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The government of Lebanon resigned following days of protests as citizens blamed the country’s political elite of incompetence and corruption that lead to a devastating blast at Beirut's which killed hundreds and left thousands injured or homeless.  The tragedy came at a time when Lebanon was already facing political, economic and public health crises. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Guy Burton, Adjunct Professor, Vesalius College, Brussels.

French President Emmanuel Macron's visited Beirut just two days after the horrific blast. In fact, he was on the streets, even before Lebanon's prime minister was. Since then, there's been a petition demanding to "place Lebanon under French mandate for the next ten years". Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Guy Burton, Adjunct Professor, Vesalius College, Brussels if anyone taking this seriously?

With a history spanning almost 50 years - they just celebrated 49 years - one local expression of the international Islamic movement and “political Islam” has evolved over time. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, President, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM).

How have public perceptions and organisational self-perception shaped the growth of one of the most recognisable names in the world of Islamic NGOs. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, President, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM).

In an era of toxic politics, what is the way forward and what is the message? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, President, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM).

Heated conversations that have been sparked by that viral video of a teenager who was fined a thousand ringgit for purportedly pulling down his face mask while waiting on a train platform - leaving him in tears. It has raised questions about seemingly uneven enforcement of the compulsory face mask rule - as quite a number of politicians have been photographed without masks while in public places. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan bring you the most important conversations of the day.

Yesterday was the International Day of Indigenous Peoples, with the aim this year to highlight Indigenous People’s Resilience to Covid-19. Indigenous Peoples are one of the poorest and most marginalised groups in Malaysia. And their vulnerability had been further compounded by the Covid-19 pandemic - affecting their access to medicines, healthcare, food, education and livelihoods. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Colin Nicholas, Coordinator, Centre for Orang Asli Concerns.

Does the International Day for Indigenous People bring needed attention to the work that’s being done locally for uplifting and giving visibility to one of the nation’s oldest communities?  Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Shaq Koyok, visual artist and Orang Asli activist.

Today on the show we’re going to be looking at how our public spaces and built environment will need to be rethought, reorganised, and redesigned in the era of pandemics. Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Lillian Tay, President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects and Nurul Azreen Azlan, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Design at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.

Some cities pivoted well in the face of the pandemic because of their prevailing design. What would we need to have to rethink, perhaps in a more radical fashion, in order to make our cities and lives more resilient? Melisa Idris and Sharaad Kuttan speak to Lillian Tay, President of the Malaysian Institute of Architects and Nurul Azreen Azlan, Senior Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Design at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.