The Foreign Desk

Worldwide responses to Covid-19 have been robust: flight suspensions, travel restrictions and quarantines. There has already been a severe economic impact. The political impacts will take longer to become apparent. How are different governments responding? What have we learnt about what works and what doesn’t? How wary should we be of overreaction? Andrew Mueller is joined by Steve Tsang, Dr Chris Smith, Dr Sally Leivesley and Raffaello Pantucci.

This week, Malaysia’s prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, resigned at age 94 – and then took it back. Andrew Mueller looks into what might lie behind Mohamad’s apparent change of heart.

A nine-year civil war has brought immense suffering upon the Syrian people. But this has never been only a Syrian conflict. Aside from the fighting between Syria’s government and Syrian rebel groups, the war has drawn in Russia, Turkey, Iran and the US, among others. Earlier this week, Turkey and Russia failed to reach an agreement on a ceasefire in Idlib. What are all the regional players fighting for? And is there any real chance of any of them getting it?

As Russia puts more pressure on Belarus, might tension between the two neighbours result in conflict?

Last Saturday’s general election in the Republic of Ireland ended a solid, century-old political duopoly. Sinn Fein, the party best known as the political wing of the IRA, won more votes than Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. How and why did this happen, and what happens now? Andrew Mueller is joined by Naomi O'Leary, Pat Leahy and Siobhan Fenton.

The president of El Salvador stormed parliament at the weekend surrounded by armed troops. Opponents have accused him of attempting a coup d’etat. Andrew Mueller asks why someone already in charge would feel such a manoeuvre was necessary.

Burkina Faso has its share of problems – not least a growing number of attacks by jihadist groups. But with a weak government and underfunded security forces, what options does the country have? Will further French military support actually help? Andrew Mueller is joined by Mahamoudou Savadogo, Hannah Armstrong and Bakary Sambe.

The true story of Mad Mike Hoare is a throwback to a time when foreign policy could be made by a planeload of middle-aged white guys with guns taking over entire countries. Although this business model is now – thankfully – frowned upon, it has by no means disappeared. Andrew Mueller discusses the mercenary’s legacy.

But for how much longer? Two hundred years after humans first glimpsed Antarctica, it remains a diplomatic anomaly, designated for science. Could the only continent on which a war has never been fought become less peaceful? Andrew Mueller is joined by Joseph Cook, Camilla Nichol and Klaus Dodds.

No. No, it won’t. But that’s only if one assumes that the point of the plan is to actually provide a workable solution that suits both Israel and Palestine. Andrew Mueller looks at what could really be behind the so-called deal of the century.