcing behemoth to attack privatisation. The Right argues that it represents “capitalism in action”.
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Welcome to the future: air taxis and robodogs
Are we getting tired of tech? Countless weird and wonderful new gadgets are being launched this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Here are five ways your life could change…
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BBC ‘breaking law’ with unequal pay for women
Is Iceland right about women? The country has introduced a groundbreaking law to tackle unequal pay between genders. Meanwhile, a BBC employee has quit her job in fury over this very issue…
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No end in sight for meteoric bitcoin rise
Could bitcoin replace traditional currency? The cryptocurrency’s value has doubled in a fortnight. One bitcoin is now worth over $15,000. But some believe the revolution has only just begun.
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Social mobility is a cruel lie, experts warn
Is social mobility a myth? All board members of the UK’s Social Mobility Commission resigned in protest at the lack of government support. Now some say social divides are stronger than ever.
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A tax cut that could change America forever
A wage rise for all or simply a gift for the super-rich? Republicans passed their sweeping tax overhaul through the Senate at the weekend. It could reshape whole areas of American life.