The Inside Story Podcast

Donald Trump says a new agreement with Iran is within reach. Tehran insists key issues remain unresolved. So is a deal finally close? What would it mean for tensions in the region? And if an agreement is signed, can it survive the political pressures on both sides? In this episode:  Dania Thafer - Executive Director, Gulf International Forum Foad Izadi - Associate Professor at University...

The nine countries believed to hold nuclear weapons have spent a record $119bn on their arsenals. The US budget was more than all the others combined, according to an anti-proliferation group. So why the huge surge? And what does it mean for the future of disarmament? In this episode:  Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy Co-ordination, International Atomic Energy Agenc...

Turmoil in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. A banned group has been protesting against a court ruling that kept in place legislative representation for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan. What are the political implications of the demonstrations? In this episode:  Maria Iqbal Tarana, Senior Leader, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz. Sahar Khan, Nonresident Fellow, Institute for Global Af...

Chinese President Xi Jinping visits North Korea. Beijing is Pyongyang's main political and economic backer. Xi has voiced his opposition to what he called hegemonism and power politics. So, how could his visit shape geopolitics in the region? In this episode:  Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation.  Hannah Kim, Associate Professor, International...

Protests in the UK after the release of police video of an 18-year-old stabbing victim handcuffed by officers after his attacker alleged racial abuse. The case has caused outrage with the Prime Minister rejecting claims of police bias against white people. So, why are racial issues so prominent now in the UK?  In this episode:  Tim Bale, Professor, Politics, Queen Mary University of...

Armenians are voting in pivotal parliamentary elections. With Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan facing pro-Russia rivals, why is the outcome being watched so closely in Brussels, Moscow and Washington? In this episode:  Richard Giragosian - Director of the Regional Studies Center think-tank Kenneth Roth - Visiting Professor at the Princeton School of Public & International Affairs Chris Weaf...

The US has announced another ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. But Israeli strikes continue and Hezbollah remains engaged. Can the truce hold, and what lies ahead for Lebanon? In this episode:  Heiko Wimmen - Project Director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, International Crisis Group Nimrod Novik - Former Special Envoy & Senior Adviser to former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres ...

The head of the World Health Organization seems confident and says there's hope. But with an already volatile security situation in the region, what are the risks of the virus spreading? In this episode:  Dr. Marie Roseline Belizaire, Emergency Director for the World Health Organization Africa Dr. Ekwaro Obuku, physician who served as a policy advisor on Uganda's national task force duri...

A proposal to tighten EU migration policy. Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council have provisionally agreed on a new deal. It includes the deportation to third countries of people whose applications are rejected. But where would that leave the rights of those seeking safe haven in Europe? In this episode:  Marta Welander, EU Advocacy Director at the International...

Lebanon under Israeli attack - while diplomatic efforts continue to end the war in Iran. And with Israel escalating attacks on Hezbollah, Tehran wants any peace deal to cover both conflicts. So, why is Iran making Lebanon a central issue in its own war?  In this episode:  Naim Salem, Professor of Political Science at the Lebanese Army Military Academy Marzie Khalilian, Political Ana...

Israel continues killing Palestinians in Gaza and threatens to seize more of the Strip - all in breach of October's ceasefire deal. Attacks go on everyday, with more than 900 killed since then. So, is the US-backed peace process in serious danger?  In this episode:  Muhammad Shehada, Senior Fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations Daniel Levy, President of the U.S. / Middle Ea...

What's at stake in Ethiopia's elections? The governing party is seeking to cement its power, but in a country embroiled in conflicts and deeply fragmented, will this vote solve Ethiopia's many woes? And how are these elections viewed across the Horn of Africa? In this episode:  Samuel Getachew, Journalist and Ethiopian politics and security commentator. Martin Plaut, Senior Res...

NATO says it's ready to defend allied territory against Russian attacks. Ukraine warns Moscow is preparing for a major aerial assault, and appeals for more military support. Both sides seem confident they are advancing on the battlefield. So, is the war entering a new phase? In this episode:  Olesia Horiainova - Co-founder of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre  ...

