As world leaders gather in New York for the UN General Assembly, Gideon Rachman speaks to António Guterres, secretary-general of the UN. Guterres explains why he thinks the organisation remains indispensable - as the world struggles to get to grips with an array of daunting global challenges - including war and climate change.

Clip: The Guardian

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World must exit ‘highway to climate hell’, UN boss warns, as records are again broken

China and US push each other on priorities for UN COP29 climate talks

‘Enfeebled’ UN fights for relevance in divided world

Alarm raised on sea level rise and ocean warming as Pacific Islands leaders meet

Nobel winners hit out at removal of fossil fuels from draft UN pact

China and US push each other on priorities for UN COP29 climate talks

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner and Simon Panayi.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Ukraine’s incursion into the Kursk region of Russia represented another sign that Vladimir Putin’s invasion is not going to plan. But numerous setbacks, and the sanctions regime imposed by the west, have so far failed to loosen the Russian leader’s grip on power. Gideon discusses why Russians are still backing Putin with Alexander Gabuev of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. Clip: Deutsche Welle

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Vladimir Putin visits Mongolia despite international arrest warrant

US accuses China of directly supporting Russia’s ‘war machine’

The Kremlin princelings cementing Putin’s rule

Ukraine’s battle against Russia in maps: latest updates

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Gideon talks to Gabriel Gatehouse about his new book, The Coming Storm: A Journey into the Heart of the Conspiracy Machine. They discuss the US Republican party’s embrace of far-fetched conspiracy theories, and how these are being deployed in the upcoming presidential election. Clip: CNN

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Conspiracy theories are being baked into American politics

A mind-infecting virus: the dark dreams of QAnon

Misinformed about misinformation

America’s election year battle over who polices online disinformation

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Gideon talks to Takako Hikotani of the Asia Society Policy Institute about how Japanese attitudes towards security have changed in light of the war in Ukraine and China’s more aggressive stance in the South China Sea. Clips: CNA

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Japan says China’s airspace incursion ‘totally unacceptable’

Never a zealot, Fumio Kishida showed a surprising fearlessness

China rejects Nato accusations of supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine

US and Japan announce ‘most significant’ upgrade to military alliance

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Ben Hall, the FT’s Europe editor, discusses Ukraine’s Kursk incursion with Andriy Zagorodnyuk, former defence minister and chair of the Centre for Defence Strategies in Kyiv. What is the strategy behind the move? How could it affect the fighting elsewhere on the frontline and could it prove to be a turning point in the war? Clips: Global News; France 24

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Ukraine wants to create ‘buffer zone’ with Kursk incursion, says Zelenskyy

‘People are horrified’: Moscow turns to reluctant conscripts to defend Kursk

How Ukraine pulled off its biggest gamble: invading Russia

Ukraine’s battle against Russia in maps: latest updates

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Presented by Benn Hall. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Michael Stott, the FT’s Latin America editor, talks to Phil Gunson, a Caracas-based senior analyst for the International Crisis Group and Michael Shifter, former president of the Inter-American Dialogue think-tank in Washington, about the crisis in Venezuela. How long can Maduro cling to power, having so obviously lost the July election. Clips: Channel 4 News, The Economic Times

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How Venezuela’s Maduro is clinging on to power

Venezuela ramps up fear campaign after disputed presidential vote

Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s contested president

Nicolás Maduro blocks access to X amid feud with Elon Musk

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Presented by Michael Stott. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Simon Panayi.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Two assassinations carried out by Israel, one in Beirut and one in Tehran, have brought threats of retaliation from Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hizbollah. Andrew England, the FT’s Middle East editor, discusses whether the latest escalation can be contained with Emile Hokayem, a Middle East expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Clips: AP; CBS

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Netanyahu is prepared to escalate in the Middle East

How all-out war between Israel and its adversaries might play out

Hamas picks Yahya Sinwar as new political leader

Iran will ‘definitely’ retaliate against Israel for killing of Haniyeh, says new president

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Presented by Andrew England. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Sean McGarrity.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

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Despite some early setbacks the Paris Olympics is proving a big success. The French have set aside their initial doubts and are enjoying a breather from the disagreements that have torn apart the political classes. Gideon asks Sylvie Kauffmann, editorial director of Le Monde, how long the truce can last. Clips: BBC

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Olympics organisers apologise as risqué ceremony sparks backlash

Inside France’s Olympic medals factory

A bold leap towards a leaner and greener Olympics

Fake Games, cyber threats and disinformation: Russia reacts to sporting isolation

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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner.

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.