Briefing
The rise and fall of corporate R&D
Out of the dusty labs
Technology firms have left the big corporate R&D laboratory behind, shifting the emphasis from research to development. Does it matter?
South Africa
The long journey of a young democracy
Africa's richest country, not yet free of demons, is facing a year of decision
Afghanistan's war
A double spring offensive
After a dreadful year in Afghanistan, a newly confident NATO is preparing itself to take on the Taliban. Success will be difficult, but not impossible
Germany's car industry
The big-car problem
Germany produces some of the fastest and most luxurious cars in the world, but is that yesterday's game?
The North Korean nuclear deal
Faces saved all round
An agreement is reached, but the Korean peninsula remains nuclear
The future of money
A cash call
Smart cards and mobile phones are quickly emerging as ways to pay with electronic cash
Private equity
The uneasy crown
The buy-out business is booming, but capitalism's new kings are attracting growing criticism
Religion in China
When opium can be benign
China's Communist Party, reconsidering Marx's words, is starting to wonder whether there might not be a use for religion after all
India's economy
India on fire
India's growth rate is close to China's; but signs of overheating suggest that this pace cannot be sustained