France has repealed a controversial law called Code Noir, or Black Code. It classified people in its colonies as property. But why now? What does it mean for the millions of victims of French colonialism?  In this episode:  Liliane Umubyeyi, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the African Futures Lab Marlene Daut, Professor of French and African Diaspora Studies at Yale Univer...

What's behind the recent anti-migrant protests in South Africa? Thousands of foreign workers are under increasing pressure to leave the country. So, what's driving this anti-migrant sentiment that many have called xenophobic? And is politics involved?  In this episode:  William Gumede, Associate Professor, School of Governance at the University of the Witwatersrand Lindywe Zulu, member o...

Israel intensifies its military action in Lebanon, killing and injuring dozens of people, despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Iran insists those attacks must also end as part of any deal with the United States. So, why is Israel ramping up its strikes? In this episode:  Najat Aoun Saliba, Independent Member of the Lebanese Parliament Rami Khouri, Distinguished Fellow at the American University...

In the first keynote policy statement of his papacy, Pope Leo has warned that artificial intelligence must be for the benefit of humanity, not geopolitical or corporate dominance. Will his views have any impact on big tech and governments?  In this episode:  Gerard O’Connell, Senior Vatican correspondent for the Catholic magazine, America Aya Ibrahim, Senior Visiting Fellow at the...

A possible US-Iran deal to end the conflict is taking shape. While mediators try to bridge some critical divides, Israeli officials are reportedly worried. What are their concerns? And will they throw a spanner in the works? In this episode:  Mairav Zonszein, Senior Israel Analyst at the International Crisis Group Yossi Mekelberg, Senior Consulting Fellow with the Middle East and North Africa...

The Iran war has caused the worst energy crisis in history, according to the International Energy Agency. It's been politically unpopular in the US too ahead of crucial mid-term elections in November. So, even after it ends, could this war have long-lasting implications?   In this episode:  Foad Izadi, Associate Professor, University of Tehran.  Christopher Hill, Former US...

The US and India are seeking to mend ties after a year of diplomatic see-saw...tariffs imposed then quickly scrapped because of the war in Iran.  It's one example of how international relations and conflict have become more complex and interlinked in recent years.  So, is pragmatism replacing ideology in today's diplomatic world?  In this episode:  Brahma Chellaney - Profe...

Israel keeps up its attacks on Lebanon despite a ceasefire. The US has sanctioned nine people, including two Lebanese army officers accused of links to Hezbollah. It comes while Washington brokers more talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials. So, why these sanctions now? In this episode:  David Wood, Senior Lebanon Analyst at the International Crisis Group Randa Slim, Middle East Program...

Detained and ridiculed by a senior Israeli minister. The mistreatment of Gaza flotilla activists has sparked global outrage. They were part of the latest attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians. Most efforts have failed. So, what difference do flotillas make? In this episode:  Ahmed Abo Askar, Engineering student who lobbies for sponsorship for orphans in Gaza Dan Perry, Former Ch...

Amplifying an 'unshakeable bond' in a 'turbulent' international situation. Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin hold talks in Beijing: their 40th meeting as presidents. What's the significance of the Russian leader's visit, a week after Donald Trump was in the Chinese capital? In this episode:  Andy Mok, Author of ‘The Innovation Machine: How China Creates and Adopts Technology Through Governa...

A huge attack in the Moscow region and unrelenting strikes on its energy facilities — Ukraine is taking the war deeper into Russia. Russian oil refineries are burning, and its ground offensive is stalling. So, does Ukraine have the advantage at the moment?  In this episode:  Peter Zalmayev, Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative Pavel Felgenhauer, Russian Foreign Policy Analy...

Running out of fuel. Cuba is struggling to keep the lights on as the United States ramps up economic pressure and military threats. Washington is now offering aid - but at a cost. Will the system set up by the Castros break down? In this episode:  Ruaridh Nicoll, The Guardian's Cuba Correspondent Adolfo Franco, Republican strategist Javier Farje, Journalist and historian specialising in Latin...