Showing posts with label Inside Story. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Inside Story. Show all posts

Saturday, February 08, 2025

What Are the Implications of Trump's Sanctions against ICC? | Inside Story

Feb 8, 2025 | The executive orders are still coming thick and fast. The latest? Sanctions on the International Criminal Court. President Donald Trump says the ICC abuses its power, taking 'illegitimate and baseless' actions against the US and its ally, Israel. He also says its investigators are a threat to national security. So, how will this affect the only court with the ability to prosecute genocide and war crimes? And is the very concept of a rules-based international order under threat?

Presenter: Maleen Saeed

Guests: William Pace, former Convenor of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court.
Kenneth Roth, Visiting Professor at Princeton School for Public and International Affairs and the former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch.
David L Phillips, Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and a former senior adviser to the U.S. State Department.


Tuesday, February 04, 2025

Is President Donald Trump Using Tariffs as a Negotiating Tactic? | Inside Story

Feb 4, 2025 | US President Donald Trump's tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico are on hold for a month. But US levies on Chinese products have gone into effect - and Beijing has hit back with duties of its own. It accuses Washington of unilateralism and has filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization. President Trump says America has been ripped off by 'every country in the world'. So, are tariffs the answer? And at what cost?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:
Dmitry Grozoubinski -- Director of ExplainTrade - a trade policy and negotiations consultancy
Greg Swenson -- Founding Partner of the investment banking firm, Brigg Macadam
Gavin Fridell -- Professor of Political Science and Global Development Studies at Saint Mary's University in Canada


Sunday, February 02, 2025

How Will the US Aid Freeze Affect Countries around the World? | Inside Story

Feb 1, 2025 | For decades, the United States has been the largest single donor of aid globally. Last year it provided more than 40 percent of the UN's humanitarian aid budget. But now most foreign assistance through the state department has been frozen for 90 days, with only emergency food programmes and military aid to Israel and Egypt exempted. The aid supports initiatives ranging from health and education to security and conflict. So what could be the effects of America's freeze on aid, both for itself, and other nations? And how will it reshape Washington's relations with the world?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests:
Dave Harden - Former assistant administrator for the USAID Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance.
Salai Za Uk Ling - Director of Chin Human Rights Organization, an NGO based in Myanmar.
Abdullahi Boru Halakhe - Horn of Africa security analyst and senior advocate at Refugees International.


Sunday, January 12, 2025

Dramatic Rise of Germany's Far-right AfD Party Raising Concerns | Inside Story

Jan 12, 2025 | The AfD has become a major player in German politics in just 12 years. The far-right party has won over voters with its extreme views, from immigration to energy. It's candidate for Chancellor is promising mass deportations of immigrants.

Can Alice Wiedel help her party win more power in a general election next month?

Presenter: Laura Kyle
Guests: Olaf Boehnke, Director and Senior Advisor, Alliance of Democracies Foundation
Jessica Berlin, Non-resident fellow, Center for European Analysis
Ulrich Brueckner, Professor of European Studies, Stanford University in Berlin



Elon Musk is very unwise to foster the growth of the AfD. Has Musk no understanding of Germany’s recent history? Hitler casts a very long shadow over Germany, Europe, and the world. Hitler died, but his ghost lives on.

Is Elon Musk unfamiliar with Björn Höcke, who is a very prominent figure and who is the leader of the AfD in Thuringia?

Elon Musk is either ignorant (which I very much doubt) or is trying to shore up trouble. Whichever it is, it is bad news for Germany and bad news for Europe.

Manchmal ist Schweigen die beste Option! – © Mark Alexander

Saturday, December 07, 2024

What's Next for Syria's President Bashar Al Assad? | Inside Story

Dec 7, 2024 | In just over a week, opposition forces in Syria have seized major cities including Aleppo, and large swathes of territory. They've faced little or no resistance from the Syrian military, apart from air strikes involving Russia. And with Damascus in the opposition's sights, what's President Bashar Al Assad's strategy?

