This week’s featured stories 7 September – 13 September 2026…
The institutional form of independent central banks
Andrew Bailey argues that independent central banks rely on more than technical expertise: they have a long tradition of accountability. Central bankers must explain their decisions or risk appearing to be an unrepresentative elite’, especially amid the challenge of populism
Will AI suddenly transform the economy and upend our lives? Or is the prospect more mundane? Patrick Minford considers the effects of earlier systemic innovations and believes AI is unlikely to be different from other technology revolutions
Anthropic says it blocked possible AI use for biological weapons research
Anthropic described five attempts to bypass Claude safeguards for possible biological-weapons research, alongside cyber, surveillance and conventional-weapons misuse. It banned the accounts and called biological misuse a major frontier-AI risk, while noting intent was sometimes unclear
EU law and regulation for the digital world
CEPS convened industry, academic, and NGO experts to identify how to reform and revitalise the EU digital acquis. This report captures their deliberations
How can Europe address its pressing AI compute infrastructure shortfall?
Bertin Martens and Tillman Schenk write that Europe’s AI compute gap will not close through capital alone, making faster permits, grid access and output-side sovereignty tools essential
How the BJP is reorganising Indian politics
Vignesh Rajahmani argues that the 2026 Indian elections reveal India’s rapid political regionalisation: regional ethos now shapes national parties, rather than national parties reshaping regional politics or culture
Modi’s bilateral meetings on BRICS sidelines put defence, security cooperation in focus
Meetings highlighted India’s effort to leverage the BRICS platform to reinforce defence partnerships, capacity building and indigenous defence exports, while expanding India’s strategic footprint across the Indo-Pacific, Central Asia and Africa
BRICS adopts New Delhi Declaration
The 18th BRICS summit in New Delhi yielded a 140-point joint declaration after consensus talks stalled over West Asia. It supports UN and financial-institution reform, local-currency payments, AI cooperation, and ‘zero tolerance’ for terrorism, explicitly condemning the 2025 Pahalgam attack. It urged restraint in West Asia without naming combatants
Strait of Hormuz disruptions could hit smaller firms hardest
Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could put disproportionate pressure on the smaller firms that account for 70% of global employment, according to new analysis by UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
Closing services gaps key to inclusive global trade
More data, stronger capacity and better access to digital opportunities are crucial to helping more countries benefit from the growing services economy, argues Pedro Manuel Moreno
Investment key to strategic sovereignty
UNCTAD Acting Chief says developing countries can better shape their economic future by directing investment towards strategic sectors that build productive capacity, expand access to technology and open new markets
What the AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt means
Sophia Russack argues that the result further fragments and polarises German politics. The AfD shifts public discourse, increasing Euroscepticism and eroding trust in EU institutions, politicians and integration as the EU tackles competitiveness, security and its next long-term budget. Alongside France’s presidential and Italy’s expected general elections in 2027, this creates a hazardous mix
Swedish election ends in near dead heat
Preliminary results after Sunday’s vote put Magdalena Andersson’s centre-left bloc on 176 seats versus 173 for Ulf Kristersson’s right-wing alliance in the 349-seat Riksdag. The Sweden Democrats lost ground. Final overseas and late ballots are due Wednesday; government formation could take time if the lead holds
Can India help amplify Africa’s voice within BRICS?
As Africa’s BRICS membership grows without translating into greater influence, Samir Bhattacharya and Shrestha Medhi write that India’s chairship offers an opening to shift from expanding African representation to strengthening Africa’s voice within the grouping
China’s critical mineral strategy in a changing global economy
China’s critical mineral strategy combines export controls and overseas investment, reflecting asymmetric dependence across its portfolio. Xing Jiaying and Kong Gongmulan argue that their geopolitical effects increasingly overlap, complicating the management of China’s leverage and vulnerability
Australia’s economic security transformation
Takashi Terada analyses the transformation of Australia’s economic security strategy from a liberal model based on openness and interdependence to a more interventionist and strategically coordinated approach shaped by geopolitical rivalry and economic coercion
FinTech as Force for Good – new report
Innovate Finance has released a new report showcasing how the UK FinTech sector is a natural delivery partner for this new Government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham
