The Inside Story Podcast

A global health emergency - the World Health Organisation raises the alarm over a new Ebola outbreak. The virus has killed nearly 90 people in Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda so far. Will it spread further? In this episode:  Ariel Kestens, Head, Kinshasa Delegation, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Dr Margaret Harris, Lecturer, United Nations Insti...

Recent attacks in Pakistan have killed nearly 50 people, many of them security forces. The Pakistani Taliban says it is behind them. Islamabad accuses Kabul of backing the armed group. Can the violence sabotage a fragile truce between the neighbours? In this episode:  Masood Khan, Former Permanent Representative of Pakistan, United Nations  Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, Atlantic Counc...

Donald Trump calls his visit to China 'incredible', and Xi Jinping says it was a 'landmark' meeting. But the Chinese president's comments about Taiwan are raising concerns. Could a dispute over the territory lead to conflict between Beijing and Washington? In this episode:  Ali Wyne, Senior Research and Advocacy Adviser for US-China relations, The International Crisis Group Victor Gao, Vice P...

As Israeli attacks in Lebanon continue despite a ceasefire, the United States is hosting the third round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli officials. Hezbollah opposes the meeting in Washington. But can the process help find a way forward for Lebanon after decades of war?  In this episode:  Ali Rizk, Security and Foreign Affairs Analyst in Beirut Jennifer Gavito, former acting P...

Five nations boycott Eurovision, citing Israel's participation. Their action is against Israel's war in Gaza and allegations of vote manipulation in the song contest. But why is it so important for Israel to take part? And is the competition's future under threat?  In this episode:  Steve Wall, musician, actor, and member of the Irish Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Jonathan Hendrickx, A...

A drone attack on Khartoum's international airport. The UN says such strikes have killed nearly 900 people in Sudan this year. And the conflict between the army and a paramilitary group is only intensifying. So, is there hope for an end to the fighting? In this episode:  Caroline Bouvard, Country Director, Sudan Mission of Solidarites International Kholood Khair, Founding Director at Confluen...

A new wave of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Attacks by two lesser-known armed groups have killed dozens of people. So, who are they? And how serious a threat do they pose? In this episode:   Henry-Pacifique Mayala, Kivu Security Tracker Project Co-ordinator at Ebuteli  Rawya Rageh, Senior Crisis Adviser, Amnesty International Kambale Musavuli, Analyst, Center...

Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the Ukraine war may be over soon. Attacks have been intensifying in recent weeks. Stalemate on the battlefield is increasing political pressure for an end. So could the conflict be entering its final phase? In this episode: Dmitry Polyanskiy, Ambassador and Permanent Representative, Russian Federation to the Organisation for Security and Co-ope...

The World Health Organization says public health risks from hantavirus are low. Arrangements are being made to repatriate passengers from a cruise ship, after three people who'd been on board, died.  How's the experience from the Covid-19 pandemic being used?  In this episode: Dr. Mukesh Kapila - Professor Emeritus of Global Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the University of Manchester...

There's been a backlash against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in local and regional elections across England, Scotland, and Wales, despite a huge parliamentary majority. He's rejecting calls to quit, but faces new challenges from both the left and the right. So, why are these elections so significant?  In this episode: Peter Geoghegan, Editor of the investigative news site Democracy for Sale...

China's diplomatic role in the Middle East is under sharp focus, as foreign ministers from Beijing and Tehran meet. It's calling on the US and Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and for a 'comprehensive' ceasefire. So, can China help end the war? In this episode:  Setareh Sadeqi, Assistant Professor, Tehran University's Faculty of World Studies Scott Uehlinger, Former senior CIA officer and...

India's Hindu nationalist BJP sweeps West Bengal, a state governed by the opposition for decades and historically seen as a symbol of secularism. What does this mean for democracy in India? And for its 200 million Muslims? In this episode:  Shaina NC, National spokesperson for Shiv Sena, a conservative party in India Javed Ansari, Political commentator and senior journalist  Yogendra Yad...

