The Inside Story Podcast

Israel opens construction bids for new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. That's despite widespread international condemnation. What's driving this land grab? And what does it mean for the future of Palestinians -- and an independent Palestinian state?

In this episode: 

• Ammar Hijazi - Ambassador and Head of the Palestinian Mission to the Netherlands

• Alon Pinkas - Former Israeli Ambassador and...

Israeli settler attacks in the occupied West Bank trap Palestinian families in their homes. The violence takes place as Israel's far-right government fights elections in October. Why are attacks by settlers intensifying and what are the consequences? 

In this episode: 

• Ofer Cassif, Member of the Knesset.

• Mouin Rabbani, Co-editor, Jadaliyya online magazine.

• Ori Goldberg, Israeli political commentator.

Host...

The Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has already killed two thousand people. And it's spreading faster than any before - outpacing efforts to contain it, says the WHO So, what's driving this crisis? And what are the dangers? 

In this episode: 

• Alex Lock - Communications Co-ordinator for the Ebola response with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Kinshasa

  ...

Can the Doha Framework end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? Kinshasa has handed over 15 prisoners to a powerful rebel alliance. It's part of an agreement signed last year in the Qatari capital. So, what are the hurdles to lasting peace?

In this episode: 

• Kambale Musavuli, Analyst, Center for Research, Congo-Kinshasa.

• Felix Ndahinda, Researcher, Great Lakes region, specialising in con...

What are the hurdles facing the Mecca agreement? The defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East. So, who stands to gain from the new alliance? And how is it viewed in the region and beyond?

In this episode: 

• Abdulaziz Alghashian - Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Gulf International Forum

• David Des Roches - Professor at the Thayer Mars...

New Israeli attacks in Lebanon, after soldiers were killed for the first time since a fragile truce with Beirut began in June. It comes despite more Lebanese-Israeli talks in Rome in a U.S.-brokered peace process. So where do things stand now? 

In this episode: 

• Maha Yahya, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut
• Jennifer Gavito, Former U.S. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for ...

A surge in missile and drone attacks by Russia and Ukraine with civilians killed on both sides. Little movement on the diplomatic front, while U.S. attention is largely focused on Iran. So, what's next for Europe's worst conflict since World War Two? 

In this episode: 

• Andrey Kortunov, Russian affairs analyst and a former Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council 
• Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Membe...

How much of a challenge are wildfires to Europe? Rapidly spreading blazes are scorching the continent, destroying forests, farmland, homes and businesses. They're becoming bigger and more difficult to control. So, what's fuelling the flames?

In this episode: 

• Paleologos Paleologou -- Geographer and an Associate Professor of Forest Protection at the Agricultural University of Athens
• Marta Yebra, Director of ...

Israel says it has doubts about Hamas disarming. The group and other Palestinian factions in Gaza have agreed to lay down their weapons. But they say it's dependent on the withdrawal of Israeli troops — which Israel has refused to do unless they disarm. Where does this leave Gaza?

In this episode: 

• Xavier Abu Eid, Political analyst and former adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team
• Michael Mulroy, Form...

Venezuela's government and a section of the opposition plan to hold talks, backed by the United States. But prominent opposition politician and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado has been excluded. So, what can the talks achieve and what's Washington seeking to get from it?

In this episode: 

• Elias Ferrer, Political Economy Analyst. 
• Vanessa Neumann, Founder and CEO, Asymmetrica. 
• Charles Shapiro, Former US Amba...

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Spain's north African territory of Ceuta from Morocco. While most of them have since returned - Spain's been condemned by right-wing politicians in Europe and the United States. Is the criticism about border management or is it politics?

In this episode: 

• Anna Terron Cusi - Spain’s former Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration, who's now a Senior Fellow at the Mi...

FIFA is facing a growing backlash after its proposal to sell a stake in its top events. Europe's governing body UEFA has threatened to boycott the World Cup if this plan goes ahead. So, does FIFA need private investment?

In this episode: 

• Chris Brady, Football finance expert and Chief Intelligence Officer for the Sportsology Group 
• Bassirou Sakho, FIFA-licensed football agent and professor in the sports dep...

Anger in Iraq after Saudi Arabia attacked an umbrella paramilitary group with ties to Iran. Riyadh accuses the Popular Mobilization Forces of targeting its oil facilities. As the US-Iran war drags on, what are the risks of the conflict spreading?

In this episode:

• Ahmed Rushdi, Head of the House of Iraqi Expertise Foundation, a policy think-tank and research organisation
• Ahmed Al Maimouni, Head of Research at the Rasanah ...

Sudan's army says it's regained control of a highway connecting the capital to North Kordofan state. The area has become the latest front in the conflict with paramilitaries, which has killed tens of thousands of people. Will it be enough to shift the outcome of the fighting?

In this episode: 

• Sanosi Zakaria, Editor-in-chief of the Sudan Mirror and former Sudanese army officer
• Shashwat Saraf, Sudan Country Director for th...

Peru is getting its ninth president in ten years. Keiko Fujimori is taking the reins more than 25 years after her father's polarising presidency. But the scars of that era still divide Peru. Will her government move beyond his legacy? 

In this episode: 

• Jose Ragas, Historian and Assistant Professor at the Catholic University of Chile
• Renata Segura, Programme Director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the Interna...

Europe engulfed in flames as wildfires spread rapidly. Hundreds of thousands forced from their homes; swathes of land scorched. Climate change has contributed to this unprecedented fire season. But what will it take to bring the situation under control?

In this episode: 

• Eduardo Rojas, Chairman of the Board, Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
• Soraya Fettih, Global Campaigns Coordinator, ...

Israel says it's planning a major military operation in the occupied West Bank. Settler attacks on Palestinians are intensifying, becoming increasingly violent. As Israel is gearing up for an election, how does this escalation serve Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right partners?

In this episode: 

• Alon Pinkas - Former Israeli ambassador and consul general in New York

• Sari Bashi - Human rights lawyer and execu...

What's the significance of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal? The two countries signed an agreement to co-operate on what they say is generating energy for civilian purposes. But in a volatile Middle East, could this deal lead to a new global nuclear arms race?

In this episode: 

• Abdulaziz Alghashian, Senior Non-Resident Fellow at Gulf International Forum
• Barbara Slavin, Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center
• Simon...

India's government is under pressure. Tens of thousands of students are on the streets - demanding the Education Minister's resignation. What started as a protest after exam papers were leaked has turned into a campaign for better living conditions. So, can the youth-led movement bring lasting political change?

In this episode: 

• Amulya Dhawan, Political Science and Sociology student at Ashoka University and media voluntee...