Conflict Zone: Recent Episodes
Deutsche Welle
Enter the conflict zone! Putting the spotlight on controversial issues and going beyond the normal soundbite culture.
In a sign of growing impatience, Joe Biden's administration has stepped up its objections to a new abortion law in Texas and asked the Supreme Court to block it. Our guest this week is Bryan Hughes, a Texas State Senator who spearheaded the legislation. What makes him think he's doing the right thing?
Tim Sebastian interviews Douglas Lute, former US Deputy National Security Advisor and US Ambassador to NATO under President Obama.
The Christian Democrats and the Greens are set to play a key role in Germany's upcoming election. But are they capable of leading Germany into a new era? DW's Conflict Zone host Tim Sebastian talks to representatives of both parties: David McAllister for the CDU and Franziska Brantner for the Greens.
Governing Afghanistan today will not be easy. The 1990s was a completely different time. ''Resistance will continue" claims Jawed Ludin, a former advisor to President Hamid Karzai in an interview with Tim Sebastian on Conflict Zone this week. He also admits: ''One thing that has changed is that today's Taliban have a very deep-seated vengeance."
For years, the government of Bangladesh has been criticized for its human rights record. Its reputation received another jolt this month with allegations of high-level bribery and corruption. DW’s Conflict Zone host Tim Sebastian confronts Gowher Rizvi, international affairs adviser to the country’s prime minister.
There is "no alternative" to EU membership for North Macedonia, the prime minister says. But, after 16 years of waiting, can the country overcome serious hurdles to join the bloc? Zoran Zaev is on Conflict Zone.
Why does the EU so often punch below its weight? The Vice Chair of the European Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee tells DW that EU may need to drop the unanimous decision-making on foreign policy to go forward.
Has President Buhari lost control in Nigeria? Government crackdowns on protesters and a Twitter ban suggest weakness at the top, while citizens face rising terrorism. Conflict Zone meets Abuja’s ambassador to Germany.
The Council of Europe's verdict on human rights in Europe makes unpleasant reading, saying the continent's democratic environment and institutions are in "mutually reinforcing decline." What has gone so wrong?
A cease-fire between Israel and the militant Palestinian group Hamas has been holding after the recent surge in fighting, but it remains fragile. Is Hamas willing to take responsibility for its share of the blame, and is there any chance for peace talks to resume? Basem Naim, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, speaks to Conflict Zone.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Advisor Michael Freeman tells DW that every innocent civilian killed is a tragedy but says Hamas are the ones who are stealing the future of Palestinian children.
The Ukrainian foreign minister joins Conflict Zone remotely from Kyiv and tells DW's Tim Sebastian that after the recent build-up of Russian troops at the border, "[w]hat is happening cannot be called a withdrawal."
Libya has a new government of national unity, which promises free elections by the end of this year. But the roadblocks it faces are immense. DW’s Conflict Zone confronts the country’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Tamim Baiou.
Donald Trump lost the election but won't go quietly. Is his party unwilling or just too afraid to call time on their defeated leader? Jack Kingston, a former Republican lawmaker and Trump adviser, talks to Conflict Zone
Talking to DW Conflict Zone host Tim Sebastian, a prominent member of Germany’s ruling CDU party strongly criticized the two conservative politicians at the heart of a damaging mask procurement scandal. Andreas Nick said these cases are “totally unacceptable” and called for a "very clear process" to ensure compliance with ethical standards.
Amid a slow vaccination rollout and growing fears of new mutations, the World Health Organization's top official for Europe is confident his organization is functioning well in the fight against coronavirus. In a heated interview with DW's Conflict Zone, Hans Kluge defended the organization's dealings with China and called for restoring the public's faith in science.
Is Imran Khan calling the shots in Pakistan? On Conflict Zone, his science minister hits back at opposition claims that the military really are in charge. Fawad Chaudhry joins DW’s Sarah Kelly down the line from Islamabad.
Are mass arrests in Hong Kong a further erosion of its freedoms? A pro-Beijing lawmaker says there has been a “tightening” on freedom of expression, but the world is “overreacting” and investigations have to run their course.
A leading member of Britain’s Conservative Party has acknowledged that there will be initial difficulties as a result of the recent free trade deal between the UK and the EU, but defended the agreement as one that is beneficial for both parties.
Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has declared victory in the conflict in Tigray, but a humanitarian crisis is growing. Zadig Abraha, the minister for democratization, is on DW's Conflict Zone.
Barring unforeseen events, Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th US President next month. But with his party deeply divided, are the Democrats really celebrating? DW's Conflict Zone meets Democratic congresswoman Debbie Dingell. Is Biden a man with a vision or will he struggle simply to control his party and the urgent crises Donald Trump will leave behind?
German authorities say Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the Novichock nerve agent. The Kremlin has denied any involvement. State Duma member, Vyacheslav Nikonov, tells DW, Navalny is too irrelevant. Why do so many outspoken Russians face mortal danger?
Facing disquiet in Brussels, recent mass protests over abortion rights, and criticism on press freedom, is Poland’s government on a path to isolation? Conflict Zone asks MEP Ryszard Legutko from the ruling Law and Justice Party.
“Americans are looking for hope,” says a Trump campaign adviser, but will voters turn to a president who many say botched the country’s response to a global health emergency? Tim Sebastian meets Micah Mosbacher on Conflict Zone.
A deeply divided US is heading towards its election with polls showing many people are afraid of violence. DW's Conflict Zone talks to Ken Cuccinelli, Acting Deputy Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security.
Benjamin Netanyahu remains prime minister while on trial for corruption, but unrest is growing in Israel, including over the response to the pandemic. Nir Barkat, a Likud MP and ally of the PM, is on DW's Conflict Zone.
