The Inside Story Podcast

For months now, Iraqis have been voicing their anger and demanding a change in their political leadership.

They say they're fed up with corruption, unemployment and lack of basic services.

Hundreds of people have been killed.

Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi resigned in November -- and now many are rejecting the nominee to replace him.

They say Asaad Al Eidani will only help Iran extend its influence in Iraq.

President Barham Salih says he will resign rather than appoint Eidani.

But the main political bloc that picked Eidani is refusing to back down.

So, what next for the crisis in Iraq?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests:

Zeidon Alkinani - Independent researcher on identity politics in Iraq and the Middle East.

Ali Al Nashmi - Professor of International Relations at Mustansiriya University.

Salah Hashimi - Legal Adviser to the National Council for Iraqi Opposition.

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Ever since independence from Ethiopia 26 years ago, Eritrea's been ruled by President Isaias Afwerki.

He dismisses rights groups alleging his regime is one of the world's most tightly controlled, where opposition parties are banned and the judiciary isn't independent.

Thousands of Eritreans leave every year - mainly to escape rights abuses as well as enforced and lengthy military service.

And footballers too, defecting while playing abroad for the second time this year.

Seven went missing after their final game at a recent regional tournament in Uganda's capital Kampala.

Amnesty International says a turning point for human rights violations came when the Eritrean government's campaign of repression started in 2001.

Amnesty says Eritrea is dangerous for anyone showing political dissent or attempting to avoid national service.

So, what will it take to end repression?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests;

Matt Bryden, Director, Sahan Research think tank focussing on issues in Horn of Africa.

Daniel Mekonnen, Director of the Eritrean Law Society and former judge in Eritrea.

Awol Allo, Senior Lecturer in Law Keele University in England.

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Ever since independence from Ethiopia 26 years ago, Eritrea's been ruled by President Isaias Afwerki.

He dismisses rights groups alleging his regime is one of the world's most tightly controlled, where opposition parties are banned and the judiciary isn't independent.

Thousands of Eritreans leave every year - mainly to escape rights abuses as well as enforced and lengthy military service.

And footballers too, defecting while playing abroad for the second time this year.

Seven went missing after their final game at a recent regional tournament in Uganda's capital Kampala.

Amnesty International says a turning point for human rights violations came when the Eritrean government's campaign of repression started in 2001.

Amnesty says Eritrea is dangerous for anyone showing political dissent or attempting to avoid national service.

So, what will it take to end repression?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests;

Matt Bryden, Director, Sahan Research think tank focussing on issues in Horn of Africa.

Daniel Mekonnen, Director of the Eritrean Law Society and former judge in Eritrea.

Awol Allo, Senior Lecturer in Law Keele University in England.

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Turkey is considering all kinds of military backing for Libya. That includes ground, marine and air support, if necessary.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said he's ready to deploy troops, if the the internationally recognised government of Libya formally requests help.

The Government of National Accord, or GNA, has been fighting an offensive by rebel forces to unseat Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj since April.

Warlord Khalifa Haftar announced his final push to seize the capital Tripoli earlier this month.

His forces extended to Wednesday a deadline for pro-goverment forces to withdraw.

But will Ankara's move intensify the conflict, or hasten its end?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests

Sami El-Atrash, lawyer and political activist.

Yusuf Alabarda, International Security and Politics Specialist and a retired Turkish Armed Forces Colonel.

Noufal Abboud, Executive Director at the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation.

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Turkey is considering all kinds of military backing for Libya. That includes ground, marine and air support, if necessary.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said he's ready to deploy troops, if the the internationally recognised government of Libya formally requests help.

The Government of National Accord, or GNA, has been fighting an offensive by rebel forces to unseat Prime Minister Fayez Al Serraj since April.

Warlord Khalifa Haftar announced his final push to seize the capital Tripoli earlier this month.

His forces extended to Wednesday a deadline for pro-goverment forces to withdraw.

But will Ankara's move intensify the conflict, or hasten its end?

Presenter: Sami Zeidan

Guests

Sami El-Atrash, lawyer and political activist.

Yusuf Alabarda, International Security and Politics Specialist and a retired Turkish Armed Forces Colonel.

Noufal Abboud, Executive Director at the Nordic Center for Conflict Transformation.

- 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/

A new road and rail bridge now connects the Crimean peninsula and Russia.

