The Foreign Desk

Over the past few days the Taliban have laid claim to several key cities across the outer provinces of Afghanistan. As fighting continues, Andrew Mueller outlines the history of these insurgents.

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The tiny southern African nation of Eswatini has been rocked by civil unrest in recent weeks. Violent clashes between security forces and anti-government demonstrators have led to the deaths of more than 50 people. What has triggered these protests? Is King Mswati III willing to change course? And what’s to become of Africa’s last absolute monarchy? Andrew Mueller speaks to Mako Muzenda, Menzi Ndlovu, Christopher Vandome, and Louis Harnett O’Meara.

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Nine months have passed since ‘The Foreign Desk’ last reported on the conflict in Ethiopia in episode 395. Andrew Mueller explains the latest events and why a resolution seems a distant possibility.

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In part four of our historical summer series, we travel back to 1979 to examine the Iran Hostage Crisis. Where is the Ayatollah Khomeini going with this? What are President Carter’s options? And how, why, and when did relations between the United States and Iran deteriorate to this perilous point? Andrew Mueller speaks to Ramita Navai, Holly Dagres, Vali Nasr, and Lew Lukens.

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Coronavirus has offered us an opportunity to rethink our travelling habits. But how will we travel in a greener way in the future? ‘The Foreign Desk’ and Michael Booth, our Denmark correspondent, have teamed up with the Nordic Council of Ministers for a series of five special episodes delving deeper into topics of global importance from the region. The fifth episode looks at green transport, as we discover how the Nordics are electrifying everything from ferries to planes, and hear how a certain Swedish environmental campaigner has persuaded her compatriots to shift to long-distance trains.

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In part three of our historical summer series, we travel back in time to 1962 to chart the Cuban Missile Crisis. What does Fidel Castro think he’s playing at? Who is making the decisions in the Kremlin and the White House? And is there any peaceful way out of this? Andrew Mueller speaks to Henry Rees-Sheridan, James Rodgers, Alex von Tunzelmann, and Tom Nichols.

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Venezuela’s president Nicolas Maduro was comfortably re-elected to office in 2018. Or was he? Allegations of a false result have led the UK government to formally recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s official premier despite simultaneously continuing diplomatic relations with Maduro’s administration. Both are trying to access gold reserves held by the Bank of England. The British courts must now make a conclusive decision.

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In part two of our special historical series this summer, we examine the Suez crisis of 1956. Ever since Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser announced his plans to nationalise the Suez Canal, the UK hasn’t looked quite so sure of itself. What does the country think it’s doing? What is Israel’s long game? And how will this impact the UK’s relationship with the United States? Andrew Mueller speaks to Michael Binyon, John Everard, Anshel Pfeffer and Alex von Tunzelmann.

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England has been awash with ugly outbursts of racism during the Euro 2020 football competition and since the national team’s defeat against Italy at the final, it has been directed at the home squad. How was bigotry allowed to fester during the tournament and how are the England players working to combat it? Andrew Mueller explains.

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In part one of our special historical summer series, we travel back in time to 1914 to discuss the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. Who has done this and why? Is this a big deal or not? Or could it possibly become one by accident? Andrew Mueller speaks to Guy de Launey, Quentin Peel and Tamara Scheer.

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