Presenter: James Bays

Guests:
Charles Lister - Director of the Syria and Counterterrorism Programs at the Middle East Institute
Marie Forestier - senior advisor at the European Institute of Peace
Sawsan Abou Zainedin - Chief Executive officer of the Madaniya, an independent Syrian-led civil society initiative.


Monday, July 15, 2024

How Polarised Is America? | Inside Story

Jul 15, 2024 | A campaign rally turned into a scene of horror on Saturday, as former US President Donald Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt. The gunman fired from a nearby rooftop and was quickly taken down by Secret Service agents. The FBI has now classified it as a potential act of domestic terrorism.

President Joe Biden condemned the shooting and expressed sympathy to his opponent, in a rare break from the animosity between the two men. Could this mark the beginning of a perilous period for political violence in America? Or will the polarisation and tension recede amid the wave of shock?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests: Rachel Kleinfeld, Senior Fellow at Carnegie's Democracy, Conflict and Governance Program.
Amy Koch, Republican Political Strategist.
Natasha Lindstaedt, Professor of US Government at the University of Essex.


Monday, July 08, 2024

What Does the Outcome of France's Snap Election Mean? | Inside Story

Jul 8, 2024 | An inconclusive election in France - but with one certainty, the far-right won't lead the next government.

A leftist bloc came out on top, ahead of President Macron's centrists -- with the far-right National Rally beaten into third place. So, what does the result mean?

Presenter: Neave Barker

Guests:

Rokhaya Diallo - Writer and an Anti-Racism Activist and researcher at Georgetown University.
Victor Mallet - Senior Editor at the Financial Times and a former Paris Bureau Chief.
Suzanne Lynch - Global Playbook Author and Associate Editor at Politico.


Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Why Has David Cameron Returned to Front-line politics? | Inside Story

Nov 13, 2023 | David Cameron stunned Britain when he quit as Prime Minister after the 2016 Brexit referendum. Now, he has triggered another political earthquake, making a shock return as Foreign Secretary.

That follows the sacking of the interior minister who tried and failed to suppress major demonstrations in support of Palestinians in Gaza. So what does this mean for UK policy - at home and abroad?


Sunday, July 09, 2023

What Impact Will Threads Have on Twitter and Social Media? | Inside Story

Jul 8, 2023 | An alternative to Twitter is launched by Meta Threads. It hopes Threads will profit from unpopular changes made to the platform under Elon Musk's ownership. So, is it just a clone - or is it a revolution in social media? And what does it mean for users around the world?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests:

Elaine Burke, Science and Technology journalist, host of For Tech's Sake podcast.

Sherilyn Naidoo, Lawyer and Policy Adviser to Big Tech Accountability Team, Amnesty International.

Sarah Kreps, Founder and Director of the Technology Policy Institute at Cornell University, and Author of 'Social Media's International Relations'



Threads Takes on Twitter: How Meta did what no other Twitter competitor could. »

Saturday, June 24, 2023

Why Is Diabetes Spreading around the World? | Inside Story

Jun 24, 2023 | The number of adults living with diabetes worldwide will more than double by 2050 -- surpassing most diseases on a global scale. That’s according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal.

The research reveals more than half a billion people currently live with diabetes worldwide, and every country is expected to see a major increase.

Rapidly rising levels of obesity and widening inequalities in healthcare are identified as key factors.

Will the world heed the warning and address the diabetes threat? And can a healthier future be secured for everyone?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests :

Dr. Rayaz Malik - Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar and a pioneering researcher of diabetes.
Dr. Shivani Agarwa - Associate Professor of Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Lead author on one of the Lancet reports.
Mohammad Dabbah - Head of Artifical Intelligence at sports data provider Statsbomb.



This is NOT a technology problem! This is a dietary problem! Eat the right foods in the right quantity and you will avoid type-2 diabetes. – © Mark Alexander

Monday, May 29, 2023

What Can Be Expected from President Erdogan's Third Term? | Inside Story

May 29, 2023 | President Recep Tayyip Erdogan re-elected in run-off vote - but faces big domestic and foreign policy challenges ahead It went to a run-off after a very tight first round, but Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the clear winner of Turkey's presidential election. Opponents expressed dismay with the result reflecting deep political divisions in the country.

