The Newsmakers Video: Recent Episodes
TRT World
With in-depth reports and strong, unfiltered debates - The Newsmakers examine the people and the stories that are shaping our lives.
Joe Biden has announced his bid for re-election in 2024, despite declining approval ratings and being the oldest president in US history. Given the lack of significant challengers from within his own party and the possibility of facing Donald Trump as the Republican nominee, can he secure a second term? Guests: Candice KerestanInternational Chair of Democrats Abroad Adolfo FrancoDonald Trump’s Former Campaign Lawyer Iwan MorganEmeritus Professor of US studies at University College London
Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, launched a heated verbal attack on Ukraine during a recent UN council meeting in Moscow. The West responded by condemning Russia's invasion, calling it a violation of the UN Charter. Despite the diplomatic exchanges, violent clashes for control of Bakhmut, a key city in the conflict, continue on the ground. Can diplomatic efforts alone bring about a resolution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine?Guests:James CardenColumnist for Asia TimesViktor OlevichLead Expert at the Center for Actual PoliticsIuliia OsmolovskaChairperson of Transatlantic Dialogue Center
Tunisia's political landscape is in turmoil following the recent arrest of opposition leader Rached Ghannouchi. The move has been met with widespread condemnation from both the US and EU, who have voiced concerns over the state of democracy in the country. We speak with the daughter of the opposition leader, Yusra Ghannouchi, about the arrest. Then we discuss with other panelists on what the future holds for the country Guests: Yusra GhannouchiDaughter of Opposition Leader Rached Ghannouchi Larbi SadikiProfessor of International Relations at Qatar University Radwan MasmoudiMember of Ennahda Party
The Vatican has finally disavowed a 500-year old doctrine that European colonialists had used to justify their conquests, after years of calls for action from Indigenous communities throughout the Americas. While some believe that this repudiation helps to correct past injustices, others wonder if it's too little, too late to undo the harm that was done. Guests: Mark CharlesCo-author of 'Unsettling Truths' David McCallumExecutive Director of the Discerning Leadership Program Rachel SnowIndigenous Consultant Steven NewcombAuthor of 'Pagans in the Promised Land'
After years of conflict, Yemen sees hope for peace as warring parties exchange prisoners. This development has raised optimism for an end to the war that has caused the deaths of tens of thousands and displaced millions. However, the road ahead is uncertain, and the world watches to see if this positive momentum will lead to a lasting resolution.Guests:Hussain AlbukhaitiPro-Houthi JournalistNajeeb GhanemYemeni MPIbrahim JalalYemeni Conflict and Defence Researcher
Sudan's generals engage in a fierce struggle for control leading to a surge of violence, with four days of heavy fighting resulting in nearly 200 casualties. Can Sudan overcome this hurdle and achieve lasting peace?Guests:El-Waleed MadiboAnalystHamid KhalafallahProgramme Officer for Constitution Building in Sudan at IDEACameron HudsonSenior Associate at CSIS for Africa Program
Ethiopia is facing backlash over its decision to dissolve regional forces in 11 states and merge them with the national army, triggering violent protests in Amhara state. Some see the move as necessary to end ethnic divisions, while others view it as a betrayal of the regional forces and a potential threat to the country's stability and unity.Guests:Ledet MuletaCommunications Director of Ethiopia Shall ContinueOmer RediSenior Journalist and Political Commentator on Ethiopian AffairsMeaza Gidey GebremedhinInternational Relations Specialist at Omna Tigray
The recent release of the newest version of ChatGPT has got some tech leaders worried it's all moving way too fast. Twitter CEO Elon Musk and thousands of others have signed an open letter calling for a six-month ban on the 'dangerous race' to make artificial intelligence as advanced as humans.GuestNicolas MiailheCo-Founder of The Future SocietySignatory of the Open Letter ‘Pause Giant AI Experiments’Alexandra SeymourAssociate Fellow at CNAS Technology and National Security ProgramAlex JenkinsWA Data Science Innovation Hub Director
This is the worst US intelligence leak since Edward Snowden, but how much has been compromised? Files purporting to show highly classified Pentagon intelligence have emerged online. Washington has vowed to 'turn over every rock' to find the source. But with highly sensitive assessments of the war in Ukraine now in the public domain, can the damage be undone? Guests:Andrij Dobriansky, Director of Communications for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Viktor Olevich, Lead expert at the Center for Actual PoliticTom O'Connor, Senior Foreign Policy Writer at Newsweek
Malaysia's parliament has introduced laws to end mandatory death sentences for crimes including drug trafficking and murder. But it does not abolish capital punishment. The law gives judges the discretion to decide on appropriate punishment on a case-by-case basis.GuestsRamkarpal SinghMalaysian Deputy Law and Institutional Reform MinisterHeng Zhi LiMCA Youth Civil Society Movement Bureau ChiefPhil RobertsonHuman Rights Watch Deputy Asia DirectorRichard DieterDeath Penalty Information Center Executive Director
The UK is planning to house asylum seekers on barges after the suspension of their initial plan to send them to Rwanda. This new tactic is the latest in a series of controversial measures aimed at managing immigration and discouraging asylum seekers from coming to the UK.Guests:David Campbell Bannerman, Chairperson of The Freedom AssociationAmanda Jones, Barrister at Great James Street ChambersJohn Howarth, Director at Politics Without Borders
Beijing remains ‘neutral’ after talks with France and the EU in China. While Emmanuel Macron and Ursula Von der Leyen's attempt to change Beijing's position on Ukraine was unsuccessful, the three-day tour resulted in significant business and diplomatic discussions.GuestsJohn HerbstSenior Director of Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and Retired US Ambassador to Ukraine and UzbekistanAnne-Elisabeth MoutetFrench columnist for The Daily TelegraphAndrew LeungInternational and Independent China Strategist
Forever chemicals are known to cause life-threatening diseases. Although the US Environmental Protection Agency has imposed strict limits on toxic PFAS in drinking water, question remains whether local municipalities are equipped to effectively test the toxins, especially with an estimated 200 million Americans affected. Can regulators truly protect us from forever chemicals?Guests:Richard ConnorEditor of UNESCO's World Water Development ReportMarc EdwardsEnvironmental Engineering Professor at Virginia TechAnil SoodPresident of CHETNA NGO
Amidst rising tensions between China and the US, China has deployed warships near Taiwan, viewing the US visit by Taiwan's President as a provocation. Meanwhile, Taiwan's former president has visited China, stating "we are all Chinese." Are escalating tensions between the two superpowers, putting Taiwan at greater risk of Chinese aggression? Guests: Lin Ching-YiSpokesperson for Democratic Progressive Party Xu QinduoFormer China Radio International Chief Correspondent Lai I-ChungVice President at The Taiwan Think Tank Duncan Bartlett Research Associate at SOAS China Institute
After being indicted on 34 felony counts, including falsifying business records, concealing information from voters, and paying hush money to an adult film star, Donald Trump is claiming election interference and arguing that the legal system is being used for political gain. However, Democrats refute his claims and emphasize that everyone, including Trump, should be held accountable under the law.Guests: Adolfo FrancoDonald Trump’s Former Campaign LawyerSteve OkunFormer Lawyer in Bill Clinton's AdministrationJason OsborneFormer Senior Adviser to Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign
Rahul Gandhi, the leader of India's opposition, is appealing his conviction for defamation. The opposition parties allege that his sentencing is yet another example of the Modi government's authoritarian tactics. However, the BJP leaders argue that Gandhi's case highlights his party's arrogance and that the judiciary is following the proper legal procedures. Guests: Sudhanshu MittalSenior BJP Leader Sanjay JhaFormer National Spokesperson for Indian National Congress Party Sanjay HegdeSenior Advocate at the Supreme Court of India
The recent school shooting in Nashville has once again sparked a heated debate over gun control in America. The question on many people's minds is whether this tragic event will serve as a catalyst for change in the country's gun laws or if the status quo will remain.Guests:John LottCrime Prevention Research Center PresidentAllen Louis Linton IIDirector of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at ACMLarry BartonProfessor of Crisis Management and Public Safety at UCF
We may have survived Covid-19, but now some scientists are concerned about the potential of antimicrobial resistance, which renders antibiotics ineffective. In the first part of the show, with our guest, we examine the eight new cases of the Marburg virus recently detected in Tanzania, raising the question of whether we are prepared for a potential global outbreak. Then, we discuss with our other panelists reports of a 'post-antibiotic world' and what that looks like.Guests:Angelique CoetzeeSouth African United Business Confederation Health ChairpersonAmesh AdaljaSenior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health SecurityMathew UptonMedical MicrobiologistOliver JonesProfessor of Chemistry
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's plans for judicial reform have been delayed due to the persistent protests. However, it remains to be seen whether the demonstrations will continue to sweep the nation despite the delay. Guests: Peter LernerDirector General of Histadrut Global Mitchell BarakFormer Aide to PM Benjamin Netanyahu Jeremy SaltanFormer Knesset Faction Director of the Yamina Party
Amnesty International's annual report highlights double standards in human rights globally. We first speak with Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard on how the world reacted to the war in Ukraine versus other human rights atrocities. On the second part of the show, we examine the deadly protests in Kenya and questions whether rising inflation is truly causing suffering or if the protests are a political move to destabilise the government.Guests:Agnes CallamardAmnesty International Secretary GeneralJared Mairura RatemoLawyerCatherine AmayiEco-Feminist
Pro-Khalistan protests have been spreading from the UK to the US and Canada while the hunt for Amritpal Singh, a hardline Sikh separatist, remains ongoing. Who is Amritpal Singh, and what are the reasons behind the growing demands for an independent Sikh state at this time? Guests:Puneet SahaniSikh Activist Raman MalikBJP Spokesperson Gurcharan SinghMember of the Dal Khalsa UK Ajai ShuklaJournalist and Retired Colonel of the Indian Army
With over a million furious citizens taking to the streets, the ongoing protests in France have become increasingly violent. President Macron refuses to back down on pension reform arguing reforms are necessary for the country's benefit. Protesters are accusing him of setting the nation ablaze. As the protests have continue without any signs of abating, can France restore stability and calm the situation? Guests: Isabelle AttardFrench Anarchist Federation Member Patricia ChagnonEuropean Parliament Member Philippe MarliereProfessor of French and European Politics at University College London
Russian President Putin says China's proposed peace plan has the potential to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, although Western nations have dismissed it as flawed. Following the recent visit by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to Russia and discussions with Putin, it remains unclear whether Russia and Ukraine are any closer to achieving peace, leaving the effectiveness of China's peacemaking efforts in question. Guests: Victor GaoChair Professor of Soochow University Julia MelnikovaProgram Manager at the Russian International Affairs Council Suzanne LoftusResearch Fellow at the Quincy Institute’s Eurasia Program
South Africans take to the streets in response to an ongoing energy crisis, leading the government to send in the military to confront the protesters. The demonstrators are calling for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down due to the severe and ongoing power cuts. Is the ‘National Shutdown’ a political power play orchestrated by the Marxist EFF or a genuine reflection of South Africans' frustration with the energy crisis.Guests:Xolani XalaChairperson of the African National Congress in LondonVelani LudidiJournalist at the Daily MaverickDumisani Baleni EFF Gauteng Media and Communications Officer
The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 was based on the claim that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. Twenty years later, it is clear that this was not the case, and many question the legitimacy of the decision to go to war. As we reflect on the past two decades, we consider the consequences and costs of the invasion, including its impact on Iraq, the Middle East, and the United States. Guests: Ali Al-DabbaghFormer Iraqi government spokesman Thomas S. WarrickDirector of The Future of DHS Project at Atlantic Council Afzal AshrafSenior UK Government Advisor
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister, is scheduled to attend court proceedings on Saturday after a contentious arrest warrant was lifted. He will be charged with selling state gifts for personal profit. Is this a fair implementation of justice, or is it a ploy by political adversaries to bring Khan down? Guests: Ahsan IqbalMinister of Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Rahim KhanBarrister and Constitutional Lawyer Imran Ismail Founding Member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
A Chinese brokered deal between the adversaries has some praising a move toward peace, while others fear it could undermine the US and threaten Israel. Is there a possibility of transforming the hostile relationship into a constructive partnership, or does it pose a threat to the US and Israel while leaving other regional players at a disadvantageous position?Guests:Mohammad MarandiProfessor of English at Tehran UniversityFahad Al-ShelaimiHead of the Gulf Peace and Security ForumDavid Des RochesProfessor at the Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies
Georgia is facing political unrest. Major protests against a proposed anti-democratic 'foreign agents' bill swept the country. But after the bill's was scraped, pro-Russian groups staged demonstrations, tearing down an EU flag. Can Georgia's government continue to maintain a balance between its ties to the West and its relationships with Russia, without risking instability and its democratic values? Guests: Sergi KapanadzeFormer Vice Speaker of Georgian Parliament Temuri YakobashviliFormer Georgian Ambassador to the US
As the battle for Bakhmut continues, casualties rise and Ukrainian troops are being pushed to the city's western edge. With Russian troops closing in from the north and south, the outcome remains uncertain. However, recent reports indicate that Russia's advance may have stalled. Will Ukraine manage to hold on or will the city fall?Guests:William CourtneyFormer Assistant to US President for Russia, Ukraine and EurasiaPeter ZalmayevEurasia Democracy Initiative DirectorSergey MarkovProfessor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Israelis are expressing their anger over the proposed changes to the judiciary system, by demonstrating en masse. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that the changes to the judicial system are necessary to restore the balance of power, but critics argue that it would result in the destruction of Israel's democracy. Is Israel on the brink of a constitutional crisis? Guests: Eli HazanForeign Affairs Director at the Likud Party Jeremy SaltanFormer Knesset Faction Director of the Yamina Party Neri ZilberAdjunct Fellow at The Washington Institute
15-minute cities have become a hotly debated topic among experts, with some arguing that it offers a path towards a more sustainable and eco-friendly future. However, critics contend that it poses a threat to personal liberties, and could potentially result in the kind of authoritarian control depicted in popular dystopian novels like "The Hunger Games." Guests: Carlton ReidJournalist David Campbell BannermanChairman of The Freedom Association Joe McReynoldsUrbanist
Despite ongoing protests in Sri Lanka, the government has almost secured a $2.9 billion loan from the IMF, according to the Central Bank Governor. But will this be enough to calm the situation in the island nation. Guests: Aruna KulatungaFormer Advisor to President Ranil Wickremesinghe Ruki FernandoHuman Rights Activist Thyagi RuwanpathiranaSouth Asia Researcher at Amnesty International
The US government argues that TikTok poses a national security threat by allowing user data to be accessed by the Chinese government, while China claims that the US is disregarding the principles of fair competition. TikTok, on the other hand, dismisses these accusations as "political theatre." Amidst these conflicting claims, we search for the truth on. Guests: Darrell WestVice President of Governance Studies at Brookings Institute Gillian DieboldPolicy Analyst at the Center for Data Innovation Gerd LeonhardFuturist
With so many crises facing the planet, Myanmar's Muslim minority has been mostly left to fend for itself as refugees in Bangladesh. While the World Food Program cuts funding for food in Rohingya camps, Dhaka is left asking the world for help. We are joined by the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Shahriar Alam to discuss the Rohingya minority and other issues facing the country. Guest: Shahriar AlamMinister of State of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh
One month on from the devastating earthquakes that hit Türkiye, the daunting task of rebuilding begins as thousands of apartment blocks lie in ruins. Across the country, people are still recovering from serious injuries sustained in the disaster, while warnings of secondary diseases remain a significant concern.Guests:Oren RoznerIsraeli Search and Rescue TeamJean-Nicolas DangelserEmergency Prepardness Coordinator at MSFLevent Ozturk Head of Yardim KonvoyuDr Mufaddal HamadehFormer President of the Syrian American Medical SocietyDr Mazen KewaraTürkiye Country Director of the Syrian American Medical Society
It's been a month since the deadliest earthquake in Türkiye's modern history. Now the country faces the daunting task of debris disposal. The picture is very different to just days after the quakes when volunteers from around the world rushed to the country to lend their support to rescue missions. They risked their own lives to save lives. But now that they've returned home, how are they digesting their experience?Guests:Rizwan NaseerRescue 1122 Director GeneralDavid O'NeillHead of Rescue and International Operations at London Fire BrigadePeter JackovicsCommander of the HUNORCelia JacksonThe Humane Society of the United States Program Manager
Following months of negotiations, the EU and Britian have established the Windsor Framework, a new post-Brexit arrangement for Northern Ireland. The agreement seeks to address the issues within the Northern Ireland Protocol that have caused tension between the EU and UK. However, will all parties involved agree to the terms of the new deal?Guests:David Campbell BannermanChairman of The Freedom AssociationFemi OluwolePolitical CommentatorDenis MacShaneFormer Europe Minister
Bola Tinubu from the All Progressives Congress Party has emerged as the winner of the Nigerian election four days after voting. However, the opposition has raised concerns over allegations of voter intimidation, low turnout, and widespread delays. How free and fair was the election?Guests:Ier Jonathan-IchaverParliamentary Candidate with the African Democratic CongressKayode OgundamisiPolitical Commentator on Nigerian Politics and International AffairsPhilip IdaeworFormer Chair of the All Progressives Congress UK
Moldova, a small nation that shares a border with Ukraine, is experiencing increased tensions amid allegations that Moscow is behind a pro-Russian coup in the country.Guests:Viktor OlevichLead Expert at the Center for Actual PoliticsAlexandru FlencheaFormer Moldovan Deputy Prime Minister for ReintegrationVlad LupanFormer Representative of the Republic of Moldova to the UN in New York
Russia has halted its involvement in the New START treaty - the sole remaining arms control agreement. As a result, both the United States and Russia's nuclear warheads will be without monitoring for the first time in 50 years, creating concerns about a potential nuclear arms race. Guests: David JonasAdjunct Professor of Law at George Washington University Sergey MarkovFormer Member of Russian Parliament John ErathCenter for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Director Paul IngramSenior Research Associate at Cambridge University
As Ukrainians struggle through a cold dark winter, President Volodmyr Zelenskyy vows to keep fighting against Russia. But will the massive support for Ukraine endure for another year, and is there any room for negotiations.Guests:Victor OlevichLead Expert at the Center for Actual PoliticsPeter ZalmayevDirector of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Helping pull hundreds from the rubble and aiding the injured, thousands of local and foreign volunteers have rushed to assist millions affected by the earthquake. But what's the cost to these heroes? We look at the psychological toll it takes working in and witnessing one of the worst natural disasters of the century. Guests: Dilek AygunPsychotherapist Ismail AlabdullahThe White Helmets Volunteer Halit KarakayaWest London Turkish Volunteers Spokesperson Mehmet YukselFounder and CEO of Missafir
After the twin earthquakes on February 6th, volunteers from more than 80 countries rushed to Türkiye's aid, with specialised skills and equipment. They searched for survivors, set up tents, made meals, and provided psychological support. Many have left, but hundreds still help those who lost everything. We report on the major effort of the volunteers and the toll it takes on them.
As Türkiye's rescue operations transition to the recovery phase, the somber task of identifying victims persists. Law enforcement teams and forensic specialists are currently reaching out to surviving relatives to communicate the heartbreaking news nobody wants to receive.Guests:Durmus AydinSecretary General of IHHDavid RansonDeputy Director at the Victorian Institute of Forensic MedicineJay SilversteinSenior Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University's Forensics Institute
As rescue efforts end and recovery begins, identifying earthquake victims is a crucial task, especially in the aftermath of a disaster of this scale. Victim identification is essential in providing families with closure and the opportunity to say goodbye to their loved ones. We speak with Interpol about what methods are utilised for victim identification.
Türkiye was hit by two massive quakes only two weeks ago, leaving countless traumatised survivors in its wake. But around the world, other earthquake survivors have spent years trying to rebuild. We will discuss with our guests where some of their efforts stand, both logistically and psychologically, after massive disasters levelled their lives.Guests:Daniele ColtelleseItalian Earthquake SurvivorLorenzo MassucchielliHead of International Emergencies at Italian Red CrossStefano BoeriArchitect at Boari Architetti
A magnitude 7.7 earthquake has struck southern Türkiye and northwestern Syria, killing over a thousand people as multiple buildings collapsed. Crews, battling bad weather, are working frantically to pull people out from the debris.Guests:Durmus AydinSecretary General of IHHBahadir AktugSeismologistChris EldersVisiting Professor at School of Earth and Planetary Sciences
OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot is taking the world by storm. The new artificial intelligence language model has the potential to revolutionise communication and information access, but what are the consequences? Guests: Mark BryanSenior Foresight Manager at the Future Today Institute Alexandra SeymourAssociate Fellow at CNAS Eerke BoitenCyber Security Professor at De Montfort University LeicesterTobias ZwingmannManaging Partner of Rapyd.ai
ChatGPT, created by OpenAI, is one of the most sophisticated generative AI models. It is a language model that generates human-like text using deep-learning algorithms. We take a look at why this chatbot is taking the world by storm.
Human trafficking figures drop for the first time in 20 years, but the good news ends there. The UN says the drop is less a result of active prevention and more a consequence of reduced reporting and detection. Guests: Anxhela BruciFounder of Empowerfull Philippa SouthwellManaging Director of Southwell and Partners Sunny SlaughterFounder of Sunny Slaughter Consulting, LLC.
