The Inside Story Podcast

Globalisation has become the driver of international trade giving both rich and poorer countries a stake in world business. Then came US President Donald Trump's tariffs. Could they torpedo globalisation? And what would that mean?  In this episode:  Shirley Yu, Senior Visiting Fellow, London School of Economics. Melanie Brusseler, US Programme Director, Common Wealth.  Chris Weafer,...

US President Donald Trump has hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the second time since returning to office in January. Iran and Gaza were the main topics discussed. Why did the meeting take place and what does it signal? In this episode:  H A Hellyer, Senior Associate Fellow, Royal United Services Institute. Trita Parsi, Executive Vice President, Quincy Institute for Respons...

Turmoil in markets and the financial world as shock-waves from US president Donald Trump's tariffs continue. But despite the widespread alarm, Trump is sticking to his plans. So what's happening and what does it mean for people worldwide? In this episode:  Ian Goldin, Professor, Globalisation and Development, University of Oxford. Deborah Elms, Head, Trade Policy, Hinrich Foundation, Singapor...

Video from a dead victim's phone shows how Israel attacked an ambulance convoy in Gaza killing 15 Palestinian emergency workers. It shows too that Israeli statements after the attack were false. Will anyone face justice for this latest war crime?  In this episode:  William Schabas, Professor, International Law, Middlesex University.  Toby Cadman, International Human Rights Lawyer.&n...

There are growing warnings that food supplies in Gaza will soon run out. Israel has cut off aid, risking the lives of more than two million Palestinians. Benjamin Netanyahu says he'll tighten the siege even further if Hamas doesn't accept a ceasefire extension. So, will his policy of starvation work? In this episode:  Ahmad Al Najjar, Resident, Gaza.  Sam Rose, Acting Dire...

China is hitting back at the US with its own set of tariffs on all American goods, right after Trump's latest levies. Now, the world's top two economies, are fighting a heated trade war. So, how will this affect geopolitics and the global economy? In this episode:  John Gong, Professor at the University of International Business and Economics. Robert Koepp, Director of the Asia-Paci...

Angry reactions from world leaders, after the US President announces new tariffs on all imports. They say Donald Trump's decision is a blow to the world's economy. So could this be the start of a global trade war? And what fallout can people expect? In this episode:  Steven Okun, founder and chief executive of APAC Advisors. Philippe Legrain, political economist and senior visi...

Pakistan under fire for its mass deportation plans. Islamabad says about three million Afghan refugees and migrants must leave the country this year. It's cited security concerns but are they founded? And what future awaits those deportees in Afghanistan? In this episode:  Waleed Karyab, Human Rights Activist. Horia Mosadiq, Executive Director, Conflict Analysis Network. Imtiaz...

Convicted of fraud and barred from public office. The end of the road it would seem for Marine Le Pen's presidential ambitions. She may appeal - but that's not likely to allow her run for the presidency in two years' time. What are the implications?  In this episode:  Diane De Vignemont, Independent journalist  Philippe Marliere, Professor of French and European Politics at Universi...

Iran's Supreme Leader warns of a forceful response if the US or its allies bomb his country. That follows a threat made by US President Donald Trump if there's no deal on Tehran's nuclear programme. So, how dangerous is this stand-off? And can a solution be found?  In this episode:  Hassan Ahmadian, Assistant Professor, University of Tehran Ali Vaez, Iran Project Director, International...

US-European relations under severe strain, just two months into Donald Trump's second term. Major divisions over NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, Greenland and trade -- with European leaders scrambling to react. What's driving these differences -- and what next? In this episode:  Niall Stanage -- White House Columnist at The Hill newspaper Theresa Fallon -- Director of the Centre for Russia Euro...

Israel bombs the southern suburb of Beirut - the first air strike on the Lebanese capital since November's ceasefire. Hours earlier, rockets were fired at Israel from southern Lebanon. After numerous ceasefire breaches by Israel in four months, how serious is this one?  In this episode:  Ali Rizk, Security Affairs Analyst.  Lorenzo Kamel, Associate Professor, International...

