Crunch time for Ukraine

The world this week

Leaders

Close-up black and white photograph of Volodymyr Zelensky

Zelensky in Washington

The war is going badly. Ukraine and its allies must change course

Time for credible war aims—and NATO membership

Hezbollah members raise their group flags and chant slogans as they attend the funeral procession of Hezbollah commanders in Beirut

Leash the dogs of war

An Israel-Hizbullah war would be a disaster for both

Both must find a way to step back

A damaged classical temple with cracks and missing sections against a red background

The case for taxing consumption

If you must raise taxes, raise VAT

Taxing consumption is economically efficient and politically possible

President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka attending his swearing-in ceremony, in Colombo, Sri Lanka on September 23rd 2024

Anura Kumara Dissanayake

How worried should Sri Lanka be about its ex-Marxist president?

He is not as bad as he sounds. But the risk of disappointment is high

 Keir Starmer stood with water rising above his knees

Starmer’s woes

The sinking feeling caused by Labour’s clumsy start

Britain’s new government is paying for the sins of the election campaign

The illustration shows a diverse group of cartoon-style faces surrounding the YouTube play button logo in the center

The future of television

YouTube’s do-it-yourself brigade is taking on Netflix and Disney

Legions of self-taught film-makers are coming for the television industry

Letters

On car safety, the UN and Palestinians, Chinese data, leaving work, museums

Letters to the editor

By Invitation

Briefing

A Ukrainian soldier looks at artillery fire at the frontline in the Donetsk region

A widening breach

Ukraine is on the defensive, militarily, economically and diplomatically

Russian advances, fatigue among its allies and political divisions at home leave it in a bind

International

Economic & financial indicators