A recent report alleges that some of the world's best-loved fashion brands are engaging in "unfair practices". Cheap fashion relies on cheap labour, which in turn, is affecting up to 12 million people in Bangladesh. Is there enough awareness among consumers about the exploitation of workers?Guests:Fiona GoochSenior Policy Adviser at Transform TradeAmirul AminPresident of National Garment Workers FederationTamara CincikCEO and Founder of Fashion Roundtable
As Asia’s richest man Adani is awarded the project to redevelop Mumbai’s biggest slum Dharavi, some say the project could be a scam. Dharavi is set for a 2.4 billion dollar re-development. But the Indian conglomerate is accused of fraud and residents say they haven't been consulted. So is the project dead in the water before it's even begun?Guests:Preeti Sharma MenonMumbai President of Aam Aadmi PartyKrishna PujariFounder of Reality Tours and TravelMatias EchanoveUrbanologist and Co-creator of the Urbz Collective
The European Union has been shaken up by a corruption scandal. Senior MEPs are alleged to have taken cash from foreign countries, and in return, they’re accused of peddling influence on behalf of their donors. As a result, four people are under arrest, others are under investigation, and the impact could be far-reaching. Guests: Peter WildingFormer Adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron Youcef BouandelInternational Affairs Professor at Qatar University Costantino GrassoInternational Anti-Corruption Expert for the Council of Europe
Europe, millions of people are heading into the streets to voice their discontent as workers demand higher pay and better working conditions. Inflation is rising, and living standards are falling across the continent. What impact will the strikes have on European economies?Guests:John HowarthDirector at Politics Without Borders Think TankAnne-Elisabeth MoutetFrench columnist for TelegraphAmanda LennonEmployment Lawyer and HR Director at Spencer West
Thousands of people have once again taken to the streets in Tunisia protesting the current leadership. It coincides with the 12th anniversary of the Jasmine revolution. With a struggling economy, increased isolation from the west and continued political instability, we discuss what has changed in the past 12 years. Guests: Radwan MasmoudiMember of Tunisia's Ennahda Party Firas NjahHuman Rights Defender and Protester Ghaya Ben MbarekJournalist
China could be on track to build a naval base in Argentina, a step that could change the balance of power in the region. As reports of the latest move emerge, we'll ask if a still-enforced 1980s UK arms embargo has pushed Argentina toward the east.Guests:Lawrence WilkersonRetired United States Army ColonelAfzal AshrafInternational Security Specialist at Loughborough UniversityStuart CrawfordDefence Analyst and Journalist
Far-right politician Rasmus Paludan, under the protection of Swedish police and with permission from the Swedish government, burned a copy of the Quran in Stockholm. The Swedish government says it's appalled by the act of an extreme-right politician, but why was nothing done to stop Rasmus Paludan from burning the Quran? With the fallout spreading across the Muslim world, we discuss how serious the repercussions could be. Guests: Ahammed HussainSpokesperson for The Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK Farid HafezLecturer and Researcher at the University of Salzburg Ajmal MasroorImam and Broadcaster
Facing a demographic crisis, Japan is incentivising people to leave Tokyo, offering a Million yen to move out. But are they offering enough to push young families into crumbling rural prefectures?Guests:Shihoko GotoDeputy Director of Asia Program at the Wilson CenterSusanne KlienAssociate Professor at Hokkaido UniversityHanako MontgomeryReporter for Vice
Western firms are facilitating the production of Myanmar's junta weapons, as a recent high-level report says companies from at least 13 countries are sending parts used for producing arms. Those weapons are then being used to commit human rights atrocities. While the military continues its oppression, the Rohingya community's exodus continues. For almost seven years, the Muslim minority has been fleeing persecution in Rakhine state, while internationally backed efforts to assist and protect them have mostly failed. Why is the international community not doing more to help civilians in the country?Guests:Yanghee LeeFormer UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in MyanmarRonan LeeDoctoral Prize Fellow at Loughborough University LondonAung Kyaw MoeAdviser at Ministry of Human Rights for National Unity GovernmentMatthew SmithCo-Founder and CEO of Fortify Rights
David Foster examines how a once world-famous English fishing port is wrestling with its own identity, as it reinvents itself as a destination for cutting-edge renewable energy.When news breaks, the media descends and social media fires up. But what happens when the spotlight moves on? Or the world just doesn’t care? Beyond Borders reveals the untold stories about the people at the heart of the story. Presented by David Foster, on TRT World.
Pakistan's opposition party, led by former prime minister Imran Khan has dissolved its provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab province, putting pressure on the Sharif government. Will this see the country hold early elections?Guests:Saleem MandviwallaPakistan Peoples Party SenatorFawad ChaudhrySenior Member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-InsafAmir ZiaPakistani Journalist
US President Joe Biden is being accused of hypocrisy. He criticised Donald Trump when his Mar-a-lago resort was raided for classified files. Now at least 20 documents linked to Biden have been found at his private residence and an office he used in Washington. Are they equally guilty?Guests:Steve OkunFormer Lawyer in Bill Clinton’s AdministrationJason OsborneFormer Senior Advisor to Donald Trump’s Presidential CampaignIwan MorganEmeritus Professor of US studies at University College London
Climate protestors dragged from a German coal mine, calling a deal made between energy giant RWE and government 'shameful'. But Ministers are trying to sell it as a long-term success story, saying the village is the wrong symbol for climate warriors. Is this one step towards stabilising German energy or a step backwards in the fight against the climate crisis? Guests:Rio Goldmann Lützerath Lebt Spokesperson Dr Volker Stanzel Former German Diplomat James JacksonJournalist and Political Analyst
Government attempts to criminalise rescues at sea have failed again, as the case against aid workers in Greece is dropped. But after four years of costly legal wrangling, will humanitarians be deterred? Guests: Ines AvelasHead of Advocacy and Strategy at The Advocacy Team Nicola CanestriniLead Defender of the Iuventa10 Crew Adriana TidonaEuropean Migration Researcher at Amnesty International
The UK has been hit by waves of strikes over pay and conditions. Over a hundred thousand workers are preparing to hit the streets as the government tries to pass controversial anti-strike laws. An agreement seems to slipping further away; how will the chaos end? Guests: Robert OuldsDirector of the Bruges Group Think Tank Adrian WeirSecretary of the Campaign of Trade Union Freedom Amanda LennonEmployment Lawyer and HR Director at Spencer West
Records shattered across Europe as a wave of warm weather has swept across the continent. It's a short-term respite for governments struggling with high gas prices, but its long-term effects could be catastrophic.Guests:James DykeFellow of the European Geosciences UnionRupert ReadCo-director of the Moderate Flank IncubatorPeter NewmanProfessor of Sustainability at Curtin University
Republican Kevin McCarthy has been elected as the new US House speaker but with very precarious support. After 15 rounds of voting and massive compromises, the US legislature can finally get to work, but will it? John BrabenderRepublican Strategist Joel RubinDemocratic Strategist Aaron KallDirector of Debate at the University of Michigan
As Brazil assesses the damage from an attack on its capitol, Bolivia and Peru deal with ongoing and destabilising protests. How much are the continent's polarising politics costing its people, and can they find the leadership necessary to unite? Guests: Ben NortonJournalist and Founder of Multipolarista Portal Raul PenarandaJournalist Javier AlbanFormer Adviser to the Peruvian National Electoral Commission
Russia has declared a temporary truce over Orthodox Christmas but should Ukraine prepare for worse to come? As Russia's assault approaches one year of operations, we ask what's really behind this unilateral cessation of hostilities. Guests: Victor OlevichLead Expert at the Center for Actual Politics Andrij DobrianskyDirector of Communications for the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America John HerbstSenior Director at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
With dozens of children dead in Gambia and Uzbekistan, the world's biggest generic drug maker is under the microscope. So how did regulators fail to stop Indian pharmaceuticals from exporting toxic medications? And what has to change to prevent it from happening again? Guests:Dr Peter Adebayo AdewuyiMember of The Gambia's Response Team for Acute Kidney InjuriesPrashant Reddy TCo-author of 'The Truth Pill: The Myth of Drug Regulation in India'Gobardhan DasMolecular Medicine Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityAbantika GhoshAuthor at The Print India
Israel's most right-wing government is sworn into office, pledging more illegal settlements. Among several controversial first moves, the new security minister enters Al Aqsa mosque; the new Aliyah minister looks to limit non-Jewish immigration; and the foreign minister signals closer ties with Vladimir Putin. Could Israel risk losing the support of its western allies through a new, ultra-right policy? Guests: Issa Amro Palestinian Human Rights Activist Miko Peled Author of 'The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine' Danny AyalonIsrael's Former Deputy Foreign Minister
World Health Organization says hospitals in China are filling up again as new COVID-19 cases hit the country after relaxing zero Covid rules. WHO says intensive care units are busy despite officials claiming numbers are relatively low. So is Beijing hiding its Covid numbers? Guests: Yaqiu WangHuman Rights Watch Senior China Researcher Andrew LeungChina Strategist Muhammad MunirProfessor of Virology at Lancaster University
Bangladesh is no stranger to protests, but with tens of thousands still on the streets and a growing list of demands. Will pressure on the Awami League force a new election under a caretaker government? Guests: Abu Bakr MollaEU and UK Spokesperson of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Party Amir Khasru Mahmud ChowdhuryStanding Committee Member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party Shah Ali FarhadFormer Adviser to Bangladeshi PM Sheikh Hasina Michael Kugelman Director of the Wilson Center's South Asia Institute
Despite a state of emergency and at least 25 killed, supporters of former President Pedro Castillo demand his return and the resignation of his successor. Can Dina Boluarte bring stability, or is Peru in for even more political turmoil?Guests:Hugo De ZelaFormer Peruvian Vice Minister of Foreign AffairsBen NortonJournalist and Founder of Multipolarista PortalEduardo GamarraPolitical Science Professor at Florida International University
Science is gaining ground in the fight against Malaria and Alzheimer's. While new vaccines are expected to save the lives of children, new drugs seek to stop the progression of dementia in the elderly. However, can these developments end these deadly diseases once and for all?Guests:James TibenderanaChief Executive Malaria ConsortiumEdward KelleyGlobal Health Lead ApiJectMeg SmithExecutive Vice President Cure Alzheimer's FundMark DallasNeuroscientist University of Reading
The Twitter Files have dropped on Elon Musk's platform. Musk hopes to show former managers curbed freedom of speech for political gain. But his critics say that's exactly what he's doing now. Did Twitter play political favourites under the old leadership? Or is this just a storm in a teacup?Guests:Darrell WestVice President of Governance Studies at Brookings Shaun WatermanJournalist Julia HornleProfessor of Internet Law at Queen Mary University
San Francisco reversed a decision to allow weaponised robots, but the significant backlash has sparked worldwide debate. So is the next generation of weaponry here to stay, and do we have the legal frameworks to use it correctly? Guests:Toby WalshAuthor of 'Machines Behaving Badly: The Morality of AI' David TuffleyApplied Ethics and CyberSecurity Lecturer at Griffith University Nick Bostrom Future of Humanity Institute Director at the University of Oxford
Protests continue in Sudan, despite a transitional deal being signed. The broad framework agreement has been described as Sudanese-owned and Sudanese-led, but does it have enough of the country's support? Guests:Amjed FaridFormer Chief of Staff to Former Prime Minister Abdullah Hamdok Cameron HudsonSenior Fellow at Atlantic Council's Africa Center Hafiz MohammedDirector at Justice Africa Sudan
Germans this week were shocked by an alleged coup plan. A prince, a politician and a paratrooper have been arrested for a suspected plot to overthrow the state. But will these arrests slow down the growing far-right movements in Germany, or is this just the tip of the ice berg? Guests: Ulrich BruecknerProfessor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin Klaus JurgensPolitical Analyst Elisabeth BrawSenior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Sweden is banning religious schools, as a new bill prevents private religious schools from expanding. But it appears the law has only targeted Islamic institutions. Is this move Islamophobic, or does the government have a right to protect its so-called 'democratic values’? Guests: Omar MakramPodcaster Ahammed HussainSpokesperson for Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK Enes BayrakliAssociate Professor at the Turkish-German University
Right-wing militia group leaders have been convicted of seditious conspiracy in the US, a development described as a game changer for the government. But will it prove a blow to right-wing movements nationwide? Or will Elmer Stuart Rhodes and the Oath Keepers grow stronger from persecution? Guests:Tasha AdamsEstranged Wife of Stewart Rhodes Javed AliAssociate Professor of Practice at the University of Michigan Glenn KirschnerFormer Federal Prosecutor
The United Nations has launched an appeal for a record $51.5 billion in aid money for 2023, with tens of millions more people expected to need humanitarian assistance. The 2023 budget is 25% higher than 2022's appeal. So what's driving the need for additional aid, and which crisis takes priority? Guests: Richard TrenchardFood and Agriculture Organization Representative in Afghanistan Margret MuellerRegional Coordinator for East and Central Africa at Oxfam Olumide IdowuExecutive Coordinator of African Youth Initiative on Climate Change
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will not resign, after an independent report commissioned by parliament said he may have broken the law. So now it’s up to his ruling party whether he'll stay in power. But will this be the end of Ramaphosa, or does this report raise more questions than answers? Guests: Vuyo ZungulaLeader of African Transformation Movement Party Phillip DexterNational Executive of African National Congress Party Oliver DicksonTV Presenter and Columnist
The US-China chip war is heating up as Washington announces unprecedented curbs. But this war is not fought with weapons. It's fought with trade, technology and data. So will America's harsh new policies stall the Chinese chip sector? Guests: Riley WaltersDeputy Director at Japan Chair Hudson Institute Shirley Ze YuPolitical Economist Monique ChuAuthor of 'The East Asian Computer Chip War'
After months of Russian attacks on critical energy infrastructure in Ukraine, millions of people are living without power in freezing conditions. But will this make Ukraine more likely to negotiate with Russia or harden their resolve to fight on? Guests:Dmitry PolyanskiyFirst Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN Peter ZalmayevDirector of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative James CardenFormer Adviser to the US-Russia Bilateral Presidential Commission
The UN has launched a fact-finding investigation into potential abuses by the Iranian regime. But Tehran has denounced the probe saying it “will not cooperate”.
Guests:
Setareh Sadeqi Co-host of Twice Told Tales Podcast
Borzou Daragahi International Correspondent for The Independent
Ali Fathollah-Nejad Author of 'Iran in an Emerging New World Order'
A state of emergency is in effect in Honduras as President Castro is trying to combat high levels of extortion by gangs across the country. But will it solve a problem that has grown over decades?
Guests:
Maria Fernanda Bozmoski Deputy Director of Programs at the Atlantic Council
Jared Olson Investigative Journalist
Javier Farje Latin America Analyst
Unprecedented dissent in China over severe COVID-19 restrictions, as demonstrators clash with police . But will the government quash protesters' anger with force or change its policy to appease the people?
Guests:
Dr Lawrence Young Professor of Molecular Oncology at Warwick Medical School
Victor Gao Chair Professor of Soochow University
Duncan Bartlett Research Associate at SOAS China Institute
Colin Alexander Political Communications Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University
African leaders have declared a ceasefire in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, aimed at stopping attacks by the M23 rebel group. However, as peace talks conclude in Luanda, those suffering through the DRC conflict say their leaders have wasted their time.
Guests:
Michael Tshibangu DRC Political Affairs Analyst
Vava Tampa Founder of Save the Congo
Temitope Olodo President of the Africa Security Forum
Scottish nationalists suffer a significant setback as the UK supreme court blocks efforts to hold a second independence referendum. On the first part of our show, we discuss with our guests whether all hope is lost for Scots wanting out of Westminster.
Guests:
James Dornan SNP Member of Scottish Parliament
Sajjad Karim Member of the European Parliament
On the second part of our show, we turn to another scandal in France's catholic church. With hundreds of thousands of alleged victims of child sex abuse, we discuss whether the church can rebuild its reputation while new abuse cases emerge.
Guests:
Xavier Geffrier Catholic Voices Spokesperson in France
Keith Porteous Wood President of the National Secular Society UK
Four foreigners have been deported to freedom in Myanmar- but the UN warns the move is not real progress. We discuss the actual motive and whether those remaining will be re-arrested. We first speak to Toru Kubota, a documentary filmmaker who was unexpectedly released last week and deported to Japan. Then we broaden our discussion with more insight from other guests.
Guests:
Toru Kubota Former Prisoner released from Insein Prison
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon Officer at Burma Campaign UK
Ronan Lee Doctoral Prize Fellow at Loughborough University London
Robert Bociaga Former Detainee in Myanmar
Advanced North Korean missile tests spark outrage in the West, as Washington sent supersonic bombers in response to Pyongyang's successful missile launch that could reach the US mainland. While each side accuses the other of provocation, the UN disagrees on a unified response for de-escalation.
Guests:
Jenny Town Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center
Bruce Klingner Senior Northeast Asia Research Fellow at The Heritage Foundation
Einar Tangen Political and Economic Affairs Commentator
After a controversial early election, Malaysia ıs in search of a stable government- again and returned to a hung parliament. Party leaders are scrambling to scrape out a coalition. Who can form a functional government, and will it bring any real stability to politics in Kuala Lumpur?
Guests: Ong Kian Ming Malaysian Former Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry
Oh Ei Sun Senior Fellow at the Singapore Institute of International Affairs
Hafidzi Razali Senior Analyst at Bower Asia Group
Donald Trump announced he'll be running for the American presidency once again. The former president is a deeply polarising figure who has tried the patience of much of the American public. Yet analysts say he stands a good chance of winning. Will the Republican Party endorse him again, or has he become a liability?
Guests:
Robert Patillo Democratic Strategist
Alex Olson Republican Strategist
Hans Noel Author of 'Political Ideologies and Political Parties in America'
Five protestors in Iran have been sentenced to death and thousands are still being held in detention; much of the world is outraged by Iran's brutal crackdown on demonstrators. In the first part of our show, we discuss whether protestors continuing bravery could lead to any change.
In the second part of our show, we tackle issues of population growth as the world reaches an alarming milestone - 8 billion.
Guests: Shahriar Ahy Senior Adviser to the Iran Transition Council
Robin Maynard Population Matters Director
Max Lawson Head of Inequality Policy and Advocacy at Oxfam
The G20 Summit in Bali ended in a declaration deploring Russia's attack on Ukraine- but are all nations on the same page? And how much did geopolitics blur the usual economic agenda?
Guests:
Mark Langevin Senior Advisor on Energy Policy for Horizon Client Access
Steve Keen Economist and Author
We speak with Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno about the G20 Summit in Bali.
Guest Sandiaga Uno Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy
Thousands of people have been cut from big tech payrolls this month alone. From Meta to Microsoft- Twitter, and Amazon, it looks like a reckoning is underway and this could be just the beginning.
Guests:
Shaun Waterman Cybersecurity Correspondent for Newsweek
Kevin Poulter Employment Lawyer
Greg Nibler Tech Expert
Russian occupation ends in the Ukrainian city of Kherson, one of Ukraine's most significant military achievements and a major setback for Moscow. However, does it spell doom for Putin's offensive or is it just a misstep in what could be years of fighting ahead?
Guests:
Andrij Dobriansky Chair of UN Affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
Sergey Markov Former Member of Russian Parliament
Elisabeth Braw Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
A 2016 referendum in Britain irrevocably changed the future of the UK. With the country heading into a recession, Britons are examining the actual consequences of leaving the EU.
Guests: Femi Oluwole Co-founder of advocacy group Our Future Our Choice
Ben Habib Chairperson of Brexit Watch
David Henig UK Director of ECIPE
Developing nations say it's time to pay, as this year's COP27 summit focuses on the cost of climate change. Developing countries are suffering the brunt of the destruction, but are they getting the support needed? We discuss with our guests who should take responsibility?
Guests:
Tim McPhie EU Commission Spokesperson for Climate Action and Energy
Richard Munang Regional Director of the UN Environment Programme Africa Office
Kamya Choudhary India Policy Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute
Republicans and Democrats have been fighting for control of the Senate, House, and several Governorships in the US midterm elections. The anticipated ‘Red wave’ appears to have failed. So, what does this signify for American politics over the coming years?
Guests: Nick Quested Filmmaker and Producer
Mitch Lerner American History Professor at Ohio State University
Adam Raezler Republican Strategist
Iwan Morgan Professor of United States Studies at UCL
Imran Khan speaks to The Newsmakers just days after being shot during a rally calling for snap election. We ask him who he thinks is behind his attempted assassination and why they would want to kill him.
Guest:
Imran Khan Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
The Ethiopian government and Tigrayan People's Liberation Front agree to a peace deal. But will the warring sides stick to the agreement?
Guests: Meaza Gebremedhin Human Rights Advocate
Mastewal Taddese Terefe Lawyer and Researcher
Gabriel Negatu Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center
While leading protests calling for a snap election, former Pakistani prime minister, Imran Khan was shot. The PTI leader survived the attempt on his life. But who was behind the attack? And will the perpetrator be brought to justice?
Guests:
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi Former Prime Minister of Pakistan
Imran Ismail Founding Member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Party
Naeem Khalid Lodhi Former Defense Minister of Pakistan
The world’s wealthiest man has wasted no time in making changes to Twitter, including plans to charge users to be verified.
Are you willing to pay $8 a month for the coveted blue tick?
Leave a comment below.
Guests:
Dragana Kaurin Localization Lab Executive Director
Dennis-Kenji Kipker IT Security Law Professor at HSB City University of Applied Sciences
Eerke Boiten Cyber Security Professor at De Montfort University
Benjamin Netanyahu is set to return as Israel’s prime minister heading one of the country’s most right-wing governments. What impact will it have on the nation and the wider region?
Guests: Zalmi Unsdorfer Chairperson of the Likud-Herut UK
Mitchell Barak Former Aide to Benjamin Netanyahu
Gideon Levy Columnist for Haaretz Newspaper
Brazil shifts to the left as Lula da Silva beats his far-right rival Jair Bolsonaro. Can the left-wing leader unite the country?
Guests:
Julio Morais President of Caesar Group Inc
John Watts Spokesperson for Lula da Silva's International Legal Team
Leandro Lima Senior Brazil Analyst at Control Risks
Haiti’s government has called on the international community for help as gangs run rampant in the country and food and fuel prices soar. The Newsmakers speaks to Haiti’s Ambassador to the US, Bocchit Edmond and asks whether foreign intervention is the right course of action.
Guests:
Bocchit Edmond Haitian Ambassador to the US
Brian Concannon Founder of the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti
Kim Ives Editor at Haiti Liberte Newspaper
A win-win partnership. That's how Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described his country's policy towards Africa, during a regional security summit in the Senegalese capital. Dubbed the Dakar forum, the annual gathering is taking on more importance this year in the wake of Russia's attack on Ukraine, especially its impact on global food and energy prices. Senegal was the first stop of Foreign Minister Cavusoglu's three-nation Africa tour. On Wednesday, Cavusoglu visited Ghana, where he called the West African country an important partner for Türkiye in the region. He also reiterated that Türkiye was a strategic partner for the African Union, noting that trade with the continent had passed $34 and half billion dollars last year. Cavusoglu praised Ghana for championing the role of Africa in the UN Security Council, and speaking truth to power. So what exactly is Türkiye's win-win approach to Africa, and how will Ankara differentiate itself from other established powers that have courted the continent?
Guests: Kabir Adamu Managing Director of Beacon Consulting
Paul-Simon Handy Senior Adviser at Institute for Security Studies
Kenyan police stand accused of crimes ranging from corruption to torture and murder. But could the high-profile killing of a self-exiled Pakistani journalist reveal more than just misconduct? And can the government get things under control?
Guests:
Otsieno Namwaya East Africa Director for Human Rights Watch
John-Allan Namu Co-founder of Africa Uncensored
Thousands are mourning after Israeli forces kill six people in Nablus. Is Israel targeting terrorists or punishing Palestinians? Guests:
Nour Odeh Writer and Political Analyst
Mustafa Barghouti Palestinian National Initiative Secretary General
Danny Ayalon Israel's Former Deputy Foreign Minister
Daesh-linked militants cause chaos in northern Mozambique, killing thousands, displacing a million, and preventing the development of a lucrative gas industry. So what's behind the empowered militants, and can they be curtailed?
Guests:
Luis Nhachote Investigative Journalist
Alex Vines Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House
David Otto Director of Geneva Centre for Africa Security and Strategic Studies
Chinese Leader Xi Jinping secures an extraordinary third term as president and appoints a fully loyalist Politburo Standing Committee. So, will Xi go completely unchallenged within the Communist Party? And what will his reaffirmed authority mean for China, Taiwan and the world?
Guests:
Xu Qinduo Former China Radio International Chief Correspondent in Washington DC
Lim Tai Wei Author of ‘China's One Belt One Road Initiative’
Colin Alexander Senior Lecturer in Political Communications in the Nottingham Trent University
Canberra infuriated Israel when it no longer recognised Jerusalem as its capital. Will it spur others to follow suit? And will this move revive a two-state solution?
Guests: Mouin Rabbani Co-editor of Jadaliyya Magazine
Erin Watson Australian Public Policy Analyst
Avi Mayer Former Spokesperson of the American Jewish Committee
When President Donald Trump unilaterally announced that all of Jerusalem was Israel's capital, several countries relocated their embassies and diplomatic posts to the city. Now, the biggest among them is reversing course, dealing a blow to both Israel and the Trump doctrine.
After saying she’s a fighter, not a quitter, Liz Truss now has the dubious honour of being the shortest-serving prime minister in UK’s history. We examine how she and the country reached a breaking point over a flagging economy, a looming energy crisis, and the aftermath of Brexit.
