Al Jazeera

Episodes

• What's the significance of the Russian president's visit to China? 01.06.2026 28m

  Over the years, China and Russia have described their relationship as a friendship without limits. Vladimir Putin's visit to Beijing this week further emphasises the strength of those ties. He and President Xi Jinping hailed their partnership as 'a force of calm among chaos'. They also warned against a return to the 'law of the jungle'. An apparent reference to Donald Trump's actions and policies, which include the war against Iran and sweeping global tariffs. Will the two leaders succeed in their push for a multipolar world, one in which the U.S. does not dominate?
• Does Ukraine have the advantage at the moment against Russia? 30.05.2026 28m

  There appears to be a shift in the years-long conflict in Ukraine. Last weekend, Ukrainian forces struck deeper into Russian territory, piercing its air defences in a large strike on the Moscow region. This came a week after fears of a Ukrainian attack forced Russia to scale down its annual Victory Day parade. Kyiv's also been relentlessly striking Russia's oil facilities and military logistics, as it tries to disrupt supplies to the frontlines. All this as Russian missiles and drones continue to target sites across Ukraine.
• Will Cuba be forced to accept President Trump's demands? 27.05.2026 28m

  Havana has announced the country is nearly out of fuel. It comes after months of added pressure from Washington. The US cut off oil shipments from Venezuela and then imposed a near total oil blockade. Paired with Cuba's aging energy grid, the result was sweeping blackouts, supply shortages and a deepening economic crisis. Washington's goal is to force the socialist government to open up the economy and implement political reforms. Donald Trump has even threatened Havana with military action.
• Will the latest Ebola outbreak in DR Congo and Uganda spread further? 25.05.2026 28m

  A global health crisis - not a pandemic. But the World Health Organization is warning the Ebola outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighbouring Uganda could be much larger than what has been detected so far. The global health body is advising the countries to activate national disaster mechanisms and introduce cross-border and internal screening.
• Is the US dialling down its support for Taiwan? 23.05.2026 27m

  A year ago, US-China relations reached one of their lowest points when Donald Trump announced his Liberation Day tariffs. The US president made some concessions when he met Xi Jinping a few months later. And the White House yielded more ground in the run-up to Trump's visit to Beijing. It suspended a $14 billion arms sale to Taiwan, which China claims as its sovereign territory. But that did not stop President Xi from calling Taiwan 'the single most important issue' in relations with the US. Could a dispute over the territory lead to conflict between Beijing and Washington?
• Will the boycott of Eurovision have any impact? 20.05.2026 27m

  Five nations boycott Eurovision citing Israel's participation. Their action is against Israel's war in Gaza and allegations of vote manipulation in the song contest. But why is it so important for Israel to take part? And is the competition's future under threat?
• Could the Russia-Ukraine war be in its final stages? 18.05.2026 28m

  Vladimir Putin says the Ukraine war may be over soon. Attacks have been intensifying in recent weeks. And a stalemate on the battlefield is increasing political pressure for an end. So, could the conflict be entering its final phase?
• Could Labour and Conservative dominance in UK politics be ending? 16.05.2026 27m

  A backlash against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in local and regional elections in England, Scotland and Wales, despite a huge majority in parliament. He's rejecting calls to quit - but faces new challenges from both the left and right. So, why are these elections so important?
• Should we be worried about the Hantavirus outbreak? 13.05.2026 28m

  The World Health Organization says public health risks from hantavirus are low. Arrangements are being made to repatriate passengers from a cruise ship, after three people who'd been on board, died. How's the experience from the Covid-19 pandemic being used?
• Can China help end the war on Iran? 11.05.2026 28m

  China is emerging as a major player in global diplomacy - including in the Middle East. In 2023, it helped re-establish diplomatic ties between Riyadh and Tehran. While it is not officially mediating efforts to end the ongoing war - both the US and Iran are looking to China to help de-escalate. So, can it propel the two sides towards that goal? And if China makes a direct push to stop the fighting - how will its economic clout affect the course of negotiations?
• What's the impact of rising tensions between the US and Iran? 09.05.2026 27m

  Tension escalates rapidly across the Gulf - despite last month's ceasefire. An oil facility hit in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian boats attacked, while the US tries to force open a shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. So, what does this mean for hopes of an end to the Iran war?
• Pakistan opens land trade routes to Iran, will it undermine US? 07.05.2026 27m

  Pakistan opens land trade routes to Iran, allowing the transit of goods. It's a much-needed reprieve for both economies. But does it undercut Washington's pressure campaign on Tehran? And how will it impact the Islamabad-mediated talks to end the war?
• How serious is the rift in NATO? 05.05.2026 28m

  Divisions widen within NATO. US President Donald Trump is furious after a refusal by European member states to join the Iran war. Reports say he's considering measures against the UK and Spain. So, how serious is the rift for the future of the military alliance?
• Will Ukraine war intensify after EU's $105bn loan to Kyiv? 29.04.2026 28m

  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?
• EU-Israel relations under strain over Middle East tensions 27.04.2026 28m

  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?
• Could the EU's alliance with Israel soon change? 24.04.2026 29m

  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?
• What role is China playing in the Iran war and how is it affected? 22.04.2026 27m

  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?
• Is war more profitable than peace? David Keen explains 20.04.2026 29m

  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.
• How far is Iran willing to go to protect its friends and allies? 18.04.2026 28m

  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?
• Trump has found his Iran off-ramp - but at what cost? 15.04.2026 27m

  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?