Briefing
The all-conquering quaver
As TikTok grows, so does suspicion
The Chinese app is bringing competition—and security fears—to social media
The long war
Does a protracted conflict favour Russia or Ukraine?
Ukraine is counting on its Western allies; Vladimir Putin is counting on them to lose heart
Nuclear family
Energy security gives climate-friendly nuclear-power plants a new appeal
To make good on it they have to get easier to build
Chain reaction
The structure of the world’s supply chains is changing
The pandemic and war in Ukraine have speeded up the transformation
Armageddon used to this
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has eroded the nuclear taboo
This war is unlikely to go nuclear. But it is increasing the risk that future conflicts will
The world that Bert built
Huge “foundation models” are turbo-charging AI progress
They can have abilities their creators did not foresee
Fortified but not enriched
China is trying to protect its economy from Western pressure
The results are mixed
The food system in crisis
A world grain shortage puts tens of millions at risk
War, extreme weather and export controls are all contributing
A new formula
India is likely to be the world’s fastest-growing big economy this year
Can the expansion continue?
The law unto themselves
America’s Supreme Court faces a crisis of legitimacy
The nine justices are increasingly at odds with the majority of citizens
Sorrows in battalions
Russia’s army is in a woeful state
The fiasco in Ukraine could be a reflection of a bad strategy or a poor fighting force
“War is here”
What Taiwan can learn from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
Fighting spirit and the right Western arms may stymie a powerful foe