Ten Minutes On...

In this episode, we explore the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, examining the current state of affairs in Lebanon or its politics and people. Additionally, we discuss Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent visit to the U.S., including his meeting with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. We’ll unpack Trump’s stance on the Ukrai

In this episode, we delve into the recent escalation of the conflict that began on 7 October last year, with Israel expanding its military operations into Lebanon. We look beyond Israel’s attacks on Hezbollah’s communications systems and recent bombardments in southern Lebanon to ask what's driving this widening of the conflict? We consider the domestic political motivations be

This week we explore recent political and economic developments across South Asia, focusing on key recent events in countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. From elections and political change to economic challenges and emerging trends, I break down what’s driving instability and uncertainty in the region. Tune in for insights on how these dynamics may shape the

The UK's Labour Chancellor (finance minister) Rachel Reeves is in the news this week for announcing her plans to cut winter fuel allowance as part of a reponse to the public deficit left by the previous Conservative government. Her argument echoes similar claims made by the Conservatives when they came to power and justified their decision to implement austerity measures - and whic

Hello! After my summer hiatus I'm back to provide some commentary and analysis on some of the biggest stories happening each week.Because I was away, I have decided to look at 2 stories that caught my eye in the past month - the election in Venezuela and its aftermath and Ukraine's decision to invade Russian territory - as well as some more recent events, including Israel's revulsi

The IMF published its latest estimate for the global economy in its World Economic Outlook on Tuesday. As well as looking at what it said in that and its previous April report, Guy has a look at IMF's predicted growth rates and the actual ones since 2014 to get a sense of how accurate they are and why it's important that it does so.This is the last episode ahead of a short summer b

NATO is holding its 75th anniversary summit in Washington this week. But beyond the current challenges it faces (Ukraine, the next US president), what is holding it together or pulling it apart? And what are its future prospects?

After the first round of the French elections on Sunday, 30 June, it looks like the far right is in the driving seat. This is just the latest in a wave of far right votes and sentiment. But what's caused it? Guy digs into some of the research, noting that its rise predates the Great Recession of 2008-9 and that cultural and nativist concerns arguably trump those of (individual) eco

Last week Russian President Vladmir Putin travelled to Pyongyang where he looked to establish closer ties with North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un. Why did this happen and why now? What are the implications of the deal for the two countries and others in the East Asia region, including China, Japan and South Korea? But while it's perceived as a threat to Western interests and those of

Arguably what makes a power great--or indeed global--is its economy. But while China has garnered considerable attention for its apparent ability to rival the United States and the West in terms of political influence, how accurate is this? In reality, China's economy is weaker than it looks, with less consumer and investor confidence and a housing market bubble that Beijing is try