Hello and welcome to the Intelligence from the Economist.

In London, I'm Jason Palmer.

Every weekday we provide a fresh perspective on the events shaping your world.

Saudi Arabia's second city, Jeddah, was once a charming place.

Now vast empty patches scar the landscape.

Most of its southern and central parts have simply been bulldozed ahead of a massive rebuild

because these days, modernity trumps charm.

And over the past few decades, China has had a nearly unbelievable economic ride.

The question has come up time and again, when will its economy overtake America's?

The pandemic and other factors have made that question even harder to answer.

First up though.

As part of Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral yesterday, her coffin was drawn first to

Westminster Abbey.

And then through central London.

The route lined with members of the armed forces and police.

Gunsolutes were fired each minute from Hyde Park.

Some 2,000 guests attended the service in the Abbey, including around 500 heads of state

and four in dignitaries.

Among them were leaders from the Commonwealth, a grouping of countries that expanded hugely

under Queen Elizabeth's reign.

She cherished her role as its figurehead, making a long tour of its member countries soon

after her accession and returning regularly to many of them.

...