In this episode of Centre Stage, our guest is Humza Yousaf, the former first minister of Scotland who made history as the first Muslim to lead a Western country. Yousaf talks about the challenges of being an ethnic-minority leader in an often hostile political climate, the rise of the far-right in Europe and how five countries holding a veto at the UN Security Council ought to be considered a relic of the past.

After years of displacement, Syrians are returning home, experiencing both joy and sorrow. Families reunite, but many still search for loved ones lost to years of conflict and imprisonment. The former regime’s detentions have left scars, with many presumed dead or missing without a trace. Stories of unjust accusations and tragic losses are common, as families continue their desperate search. Despite the grief, moments of reunion bring hope, with communities celebrating those who return. However, the wounds from detention centres remain fresh and calls for justice persist. Syrians balance their pain with hope for a better future.

People in Gaza are shocked by the destruction, with entire neighbourhoods wiped out. Many homes are either burned or unliveable, and unexploded ordnance makes it dangerous to return. Some try to salvage belongings from the rubble. Residents were forced to evacuate multiple times. Despite the devastation, they find some relief in the absence of air strikes and drones.

senior political analyst Marwan Bishara questions the relevance of the 'international community' unless major powers like the US, Russia, China, and the EU take action. He calls on Gulf, Arab, and European nations to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction, stressing that this is not just a global responsibility but a response to the neglect Gaza has faced amid its devastation.

President Donald Trump announced that three leading companies would make a large investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. OpenAI, SoftBank (9984.T), and Oracle (ORCL.N) will form a joint venture called Stargate, with a plan to invest $500 billion, Trump said at the White House. Trump said he will help facilitate the project with emergency orders.

Menachem Klein, professor of political science at Bar-Ilan University, told us that the “settlement project” in the occupied West Bank is “a state-made project”. The Israeli public is behind its army and behind the settlers, he said, adding, “It’s not an independent operation by extremists” but rather state-driven. He said the combat units of the Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank can be described as “extremists”, which will make it difficult for the Israeli army to control its troops there.

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares discusses global issues including Trump's potential return, the Ukraine conflict, Gaza ceasefire, and European security with Al Jazeera's Hashem Ahelbarra at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Donald Trump's 30-minute inauguration address was a mix of sweeping indictment of the policies of the last four years and grand promises to fix America's problems. The US President promised to send troops to the border with Mexico, boost domestic oil production and impose tariffs on imports. Trump also signed more than 200 executive orders actioning some of his announcements. So what do his words and actions mean for the world?

From declaring an emergency on the US-Mexico border to announcing that the US will retake the Panama Canal, Donald Trump introduced several bold proposals in his inaugural address. Now, as he enters his second term, what might the Trump world order look like?

Violence between Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters and Amsterdam locals in November 2024 led to heated debate across the Netherlands. What started as street clashes quickly escalated when Israeli officials labelled the attacks "anti-Semitic" and drew Holocaust comparisons. The incident became a rallying point for various groups. Dutch Zionist organisations backed Israel's narrative, while others used the events to push anti-immigration views. Some questioned whether a football confrontation was being manipulated for political gain.