Armenia is moving closer to Europe politically. The focus of the European Political Community meeting in Yerevan was the country's change of course: After decades of Russian dependence, the loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, and Moscow's lack of protection, Armenia has been increasingly seeking closer ties with the EU and new security policy perspectives since 2024.

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71. Russia: War weariness?

Aired 6 May 2026 • 4 min

Traditionally, Moscow celebrates the end of World War II with a large military parade. But this year it will be smaller: The Kremlin fears Ukrainian drone attacks. Furthermore, there are increasing signs that Putin's Russia is coming under economic, social, and military pressure. A look at the maps.

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72. Eastern Congo: Resource Curse in Kivu

Aired 7 May 2026 • 4 min

Democratic Republic of Congo: President Tshisekedi proposes postponing the presidential elections scheduled for 2028 if the conflict in the east of the country is not resolved by then. War has repeatedly broken out in the two provinces east of Kinshasa – North Kivu with its capital Goma and South Kivu with its capital Bukavu – for decades.

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73. France and Africa: A New Strategy

Aired 11 May 2026 • 4 min

French President Macron has chosen Kenya and its capital Nairobi, home to one of East Africa's largest metropolitan areas, for an Africa-France summit. The summit is intended to demonstrate that Paris is no longer focusing solely on its former colonies, but on the entire continent. France's post-colonial Africa policy is a thing of the past.

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74. Great Britain: A Time of Divisions

Aired 12 May 2026 • 4 min

The recent elections in Great Britain confirm the fragmentation of the political landscape. In the local elections, Reform UK came out on top, followed by the Labour Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Conservatives, and the Greens. This serves as a reminder that the United Kingdom is the result of a unique political construct.

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75. Trump and Xi: A Showdown

Aired 13 May 2026 • 4 min

Given Donald Trump's chaotic governance, China likes to present itself as a neutral and stable state. However, this doesn't prevent the country from discreetly supporting Tehran and Russia, colonizing islands in the South China Sea, and advancing its military buildup. On the occasion of the meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping in Beijing: an assessment.

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76. Hantavirus: Fear of a new pandemic?

Aired 14 May 2026 • 4 min

The hantavirus outbreak on the "MV Hondius" is stirring up unpleasant memories. The passengers, who have since returned to their home countries, were all quarantined under more or less strict conditions. This shows how much fear this incident is triggering: the fear of a pandemic.

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77. Gulf Crisis: The Emirates Targeted

Aired 18 May 2026 • 4 min

Since the Israeli-American offensive, a large part of Iranian retaliation has been directed at the United Arab Emirates: 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, 2,263 drones… The latest attack: a strike against the Barakah nuclear power plant. This provides an opportunity to try to understand why the Emirates are particularly targeted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

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78. Putin in China: A Weak Friend

Aired 19 May 2026 • 4 min

Xi Jinping is portraying Beijing as the center of power: After Donald Trump, he also received Vladimir Putin. The message: Nothing happens globally without China, but strategic proximity lies with Russia. While Moscow is weakened by war and crisis, Beijing's influence is growing – and the balance of power between the two partners is shifting.

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79. Asia: An Aging Population

Aired 20 May 2026 • 4 min

Busan, South Korea's vibrant port city, is facing a demographic collapse: Since 1995, 600,000 people have left the city, and almost half of the remaining 3.2 million inhabitants are over 50. Young people are moving to Seoul – but jobs and opportunities are scarce. This is an example of Asia's rapid demographic change, which poses existential challenges for entire regions.

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80. Lithuania: Air Raid Alert

Aired 21 May 2026 • 4 min

In the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, members of parliament (the Seimas) were informed via loudspeaker on Wednesday of an imminent aerial threat, prompting them to seek shelter. Residents received a message on their mobile phones. The reason was the possible incursion of drones from neighboring Belarus.

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81. War in Sudan: The Parties to the Conflict

Aired 25 May 2026 • 4 min

Don't forget Sudan: The country has been at war for more than three years. 15 million people have been displaced, tens of thousands killed – according to the UN, one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. The conflict also highlights the growing importance of drones. According to the UN, drones have killed 880 civilians in Sudan since last January.

