Roundtable

Europe has been baking in extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 40°C in parts of France, Spain, Italy and Germany. More than 1,300 deaths have been linked to the extreme heat sweeping across the continent. As heatwaves become more frequent and intense, can Europe adapt? Joining Enda Brady for this discussion: Margaret Harris Former World Health Organization Spokesperson Jonathan Stone Envi...

Andy Burnham is the favourite to replace Keir Starmer as the new UK Prime Minister after he resigned. Despite winning a landslide victory less than two years ago, Labour has been trailing Nigel Farage's Reform UK in the polls for months. Starmer's policy U-turns, falling popularity and decision to appoint Epstein-linked Peter Mandelson as UK Ambassador to the US all contributed to his downfall. La...

The UK voted to leave the European Union ten years ago in a shock result which led to the resignation of then Prime Minister David Cameron. The leave campaign promised economic growth, control over Britain's borders and more funding available for the UK's health service. But ten years on, how did the Brexit vote change the UK and its place in the world - and were there any benefits to Brexit? Join...

The state of UK's defence has been exposed after its minister resigned over insufficient funds being allocated. Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte has demanded allies produce 'credible' spending plans at next month's summit in Ankara With Nato demanding greater military investment and UK borders facing new tests, will the government's defence investment plan be enough to keep the UK safe and keep N...

Relations between Poland and Ukraine have become strained after President Zelenskyy named a military unit after controversial World War Two fighters, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Although regarded as heroes in some parts of Ukraine, in Poland they are remembered for massacring one hundred thousand ethnic Poles in what is now Ukraine. The UPA also collaborated with the Nazis during World War...

El Nino weather patterns have officially begun and scientists warn it could unleash a new wave of record extreme heat across the globe. Forecasters suggest this could be one of the strongest El Nino events on record, raising concerns over the impact on food production and economies. Climate change means the world is significantly hotter since the last 'super' El Nino case in 1998 - so how is this...

France is expanding its nuclear deterrence strategy to protect Europe against Russian aggression amid doubts over the United States' commitment to the continent. Nine European allies, including the UK, Germany and Poland have agreed to join the plan, signalling a major shift in Europe's defence strategy. With Norway the latest country to sign up, France is positioning itself as a central pillar of...

Finland's economy has lagged behind other EU countries in recent years weighed down by high unemployment, a housing downturn and rising public debt. Real GDP has still not fully recovered from the 2008 financial crisis with further setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine. But the first quarter of this year has seen signs of its economy improving. Could Finland now be emerging from d...

The United States is sending an additional 5,000 troops to Poland after President Trump overruled the Pentagon and his Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth who had announced plans to ditch the deployment. President Trump cited his strong relationship with the Polish President Karol Nawrocki who he endorsed when he ran for office last May. The move to send more troops to Poland comes as the US reduces it...

Oil prices have been fluctuating since start of the US-Israeli war on Iran three months ago, hitting a four-year high of $126 in April. How long before prices return to normal or are they at the 'point of no return'? The partial closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the conflict in the middle east has severely disrupted global oil and gas supplies. Governments are burning through emergency reserv...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been wooing his European counterparts to expand trade and economic ties with the West. The six-day tour comes a few months after the EU and India penned a free trade agreement, lifting tariffs on a large amount of exports. This time the green transition, technology, and energy security were at the centre of discussions. Modi’s visit began in the Netherlands,...

The Kentucky Republican primary was the most expensive in US political history, with around $32 million spent, much of it backed by pro-Israel lobbying organisations. Congressman Thomas Massie was defeated by Trump ally Ed Gallrein as the race evolved beyond a local political contest into a broader struggle over the direction and identity of the Republican Party. Massie had openly opposed military...

The UK has had six leaders in the past ten years and now Keir Starmer's position is looking untenable after disastrous local election results and many of his own MPs calling for him to step down with rival circling. Why has there been such a high turnover of Prime Minister's after several long-term leaders serving our more than their five-year terms. In a country once seen as a model of political...