A key player between East and West, Turkey's relations are complex with the NATO member also on good terms with Russia. So, what can we expect from Erdogan's third term at home and abroad?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests: Helin Sari Ertem, Associate Prof. of Intern'l Relations at Istanbul Medeniyet University
Ben Aris, Founder/Editor-in-chief, BNE IntelliNews.
Onur Erim, Political Adviser, President of Dragoman Strategies.



One word sums up Turkey perfectly: Janus. Turkey looks in two directions: one side looks West; the other side looks East. It was ever thus; and for the foreseeable future, at least, so it will be. – © Mark Alexander

Monday, May 22, 2023

Will Worsening US Relations with Beijing Affect EU-China Trade? | Inside Story

May 21, 2023

Presenter: Tom McRae

Guests:

Einar Tangen - Senior Fellow at the Taihe Institute think-tank, Beijing.
Vicky Pryce - Chief Economic Adviser at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, London.
Steven Erlanger - Chief Diplomatic Correspondent for Europe at the New York Times in Brussels.


Saturday, May 13, 2023

Inside Story: Can the Turkish Opposition Unseat President Erdogan?

May 9, 2023 | It's an important election that could change more than just the head of state. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is hoping to extend his term after more than 20 years in power. But recent opinion polls suggest he's not the outright favourite. High inflation and a perceived slow response to devastating earthquakes have hit his popularity. Some voters are turning to a new candidate. So, what does that mean for Turkish politics - and the economy?

Presenter: Imran Khan
Guests: Onur Erim - President of Dragoman Strategies, a defence think tank and author of a book on Turkiye's election system
Robert Pearson - Turkish foreign policy specialist and former U.S. ambassador in Ankara
Sinan Ulgen - Chairman of the Center for Economic and Foreign Policy Studies and a former Turkish diplomat


Saturday, December 17, 2022

What's the Impact of Peru's Political Crisis & How Will it End? | Inside Story

Dec 17, 2022 | Since the jailing of Peru's former President Pedro Castillo more than a week ago, violence has spread across the country, with troops opening fire and killing demonstrators.

Two ministers have resigned, the government has declared a state of emergency, and curfews have been imposed in 15 regions. What does this crisis mean for Peru and other countries in Latin America - and how might it end?

Presenter: Hazem Sika

Paola Ugaz - investigative journalist in Lima.
Javier Farje - Peru analyst and historian in London.
Jo-Marie Burt - Associate Professor of Political Science/Latin American Studies, George Mason University, Washington DC


Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Should NATO Impose a No-fly Zone over Ukraine? | Inside Story

Mar 15, 2022 • Russia's invasion of Ukraine is intensifying, killing dozens of people and destroying homes and hospitals in residential areas of the capital Kyiv and other cities. Ukraine's president made another plea for NATO to impose a no-fly zone. But the western military alliance says that would escalate the war, and put its forces in direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia. So what are the options?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Halyna Yanchenko - Member of Ukraine Parliament.
Robert Pszczel - Former NATO official and Senior Fellow, Casimir Pulaski Foundation.
Alexey Muraviev - Associate Professor of National Security and Strategic Studies, Curtin University.



My short essay on this: Time for the West to Grow a Spine!

The Ukrainians are not only fighting for their own country; they are also fighting for the survival of the West. Therefore, they need all our help, including a no-fly zone. The West needs to stop being fearful of Putin. Call his bluff! We in the West, collectively, are much, much stronger than he is anyway. It is disgraceful that the West – and NATO – expect the brave Ukrainians to do our dirty work for us! Establish a no-fly zone now! If Ukraine falls, other countries will be in Putin's sights. Probably the Baltic states. He is probably eyeing Poland too. This is not going to stop with the Ukraine. So, war with Putin is what we have whether we want it or not; and of course, we shouldn't want it. But this is the sad reality we now find ourselves in. – © Mark

Sunday, February 13, 2022

Has Diplomacy Reached a Dead End? | Inside Story

Feb 13, 2022 • The latest diplomatic attempt between the United States and Russia to resolve tensions over Ukraine has achieved nothing. Presidents Putin and Biden exchanged warnings and concerns over the phone, but little else, while military activity continues on both sides.

