The Inside Story Podcast

An Al Jazeera investigation has revealed Cyprus has been providing European passports to convicted criminals and high-level political figures.

The large leak of passport data to our Investigative Unit exposes serious flaws to the island's so-called 'golden passport' scheme, that's generated more than $8 billion for its government.

The European Justice Commissioner says he’ll consider legal action against Cyprus.

But can it be stopped?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests

Laure Brillaud, Senior Policy Officer at Transparency International covering the European Union.

Praxoula Antoniadou, President of United Democrats political party and former Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism of Cyprus.

Jelena Dzankic, Co-Director of the Global Citizenship Observatory at the European University 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 #Cyprus #GoldenPassport

In just under a week, millions of students in India will be expected to sit university entrance exams.

That's depsite the country reaching new heights in the spread of the Coronavirus.

Many students say that is not good enough and they are fighting back.

So called 'black protests' are being held online and across the country, demanding the government postpone the tests.

But leaders say any delay will waste the academic year and they're not backing down.

So, what's next?

And how damaging is the virus to education?

resenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests

Alakh Alok Srivastava, advocate-on-record for the Supreme Court of India.

Shashwat Kumar, student at the Delhi Public School R-K Puram. He is an aspiring engineering student and is set to sit the exams to get onto his course.

Siddheswar Shukla, associate professor at Delhi University and former President of the Student Federation of India.

- 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 #India #InsideStory

Concerns are growing there could be a conflict between Turkey and Greece in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The two countries have been disputing maritime boundaries and offshore energy rights.

On Tuesday, they sent warships to the waters in a show of force.

Turkey's vessel Oruc Reis is conducting research - and Greece says it's above its continental shelf.

They have both announced military exercises within a broad area between Crete and Cyprus.

But they have also signalled readiness for dialogue as Germany tries to mediate between the NATO allies.

Could this dispute escalate?

And what would it take to defuse it?

Presenter: Adrian Finighan

Guests

George Tzogopoulos, strategic affairs analyst and lecturer at the Democritus University of Thrace.

Wolf Piccoli, managing director of the political risk arm of global advisor Teneo.

Yusuf Alabarda, retired Turkish colonel and security analyst at the Turkish Defence University.

- 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 #Greece #Turkey #InsideStory

Polio used to paralyse tens of thousands of children every year.

Much of the world is now free of the disease, including Africa.

The World Health Organization declared the success four years after the last naturally-occurring polio case in Nigeria.

Polio is still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

What are the challenges to eradicating the virus?

And are there lessons for the battle to contain COVID-19?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Dr Hamid Jafari - Director, Polio Eradication, W.H.O. Eastern Mediterranean Region

Dr Derek Gatherer - Virologist and Lecturer, Lancaster University

Dr Susan Mercado - Strategic Adviser, ICRC Asia Pacific

- 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 #Polio #InsideStory

South Korea reported 280 new coronavirus cases on Tuesday as it continues to tackle a recent surge in infections.

And the government's efforts to contain the virus have now become entangled in a conflict with some religious groups.

Al Jazeera's Rob McBride has more from Seoul, South Korea.

- 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 #Europe #Migrants #InsideStory

Italy and Greece have long complained of being overwhelmed by undocumented migrants into Europe.

Rights groups say the coronavirus pandemic has given both Mediterranean countries a chance of a crackdown.

The president of Sicily in Italy has ordered all refugee centres to close by midnight on Monday.

Greece's government is rejecting accusations of secretly expelling migrants on leaky life rafts.

Is another European refugee crisis on the way?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Niamh Keady-Tabbal - Researcher, Irish Centre for Human Rights

Ulrich Brueckner - Jean Monnet Professor for European Studies, Stanford University in Berlin

Rory O'Keefe - Founder, Koraki

- 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 #EU #Refugees

Nearly nine months since COVID-19 emerged, the virus appears to be spreading faster than ever.

Some countries are reporting their highest daily infection rates.

India passed three million cases on Sunday.

South Korea, praised for its initial handling of the pandemic, reported its highest daily total since March.

Germany, France, Spain and Italy are recording rising daily totals.

Should we be worried?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Dr Ahsan Ullah Chaudhry - Doctor in the UK's National Health Service

Dr Arisina Ma - President, Hong Kong Public Doctors' Association

Matthew Fox - Professor of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health.

- 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 #Coronavirus

After many failed ceasefires in Libya's civil war, the two rival powers appear to have found some common ground with the latest truce announcement.

Tripoli's UN-recognised government called for fighting to end.

Its rival administration in the east, which backs the warlord Khalifa Haftar, also urged all parties to stick to the truce.

But Hafter hasn't responded.

Will this ceasefire finally pave the way for peace?

Presenter: Imran Khan

Guests:

Anas El Gomati - Director, Sadeq Institute, a Libya-based think tank.

Alice Alunni - Libya Researcher, Durham University in the UK.

Jonathan Winer - Former U.S. Special Envoy for Libya.

- 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 #KhalifaHaftar

The leading Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is fighting for his life .

His family and supporters say he was poisoned.

Navalny fell ill during a flight to Moscow. His staff suspect poison was put in his tea at an airport cafe.

But doctors have told his wife his condition is 'unstable' and he's 'too ill' to be transferred.

Navalny's team says the hospital is blocking his move under pressure from the Kremlin.

This is not the first time such an attack has occured.

So, are Russian critcs now at risk more than ever?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests:

Anna Matveeva - Visiting Senior Research Fellow at King's College London.

Daragh McDowell - Principal Russia Analyst at the risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft.

Ilya Ponomarev - Exiled Russian Politician and a former Member of the State Duma.

- 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 #Russia #Poisoning

Mali has seen weeks of anti-government protests and unrest.

On Tuesday, its military took charge and forced the resignation of the president.

The coup leaders say they want to prevent the nation falling further into chaos.

The soldiers have pledged to set up a transitional civilian government and hold elections.

The military takeover follows the demand by thousands of Malians for better security, economy and an end to corruption.

Former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita's critics blame him for the country's hardships.

So, after weeks of unrest, what's next for this West African nation?

And can military takeovers be prevented?

Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra

Guests

Manu Lekunze - Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and Author of, 'Inherent and Contemporary Challenges to African Security'.

Susanna Wing - Specialist on West Africa and Associate Professor at Haverford College.

Mohamed Salaha - Journalist and Publisher at LeMaliMag.com, a Malian news website.

- 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 #Mali #InsideStory