Hello and welcome to the Intelligence on Economist Radio. I'm your host, Jason Palmer.

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

Military commanders have wanted for decades to be able to fire the laser, but light-based

weapons, it turns out, are really hard to make. Now, thanks to advances in lasers used

for other purposes, the battlefield kind are at last starting to shine.

And what's the answer to life, the universe, and everything? 42 years ago, the Hitchhiker's

Guide to the Galaxy suggested a novel answer. We take a look at the legacy and the philosophy

of the comic sci-fi classic.

But first,

after weeks of reluctance to do so, the World Health Organization at last labelled COVID-19 a pandemic.

We're deeply concerned both by the alarming levels of spread and severity and by the alarming

levels of inaction. Action in America came in the form of President Donald Trump's

announcement of a 30-day ban on travelers from 26 European countries, not including Britain.

The virus will not have a chance against us. No nation is more prepared or more resilient

than the United States. The jangled nerves of investors put an end to the historic bull run

of America's Dow Index. Mr. Trump also outlined plans to provide billions of dollars in loans

to small businesses and urged Congress to pass major tax relief measures. Elsewhere, there have

been more dramatic moves. Yesterday, the Bank of England cut its key interest rate and a

coordinated effort with the government. The Chancellor of the Hitchhiker, Ritchie Sunak,

announced a 30 billion pound spending package.

Coronavirus will have a significant impact on our economy, but it will be temporary.

I will do whatever it takes to get our nation through it. Later today, the European Central Bank

...