The Inside Story Podcast

Much of the world is battling to contain the coronavirus pandemic, and the challenge is even greater in Syria.

Years of war have destroyed the health system.

The few hospitals left operating are struggling to cope with 300-500 new infections a day.

Social distancing is nearly impossible for displaced people in overcrowded camps in Idlib.

So can a new humanitarian disaster be avoided?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Dr Ihsan Eidi - Cardiologist at a hospital in Idlib

Amjad Yamin - Director of Advocacy, Save the Children’s Syria Response

Joshua Landis - Director, Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Syria #COVID-19 #Coronavirus

The U.S. president is making some of his final foreign policy decisions before leaving office.

Donald Trump has made further cuts to U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Even Republican leaders say the move could risk security in the region.

Media reports also say the Trump Administration is considering tougher action on Iran and Yemen's Houthi rebels.

What legacy will Trump leave for President-elect Joe Biden?

Presenter: Kamahl Santamaria

Guests:

Mushtaq Rahim - Afghanistan Affairs Unit think-tank.

Johnny Walsh - Senior Program Officer on Afghanistan, United States Institute of Peace.

Marwan Kabalan - Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #US #Trump #InsideStory

A sea journey to Europe once shunned by many migrants for being too dangerous is busy again.

Hundreds have drowned this year in the Atlantic Ocean off Senegal on their way to the Canary Islands, a Spanish territory.

More than 16,000 migrants have made the journey this year, 10 times last year's total.

Hotels have been turned into reception centres.

So why are people risking their lives to take this risky route?

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests:

Mamadou Mbengue - Coordinator, Enda Diapol.

Pablo Iglesias - Spokesman, Doctors of the World.

Olivia Sundberg Diez - Policy Analyst, European Policy Centre.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Migrants #Europe

A second potential COVID-19 vaccine is raising hopes around the the world.

U.S. drugmaker Moderna says trials have shown its vaccine is nearly 95 percent effective against the virus.

Last week, Pfizer and Biontech announced similiar results.

But many challenges remain. Regulators in the United States and elsewhere still have to approve the new vaccines.

Then, there's the question of supply and demand, as well as how to distribute billions of doses globally.

And some countries may not even be able to afford them.

But could this be the beginning of the end of the fight against the pandemic?

Guests

Dr. Annelise Wilder-Smith, Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Azeddine Ibrahimi, Director of the Biotechnology Lab at Rabat Medical and Pharmacy School, Mohammed the Fifth University.

Oksana Pyzik, Lead at University College London's Global Citizenship Programme On Outbreaks Of Infectious Diseases

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #COVID-19 #Coronavirus

A third of the global economy comes under the new Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, or R-Cep.

China, ten southeast asian nations along with South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand have signed the free-trade agreement.

But the U.S. is excluded, leaving Beijing as the dominant economy in the bloc.

So, will this deal help the region's economy?

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests:

Phar Kim Beng - Founder of the Strategic Pan Indo-Pacific Arena think tank.

Gareth Leather - Senior Economist at Capital Economics.

Stan Veuger - Resident Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Asia

A conflict in Ethiopia is spilling over its borders and threatening to destabilise the Horn of Africa.

Tigray's leaders say they are at war with Eritrea because its forces have got involved in the fighting in their region.

And they've launched attacks on Eritrea's capital Asmara, despite its government denying involvement.

Two rockets hit the city's main airport and a third targetted a state media building.

Forces loyal to Tigray's ruling party have been fighting Ethiopian government troops for nearly two weeks.

So, how will the fallout affect the region?

And can the tension be contained?

Thumbnail

Proposed Description (Max 4 sentences)

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests

Matt Bryden, strategic adviser at think tank Sahan Research

Axel Bisschop, UNHCR representative in Sudan

Martin Plaut, fellow at the University of London and a specialist on the Horn of Africa

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #Ethiopia #Tigray

A thirty-year old ceasefire is over in the disputed territory of Western Sahara.

That's according to the pro-independence Polisario Front.

It says Moroccan troops have launched an attack in the region.

Morocco's military says it has only set-up a "security cordon" after elements of the Polisario front blocked traffic on the only road linking it Mauritania and the rest of Africa.

So, could this be the end of the ceasefire in Western Sahara?

Presenter: Bernard Smith

Guests

Sidi Omar, Representative of the Frente POLISARIO at the United Nations in New York

Yasmine Hasnaoui, North Africa Specialist and Board member of the Institute of Saharan Studies Al Andalous

Riccardo Fabiani, Project Director covering North Africa at the International Crisis Group.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Sahara #Morocco

Critics say the case against Ace Magashule is politically motivated.

The government insists it's part of the president's promise to root out graft.

Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to stamp out corruption in the party and government.

But he's accused of making this case personal because Magashule is an ANC heavyweight, and from a rival faction.

This is the latest incident to expose divisions within the party.

So will Cyril Ramaphosa be able to clean up government?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests: Somadoda Fikeni, independent political and policy analyst affiliated with the University of South Africa.

David Lewis, Executive Director, Corruption Watch

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #SouthAfrica

A mass walk out is raising new concerns about democracy in Hong Kong.

15 opposition politicians stepped down after the dismissal of four colleagues considered a threat to China's national security.

Beijing says the resignation is a direct challenge to its authority over the former British colony.

The UK is accusing China of breaking its promise to preserve Hong Kong's autonomy.

Can democracy survive in the semi-autonomous territory?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Emily Lau - former Chairwoman, Democratic Party of Hong Kong

Gordon Chang - author and conservative columnist

Stephen Vines - journalist and author

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #HongKong #China

Armenia and Azerbaijan have agreed to a Russian-mediated ceasefire in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but controlled by Armenians.

While the Azeris call the deal a victory, Armenians are demanding the Prime Minister's resignation for what they call a national humiliation.

Can the agreement bring peace after decades of mistrust?

Presenter: Mohammed Jamjoom

Guests:

Nigar Arpadarai - Member of Parliament in Azerbaijan.

Matthew Bryza - A former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan.

Laurence Broers - Associate Fellow, Chatham House.

Note: Armenian government representatives declined Inside Story's requests to appear on the panel.

- Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe

- Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish

- Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera

- Check our website: https://www.aljazeera.com/

#AlJazeeraEnglish #Armenia #Azerbaijan #Nagorno-Karabakh