The west needs to take on Putin at his own information game

The Ukrainians have (again) done what nobody believed they could. They have (again) defeated the supposedly mighty Russia on the battlefield, and shown up the underlying incompetence and moral rot of the Putin system.

Double vision

In the early days, much of the children's material available on YouTube was broadly educational. But before long, some seriously strange stuff started to appear

Britain Needs Liz Truss To Echo The Monarch's Flexible Diplomacy Simon Tisdall

What will other leaders and nations make of Liz Truss in Britain’s hour of trial? This untested prime minister must now lead the country through a crisis of unity and confidence that may be triggered by the death of her infinitely better-known namesake, Elizabeth II.

In The Dark? Truss's Energy Price Plan Has One Problem – How To Fund It

No handouts? Forget the promise of the Conservative leadership race ; three days into her term as prime minister Liz Truss unveiled one of the biggest single packages of financial support for households in recent decades.

Moscow’s narrative on its ‘special operation’ starts to fray

It was not the ideal moment for a party. Last Saturday even-ing, as Russian troops speedily retreated from numerous towns in the Kharkiv region, and the Ukrainian army triumphantly raised its yellow and blue flag, spectacular fireworks crackled across Moscow.

The constant monarch

The Queen was not born to rule, but she devoted her life to the role, maintaining a political neutrality, even in stormy times

Will he or won’t he? Trump keeps his election foes guessing

In Tennessee in June, he asked a crowd: “Would anybody like me to run for president?” Then in Nevada in July, he remarked: “We have a president who ran twice, won twice and may have to do it a third time. Can you believe it?”

Kharkiv life precarious despite victories

Water and energy supplies are disrupted as liberating troops find bodies of civilians showing signs of torture

Politics needs to play its part as a divided Britain faces upheaval Martin Kettle

The death of a monarch is an entirely foreseeable event, the solemn formalities hardwired into the rituals of dynastic succession. But it is also an event that is difficult, partly for the simple reason of good manners, to anticipate with any accuracy at any particular time.

The Queen cherished the Commonwealth – but change lies ahead David Olusoga

Our ancestors were better prepared for moments like this. The corollary of having witnessed the longest reign in British history is that only a tiny fraction of us have any memory of a monarch’s passing – and such memories that do exist are faded, unreliable recollections.

As women broke new ground, having a queen was wonderful Rachel Cooke

The past is sometimes less of a foreign country than you might imagine. Last Friday morning, when my husband wondered aloud if we should get a new television “for the funeral” (ours is comically small), my mind turned to the coronation, the generations connected, even now, by the allure of an outside broadcast.

The west ignores our super-floods at its peril. Tomorrow it will be you Fatima Bhutto

Pakistan, the world’s fifth- most-populous country, is fighting for its survival. This summer, erratic monsoon rains battered the country from north to south – Sindh, the southernmost province, received 464% more rain over the past few weeks than the 30-year average for the period. At the same time, Pakistan’s glaciers are melting at a rate never seen before. These consequences of the climate crisis have combined to create a monstrous super-flood that has ravaged the country.

Eating meat is not a crime against the planet-if it's done right

I have huge admiration for George Monbiot, a Guardian columnist. His work has highlighted the urgent need to reduce our CO2 emissions and switch to greener energy.

Johnson's dreams of a comeback will be a nightmare for Liz Truss

Making his final appearance in the Commons as prime minister, Boris Johnson tendered some advice to his successor. Don’t break the laws that you yourself introduced to curb a deadly pandemic.

Landowners hail scheme to restore biodiversity

Ambitious schemes by farmers and landowners to restore nature and reduce flooding while still producing food will be supported by the government in 22 locations across England.

I'm glowing How an app is helping us measure the joy of trees

A new research project aims to discover how the age, size and shape of woodlands can benefit people's wellbeing

'It's a plague' On the night trail with the wallaby hunters

Pete Peeti flicks off the headlights, cuts the ignition and lets his truck roll quietly down a bush track, deep in the heart of New Zealand's North Island. Twilight is slipping into night and rain is falling in thick drapes.

Xi’s iron grip holds firm as Communist party caucus approaches

The announcement of a Chinese Communist party meeting that is expected to cement Xi Jinping’s agenda for the coming years shows the strength of his “ultimate authority”, analysts have said.

‘His was the slow way to freedom’: a farewell to Gorbachev

The Pillar Hall in the House of the Unions is a grand old ballroom where Soviet leaders are put on display when they die.

‘No quick wins’ Push to retake Kherson shows Kyiv’s cautious confidence By Dan Sabbagh

Ukraine declared last week it had begun a counter offensive aiming to retake Kherson – the one city Russia holds west of the Dnieper River – prompting a fog of uncertainty to descend on how the effort was progressing, never mind whether it would succeed.

Storm clouds Any sense of jubilation may prove to be very short-lived

Liz Truss is facing an economic storm ahead as soaring inflation and energy bills inflict pain on millions of families and businesses.

Mission impossible?

Liz Truss has risen spectacularly to become Britain's new prime minister, but enormous problems lie ahead- not least the cost of living crisis and divisions in her own party

COUNTRY DIARY

DEERNESS VALLEY WAY - County Durham, England

Duchess in danger

This follow-up to Hamnet mingles fact and poetic fantasy in a Renaissance fable of a girl forced too young into marriage

Three Thousand Years of Longing

These people really should have read the small print. Every magic wish comes with a consequence, a cost.

'I don't take art seriously'

Waanyi artist Gordon Hookey takes on the right in his playful works, which are startling in their rowdy satire, poking fun at Trump and 'Tukka Cullsin'

Catchier and catchier The appeal of Pokémon

More than two decades after its collectable card set first launched, the highest-grossing media franchise of all time is more popular than ever. What’s the secret?

As our cities choke, the car is finally reaching the end of the road

In 1989, a group of Chinese government urban planners came to Europe on a fact-finding mission.

The property market is in freefall. Should the world be worried?

The property sector in the Chinese economy has always been a puzzle.

Make hay while sun shines: what foods can I cook now and store?

What can I batch cook now and freeze to brighten mealtimes as the northern hemisphere heads into autumn? Steph, Stroud, England