The Briefing Room

Why have some countries run mass-testing operations when others, including the UK, have not? David Aaronovitch examines how South Korea and Germany have approached the coronavirus pandemic and what they have learned from the data they've gathered. He also looks at how the hunt for a vaccine is progressing and who is in the race, as well as the role existing anti-viral drugs might play in reducing the threat posed by Covid-19. Contributors: Professor Devi Sridhar, Chair of Global Public Health, University of Edinburgh Dr Jerome Kim, Director General of the International Vaccine Institute Dr Philipp Zanger, Head of the Institute of Hygiene, Infection Control and Prevention at the Rhineland-Palatinate Agency for Consumer and Public Protection Professor Adrian Hill, Director of the Jenner Institute Professor Johan Neyts, virologist, University of Leuven, Belgium. Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Darin Graham & Rosamund Jones Editor: Jasper Corbett

The UK fishing industry will be central to EU trade negotiations, starting soon. David Aaronovitch explores why a sector, which contributes very little to the overall economy, has gained such political and cultural importance. He asks why there is such a mismatch between the kind of fish we catch and the kind of fish we eat. When did cod become so central to our diets? With his guests, he also traces the industry's relationship with the EU down the decades. To what extent did the imposition of EU quotas reduce the amount of fish UK boats catch? And should fishing now expect a 'Brexit bounce'? Contributors: Hazel Curtis, director of Seafish Nick Fisher, fisherman and author John Lichfield, journalist Dr Jill Wakefield, University of Warwick. Dr Bryce Stewart, University of York Producers: Kirsteen Knight, Jordan Dunbar and Rosamund Jones. Editor: Penny Murphy.

Sinn Féin's historic result in the Irish election has the potential to change the face of Irish politics - dominated for the past hundred years by the two main parties, Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. So what lies behind the rise of Sinn Féin? And to what extent has it put its past association with violent republicanism behind it? David Aaronovitch is joined by guests including: Naomi O'Leary correspondent at Politico Europe Brian Feeney, historian and author Professor Roy Foster, professor of history at Oxford University. Dr Margaret O'Callaghan, political analyst at Queens University, Belfast Dr Theresa Reidy, political scientist at University College Cork Producer: Jordan Dunbar Editor: Jasper Corbett -

In recent months convicted terrorists just released from prison have launched knife attacks which have maimed and killed - the latest one on Streatham High Street in South London. Both attackers were shot dead by police officers. David Aaronovitch asks why events like these are happening, and whether we are releasing convicted terrorists too early. The government is promising swift action, but will the proposed changes make us safer? He asks what we know about the success of de-radicalisation programmes in our prisons and whether there are lessons we should be learning from other countries. Contributors: Nazir Afzal, former Chief Prosecutor Andrew Silke, Professor of Terrorism, Risk and Resilience at the Cranfield Forensic Institute Lord David Anderson QC, former Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Legislation in the United Kingdom Dominic Casciani, BBC Home Affairs Correspondent Producers: Rosamund Jones, Kirsteen Knight, Jordan Dunbar and Tom Wright Editor: Jasper Corbett

For the first time in decades the UK will now negotiate its own trade deals. David Aaronovitch explores our options and likely outcomes. Free trade deals can take years and require hundreds of highly skilled staff in what are described as the biggest games of poker you can play. Former US trade negotiators reveal a world of bluffs, plays and tapped phone calls. How should the UK should play its hand with the US, EU and rest of the world as we exit the European Union? There are losers in every trade deal, how prepared is the UK to cope with that? Contributors: Soumaya Keynes, trade and globalisation editor, The Economist Charles Grant, Centre for European Reform Ron Sorini, Sorini, Samet and Associates Wendy Cutler, Asia Society Policy Institute Roderick Abbot, former senior trade official with the European Commission and trade negotiator Produced by Rosamund Jones, Kirsteen Knight and Jordan Dunbar Editor: Jasper Corbett