Sensemaker

"Killer robots" are already being developed and used by lots of countries. But if these machines are really autonomous, who do we blame if things go wrong? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gambling firms could be forced to ask punters for their payslips in a move to help prevent unaffordable losses. Why's it taken until now? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the story which refuses to leave at the end of the night: the saga of the Downing Street Christmas party. But how much of a hangover could it cause Boris Johnson? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Politicians are promising that this Christmas will be better than the last one. And one man, and his supermarket, are securing shoppers their turkeys... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even though it's more transmissible, there's a chance the new Covid variant might be weaker than others. And that might be because, as the virus mutates, it loses its "fitness"... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Russia is building up troops near its border with Ukraine. Moscow claims there is a growing threat on its western border. It all feels like a return to 2014... why the renewed tensions? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Scotland, the SNP is committed to trying again for a referendum on independence. But timing is everything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oscar Pistorius, South Africa's most famous athlete, was jailed in 2013 for the murder of Reeva Steenkamp. He could soon be released on parole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both Labour and the Conservatives agree the country needs to level up. How we get there is where the parties split. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For almost 50 years, women in the United States have had the right to have an abortion. But a Supreme Court case could put those rights in jeopardy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scientists think the new mutation of Covid-19 could be linked to HIV. How? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can Britain and France stop the lucrative, and deadly, trade in human lives in small boats across the English Channel? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony Hickmott has autism and learning difficulties. For more than 20 years he's been held in a specialist hospital, hours away from his family. His local council blame a lack of other options - how can this be justified?   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Bingham is one of many public figures to accuse the government, civil service, and the media of being a "blob" resistant to reform. Is it really a problem? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Austria brought in its fourth national lockdown and said Covid vaccines will become a legal requirement from early next year. It’s been met with large protests and threats of strike action. Will the UK follow a similar path? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A top Chinese woman tennis player alleged that a senior politician had sexually abused her - then she disappeared. Now Peng Shuai has resurfaced, but is she safe? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bosnia has been held together by a complicated peace deal since its civil war 25 years ago. Is it about to fall apart? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some days, more than 1000 migrants cross the English Channel in small boats. Could the UK and France stop them if they wanted? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Jones is one of the United States' great sources of misinformation and he's made a lot of money from it. This week a court has found him liable by default of defamation. But will it stop him spreading lies in future? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sickle cell disease is a condition which affects Black people, and people from other ethnic minorities. Too many are dying needlessly from it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trapped between Polish guards on one side and Belarusian guards on the other, migrants trapped on Europe's frontier find themselves caught in a lethal geopolitical game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the start of COP, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered a stark warning on the effects of a rise in global temperature. But did anyone listen? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Chinese Communist Party has just passed a landmark new resolution under Xi Jinping. But what's really motivating him? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2016, Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been held hostage in Iran. And to understand why, you need to know about a long-forgotten tank deal, and a debt Britain is refusing to pay... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The culture wars over vaccinating kids against Covid in the US have got so fierce that a Sesame Street character has been dragged into the fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lots of GPs are leaving the profession, and we can't recruit or train new ones fast enough to fill the gaps. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abiy Ahmed, prime minister of Ethiopia, won the Nobel Peace Prize two years ago. How has he ended up accused of war crimes? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boris Johnson tried to save his colleague Owen Paterson from accusations of sleaze. He failed, but by trying he's damaged himself and the reputation of Parliament. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Cumbria, there's a plan for a new coal mine. Should we say no to it for the sake of the planet? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In much of the world, rates of HIV infection are falling. In Russia, they're going through the roof. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

France has decided to return some artefacts from one of its museums which were looted from Benin more than a century ago. Might museums in other western countries have to follow suit? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United Nations’ Climate Change Conference is underway in Glasgow. Whatever it agrees, how do we measure it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The government is under increasing pressure to reintroduce Covid restrictions. Why are they holding off? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation is on the rise, and Rishi Sunak’s high-spending budget could push it up further. Will the Bank of England step in and draw the purse strings? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For a reported £150m, David Beckham has agreed to become the face of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – and an ambassador for the country. It's a move that might put his reputation at risk... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the UK, we're having fewer children than ever before. What's going on? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Facebook has just announced that it is creating 10,000 jobs to make a metaverse. A what? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Covid cases are rising fast in the UK, and the government is under pressure to take steps to slow them down. Is it time for the government to to turn to Plan B? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More workers than ever before are quitting their jobs. Why? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Prevent is the British government's first line of defence against radicalisation and extremism. How does it work? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Outside every huge shipping port in the world there's a queue of ships waiting to unload. What's holding everything up? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Inflation - a rise in the cost of living - used to be a huge problem in the UK. Is it about to become one again? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did an overabundance of caution help cause a Covid crisis among pregnant women? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The UK has left the European Union. Why is trying now to renegotiate the way it left? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund took a controlling stake of Newcastle United for £300m. It’s the most controversial Premier League takeover to date. But who’s pulling all the strings?  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gas bills are rocketing - but there's supposed to be a 'price cap' on them to protect consumers. Why isn't it working? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A British court ruled last week that Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, had used one of the most powerful surveillance tools available to security services to spy on his ex-wife in the middle of a custody case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Russian actor and director are about to become the first to film a movie in space. Why are they doing it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The leak of financial documents known as the Pandora Papers shines a light on 'shell companies' which allow people to hide their wealth. Has the time come for tax authorities to clamp down on them? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Sarah Everard's murder, there are now going to be two separate inquiries into the culture of the Metropolitan Police. What chance do they have of bringing about real change? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.