May 15th 2026

The Economist Today Our best journalism, handpicked each day

Patrick Lane Senior digital editor

Should Britain really change its prime minister yet again? Yes, it should, we argue this week. Prime ministers need authority and clarity. Sir Keir Starmer, it turns out, has neither. Ditching the leader is risky—just ask the Conservatives—but the risks of Sir Keir staying are greater. Lately oil markets have been surprisingly calm. The price is far higher than before the Gulf war, but well below recent peaks, or where it was after Russia invaded Ukraine. Don’t be reassured. A full-blown disaster could be just weeks away. How closely have you followed the news this week? Test yourself with our pint-sized quiz.

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Editor’s picks A selection of must-read articles

Our cover Sir Keir Starmer has failed abjectly. He should go Britain is not ungovernable—it just needs better governance

→ Who can save the Labour Party?

In the eye of the storm Oil prices could soon rise convulsively The present tranquility will not last

France and Africa Macron turns to English-speaking Africa Why France is betting on business to shake off its colonial baggage

Jeopardy in Jakarta Indonesia, the biggest Muslim-majority country, is on a risky path Prabowo Subianto is eroding its finances—and its democracy

Bunker mentality The world’s best-sounding nightclub is in an unexpected place Why DJs are flocking to an obscure town in west Germany

More of our coverage ▸ What to watch this week. Our list features sweet animals and amusing dialogue, stand-up comedy and superb soundtracks. There are gastronomic delights and also bodily ones: some characters break bread, others nearly break their beds.  ▸ The war between businesses and hackers enters a perilous new phase. In recent weeks Anthropic and OpenAI have unveiled tech so capable of penetrating weak spots in cyber-defences that the AI labs have released them only to trusted firms. But that is no guarantee of safety.  ▸ Mexico’s daft plan to cut the school year for the World Cup. The tournament hasn’t even started yet, but it has already spawned its first political row in Mexico, ending with an own goal for the education ministry.

Tracking Donald Trump Our latest numbers The American president’s net approval rating Find out

Podcast The Intelligence Top dog-whistler: Tommy Robinson and Britain’s far right