Liz Truss announced her resignation as prime minister, blaming her economic policies for sending shockwaves across the markets and dividing her conservative party barely six weeks after taking office. Now many are speculating about the fallout.
Guests:
Peter Wilding Former Advisor to Prime Minister David Cameron
Roger Casale Former Labour Member of Parliament for Wimbledon
Nigel Nelson Political Editor of the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People
Arms manufacturers' dividends are skyrocketing as national budgets spend more on weapons. Is it money well spent, or do the most vulnerable suffer?
Guests:
Glen Grant Former Adviser to the Ukrainian Defence Ministry
William Hartung Senior Fellow at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft
Ekaterina Chimiris Political Science Professor at Russia's Financial University
France and its labour unions are tangling once more. Another round of strikes has disrupted public transportation, petrol stations and schools. But is the action working?
Guests:
Anne-Elisabeth Moutet French Journalist and Author
Philippe Marliere Professor of French and European Politics at UCL
Paul Smith Associate Professor in French History and Politics
Iranians are speculating whether pro-democracy rallies provoked a deadly fire at Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. According to the official story, the fire started during an attempted jailbreak. However, some speculate it was an attempt to free political prisoners, specifically hundreds of demonstrators detained since Mahsa Amini died.
Guests:
Leila Mansouri Lawyer and Diaspora Community Leader
Setareh Sadeqi Political Analyst
Jared Genser Lawyer for the Namazi Family
With Russia and the West at odds over Ukraine, there is a concern that the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals may – well – go nuclear. And it has some asking if history is repeating itself, 60 years after the Cuban missile crisis.
Guests:
Viktor Olevich Lead Expert at the Center for Actual Politics
Andrew D’Anieri Assistant Director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Rob Maness Retired United States Air Force Colonel
With its constitutionality called into doubt, the Malaysian administration claims that a new referendum will correct government dysfunction. However, the opposition claims that a November election would endanger voters while shielding governing party members charged and convicted of corruption. First, we speak with a Former Malaysian MP and member of the Democratic Action Party who is suing the government for breaching the constitution. Then we debate with our other guests for more.
Guests:
Charles Santiago Former Member of Malaysian Parliament
Ong Kian Ming Malaysia's Ex-Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry
KK Tan Columnist and Political Analyst
Hafidzi Razali Senior Analyst for Bower Asia Group
After Hurricane Ian took its toll on the Caribbean island, Havana requested assistance from the United States. Will US policy toward Havana change after three decades of the trade embargo?
Guests:
Manolo De Los Santos Co-executive Director of the People's Forum
Julio M Shiling Director of Patria de Marti
Stephen Wilkinson International Relations Lecturer at the University of Buckingham
Xi Jinping is set to reshuffle China's top leaders. What does this signify for the future of his country?
Guests:
Victor Gao Chair Professor of Soochow University
Lim Tai Wei Adjunct Research Fellow at National University of Singapore
Nicaragua accuses foreign diplomats and the Catholic Church of interfering in its domestic affairs. So is Daniel Ortega's administration revolutionary or is it cracking down on dissent?
Guests:
Ben Norton Founder and Editor of Multipolarista
Pieter Cleppe Editor-in-chief of the Brussels Report
Manuel Orozco Director at the Inter-American Dialogue's Migration Program
This year's Nobel Peace Prize winners: Jailed activist Ales Bialiatski, and the organisations Center for Civil Liberties in Ukraine, and Memorial, all take a stand against the power of the Kremlin. But does receiving the prize foster peace? Or antagonise President Putin?
Guest:
Sergei Davidis Group recipient of the 2022 Nobel Prize for Peace
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Henrik Urdal Director at the Peace Research Institute Oslo
Another ceasefire unravels in Yemen, and hostilities have resumed in the region. We debate who’s to blame, and what’s the solution going forward.
Guests:
Hussain Albukhaiti Pro-Houthi Yemeni Journalist
Giorgio Cafiero Founder and CEO of Gulf State Analytics
Ibrahim Jalal Research Fellow at Yemen Policy Center
The White House wants relief for millions of Americans who owe thousands in student loans. But Republicans are calling President Biden’s plan unfair financial relief that will punish the US economy.
Guests:
Adam Kissel Former US Education Department Official
Mark Huelsman Policy Director at Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice
Mark Kantrowitz Expert on Student Loans and Financial Aid
India declared the Popular Front of India and its affiliates unlawful, accusing them of having terrorist links. Will a five-year ban stop the Muslim group’s sometimes questionable activity or make them stronger?
Guests:
Shishir Bajoria BJP State Executive Member
Ashutosh Co-founder of Satyahindi
Taslim Ahmed Rehmani President of the Muslim Political Council of India
The Popular Front of India says it supports the rights of minorities. But the government accuses the group of having links with terrorists.
Brazil's presidential election will go to the second round. While some anticipated Lula would outright win, there's more support for Bolsonaro than polls predicted. So, is Brazil heading for another far-right victory?
Guests: Pedro Rossi Economic Adviser to Lula da Silva
Chayenne Polimedio Brazilian Analyst
Mark Langevin Director of BrazilWorks
Is a global recession is inevitable? While central banks are trying to stem inflation, and economists are bracing for the worst, we look at whether politicians did everything they could to prevent a possible financial disaster.
A terrorist attack on a police station in the southern Turkish city of Mersin has left one police officer dead. Security footage showed two women, attacking the police station with assault rifles, before detonating explosives hidden in their backpacks. Türkiye's Interior Minister, Suleyman Soylu says the two women were members of the PKK terror group. Türkiye's defence Minister Hulusi Akar says the attack on Mersin was orchestrated in Syria. The Turkish military has been battling the PKK's affiliate, the YPG in northern Syria for several years, including with operations Olive Branch in 2018, and Peace Spring in 2019. Founded in 1984, the PKK terror group has been waging a decades-long war against Türkiye, resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 people. Operating along the Turkish border with Syria and Iraq, the PKK has launched dozens of terrorist attacks on Turkish cities.
Guests:
Ahmet Keser Associate Professor at Hasan Kalyoncu University
Bilgehan Ozturk Researcher at SETA Foundation
A research firm says there’s a 98% possibility of a worldwide recession. If it happens, can politicians mitigate the damage, or is a painful reset on the way?
Guests:
Vicky Pryce Board Member at Centre for Economics and Business Research
Rajneesh Narula Economist and Professor at the University of Reading
Steve Keen Economist and Author
Is the Lebanese parliament shooting itself in the foot by not selecting a president? And why is Mali claiming to be stabbed in the back by France?
Guests: Mark Daou Lebanese MP with the Progress Party
Farid Boustany Lebanese MP with the Free Patriotic Movement
Alex Vines Director of the Africa Programme at Chatham House
The Lebanese parliament failed to replace outgoing President Michel Aoun. Jack Zahora reports on the massive implications this has on a country heading towards collapse.
China is still enforcing a ‘zero-COVID’ policy while the US President said at one point that the pandemic is over. We debate whether either attitude is based in reality.
Guests:
Dr. Margaret Harris WHO Spokesperson
Dr. Amesh Adalja Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Dr. Edward Kelley WHO's Former Integrated Health Services Director
While US President Biden may have declared the COVID-19 pandemic over at one point, it could be assumed he wasn't speaking for everyone. China is still implanting its ‘zero COVID’ policy. And meanwhile, the World Health Organization says only 19% of the population is vaccinated in low-income countries.
Puerto Rico's recovery from Hurricane Maria has been patchy and slow. Now after the fallout from Hurricane Fiona, there is even more concern about whether the island can recover from its infrastructure and energy crisis. TRT World's Ahad al-Fadhli explains why.
Puerto Rico was still recovering from Hurricane Maria when hurricane Fiona struck, bringing devastating floods that damaged the island's fragile infrastructure. We discuss with our guests what can shore up Puerto Rico's economy after just coming out of bankruptcy.
Guests:
Nitza Moran San Juan District Senator for the New Progressive Party
Michael Deibert Author of 'When the Sky Fell'
Carlos Figueroa Associate Professor of the Politics Department at Ithaca College
Giorgia Meloni is set to become the country's first female prime minister and form Italy's most right-wing government since World War Two. But with record low voter turnout, is this really what Italians want? And how will Europe react?
Guests:
Paolo Borchia MEP with the League Party
Lia Quartapelle MP with the Democratic Party
Alan Friedman Journalist
The death of an Iranian woman in custody sparks fury on the streets of Iran. As a crackdown on protests claims more lives, social media networks are restricted. Could this round of civil unrest mark a turning point for change in the Islamic Republic?
Guests:
Sussan Tahmasebi Co-founder and Executive Director of FEMENA
Negar Mortazavi Iranian-American Journalist
Setareh Sadeqi Political Analyst
Conflict in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is intensifying, and the UN says civilians should brace for more atrocities. We get a response from Adem Mohammed Mahmud, Ethiopia’s ambassador in Ankara and the former chief of staff of Ethiopia’s armed forces. Then, we’re joined by experts in criminology and civil rights to discuss how the UK created a covert programme to discredit 1960’s Black Panther leader Stokely Carmichael.
Guests: Adem Mohammed Mahmud Ethiopian Ambassador to Türkiye -- Stefan Bradley Author of 'Upending the Ivory Tower'
Rizwaan Sabir Assistant Professor in Criminology
UN investigators are warning that as fighting intensifies in northern Ethiopia, civilians are subjected to more war crimes.
Legalising cannabis was meant to reduce the criminal drug trade in the United States. So why are the drug cartels still making profits?
Guests:
Mason Tvert Partner at VS Strategies
Jordan Davidson Legislative Affairs Officer for Smart Approaches to Marijuana
Mike Vigil Former DEA Chief for International Operations
Many US states hoped that legalising marijuana would be a gold mine in tax revenue, while combatting cartels and preventing non-violent people from going to jail. But reports say marijuana on the black market continues to grow. Some experts estimate that up to 80 percent of what's sold at legal dispensaries is illegally cultivated. We look at why.
Despite a ceasefire, more violence threatens the Kyrgyz-Tajik border. As the death toll nears 100 in the latest border clashes, many fear a large-scale conflict could ensue. But is a sustainable peace possible with valuable water resources and disputed frontiers at stake?
Guests:
Kadyr Toktogulov Former Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to the US and Canada
Aijan Sharshenova Political Analyst
Steve Swerdlow Central Asian Affairs Analyst
The US has recently announced the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets, which will be transferred to the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland. The Taliban government has rejected the move, calling it an "illegal venture and violation of international norms." Firstly we ask Shah Mehrabi, a Member of the Supreme Council of the Central Bank of Afghanistan, his stance on the US plan to use the Swiss-based monitoring rather than the Afghan Central Bank. Then we broaden our discussion with our other guests and discuss whether the Taliban will allow money into the country if they are not given control.
Guests:
Shah Mehrabi Member of the Supreme Council of the Central Bank of Afghanistan
David Sedney Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Afghanistan
Masuda Sultan Co-founder of Unfreeze Afghanistan
Obaidullah Baheer Lecturer at the American University of Afghanistan
As the Philippines' war on drugs continues, so do thousands of alleged extrajudicial killings. Human Rights Watch is asking the UN to take action, claiming new leadership has not stopped former President Duterte's brutal tactics. But how much would that do?
Guests:
Dino De Leon Lawyer of Former Senator Leila de Lima
Kristina Conti Member of the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers
Phil Robertson Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division
The number of undocumented migrants crossing the US-Mexico border has steadily increased under the Biden Administration, with more than 1.8 million this year alone. Some Republicans are trying to capitalise on the anti-immigrant sentiment by taking dramatic steps such as sending buses and planes full of undocumented immigrants to cities run by Democrats. TRT World's Ahad al-Fadhli. reports.
US Republicans are shipping immigrants to so-called sanctuary cities. But is it highlighting a problem or causing its own crisis?
Guests:
Dania Alexandrino Host of 'Perspectiva USA'
Jose Aristimuno Former Democratic Party Spokesperson
Alexandra Williams Senior Attorney at Murray Osorio PLLC
Could the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Uzbekistan provide a real counterweight to NATO, with leaders from China and Russia, India, Pakistan, and Iran? We ask if they can put aside their differences to form a new world order.
Guests:
Andrew Leung China Analyst
Ian Bond Director of Foreign Policy at the Centre for European Reform
Tom O'Connor Senior Foreign Policy Writer for Newsweek Magazine
This year's Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit is in the spotlight as the Presidents of India, Russia, and China attend, with the Ukraine conflict at the centre of attention. We examine whether the organisation could rival the security groupings that the West has created.
In one article after another, western media and pundits have described Ukraine's operation into Kharkiv as a lightning advance, a one-two punch, even the greatest counter-offensive since world one-two. But was it? TRT World's Ahad al-Fadhli reports.
Ukraine’s government says it has Russia on the back foot after a lightning fast military offensive in Kharkiv. But is Kiev overstating its gains?
Guests:
William Courtney Former Special Assistant to the US President for Russia and Eurasia
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Removing Indian and Chinese forces from an undefined border area in the western Himalayas opens a "diplomatic opportunity." Still, it does not end the two-year conflict between the two nations. Retired generals have gone on record, saying it only takes two patrols to cross paths to spark another fight accidentally. Here is our report on how history backs up their assessments.
After two years of hand-to-hand combat, India and China agreed to back down from a deadly dispute in the Himalayas. We look at the fallout and examine why the conflict is unlikely over.
Guests:
Victor Gao Chair Professor of Soochow University
Gulrez Sheikh Indian Geopolitical Analyst
Rajat Ganguly Editor-in-chief of the Journal of Asian Security and International Affairs
Black Lives Matter activist Melina Abdullah joins us with her lawyer, to explain why she’s suing BLM executive Shalomyan Bowers. Will her high-profile legal action prove a death blow to the organisation, or could it be the reset button the movement needs?
Guests:
Melina Abdullah Lead Plaintiff against Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Walter Mosley Melina Abdullah’s Lawyer
Kelechi Egwim Executive Director of APPEAL
BLM executive Shalomyah Bowers is accused of using the Black Lives Matter movement as his own personal piggy bank. TRT World’s Ahad al-Fadhli looks at whether the organisation’s success, and the money that flowed in, was too much of a temptation for BLM leaders.
Washington slapped new restrictions on tech companies from selling sophisticated microchips that are 10,000 times thinner than a strand of hair. Washington hopes the move will prevent enemies from advancing their AI weapons programs. However, Pentagon’s first chief software officer quit last year, saying the US has no fighting chance against China. The Kremlin has also created a department for developing artificial intelligence technologies. This time not for nuclear technology but rather Artificial Intelligence. As Washington, Beijing, and Moscow increase budgets to build AI weapons, what will be the consequences for modern warfare and humanity?
Guests:
Ljupco Gjorgjinski Ex-chair of the UN Body Deliberating on Autonomous Weapons
Eerke Boiten Cyber Security Professor at De Montfort University
Nikola Danaylov Founder of Singularity Media
The race for global military supremacy is putting artificial intelligence at the forefront. While the US and China are the frontrunners to develop AI weapons, Russia has dramatically increased its own efforts. Meanwhile, experts are warning that this ‘third wave’ of warfare will have dire consequences.
A ceasefire signed in March between the TPLF and the government in Addis Ababa was meant to provide desperately needed relief for civilians in Tigray. Many hoped the truce would morph into a more permanent peace deal by finally allowing humanitarian aid to get through government blockades. But five months later, severe fighting erupted again, making basic electricity, fuel and medicine a luxury. Moreover, the rebels have threatened war if the blockade is not fully lifted. So far, the government has ‘hoodwinked the international community.’ As a truce unravels between the government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, is Ethiopia on the brink of more dangerous destabilisation and an ever more severe humanitarian crisis?
Guest:
Meaza Gidey Gebremedhin International Relations Specialist
Ledet Muleta Founder of the Global Ethiopian Diaspora Society
Tsedale Lemma Ethiopian Journalist
A ceasefire declared in March has been broken by new fighting that has broken out along the boundaries of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region. The conflict started in November 2020 when Tigrayan forces seized military bases throughout their territory. Both sides now accuse the other of creating it again. TRT World’s Ahad al Fadhli reports on why the fighting restarted in northern Ethiopia.
For the Ukrainians staffing the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, there’s a clear and present danger in their work. In addition to the shelling just outside the station and Russian soldiers controlling the facility, workers are struggling with persistent anxiety and exhaustion. With the area under fire and the plant facing power cuts, are we in danger of disaster at Europe’s biggest nuclear station?
Guests:
Paul Ingram Senior Research Associate at Cambridge University
Miles Pomper Senior Fellow at James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Ben Aris Editor-in-Chief at BNE IntelliNews
As they awaited a report from the United Nations nuclear inspector on the condition of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear reactor, Moscow and Kiev accused one another of endangering the world by attacking the plant. Here is a recap of the Zaporizhzhia crisis.
Pakistani Minister for Climate Change Sherry Rehman tells The Newsmakers that rich, polluting countries in the West should pay for the deadly floods taking place in her country. But we ask her if her own government is doing enough to combat the problem, and whether international aid is actually reaching the people who need it. Then we ask a nuclear security expert if talks between the US and Iran are unravelling. He says such negotiations aren’t Washington’s biggest strength.
Guests:
Sherry Rehman Pakistan’s Minister for Climate Change
Peter Newman Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University
Skeena Rathor Spokeswoman of Extinction Rebellion
Dave Jonas Former Counsel of the National Nuclear Security Administration
Brazil's general election is next month, but President Jair Bolsanaro has an uphill battle to become re-elected. His urgent situation was on display during this week’s presidential debate, when he and his main rival, Lula da Silva, resorted to personal insults against each other. We examine whether this is a recipe for victory, or can damage the country’s democracy.
Brazil's presidential campaign is heating up one month before election day. And the first debate showed that Jair Bolsonaro is pulling out all the stops to attack his political rivals; and even the journalists who question his record. We look at how voters are responding.
Guests:
Julio Morais President of Caesar Group Inc
Elcior Santana Adjunct Professor at the Center for Latin American Studies
Gustavo Riberio Founder of the Brazilian Report
Since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr has emerged as one of the country’s most powerful figures. As political turmoil turns deadly in the capital, The Newsmakers Ahad al- Fadhli looks at Sadr's role and what the future has in store for him.
Iraq’s government descended into further political turmoil, following the announcement that Muqtada al Sadr would retire from public life. But is this a ploy to rally the Sadrists? And can the country’s fragile political framework find surer footing?
Guests:
Saad al Muttalibi Political Security Adviser to the Baghdad Security Council
Tallha Abdulrazaq Iraqi Security and Political Analyst
Borzou Daragahi International Correspondent for The Independent
Vicky Bowman and her husband, Htein Lin, went from running a non-profit in Myanmar to becoming prisoners. Let's take a closer look at who they are and how they found themselves in this predicament.
The United Kingdom's former ambassador to Myanmar and her husband are scheduled to walk into a courtroom and stand trial over alleged violations of immigration law. Their crimes are seen as relatively mild. But the timing of their arrests is glaring. Britain just announced another round of sanctions against the military junta, which took power in a coup last year. So is their arrest a ploy to turn them into political pawns? And are Britain's actions against Myanmar's military junta backfiring?
Guests:
Htwe Htwe Thein Associate Professor of International Business at Curtin University
Phil Robertson Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch
Ben Harris-Quinney Chairman of Conservative Think Tank The Bow Group
Macron has ended his three-day tour with a slew of agreements that France believes will improve relations with Algeria, a major gas and oil provider to Europe.
TRT World's Ahad Al-Fadhli takes a look at the fractured history between Algeria and France.
French President Emmanuel Macron concluded his three-day visit to Algeria, just over two months after Algiers celebrated six decades of independence from French colonial rule. But did the trip strengthen ties between the two countries or highlight its weaknesses?
Guests:
Jacques Reland Senior Research Fellow at The Global Policy Institute
Yasser Louati Human Rights and Civil Liberties Activist
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst
From top secret information about French President Emmanuel Macron, to America's nuclear arsenal, speculation has been running wild about what Donald Trump has been holding up in his basement since leaving the White House. As the US government releases more information about why there was a raid on Former US President Donald Trump's home, Democrats want to know if the former President poses a danger to the country and its allies.
Guests:
Jeffrey Stacey Former Senior Advisor to the US State Department
Bruce DelValle Founding Member of Fein and DelValle Law Firm
Robert Gutsche Jr US Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University
A Pakistani court extended former Prime Minister Imran Khan's pre-arrest bail. Khan faces charges of terrorism over comments he made about a judge and the police.
TRT World's Ahad Al-Fadhli takes a look at how this political saga began.
A leader of Pakistan’s ruling Muslim League Party, Muhammad Zubair Umar, tells Newsmakers that he doubts former Prime Minister Imran Khan's actions violate anti-terrorism law. He made the admission during our debate, which included a senior member of Khan’s PTI party. Watch the segment to find out why.
Guests:
Muhammad Zubair Umar Senior Leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz
Fawad Chaudhry Senior Leader of the PTI party
Imtiaz Gul Executive Director of Center for Research and Security Studies
Russia's war games with China
The relationship between Presidents Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping has grown increasingly close. The two sides announced what they described as a 'no limits' partnership shortly before Russian troops crossed into Ukraine. Beijing's tighter friendship couldn't come at a better time for Putin, who's become a pariah in the West. So while China and Russia carry out routine military exercises, we ask if Beijing could throw its might behind Moscow? And if so, would Putin have the West to thank?
Guests:
Andrew Leung China Analyst
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Rob Maness Retired United States Air Force Colonel
Latvia is under fire for blocking hundreds of refugees on its border. A new allegation casts light on what some call a double standard that violates human rights. Amnesty International says that Latvia welcomed in more than 34,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. However, refugees mainly from Iraq and Afghanistan, were left to fend for themselves on the border from Belarus. Is this a policy of discrimination? And how does Latvia defend the practice? Guests:
Ieva Raubisko Asylum and Migration Policy Analyst
Maris Andzans Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies Riga
Juris Kaza Journalist
The lead advisor for Iran’s nuclear team tells us that the United States should pay a price if it reneges on a new deal. We debate whether there’s a big enough carrot – or a stick – to lean on American conservatives set against the talks with Tehran.
Guests:
Mohammad Marandi Advisor to Iran's Nuclear Negotiating Team
Alam Saleh Lecturer in Iranian Studies at the Australian National University
David Jonas Adjunct Law Professor at George Washington University
We speak to Malian Presidential candidate Yeah Samake, who defends claims that France has armed terrorists in the country. The Junta took its complaints to the United Nations, but does Mali have the evidence to back up such a bombshell accusation? Guest:
Yeah Samake Malian Presidential Candidate
Precisely 100 years ago, Benito Mussolini led a march on Rome. As a result, the government was overthrown, and his National Fascist Party ascended to power. He may have been executed as World War Two ended. Still, parts of Mussolini’s political legacy live on and are praised by certain Italian leaders. Following a surge of migrants to Italy’s southern point, far-right parties are now focused on border control as they campaign for power in the forthcoming general election, following the fall of Mario Draghi’s unity government. What could a right wing-government mean for tens of thousands of people fleeing war and economic instability?
