The Economist Briefing

From pandemic to epidemic

It is also a delicate one

Why London is no longer the world’s bourse

The historical context of the City of London’s slump

A major submarine deal underscores how the new theatre for great-power competition is maritime

Can decentralised finance lay the foundations for an open digital economy?

The databases represent an immutable shared history

The war on terror improved neither the nation’s standing nor the nation itself

And how deep will its influence be?

It is possible to detect eerie echoes of the confessional state of yore

Even if the Taliban do little to help other fighters, their success is an inspiration

The defeat in Afghanistan is, like that in Vietnam, a turning-point. Many fear America’s foes will be emboldened; others hope it will now be more able to confront them

Can the government boost it?

Academics, activists and amateurs are making imaginative use of powerful tools

Twenty years on, growth in the BRICs has slowed

Rapid emission cuts can reduce the risks but not eliminate them

His China policy is looking even tougher than Donald Trump’s

Don’t panic. But keep a watchful eye

Research is unravelling the virus’s deep secrets