The European Union has announced sanctions on illegal Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank - but do the measures go far enough or are they merely symbolic? Expansion has increased since Benjamin Netanyahu returned to power as the head of a pro-settler right-wing government. But with the UN documenting about 1,800 settler attacks in 2025 alone, will these sanctions make any difference? Joinin...

Romania’s government has fallen. Parliament voted overwhelmingly to remove Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan. The vote exposed a stunning political split. The Social Democrats, once central to Bolojan’s coalition, joined forces with the far-right nationalist AUR party to bring down the government. Their shared target was the government’s austerity programme, which critics say has deepened economic hards...

The World Health Organization has warned global cases of the Hantavirus will probably rise. The virus has already killed at least three people on the MV Hondius cruise ship at the centre of the outbreak. The rare Andes strain of Hantavirus, found mainly in the Americas, is the only known variant capable of human-to-human transmission. The incident has renewed fears over how quickly rare zoonotic d...

On this episode of Roundtable, we look at the feud between Friedrich Merz and President Trump after the German Chancellor said America was being "humiliated" by Iran. In response President Trump has announced the removal of 5,000 US troops from Germany and threatened to impose extra tariffs on EU car exports. After a year in power, Merz is struggling to revive his country’s stalling economy and hi...

In this episode, Roundtable looks at the US withdrawal of 5,000 Germany as Washington looks to scale down its military presence in Europe. President Trump is also considering taking troops out of Spain and Italy following criticism over the US-Israeli war on Iran. Is this the latest sign of a NATO break-up? Joining Enda Brady for the discussion: Riccardo Alcaro Political scientist and head of the...

In this episode, Roundtable unpacks King Charles’ historic four-day trip to America as part of its 250th anniversary celebration. On his first official visit to the United States, the King addressed Congress and underlined the enduring UK-US ties, stating that both nations always find ways to come together.  The trip comes at a tense time for transatlantic relations with the US President repe...

In this episode, Roundtable looks at Scotland’s energy dilemma. Scots face soaring bills in a resource-rich nation, as the US-Israeli war on Iran pushes up prices.  With an election days away, voters are split between backing renewables and ramping up North Sea drilling. As reserves decline, can green energy replace oil wealth and finally cut bills? Joining Enda Brady for the discussion: Jame...

In this episode, Roundtable explores the growing divide between Israel and the EU over the genocide on Gaza and war in Lebanon. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia are pushing to suspend a major EU-Israel trade deal, while Germany and Italy are blocking this move.  So, is this a temporary fracture or the point of no return for EU-Israel relations? Joining Enda Brady for the discussion: Pablo Calderon...

European nations are looking at a NATO without the US if President Trump follows through on his threats to walk away. Trump is furious at NATO members for refusing to join the war on Iran and assist in the Strait of Hormuz. It has prompted European allies to accelerate a fallback defence plan in case the US leaves. The idea is a ‘European Nato’ where leadership would come from within the continent...

In this episode, Roundtable looks at how close Europe is to running out of jet fuel and how this may impact the upcoming summer holidays. The head of the global energy watchdog IEA is warning that Europe has only six weeks supply of jet fuel left before shortages will hit the continent if disruption to traffic in the Strait of Hormuz does not improve. Flight tickets are set to rise and airlines ar...

In this episode, Roundtable looks at the future of Bulgaria after its election of an allegedly “pro-Russian” Prime Minister. The country - which is a key NATO and EU ally, strategically located on the Black Sea - has long battled with endemic corruption. But after decades of shaky coalitions and political infighting, Bulgarian voters have rallied around the former President Rumen Radev. He’s promi...

In this episode, Roundtable looks at Switzerland’s upcoming referendum on capping its population at 10 million. The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, the SVP, which is warning of a ‘population explosion’. The current number of people living in Switzerland is nine million. Supporters argue a limit is essential to tackle growing pressures such as housing shortages...