Episodes

  • Will Ukraine war intensify after EU's $105bn loan to Kyiv?

    Will Ukraine war intensify after EU's $105bn loan to Kyiv?
    Apr 29 2026
    A loan drama tied to geopolitics. Kyiv is getting a much-delayed lifeline from Brussels, as it fights Moscow's invasion with nearly empty coffers. That's after Ukraine repaired a pipeline carrying Russian crude to Hungary, Slovakia. The oil revenues will bolster Moscow's war chest. So, is this complex EU deal going to intensify the conflict? And, considering the mistrust between the parties, will the agreement even last?
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    29 mins
  • EU-Israel relations under strain over Middle East tensions

    EU-Israel relations under strain over Middle East tensions
    Apr 27 2026
    More than a million Europeans have signed a petition asking the EU to suspend a trade deal with Israel for its atrocities in Gaza. Three states — Spain, Ireland and Slovenia — tabled a proposal backing the call. But Germany and Italy blocked the move. So, can a divided EU become a strong force opposing Israeli actions in the Middle East?
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    28 mins
  • Could the EU's alliance with Israel soon change?

    Could the EU's alliance with Israel soon change?
    Apr 24 2026
    Israel's alliance with the European Union is under mounting political pressure. Behind the shift are demands to suspend the main agreement underpinning their close relations. But their ties survived Israel's genocide in Gaza - so why the difficulties now?
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    30 mins
  • What role is China playing in the Iran war and how is it affected?

    What role is China playing in the Iran war and how is it affected?
    Apr 22 2026
    China tells its ally Iran the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened. International leaders have been visiting Beijing almost daily - underlining its importance in the crisis. So what's the impact of the Iran war on China - and what role is it playing?
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    27 mins
  • Is war more profitable than peace? David Keen explains

    Is war more profitable than peace? David Keen explains
    Apr 20 2026
    As the United States-Israel war on Iran deepens, conflict scholar David Keen examines why some wars persist without a clear victory. He argues that war can serve political control, economic interests and systems of power that outlive the battlefield. From sanctions and smuggling to military spending and useful enemies, Keen explains how conflict can become functional and why making peace more attractive than war is often the real challenge.
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    29 mins
  • How far is Iran willing to go to protect its friends and allies?

    How far is Iran willing to go to protect its friends and allies?
    Apr 18 2026
    Iran has been cultivating what it calls the Axis of Resistance for decades. It's a coalition of armed groups, backed by Tehran's money and often its weapons, that try to tip the scales of regional power in Iran's favour. Now the axis looks to be on shaky ground. Israel has marched into southern Lebanon, is pounding Beirut with bombs in an attempt to eliminate Hezbollah and says it doesn't plan to stop. So is Hezbollah the sticking point of ceasefire negotiations? And how far is Iran willing to go to back its friends and allies?
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    28 mins
  • Trump has found his Iran off-ramp - but at what cost?

    Trump has found his Iran off-ramp - but at what cost?
    Apr 15 2026
    After apocalyptic threats, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a two week ceasefire. It's still unclear whether that will mean a lasting peace. What's more certain is that the US and the world stage have been changed by Trump's war. So how has America been shaped by Trump's war on Iran? How has the world order? And can any of it be walked back?
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    28 mins
  • How is the Iran war affecting Russian-Iranian relations?

    How is the Iran war affecting Russian-Iranian relations?
    Apr 13 2026
    The US and Israel's war with Iran has put pressure on Tehran's relations with Moscow. They've been allies but the Kremlin is seeking to maintain ties with Washington to reach a deal on the Ukraine conflict. So how is the Iran war affecting Russia-Iran relations?
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    29 mins