This year's UN World Press Freedom Day is highlighting threats to the media, especially online. Russia's war on Ukraine is a major example, in which journalists are facing threats in the field and on the internet. So, what can be done to protect the free flow of news and information?

Join host Mohammed Jamjoom .

Guests:

Rebecca Vincent - Director of Operations and Campaigns, Reporters Without Borders.

Romeo Kokriatski - Managing Editor, The New Voice of Ukraine.

Tim Squirrell - Head of Communications and Editorial, Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

Chad has again delayed a dialogue on national peace.The military government, opposition groups and rebels were supposed to start discussions on a new constitution and holding elections. So, what will this mean for Chad after a year of political turmoil?

Join host Mohammed Jamjoom.

Guests: 

Remadji Hoinathy - Senior Researcher, Institute for Security Studies.

Ovigwe Eguegu - Security Analyst, Afripolitika, an Africa Security consultancy.

Enrica Picco - Director, Central Africa Project, International Crisis Group.

The world is losing its trees despite a decades long effort to stop deforestation. A report by Global Forest Watch says the earth lost a staggering 11.1 million hectares of forest last year. So, what's behind this destruction? And can it be stopped?

Join host Laura Kyle.

Guests:

Frances Seymour - Distinguished Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute.

Wessel Van Eeden - Global Communications Director at justdiggit, an organization working to restore trees and landscape in Africa.

Michael Jacobs - Professor of Political Economy at the University of Sheffield.

Russia has halted gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria, saying the two nations are refusing to pay in Roubles. The EU calls it blackmail and says it has contingency plans. But can Europeans survive without Russian gas? And what are the alternatives?

Join host Laura Kyle.

Guests:

Andreas Goldthau - Professor at the Willy Brandt School of Public Policy.

Chris Weafer - Chief Executive Officer at the consultancy, Macro-Advisory.

Ole Hvalbye - Commodities Analyst at SEB Financial Services Group.

The government in the Maldives has banned a campaign called 'India Out', which is critical of New Delhi's military presence and political influence in the country. So, what's behind this campaign? And what does that mean for the close ties between India and the Maldives?

Join host Hashem Ahelbarra.

Guests:

Hamdhan Shakeel - Founder and Editor at Maldives News Network.

Uday Chandra - Assistant Professor of Government at Georgetown University Doha.

Nitin Gokhale - CEO and Editor-in-Chief at Strategic News Global.

Elon Musk, the world's richest man, is set to take control of Twitter as he sealed the deal for $44 billion. So, what will it mean for the future of this platform? And for freedom of speech?

Join host Laura Kyle.

Guests:

Quinn McKew - Executive Director at Article 19.

Ramesh Srinivasan - Professor of Information Studies at the University of California.

Charles Arthur - Journalist who specialises in technology and social media.   

Emmanuel Macron's re-election as President of France seems more a sigh of relief than a grand victory. He defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen but many voters admitted they only chose him to keep her out. So, what challenges will Macron face in his second term?

Join host Mohammed Jamjoom.

Thomas Guénolé - Political Scientist.

Gesine Weber - Programme Coordinator, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, Paris Office.

Aurelien Mondon - Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Bath. 

The Afghan Taliban says it has arrested the so-called 'mastermind' of a bomb attack on a mosque. Police say he's a major ISIL operative, suspected of helping to kill at least 12 people on Thursday. The armed group claimed at least two attacks on the same day in Afghanistan, highlighting the security challenges for the Taliban since returning to power last August.

Join host Mohammed Jamjoom.

Guests:

Faiz Zaland -  Executive Director of the Democracy, Peace & Development Think Tank.

Rabia Akhtar - Director of the Centre for Security, Strategy and Policy Research at the University of Lahore.

Neil Turner - Country Director in Afghanistan for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

With just days to go, the French presidential contenders have a held a televised debate. A lot has changed since Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen first went head-to-head in the 2017 election. Ukraine is at war. The EU is in crisis after Brexit snd France is facing numerous challenges. Opinion polls suggest Macron may have a lead-- but it's a tight race and anything could happen.

Join host Hashem Ahelbarra.

Guests

Jacques Reland, Senior Research Fellow at The Global Policy Institute.

James Shields, professor of French Politics at the University of Warwick.

Famke Krumbmuller, European Political Analyst.

It's been nearly two months since Russian forces invaded neighbouring Ukraine. Now, Moscow says it's shifting its focus to the east where it's increased its assault in the Donbas region. Many say this is a crucial stage of the conflict and could lead to the breakup of Ukraine. But what does this new phase mean for the larger conflict?

Join host Kim Vinnell.

Guests: 

Halyna Yachenko - Member of the Ukrainian Parliament and Secretary of the National Presidential Council.

Pavel Felgenhauer - Defence and Military Analyst for Novaya Gazetta, an independent newspaper.

Theresa Fallon - Director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies.