How will the US respond to the killing of three of its soldiers in Syria? Washington blames the Islamic State for the attack and vows retaliation. So, does that mean direct military involvement? And if so, what role would the new Syrian government play?

In this episode: 

• Colin Clarke, Executive Director, The Soufan Center.
• Dareen Khalifa, Senior Adviser, International Crisis Group.
• Orwa Ajjoub, Syria Expert and PHD Candidate, Global Politics.

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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US president Donald Trump eases sanctions on Belarus after it frees more than 100 political prisoners. Stiff European sanctions remain in place against the close Russian ally. So, why's the deal been struck now, and what's the reaction in Russia, Ukraine and the EU? 

In this episode: 

• Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Belarus Opposition Leader.
• Franak Viacorka, Non-resident fellow, Atlantic Council
• Mark Episkopos, Research Fellow, Quincy Institute’s Eurasia Program.
• Andrey Kortunov, Russian Foreign Affairs Analyst.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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The US and UN warn violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo could escalate into a regional conflict. Hundreds of people killed as Rwandan-backed M23 rebels seize another city, just over a week after the US brokered a peace deal. How dangerous is the situation? 

In this episode: 

• Kambale Musavuli - Analyst at the Center for Research on the Congo- Kinshasa
• Richard Moncrieff - Project Director for the Great Lakes region at the International Crisis Group

Host: Adrian Finighan

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Twenty-seven European nations which are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights want the treaty changed to restrict migration. Opponents say altering it will weaken fundamental human rights protections in place for more than 70 years. So what are the arguments? 

In this episode: 

• Michael O'Flaherty - Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights and former director of the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency. 
• Jennifer Nader - co-founder of the Compassion in Politics think-tank in London. 
• Michael McDowell - Senator in Ireland's parliament and former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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European leaders have sent new peace proposals for the war in Ukraine to US President Donald Trump. Loss of territory to Russia and use of frozen Russian assets in Ukraine remain areas of disagreement. But could the war be nearing an end?

In this episode: 

• Peter Zalmayev - Director of Eurasia Democracy Initiative
• Chris Weafer - CEO of Macro-Advisory, a strategic consultancy focused on Russia and Eurasia
• Steven Erlanger - Chief Diplomatic Correspondent for Europe at The New York Times 

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Australia has become the first country in the world to ban social media use for children younger than 16. The move has divided public opinion there, but other countries are considering restrictions too. 
What are the arguments for and against? Will the ban work?  

In this episode: 

• Charlotte Armitage, Psychologist, author of ‘Generation Zombie’
• Kate Sim, Program Director of Children's Online Safety and Privacy Research at the University of Western Australia
• Adrian Monck, Author of 'Can You Trust the Media?' and a senior adviser on artificial intelligence and technology

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Tanzania's government is under pressure. Opposition activists are angry about an election that they say was a sham and had called for protests to coincide with Independence Day. The US says it's reconsidering its relationship with the country for the crackdown that followed October's disputed vote. So, what does it all mean for Tanzania's future?

In this episode: 

• Palamagamba Kabudi, Tanzanian Minister of Information, Culture, Arts and Sports.
• Dorothy Semu, ACT-Wazelenko Opposition Party Leader.
• Oryem Nyeko, Senior Researcher, Africa Division, Human Rights Watch. 

Host: Folly Bah Thibault

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Nearly two thousand dead and hundreds missing in one of the worst storm seasons in Southeast Asia's recorded history. Cyclones, typhoons and back-to-back tropical storms are causing floods and landslides so large that some areas may never recover. So how can countries continue to face this escalating threat? And can they afford to keep rebuilding?

In this episode: 

• Alexandre Borde, Environmental Economist and CEO, Cibola Partners. 
• Sehr Raheja, Programme Officer, Climate Change Programme, Centre for Science and Environment. 
• Benjamin Horton, Professor, Earth Science, City University of Hong Kong. 

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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Hope, promise and enormous challenges. It's been one year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and even while it celebrates, the country is also confronting the problems of a transitional state. So what kind of Syria is the new government building?

In this episode: 

• Haid Haid, Researcher, Chatham House.
• Ammar Kahf, Executive Director, Omran Center for Strategic Studies.
• Heiko Wimmen, Project Director for Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, International Crisis Group.

Host: Dareen Abughaida

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From limo diplomacy to a ceremonial guard - Vladimir Putin got a red-carpet welcome in India this week.He was there to talk trade ties and energy supply with Narendra Modi. But as New Delhi tries to walk a tightrope between Moscow and Washington - who stands to benefit the most, and what's at stake?

In this episode: 

• Brahma Chellaney - Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research. 
• Thomas Pickering - former diplomat and U.S. Ambassador to India and Russia.
• Aleksei Zakharov - fellow at Observer Research Foundation focusing on Russia's foreign policy towards South Asia and its relations with India.

Host: Adrian Finighan

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