Thursday 16 January

The US lurches towards a government shutdown as president-elect Donald Trump torpedoes a bipartisan spending bill. Plus: the EU takes the UK to court. Then: the best films of 2024 and what to eat and drink over the holidays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, presents her budget to parliament and her image of Italy as a stable, fiscally responsible country in the EU. Plus, the UK becomes the first country outside the Asia-Pacific to sign a trade deal in the region. Then, our final edition of ‘Th ...  Show more

We discuss the West’s renewed efforts to send weapons to Ukraine. Plus: the US president, Joe Biden, announces a plan for the Mexican border, a flick through the day’s papers and Singapore Art Week.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 

In the nearly four months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the United States has been giving officials in Kyiv a steady stream of intelligence to aid them in the fight.

But what is becoming clear is that the Ukrainians are not returning the favor.

Guest:

Ukraine is marking its independence day today, exactly six months since Russia launched its war to crush it. Although Kyiv cancelled events amid fears Russia might carry out missile strikes, the country quietly but resolutely celebrated its history, its culture, and its resilienc ...  Show more

After months of escalating tensions, President Vladimir V. Putin took to state television on Thursday to declare the start of a “special military operation” in Ukraine.

In the prelude to the invasion and as Russian troops launched their attacks, we spoke to our colleague ...