The Foreign Desk

After talks to form a new coalition government collapsed, the chancellor of Germany is facing the biggest crisis of her political career. Andrew Mueller asks what’s next for Angela Merkel?

Since the Second World War Japan has been a pacifist nation. But during that time it has built up an impressive defence force that, if it was a fully fledged military, would be the eighth largest in the world. In an ever more unstable region is it time for this global power to fight for itself or will that only add to the instability? Christopher Lord is joined by Alessio Patalano, Yuka Kobayashi and John Nilsson-Wright.

With a recent string of electoral successes under their belts and the all-important mid-terms on their way next year, New York bureau chief Ed Stocker asks if the Democrats finally have something to celebrate.

After an abrupt and significant week in Saudi Arabia, from shock resignations to missile interceptions, Christopher Lord looks at the state of the House of Saud and the reasons behind its recent change of strategy. Also in the studio: Ahmed Al Omran, Jane Kinninmont and Mohammed Khalid Alyahya.

With Donald Trump taking his first tour of Asia, all eyes are on a region wracked with tensions. But would more missiles be helpful or detrimental to the situation?

Xi Jinping is, officially, China’s most powerful leader since Chairman Mao – his doctrine is enshrined in The Party’s constitution forever. But is China really at the start of a ‘new era’? Or have corruption, a slowing economy and the authoritarian regime started to have a negative impact on one of the world’s fastest growing economies? Christopher Lord is joined by Diane Wei Liang, Michael Auslin and Isabel Hilton.

This week marks the centenary of the Balfour Declaration – a short paragraph that paved the way for the establishment of the State of Israel. What did it say and why are we still talking about it 100 years later?

As commander in chief of the US and so-called leader of the free world, President Trump has achieved surprisingly little during his time in office. However, the country is still running and decisions are being made – but by whom? Andrew Mueller is joined by former US Senate aide Tom Nichols, chief national correspondent for ‘The Boston Globe’ Annie Linskey and former mayor of Minneapolis RT Rybak.

For some it’s a sign of weakness, for others an outpouring of genuine emotion – something the public can connect with. Toronto bureau chief Tomos Lewis asks when is it ok for a politician to cry?