The Foreign Desk

Albin Kurti, Kosovo’s prime minister, on minority integration, normalization with Serbia and international recognition. Benjamin Haddad, France’s minister for European affairs, on defence, tech and EU enlargement. Oana Lundjescu, former NATO spokesperson, on transatlantic ties, deterrence and Arctic security. Lisa Murkowski, U.S. senator from Alaska, on Arctic issues, rebuilding trust and congressional outreach.

A deep look at how the killing of a cartel boss triggered citywide shutdowns and tourists stranded in Puerto Vallarta. Coverage of troop deployments, airport and school closures, and worries ahead of the World Cup. Examination of the cartel's rise, its billion-dollar reach, heavy weaponry and drones. Discussion of why leader takedowns often spark more gang violence and political fallout.

Benedetta Berti, NATO Parliamentary Assembly chief, on alliance cohesion and hybrid threats. Antti Hakkanen, Finland’s defence minister, on F-35s, mines and territorial defence. Tom Tugendhat, ex-security minister, on transatlantic ties and Ukraine. Kurt Volker, former US negotiator, on deterrence and settlement scenarios. Gabrielius Landsbergis, strategist, on European strategy and NATO’s role. They debate alliance strain, Greenland, and Ukraine’s future.

Prof Wolfgang Herrmann, former TUM president championing interdisciplinarity and entrepreneurship. Markus Blume, Bavarian minister driving high‑tech investment and university commercialization. Maxine Garvey, Hitachi Energy leader focused on cross‑border clean energy partnerships and diversity. They discuss collaboration for complex energy projects, building high‑tech ecosystems, fostering serendipity and scaling research into marketable tech.

A disqualified Ukrainian skeleton racer's memorial helmet sparks debate about political expression at the Winter Games. Rules from the IOC and federations on staying 'apolitical' come under scrutiny. The conversation revisits famous Olympic protests and spotlights subtle acts of resistance and local demonstrations at Milano-Cortina.

Kevin Jon Heller, international law professor who has defended accused at tribunals. Steve Crawshaw, journalist and author focused on prosecuting leaders. Diane Desierto, human rights law professor and practitioner from the Philippines. They discuss referring Duterte to The Hague, challenges of proving crimes like genocide, how prosecutions shape political culture, defense strategies and where trials should be held.

A look at the harsh sentencing of Jimmy Lai and what it signals for press freedom in Hong Kong. The narrative traces Lai’s rise from stowaway to media magnate and his clash with Beijing. The discussion contrasts tactics used by authoritarian states with democratic responses and examines the limited leverage and policy choices available to the UK.

John Bolton, a hawkish former US national security official; Aniseh Basiri-Tabrizi, a regional analyst on Gulf-Iran dynamics; and Ali Ansari, an expert on Iranian politics. They debate Iran’s internal unrest and elite cohesion. They discuss Gulf states’ calculations, the risks and opportunities of Iranian instability, and what US pressure or limited strikes might mean for the region.

They unpack Washington’s sudden outreach to West Africa’s military rulers and why timing feels surprising. Listeners hear the backstory of recent coups and the rise of new junta leaders. The discussion covers US history of dealing with unsavoury regimes and a strategy to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Luca Trenta, Associate Professor of International Relations and author, gives historical context on US targeting of foreign leaders. Philip Gunson, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Caracas, examines military capacity, the raid’s execution, and legal questions. Tony Frangimowad, Caracas-based journalist and editor, describes street reactions, civic resurgence, and shifts in Venezuelan politics.