Nexus

Operation Olive Branch has Turkish special forces backing the Free Syrian Army against the YPG in Syria. It's President Erdogan's response to America's decision to build a so-called "Terror Army" along the Turkey-Syria border. How will this border mission affect the region, the war, and Turkey’s relationships with its NATO allies?

Would Oprah make a good US president? She's denied that she'll run - but that hasn't stopped people calling for her to join the 2020 race. Coming from humble beginnings - how did Oprah become an icon?

On this episode of Nexus was….

* Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Arizona, Samara Klar

* Professor of American Studies at Birmingham University, Scott Lucas

* And journalist Laurie Laird

Is China's President Xi Jinping becoming the most powerful man in the world? Recently he's been making friends in all the right places - securing business deals worth billions across the globe. With one of the world's fastest growing economies and advancing military might – is China on course to take America's place as the world's top superpower?

On this episode of Nexus was…..

* Kerry Brown - Professor of Chinese Studies, King's College London

* Yan Bennett - Managing director, Center on Contemporary China, Princeton University

* And Dennis Wilder - Chinese Military Expert and Former White House Adviser

Jacob Zuma is out, Cyril Ramaphosa is in. Allegations of corruption shadowed his nine year presidency. Can the ANC clean up its act now he’s gone? And after supporting him through so much scandal – why did they choose to ditch him now?

On this episode of Nexus was….

* Oliver Dickson – Political Analyst

* Jonathan Shapiro – Cartoonist

* Feziwe Ndwayana - Spokeswoman, African Democratic Change Party

Hungarian-American mogul George Soros has donated almost $700,000 to an anti-Brexit campaign - pushing for a second referendum for the UK. But as an outsider, why does he care? What social change can billionaires influence overseas - and are they right to get involved? Are they becoming political puppet masters?

On this episode of Nexus was….

· Matt Qvortrup - Professor of Political Science & International Relations, Coventry University

· And Kevin Craig - CEO and Founder, Political Lobbying and Media Relations agency

Philippines President Duterte has divided his country and the international community. From championing a ‘war on drugs’ which has led to thousands of deaths to promising to save Filipina maids abused in the Gulf countries - no one can predict what he'll do next. His crackdown on drug users has attracted criticism - but he says he’s just cleaning up the streets. How far will he take it?

On this episode of Nexus was…

· Carlos H. Conde - Researcher at Human Rights Watch covering the Philippines, and former New York Times journalist

· Bruce Rivera Conferido - Lawyer and Political News Commentator

· And Phoebe Dimacali - Former Filipino maid in the Middle East & Chairperson of the Filipino Domestic Workers Association

How does India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi keep on top of running the world's biggest democracy? He's a hero to some of his citizens - but others say he's trying to create a Hindu state. Are they right to be worried? And from his daily yoga to bear hugging the world's leaders - he's a got a pretty busy schedule. What does a day in the life of NaMo look like? Nexus with Matthew Moore.

On this episode of Nexus was….​

Krishna Saagar Rao, BJP Spokesperson

Subir Sinha, Senior Lecturer in Institutions and Development, SOAS

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, Narendra Modi biographer

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is on a mission to charm the west. He’s touted as a modernising leader – overturning restrictive laws and handing out unprecedented rights to Saudi women. But is all as it seems? With executions, repression of free speech, the war in Yemen and unsteady relations with Iran – how genuine is Mohammed bin Salman in his mission to reform Saudi Arabia and bring stability to the region?

Nexus with Matthew Moore

On this episode of Nexus was….

Ian Black - visiting senior fellow at Middle East centre at LSE & Former Middle East editor at the Guardian

Ahmed Al-Ibrahim - Saudi Affairs Specialist

Terry Strada – 9/11 widow & National Chair of 9/11 families

Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency with a non-interventionist foreign policy. So what was does his appointment of Iraq war advocate and conservative hardliner John Bolton mean for American foreign policy? Is a new conflict on the cards?

Nexus with Matthew Moore

On this episode of Nexus was….

Professor Scott Lucas - Professor of American Studies at Birmingham University

Will Fischer - Iraq War Veteran & Director of Government Relations for VoteVets

Gregory Swenson - Member of Republicans Overseas UK

The US National Rifle Association likes to call itself ‘Freedom’s Safest Place’ but does its power and influence impede democratic change? Politicians often say that nine in ten Americans want stricter gun controls and yet the US political machine grinds to a halt when it comes to gun legislation. Why does the NRA have such a stranglehold on US policy, and have recent events knocked its prestige in the eyes of the American public?

On this episode of Nexus was….

Pardeep Singh Kaleka, whose father was killed in Wisconsin mass shooting in 2012, and founder of Serve 2 Unite

Professor Kevin Yuill, lecturer in American Studies and History at University of Sunderland

Kyleanne Hunter, former NRA member and founder of #vetsforgunreform