Chatham House

This week, Ben speaks to from the Global Health Programme about the WHO's communication challenges around the coronavirus. They explore how pandemics are defined, and the implications of when the announcement was made. Then Agnes meets to find out how former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili has gained political office in Ukraine.  Read the Expert Comments:  Credits: Speakers: Charles Clift, Max Fras Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

This week Agnes speaks to about how states can learn the lessons from our coronavirus response, and better prepare for future pandemics. Then Ben meets to find out about a speech given at Chatham House in 1931 by Mahatma Gandhi, as part of his campaign for Indian independence. Read the Expert Comment: Read The World Today article: Read Gandhi's speech: Credits: Speakers: Patricia Lewis, Gitika Bhardwaj Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

Extreme weather, rising sea levels and a melting Arctic - the effects of climate change are posing an increasingly large threat to national security worldwide. In this episode the team explore the implications of climate change for national security, and how the defence establishment is incorporating environmental concerns into its military planning.  Anna speaks to about the threats posed by climate change, before Ben asks how militaries and international organisations are adapting to these threats.  Follow us on Twitter: Credits: Speakers: Neil Morisetti, Patricia Lewis Hosts: Anna Aberg, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

This week, Agnes speaks to Chatham House Senior Press Officer Jordan Lim about the challenges facing governments and the media as they try to communicate effectively during the coronavirus pandemic.  Then Ben discusses the prospect of justice for the Rohingya community, with from the Asia-Pacific Programme. Sandra explains the ongoing international investigations into Myanmar's treatment of their Rohingya minority population, and highlights the lessons that can be drawn from the Khmer Rouge Tribunal in Cambodia.  Subscribe to the Newsletter: Read the Expert Comment:   Credits: Speakers: Jordan Lim, Sandra Smits Hosts: Agnes Frimston, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

Undercurrents returns from remote corners of lockdown UK to discuss how the EU has responded to the coronavirus pandemic, and to find out how celebrity interacts with politics.  This week, Ben speaks to about the economic impact of Europe's lockdown measures, and the challenges facing the Eurozone as the pandemic continues. Then Agnes meets to discuss his new book on the history of celebrity.  Read the Expert Comment: Read The World Today article: Find the book: Credits: Speakers: Pepijn Bergsen and Greg Jenner Hosts: Agnes Frimston and Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

After a short hiatus Undercurrents will return in a few days. In the meantime we are bringing you an excerpt from , a new podcast series from the Energy, Environment and Resources Programme at Chatham House. Ben speaks to Jennifer Austin, Policy Director of the , about the role that business can play in addressing the climate emergency.  Listen to the full series:

The Climate Briefing returns with interviews on European approaches to climate action, and the role that business can play in achieving the Paris Agreement goals. Johanna and Ben are joined in the studio by two guests; Imke Lubbeke, Head of EU Climate and Energy Policy at the , and Jen Austin, Policy Director of the coalition. Please note: this episode was recorded prior to the postponement of COP26 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Read the Meeting Summary: Follow us on Twitter: Credits: Speakers: Imke Lubbeke, Jen Austin Hosts: Johanna Tilkanen, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

This week the Undercurrents team explores the debate around intelligence accountability, and asks who should be paying to fix climate change.  How can democratic governments hold intelligence and security agencies to account when what they do is largely secret? Agnes meets author Jamie Gaskarth to find out how intelligence professionals view accountability in the context of 21st century politics.  Next, Ben discusses climate financing with Iseoluwa Akintunde. While all states have a role in addressing the threat of climate change, some argue that developed countries should bear more of the financial burden.  Find the book: Read the Chatham House Interview:

A new documentary from Pakistani-American director explores the politics behind Pakistan’s controversial blasphemy laws. The film follows conservative cleric Khadim Hussain Rizvi and examines the cases of those accused of disrespecting Islam, including Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent almost 10 years on death row. This week Agnes and Ben meet with Mohamed to discuss the making of the film and also consider how documentary films can drive political change.    Watch the BBC Storyville documentary: [available in UK only] Credits: Speaker: Mohamed Ali Naqvi Hosts: Agnes Frimston and Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Producer: Ben Horton Recorded and produced at Chatham House.

The Climate Briefing is a monthly podcast from Chatham House, exploring the major issues shaping international debates around climate change.  In this first episode, the team focus on what happened – and what didn’t happen - at the last UN Climate Change Conference, the COP25 in Madrid, and what it will mean for the upcoming COP26 in Glasgow. Anna and Johanna are joined by two guests; Archie Young, the UK’s lead climate negotiator, and Peter Betts, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House with long experience from the UN climate negotiations. Read the Meeting Summary: Outcomes of the Madrid COP25 and what this means for 2020. [Forthcoming] Follow us on Twitter: Credits: Speakers: Peter Betts, Archibald Young Hosts: Anna Aberg, Johanna Tilkanen, Ben Horton Sound Editor: Jamie Reed Recorded and produced at Chatham House.