The $4.5B transport link is the longest in Europe. But it's seen by many in Kiev as a symbol of Moscow's control over the peninsula.

And the United States and European Union consider it a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, and have imposed sanctions on companies involved in its construction.

Moscow and Kiev's relations have worsened since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

The peninsula had only been accessible from mainland Ukraine, until the bridge was opened last year - marked by President Vladimir Putin driving a truck over it.

Now, trains are starting to cross, running from St. Petersburg to Crimea’s largest city, Sevastopol.

And on Tuesday, from Moscow to the capital Simferopol.

What does this mean for the future?

Presenter: Sohail Rahman

Guests

Viktor Olevich, Lead Analyst at the think-tank Centre for Actual Politics.

Ilya Ponomarev is CEO of Trident Acquisitions and a former member of Russia's parliament.

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

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#Aljazeeraenglish #InsideStory #RussiaCrimea

A new road and rail bridge now connects the Crimean peninsula and Russia.

The $4.5B transport link is the longest in Europe. But it's seen by many in Kiev as a symbol of Moscow's control over the peninsula.

And the United States and European Union consider it a violation of Ukraine's sovereignty, and have imposed sanctions on companies involved in its construction.

Moscow and Kiev's relations have worsened since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

The peninsula had only been accessible from mainland Ukraine, until the bridge was opened last year - marked by President Vladimir Putin driving a truck over it.

Now, trains are starting to cross, running from St. Petersburg to Crimea’s largest city, Sevastopol.

And on Tuesday, from Moscow to the capital Simferopol.

What does this mean for the future?

Presenter: Sohail Rahman

Guests

Viktor Olevich, Lead Analyst at the think-tank Centre for Actual Politics.

Ilya Ponomarev is CEO of Trident Acquisitions and a former member of Russia's parliament.

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

Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe

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

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

Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

#Aljazeeraenglish #InsideStory #RussiaCrimea

A secular state where all religions are welcome and equal before the law. That idea is at the core of India's constitution.

But many believe it's under threat. Hindu nationalism has been emboldened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he was elected in 2014.

His government has taken measures that have raised fears among muslims in particular.

A new citizenship law offers illegal migrants of religious minorities from three neighbouring countries the right to become citizens of India.

But it excludes muslims. That's sparked anger and protests nationwide.

But will that make Modi change his mind?

Presenter: Stan Grant

Guests

Desh Ratan Nigam, Member of the Legal Wing of the Hindu nationalist organization Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Tarun Khaitan, Professor in Public Law and Legal Theory and Hackney Fellow in Law at Wadham College, Oxford University.

Eviane Leidig, Researcher at the Center for Research on Extremism at the University of Oslo.

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #InsideStory #IndiaCitizenship

After nearly five years of preliminary examinations, the International Criminal Court has announced there is enough evidence to investigate alleged war crimes by Israelies and Palestinians in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.

Palestine referred the case shortly after joining the court in 2015.

The ICC's chief prosecutor is asking judges to first establish what territory the investigation would cover.

Palestininan leaders welcomed the announcement, but Israel and the United States criticised the decision as political.

So will there be a full investigation? And what can it achieve?

Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault

Guests:

Toby Cadman - International Human Rights Lawyer

Robbie Sabel - Professor of International Law at Hebrew University and former Legal Adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry

Ali Abunimah - Co-Founder of Electronic Intifada, an independent online news publication focusing on Palestine

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Bushfires are common during the summer in Australia, but firefighters say this year's conditions are catastrophic.

At least eight people have been killed since September, including two firefighters who died on Thursday when their truck was hit by a falling tree.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison cut short his holiday to Hawaii and issued a rare public apology in response to mounting anger.

Australia’s not alone in having to deal with ferocious fires this year. There were more than 16-hundred recorded in Europe, large parts of the Amazon rainforest have been destroyed, and tens of thousands of hectares of land and hundreds of buildings in California.

And we've seen wildfires in the Arctic too - more than 100 - a sign of warming conditions in one of the coldest places on Earth.

Is the political will there to tackle the problem?

Presenter:

Folly Bah Thibault

Guests:

Peter Newman, Professor of Sustainability at Curtin University.

Martin Wooster, professor and chairman of Earth Observation Science at King's College London.

Emmanuel Raju, associate professor of disaster risk management at the University of Copenhagen.

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#AlJazeeraEnglish #ClimateChange #Australia