The Foreign Desk

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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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. 

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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?

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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?

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A special episode in association with Hitachi Energy, recorded at ONS 2026 in Stavanger, Norway. Andrew Mueller discusses the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition with Arancha González Laya, Tinne Van der Straeten, Stephen Bull and Steffen Syvertsen.

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Despite its troubled history, nuclear energy is back on the agenda across the globe. Could it be our saviour? And what are the strategic risks for nations that aren’t keeping up with the energy renaissance?

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Colonel-General Ratko Mladić died last week in prison in the Netherlands. Serbia has a complicated relationship with the disgraced war criminal, with many calling for a state funeral. What will his legacy be?  

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Six months into the US’s war with Iran, is any kind of military victory possible? Or is the Strait of Hormuz the US’s Suez? Rear admiral Mark Montgomery, Bloomberg’s Dina Esfandiary and historian Stephen Wertheim discuss.

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After a warm reception between Donald Trump and President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria has been removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. What stands to be gained for both sides?

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As the US retreats from Nato’s “all for one, one for all” clause, Europe is forging new defence ties. Can the West hold together without Washington? Estonia’s defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, joins the debate.

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With Moldova vulnerable to Russian pressure and EU membership still years away, could reunification with Romania offer a shortcut to greater security? Andrew Mueller explains.

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The Democrats’ centrist and progressive wings have each claimed victories in the primary cycle. Is the Democratic Party on the verge of re-assembling its circular firing squad? And who will win in November?

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Russia’s Supreme Court has barred the country’s only anti-war party from standing in parliamentary “elections”. Does the ban reflect an uptick in anti-war support or Putin’s ever-tightening grip on power?

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The migration crisis in Ceuta sparked a fierce response across Europe. Does it expose a genuine threat to the border-free Schengen zone or are governments using the surge for political gain?

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Morocco confirmed this week that it has named a major highway in Western Sahara after US president Donald Trump. But what’s the strategy behind awarding Trump a personal stake in the disputed territory? 

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Thirty years ago, it was assumed that the internet would be an engine of liberal democracy. Now, Silicon Valley’s massive wealth is embracing power and promoting right-wing ideology. How did we get here?

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India’s youth-led Cockroach Janta Party is scuttling onto the political stage. It has already claimed one minister’s resignation but can continued protests force the government to give up more ground?

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As Canada battles wildfires, Spain declares a national climate emergency and France evacuates tens of thousands, where do the politics around climate change stand? Is denialism gaining traction or is diplomacy winning the day?

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Andy Burnham became the UK’s seventh prime minister in 10 years this week. Why has Britain adopted Italian-style political turbulence and is it here to stay?

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The World Cup has always been political, including previous editions hosted by juntas and dictatorships. This year, presidents thumbed the scale and small nations made us dream again. Who scored and who was caught offside?

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Japan announced plans this week to establish its own intelligence agency, its first since the Second World War. But why now? 

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A special episode in association with Hitachi Energy, recorded at Midori House in London. Andrew Mueller discusses the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition with Gerhard Salge, Olga Rosca and Richard Nugee.

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As the global competition for minerals intensifies, we consider the geopolitics at play. How did China emerge as a dominant force? And will the DRC ever benefit from its own resources?

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Far-right French firebrand Marine Le Pen’s sentence for embezzlement was reduced this week, allowing her to stand in next year’s presidential election. But will the conviction hinder or help her campaign? Andrew Mueller explains. 

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As the US marks 250 years, is one of the pillars of its democracy, a free press, under threat? Guests including White House correspondent Maggie Haberman discuss the current administration’s relationship with the media.

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This week Marco Rubio hosted the latest round of talks between rival Libyan factions in an attempt to unify the country. But what’s in it for the US secretary of state?

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