Guests:
Valerio Bordonaro Former Adviser to the PM Enrico Letta
Marco Campomenosi Member of the European Parliament
Eugenio Cusumano International Relations Associate Professor at Leiden University
North Korea is the most isolated nation on earth and also one of the most feared, and that’s largely because it’s leader, Kim Jong un is not only a brutal dictator he’s an unpredictable man with access to nuclear weapons. But how is one of the poorest nations on the planet able to fund such a costly and dangerous nuclear weapons programme? According to the US, Pyongyang has an army of hackers stealing vast sums of cryptocurrency, and Washington is worried.
Guests:
Daniel Pinkston International Relations Lecturer at Troy University
Philip Ingram Former British Military Intelligence Officer
Tom O'Connor Senior Foreign Policy Writer for the Newsweek Magazine
An anti-immigration movement continues to pick up steam in South Africa. Operation Dudula has its sights on several targets: from dirty cops to drug dealers. But most of all, the organisation wants undocumented migrants to get out of the country. But are protesters battling crime and unemployment? Or using the country's woes to promote a xenophobic agenda?
Guests:
Ike Khumalo Operation Dudula Supporter
Andrew Whitfield South African Shadow Minister of Police
Gareth Newham Head of the Justice and Violence Prevention Programme at the Institute for Security Studies Africa
Kenya’s presidential polls have a history of drama, and this year’s was no different. The contest was close, fierce and of course controversial, but William Rutto narrowly came out on top defeating Raila Odinga. But the fight may not be over yet, after the opposition leader refused to accept the result claiming electoral fraud. Are his claims justified?
Guests: Joseph Ekhuya Simekha Political Analyst and Strategist
Scheaffer Okore Global Development Policy and Governance Expert
A year ago, the Taliban announced they had fulfilled its obligation of liberating Afghanistan, as US-led troops ended two decades of intervention in a conflict that cost tens of thousands of lives. Under the new Taliban rule, according to Human Rights Watch, the economy has collapsed, with the Taliban shunning most international financial institutions. The group also hasn't turned around an ongoing food crisis, as half the population suffers from some hunger. In addition, the new government has rolled back the rights of women and girls, blocking them from education, jobs, and freedom of movement. We take a look at which road Afghanistan is heading down.
Guests: Mariam Wardak Founder of 'Her Afghanistan' NGO
Michael Kugelman Wilson Center South Asia Expert
Imtiaz Gul Executive Director of Center for Research and Security Studies
Monkeypox may not be as deadly as Covid-19, but that didn't stop the World Health Organization from declaring the recent outbreak a global health emergency. More than 80 countries where Monkeypox is not endemic have reported outbreaks of the virus and with vaccines in short supply, some fear the virus could spiral out of control.
Guests:
Dr. Margaret Harris WHO Spokesperson
Dr. Amesh Adalja Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Oksana Pyzik Senior Teaching Fellow at the UCL School of Pharmacy
Japan has one of the lowest crime rates in the world, but when it comes to human trafficking, Tokyo may not be doing enough to tackle the problem. Last month the US released its annual anti-human trafficking report which said the Japanese government has failed to address the issue of trafficking. Are the claims fair?
Guests:
Adam Whittington Founder of Project Rescue Children
Mariko Yamaoka Director of Not For Sale Japan
Terry Fitzpatrick Director of The Alliance to End Slavery and Trafficking
Nancy Snow Professor of Public Diplomacy at Kyoto University
Chad's military council signed a ceasefire agreement with dozens of opposition factions. But does it mean anything since the country’s largest rebel group refused to sign on? We look at how the Doha deal can affect peace talks in the country later this month, and a promised presidential election.
Guests:
David Otto Director for Geneva Centre for Africa Security and Strategic Studies
Andrew E. Yaw Tchie Senior Research Fellow at Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
Paul Melly Consulting Fellow for Africa Programme at Chatham House
Amnesty International has faced a massive backlash after releasing a report accusing Ukraine of endangering its own civilians. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded with fury accusing the rights group of victim blaming, and even within Amnesty’s ranks there is disagreement with the report. The group’s head in Ukraine quit after the release suggesting it had become a tool of Russian propaganda.
Guests:
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Colin Alexander Political Communications Lecturer at Nottingham Trent University
After three days of bombardment, Islamic Jihad in Palestine and Israel declared a truce. The ceasefire in Gaza began like many in the past with municipality workers removing rubble, and determining the extent of the destruction. The physical damage can be determined but the emotional one is incalculable. Half of the dozens of civilians, mostly children so far have been killed. Israel's military still considers this a victory in its war against PIJ also known as, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. PIJ is known as the second biggest militia in Gaza after Hamas and two of its senior commanders were killed. We take a look at whether the peace in Gaza will hold.
Guests:
Mustafa Barghouti Palestinian National Initiative Secretary General
Omar Baddar Former Deputy Director of the Arab American Institute
Dave Harden Former USAID Assistant Administrator for the West Bank and Gaza
This week marks 50 years since Ugandan President Idi Amin expelled tens of thousands of Asians from the east African nation. It was one of his most controversial policies and left a lasting impact on the country and those who were forced out. Mohamed Walji takes a look at the man who came to be known as the butcher of Uganda, and his decision to force an entire ethnic community out of the country.
In August 1972, Ugandan President Idi Amin ordered all those of Asian descent to leave within 90 days. Many of the 80,000 individuals fled to the United Kingdom including our guest Noreen Nasim’s father. Watch as she recounts his experiences and the challenges and fears he faced.
Noreen Nasim Author of ‘Expelled from Uganda’
Her stops in Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea and Japan made the news but Nancy Pelosi's highly controversial visit to Taiwan stole the global headlines. China warned her not to go. The White House expressed serious reservations. But, as an independent member of the US congress, Pelosi forged ahead with her trip to Taipei. Not long after she left, Beijing sanctioned the House Speaker, as well as launched its largest ever military drills near the island. Did Pelosi’s trip serve to defend US values and strategic interests? Or has it dangerously escalated tensions in the region?
Guests:
Victor Gao Soochow University Chair Professor
John Blaxland International Security Professor at the Australian National University
For many Kashmiris, August 5th, 2019, was a day of confusion and concern as India's parliament abolished the 75-year-old constitutional clause known as Article 370. Indian troops marched into the Kashmir valley, and a round-the-clock curfew was imposed. Cable TV, phone lines and the internet were all cut off. And for months, food and other supply chains were disrupted. We discuss the fallout and whether Delhi's decision has helped Kashmiris or Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political ambitions.
Guests:
Muzzammil Ayubb Thakur President of World Kashmir Freedom Movement
Raman Malik BJP Spokesperson
Moeed Pirzada Journalist and Political Commentator
For many Kashmiris, August 5th, 2019, was a day of confusion and concern as India's parliament abolished the 75-year-old constitutional clause known as Article 370. Indian troops marched into the Kashmir valley, and a round-the-clock curfew was imposed. Cable TV, phone lines and the internet were all cut off. And for months, food and other supply chains were disrupted. We discuss the fallout and whether Delhi's decision has helped Kashmiris or Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political ambitions.
Guests:
Muzzammil Ayubb Thakur President of World Kashmir Freedom Movement
Raman Malik BJP Spokesperson
Moeed Pirzada Journalist and Political Commentator
When Muqtada al Sadr ordered his supporters to resign from parliament in June, he said it was to end months of political deadlock. But there’s still no government, and now there’s protests on the streets of Iraq. Thousands of Sadrists marched through Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, ultimately storming parliament after becoming increasingly frustration with corruption, the political system, and the Iran-backed Coordination Framework’s pick for prime minister, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. Many on the streets are demanding the constitution be reformed, but will their calls be heard? Or just cause further chaos in a country already in crisis?
Guests:
Dhiaa al Asadi Former Chair of the Sadrist Political Office
Tallha Abdulrazaq Iraqi Security and Political Analyst
Marsin Alshamary Harvard Kennedy School's Middle East Initiative Research Fellow
As Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi holds the third most powerful position in her government. Therefore, a trip to Taiwan has such significant consequences that at the time of this recording, she's remained quiet on whether she's going despite several media outlets confirming that she does. Beijing says its military won't stand by idly if the US house speaker visits Taipei on her tour of Asia. But can Chinese threats dictate US leaders' decisions? And what does it say to the people of Taiwan?
Guests:
Ching-Yi Lin Taiwanese Legislator for the Democratic Progressive Party
Xu Qinduo Former China Radio International Chief Correspondent
Riley Walters Senior Fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute
A news conference between Türkiye and Germany's top diplomats started off cordial but soon turned heated. Their meeting in Istanbul came as tensions have risen in the eastern Mediterranean between Türkiye and Greece. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu criticised Germany for abandoning its once neutral stance, calling on Berlin to return to its role as a mediator between Ankara and Athens. His German counterpart, Annalena Baerbock said problems in the eastern Mediterranean could not be solved by escalating tensions. Cavusoglu also pointed out that Germany was in no position to tell Türkiye to follow the court's rulings as well. We ask if the ties between Ankara and Berlin are now headed for a more tense relationship.
Guests:
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst
Talha Kose Associate Professor at Ibn Haldun University
Two weeks ago, Iran told the UN that it had begun enriching uranium by up to 20%. That's far from weapons' grade territory, but still, alarm bells were set off. As a result, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy sprang into action. In an op-ed in the Financial Times, Josep Borrell announced he'd submitted a new plan that couldn't include a better compromise. Can an accord be resurrected, or has Iran's nuclear program already come too far?
Guests:
Hassan Ahmadian Assistant Professor of Middle East Studies at University of Tehran
Ali Fathollah-Nejad Iranian Expert at the American University of Beirut
Negar Mortazavi Iranian-American Journalist
France leads the way on a social media crackdown, spreading across Europe. This week, French interior minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Twitter that parliament has adopted a bill to prevent the spread of terrorist content online. He says this text makes it possible to force publishers and web hosts to remove the content within the hour. However, did parliament pass legislation to fight terrorism, or did lawmakers create a new vehicle for censorship?
Guests:
Joseph Downing LSE Fellow in Nationalism at the European Institute
Dennis-Kenji Kipker Professor of European and International IT Security at the Riga School of Law
Pieter Cleppe Editor-in-chief of Brussels Report
Jair Bolsonaro is often referred to as the Trump of the tropics, and just like the former US President, Brazil’s leader has concerns about his own country’s election system. The controversial president says the electronic voting system is unreliable and susceptible to fraud, but most have rejected the allegations. So are Jair Bolsonaro’s claims justified? Or does Brazil’s president have another reason for peddling these claims?
Guests:
Julio Morais President of Caesar Group Inc.
Gustavo Riberio Founder of the Brazilian Report
Elcior Santana Adjunct Professor at the Center for Latin American Studies
This week Myanmar’s military junta executed four democracy activists after accusing them of committing acts of terror. It was the first time since 1989 that anyone in the country was put to death by the state and the decision brought about widespread condemnation. One of those executed was former NLD politician Phyo Zeya Thaw, a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi. Another was Chyaw Min Yu, also known as Ko Jimmy, he had played a significant role in the protest movement of 1988 which brought down the previous military regime. Amnesty International believes these executions could be the first of many, and others fear Myanmar’s military junta is willing to stop at nothing to ensure it remains in control.
Guests:
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon Daughter of Detained Activist U Mya Aye
Khin Ohmar Progressive Voice Advisory Board Founder
Mu Sochua ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Board Member
Supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied didn't wait for the official results to be announced regarding a constitutional referendum. Instead, they climbed the steps of Tunis' municipal theatre to celebrate, after an exit poll stated an overwhelming yes vote to overhaul the country's constitution. But will the vote lead the country to one-man rule? Or will it be the mandate the President needs to weed out what he calls corrupt bureaucracy?
Guests:
Radwan Masmoudi Member of Ennahda Party
Kamal Ben Younes Director of Strategic Studies Center Averroes
Yasmine Akrimi North Africa Analyst
Strait Talk brings context to the stories that are changing the world around us. It features in-depth analysis of Turkey’s role in the world and how global events are redefining our age. Driven by original reporting, Strait Talk gets to the core of complicated issues, to bring out the human stories hidden behind historical events. It airs every Tuesday and Friday at 18:30 GMT on TRT World.
For many, the future of Sri Lanka’s finances rests on an IMF bailout. However, Friday’s violent crackdown on protesters may have jeopardised that plan. Ranil Wickremesinghe is not just facing condemnation from his own people; human rights groups are also upset, destabilising Wickremesinghe’s standing with the international community.
Guests:
Aruna Kulatunga Former Adviser to Ranil Wickremesinghe
Ahilan Kadirgamar Sociology Department Lecturer at the University of Jaffna
Ermiza Tegal Human Rights Activist
In Kenya elections are often controversial, even violent. Previous polls have been marred by allegations of fraud and deadly clashes. So Kenyans are hoping next month's vote will be different. While four candidates will be on the ballot, the real battle is between former prime minister Raila Odinga and Deputy President William Ruto. Odinga is vying for the presidency for a fifth time, and even has the backing of his former rival and incumbent President Uhurru Kenyatta.
Guests:
Nerima Wako Ojiwa Executive Director of Siasa Place NGO
Agnes Gitau Managing Partner at GBS Africa
Cameron Hudson Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council's Africa Center
Imran Khan is a Pakistani political heavyweight. Less than four months ago he was ousted in a vote of no confidence, but the former prime minister's presence in the country is impossible to ignore. Despite his ouster, Khan still draws massive crowds of supporters in an ongoing effort to return to power. And his party's key election victory in the Punjab province on Sunday could prove the catalyst for his revival.
Fawad Chaudhry Pakistan’s Former Minister of Information and Broadcasting
Saad Muhammad Retired Brigadier in Pakistan's Army
Huma Baqai Professor at the Millennium Institute of Technology and Entrepreneurship
After months of protests defined by chants of ‘Gota go home’, Sri Lanka's demonstrators can claim a major breakthrough. Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whose family has held political domination over the island nation for close to two decades has fled the country. Last week, the now former president was forced out of office after thousands of protestors- angered by an economic collapse they say he engineered stormed his residence in the capital. And once his resignation was confirmed, many came out to celebrate.
Sesiri Pathirane Sri Lankan Political Analyst
Alan Keenan International Crisis Group's Senior Sri Lanka Analyst
Satyam Sukumaran Advocacy Officer at People for Equality and Relief in Lanka
On an unassuming Friday night six years ago, Türkiye suddenly faced the prospect of its elected government being overthrown by a rogue faction of its military. In spite of some internal political differences at the time, Turks rose up together that night, many risking their lives, to protect democracy. Hundreds were killed and thousands were injured but they succeeded in an extraordinary act of defiance against armed soldiers with guns, tanks and warplanes.
Matthew Bryza Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
Taha Meli Arvas Adjunct Professor of Finance at Bogazici University
Tarık Oguzlu International Relations Professor at Istanbul Aydin University
In Japan gun violence is extremely rare. So when Shinzo Abe was fatally shot while campaigning for a fellow party member in the western city of Nara, many just couldn't believe it. The former Japanese prime minister was delivering a speech ahead of parliamentary elections when a gunman fired two shots from a homemade firearm. Shinzo Abe was a transformational leader. He crafted decisive, sometimes controversial economic and foreign policies. While some hailed what came to be known as ‘Abenomics’ as a game changer, others say it fell short. Yes there was growth, but not at the rate Japan had once seen and certainly not at the rate the government had projected. Then, there was his foreign policy. Following the Second World War Japan adopted a pacifist constitution. Shinzo Abe wanted to change that. The conservative premier expanded the military, significantly increased defence spending and was rarely afraid of challenging his rivals even after leaving office.
Ichiro Fujisaki Former Japanese Ambassador to the US, UN and WTO
Nancy Snow Visiting Professor at Tsinghua University
Seijiro Takeshita University of Shizuoka Professor
It's been two and a half years since COVID-19 first emerged, and by this point, some thought the virus would be forgotten. But instead, many countries are facing yet another massive wave of infection. Cases have jumped by almost a third globally, and like so many times before, the World Health Organization is warning the pandemic is far from over.
Dr Daniel Goyal NHS Medical Consultant
Dr Mohammad Haqmal Public Health Expert
Emanuele Capobianco WHO Foundation Chief Strategy and Impact Officer
They say a week is a long time in politics. But the past two days must have felt like a lifetime for Boris Johnson. A record number of his ministers and aides resigned over 48 hours placing the Prime Minister under immense pressure. Johnson was reluctant to step aside, repeatedly saying he would carry on. But on Thursday he agreed he could no longer continue.
Peter Wilding Special Adviser to Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood
Andre Walker Conservative Political Commentator
Mete Coban Labour Councillor for Stoke Newington
For months Presidents Paul Kagame and Felix Tshisekede have been involved in a war of words that many fear could turn into full-blown conflict. But now the Rwandan and Congolese leaders are meeting face to face in Luanda to try to settle their differences. Tensions have been rising in eastern Congo where more than a hundred militia groups wreak havoc on the region. But right now, most eyes are focused on just one of those groups. They're called the M23, and Kinshasa says they're backed by Rwanda.
Vava Tampa Activist and Founder of Save the Congo
Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza Researcher at the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research
David Otto Counter Terrorism Specialist
Most people around the world will have never heard of Karakalpakstan. The autonomous region is home to about two million people and enjoys a special status as a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan. But when the Uzbek President announced plans to reform the constitution and potentially change that status, the autonomous region rose up. In a rare act of defiance thousands took to the streets in protest, and it ended in brutal chaos. Demonstrators tried to seize several government buildings in the provincial capital Nukus. According to human rights groups, they were met with excessive force leaving at least 18 dead and hundreds injured. Following the unrest, the Uzbek government declared a state of emergency and Amnesty International is calling for an investigation into the violence.
Gulnoza Ismailova Member of Uzbekistan's Central Constitutional Commission
Luca Anceschi Eurasian Studies Professor at the University of Glasgow
Steve Swerdlow Central Asian Affairs Analyst
The 2014 Scottish independence referendum was hailed as a once in a generation vote. But just less than a decade later, Nicola Sturgeon wants to try again. The First Minister has been paving the way for a second vote for some time. But last week was the starkest indication of just how badly she wants it. Speaking to the Scottish parliament, Sturgeon said she was formally writing to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to seek consent, and announced she wanted the vote to take place next year.
Alex Salmond Former First Minister of Scotland
John Nicolson Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party
John Ferry Scottish Liberal Democrats Financial Spokesperson
From world leaders and scientists to movie stars and diplomats. There were some pretty heavy hitters attending this year's Ocean Conference in Lisbon. And like many other UN-led climate summits, the warnings were clear and familiar. The planet is in peril, and we need to do something about it now.
Guests:
Carlos Alvarado Quesada Former President of Costa Rica
Abed El Rahman Hassoun Oceanographer and Scientific Researcher at GEOMAR
Laura Meller Greenpeace Ocean Policy Adviser
Ranjan Panda Convenor at Combat Climate Change Network
It's been four months since Vladimir Putin shocked the world by ordering his troops to attack Ukraine. So with the conflict still raging, this year's NATO summit in Madrid focused on dealing with Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the meeting virtually, and warned the military alliance that Moscow's ambitions will not stop at his country.
Mark Kimmitt Former US Assistant Secretary of State
Onur Erim Political Analyst and Author
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Russia’s actions in Ukraine are already spreading fear that it wants to extend control across Eastern Europe. Now the country appears to be setting its sights on Africa - in what some NATO members are calling a “worrying” threat to the security of the bloc’s allies.
Guests:
Oluwole Ojewale Central Africa Analyst at the Institute for Security Studies
Pauline Bax International Crisis Group
Vyacheslav Matuzov Former Russia Diplomat
Mark Webber NATO specialist
When Muqtada al Sadr ordered his 73 lawmakers to resign, it was a huge political gamble. The controversial cleric's party went from having the most seats in parliament, to having none for the first time in more than 15 years. And what makes his decision even more surprising is that his lawmakers were replaced by his biggest rivals. The Coordination Framework is an alliance mostly made up of Iran backed Shia parties and now they’re the biggest bloc in parliament.
Ali al Dabbagh Former Iraqi Government Spokesperson
Dhiaa al Asadi Former Chair of the Sadrist Political Office
For two weeks Ecuador's indigenous groups have led mass protests. Frustrated by food and fuel shortages, demonstrators have virtually paralysed the country. But on Monday, the government lifted the state of emergency, and talks to end the unrest are finally getting underway. So far there's been no definitive agreement, but President Guillermo Lasso has made some concessions and agreed to cut the price of fuel. Will those concessions be enough?
Inkarri Kowii Consultant at Nia Tero NGO
Nora Brito International Affairs Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations
Matthew Carpenter-Arevalo Ecuadorian-Canadian Journalist
It wasn't the first time migrants had tried to scale the border fence between Morocco and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. But it was the first time since Madrid and Rabat mended diplomatic relations last month. Authorities say about two thousand people tried to climb the iron fence. At least 27 of them died as a result. Rights groups from Spain and Morocco are calling for an investigation into exactly what happened. But the government in Madrid has already made it clear who they think is at fault blaming a mafia of human traffickers.
Luis Arroyo Former Political Adviser to ex-Spanish PM Zapatero
Nabil Adel Research Professor at the ESCA Management School
Carlos Conde Solares Hispanic Studies Senior Lecturer at Northumbria University
On January 6th 2021 thousands traveled from across the United States to attend Donald Trump's Save America rally. His battle cry had convinced them that the 2020 election was stolen, and that they had to stop it. Many tried, and stormed the Capitol. The former president is accused of an attempted coup, and Congressional hearings into that fateful day have unveiled some shocking revelations.
Nick Quested Documentary Filmmaker
Frank Buckley Law Professor at George Mason University
Robert Gutsche Jr US Political Analyst and Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University
In 2019, after months of unrest, Omar al Bashir was forced to step down. The Sudanese president was one of the world's longest ruling dictators. So when he fell, Sudan finally had a chance at democracy. But after decades of autocratic rule, a transition wouldn't be easy, and over the past three years there have been a number of setbacks. Talks to get the country back on track to civilian rule were dealt another blow this week after the African Union called the negotiations dishonest.
Hamid Khalafallah Sudanese Activist
Rabie Abdul Atti Obeid Former Senior Official with Sudan’s National Congress Party
Cameron Hudson Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council's Africa Center
If a democracy's health were based on the number of elections it held, Israel would be the healthiest democracy in the world. After the Bennet-Lapid government filed a motion to dissolve parliament on Monday, the country is now heading to its fifth election in three years. But will a new vote end the political deadlock?
Jeremy Saltan Yamina Knesset Faction Director
Mitchell Barak Former Aide to Benjamin Netanyahu
Evan Cohen Former Spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu
For decades Colombia has been ruled by the center or the right. Even while so many other Latin American nations ushered in liberal politicians, Colombian voters consistently kept the left out. But now for the first time in its history, voters backed the other side of the political spectrum.
Gustavo Petro's victory IS historic for Colombia, not least because his running mate- environmentalist Francia Marquez- will become the country's first black Vice President. Coming from a background of little or no economic privilege, she's promised to champion the poor. Still, the election was close. Right wing rival Rodolfo Hernandez came in just under 50 percent, leaving the 62-year-old former mayor of Bogota with just a slim victory margin. When Gustavo Petro takes the presidential reins in August, he'll face a number of serious challenges.
Sergio Guzman Colombia Risk Analysis Director
Richard McColl Colombia Calling Podcast Host
Laura Gamboa Latin America Analyst
For some, the US justice system is not a beacon of fairness and transparency. And in the case of Julian Assange, many see his legal ordeal as politically motivated. Nevertheless, the UK government has signed off on Assange's extradition, after a British court ruled a US trial would not qualify as oppressive, unjust or abuse of the extradition process. But human rights organisations could not disagree more. Among them Amnesty International, who condemned the UK decision saying the Wikileaks founder will not find justice inside a US courtroom, and instead could be treated inhumanely.
