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23/09/2023
Episode number: 1
Overview: This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the mood in Ukraine as their war against Russia drags on, analyses whether there have been changes in Iran in the wake of the protests there and examines how much of a threat Chinese espionage is to the west.
30/09/2023
Episode number: 2
Overview: This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses Vladimir Putin's position a month on from Yevgeny Prigozhin's death, looks at how the possibility of a first ever female President might change Mexico and examines whether Africa has squandered the opportunities of the last two decades.
04/10/2023
Episode number: 3
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether European support for Ukraine in their war against Russia is starting to fray, looks at the consequences of the coup in Niger, and examines if short-term political considerations might prevent the world tackling climate change.
11/10/2023
Episode number: 4
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what the consequences of the attacks on Israel might be, examines how European leaders are trying to tackle mass migration and looks at whether the United States is becoming increasingly ungovernable.
18/10/2023
Episode number: 5
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether the crisis in Israel and Gaza is in danger of escalating into a wider Middle East war, looks at what Iran's role might be in the situation and examines if China's spectacular economic growth is coming to an end.
25/10/2023
Episode number: 6
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what the consequences of Israel's expected invasion of Gaza might be, examines whether Ukraine is any closer to winning its war with Russia as winter draws in and looks at the state of play in Argentina after the first round of the Presidential elections there.
01/11/2023
Episode number: 7
Overview: John Simpson is in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. From there, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, he analyses the chances of the war in Gaza spreading to the region, examines the reasons behind Pakistan's move to expel more than a million Afghan migrants and looks at whether artificial intelligence can be controlled.
08/11/2023
Episode number: 8
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses how the conflict in Gaza might shape the future of the region, examines how Jihadist groups view Hamas and the war and looks at the issues that will decide the US Presidential race with a year to go.
15/11/2023
Episode number: 9
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel can continue to count on the West’s support in the conflict in Gaza, examines whether the United States and China can avoid a new cold war and looks at whether the Spanish prime minister can stave off Catalan independence.
22/11/2023
Episode number: 10
Overview: This week John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, examines whether Vladimir Putin's political future is now looking more secure and analyses why the head of one of the world's biggest oil and gas companies is hosting the next climate change talks.
02/12/2023
Episode number: 11
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses what might happen next in the war in Gaza. With Cop28 starting in Dubai, they also look at the issue of pollution from oil and gas production in the region, and examine whether Europe is moving towards the far right.
09/12/2023
Episode number: 12
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses why Ukraine's counter-offensive has failed to quickly deliver the hoped-for gains in its war with Russia, examines whether the United Nations is fit for purpose and looks at the latest new extraordinary discoveries we are finding in space.
17/01/2024
Episode number: 13
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines the strategy behind the US and UK attacks on the Houthis in Yemen, analyses whether the elections in Taiwan have made an invasion by China more likely and looks at the implications of Donald Trump’s dominant victory in Iowa.
24/01/2024
Episode number: 14
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines whether the war in Gaza is beginning to slip away from Israel, analyses the implications of Iran’s missile strike on Pakistan, and looks at what the inauguration of a temple in India means for the forthcoming elections there.
31/01/2024
Episode number: 15
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Ukraine can win its war with Russia without the wholehearted support of the west, examines what effect the International Court of Justice’s ruling on Israel might have on the war in Gaza and looks at the challenges ahead following an expected general election in Britain this year.
07/02/2024
Episode number: 16
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses how the Russian economy has thrived despite western sanctions, examines the American military’s role in the Middle East and looks at the developing food crisis in Ethiopia.
14/02/2024
Episode number: 17
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Israel can win its war in Gaza, examines what’s really happening to the Chinese economy and looks at what the outcome of Indonesia’s elections might mean for the world’s third largest democracy.
21/02/2024
Episode number: 18
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at Vladimir Putin’s position after the death of Alexei Navalny, examines the situation in Ukraine two years after the Russian invasion and analyses the possibility of a new war in Europe.
28/02/2024
Episode number: 19
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses the possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza, examines Donald Trump’s legal problems, and looks at the issues behind the widespread protests by European farmers.
06/03/2024
Episode number: 20
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, looks at the humanitarian situation in Gaza, analyses what it would take to bring peace to the conflicts there and in Ukraine, and explores the significance of the meeting of the National People’s Congress in China.
13/03/2024
Episode number: 21
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, analyses whether Russia has turned the tide in its war in Ukraine, looks at the situation in Haiti in the wake of the gang violence sweeping the country and examines whether oceans will be navigated by unmanned ships in the future.
20/03/2024
Episode number: 22
Overview: John Simpson, in discussion with the BBC's unparalleled range of experts across the world, examines what’s next for Vladimir Putin after winning re-election, analyses the possibility of civic unrest in the United States as Joe Biden and Donald Trump compete for the presidency, and looks at the battle between miners and environmentalists over extracting rare metals from the bottom of our deepest oceans.