Tension escalates rapidly across the Gulf, despite last month's ceasefire. An oil facility hit in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian boats attacked, while the US tries to force open a shipping route in the Strait of Hormuz. So, what does this mean for hopes of an end to the Iran war?  In this episode:  Negar Mortazavi, Senior Fellow at the Center for International Policy in Washington DC...

Israeli forces detained two activists after stopping the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Greece. It happened in international waters nearly a thousand kilometres from the Gaza Strip. So, was this action legal?  In this episode:  Heidi Matthews, Assistant Professor at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto  Dan Perry, former Editor of the Associated P...

An unlikely coalition of armed groups and rebels launches an offensive in Mali. Russian forces backing the military government are forced to withdraw from bases in the north. Soldiers are suspected of being involved in the attacks. Is Mali's junta losing control? In this episode:  Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Coordinator for West and Central Africa, Institute for Security Studies. Kabir Adamu, M...

Commercial vessels under attack. The blockades by the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting global trade. The crisis highlights the danger conflicts and territorial disputes pose to shipping. Why are maritime laws failing to secure the seas? In this episode:  Rockford Weiz - Director of Fletcher Maritime Studies program at Tufts University George Theocharidis - Professor of Marit...

Pakistan opens land trade routes to Iran, allowing the transit of goods. It's a much-needed reprieve for both economies. But does it undercut Washington's pressure campaign on Tehran? And how will it impact the Islamabad-mediated talks to end the war? In this episode:  Mushahid Hussain Syed, Pakistani defence and foreign policy specialist Setareh Sadeqi, Assistant Professor at the University...

Widespread destruction by Israel of houses and civilian facilities in Lebanon, leaving a fifth of the population out of their homes. Israel's defence minister says tactics used in Gaza are being replicated in Lebanon. So, what are the similarities?  In this episode: Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon Researcher at Human Rights Watch. Elijah Magnier, Specialist in Middle East wars and regional military dyna...

The United Arab Emirates quits OPEC. The oil-producing bloc is losing one of its most important members. It comes during the worst global energy crisis of modern times, caused by the Iran war, which has hit the UAE hard. So why now - and what's the impact?  In this episode:  Chris Weafer, Chief Executive Officer at Macro-Advisory strategic consultancy  Cornelia Meyer, CEO of Meyer R...

The UN Secretary General has given a dire warning about the waning influence of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It's being reviewed in the shadow of a tense ceasefire between the US and Iran. Will the agreement survive? And is it enough to prevent a nuclear disaster? In this episode:   Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification and Security Policy Coordination at the Internation...

Palestinians exercising their democratic right to vote. But the municipal elections alienated most factions. The Palestinian Authority's party, Fatah, and its affiliates claimed victory. Will the elections make a difference to the people under Israeli occupation? In this episode:  Ahmed Fattouh, Fatah spokesperson  Jalal Abukhater, Policy Manager at 7amleh - The Arab Center for the Advan...

Former enemies in Mali, including an Al-Qaeda-linked group, join forces to target military sites. The defence minister has been killed. Russian mercenaries backing the government have come under attack. What are the implications of this unrest?  In this episode:  Oluwole Ojewale, Regional Co-ordinator for West and Central Africa, Institute for Security Studies. Nicolas Normand, Former Fr...

Divisions widen within NATO. US president Donald Trump is furious after a refusal by European member states to join the Iran war. Reports say he's considering measures against the UK and Spain. So, how serious is the rift for the future of the military alliance? In this episode:  Carne Ross - former British Diplomat and founder of the non-profit advisory group, Independent Diplomat. Eli...

Reports of unauthorised access to one of the most powerful artificial intelligence models yet developed. Nothing malicious, the owners say, but it has intensified focus on such technology falling into the wrong hands. In this episode:  Ramesh Srinivasan, Professor at UCLA Department of Information Studies, AI and technology specialist Marc Einstein, Research Director and Global Head of AI Res...

Ukraine reopens a pipeline, enabling the delivery of Russian crude to some EU countries. In return, it gets a multibillion-dollar loan, while Moscow rakes in oil revenue. How will this complex deal play out on the battlefield? In this episode:  Marina Miron, Researcher in Defence Studies at King’s College London Maximilian Hess, Author of 'Economic War: Ukraine and the Global Conflict b...