The Briefing Room

The government wants hundreds of thousands of over 50s to return the workforce as Britain mounts an economic recovery. More than half million people in that age bracket have left work since 2019. Will the promise of a 'midlife MOT' encourage people to come back to work? And do employers want them?Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:Torsten Bell, Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation Mike Crowhurst, Director at Public First Tony Wilson, Director Institute for Employment Studies Bee Boileau, a research economist in the retirement, saving and ageing sector at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, James Kirkup, Director of the Social Market Foundation Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Daniel Gordon and Ben Carter Production Coordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

The next round of rail strikes look set to compound long-running problems with Britain's railways. But the problems on the network go far beyond this spate of industrial action. David Aaronvitch asks the experts in The Briefing Room this week the reasons why our rail network has acquired such a reputation for unreliability, and what can be done to put it right. Contributors: Christian Wolmar Mark Smith Jennifer Williams Gareth DennisProducers: Kirsteen Knight Ben Carter Daniel GordonProduction Coordinators: Siobhan Reed Sophie HillSound mix: Rod FarquharEditor: Richard VadonImage: Train timetable board Credit: Martin Pope via Getty

At the end of 2022, with winter approaching, there were warnings right across Europe of an impending energy crisis. There was talk of potential electricity blackouts. But today, in the depths of that same winter, why are energy storage facilities well topped up and prices of oil and gas falling instead? David Aaronovitch finds out from the experts with him in The Briefing Room this week.Contributors: Nathalie Thomas Javier Blas Kate Mulvany Sir Dieter HelmProducers: Kirsteen Knight Ben Carter Daniel GordonProduction Coordinator: Siobhan ReedSound mix: Rod FarquharEditor: Richard VadonPhoto: Vertigo3d/Getty Images

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has promised 'urgent action' to tackle the NHS crisis. The experts in The Briefing Room with David Aaronovitch this week consider what can be done to tackle problems such as: chronic staff shortages; the thousands of 'bed blockers' and the backlog of people waiting for surgical procedures. Contributors: Annabelle Collins, Senior Correspondent, Health Service Journal Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive, Nuffield Trust Jill Manthorpe, Professor of Social Work at King's College London Mark Pearson, Health Expert, OECD Sally Warren, Director of Policy, King's FundProducers: Daniel Gordon Rosamund Jones Kirsteen Knight Editor: Richard Vadon Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar Production co-ordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross, Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

David Aaronovitch and a panel of experts evaluate the current situation in Ukraine and explore how the war might evolve in the remaining winter months and into the Spring. Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:Michael Clarke, Professor of Defence studies and Specialist Advisor to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London Samantha de Bendern, Associate Fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House Shashank Joshi, Defence Editor of The EconomistProducers: Ben Carter, Dan Gordon and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Richard Vadon Studio manager: James Beard Production co-ordinators: Helena Warwick-Cross, Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

For years, the major problem of world demography was thought to be the risk of over-population. Now, it's the fact that the global population is ageing fast.According to the United Nations, the number of people over 65 is set to double between now and 2050, to 1.6 billion people. And, at the same time, the birth rate in most of the world is falling, often sharply. This demographic shift comes with huge social and economic implications. What are they, and what can we do to cope with them? Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:Stephanie Hegarty, BBC Global Population Correspondent Marco Valerio Lo Prete, Economics Editor at Italian State Broadcaster RAI and author of “Italians: The Unhappy Few” Robert Kelly., Professor of Political Science at Pusan National University, South Korea Camilla Cavendish, Senior Fellow at Harvard University Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development at the Oxford Martin SchoolProducers: Simon Watts, Kirsteen Knight and Octavia Woodward Editor: Richard Vadon Studio manager: Rod Farquhar Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

The first mission in NASA’s Artemis space programme returned to Earth earlier this month, after a journey of over 1.3 million miles around the Moon and back. Over next few years NASA will launch Artemis missions two and three, with the help of the European and Japanese space agencies, as well as Elon Musk's Space X. The aim is eventually to build a permanent base for scientific - and possibly economic development - on the Moon. Meanwhile, China is pursuing a lunar exploration programme of its own. So why is the Moon back in fashion? And is the world in the grip of a new space race?Joining David Aaronovitch in the Briefing Room are: Rebecca Morelle, BBC Science Correspondent John Zarnecki, Emeritus Professor of Space Sciences at the Open University Jack Burns, Professor of Astrophysics and Professor of Physics, University of Colorado Boulder Joanne Wheeler, Space Lawyer Bleddyn Bowen, Associate Professor of International Relations, Space Policy/Warfare Expert, University of LeicesterProducers: Daniel Gordon, Kirsteen Knight and Ben Carter. Editor: Simon Watts. Studio Manager: Neil Churchill. Production co-ordinator Sophie Hill.PHOTO CREDIT: The launch of NASA's Artemis 1 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida (Getty Images)

In the 1970s the UK was gripped by double-digit inflation driven by energy price shocks. Inflation was controlled by raising interest rates as a recession raged. And that prompted workers to demand higher wages. Sound familiar? This week and next will see rail workers, ambulance staff, nurses, bus drivers, baggage handlers, highway workers, Border Force, driving examiners and the Royal Mail all striking on various days. As things stand, the prospects of a resolution don’t look promising. So are we heading back to the 70s and another "Winter of Discontent’?Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:Keith Laybourn, Professor of History at the University of Huddersfield Alex Bryson, Professor of Quantitative Social Science at UCL's Social Research Institute Gemma Tetlow, Chief Economist at the Institute for Government Chris Giles, Economics Editor at the Financial Times Producers: Ben Carter and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Simon Watts Studio manager: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Sophie Hill and Siobhan Reed

Earlier this week Sir Keir Starmer announced that Labour would abolish the House of Lords in its first term if he is elected prime minister. He’d replace it with a new, elected second chamber. Some Tories were quick to ridicule the idea and even some Labour peers have urged Starmer to focus on more urgent domestic reforms rather than get caught up in a ‘constitutional quagmire’. But how would Starmer's plan work in reality and is it a good idea?Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:Professor Andrew Blick, Professor of Politics and Contemporary History at Kings College London Meg Russell, Professor of British and Comparative Politics and Director of the Constitution Unit Patrick Diamond, Associate Professor of Public Policy at Queen Mary, University of London Jess Sargeant, Senior Researcher at The Institute for Government Producers: Ben Carter, Kirsteen Knight and Daniel Gordon Editor: Simon Watts Studio manager: James Beard Production co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed and Sophie Hill

Chants of ‘Xi Jinping step down’ were heard on the lips of some demonstrators in China last weekend. A rare example of dissent against the Chinese leader. The cause of the protestors fury is pretty clear – nearly three years of the government’s zero-Covid policy has proved too much to bear for many Chinese.The Chinese Communist Party acted quickly by sending police to protest sites and increasing online censorship. But on Tuesday some local health officials began suggesting that they needed to lift lockdowns ‘as quickly as possible’.Will that be enough to prevent further protests in China, and how will Xi Jinping and his government respond to recent events? Joining David Aaronovitch in The Briefing Room are:David Rennie, Beijing bureau chief at The Economist Kerry Allen, Chinese media analyst at BBC News Dr Yu Jie, senior research fellow on China in the Asia-Pacific programme at Chatham House Professor Steven Tsang, director at SOAS China Institute Producers: Ben Carter, Kirsteen Knight and Daniel Gordon Editor: Simon Watts Studio manager: Graham Puddifoot Production co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed & Helena Warwick-Cross