Former UK ambassador Laurie Bristow speaks to Roland and delivers a blunt and unsettling warning about the state of the world and Britain’s place in it. Drawing on more than three decades at the heart of the Foreign Office, including some of the most dangerous postings of modern times, he argues we are living through the most volatile and complex global moment of our lifetimes.

From war returning to Europe and the rise of China, to artificial intelligence, pandemics and the collapse of old assumptions about power, nothing is stable and nothing is simple. Speaking candidly about Vladimir Putin, he explains why the west misread Moscow for years and why there are no easy deals or quick endings ahead.

This is a forensic, unsparing account of a world in turmoil and a challenge to Britain to wake up before it is too late.

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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Have you ever been scammed? If you have, the chances are that it happened somewhere in Asia. These are not the Nigerian prince scams of yesteryear. This is something more complicated, more sophisticated. Often overseen by Chinese criminal gangs, the places where these scams are happening have become hubs for people trafficking, drugs trade, and prostitution.

On today's episode, Venetia speaks to Global Health Security Correspondent Sarah Newey, who has visited Sin City in Laos, a scam centre hotspot. She tells us about what happens inside these compounds and why the Chinese are behind it.

We also hear from political analyst and Myanmar adviser to Crisis Group, Richard Horsey about why power vacuums are creating the perfect conditions for these criminal activity.

Watch the visualised episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6nRBG037FT0

Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

Studio Operator: Meghan Searle

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Today, Britain’s MI6 chief delivered a chilling message: the frontline is now everywhere.

Look around the world and the evidence is overwhelming. From Ukraine to Gaza to Sudan, violence is spreading fast and growing more lethal by the month. New data from ACLED shows that Europe is now the most intense conflict zone on the planet - a fact that should shock anyone in the West still clinging to the idea that war happens elsewhere. Plus, with drone strikes now accounting for more than a quarter of all attacks worldwide, war is only a short flight away.

This is not a bad patch, this is a dangerous new era. And next year will be even bloodier still. The warning signs are screaming at us.

The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data organisation, known as ACLED, has been tracking all of this data and more. Venetia speaks to their CEO Clionadh Raleigh to find out more.

Read ACLED's report: https://acleddata.com/conflict-index-2026-watchlist

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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