Ten Minutes On...

In this episode of Ten Minutes On…, Guy Burton breaks down the new US–China trade deal and its global impact. From tariffs and rare-earths to critical minerals and supply chains, we explore how this “truce” affects not just the US and China, but Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East. What does the deal mean for global growth, political influence, and economic rivalry? Is it a temporary pause or the start of a new era of managed competition? Drawing on various observations, analyses and insights made since the deal was signed, this episode delivers ten minutes of clear, expert analysis on the story everyone is watching. 

Is the AI boom creating a financial bubble poised to burst? In this episode, host and political analyst Guy Burton explores the skyrocketing valuations of AI-related companies, investor behaviour echoing the dot-com era and the real economic risks if the bubble bursts. We compare today’s frenzy with past tech and non-tech bubbles, explain why predicting a crash is so difficult, and break down what it all means for markets, jobs and the economy. (Slight more than) Ten minutes to understand the AI hype and its hidden dangers.

In this episode of Ten Minutes On…, Guy Burton unpacks a turbulent week across Latin America — from US covert operations in Venezuela to Bolivia’s post-socialist political shift and Peru’s latest presidential upheaval. What do these crises reveal about the region’s deeper fault lines: fragile institutions, economic strain, and rising global competition for influence? As China deepens its reach through lithium and infrastructure deals and Europe promotes its green-energy partnerships, Latin America finds itself at the crossroads of a new geopolitical contest. 

After two years of war, Israel and Hamas have agreed to a fragile ceasefire. Hostages are set to be released, Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, and aid is moving again — but for how long? Guy Burton explains what the Gaza deal actually means, why it happened now, and why it may not last. From political pressure in Israel and Hamas’s weakened position to U.S. election-year diplomacy, this ten-minute episode breaks down the stakes, the numbers, and the risks behind the headlines.

Nearly a year after Assad’s fall, Syria is voting again — but what do these indirect elections really mean? Join me, Guy Burton, as we unpack the fragile politics, economic challenges, and foreign influences shaping the “New Syria,” and ask whether the country can turn this tentative peace into lasting stability.

Russia’s latest drone attack on Kyiv highlights how military drones are transforming modern warfare. In this episode of Ten Minutes On…, Guy Burton explores Ukraine’s cutting-edge drone tactics, lessons from U.S. drone strikes in the Global War on Terror and the ethical and legal challenges of AI-powered and autonomous drones. Discover how drones are shaping battlefield strategy, civilian risk and the future of war — from precision strikes to asymmetric defence and the emerging global drone arms race. 

What happens when governments hand power to algorithms? In this episode, we take a sharp look at Diella, Albania’s world-first AI “minister,” and ask whether she’s fighting corruption or just window dressing for Prime Minister Rama’s EU ambitions. From Tirana to London, Paris, and Singapore, we explore how AI is reshaping policymaking, the promises and pitfalls revealed in new OECD and Institute for Government reports, and why transparency and human judgment still matter. AI in government is here to stay—but the question is, will it make democracy stronger or weaker?

Government debt is back in the headlines. From Britain’s stretched finances to France’s budget battles and America’s ballooning deficits, the numbers look grim. In this episode, we dig into why debt has piled up in advanced economies, how today’s challenges differ from those in emerging markets, and why the old post-war model of borrowing has broken down. We’ll look at the limited — and often unpalatable — policy options left on the table, and what it means when markets, not governments, increasingly call the shots.

Kim Jong Un just took his daughter to Beijing — signalling the future of North Korea’s dictatorship. In this episode, we unpack what her debut means for succession, nuclear power and Pyongyang’s dangerous new ties with Russia and China.

This week on 10 Minutes On, we look at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in China. Are Russia, China, and India really forming an alliance — or is the picture more about image, influence, and a shifting world order?