'The American era is ending'

Plus: how British pensioners are being left behind, the problem with parents who spend their kids' inheritance, and Britain's best summer walks [View in browser]( Thursday August 19 2021 [The Telegraph]( By Chris Evans, EDITOR Dear Reader, The chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan has prompted fundamental questions about the future of Western foreign policy, with America stepping back from its usual role on the world stage. For Allister Heath, the crisis [confirms that the era of US dominance is over](. Racked with self-doubt, US elites have lost their faith in once-formative values like capitalism, democracy and even the American dream itself. Back in Westminster, the Government is facing extreme pressure to reform the pensions triple lock. Some argue that major rises are unjustifiable at a time of economic uncertainty. However, as Jessica Beard sets out, British pensioners are suffering from one of the worst deals in the developed world. [Here's how we're lagging so far behind.]( The actor Daniel Craig caused a stir this week when he said it would be 'distasteful' to leave an inheritance for his children. But he is just one of many celebrities and plutocrats to withhold vast fortunes from their offspring. Miranda Levy takes us on a tour of the SKI club (parents who “Spend their Kids' Inheritance”), featuring the likes of Sting, Nigella Lawson and Bill Gates, and [finds out how it feels to be disinherited](. (Stay up to date with the latest family talking points and advice with [our free Parenting newsletter]( A new study from the University of Oxford suggests that the arrival of the delta variant has changed our working assumptions about Covid-19. Vaccinated people now carry the same viral load as the unvaccinated, researchers found, despite studies of other variants showing far lower levels for those who had been double jabbed. This could be a game-changing development which [undermines many of the Government’s strategies](. Chris PS: For just £1, get three months of unlimited access to The Telegraph's website and app in our summer sale. [Subscribe and start your free trial here.]( My Choices [Joe Biden]( 'Decadence and hubris have finally brought down the American Empire.' Allister Heath makes the case that [the US is in retreat on all fronts](. [Illustration Europe map with foreign coins]( How Britain's pensioners are being left behind other countries. It's been revealed the [UK has one of the worst mandatory pension provisions](. [Rachel Weiss and Daniel Craig]( The problem with the SKI club (parents who Spend their Kids' Inheritance): Daniel Craig called inheritance 'distasteful' – but does anyone [really cut their children out of their will]( [A vaccination taking place in a nightclub]( Double-jabbed people carry same levels of Covid as unvaccinated. The delta variant has been [blamed for rise in viral load](. [Richard Wilson]( Richard Wilson on Victor Meldrew, THAT catchphrase [and coming out in his 70s: 'I just wasn't very gay'](. (Free to read) [Lakeland's Blea Tarn]( From coast to countryside: Britain's best summer walks. Strap up your hiking boots and [make tracks for walking trails this summer](. (Free to read) What did you think? Let us know how we're doing using the feedback button below or tweet me [@chrisevans1](. Although I am unable to respond individually to all the emails I receive, I am grateful to you for sending them to me. [Send feedback](mailto:Totheeditor@telegraph.co.uk) We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. If you have questions or feedback, please visit our [help page](. If you have questions about your Telegraph subscription, including delivery issues or technical ones, [please visit this page]( and contact us that way. If you would like a letter to the Editor published in The Telegraph, email it to [dtletters@telegraph.co.uk.](mailto:dtletters@telegraph.co.uk) Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. See more Telegraph newsletters [News Headlines]( | [Cookbook]( | [Cars]( | [Good News]( We have sent you this email because you have either asked us to or because we think it will interest you. [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your preferences]( For any other questions, please visit our help page [here](. Any offers included in this email come with their own Terms and Conditions, which you can see by clicking on the offer link. We may withdraw offers without notice. Telegraph Media Group Limited or its group companies - 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Registered in England under No 451593.