Guests:
Greg Barns, Julian Assange's Legal Adviser
Andre Walker, British Political Commentator
Andrew Fowler, Investigative Journalist
Right now the biggest challenge to Kais Saied's rule isn't coming from his opponents in government. It's coming from the country's largest trade union. On Thursday, the UGTT organised a mass, public sector walkout, in response to the president's planned economic reforms. Flights were canceled, buses and trains were halted and government offices were closed. Saeid is in the midst of trying to raise funds to prevent the country's economic collapse, and in an attempt to secure a four billion dollar loan from the IMF, he froze public sector wages, and cut subsidies, causing unions to revolt.
Ghaya Ben Mbarek Tunisian Journalist
Youcef Bouandel Professor of Political Sciences at Qatar University
Yasmine Akrimi North Africa Research Analyst at Brussels International Center
When Muqtada al Sadr's party won October's election we asked if he could form an effective government. After eight months of political paralysis, it's clear he could not. But now Iraq's most powerful politician has decided enough is enough. The decision has shocked and confused many. The Sadrist bloc won 73 of 329 seats in October's election. Clearly not enough for an overall majority, but it did put his party in the proverbial driver's seat. The Sairoon alliance was close to forming a government after joining forces with Sunni and Kurdish blocs. But Iran-backed parties blocked the formation. The controversial Shia cleric is a massive opponent of Iran's influence in his country. But what's confusing some experts now is that many of al Sadr's lawmakers will be replaced by Iran-backed parties. Nevertheless he's standing by his decision with some support from the streets.
Tallha Abdulrazaq Iraqi Security and Political Analyst
Ahmed Rushdi Senior Adviser to the Iraqi Parliament's Secretary General
Saad al Muttalibi Political Security Adviser to the Baghdad Security Council
It's widely believed dinosaurs were taken out by an asteroid, which could leave humans as the first species to engineer its own demise. In just a few months the world's most powerful decision makers will meet in Egypt for COP27. It could be one of the most important summits in history because it's widely agreed that time is running out to save the planet. The UN has repeatedly warned about the impact of global carbon emissions, yet year on year they continue to rise. In April the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a report saying it was now or never to avoid a catastrophe.
Peter Alexander Senior Lecturer in Global Food Security at University of Edinburgh
Jojo Mehta Co-Founder and Executive Director of Stop Ecocide
Thandile Chinyavanhu Climate and Energy Campaigner for Greenpeace Africa
Seven years of war have destroyed Yemen. The vast majority of the population lives below the poverty line, making it the poorest country in the Middle East. Numerous attempts to broker a lasting ceasefire have failed, but now there may be a chance for a durable peace. The recognized government- backed by Saudi Arabia- and Iran-backed Houthi rebels have agreed to extend a two-month truce. For the first time in a long while, there's been relative calm in the country, and the UN says this is the time to end the war. But is that really a possibility?
Sami Hamdi The International Interest Editor-in-Chief
Hussain Albukhaiti Pro-Houthi Yemeni Journalist
Giorgio Cafiero Founder and CEO of Gulf State Analytics
One by one the Rajapaksas are resigning. Basil, the president's brother and former finance minister left parliament last week- the second family member to quit in the space of a month.
His resignation comes as Sri Lanka faces the worst economic crises since its independence. Food and fuel are scarce, and power cuts are common. And with these problems come protests. Demonstrations are almost as frequent as the blackouts themselves. So with Sri Lanka still in crisis, what will it take to get the country back to stability?
Guests:
Aruna Kulatunga Former Adviser to PM Ranil Wickremesinghe
Prashan De Visser Founder of Sri Lanka Unites
Ahilan Kadirgamar Sociology Department Lecturer at the University of Jaffna
Donald Trump pulled out from it. Joe Biden said he wanted to revive it. But after seven years is the Iranian nuclear deal on the verge of complete collapse? After the government in Tehran switched off more than 2 dozen surveillance cameras in its nuclear facilities, Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency said it could be a fatal blow to the accord.
Patrick Clawson Director of Research at the Washington Institute
Setareh Sadeqi Political Analyst
Borzou Daragahi Senior Fellow at the Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security
In his first speech as ANC leader, Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to crackdown on corruption and criminality. But now the South African president is accused of the very things he promised to stamp out. Arthur Fraser, the country's former spy chief and well known Jacob Zuma ally released a statement last week saying he'd opened criminal charges against the president. It relates to the theft of more than four million dollars from Ramaphosa's cattle farm. Fraser alleges burglars broke into the property to steal money, but were caught, kidnapped, then bribed to keep quiet. The president says he's innocent.
Phillip Dexter Former South African MP and ANC Politician
Mzwanele Manyi Spokesperson for Former President Jacob Zuma
Oliver Dickson Political Analyst
The Prophet Muhammad is by far and away the most revered figure in Islam. So when a spokesperson for India's ruling BJP decided to insult him, there was bound to be a backlash. But this time the outrage is international. After BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma made disparaging remarks about the Prophet during a debate on one of India's biggest television networks, several nations expressed anger. The UAE said the comments 'contradict moral and human values and principles'. Qatar summoned the Indian ambassador and demanded an apology. Kuwait did the same. Some supermarkets have even started pulling Indian products from their shelves. The BJP suspended Sharma and condemned Sharma’s remarks. But does India’s ruling party have a problem with Muslims?
Shahid Siddiqui Former Member of Indian Parliament
Ranjana Kumari Centre for Social Research Director
Sanjay Jha Indian National Congress Former Spokesperson
In the past 300 years, the UK has had almost sixty Prime Ministers. Boris Johnson is the only one to have broken the law while in office. Fined by police two months ago for flouting a coronavirus lockdown he himself had imposed on the country, an independent investigation into repeated breaches at his official residence has highlighted a lack of judgement and a failure of leadership at the very top of government. Johnson has never been one to play by the rules, although his most important job may be winning votes, and on that, he delivers. Morals and ethics don't always sit easily in the world of politics, but on Monday evening, after enough of his own MPs triggered a vote of no-confidence, 41 percent of them cast ballots to remove him. It wasn't enough.
Guests:
Calvin Robinson Journalist and Political Commentator
Patrick Diamond Author of 'The British Labour Party in Opposition and Power'
Chris Roebuck Transformational Leadership Professor at Bayes Business School
Since 2016, almost 30 thousand Canadians have died from a drug overdose, and nearly a third were in British Columbia. But now, the west coast province is ready to try a less conventional solution. The Canadian province plans a trial to decriminalize drugs. Will it reduce the number of overdoses? Or create a bigger public health crisis?
Guests:
Antony Loewenstein Author of 'Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs'
Michael Vigil Former DEA Head of International Operations
Cristiana Merendeiro Neuropsychologist and Project Manager at CRESCER
El Salvador is one of the most violent countries in the world. But its millennial president says he's going to change that. Nayib Bukele is young, unique and polarising. His policies are controversial and divisive, and inside El Salvador most people either love him or hate him. One of his biggest challenges since coming to power in 2019 has been taking on the country's numerous armed gangs. Towards the end of March, one weekend of violence left 80 people dead. 62 in a single day. Congress imposed a state of emergency backed by the president, and in the space of a few weeks more than 30 thousand arrests were carried out. But how many of them were justified? Or even legal?
Javier Farje Latin America Analyst
Jonathan Rosen Security Studies Professor at New Jersey City University
Colin Harding Journalist and Latin America Analyst
This week the European Union agreed to block almost all Russian imports of oil as part of its latest set of sanctions after Russia’s attack on Ukraine. The Kremlin says it’s not concerned, and they’ll just find more buyers elsewhere. Will Moscow be able to do that? And can the bloc survive without Russian supplies?
Guests:
Matthew Bryza Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center Senior Fellow
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst specialising in EU Affairs
Leon Izbicki Energy Analyst
When the BJP came to power in 2019, they made several promises, but three stood out. First, the abrogation of Article 370- removing Jammu and Kashmir's special status under the Indian constitution. Second- to resolve the decades long temple or mosque dispute in Ayodhya. And finally the introduction of a Uniform Civil Code, or UCC. The ruling party thinks they've done the first two, and now, plans for the third, look to be underway.
Sudhanshu Mittal Senior Member of India's Ruling BJP
Rabia Sandal All India Muslim Women's Personal Law Board Secretary General
Alok Prasanna Kumar Co-Founder and Director of Vidhi Karnataka Institute
Boris Johnson is no stranger to scandal, but the British Prime Minister just can't shake partygate. When asked about lockdown parties in Downing Street, the Tory leader repeatedly said we need to hear what Sue Gray has to say. Well the civil servants long anticipated report came out last week. And the findings didn't paint Johnson and many of his colleagues in the best of light. While the Conservative government told people to stay home and save lives, many of them did not
Ben Harris-Quinney Chairman of Conservative Think Tank The Bow Group
Denis MacShane UK’s Former Minister for Europe
Ali Fazel Former Conservative Party Politician
Another mass shooting in America. A gunman kills 19 schoolchildren in a small town in Texas. President Joe Biden says it's time to act. But can the US ever change its gun laws?
Gary Slutkin Founding CEO of 'Cure Violence Global'
Allen Linton Associated Colleges of the Midwest Diversity and Inclusion Director
Bruce DelValle Founding Member of Fein and DelValle Law Firm
The world still hasn't fully recovered from COVID-19, and now there's talk of another virus. Monkeypox isn't new, but the way it has started to spread is causing concern. The disease is usually endemic to west and central Africa, but now it’s emerged in Europe, Australia and America. Should we be worried?
Tarik Jasarevic World Health Organization Spokesperson
Oksana Pyzik Senior Teaching Fellow at the UCL School of Pharmacy
Steven Van Gucht Head of Viral Diseases at Sciensano
Benjamin Neuman Chief Virologist at Texas A&M University
In this episode, we look at how Southeastern Europe is rallying together to lessen its dependence on Russian gas. Currently, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Serbia, and North Macedonia are all dependent on Russian gas. Bulgaria has agreed to import LNG from the US along with a series of other projects.
Also, Croatia’s floating LNG terminal on the island of Krk that started operating last year, is not only diversifying the country’s needs, it's also becoming a source for others across central Europe. Veljko Skenderija went to Krk island to see how operations were going.
And a proposal by Aleksandar Vucic to re-introduce compulsory military service for at least 90 days for all men in Serbia has caused a backlash. The country's mandatory military service was suspended in 2011, following a trend that had started earlier in the Balkans. Vucic stressed Serbia would still maintain its neutrality and would not join NATO.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ 👉http://trt.world/fvfp
For almost a decade Australia's been led by a conservative coalition. But on Saturday millions decided it was time for change. Scott Morrison's tenure is now over, and the era of Anthony Albanese is underway. The Labor party leader is no stranger to politics. He's been in parliament for 25 years, but now he's in the top job. Will he be able to deliver on his promise to tackle the climate crisis? And how will he deal with Australia’s foreign policy?
Tony Kevin Former Australian Ambassador
Ebony Bennett Deputy Director of The Australia Institute
Dennis Shanahan The Australian Newspaper's National Editor
When the Grenoble city council voted to allow burkinis in its public pools, there was a wave of celebrations in some sections of France. But while some were overjoyed, others bemoaned the decision calling it a step backwards for France and its secular values. The French interior minister also condemned the decision saying it was unacceptable. It’s not the first time a debate over the Burkini has erupted in France. In 2016, several mayors tried to ban the full-body swimsuit from beaches in the Mediterranean.
Guests:
Nabila Ramdani French Journalist and Broadcaster
Max Begon National Rally UK Representative
Dalia Fahmy Associate Professor of Political Science at Long Island University
16 candidates battled it out for the presidency, but the people of East Timor chose Jose Ramos-Horta. The former resistance fighter is one of the country's most prominent politicians. His fight for independence from Indonesia won him a Nobel Prize, but it also forced him into exile. Throughout his adult life, Ramos-Horta has faced numerous political challenges. But with the country's oil and gas exports running out, reversing East Timor's economic decline could be the most difficult challenge yet. By several measures, it's the poorest country in Asia. Unemployment and poverty are rampant and the nation still suffers political division. But Ramos-Horta has promised to unite the country.
Joao da Cruz Cardoso Analyst specialising in East Timor
Guteriano Neves East Timor based Policy Analyst
Gordon Peake Author of a book on East Timor
We're not even half way through 2022, and there've already been around 200 mass shootings in the United States. In recent years, the motivation for many of these murders appears to be race. On Saturday, a gunman walked into a supermarket in Buffalo, New York and opened fire. By the time he was apprehended, 10 people were dead, three more wounded, and almost all were Black.
Julian Armand Cook Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church Pastor
Kelechi Egwim Executive Director at APPEAL
Joseph Haynes Davis Lawyer and Criminal Justice Expert
Vernellia Randall Emeritus Law Professor at the University of Dayton
More than 700 candidates were vying for 128 seats in Lebanon's parliament. Four years years ago, the pro-Hezbollah bloc won 71, But today that overall majority is gone. The Iran-backed party did retain its own seats, its allies however did not. Reformist candidates did make serious gains, but with no outright winner, can Lebanon's leaders work together to rescue a country in crisis?
Martine Najem Free Patriotic Movement's Vice President of Management Affairs
Sami Attallah Founding Director of The Policy Initiative
Ziad Abichaker Former Parliamentary Candidate for Li Watani
This episode looks at Montenegro's new government and the challenges that lie ahead. The government is led by Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, the 36-year old politician who is bringing together both pro-Serbian and EU parties into his cabinet. Montenegro, a NATO member, has walked a delicate path between maintaining good relations with Serbia and Russia, while moving closer towards the west and Europe. But the conflict in Ukraine added another layer of complexity to an already fragile political situation. Some parties in Montenegro openly support Russia while others condemn the attacks. What challenges will the new government face as it tries to balance competing factions within its ranks?
We speak to Gordana Djurovic - a professor at the University of Montenegro. Gordana is also a former Deputy Prime Minister and former Minister for European Integration in the Montenegrin government.
Plus - the latest census results in North Macedonia sparked concerns among minority groups, including Turks and Bulgarians. Turkiye's Foreign Ministry says the number of Turks recorded in the last census is unrealistically low, and is supporting local Turkish groups that are shedding light on the numbers. The National Coordinative Body for the Census of Turkish People estimate that at least six percent of North Macedonia's population are Turks - but the latest census showed only 3.86 percent. And Bulgarians are also voicing similar complaints. Both ethnic communities said their rights have been violated and a transparent headcount for fair representation is needed.
We look into why Turks in North Macedonia feel that their rights have been violated.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ 👉 http://trt.world/fvfp
When COVID-19 first emerged in China, few would have predicted the level of devastation it would cause. In just over two years, at least six million people have lost their lives to the virus, and more than a million of them hail from the United States. It's the highest official global death toll and US President Joe Biden marked the tragic milestone by warning Americans and the world that the virus is still not behind us.
Guests:
Dr Amesh Adalja Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Oksana Pyzik Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL School of Pharmacy
Dr Edward Kelley WHO's Former Integrated Health Services Director
Both Sweden and Finland have traditionally adopted a stance of military neutrality. But after Russia's attack on Ukraine, the two Nordic nations made history and had a massive change of heart. On Sunday the Finnish Prime Minister hailed a new era for her country as she announced it formally wanted to join NATO, a few hours later, Sweden followed suit.
Tarık Oguzlu International Relations Professor at Istanbul Aydin University
William Courtney Former Special Assistant to the US President for Russia and Eurasia
Oscar Jonsson Author of 'The Russian Understanding of War'
Shireen Abu Akleh was laid to rest on Friday after the Al Jazeera journalist was shot and killed by Israeli forces. For more than twenty-years the veteran journalist reported on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, becoming a household name across the Arab world. But on Wednesday while covering a raid in the occupied West Bank city of Jenin, Israeli forces fatally shot the 51-year-old journalist. Video footage released shortly after the shooting shows Shireen was wearing a bullet proof vest clearly marked with the word press. Her identification as a journalist was supposed to protect her. But for many it was her work that led to her killing.
Guests:
Omar Baddar Former Al Jazeera Presenter
Eric Goldstein Human Rights Watch Deputy Director for Middle East and North Africa
Gideon Levy Haaretz Journalist
Sinn Fein’s Vice President described her party’s victory in Northern Ireland as defining moment for Belfast. For decades the nationalist party pushed for a unified Ireland and after winning the most seats in parliament, could their century old dream become a reality?
Niall O Donnghaile Sinn Fein Senator
Susan McKay Journalist and Broadcaster specialising in Northern Ireland
Denis MacShane UK’s Former Minister for Europe
Sri Lanka’s protests largely started out peacefully but this week, government supporters clashed with demonstrators demanding President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his older brother Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa resign, accusing them of mismanaging the economy. At least eight people were killed and the prime minister resigned in an attempt to quell the unrest. But demonstrators, who for months have been on the streets refused to stand down until President Gotabaya resigned himself.
Guests:
Rasika Jayakody Political Analyst and Author
Praviina Raviraj Member of the Centenary Movement
Prashan De Visser Sri Lankan Activist
Ferdinand Marcos Junior shares the same name as his father, but will he share his style of leadership? The 64 year old, better known as Bong Bong hails from one of the Philippines' most notorious political families. Many considered his dad a dictator who ruled for decades with an iron fist. But in 1986 more than a million Filipinos marched through Manila to topple his regime. Now 36 years later his son is set to take the reins.
Jose Custodio Ex-Consultant to Former Philippine President Benigno Aquino III
Aries Arugay University of the Philippines Diliman Political Science Professor
Danilo Arao Kontra Daya Convener
It's Russia's biggest and most prestigious public holiday, and this year's May 9th celebrations hold even more significance for Moscow. The massive military parade marks the Soviet Union's victory over the Nazis in World War 2. And today, the Kremlin says it's fighting a similar battle in Ukraine- claiming it's trying to ‘denazify’ the nation. That rhetoric has been prominent throughout the conflict, and it was no different in Moscow's Red Square. President Putin blamed the West for the conflict in Ukraine and said his troops were fighting for the motherland. But was this the celebration Putin envisioned, three months after launching the assault.
Sergey Utkin Russian Academy of Sciences Strategic Assesment Section Head
Peter Eltsov National Defense University Professor
Aglaya Snetkov International Politics of Russia Lecturer at UCL
Olaf Scholz was once described as the embodiment of boredom in politics, and in his first few months in office that label seemed to fit well enough. But then Russia attacked Ukraine, soon the Chancellor was transforming years of foreign, fiscal and military policy. In a historic speech to the German parliament, Scholz declared the world had entered a new era. For decades Berlin has implemented a strict policy of not sending weapons to war zones, even preventing Estonia from providing German made weapons to Ukraine in January. But a month later, that position changed. In an instant the German Chancellor reversed tact and agreed to supply Kiev with lethal weapons and tanks.
Ulrich Brueckner European Studies Professor at Stanford University in Berlin
Bodo Weber Senior Associate at the Democratization Policy Council
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst
Ankara and Yerevan have had a fraught relationship for decades. But in recent months, there've been encouraging signs that the long term foes could soon become friends. This week officials from both nations met in Vienna for another set of talks and repeated their desire to normalise ties.
Egemen Bagis Turkish Ambassador to the Czech Republic
Matthew Bryza Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tsikhanouskaya almost fell into politics by accident. After her husband Sergei, a prominent pro-democracy activist was arrested just days after announcing he would run for president, the former school teacher became the figurehead of the pro-democracy movement. Many saw her as Belarus' best hope to oust Alexander Lukashenko, the man many dub Europe's last dictator. In 2020 Tsikhanouskaya took on Alexander Lukashenko, but was beaten in a landslide, only taking about 10 percent of the vote. That result, however, was widely disputed. The opposition cried foul, and massive anti-government protests spread across the country. The vast majority of the international community also rejected the result. Tsikhanouskaya became a household name, and even a contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. Since then the opposition leader has met with foreign governments, lobbying for tougher sanctions against the Belarusian regime. But with the conflict in Ukraine pushing Minsk and Moscow ever closer together, has the Union State morphed into ‘One Russia’? And is there any hope for political dissidents to rise again?
Pavel Berstou National Anti-Crisis Management Belarus Foreign Policy Adviser
Hanna Liubakova Exiled Belarusian Journalist
Elisabeth Braw Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
When Australia, the UK and the US came together to form the AUKUS alliance in September, they never explicitly mentioned Beijing- though it was pretty clear a main objective of the pact was to counter Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific. But, seven months later, there's huge concern after China and the Solomon Islands signed a security pact, and Canberra is concerned.
John Blaxland International Security Professor at the Australian National University
Victor Gao Soochow University Chair Professor
Patricia O’Brien Asian Studies Program Professor at Georgetown University
Last weekend Sudan faced some of the worst intercommunal violence it's seen in years. At least 300 people were killed or injured in the city of El Geneina in western Darfur. The latest violence erupted after two Arab nomads were found dead near Kreinik, a town home to many ethnic Masalit. It wasn't long before armed Arab tribesmen hit back, raiding the town, killing nine people. National security forces failed to protect civilians, so is further turmoil inevitable?
Suliman Baldo International Center for Transitional Justice Africa Program Director
Cameron Hudson Former Chief of Staff to the US Envoy to Sudan
Hamid Murtada Sudanese Activist
Only twice in the planet's history have nuclear weapons been used. In 1945 the United States detonated two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Japan, killing about 140 thousand people, and levelling around seventy percent of both cities. The thought of that happening again is hard to bear, but since Russia launched its assault on Ukraine, is nuclear war an actual possibility?
Paul Ingram Senior Research Associate at Cambridge University
Dan Smith Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Director
Owen Brian Toon University of Colorado Boulder Atmospheric Studies Professor
Daniil Medvedev is the second best tennis player in the world right now and he was one of the favorites to win this year's Wimbledon tournament. But now he and every other Russian and Belarussian tennis player will be kept off the grass court. The All England Lawn Tennis Club has banned the athletes over Russia's assault on Ukraine. But is it fair?
Vladyslav Heraskevych Ukrainian Skeleton Racer
Illya Marchenko Professional Ukrainian Tennis Player
Ellis Cashmore Honorary Professor of Sociology at Aston University
Jordan Jarrett-Bryan Channel 4 News Sports Correspondent
On Monday morning, France woke up to five more years of Emmanuel Macron. The centrist leader is the first French president to secure re-election since Jacques Chirac in 2002. But while he won in a landslide in 2017 this year's result was closer. Macron may have picked up about 58 percent of the vote, but Marine Le Pen, the face of the far right in France had her best showing ever. In his victory speech Macron vowed to unite the country, but can he really bring change to France?
Denis Franceskin Member of France's National Rally Party
Nabila Ramdani French Journalist and Broadcaster
Jacques Reland Senior Research Fellow at The Global Policy Institute
There is a history of hostility between Hindus and Muslims in India, but in recent years, it seems they are more divided than ever. From New Delhi to Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Gujarat, Muslims and Hindus have clashed in episodes of religious violence that have many concerned about even greater escalation. On Wednesday in North Delhi's Jahangirpuri area, bulldozers, under orders from regional BJP leaders tore down a number of Muslim-owned shops. The order came after clashes had broken out during a Hindu religious procession. But the ruling BJP claims the demolished shops were built illegally, and their destruction had nothing to do with religion. India's top court has temporarily halted the demolitions, but not before serious damage had already been done, and many of those who've seen their livelihoods destroyed are furious.
