The Foreign Desk

Episodes

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  Explainer 543: The new cold war 11.11.2026 7m

  France has accused Iran of hacking hundreds of supermarket refrigerators, spoiling millions of euros’ worth of food. Is this the new face of hybrid warfare?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  A Democratic deluge: What political landscape emerges? 07.11.2026 38m

  From Texas to Michigan, Democrats have delivered a stunning midterm rebuke to Donald Trump. What does the electoral upheaval mean for the president, the Republican Party and the future of US politics?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 542: Why has China shown Kylian Mbappé a red card? 04.11.2026 7m

  An offhand remark about Mao Zedong has landed Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappé in hot water with Beijing. Why has China taken offence so readily and what does it gain from doing so?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  How to retake a captured state: Lessons from Brazil, Serbia and Hungary 31.10.2026 33m

  Defeating an authoritarian strongman at the ballot box is no small feat. So how did Serbian students do it? Did Brazil’s fandoms swing an election? And how was the seemingly immovable Viktor Orbán toppled?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 541: Is Algeria the new military powerhouse of Africa? 28.10.2026 7m

  Algeria’s army is venturing beyond its border for the first time in more than 50 years to address conflicts in neighbouring Niger. Why does Niger need the help? And what does Algeria’s revitalised army mean for Africa?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Israelis head to the polls: The stakes for Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestine and beyond 24.10.2026 30m

  The Israeli general election is poised to be one of the most consequential in the country's history. Can Netanyahu cobble together another government? What can those in Palestine, Lebanon and beyond expect if he does?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 540: Why are we blowing up the anti-personnel mines deal? 21.10.2026 7m

  For 27 years, the Ottawa Treaty bound international law, banning 165 countries from using anti-personnel mines. Today Russia’s neighbours are abandoning the deal. If the treaty unravels, what is the future of conflict?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Live from New Delhi: What’s bugging India? 17.10.2026 41m

  As protests bring New Delhi to a standstill, Andrew Mueller hears from Shashi Tharoor, Meenakshi Lekhi and Rahul Bedi about the demonstrations, political discontent and the challenges facing Narendra Modi’s government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Powering purpose in New Delhi 15.10.2026 59m

  Recorded at D’Monde New Delhi in association with Hitachi Energy, CEO Andreas Schierenbeck, aerospace engineer Aisha Bowe and Nobel laureate Didier Queloz discuss overcoming resistance and finding fresh perspectives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 539: Why are India's 'Cockroaches' on the march again? 14.10.2026 7m

  We report live from New Delhi, where the Cockroach Janta Party is marching in protest against the government. Is the Indian capital under siege? And is this the beginning of the end for the prime minister, Narendra Modi?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Like father, like son: Are the Bolsonaros set to take Brazil or can Lula fight back? 10.10.2026 32m

  As Brazilians head back to the polls, can Lula win them back? Where did all these Bolsonaros come from? And: the regional implications if Brazil heads to the right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 538: Are Ethiopia’s enemies uniting? 07.10.2026 6m

  Rebel groups across Ethiopia are mobilising again. Is this renewed uprising simply unfinished business at home or are regional powers quietly helping to turn up the heat?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  As war threatens to accelerate across Europe, why are some countries still stuck in neutral? 03.10.2026 27m

  With a major war raging on the European continent, there are a few countries that would prefer to be excused. We head to Switzerland, Austria and Ireland to examine what neutrality means today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 537: Javier Milei and the Falklands – here we go again 30.09.2026 6m

  Javier Milei is rattling Argentina’s old Falklands sabre again. But is this latest legal threat over offshore oil a serious strategy, domestic theatre or merely another chapter in history’s strangest recurring argument?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Rebuilding Lebanon: Where do you even start? 26.09.2026 34m

  From Israel’s strikes in the south and attempting to disarm Hezbollah, to reinstating services and infrastructure, Lebanon’s government is in a pivotal moment. We hear from three ministers on both the headwinds and hope. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 536: What leverage would the Houthis’s seizing of Bab al-Mandab give Iran? 23.09.2026 6m

  The Iran-backed Houthis have launched their largest offensive in years, seizing key ports and islands along the Bab al-Mandab strait. What sway will this give Iran over the global economy and ending the war?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Live from the Arab Media Summit: The UAE’s new role in war and peace 19.09.2026 32m

  The United Arab Emirates’ pitch has always been: you are safe here. This year, that changed. We go to Dubai to examine how the UAE prepared for conflict and its plans for peace.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Explainer 535: Could Andy Burnham be the UK’s last prime minister? 16.09.2026 7m

  This week the leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a joint memorandum declaring that Westminster’s time is “coming to an end”. But is there a clear path to independence?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  The firewall falls: what does the AfD’s breakthrough mean for Europe? 12.09.2026 33m

  The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt tweaked a nerve in Germany and across Europe. We examine how it won, its leaders’ plans and the media’s role in the rise of the far right.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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  Why is Jamaica asking the United Kingdom for $10bn (€8.6bn)? 09.09.2026 6m

  Explainer 534: Jamaica’s government is seeking legal guidance from King Charles on receiving reparations. What issues lie at the heart of this request? And how is London likely to respond?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.