Episodes

  • How volatile is the political situation in Bangladesh?

    How volatile is the political situation in Bangladesh?
    Mar 10 2026
    Political tension and unrest in Bangladesh - after the assassination of a student leader of last year's uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina. Elections for a new government are due in February. So how volatile is the political situation now?
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    28 mins
  • Will Russia accept western troops in Ukraine?

    Will Russia accept western troops in Ukraine?
    Mar 7 2026
    On Tuesday, Ukraine got yet another push from its western allies. A meeting of the so-called Coalition of the Willing in Paris pledged full support for Kyiiv in any future peace settlement to the ongoing war with Russia. The gathering stressed that Ukraine should be able to defend itself even after the fighting ends. France and the UK said a multinational force would be deployed if and when a peace deal is achieved. But Russia has made it clear that it opposes any NATO members deploying troops inside Ukraine So, what would that mean for the future of Ukraine?
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    28 mins
  • What's next for the global economy in 2026?

    What's next for the global economy in 2026?
    Mar 4 2026
    Two words that largely define the economy right now: Global reordering. President Donald Trump's Tariffs have landed as a shock to global trade. This is 2025. Major economies are rewriting their playbooks, and alliances are being redrawn.
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    28 mins
  • How will Syria deal with its growing security challenges?

    How will Syria deal with its growing security challenges?
    Feb 28 2026
    As this year is coming to an end, a deal between the Syrian government and the Kuridish-led Syrian Democratic Forces had been expected to come into force. Instead, fighting erupted between the two sides in the northern city of Aleppo. They later agreed to stop the fighting, while blaming each other for the violence. That deal was supposed to lead to the SDF integrating with the army, but it is stalling on how that should be implemented. This renewed tension comes as Damacus is facing other threats, ranging from ISIL to recurrent conflicts with the Druze community and continuing attacks by Israel. So what does this complex security situation mean for Syria, a year after the fall of Bashar al Assad?
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    27 mins
  • Is peace in Sudan possible?

    Is peace in Sudan possible?
    Feb 24 2026
    The conflict between the army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces began more than two and a half years ago. This week, the prime minister presented a peace plan to the United Nations Security Council. It would see the RSF give up weapons and the territory it controls. The paramilitary group says it's 'closer to fantasy than to politics’. Millions of people are caught up in the fighting -- tens of thousands have been killed and millions displaced. Where does this leave Sudan's future?
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    27 mins
  • What are Saudi Arabia's plans in southern Yemen?

    What are Saudi Arabia's plans in southern Yemen?
    Feb 20 2026
    The United States has realised it cannot keep “trying to police the whole world”, argues Victor Gao, the vice president of the Center for China and Globalization in Beijing.
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    29 mins
  • What are the implications of the US kidnap of Nicolas Maduro?

    What are the implications of the US kidnap of Nicolas Maduro?
    Feb 17 2026
    US special forces capture Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro - in a daring attack that's taken the country and the world by surprise. He'd denied accusations by president Donald Trump of heading a narcotics cartel. So, what are the implications of Washington's actions?
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    28 mins
  • Is the US unlocking Venezuela's oil wealth or exploiting it?

    Is the US unlocking Venezuela's oil wealth or exploiting it?
    Feb 14 2026
    A nation with the world's largest oil reserves, Venezuela is now at the centre of a high-stakes economic power play over energy supply - with global ramifications. The United States says it will control the sales and revenue of Venezuelan oil "indefinitely", days after it abducted the nation's President Nicolas Maduro. President Donald Trump wants US companies to invest billions of dollars to revive the nation's oil sector.
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    29 mins