Hasina Khan Founder of the Bebaak Collective
Sanjay Jha Former Indian National Congress Spokesperson
Raman Malik BJP Spokesperson
Over the past months, Ukrainian forces have proven a number of military analysts dead wrong, showing their capacity to repulse a brutal Russian onslaught. But though the first phase of fighting may not have gone to plan for Moscow, some say things are about to change- as Russia refocuses its efforts to eastern Ukraine. It's been dubbed the Battle for the Donbass, and should the Kremlin succeed, it could shift the entire trajectory of the war
David DesRoches Professor of Security Studies at the National Defense University
Donald Bowser International Peace and Security Consultant
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
From Afghanistan and Syria, to Yemen and Ukraine. Just four places millions have been forced to flee as they fight for survival. Last year, almost 30 thousand people risked their lives to make the perilous journey across the English Channel. But a controversial new plan could see them handed a one way ticket to Rwanda, six and a half thousand kilometers away. The scheme proposed by the British government has faced significant criticism, with many including a former Conservative Prime Minister questioning whether it’s even legal.
Sile Reynolds Asylum Advocacy Head at Freedom from Torture
Steven Woolfe Former MEP for the UK Independence Party
Anne Sofie Allarp Lawyer and Journalist
As Palestinian worshipers gathered at the Al Aqsa compound for morning prayers on Sunday, Israeli forces raided the mosque leaving at least 19 Palestinians injured. It was the second time in 48 hours police stormed the site. On Friday, just as prayers were coming to an end, a police raid injured 150 Palestinians and led to hundreds of arrests. Israel says those arrested had gathered stones and built barricades to block the arrival of Jewish worshippers. Many inside the compound reported Israeli forces used heavy handed tactics to push Palestinians out. Could the latest tensions provoke a new phase in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Danny Ayalon Israel's Former Deputy Foreign Minister
Nour Odeh Former Palestinian Authority Spokesperson
Mustafa Barghouti Palestinian National Initiative Secretary General
Sri Lanka is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in seventy years. Foreign currency is in short supply, and the government in Colombo simply doesn't have the money to either pay for essential imports or make its debt repayments. Last week it announced it was defaulting on its foreign debt as it desperately tries to take control of the situation. But many inside the country have had enough of the government and they want the president out.
Guests:
W A Wijewardena Sri Lanka's Former Central Bank Deputy Governor
Umesh Moramudali Economics Lecturer at the University of Colombo
Shihar Hassan Attorney at Law at the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka
According to a report by Oxfam, inequality is causing the death of one person every four seconds, and while the world’s ten richest men more than doubled their fortunes during the first two years of the pandemic, 99 percent of the rest of humanity are worse off. So what can done to fight global inequality?
Nabil Ahmed Head of Executive Strategy and Communications at Oxfam
Amanda Janoo Knowledge and Policy Lead at the Wellbeing Economy Alliance
Ben Phillips Author of 'How to Fight Inequality'
After six weeks under Russian siege, Mariupol has been brought to its knees. Taking control of the strategic port city in southeastern Ukraine would be a massive win for Russia. And Moscow has now claimed victory after one thousand Ukrainian forces reportedly surrendered. But Kiev claims the city remains under its control. Who's to be believed?
Ivan Katchanovski Political Studies Professor at the University of Ottawa
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Five years ago Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen faced off in France's presidential poll. Now again, in 2022, the two are battling it out for the country's top job. Back in 2017, Macron had an easy win, picking up 66 percent of the vote. But now, according to the polls, he is the frontrunner, but his victory is not a foregone conclusion. The latest surveys show the race now is much closer with one of the country’s most respected pollsters giving Macron a slight lead with 51 percent of the vote.
Alexis Poulin Founder of 'The Modern World' News
Denis Franceskin Member of France's National Rally Party
Philippe Marliere Professor of French and European Politics at UCL
When Russian forces attacked Ukraine in February, some thought victory would be swift given Moscow's military might. But seven weeks later, thousands are dead, millions displaced, and the conflict rages on. It seems the Russian assault hasn't gone exactly to plan for the Kremlin, and now it appears to be changing course. Its troops are refocusing their efforts on eastern Ukraine, and President Vladimir Putin has appointed a new top commander. But will it change the course of the conflict?
Andrij Dobriansky
Chair of UN Affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
Sergey Markov
Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Elisabeth Braw
Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Imran Khan was once tipped to become the first Pakistani Prime Minister to serve a full five year term. But after 4 years his leadership came to an end, after losing a vote of no confidence. On Monday parliament elected PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif to take over. So what led to Imran Khan’s downfall?
Shaukat Tarin Former Finance Minister of Pakistan
Faisal Subzwari Muttahida Qaumi Movement Senator
Walid Iqbal Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Senator
Huma Baqai Pakistani Affairs Analyst
In the two years since the start of the pandemic, more than six million people have died from COVID-19. But it's not just lives that have been lost, it's livelihoods too. With nations forced to introduce severe restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, millions lost their jobs as entire economies ground to a halt. But in 2022, in most parts of the world it almost feels like the pandemic is over. In many of the wealthiest nations, governments have been lifting restrictions rapidly. But is it too soon?
Oksana Pyzik Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL School of Pharmacy
Dr Daniel Goyal NHS Medical Consultant
Dr Edward Kelley WHO's Former Integrated Health Services Director
After the chaos and devastation of World War Two, the world came to realize that an effective body for international governance was needed. So in 1945, 51 countries came together to form the United Nations. Its aim was to promote peace, security and foster friendly relations on the global stage. According to the UN charter, the goal was to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. But with the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine leaving thousands dead and millions displaced, the role of the UN is once again under scrutiny. On Tuesday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke via video link to the UN and took aim at the 15 member security council.
Iuliia Osmolovska Former Ukrainian Diplomat
Zachary Paikin Senior Visiting Fellow at the Global Policy Institute
Rosa Freedman Law Professor at Reading University
The word crisis is often overused, but when it comes to Sri Lanka, it might not go far enough. The island nation is in the midst of its worst economic downturn since gaining independence more than seventy years ago. Food and fuel are in short supply, and millions wait in line for hours for most basic goods. Frequent power cuts are forcing shops to shut down, and Sri Lankans have had enough. Simmering tensions finally boiled over to spark violent protests. The government declared a state of emergency and introduced a curfew. Security forces are accused of using excessive force to end the unrest, but Sri Lankans have carried on. Could the unrest force President Rajapaksa to resign?
Shanakiyan Rajaputhiran Rasamanickam Member of Parliament for the ITAK Party
Shamara Wettimuny Historian and Researcher at Oxford University
Shamara Wettimuny Historian and Researcher at Oxford University
Ruki Fernando Human Rights Activist
When Russian troops withdrew from the town of Bucha just a few miles outside of Kiev, the true scale of devastation became clear. The small commuter town with a population of just over 35 thousand is now in ruins. And while the footage of bombed out buildings is horrific enough- it's the images of civilians lying dead on the streets that's sparked international outrage. Some of the bodies appear to have their hands tied behind their backs, and hundreds of others have reportedly been found in mass graves. Moscow has been accused of committing the horrific attack, but the Kremlin denies it’s killed civilians. President Zelensky has called for tougher sanctions on Moscow, and US President Joe Biden, one of Vladimir Putin's fiercest critics once again called the Russian president a war criminal and demanded an investigation into alleged war crimes in Bucha.
Geoffrey Nice Former Lead Prosecutor at Slobodan Milosevic's Trial in The Hague
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Serbia's incumbent president secured a second term with almost 60% of the votes and his centre-right Serbian Progressive Party will maintain its control over parliament. During his campaign, Vucic promised peace and stability after Russia's attack on Ukraine sent shockwaves across Europe. But Belgrade's vague position came under pressure, as the West forced it to choose a side. Either stick to its traditional ties with Moscow or move forward with its aspirations to join the EU. But Vucic was defiant, saying Serbia had no plans to change its neutral stance. The leading opposition candidate accused him of exploiting the conflict in Ukraine for electoral gain, saying these elections were the beginning of Vucic's end. Opposition and rights groups also accused Vucic and his allies of corruption, controlling the media and attacking political opponents... charges he has repeatedly denied.
Across the Balkans takes a closer look at the Serbian election results and what impact it could have on the region.
Plus, Ramadan is here and Muslims around the world have started their month of spiritural reflection through fasting and prayer. Mosques have opened for the first time for Ramadan night prayers, ending two years of restrictive measures brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. Bekim Laci went to Skopje to see how people in the Balkans are observing Ramadan.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ 👉 http://trt.world/fvfp
At the Concordia research station in Antarctica, temperatures soared to minus 12 degrees Celsius. That's about 40 degrees warmer than average, and towards the north pole, in the Arctic, temperatures were 30 degrees above normal. The unprecedented rise has climate scientists alarmed, but will the world’s most powerful nations take the necessary action?
Peter Newman UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Adviser
Jojo Mehta Stop Ecocide International Co-founder
Rupert Read Former Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson
Predicting what's next in Pakistani politics is a near impossible task. On Sunday, Prime minister Imran Khan was on the verge of being ejected from his post through a vote of no-confidence. The opposition seemed to have the numbers to oust him, but before the vote could take place, the deputy speaker blocked it, saying it violated the constitution. At the behest of the prime minister, President Arif Alvi proceeded to dissolve parliament, now Imran Khan is accused of triggering a constitutional crisis.
Miftah Ismail Pakistan's former Finance Minister with the opposition PML-N
Amir Zia Pakistan Affairs Analyst
A bitter civil war in Ethiopia has killed thousands and displaced millions. The highly complicated conflict at its core is a battle between the central government in Addis Ababa, and the northern Tigray-based rebel group- the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front. Last week humanitarian truce was declared with millions in desperate need of aid. But will this truce lead to a lasting peace?
Tsedale Lemma Journalist and Founder of Addis Standard
Ledet Muleta Global Ethiopian Diaspora Society Founder
Gabriel Negatu African Development Bank's Former Director for Eastern Africa
Mastewal Taddese Terefe Former Legal Fellow in Ethiopia's Attorney General's Office
After Tuesday’s high-level peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, Moscow said it was scaling back its military operations in Kiev and Chernihiv. But both the US and Ukrainian governments are skeptical. Is the Kremlin withdrawing troops or simply repositioning its forces?
Bogdan Kelichavyi Mayor of Kopychyntsi
Iuliia Osmolovska Transatlantic Dialogue Center Chairperson
Luke Coffey Foreign Policy Studies Director at The Heritage Foundation
Sergey Markov Former Member of the Russian Parliament
The first day of peace talks between Moscow and Kiev has come to an end in Istanbul. It’s been over a month since Russia’s incursion into Ukraine. Thousands have been killed and millions more have been forced to flee in search of safety. According to the UN, as of Sunday, almost four million refugees have fled the country, and about six and a half million others have been internally displaced. That's more than a quarter of the entire population. Both sides expressed cautious optimism after the talks concluded.
Enes Bayrakli Associate Professor at the Turkish-German University
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Sergey Utkin Russian Academy of Sciences Strategic Assesment Section Head
Prime Minister Imran Khan came to power promising to end corruption and revive a struggling economy, but for some the former cricket star turned politician has failed to deliver, and now he’s facing a fierce fight for his political survival as a unified opposition has pushed for a vote of no-confidence. Khan is accused of mismanagement and even some from within his own party have defected questioning his leadership. So can Khan survive this push to oust him?
Sherry Rehman Pakistan Peoples Party Senate Parliamentary Leader
Huma Baqai Associate Professor of Social Sciences
Mosharraf Zaidi CEO of Tabadlab Think Tank
Sardar Ramesh Singh Arora PML-N Central General Secretary Minority Wing
While the world's eyes have been on Russia's assault on Ukraine, the war in Yemen is quietly entering another year. In March 2015, a Saudi led military coalition, backed by the US and the UK, launched an offensive on the Arab nation as it battled Houthi rebels. Over the next seven years Yemen has been decimated and is now home to one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. Earlier this month, the UN held a high-level donor conference aiming to raise more than four billion dollars for Yemen, but fell far short of that target. Despite the catastrophic consequences of the war so far, the violence hasn't stopped. In fact it's become arguably more intense. Especially in the strategic, northern city of Marib. It's under the control of the internationally recognised government, but the Houthis are desperate to take it. Marib is rich in oil and gas reserves, and whoever controls it will have a significant advantage. But the battle to take control has displaced more than 100 thousand civilians. So what will it take to end the war?
Annelle Sheline Research Fellow in the Middle East Program at the Quincy Institute
Mohammed al Qubaiban Saudi and Gulf Affairs Expert
Hussain Albukhaiti Pro-Houthi Yemeni Journalist
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg has called Russia’s attack on Ukraine the most serious security crisis in a generation. Since Moscow launched its assault, thousands have been killed and millions forced to flee in what some describe as the fastest growing humanitarian crisis since the Second World War. On Thursday leaders from NATO, the EU and G7 gathered in Brussels for back to back emergency meetings. But will the world’s largest military alliance find a way to stop the fighting?
William Courtney Former US Ambassador to Georgia and Kazakhstan
Anna Matveeva Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London
Keir Giles Chatham House Russia and Eurasia Programme Senior Fellow
Alexey Navalny is one of Vladimir Putin's fiercist critics, and for years he's been a headache for the Kremlin. But for how much longer? The opposition leader was already serving a three and a half year sentence, and now he's headed to a maximum security prison for close to another decade after a Russian court convicted him of stealing millions of dollars in donations from his own organizations. His supporters have branded the trial a sham and his lawyers have vowed to fight.
Marvin Rees Mayor of Bristol and Friend of Alexey Navalny
Sergey Markov Professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Dana Lewis Journalist and Correspondent
Sergei Davidis Memorial Human Rights Group Member
In April 2016 Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was arrested in Tehran accused of trying to topple the government in Tehran. Now after almost six-years, and several rounds of diplomatic wrangling, the British-Iranian dual national is finally free. But why did it take so long? And are human beings being used as political bargaining chips?
Mohammad Marandi Advisor to Iran's Nuclear Negotiating Team
Jared Genser International Human Rights Lawyer
Negar Mortazavi Iranian-American Journalist
Russia's deadline to surrender has come and gone, but Mariupol remains resolute. Over 400,000 civilians are trapped in the southeastern city - many without access to food, water or electricity. Can Ukraine save its strategic port or will Russia obliterate it?
Guests:
Olexiy Haran Professor of Comparative Politics at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Sergey Markov Professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Paul Maddrell Lecturer in International Relations at the Loughborough University
If Vladimir Putin thought conquering Ukraine would be easy, it appears he was mistaken. Siezing Kiev would be the crown jewel for the Kremlin, but fierce resistance, with Western help, is forcing Russia to rethink its strategy. We speak to the Mayor of Ukraine’s capital, Vitali Klitscho, the former heavyweight boxing champ turned resistance fighter. Plus we debate what Russia’s ultimate aim is in Ukraine.
Guests:
Vitali Klitschko Mayor of Kiev
Oleksandra Matveechuk Chairperson of Center for Civil Liberties
Gilbert Doctorow Historian and Russian affairs analyst
Can air assaults on Ukraine be stopped? As the Russian military onslaught enters its fourth week, the issue of air dominance reigns. NATO is refusing to impose a no-fly zone, but are there other ways to help Ukrainians secure their airspace?
Guests:
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Paul Ingram Senior Research Associate at Cambridge University
Jeffrey Stacey Former Senior Advisor to the US State Department
From playing president, to becoming one. Appealing to world leaders and fighting for his nation's survival against a Russian military onslaught. Is the strategy and style of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy working? And if so, why isn't the West giving him what he wants?
Guests:
Evan Nierman Founder and CEO of Red Banyan
Paul Ingram Senior Research Associate at Cambridge University
Andrij Dobriansky Chair of UN Affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
An exercise in human suffering. Russia's military tactics in Ukraine have damaged and destroyed city structures, choked off supply lines and isolated populations. But will they work? Or can Ukraine's resistance defeat one of the world's most powerful militaries?
Guests:
Oleksandr Syenkevych Mayor of Mykolaiv, Ukraine
Dana Lewis Journalist and Correspondent
Elisabeth Braw Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Many believe the key to pressuring President Vladimir Putin to stop Russia's assault on Ukraine, lies with Beijing. So far, the Chinese government has tried to walk a diplomatic tightrope, but if it's forced to take sides, how much would it be willing to risk to help Russia out? That question has come sharply into focus in the past 24 hours with reports in US media that Moscow has indeed requested both economic and military assistance from Beijing. The US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan warned China would face consequences if it helps Russia. Sullivan met his Chinese counterpart in Rome where peace talks were held on Monday. China says Moscow has NOT asked for help, but Beijing still refuses to condemn Russia's military action. We discuss how China could swing the conflict in either direction.
Guests:
Victor Gao Chair professor at Soochow University
Andrey Kortunov Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
Scott Lucas Professor Emeritus at the University of Birmingham
Two weeks have changed the course of world history. There’s been over $100 billion worth of damage and counting - in Ukraine alone. Around the world, there's been mayhem in the stock markets as energy and global supply chains are disrupted. A new global system is emerging, with geopolitical realignments that will have repercussions for decades to come.
Guests:
Joe Siracusa Adjunct Professor of Politics and Diplomacy at Curtin University
Aura Sabadus Journalist and Energy Market Analyst
Gilbert Doctorow Historian and Russian Affairs Analyst
It's the first high-level meeting bringing the foreign ministers of Russia and Ukraine face-to-face with each other. The messaging in the optics is clear - diplomacy is the only way out. But will the West follow the cue of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan?
Guests:
Egemen Bagis Turkish Ambassador to the Czech Republic
Murat Aslan Researcher at the SETA Foundation
Matthew Bryza Former US Ambassador to Azerbaijan
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
When you think of American big business, corporate activism isn't what naturally comes to mind. In fact, businesses often don't want politics to get in the way of profits. And yet today, corporate America has dealt the West's latest blow to Russia. The number of Western brands boycotting the Russian economy is unprecedented in size and scale. Is taking a stand for Ukraine good for business, or could this economic escalation backfire in the long-run?
Guests:
Anders Aslund Economist and Author of 'Russia's Crony Capitalism'
Ekaterina Chimiris Political Science Professor at Russia's Financial University
Vicky Pryce Board Member at Centre for Economics and Business Research
Htwe Htwe Thein Associate Professor of International Business at Curtin University
A global battle is under way. The US moves to ban Russian oil imports, but the shrapnel from this economic weapon could inflict economic injuries across the world. Should oil be used as leverage to deter Russia's attack on Ukraine? And will Europe follow suit, or does the EU, especially Germany, fear that Russia could retaliate by shutting off Europe's gas?
Manouchehr Takin Former senior OPEC official
Mark Tomass Harvard University economics instructor
Klaus Jurgens Political analyst
Steve Keen Economics professor
Russia announced new humanitarian corridors for Ukrainians to escape the fighting, but the catch is that half of them lead to Belarus and Russia. The offer was quickly dismissed by the Ukrainian government, which called it an 'immoral stunt'. Thousands of civilians tried to evacuate Mariupol over the weekend, but pauses in fighting didn’t last long. Hundreds of thousands remain trapped there, without food, water or medical aid. More than 1.5 million Ukrainians have so far fled the country, with around 50,000 entering Russia. Are Moscow’s promises to hold fire part of a broader strategy?
Guests:
Andrij Dobriansky Chair of UN affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
Katarzyna Pisarska Co-Founder of the Casimir Pulaski Foundation
George Szamuely Senior Research fellow at the Global Policy Institute
Vladimir Putin wanted to keep NATO far from Ukraine, but what Russia’s attack on Ukraine seems to have done is united the West against Moscow like never before. Putin's deadly gambit has resulted in a revival of NATO and the European Union as global players. The EU had struggled with internal disputes, but the bloc has been jolted into unified conviction and action, and now, in addition to Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have applied for EU membership. Kosovo has aslo signalled its intention to join. Similarly, a year ago NATO was struggling with relevance and funding, but the transatlantic military alliance has found renewed purpose, direction and strength. And countries like Sweden and Finland are for the first warming to the idea of joining.
Guests:
Sergey Utkin Russian government adviser
Tengiz khaladze Former Adviser to the President of Georgia
Matthew Bryza Former US diplomat who mediated the Russia-Georgia war
A week ago, the lives of Ukrainians were turned upside down. Many had feared a lightning fast advance by Russian troops, expecting Kiev to fall within days. But that didn't happen, as Ukrainians mounted a robust resistance. Was this a massive miscalculation or does Putin still have a plan?
Guests:
Gustav Gressel Senior Policy Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations
David Des Roches Professor of Security Studies at the National Defense University
Paul Moorcraft Former Officer at UK Ministry of Defence
Russia has been hit with a wave of unprecedented sanctions in response to its assault on Ukraine, and it’s already inflicting economic pain on the country. The Russian currency, the ruble, has hit record lows against the US dollar, Russians are forming long queues to withdraw their savings from banks, and Russian oligarchs are maneuvering to try to limit damage to their businesses. The fallout is ticking the boxes for the US and its allies. But will it force Russia to stop its attack on Ukraine?
Guests:
Theo Normanton Russia Correspondent at bne IntelliNews
Steve Keen Professor of economics and author of numerous books on financial crises
The UN's vulnerabilities have been left completely exposed. Over half a million people have fled Ukraine. Ripples are being felt across Europe and the world. The Russian onslaught has left hundreds dead on both sides and Putin has put his tactical nuclear weapons on alert. Yet, the United Nations has failed to censure Russia - let alone bring an end to its war.
Guests:
Paul Ingram Leading Nuclear Disarmament Consultant
Jeffrey Stacey Former Senior Advisor to the US State Department
George Szamuely Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute
While European leaders are trying to both support Ukraine militarily and dissuade Russia financially, the continent faces a growing humanitarian situation. More than half a million Ukrainians have escaped to neighbouring countries in the five days since Russia's offensive began. The EU expects that number could reach seven million. There are huge queues at many Ukrainian border crossings. Children, pregnant women, and the elderly are often stuck in cars or on trains in freezing temperatures. In some cases, people are waiting for upwards of 24 hours to cross the border. And that's after already long journeys from their homes. There are also reports of racial profiling and family separation.
Guests:
Natalka Sniadanko Author forced to flee Ukraine
Marta Jaroszewicz Associate Professor at the Center for Migration Research at the University of Warsaw
Sile Reynolds Head of Asylum Advocacy at Freedom from Torture
Christine Pirovolakis UNHCR Senior External Relations Officer
NATO should accelerate the membership process for Kosovo and Bosnia in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine says Vjosa Osmani, the President of Kosovo. Meanwhile, her country has asked the United States to establish a permanent military base in Kosovo. Osmani says speeding up NATO membership is needed to guarantee peace and stability, not just in Kosovo, but in the Western Balkans in general.
In an exclusive interview for TRT World, President Osmani talks about the impact the Russian attack on Ukraine will have on the Balkans, Kosovo's aspiring NATO and EU membership, as well as Belgrade - Pristina talks and the refugee crisis following the war in Ukraine.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ 👉 http://trt.world/fvfp
Russia's attack on Ukraine was predicted, but not prevented. The West warned for months that Russia was building up a massive force near Ukrainian territory, and for weeks, the Kremlin denied it had any plans to cross the border. But this week Moscow launched a military offensive on a scale not seen in Europe in decades. Many have been left wondering, how was it possible for Western powers to know so much and yet not be able to stop it from happening? And now that war is under way, is the international community doing enough to help Ukraine? We speak to President Zelenskyy’s former spokesperson from her car as she leaves the capital, and she pleads for the West to take stronger action.
