Episodes
This week, all eyes are on the United States as Donald Trump has won re-election, defeating Kamala Harris to secure a second term as president. The world is reacting swiftly, including EU leaders who are gathered in Budapest for a summit. Meanwhile, President-elect Trump has been busy assembling his new cabinet, including appointing Susie Wiles as chief of staff.
Published 11/08/24
It's been a good week in the polls for Donald Trump. For the first time in two months, several US election forecasters have suggested that he is ahead in the key swing states by a wafer-thin margin. This comes despite his character being questioned again, this time by his former chief of staff John Kelly, who described his old boss as fitting the description of a fascist. Meanwhile, in the battle for headlines on the campaign trail, Elon Musk has been offering million-dollar giveaways to...
Published 10/25/24
It has been a week that has seen the anniversary of the brutal Hamas October 7th attacks. A multi-fronted war now taking place, a year on, with Israel poised to carry out a “lethal, precise and above all, surprising” counter-strike on Iran at any time. Meanwhile, some UN peacekeepers have been injured by Israeli fire in southern Lebanon. World leaders are demanding answers.
Published 10/11/24
It has been a week of relentless escalation in the Middle East, with Israeli air strikes across Lebanon, Gaza and Yemen against Iranian-backed militants. Hundreds of civilians have been killed in the past seven days, and in the south of Lebanon, a "limited ground offensive" has begun. Iran has retaliated, sending almost 200 ballistic missiles across Israel, leading to much speculation over Israel's response.
Published 10/04/24
This week has seen Israel and Hezbollah step closer to all-out war. Air strikes across Lebanon on Monday killed more than 500 people – the deadliest day in the country since the civil war more than three decades ago. Hezbollah struck deeper into Israeli territory. Then the chief of the IDF told Israeli soldiers to prepare for the possible entry of ground troops into southern Lebanon. Unified calls came for a 21-day ceasefire from the UN and Western allies, but the rhetoric of the Israeli PM...
Published 09/27/24
This week has seen a new method of technological warfare – used against Hezbollah in Lebanon. First Pagers, then Walkie-Talkies simultaneously exploding in people’s hands, pockets, bags. Dozens killed, thousands injured. No comment from Israel’s spy agency who is said to have meticulously planned and physically infiltrated the group’s supply chain. We will look at how it happened, why now, and what next?
Published 09/20/24
This week has seen another US presidential debate take place. The last 90 minutes cost President Joe Biden his job. This time it started with niceties; an extended hand from Kamala Harris that has become known as the "power move handshake": look it up on TikTok.
Published 09/13/24
It has been a week which saw France finally appoint a new prime minister. A mountain hiking, smooth-talking septuagenarian – Michel Barnier. Monsieur Brexit, former EU point man negotiating Britain’s divorce. He has served in the cabinet of many French Presidents in decades gone by. Now, he is back as the oldest PM in the French fifth Republic replacing the youngest one! But why Barnier? And why did he want the job? Is it because he is the master of eggshell diplomacy?
Published 09/06/24
This week saw the first sit-down interview for Kamala Harris as US presidential nominee. After a headline-grabbing summer where she’s dominated the American media landscape, we look at the reinvention of Harris: from gaff-prone veep to self-assured and highly polished campaign candidate. We also look at Donald Trump's manoeuvres to regain the spotlight.
Published 08/31/24
One month after Emmanuel Macron’s surprise announcement of snap elections, the French Parliament has been elected, but France still needs to find a Prime Minister, with no group holding a majority. Meanwhile, Joe Biden hosted a NATO heads of state meeting, which raised concerns when he confused Kamala Harris with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky with Vladimir Putin. In Barcelona, angry residents splashed water on tourists and expressed their frustration with mass tourism through protests.
Published 07/12/24
It's been a week that's seen a new government sweep into power in the UK. A landslide win by Labour has ended 14 years of Conservative rule. It's the Conservatives' worst defeat in living memory. After electoral devastation, voters are trusting the centre left to get the UK through choppy waters. Can Keir Starmer steer calmer?
Published 07/05/24
This week has seen the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, protesters taking the streets in Kenya against government plans for a finance bill, and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange freed and returning to Australia.
Published 06/28/24
This week we discuss France's political turmoil, Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea, the prosecution of Arundhati Roy, and Netflix being sued over the veracity of its "Baby Reindeer" series.
Published 06/21/24
It's been a week of political aftershocks in France, after the earthquake that was President Emmanuel Macron's sudden decision to call snap elections. His gambit, in testing the far right's EU election triumph and his banking on it being just a sign of voter frustration, is an "all the chips on the table" moment and early polls suggest the National Rally is still on course for victory. Meanwhile, an "electionally challenged" G7 gathers in Italy.
Published 06/14/24
This week has seen world leaders gather on the beaches of northern France to commemorate 80 years since the Normandy landings – the moment that marked the start of the liberation of Western Europe from Nazi Germany. This year, Ukraine's leader was invited but Russian officials were cold-shouldered. We discuss the politics of D-Day diplomacy.
Published 06/07/24
It’s been an historic week in the US, where for the first time a former president has been convicted of a criminal offence. Donald Trump was found guilty on all charges in the so-called hush money trial on Thursday. Will this make any difference to his chances in the US presidential election?
Published 05/31/24
This week has seen an assassination attempt on populist Slovakian Prime Minister Fico and the passing of the 'Foreign agents' law in Georgia despite mass protests. We look at the advances that Russia is making in Ukraine and the worst violence sweeping New Caledonia in 40 years.
Published 05/17/24
It’s been a week that’s seen intense strain on the US-Israel relationship. President Joe Biden has issued an ultimatum to Washington's strategic ally in the Middle East - if IDF troops storm Rafah, key weapon supplies will stop.
Published 05/10/24
This week has seen the mass arrests of students at US universities. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators "have a right to dissent, not chaos", said President Joe Biden. It's also been yet another week where a breakthrough seemed possible in talks for a Gaza ceasefire. But come what may, Israel says the Rafah offensive will happen.
Published 05/03/24
It's been a week where the midnight oil was burnt in Britain at a late-night session of the House of Lords. The controversial Rwanda bill was finally passed, two years since it was proposed. PM Rishi Sunak says the plan to fly migrants to Africa will be the solution to "stop the boats". But will it actually serve as a deterrent?
Published 04/26/24
How can a conflict that's regarded as the biggest humanitarian crisis in the world become known as the forgotten war? Aid agencies say that after exactly a year of civil war in Sudan, driven by a power struggle between two military factions, the world has turned away. The UN estimates that at least 14,000 Sudanese civilians have been killed. Another 8 million are displaced; 4 million of them children. Some 18 million people are facing acute hunger.
Published 04/19/24
Could this week be remembered as a turning point in Israel's war in Gaza? Israel has admitted it killed seven aid workers in Gaza, stemming from a "serious failure due to a mistaken identification" that has led to widespread condemnation. Western countries say initial Israeli answers that it was a "tragic accident" are not sufficient. The recently unwavering support from the US is now wavering and conditional on the steps Israel takes in protecting civilians.
Published 04/05/24
It’s been a week of international disbelief at Russia's insistence in linking Ukraine to the Moscow concert hall shooting, despite all evidence pointing to the Islamic State group. We look at Putin's motive and also the threat posed by IS-K in Europe.
Published 03/29/24
It’s been a good week for the world’s most powerful woman. EU Chief Ursula von der Leyen moves a step closer to another five years in office as she announced her candidacy for a second term.
Published 03/08/24