Sunday Extra - Separate stories podcast

Zimbabwe is not a country known for its commitment to human rights. But after a ten year campaign by local NGO Veritas with support from the current President Emerson Mnangagwa, legislation has been passed banning the death penalty. Zimbabwe has become the 128th nation to abolish the death penalty, and advocates are hoping that the trend will continue.

Guest: Carolyn Hoyle is a Professor at the University of Oxford Centre for Criminology and director of the Death Penalty Research Unit

There are huge crowds expected in the town of Waitangi next week, where Waitangi Day is celebrated marking the day that the Waitangi Treaty was signed back in 1840 by Maori Chiefs and the Queens representatives. Now the current interpretation of the treaty is being challenged by a bill before the New Zealand parliament creating discussion and division about how the treaty should be understood.

Guest: Carwyn Jones, Lead Academic in the Māori Laws and Philosophy programme at Te Wānanga o Raukawa

Free lunches for school kids and pregnant women, cuddling cats and scraping a planned tax hike on all goods except luxury items - it would appear Indonesia’s new President is having a smooth run in his first 100 days, with domestic approval ratings sitting at nearly 81 per cent.

Prabowo Subianto had a landslide election win in February last year, but will his popularity continue as begins implementing policy promises? 

Sue Bucknell is a project coordinator with Doctors Without Borders, she has just returned to Australia from Sudan where she has been working on a humanitarian project.

Can you guess this week's tweeter?

In 1988 Australian rock band Not Drowning, Waving travelled to Papua New Guinea and met up with legend Papuan musician George Telek. 

The result of their time together was the widely acclaimed album 'Tabaran', and an enduring friendship. 

They're celebrating 35 years since it all began. 

Both India and Australia have a National Day on 26 January. India celebrates Republic Day marking the signing of their constitution in 1950 and the end of the colonial era. How do Indian Australians feel about celebrating Australia Day which for many marks the start of the colonial era in Australia.

Guests: 

Gurmesh Singh, NSW Member for Coffs Harbour and Deputy Leader of the Nationals in NSW

Aarti Betigeri, journalist and editor of Growing Up Indian in Australia

Pawan Luthra, CEO of Indian Link Media

Dr Rafah Hiazji Ep Noe first thought about making Australia home during a holiday to Sydney and the Gold Coast in 2006. 

Unhappy in Saudi Arabia, and unable to return to her home of Syria, she began the process of becoming an Australian citizen, which included sitting multiple exams and six months without a job, before settling in a  regional Victorian town.  

With incidents of anti-Semitism on the rise here in Australia, what can learn from the experience of combating ant-Semitism in Europe? What has worked to reduce anti-Semtic attacks?

Guest: Katharina von Schnurbein, European Commission’s Coordinator on combating antisemitism and fostering Jewish life

Mabuigilaig and Goemulgal woman Dr Katrina Wruck is the Young Australian of the Year. She is an industrial chemist who has developed technology to remove contaminants from water. She also engages in community engagement programs encouraging young Indigenous students to study science.