Tension is rising in South Sudan after the Vice President, Riek Machar, was put under house arrest. He stands accused of involvement in recent battles with the military. Now, there are fears the 2018 power-sharing agreement is collapsing. So, could this lead to another civil war? In this episode:  Patrick Oyet, Journalist based in South Sudan Daniel Akech, Senior Analyst for So...

"We have to have it" -- the words of Donald Trump as he makes a bid for Greenland. He says he wants the Danish territory for "international safety and security". His Vice President is visiting the island this week. So why is Trump so fixated on Greenland? And could he take it by force? In this episode:  Marc Jacobsen - Associate Professor at the Royal Danish Defence College Jim Townsend - Sen...

Under fire, Donald Trump downplays the disclosure of sensitive military information -- confidential U.S. military attack plans shared via a messaging app. It's revealed -- yet again -- Washington's view of its European allies. So, who will pay the price for this security breach? In this episode:  Glenn Carle -- US national security specialist and former CIA officer Jamie Gaskarth --...

Reviving a shattered ceasefire: Egypt has proposed a new plan to end Israel's war on Gaza. Hamas is said to be ready to release more hostages. But with Benjamin Netanyahu under growing pressure at home, would he accept the new deal? In this episode:  H.A. Hellyer - senior fellow in geopolitics, international security and Middle East studies at the Royal United Services Institut...

Protests in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His firing of the internal security service chief is blocked by the Supreme Court — for now. But the opposition is calling for a general strike. How serious is this political crisis for Netanyahu?  In this episode:  Yariv Oppenheimer -- Board Member of advocacy group, Peace Now and member of The Democrats political party...

Israel bombs Lebanon again and the U.S. carries out fresh attacks on Yemen's Houthis -- all while Israel resumes its genocide in Gaza. With previous fragile ceasefires now shattered, what's the danger of a wider regional conflict? In this episode:  Alon Pinkas -- Former Israeli Consul General in New York Randa Slim -- Director of the Track II Dialogues Initiative at the Wilson Center’s...

Major gains for the Sudanese army in Khartoum, but fighters with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces say they're strengthening positions in Darfur. Two years of fighting has caused the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Is the conflict in Sudan at a turning point? In this episode:  Dallia Abdelmoniem, Political Commentator.  Alan Boswell, Horn of Africa Director, International Crisis G...

Kirsty Coventry becomes the first woman and first African to lead the International Olympic Committee, the world's largest sports body. So, what hurdles lie ahead for her?  In this episode:  Philip Barker, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Olympic History Donald Rukare, President of Uganda Olympic Committee Bassil Mikdadi, Founder of Football Palestine Host: Sami Zeidan Connect...

Does diplomacy stand a chance to end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? Direct talks between the Congolese and Rwandan leaders in Doha - called for a ceasefire. But it's not clear how it will be implemented or monitored. So, what will it take to stop the fighting? In this episode:  Fidel Amakye Owusu, Chief Executive Officer for DefSEC Analytics Africa. Angel...

Emboldened by Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu is intensifying his war on Gaza. The US has blamed Hamas for the renewed Israeli bombardment of the strip. But is Washington's support complicating efforts to reach a permanent ceasefire? In this episode:  Brian Finucane -- Senior Adviser to the U.S. Program at the International Crisis Group Danilo Della Valle -- Member of the European...

Benjamin Netanyahu refused to implement phase two of a ceasefire, already agreed with Hamas. Now Israel's prime minister has resumed air strikes on Gaza, killing hundreds of people. But can he achieve his goals through war? And what role do his domestic problems play in these renewed attacks? In this episode:  Mustafa Barghouti, Secretary General of the Palestinian National Ini...

The US attacks Houthis in Yemen and says more strikes are coming. Washington has warned Iran over its support for the group. In an already volatile region, what will be the implications of these strikes? And how might shipping be affected in the Red Sea? In this episode:  Hassan Ahmadian, Professor at the University of Tehran Maysaa Shuja Al Deen, Senior researcher at Sana'a Ce...

The US declares the South African ambassador 'persona non grata' -- citing his criticism of the Trump administration. South Africa expresses regret at the expulsion of its envoy, but is taking no action in return. Can relations be repaired? In this episode:  Melanie Verwoerd -- Political analyst and former South African ambassador to Ireland Mark Pfeifle -- President of PR firm Off the Record...