After backing Russia’s grievances against NATO, China now finds itself treading a very fine line on Ukraine.
There are often reasons to be suspicious of a country’s covid-death tally; we examine research showing how fraud can be spotted mathematically. And why women are less likely than men to be corrupt.
A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week, where will Vladimir Putin stop? Plus, the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine (10:35) and how parallels with Taiwan are shaping Asian views of the conflict (16:35).
A.M. Edition for March 1. Russia intensifies its war in Ukraine, pummeling civilian centers and setting the stage for a major assault on the capital, Kyiv.
WSJ national-security reporter Brett Forrest is in Lviv in western Ukraine and he says we may be seeing a regression to more traditional tactics from Moscow, as Russian forces struggle with fierce Ukrainian resistance. Luke Vargas hosts.
The spectre of war loomed over Europe this week as western allies began evacuating diplomats and citizens from Ukraine in the face of the massed Russian troops on its borders. Andrew Roth, Simon Tisdall and Julian Borger report for our big story this week, as the world waited anxiously to find out how far Vladimir Putin is prepared to go to achieve his goals.
When the Taliban took over Afghanistan last year, many feared the worst for the educational prospects of girls and women under an ultra-hardline Islamist regime. Yet remarkably, as Emma Graham-Harrison and Jordan Bryon report, some brave women have fought successfully for their right to continue to study.
In Opinion, the Observer’s Will Hutton argues against the decision to lift all Covid restrictions in England (and find out what scientists around the world think in Spotlight). Guardian Australia columnist Van Badham exposes the fakery of the global “freedom movement”, while Arthur Turrell celebrates what could be a breakthrough moment for nuclear fusion and energy production.
As diplomatic efforts to avert conflict in Ukraine continue, we discuss new US intelligence suggesting that Russia is planning an attack. Plus: Turkey’s clampdown on foreign media and a Winter Olympics round-up.
As Russia ratchets up tensions in Ukraine, we discuss Moscow’s joint military drills with Belarus. Plus: Marine Le Pen’s campaign to become France’s president and an interview with the director of the Oscar-nominated film, ‘Flee’.
We get the latest from Kyiv on the crisis in Ukraine and discuss the fallout from Chinese military incursions in Taiwanese airspace. Plus: Nasa’s space telescope reaches its destination and we visit a haunted house in Istanbul.
Russia’s Arctic construction boom is seriously warming up.
This week’s flurry of diplomacy aims to address what Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, says he wants. He cannot get it. Does an invasion of Ukraine hang in the balance?
At an annual jamboree of economists our correspondent finds an unusual focus on the future—in particular the future of home working. And why Cuba has an enormous trade in grey-market garlic.
Boomers Daily 