Guests:
Iuliia Mendel Former Spokesperson of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Ronald Suny Professor of Political Science and Russian History
Richard Sakwa Professor of Russian and European Politics at the University of Kent
Over land, at sea and from the air. Russia has attacked Ukraine, with missile strikes, tanks and boots on the ground. Roads out of Kiev are gridlocked as people try to flee. Condemnation of Putin has been swift and sharp. But is this a battle Ukrainians will be left to fight on their own?
Guests:
Elisabeth Braw Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Andrij Dobriansky Chair of UN Affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
Sergey Markov Professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
Russia's incursion into Eastern Ukraine has triggered a wave of sanctions from the US and its allies in Europe and Asia Pacific. These days, punitive economic measures seem to be the Western world's weapon of choice. And in this case, they’re aimed at punishing Putin for recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent – the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic. But are sanctions the best tools to dissuade Russia from pursuing what many diplomats say would be all-out war?
Guests:
Alexander Titov Lecturer in Russian foreign policy and history at Queen's University Belfast
Ben Aris Editor in Chief at BNE IntelliNews
Sergey Markov Political Science Professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
The die has been cast. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent his military into the Donbass. Much of what happens next, depends on diplomatic manoeuvring in the UN Security Council and America's willingness to push forward with stricter sanctions on Russia. Europe will choose to act from a position of strength – one where its energy security needs are fulfilled in a manner that is independent of Russian influence. What Moscow chooses to do next, will be the real test for the US-led Western coalition.
Guests:
Joe Siracusa Professor of Security and Diplomacy at Curtin University
Mark Kimmitt Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
Aura Sabadus Journalist and Energy Market Analyst
The quest for a diplomatic solution in the face of an otherwise terrifying prospect of war on the European continent. Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit-level meeting that could happen as early as this week. But can Putin get the buffer that he wants between Russia and NATO, or will the threat of US sanctions push him further into a corner forcing him to retaliate?
Guests:
Matthew Bryza Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
Andrey Kortunov Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
Pieter Cleppe Head of Open Europe Brussels
The European Union and African Union are keen to portray their ties as a 'partnership between equals'. And as leaders from the two continents met at the EU-AU Summit in Brussels, there was plenty of positive rhetoric and financial pledges. But the legacy of European colonialism in Africa casts a long shadow. Former imperial powers have long been accused of taking a paternalistic, patronising attitude towards African nations. How much does Europe's troubled past complicate Africa’s modern-day struggle for peace and prosperity?
Guests:
Yeah Samake Former Malian Ambassador and Presidential Candidate
Nabila Ramdani French Algerian Journalist
Alex Vines Director of the Africa Program at Chatham House
If you want EU funds, you need EU values. That was the verdict in the European Court of Justice, when it ruled against an appeal by Hungary and Poland. The two had challenged the bloc's right to suspend EU payments if standards of democracy and justice were not adequately met in the eyes of Brussels. It's known as the conditionality mechanism, meaning member states can't discard core EU principles after joining the group while still expecting the benefits of membership- especially monetary ones. Now the bloc can withhold billions in funding from members that don't respect the EU rule of law. The governments in Warsaw and Budapest call it blackmail. But will it bring the far right back into line with Brussels?
Guests:
Rafal Pankowski Professor at the Institute of Sociology at Collegium Civitas,
Francesco Rizzuto Professor of European Law at Liverpool Hope University
Roger Griffin Professor of Modern History at Oxford Brookes University
February 16 was the day the US predicted Russia might invade Ukraine. That didn't happen. Instead, Ukrainians marked the date with displays of patriotism for a ‘Day of Unity’. Instead of invading, Russia says its forces are returning to their bases after completing their military exercises. But both the NATO Secretary General speaking in Brussels and US President Joe Biden say they don’t believe Russia's unprecedented troop build up is truly backing down. But is the West taking any of Moscow's concerns about NATO expansion into consideration?
Guests:
Viacheslav Matuzov Former Russian diplomat
Mark Kimmitt Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs
Greg Simons Associate Professor at the Institute for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Uppsala University
Ankara and Abu Dhabi are more than 2,500 kilometres apart, but this week the two capitals have felt much closer together. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is wrapping up his first official visit to the UAE in almost a decade. The trip has been all about ushering in a new era of relations between the two countries, where disagreements are left in the past, and the focus is fixed on a future based on mutual respect. A key priority is forging a strengthened economic partnership, and Erdogan and Crown Prince Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed 13 agreements to enhance co-operation on everything from defence and trade, to technology and agriculture. What impact will repaired Emirati-Turkish relations have on the wider region?
Guests:
Ebtesam Al-Ketbi President of the Emirates Policy Center.
Ahmet Keser Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Hasan Kalyoncu University
Marwan Kabalan Director of Policy Analysis at the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies
The Kremlin calls it 'peak hysteria'. US officials are giving descriptive accounts of Russia’s alleged invasion plans, while Ukraine’s leader says he’s seen no evidence of it. Instead President Zelenskyy says the West is stoking panic, as he meets German Chancellor Olaf Sholz in Kiev. And despite more meetings and military maneuvering, Europe still appears to be staggering towards the precipice of war, as it urges its citizens to leave Ukraine. How did we get here and is diplomacy failing?
Guests:
Ulrich Brueckner Professor of European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin
Ben Aris Editor in Chief at BNE IntelliNews
Andrey Kortunov Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
Libya’s eastern-based parliament has voted Fathi Bashagha to be the country’s new prime minister, despite the UN-backed government and premier refusing to be recognise it. Bashagha was an interior minister of the Tripoli-based unity government, and the House of Representatives’ move is viewed as a setback to the internationally-mediated political process. The UN says it still recognizes Abdulhamid Dbeibah as the legitimate prime minister, and the appointment of Bashagha is expected to deepen rivalries between Libya's east and west. Still, Bashagha has promised to continue with a democratic transition. What should Libya's new political roadmap be? Will divisions in Libya now deepen further?
Guests:
Anas El Gomati Director of the Sadeq Institute
Umberto Profazio Associate Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies
Tim Eaton Senior Research Fellow with Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Programme
The International Court of Justice orders Uganda pay $325 million dollars in reparations to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The UN’s top court ruled Kampala owes Kinshasa compensation for its role in displacement, death, rape and recruitment of child soldiers during its occupation of Ituri province in Eastern DRC between 1999-2003. The sum is only a fraction of the $11 billion the DRC was hoping for, and two decades late. Is this justice for the conflict’s victims, or the minimum price to pay for devastation? Will the amount even be paid? And do international courts provide the best hope for war survivors?
Guests:
Allana Kembabazi Ugandan Human Rights Lawyer
Mike Becker Former Legal Officer at the International Court of Justice
Stig Jarle Hansen Political Scientist and Professor at Norwegian University of Life Sciences
The former chair of the Delhi Minorities Commission, Zafarul-Islam Khan, says the move to ban Indian Muslim women from wearing hijab to school and college is symptomatic of the BJP-led government’s right wing Hindu agenda. He tells The Newsmakers, ‘I do worry and I am now afraid of going out of my house. I don’t know if I will return safe. This is the situation under Mr Modi.’
Watch the full show here:
Journalist and political analyst Paranjoy Guha Thakurta says there have been many attempts to not just spread Islamophobia in India, but to make India’s Muslim minority feel like second class citizens. According to Thakurta, the BJP’s ‘fanatical foot soldiers know they will not be punished and this is what makes them so brazen in their attacks on Muslims.’
Watch the full show here:
Campuses across the southern Indian state of Karnataka have been forced to close, as right wing Hindu groups harass and heckle Muslims girls wearing headscarves to class. Is the BJP government’s push for a hijab-free school uniform enforcing secularism or actively discriminating against a religious minority? And could moves to further marginalise India's Muslims lead to something more dangerous?
Guests:
Zafarul-Islam Khan Former Chairperson of the Delhi Minority Commission
Ranjana Kumari Director of Centre for Social Research
Paranjoy Guha Thakurta Journalist and Political Analyst
While threats and rhetoric have increased steadily, all parties know that the realities of an armed conflict in Ukraine are simply too grim to ignore. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is acutely aware of the potential consequences, as his country becomes a stage of sorts where world powers can flex their muscle. Vladimir Putin has legitimate concerns about NATO missiles in Ukraine that could reach Moscow within minutes. The Germans realise that an armed conflict would jeopardise European energy security needs. Europe is acutely aware that the price of war will ultimately be borne by the continent. And as Putin put it - there will be no winners. Is this enough to pull all sides back from the brink of war?
Guests:
Gilbert Doctorow Historian and Russian Affairs Scholar
Dana Lewis Russian Affairs Analyst
Sergey Markov Former Member of Russian Parliament
Tunisia’s president Kais Saied has moved to dissolve the country's Supreme Judicial Council. For his opponents, it's just the latest step in Saied’s unrelenting power grab and further proof he’s taking Tunisia back to one man rule. Judges and major political parties – including Ennahda’s Rached Ghannouchi – have all condemned the dissolution of the top judicial watchdog as illegal. The former law professor-turned-president however accuses the body of appointing corrupt judges and manipulating trials for political reasons. But is this the best way to eradicate corruption? Or is the only democracy to emerge from the Arab Spring hurtling towards autocracy?
Guests:
Ghaya Ben Mbarek Tunisian Journalist
Radwan Masmoudi Ennahda Party Member and President of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy
Sami Hamdi Editor-in-Chief of the International Interest
Beset by boycotts, allegations of human rights violations and COVID-19, the Beijing Winter Olympic Games are underway. These Olympics mark the first time any city has hosted both the Winter and Summer Games. But it’s is the most contentious Olympics in decades, with the United States leading a diplomatic boycott over China's human rights record. Beijing has condemned the boycott and is using the event to display the strengthening ties with Russia, with Xi Jinping expressing support for Moscow’s stance on NATO and Ukraine. How will controversies affect the Games?
Guests:
Einar Tangen Political and Economic Affairs Commentator
John Bradley Sports Commentator and Player Welfare Advocate
Ashok Swain Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visits Ukraine at a critical juncture in the crisis between Russia and the West. Amid the fanfare in Kiev lies a diplomatic agenda with far reaching implications. Unlike its western allies, Ankara could have a unique opportunity to engage on a more equal footing with Kiev and Moscow, as a result of deep strategic and economic ties with both countries. Can Ankara help resolve the diplomatic stand off? And what’s in it for Turkiye?
Guests:
Murat Aslan Researcher at the SETA Foundation
Yusuf Alabarda Defense and Security Analyst
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Serbia's government revoked Rio Tinto’s license for a lithium mine last month following weeks of protests that have shaken Serbia's ruling party in the lead-up to elections. But a week after the decision, hundreds of protesters were out on the streets again, demanding parliament adopt a 20-year-long moratorium on lithium mining. And now, the government is worried Rio Tinto could sue the state. Aksel Zaimovic reports from Serbia.
Plus, new prime ministers in Bulgaria and North Macedonia seem keen to improve the strained relations between their two countries. Bulgarian PM Kiril Petkov met his North Macedonian counterpart Dimitar Kovacevski in Sofia in a sign of thawing ties. Bulgaria's previous government had blocked North Macedonia's bid to open accession talks with the European Union over a historical and language dispute.
Across The Balkans, hosted by Nafisa Latic, is TRT World’s programme that focuses specifically on the issues and fault lines shaping Southeast Europe today.
Watch other episodes of ‘Across the Balkans’ 👉 http://trt.world/fvfp
There’s a reason why regions of West and Central Africa are known as the continent's coup belt. In the past 18 months alone, military leaders have toppled governments in Mali, Chad, Guinea, and Burkina Faso. And now, Guinea-Bissau has become the latest country to face an attempted army takeover. President Umaro Sissoco Embalo said the attack failed, but many of his security forces were killed. The African Union and West African bloc ECOWAS have both condemned the coup attempt. But why are they failing to prevent them in the first place?
Guests:
Yeah Samake Former Malian Ambassador and Former Malian Presidential Candidate
Issaka Soure Author of 'Civil Wars and Coups d'Etat in West Africa' and Lecturer at General Lansana Conté University
Adetunji Omotola African Analyst
It’s been one year since Myanmar's military seized power and turned the nation’s fledgling democracy on its head. Since then, at least 1,500 civilians have been killed, thousands more arrested, and millions are in need of humanitarian assistance. Has an armed uprising against the junta made any progress or only led to more deaths? The international community appears powerless to stop the worsening violence, so what should be done? Can there be any accountability for a year of atrocities?
Guests:
Wai Hnin Pwint Thon Officer at the Burma Campaign UK
Maung Zarni Co-founder of Forces of Renewal Southeast Asia
Phil Robertson Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch
The US insists a Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent and is pressuring Moscow to pull back its military forces that have amassed near Ukraine's border. The Kremlin says it has no intention of invading. But the US Senate is still preparing to pass a package of unprecedented economic sanctions against Putin this week. What is Washington's ultimate aim here? Has American rhetoric escalated tensions?
Guests:
William Courtney Former US Ambassador to Kazakhstan and Georgia
Olexander Scherba Ukrainian Diplomat and Former Ambassador to Austria
Sergey Markov Professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations
We’ve entered a new phase in the pandemic, where two opposing approaches have emerged. Many countries, like the UK and Denmark, are ending all coronavirus restrictions, while others impose even stricter measures, saying it's still far too early and too risky to re-open. What's the right approach?
Guests:
Dr Edward Kelley Former Director of the WHO’s Integrated Health Services
Oksana Pyzik Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL School of Pharmacy
Jeffrey Lazarus Co-director of the Viral and Bacterial Infections Programme at the University of Barcelona
What began as an Arab Spring revolution to oust longtime leader Ali Abdullah Saleh eventually plunged Yemen into war. Now, the UN says the country has become a living hell, with millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. Are the people of Yemen any better off after the uprising?
Guests:
Elisabeth Kendall Senior Research Fellow in Oriental Studies at Oxford University
Marwan Kabalan Policy Analyst at Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies
Giorgio Cafiero Founder and CEO of Gulf State Analytics
NATO members have put their forces on standby, while redeploying military assets to Eastern Europe amid a standoff with Russia. But Germany’s refusing to send weapons to Ukraine, frustrating its NATO allies. Is Germany’s differing stance weakening the North Atlantic Alliance or preventing a more dangerous confrontation?
Guests:
Ulrich Brueckner Professor for European Studies at Stanford University in Berlin
Murat Aslan Researcher at the SETA Foundation
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst
The US embassy in Kiev says 'Russian military action could come at any time.’ It's ordered families of American diplomats to leave the country. But Ukraine's Foreign Minister has called the move premature, and a 'manifestation of excessive caution.' While the US gives its strongest warning yet of an imminent Russian invasion, are Western officials blowing the threat out of proportion? Are fears being stoked unnecessarily and if so, to what end?
Guests:
Gilbert Doctorow International and Russian Affairs Analyst
Elisabeth Braw Senior Research Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
Nikolay Petrov Russia and Eurasia Programme Research Fellow at Chatham House
Inequality explodes while the pandemic makes the richest, even richer. Business for billionaires is booming as more of the global poor is pushed further into poverty. The gap between rich and poor today is the biggest in living memory. As leaders convene for the World Economic Forum’s Davos Summit, what can be done to address the ever-widening wealth gap? A group of uber rich, calling themselves Patriotic Millionaires, published an open letter this week asking governments to tax them more. Would that address inequality?
Guests:
Djaffar Shalchi Founder of Millionaires for Humanity
Dana Abed Influencing Lead at Oxfam in Lebanon
Vicky Pryce Board Member at Centre for Economics and Business Research
It's been a year in office for the 46th President of the United States. In his first year alone, Biden's had to deal with a global pandemic, peak inflation alongside staggering government debt, while ending America's longest war. How much has the country's oldest ever president been able to deliver?
Guests:
Mitch Lerner Professor of American History at Ohio State University
Steve Okun Former Lawyer in Bill Clinton's Administration
Robert Gutsche Jr US Political Analyst and Associate Professor at Lancaster University
The United States is less than a year away from the mid-term elections and it's looking a bit bleak for the Democrats at the moment. What does it mean for President Biden and will he be able to see through his voting plans?
Guests:
Mitch Lerner Professor of American History at Ohio State University
Steve Okun Former Lawyer in Bill Clinton's Administration
Robert Gutsche Jr US Political Analyst and Associate Professor at Lancaster University
No. 10 Downing Street has been shaken by several scandals over lockdown parties that have heaped pressure on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to step down. A growing number of Conservative Party members say they have lost confidence in his leadership, and that it’s time for him to step aside. If 54 MPs write letters to the chair of a body known as the 1922 Committee, then a no-confidence motion could be triggered in parliament. So far around a dozen have publically said they’ve done so. Could this be the end of the road for Boris?
Guests:
Ben Harris-Quinney Chairman of Conservative Think Tank The Bow Group
Denis MacShane UK’s Former Minister for Europe
Lloyd Hardy Founder of Anti-Tory Group GOV2.UK
Domestic political turmoil couldn't come at a worse time for Ukraine, with Russia having amassed an estimated 100,000 troops along its border with Ukraine. And yet, former President Petro Poroshenko has returned to Ukraine to face trial for treason, a case which he argues is politically motivated. While the UK and Canada have started supplying weapons and support to Ukraine against a potential Russian threat, is Moscow being handed an advantage with political infighting in Kiev? Is it necessary to prosecute crimes and corruption regardless of the consequences?
Guests:
Vasyl Filipchuk Former Spokesperson of Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry
Olexiy Haran Professor of Comparative Politics at Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Andrij Dobriansky Chair of UN Affairs at the Ukrainian World Congress
The US’ newly-appointed Horn of Africa envoy David Satterfield has begun his first trip to the region he’s responsible for. After stopping in Saudi Arabia, he’s set to visit Sudan and Ethiopia where Washington hopes he can make steps towards a ceasefire and push for stability. Is Washington trying to boost its role in the region while curbing China’s?
Guests:
Cameron Hudson Former Chief of Staff to US Envoy to Sudan
Gabriel Negatu African Development Bank’s Former Director for Eastern Africa
Kholood Khair Managing Partner of Insight Strategy Partners
A German court delivered a landmark verdict in the first-ever trial into Assad regime's state-led torture. Former Syrian officer Anwar Raslan has been jailed for life in Germany after being found guilty of crimes against humanity. Could this lead the way towards accountability for other perpetrators?
Guests:
Anwar al Bunni Witness at the Syria Torture Trial in Koblenz
Wafa Ali Mustafa Campaigner and Daughter of Syrian Detainee Ali Mustafa
Payam Akhavan Former UN Prosecutor at The Hague
Steve Crawshaw Director of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom from Torture
Russian troops are preparing to leave the country as the new government gets to work. And President Tokayev is promising reforms, while blaming his long-ruling predecessor for the unrest. So, what's ahead for the oil-rich Central Asian country?
Guests:
Torokul Doorov Director of Radio Free Europe's Kazakh Service
Matthew Bryza Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center
Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti Research Fellow at Italian Institute for International Political Studies
Officials from NATO and the US have been holding talks with their Russian counterparts to pull both sides back from the brink of open conflict. Russian president Vladimir Putin says he has no intention of invading Ukraine. But Western officials aren’t convinced. That’s in large part due to the tens of thousands of troops Russia has amassed along Ukraine’s eastern border. So, can diplomacy help avert a potential war?
Guests:
Andrei Fedorov Member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Advisory Team
Dana Lewis Journalist and Russian Affairs Analyst
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
The notorious Guantanamo Bay detention centre in Cuba has been holding people captive for the last 20 years, most without charge and in inhumane conditions. Torture became routine, including waterboarding and force-feeding. And in the years that followed, the facility came to be seen as a stain on America's reputation. Despite former President Obama's signed executive order to close the centre during his first week in the office, the facility remains operational. What will it finally take to close it down? Or is it politically impossible to shut it down?
Guests:
Mark Fallon Ex-US Criminal Investigative Task Force Director at Guantanamo Bay
Andy Worthington Co-founder of the Close Guantanamo Campaign
Tracy Doig Head of International Advocacy at Freedom from Torture
France has taken over the European Union Council presidency. But as French President Emmanuel Macron aims to tackle the bloc's challenges, he faces a national election at home. So, will his domestic objectives shape his European agenda?
Guests:
Yasser Louati Human Rights and Civil Liberties Activist
Noelle O Connell CEO of European Movement Ireland
Wojciech Przybylski Editor-in-chief at Visegrad Insight Magazine
The United States is reflecting upon the events from one year ago when thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building – the heart of American democracy – on January 6, 2021. Will anyone be held responsible for instigating the insurrection? And have any political divisions healed since then?
Guests:
Jason Osborne Former Senior Advisor to Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign
Steve Okun Former Lawyer in Bill Clinton's Administration
Robert Gutsche Jr US Politics Analyst and Associate Professor at Lancaster University
Rare protests have forced Kazakhstan's government to step down after President Tokayev resigned early on Wednesday and appointed an acting prime minister. A steep rise in fuel prices triggered demonstrations over the weekend in the town of Shenyauchen, which spread to the regional hub of Aktau on the country's Caspian Sea coast. So, how much does Kazakhstan reveal the potential for political fallout from a fuel shortage? And is the unrest in Kazakhstan connected to wider issues of energy insecurity across Europe and Central Asia?
Guests:
Bruce Pannier Central Asia Observer and Correspondent at Radio Free Europe
Aura Sabadus Journalist and Energy Market Analyst
Luca Anceschi Eurasian Studies Professor at the University of Glasgow
Following deadly pro-democracy rallies, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok tendered his resignation, further deepening the country's political crisis. Hamdok became the prime minister by getting into a deal with the military to help transition the country towards democracy. But after six weeks into power, Hamdok admitted his failure to establish any basis for civilian rule. So, was this the reason that pushed him to resign? And can a democratic rule be established in Sudan, which as of now, is at the brink of a national disaster?
Guests:
Rabie Abdul Atti Obeid Former Senior Official with Sudan’s National Congress Party
Kholood Khair Insight Strategy Managing Partner
Cameron Hudson Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council's Africa Center
The world saw several dramatic transitions of power, where the status quo was upended. It was a year of political upheaval, where several longstanding leaders bowed out, albeit not always gracefully. In Myanmar, the country's military showed the world a textbook example of a coup d'etat. A little farther from Southeast Asia, at the crossroads of Central and South Asia, the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan after failed negotiations with the US that also saw the US-led forces ending their 20-year military campaign abruptly. In Africa, too, it was all chaos and conflict: From Mali and Guinea, to Sudan and Tunisia, and a deadly civil war in Ethiopia. But it was the standoff at the Poland-Belarus border that caught the world's attention. As the world enters a new year, many will be hoping for the same thing as last year - an end to the coronavirus pandemic. 2021 saw a vaccination rollout unprecedent in modern times. But COVID-19 refused to go away, as the emergence of new variants jeopardized vaccine immunity.
The last week of the year is seeing an unprecedented wave of infections across the globe as the latest COVID-19 variant surges, straining health systems. The World Health Organization (WHO) is warning of a 'tsunami of cases' worldwide. Global infections have more than doubled this week, with more than one and a half million positive cases a day. The lightning fast spread is being attributed to the highly transmissible Omicron strain. But the previous variant of concern, the Delta, hasn't gone away, and with both circulating at the same time, the WHO says it is very concerned.
