India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi and China's President Xi Jinping met at the BRICS summit to address border tensions. The episode discusses the history and current state of their relationship, competition in South Asia, infrastructure projects in Latin America and Africa, India's efforts to reduce dependence on China, and the implications for global powers. Despite structural difficulties, Modi and Jinping maintain a good personal relationship, leaving the question of whether China and India can improve their relationship.

The podcast explores why life expectancy is falling in America, discussing factors such as the Covid pandemic, gun deaths, drug overdose deaths, and inequality in the healthcare system. Experts highlight the impact of these factors on average life expectancy and the urgent need for solutions. They also delve into the growing epidemic of gun violence, particularly among young people, and the devastating consequences of the opioid epidemic. Additionally, the podcast addresses declining health and mortality rates in America, emphasizing the effects of COVID-19 and diseases like cancer and heart disease.

The Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is ageing and his ruling Fatah party is deeply unpopular. There have been protests against him and the Palestinian Authority. Many Palestinians feel the PA has lost legitimacy. There’s no plan for how to choose a successor to Mahmoud Abbas and any candidate is likely to be controversial. There’s a risk that an unpopular replacement may throw the occupied territories into chaos, even violence, and have major implications for the future goals of Palestinian people. Contributors: Dalia Hatuqa, independent Palestinian journalist. Khalil Shikaki, Professor of Political Science and director of the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research. Ahmad Khalidi, political analyst and writer on Palestinian and Middle East political and strategic affairs. Ines Abdel Razak, executive director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy.Presenter: Emily Wither Producer: Louise Clarke Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott Sound engineer: Jack Wood(Photo: Palestinians celebrate vote. Credit: Uriel Sinai/Getty Images)

Delving into the gut, the hosts explain the digestive processes and the gut-brain connection. They explore the impact of gut bacteria on anxiety and depression. The use of probiotic and prebiotic supplements for gut health is discussed, emphasizing the importance of scientific evidence and reaching the large intestine.

Lawmakers in the US explore evidence of extra-terrestrial life, including Tic Tac videos of mysterious objects. They discuss the historical perspective of the UFO phenomenon and the influence of the Cold War and popular culture. Investigative reporter Leslie Kean sheds light on a secret government program studying UFOs. The revelation of the program retrieving non-human materials highlights the importance of scientific investigations. The role of science in studying UFOs is discussed, along with advancements in telescopes and the ethical considerations of detecting extraterrestrial life.

The podcast explores the effectiveness of remote working, cultural differences in attitudes towards remote work, legal considerations and regulations regarding remote working, challenges faced while working from home, the importance of mental health, and the potential of hybrid work environments.

The podcast explores whether Brazil's indigenous population can save the Amazon. It discusses the threats faced by indigenous populations, including exploitation and land invasion. The episode also delves into the Amazon's role in climate change mitigation and the challenges faced in reclaiming indigenous land rights. It highlights the impact of outside influence on the traditional way of life of the Huni Quinn people.

Environmental activists in the UK have disrupted high profile sporting events in an effort to persuade the government to stop oil development. How would stopping oil production impact those countries around the world with economies dependent on oil? Tanya Beckett explores the history of oil, the implications of the Ukraine war for its price, how countries like Nigeria and Norway are dependent on oil revenues, and the challenges facing new oil producers in the global south as they face international efforts to limit new oil development in order to meet international climate targets.Presenter Tanya Beckett Producer Phil Reevell Researcher Matt Toulson Editor Tara McDermott Technical producer Gareth Jones(Industrial offshore oil rig platform on the North Seacoast, UK. Credit Getty images)

South Africa once had the most abundant and cheap electricity on the continent. Now, it is experiencing power blackouts. It’s called loadshedding, the process by which the power company Eskom occasionally reduces the demand for electricity on the national grid.For many South Africans this means no electricity for up to ten hours a day, almost every day. The result is disruption to everyday life, impacting on work, education, sanitation, food and heating. In 1994 Nelson Mandela’s African National Congress party promised a better life for all South Africans. So why is South Africa’s infrastructure crumbling?Contributors: Duma Qgubule, economist and journalist Thomas Mnguni, campaigner with Groundwork Anton Eberhard, professor at the Power Futures Lab at the University of Cape Town Lungile Mashele, energy economistPresented by Audrey Brown Produced by Louise Clarke Researched by Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Edited by Tara McDermott and Tom Bigwood Technical producer Kelly Young Production co-ordinator Brenda Brown(Dressmaker Faieza Caswell sews under candlelight at her workplace in Cape Flats, South Africa. Credit: Esa Alexander/Reuters)

In June 2023 the British government announced a £40 million pound pilot scheme to increase access to specialist weight management services in England -It reads “Using the latest drugs to support people to lose weight will be a game-changer.”The scheme will use prescription drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic, a once weekly injection that slows down the emptying of the stomach and suppresses the hunger hormone in our brains. Both these medications are made of the same of the same drug called Semaglutide.Semaglutide mimics the hormone released by the body when we eat food, helping people feel fuller for longer and suppressing mental chatter about various food cravings. When prescribed alongside diet, physical exercise and behavioural support, the drug can help obese people lose 15% of their body weight.Ozempic has been used to treat sufferers of type 2 diabetes since 2018 when doctors noticed that alongside increasing insulin the drug helped people lose weight. In 2021 the drug was approved as a fat loss injection under the name Wegovy.Since then, stories of the 'fat loss wonder drug' have lit up social media, rumours are rife about who might be using it in Hollywood and international demand has skyrocketed.But it's not meant for shedding a few pounds to fit into your favourite frock. So this week were asking are weight loss drugs the answer to obesity?Contributors: Dr Disha Narang Director of obesity medicine at Northwestern Wake Forest Hospital Adrian Van den Hoven Director General of Medicines for Europe Dr Jena Tronieri Director of Clinical Services at its Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Weight and Eating Disorders at the Perelman School of Medicine Josh Jordy CEO of Eracal Therapeutics a biotech company based in Switzerland.Presenter Charmaine Cozier Producer Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty Editor Tara McDermott Researched by Bisi Adebayo Mixed by Cameron Ward Production Co-ordinator Brenda Brown(Overweight person on scales./Credit: Peter Dazely/Getty images)