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82. Belarus: Ukraine worried

Aired 26 May 2026 • 4 min

The Orechnik hypersonic missile that struck Kyiv on Sunday was launched from Belarus. This is likely part of a new Kremlin strategy: With the Russian army bogged down in the east, it is attempting to regain the upper hand by opening a northern front with Minsk's support. Belarus, Russia's backyard, has not always been so compliant.

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83. Abraham Accords: Trump, the Pope and the Catholics

Aired 27 May 2026 • 4 min

In 2020, Donald Trump helped normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries. Now, as the Middle East is shaken by multiple conflicts, the American president is demanding that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and Turkey do the same. A statement that disregards the reality of the dividing lines that currently run through the Middle East.

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84. Climate: Cities and Heat

Aired 28 May 2026 • 4 min

Temperature records have just been broken across Western Europe. These extreme heat waves, which are becoming increasingly frequent due to human-induced climate change, are felt even more intensely in urban areas. This presents a good opportunity to look at cities around the world that are adapting and finding solutions to lower temperatures.

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85. Lebanon: Is Israel Pushing Beyond the Limits?

Aired 1 June 2026 • 4 min

The Israeli flag now flies over the Beaufort Castle in southern Lebanon. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has hailed the move as a “decisive turning point,” the UN Security Council has convened an emergency meeting amid growing international criticism. France and other countries have condemned the continued military operations, with Paris stating that “nothing can justify the prolongation of Israeli military actions in Lebanon.”

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86. Global competition in pharmaceuticals

Aired 2 June 2026 • 4 min

The annual ASCO congress in Chicago, a leading event in cancer research, highlighted U.S. breakthroughs in pancreatic cancer treatment as well as the rapid rise of Chinese biotechnology. China and India now compete directly with the United States and Europe in the global pharmaceutical market.

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87. Artificial Intelligence: France Takes the Lead

Aired 3 June 2026 • 4 min

If foreign investors choose France to build data centers, it is notably because of its nuclear power, which ensures cheaper electricity regardless of the international context. AI requires a lot of electricity to operate. Today, this industry sits at the heart of all geopolitical challenges. Let’s pull out our maps.

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88. Morocco: The Continent’s Industrial Champion

Aired 4 June 2026 • 4 min

According to the African Development Bank, Morocco became the continent’s industrial champion in 2026, overtaking South Africa. Positioning itself as a major port and logistics hub, the country has successfully attracted new investors and manufacturers, particularly in the automotive and aerospace sectors. This provides an opportunity to better understand Morocco’s strategy of international openness and integration, from the reign of Hassan II to that of Mohammed VI.

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89. Middle East: 100 Days of War

Aired 8 June 2026 • 4 min

Despite the "ceasefire" between the United States and Iran, the situation seems to be slipping out of Donald Trump's control: Israel continues to strike Beirut’s southern suburbs, Hezbollah continues to launch rockets and drones at northern Israel, Iran fires ballistic missiles at the Jewish state, which in turn strikes Iran again in response... The Middle East has rarely appeared more unstable.

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90. Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un: an alliance of mutual interest

Aired 9 June 2026 • 4 min

Xi Jinping’s visit to North Korea serves several purposes: to showcase China’s diplomatic power, but also to remind Vladimir Putin that the Pyongyang-Moscow alliance, strengthened in the context of the war in Ukraine, must not overshadow the Pyongyang-Beijing relationship. For his part, Kim Jong-un benefits from playing both sides - Russian and Chinese.

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91. Bahrain: The End of Calm

Aired 10 June 2026 • 4 min

Following the destruction of an Apache helicopter, Donald Trump decided to strike Iran once again. Iran, in turn, targeted several countries in the region, including Bahrain. This discreet Gulf monarchy has hosted the US Fifth Fleet for years, something long seen as its “life insurance.” But today, on the contrary, Bahrain is no longer spared from war.

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92. Episode 92

Aired 11 June 2026 • 4 min

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93. Episode 93

Aired 15 June 2026 • 4 min

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94. Episode 94

Aired 16 June 2026 • 4 min

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95. Episode 95

Aired 17 June 2026 • 4 min

Other seasons of Mapping the World Essentials

Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5