Guests:
Dr Angelique Coetzee Chairperson of the South African Medical Association
Dr Lawrence Young Professor of Molecular Oncology at Warwick Medical School
Irene Petersen Professor of Epidemiology at University College London
Stand News, a prominent pro-democracy and anti-Beijing news outlet operating out of Hong Kong, has closed its operations after police raided its office, arresting activists and editors, as well as four former board members. The police say it had a warrant to raid and seize journalistic materials under a national security law imposed by China last year. The arrests have come at a time when authorities are cracking down on dissent in the semi-autonomous Chinese city. Is it in the interest of national security, or is Beijing bringing an end to press freedom in Hong Kong?
Guests:
Joel Flynn Freelance Journalist
Einar Tangen China Affairs Analyst
Benedict Rogers Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch
Andrew Leung China Strategist
The Iraqi Supreme Court on Monday upheld the results of the country's parliamentary election, in effect ratifying a win for the hardline Shia cleric Muqtada al Sadr. Al Sadr's nationalist party claimed a huge 35 percent increase in seats from its 2018 position, becoming the largest party in the parliament. Al Sadr once enjoyed backing from Iran and was a fierce enemy of the United States, but now opposes all foreign interference in Iraq. He has also hinted at increasing representation of the country's Kurdish and Sunni minorities. But will his reform project turn the tide on corruption and re-engage Iraqi civilians?
Guests:
Farhad Alaaldin Iraq Advisory Council Chairperson
Ahmed Rushdi Senior Adviser to the Iraqi Parliament's Secretary General
Tallha Abdulrazaq Iraqi Security and Political Analyst
The United Nations is calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the massacre of at least 35 people, including women and children, in Myanmar's eastern Kayah state. The incident, that's reported to have taken place on December 24, came to the world's attention after photos taken by the Karen Human Rights Group showed bodies on the backs of trucks, burnt beyond recognition. While Myanmar's military stands accused of another mass killing, the country's state media is reporting that the army had shot and killed terrorists. International condemnations are in order, but are these enough to change the reality on the ground?
Guests:
Maung Zarni Adviser to Genocide Watch
Nay San Lwin Co-founder of the Free Rohingya Coalition
Htwe Htwe Thein Associate Professor at Curtin University
Scientists have warned that the new COVID-19 strain, called the Omicron, is surging at a speed unlike anything seen before. And with the holiday season around the corner, countries around the world are re-imposing restrictions in an attempt to stop the spread. Will the new restrictions help contain the threat of another deadly wave of the highly transmissible variant?
Guests:
Oksana Pyzik Lecturer at UCL School of Pharmacy
Dr Amesh Adalja Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Jake Glanville Founder and CEO of Centivax
The United States' National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan visited Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, hoping to devise a common strategy on the Iran nuclear deal. Israel firmly opposes any international effort to revive the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that resulted in Tehran agreeing to curb its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. As negotiators prepare for a new round of talks with Iran in Vienna, Israel is pushing the US to represent its interests at the table. So, will the US and Israel decide the fate of the Iran nuclear deal?
Guests:
Borzou Daragahi International Correspondent for The Independent
Scott Lucas Professor of International Politics at Birmingham University
Neri Zilber Journalist and Adjunct Fellow at Washington Institute
In a major setback that could lead to further destabilisation, Libya's electoral commission has announced to reschedule the much anticipated December 24 presidential vote. The commission says it had become impossible to hold the vote, given the precarious political situation in the country. Now with the announcement of the postponement of elections, fears are growing that a looming political vacuum could lead to more violence.
Guests:
Salah Elbakkoush Former Adviser to Libya's High Council of State
Ashur Shamis Libyan Journalist and Political Activist
Samuel Ramani Politics Tutor at Oxford University
Afghanistan is fast descending into one of the world's worst humanitarian crises and calls to step up financial support for the war-stricken country are growing louder. The US Democratic lawmakers have called on President Biden to unfreeze the country's central bank reserves. The House Democrats' call to unfreeze Afghanistan's assets comes in the backdrop of the UN warning that the country's banking system stands at risk of a complete failure.
Guests:
Adam Weinstein Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute
Obaidullah Baheer Transitional Justice Lecturer at American University of Afghanistan Rahela Sidiqi Founder and Director of the Rahela Trust
Haroun Rahimi Assistant Law Professor at the American University of Afghanistan
In what appears to be a showdown between the East and the West, new alliances are being made. As the United States and the European Union take a blunt stance against Russia over Ukraine, Moscow finds in Beijing a trustworthy partner to strengthen co-operation. With these predictable alliances, is it the beginning of a divided world? Is the world inching closer to another Cold War?
Guests:
Andrei Fedorov Member of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Advisory Team
Peter Zalmayev Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative
Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti ISPI Research Fellow Specialising in Russia
The rapid spread of the new COVID-19 strain, Omicron, is forcing countries to rethink restrictions. Weeks after its first detection in South Africa, scientists are expecting Omicron to outcompete Delta but with less severe disease. As the entire world grapples with a fourth wave of the pandemic, the pertinent question is: will vaccines be enough for protection against the new variant or are stricter measures the only way out?
Guests:
Dr Margaret Harris WHO Spokesperson
Dr Angelique Coetzee Chairperson of the South African Medical Association
Simon Calder Journalist and Travel Editor at The Independent
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have met in Brussels for talks mediated by the European Union. The talks, held during the sixth Eastern Partnership Summit and dubbed as 'significant' by the European Council President Charles Michel, were aimed at reducing tensions between the two neighbours following last year's Nagorno-Karabakh war and to advance diplomacy. Meanwhile, Turkey and Armenia have also been looking to normalise relations by preparing their special representatives for talks. So, could the South Caucasus finally be on its way to peace and improved relations? And could Armenia soon become an integrated partner in the region?
Guests:
Farid Shafiyev Chairperson of the Center of Analysis of International Relations
Richard Giragosian Director of Armenia's Regional Studies Center
Murat Aslan Researcher at the SETA Foundation
Tunisian President Kais Saied has announced a constitutional referendum and extended the parliament's suspension for another year. Months after sending the country's parliament packing, President Saied has announced the vote for July 25, which would also be one-year anniversary of his seizure of power. This means that Tunisia will remain without a parliament and elected lawmakers for at least one more year. Are these steps toward stabilising the country or does Saied want to cement his power?
Guests:
Ahmed Gaaloul Tunisia's Former Youth Minister
Anthony Dworkin Senior Policy Fellow at European Council on Foreign Relations
Sami Hamdi Editor-in-Chief of The International Interest
Gulf leaders in Riyadh and European powers in Vienna are discussing Iran's nuclear ambitions. Meanwhile, Tehran is accusing the West of playing games. The past few days have seen a flurry of diplomatic activity: From Vienna to Riyadh and from Amman to Abu Dhabi, there've been efforts to engage with Iran through diplomacy as the world leaders try to salvage the nuclear deal. But can the deal be saved before time runs out?
Guests:
Mohammad Marandi Advisor to Iran's Nuclear Negotiating Team
Jeffrey Stacey Former Senior Advisor to the US State Department
Simon Mabon Author of 'The Struggle For Supremacy: Saudi Arabia and Iran'
In President Biden's Summit for Democracy, one third of the attendees are only partly democratic, says Freedom House. So, is the spectacle more about American alliances and interests than values? Donald Cameron takes a look.
Joe Biden is hoping to position himself and America as beacon of democracy. His virtual Summit for Democracy aims to fight corruption, authoritarianism, and the erosion of human rights. But the list of who was and wasn't invited has drawn criticism. Why did Washington decide to hold it? Has it actually achieved anything? Guests:
Matthew Bryza Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council
George Szamuely Senior Research Fellow at the Global Policy Institute
Klaus Jurgens Political Analyst
Onur Erim Political Analyst and Author
Four years ago, Saudi Arabia imposed a devastating blockade on Qatar that shocked the region. But now the two kingdoms are rebuilding their damaged relationship. On Wednesday, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman paid his first visit to Doha since the two severed ties back in 2017.
Guests:
Mohammed al Qubaiban Saudi and Gulf Affairs Expert
Marwan Kabalan Policy Analyst at Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies
Annelle Sheline Research Fellow at the Quincy Institute's Middle East Program
Taha Meli Arvas Adjunct Professor of Finance at Bogazici University
The first study into the Omicron variant is out and scientists fear it could outcompete Delta and soon become the dominant strain. Scientists working for Africa Health Research Institute also concluded that the vaccine provides less protection against the new variant. So, will this new strain set off another wave? Or is it weak enough that the world is well prepared to deal with it?
Guests:
Dr Lawrence Young Professor of Molecular Oncology at Warwick Medical School
Oksana Pyzik Lecturer at UCL School of Pharmacy
Dr Bharat Pankhania Senior Clinical Lecturer at Exeter University Medical School
India's close ties with Russia go back decades, but more recently New Delhi has been cozying up to Washington, one of Moscow's biggest adversaries. On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Putin face to face for the first time since 2019. Putin and Modi signed a slew of trade and defence deals in the Indian capital, further boosting their bilateral ties. But will a closer partnership with Moscow hurt New Delhi's relationship with Washington?
Guests: Ajai Shukla Retired Indian Army Colonel and Journalist
Uday Bhaskar Retired Indian Commodore
Tatiana Belousova Jindal School of International Affairs Assistant Professor
After she was forced from her seat in a military coup, Myanmar's ousted leader has now been sentenced to four years in prison. Hundreds remain detained for their opposition to the military takeover. Is Aung San Suu Kyi now the symbol of the military junta's desperation to maintain total control? While the military is promising to hold an election in 2023, many doubt there is a sincere will to hold a vote. So, where does this leave the country's decade long journey towards democracy?
Guests:
Maung Zarni Co-ordinator of the Free Rohingya Coalition
Phil Robertson Deputy Asia Director for Human Rights Watch
Mu Sochua ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights Board Member
Just a few weeks ago, the Delta variant was the world's biggest concern in its fight against the coronavirus. Now there's Omicron, a new and potentially more dangerous mutation. Scientists fear the strain is far more transmissible and cases of it can already be found around the world. But while the Omicron variant appears to spread more easily, its symptoms appear to be mild, leading some to say it's too early to panic.
Guests:
Dr Amesh Adalja Senior Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security
Jake Glanville Founder and CEO of Centivax
Oksana Pyzik UCL School of Pharmacy Senior Teaching Fellow
In just three weeks, Libya is scheduled to hold its first-ever presidential election. But with no ratified constitution, scattered electoral laws and a nation divided by war, could a vote only lead to further chaos? The chaotic nature of the planned poll has Libyans divided, not just over whom to vote for, but on whether the country is ready for an election at all.
Guests:
Salah Elbakkoush Former Adviser to Libya's High Council of State
Sami Hamdi Editor-in-Chief of The International Interest
Tim Eaton Chatham House Senior Middle East and North Africa Fellow
As tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine, NATO steps in to back Kiev. On Wednesday, in his annual address to parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was time for direct talks with the Kremlin to end the conflict. But how will Moscow respond? And can diplomacy stop the escalation?
Guests:
Andrei Fedorov Member of Russian President Vladimir Putin's Advisory Team
Dana Lewis Journalist and Russian Affairs Analyst
Andreas Umland Analyst at the Stockholm Centre for Eastern European Studies
Diplomats from Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are talking with Iran in the Austrian capital of Vienna, trying to find a way to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal. But a hardline approach from Iran and its demand to lift all sanctions is making many sceptical if the United States would agree to that. So, is the Iran nuclear deal on the verge of collapse?
Guests:
Borzou Daragahi International Correspondent for The Independent
Mohammad Marandi Political Analyst and Professor at Tehran University
Paul Ingram Leading Nuclear Disarmament Consultant
Dave Jonas Adjunct Law Professor at George Washington University
The emergence of a new coronavirus variant, Omicron, has put the world on high alert. It's been two years since the beginning of the pandemic, and just when there were signs of a return to some sort of normalcy, the new variant has caused concerns among health professionals. After scientists in South Africa announced its discovery, it wasn't long before the United States, the United Kingdom, European Union, and other countries began imposing travel restrictions. So, how is this variant different from Delta? Should the world be worried?
Guests:
Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa Vice Chairperson of the South African Medical Association
Oksana Pyzik UCL School of Pharmacy Senior Teaching Fellow
Dr Lawrence Young Professor of Molecular Oncology at Warwick Medical School
Britain and France are arguing over who to blame after at least 27 people died while crossing the English Channel in hopes to make it to England. Just a day after the tragic news, dozens more attempted the risky journey. What could have been done to prevent those tragic deaths? And more importantly, what can be done to protect the asylum seekers in future?
Guests:
Yasmine Ahmed UK Director of Human Rights Watch
Steven Woolfe Former MEP for the UK Independence Party
Lowkey Political Campaigner and Hip Hop Artist
In less than a week, Somalia's deadliest terror group Al Shabab has struck the country twice. The terror group claimed responsibility for a car bomb attack outside a school in the capital Mogadishu on Thursday that left at least eight, including students, dead and dozens injured. The regular attacks pose questions about Somalia's political and security future. So, what needs to be done to bring lasting peace and stability to the east African country and defeat Al Shabab?
Guests:
Ali H. Warsame Former Somalian Education of Puntland Minister
David Otto Security Expert Specialising in Africa
Mohamed Husein Gaas Raad Peace Research Institute Director
The leaders of Turkey and the United Arab Emirates put their rivalries aside to discuss possible new partnerships when they met in Ankara after a gap of nearly a decade. The relationship between Ankara and Abu Dhabi, for the most part during the last 10 years, suffered as the two capitals found themselves on the opposite ends of a changing geopolitical situation. But now the frost seems to be thawing. Could this new relationship revitalise the region?
Guests:
Yusuf Alabarda Defence and Security Analyst
Marwan Kabalan Policy Analyst at Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies
Onur Erim Political Analyst and Author
On August 25th 2020 Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people, killing two at a Black Lives Matter protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin. On Friday he was acquitted of all charges after a jury says he was acting in self-defence. His testimony may have convinced the jurors, but many others were outraged. The Rittenhouse case isn't the only trial that's brought America's racial divide back into the spotlight. The trial of the white men who killed Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery is nearing its end too, and just like in the Rittenhouse trial, the defence claims they were acting in self-defence, the prosecution however says that racism was a key factor.
Guests:
Nate Lerner Democratic Strategist and Build the Wave Founder
Kelechi Egwim APPEAL Executive Director
Joseph Haynes Davis Lawyer and Criminal Justice Expert
For almost three decades Alexander Lukashenko has ruled Belarus, but as tensions rise between the EU and Minsk, is the Belarusian president’s reign now at risk? Relations between the EU and Belarus have been deteriorating for years, but after Lukashenko’s regime was accused of orchestrating the migrant crisis at the Poland-Belarus border, relations have hit a new low. On Monday, Austria hosted foreign ministers from Germany and the Baltic states as they discussed Belarus’ chance of moving from autocracy to democracy. Representatives from Minsk refused to attend, calling the summit a waste of time. So is this the beginning of the end for Europe’s last dictator?
Guests:
Daniel Krutzinna Former Investments and Innovation Advisor to the President Lukashenko
Franak Viacorka Senior Advisor to Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya
Gilbert Doctorow Independent International Affairs Analyst
Asylum seekers, especially those fleeing warzones, risk everything they have got in hopes to get to Europe and live a stable, prosper life. But Europe keeps pushing them back. The harrowing scenes at the Poland-Belarus border recently is one of many such examples. Is the bloc violating its own allegiance to upholding human rights?
Guests:
Christopher Hein Migration and Asylum Policy Professor at Luiss Guido Carli University
Matthias Lucke Co-ordinates MEDAM Think Tank Focused on Migration
Thom Brooks Professor of Law and Government at Durham University
It's been less than a month since the army seized power in Sudan. Coup leader General Abdel Fattah al Burhan said he dissolved the government to prevent civil war. But the streets of Khartoum have now become a battleground as civilians resist military rule. Dozens are killed as anti-coup protests turn deadly. But with demonstrators remaining defiant, will the military back down or double down?
Guests:
Hamid Murtada Sudanese Activist
Suzanne Jambo Ex-Sudan People’s Liberation Movement Foreign Secretary
David Otto Security Expert Specialising in Africa
The United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken begins his three-nation tour to Africa, with Kenya being his first stop. President Joe Biden wants to re-engage with African countries in a bid to reverse former US premier Donald Trump's policies who hadn't stepped foot on the continent while in office. The US is looking to boost its response to help resolve regional crises and to counter China's growing footprint. But how much influence does Washington really have on the continent?
Guests:
Aly-Khan Satchu CEO of Rich Management
Agnes Gitau Managing Partner at GBS Africa
Cameron Hudson Senior Fellow at Atlantic Council's Africa Center
Cricket is popularly referred to as a gentleman's game, but recent revelations of institutional racism by Azeem Rafiq against one of England's most respected cricket clubs, Yorkshire, has got the world of sports reeling. But racism isn't restricted to cricket. In the football arena too, there have been many reported instances where players were racially abused. So, why is racism so prevalent in sport? And what needs to be done to eradicate it?
Guests:
Marvin Bartley Football Player and Assistant Manager at Livingston FC
John Bradley Football Broadcaster and Player Welfare Advocate
Firas El Echi Sport Journalist and Presenter
The migrant crisis at the border of Poland and Belarus is escalating with no solution in sight. Thousands of asylum seekers, hoping to cross into Europe, are faced with harsh weather conditions. While EU member states and Belarus battle it out politically, a grave humanitarian crisis is unfolding. Many have already paid the ultimate price and with below freezing temperatures, more migrants could die. But will Poland and Belarus really let that happen, just to prove a political point?
Guests:
Wojciech Przybylski Editor-in-Chief of Visegrad Insight
Lina Vosyliute Research Fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies
Pieter Cleppe Head of Open Europe Brussels
The future of humanity is in the hands of the world's most powerful people. And COP26 was hailed as their last best chance to tackle the climate crisis. The UN summit has now come to an end, but how much progress was made? There were definitely major breakthroughs over the last two weeks in Glasgow. But are they big enough to make a difference?
Guests:
Rupert Read Former Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson
Peter Newman UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Adviser
Anya Knechtel Oxfam Canada's Policy, Climate and National Resources Specialist
Poland has deployed thousands of troops as its border crisis with Belarus gains momentum. At least two thousand migrants, mostly from the Middle East, are stuck at the border hoping to cross into the Polish territory. The European Union has accused Belarus of orchestrating the crisis in an attempt to destablise the bloc. But with below freezing temperatures, those caught at the borders are fighting for their survival. So, what's causing the divide in EU's response to the growing crisis? Why won't anyone within the block take the refugees in?
Guests:
Matthew Cassel Vice News Correspondent
Sergio Carrera Centre for European Policy Studies Senior Research Fellow
Philippe Dam Human Rights Watch's Advocacy Director for Europe
Tunisians are protesting the death of a demonstrator caused by inhaling tear gas fired by the police as crisis related to the reopening of a landfill site fuels more unrest. In September, Sfax's region's major landfill site was closed down due to public pressure but no alternative was put in place, resulting in the city councils refusing to collect trash. This forced the residents to the streets but the situation took a drastic turn after a protestor was killed. Can Tunisia's new prime minister find a way to resolve the crisis? Or are the country's challenges too big to overcome?
Guests:
Haithem Beltaif Former Tunisian Diplomat
Ahmed Gaaloul Former Tunisian Minister of Youth and Sports
Youcef Bouandel Associate Political Science Professor at Qatar University
A humanitarian crisis is unfolding on the edge of the European Union as thousands of migrants seek to cross into Poland from Belarus. Tensions have been simmering for weeks but on Monday, the situation escalated when hundreds of the people gathered tried to storm the border security, cutting razor wire fences and trying to climb over them. Many of the migrants are from the Middle East and want to pass through Poland into Western Europe.
Guests:
Andrei Sannikov Belarussian Opposition Politician
Aleks Szczerbiak Professor of Contemporary European Studies at Sussex University
Pieter Cleppe Head of Open Europe Brussels
The situation in Iraq is critical after its prime minister, Mustafa al Kadhimi, survived an assassination attempt on Sunday. As per the country's interior ministry, two armed drones were launched at the prime minister's residence in Baghdad. Kadhimi was unhurt, but seven of his security personnel suffered injuries. As political instability threatens to veer further into lawlessness, what will it take to bring security to the country?
Guests:
Ahmed Rushdi Former Adviser to the Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament
Kadhim al Waeli Former Adviser to the US-led Coalition Forces Against Daesh
Aymenn Jawad al Tamimi Researcher at George Washington University’s Extremism Program
Belkis Wille Senior Iraq Researcher at Human Rights Watch
There's been a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Germany and parts of Eastern Europe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the continent could be headed towards a deadly winter season. The COVID-19 has so far killed more than five million people the world over and as per the WHO, another 500,000 Europeans could lose their lives to the virus. With such high vaccination rates, why is then the situation still so critical in Europe?
Guests:
Dr Annelies Wilder-Smith Professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Dr Bharat Pankhania Senior Clinical Lecturer at Exeter University Medical School
Dr Lawrence Young Professor of Molecular Oncology at Warwick Medical School
It's been a year since the war broke out in Ethiopia, and now the rebel forces, the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front, are claiming to advance on the capital Addis Ababa. As the situation escalates, the international powers are calling for an immediate ceasefire. But the Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has vowed to push back the rebel forces with everything he's got.
Guests:
Ledet Muleta Co-founder of the Global Ethiopian Diaspora Society
Awol Allo Senior Lecturer in Law at Keele University
Laetitia Bader Horn of Africa Director at Human Rights Watch
The four Palestinian families from the occupied East Jerusalem's Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood have rejected the Israeli Supreme Court's deal that would have seen them accept the temporary ownership of their homes. Six months ago, the Israeli Supreme Court ordered their expulsion in favour of an illegal settler group, triggering series of protests that eventually led to the 11-day war on Gaza. Last month, the same court proposed a controversial compromise deal, allowing the families to stay in their homes for at least 15 years as 'protected tenants', which the families have now rejected.
Guests:
Mustafa Barghouti Palestinian National Initiative Secretary General
Daniel Seidemann Director of Terrestrial Jerusalem
Ian Black Visiting Senior Fellow at the LSE's Middle East Centre
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that his country will target net-zero carbon emissions by 2070. As the Indian premier made his way to the stage in Glasgow, not many were expecting from the world's third largest polluter to make this pledge. But as it stands, India has made a promise. But is it two decades too late especially when India itself has suffered greatly from the climate crisis?
Guests:
Avantika Goswami Centre for Science and Environment Deputy Program Manager
Anil Sood Environmentalist and President of 'CHETNA' NGO
Ranjan Panda Convenor at Combat Climate Change Network
The effects of climate change are already being acutely felt by hundreds of millions of people around the world. It is in this context that world leaders are gathering in Glasgow to debate how best to tackle what is now seen as the greatest challenge to human survival. Greta Thunberg, one of the world's best known climate activists, isn't too hopeful about the summit. So, will we see more of empty promises? Or will the world's leaders finally agree on taking serious action?
Guests:
Peter Newman UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Adviser
Dann Mitchell Climate Science Professor at Bristol University
Rupert Read Former Extinction Rebellion Spokesperson