The Briefing Room

Housing charity Shelter’s latest figures show that homelessness has risen rapidly in the last year. In England, 279,400 people are living in temporary accommodation - an increase of 14% - most of whom are families. And the government’s own figures reveal that almost half (47%) of families who are homeless in temporary accommodation have been there for more than two years. Councils have a legal duty to house families and people who are vulnerable if they lose their homes, but the acute shortage of affordable homes means they are having to rely on temporary accommodation for long periods. So what can be done to fix the growing numbers who find themselves homeless?David Aaronovitch is joined by the following expert guests: Christine Whitehead, Housing Economist, London School of Economics Rachelle Earwaker, Senior Economist, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Matthew Wilkins, Head of Value for Money, Centre for Homelessness ImpactProduction team: Kirsteen Knight, Alex Lewis and Sophie Eastaugh Production Co-ordinators: Jacqui Johnson and Sophie Hill Sound: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

Legalizing assisted dying in the UK is debated by experts from Oxford University and Erasmus University in Rotterdam. They discuss distinctions between euthanasia and assisted suicide, the role of the Director of Public Prosecutions, evolving views of medical professionals, public attitudes, eligibility criteria, and lessons from the Netherlands on transparency and autonomy.

The start of Ukraine’s counter-offensive against occupying Russian forces was hailed as the breakthrough moment of the war so far. Now six months on, we ask what happened?The Secretary General of NATO has said we should be ‘prepared for bad news’ and the White House has warned that the US is running out of time and money to fund the war. In this week's Briefing Room with David Aaronovitch we find out why things haven’t progressed as hoped and how much Ukraine’s key backers still support the war.Joining David to discuss are: Shashank Joshi - Defence Editor at The Economist Michael Clarke - Professor of Defence studies and Specialist Advisor to the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy Karin Von Hippel - Director General, Royal United Services Institute Prof. Dr. Daniela Schwarzer - Executive Board member of the Bertelsmann Stiftung, a German foreign policy think tank based in BerlinProduction: Kirsteen Knight and Alex Lewis Production Co-ordinators: Jacqui Johnson and Sophie Hill Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

UK net migration hit a record 745,000 in 2022 according to recently revised figures from the Office for National Statistics.That means the numbers coming to live in the UK were almost three quarters of a million more than those leaving.Reducing the numbers of people entering the country has long been a government priority with famous promises to reduce it to “tens of thousands”. In a post-Brexit era it had been assumed that the figures would naturally decline, but that hasn’t been the case. David Aaronovitch invites you into his briefing room to discover what these numbers mean for the UK.He’s joined by: Jay Lindop, Director, Office for National Statistics, Centre for International Migration Heather Rolfe, Director of Research and Relationships at the think tank British Future. Madeline Sumption, Director of Migration Observatory, University of OxfordProduction: Sally Abrahams, Kirsteen Knight, Alex Lewis Production Co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson + Sophie Hill Sound: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

In recent weeks, and for obvious reasons, all eyes have been on Gaza. But more Palestinians live in the West Bank, the other Palestinian territory, and the area is critical forany chances of durable peace. Or to an expansion of the violence. So what is happening there right now? What is likely to happen? And does it entail more disaster or hold out the prospect of a settlement? David Aaronovitch talks to Dr Anne Irfan, historian of the modern Middle East at University College London, Dalia Hatuqa, independent journalist specialising in Palestinian-Israeli affairs, Anshel Pfeffer, senior correspondent for Haaretz and Israel correspondent for The Economist, and Dr Louise Kettle, assistant professor of international relations at the University of Nottingham and associate fellow at RUSI.Production: Alex Lewis, Kirsteen Knight, Sally Abrahams Production Co-ordinator: Jacqui Johnson Sound: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

The Briefing Room discusses the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. Guests analyze the evidence surrounding the Gaza hospital blast and the possibility of an Israeli ground offensive. They also explore Joe Biden's visit to Israel, Hezbollah's role in Iran's strategy, and the potential for achieving peace in the conflict. The need for international involvement and ensuring a realistic life for the people of Gaza after the war are also discussed.

The podcast explores Hamas's deadly attack on Israel, discussing its motivations and consequences. It examines the emergence and rise of Hamas as a counterbalance to the PLO, its leadership and organization, and the failures and challenges in Israel's Gaza operation. The alternative to destroying Hamas through invasion and occupation is also discussed, along with the recent changes in the Israeli government and the formation of a war management cabinet.

David Aaronovitch and guests talk about what a second Trump presidency might mean for America's relationship with the world and discuss what countries are doing to prepare. Guests:Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America correspondent Inu Manak, fellow for trade policy at the Council on Foreign Relations Sir Lawrence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King's College London Elizabeth Saunders, Professor and Director of the Mortara Center for International StudiesProduction: Ben Carter, Claire Bowes and Sally Abrahams Production co-ordinator: Sophie Hill and Jacqui Johnson Sound: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

The murder of a Canadian Sikh sparks a diplomatic bust-up between Canada and India, revealing India's relationship with the West. The podcast explores the assassination of an activist advocating for an independent Sikh state and discusses the accusations against India for the assassination. It also delves into the Sikh population distribution globally, the involvement of Sikh farmers in the Indian farmers movement, and India's foreign policy in relation to China and the West.

Guests Paul Johnson, Mehreen Khan, and Torsten Bell discuss the challenges of managing the UK's national debt, increasing taxes, the financial implications of the NHS long-term workforce plan, the cost and benefits of the UK's net zero plans, aligning economic policy with market interests and voter demands, and the strategy behind economic promises in UK election campaigns.