Moscow has been massing troops in Russia and Belarus near their borders with Ukraine. The build-up is raising fears an invasion is imminent.

Ukraine is receiving Western support. Its biggest ally, the US, is sending 200 million dollars’ worth of military aid, including armour-penetrating missiles and ammunition.

Why is the crisis over Ukraine proving so hard to solve?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan. Guests: Pavel Felgenhauer, Defence and Military Analyst, and a Columnist at Novaya Gazeta; Matthew Bryza, Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and a Former Diplomat and National Security Official at the White House; Glenn Diesen, Professor of International Relations at the University of South-Eastern Norway and Editor of 'Russia in Global Affairs'


Thursday, October 14, 2021

What Is Causing a Global Goods Shortage? | Inside Story

Oct 14, 2021 • A supply chain crisis is threatening to derail the world's economic recovery from the pandemic. New smartphones, toys, clothes, and even Christmas turkeys are among many items failing to reach consumers.

Container ports in the US and Europe are working at full capacity. Manufacturing hubs in China have slowed down output because of power shortages and high commodity prices.

So, what are the solutions?

Presenter: Imran Khan | Guests: Jas Kalra - Assistant Professor in Supply Chain Management, Newcastle University Business School; Dan Wang - Chief Economist, Hang Seng Bank China; Stavros Karamperidis - Lecturer in Maritime Economics, University of Plymouth.


Thursday, August 19, 2021

Will Taliban Rule Be Different This Time in Afghanistan? | Inside Story

Aug 18, 2021 • Millions of Afghans who lived through the 1990s remember the Taliban's harsh rules and governing style. But the armed group says - it has changed. As it gets ready to lead the country once again. In its first news conference since taking Kabul on Sunday, the Taliban promised to protect women's rights, give amnesty to those who worked with foreigners and respect media freedoms.

Its leaders also said they will not let other groups use Afghanistan to launch attacks on any country. And they've called on women and other minorities to join their government. But many Afghans and world leaders are skeptical. So, has the Taliban changed its ways?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom. Guests: Fahim Sadat - Head of the International Relations Department at Kardan University; Michael Semple - Practitioner Chair at the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast; Omar Samad - a former Afghan Ambassador to France and Canada and a former Adviser to Afghan Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.


Thursday, July 29, 2021

Could Tunisia Fall under a New Dictatorship? | Inside Story

Jul 27, 2021 • Tunisia is often called the only success story of the Arab Spring. But ten years on, its democracy is looking fragile. President Kais Saied has defended sacking the Prime Minister and suspending parliament, saying he acted lawfully under the constitution.

Tunisia's biggest political party, Ennahda, is calling for a national dialogue. While some celebrated the President's decisions, others are warning of a return to authoritarianism. So could Tunisia return to dictatorship?

Presenter: Bernard Smith | Guests: Tarek Kahloui - Political analyst; Sarah Yerkes - Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Salih Yasun - Fellow, Ostrom Workshop, Indiana University Bloomington.


Saturday, July 24, 2021

Who Is to Blame for Lebanon's Latest Political Setback? | Inside Story

July 16, 2021 – It's back to square one for Lebanon's deepening political crisis. The prime Minister-Designate has resigned again after failing to form a new government. And as Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun trade blame, the country sinks deeper into economic turmoil.

The currency has lost 95 percent of its value since 2019, pushing many Lebanese into poverty. International donors are frustrated at the lack of progress on reforms. So is there a political will to end Lebanon's political deadlock?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom | Guests: Rana Khoury - Political Activist; Bachar El-Halabi - MENA Geopolitical Analyst, ClipperData; Christophe Abi-Nassif - Middle East Institute.