Zimbabwe’s government vowed essential reforms but has failed to reassure the international community, whose support it desperately needs. Are its promises just shallow phrases? DW’s Sarah Kelly asks Foreign Minister Sibusiso Moyo.
Hezbollah is banned in many countries as a terrorist group but is a powerful political force in Lebanon and was a kingmaker of the new government. Is the group hindering or helping the reforms the country so desperately needs?
Sweden’s coronavirus strategy has led to a death rate much higher than that of its neighbors. Did the country badly miscalculate? DW’s Conflict Zone meets the country’s foreign minister.
Will China’s new national security law be the end of Hong Kong’s autonomy? Regina Ip, a pro-Beijing party leader, says not to jump to conclusions. “The motherland has nothing but good intentions” for Hong Kong, she says.
By pushing for a presidential election during the coronavirus pandemic, did Poland's government put politics ahead of people's lives? DW's Conflict Zone confronts MEP Dominik Tarczynski.
In an exclusive interview with DW’s Conflict Zone, Kang Kyung-wha discussed her country’s much-lauded handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. But has its technology-led response come at the expense of privacy?
Political infighting is nothing new in Brussels, but facing the Covid-19 pandemic European leaders have been far from united. Conflict Zone's Tim Sebastian asks European Commissioner Ylva Johansson if the EU has suffered a major blow over its disunity.
With no end in sight to years of war, political chaos, or the desperate humanitarian crisis, what have thousands of civilian deaths and suffering been for in Yemen? DW’s Conflict Zone meets the country’s foreign minister.
Roderich Kiesewetter, a German Christian Democrat, acknowledged on DW's Conflict Zone that his party made mistakes leading to the political scandal that has rocked the country.
Three years after its fractious referendum the UK has left the EU. Has it "taken back control"? Or will it struggle to make alliances after vowing to go it alone? DW's Conflict Zone rounds up interviews with key players from the Brexit debate.
Talking on DW's Conflict Zone, the former French minister for European Affairs defended President Emmanuel Macron's record and said controversial reforms in her country are working.
High-ranking Chinese analyst Victor Gao defends on DW's Conflict Zone the detention of at least one million Uighurs in the Chinese province of Xinjiang, by saying China is dealing with extremism and separatism.
Decades of child sexual abuse has left the Catholic Church in crisis. The faithful want priests who abuse removed and prosecuted. DW speaks to a priest on the papal commission for the protection of minors.
After stripping Kashmir of its special status, Delhi arrested thousands and imposed a communications blackout. But a senior figure in the ruling BJP tells DW's Conflict Zone it's wrong to call the action a "lockdown."
Turkish presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin to Conflict Zone at the Berlin Forum Policy: ´We are taking care of our own national security.’ Does Turkey still want to be in the EU?
After stripping Kashmir of its special status, Delhi arrested thousands and imposed a communications blackout. But a senior figure in the ruling BJP tells DW's Conflict Zone it's wrong to call the action a "lockdown."
After several years of unrest in Ethiopia and hundreds killed, Hailemariam Desalegn resigned as prime minister to make way for reform, but left behind a questionable human rights record. He meets DW's Conflict Zone.
The Taliban "have to sit" for talks with the Afghan government, says the country's ambassador to the UN in Geneva. But how realistic is a common vision between them?
Sam Brownback, the former US senator and Kansas governor who has been the US ambassador at large for international religious freedom since February 2018, says religious freedom is universal. "It's a fundamental right for everybody. It exists all times, all places, for everybody. And it doesn't impinge on other rights."
Conflict Zone confronts Donald Trump's envoy to Syria, James Jeffrey, on the president's decision to withdraw troops from Syria, a decision that shocked allies, Congress and even members of his own administration.
Protests in Hong Kong, uprising in Venezuela, rising populism and Brexit blockage – all have become symbols of a world in crisis. DW's Conflict Zone looks back at recent interviews with key players.
Conservative politician Andreas Schwab criticized on DW's Conflict Zone the role played by eastern European countries in the selection of candidates for the EU's key positions.
Hong Kong has given in to protests to an extradition bill that could have seen residents face trial in mainland China. DW meets an adviser to leader Carrie Lam, who sees no reason for her to go despite admitting failure.
Does the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party have any alternatives for the country besides shutting Muslims out? The party’s deputy leader in parliamentary, Beatrix von Storch, disputes the claim, but in an exclusive interview on Conflict Zone said, “If we take in more millions, we are in great danger.”
"We will see who is less corrupted and who is better [at] managing and governing the country," the deputy president of the Democratic Party of Moldova (PDM) Vladimir Cebotari told Tim Sebasitan in an exclusive interview.
Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji responds to attacks against the International Criminal Court from US officials over its investigation of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan. 'Do you want me to tell you …. the chamber is going to drop it? I cannot.'
As Qatar marks two years under blockade, its foreign ministry spokesperson rejects allegations by Arab neighbors that Doha supports terrorism. But has it really got tough on terrorists? Conflict Zone asks Lolwah Al-Khater.
Voters gave mainstream parties in many European countries a lashing in recent European elections. Outgoing conservative MEP Anna Maria Corazza Bildt who has been in the European Parliament for the Swedish Moderate Party tells DW that member states are the ones blocking progress, 'Don't blame it on Brussels.'
The opposition in Venezuela, led by self-appointed president Juan Guaido, has failed in its boldest effort yet to oust President Nicolas Maduro. Where does it go from here? DW's Tim Sebastian meets Vanessa Neumann, Guaido's envoy to the UK.