As part of tackling a rise in youth vaping. The United Kingdom will soon introduce legislation to ban disposable e-cigarettes. The ban is being introduced after a public consultation on smoking and vaping showed nearly 70 percent of respondents including parents, teachers, healthcare professionals were in favour of the measure. Health experts have welcomed the proposal, with some saying the legislation would have a major public health impact across many future generations.

GUEST: Professor Lekan Ayo-Yusuf, Director of the Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) and Head of School of Health Systems and Public Health at the University of Pretoria

Three West African nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have decided to leave the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). They accuse ECOWAS of having moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and Pan-Africanism, saying that the bloc is under the influence of foreign powers. Our guest Dr David Matsanga says he saw it coming and is not surprised by these three nations decision. He joins us now to elaborate further on this…..

GUEST: Dr David Matsanga, Political analyst & Expert on Diplomatic Relations

It’s official, the International Court of Justice has ruled in favour of South Africa in its case against Israel, ordering Jerusalem to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in the Gaza Strip. So following the ruling – where to now for Israel – will they adhere to the court ruling and what happens if they don’t? To react to this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor of NGO Monitor – a Jerusalem based research institute

Still on the ICJ ruling: It is important to keep reminding you that today’s court ruling did not deal with the core accusation of the case as to whether or not Israel is committing genocide in Gaza - instead it focused more on nine provisional measures sought by South Africa to end human suffering in Gaza. So, following today’s ruling - did South Africa achieve its objectives and legally speaking – how should we interpret the outcome?

GUEST (U.S): Stanley Cohen, International Human Rights Lawyer

As we continue to dissect the outcomes of the ICJ ruling - we look at how today’s ruling will alter South Africa’s foreign policy moving forward, as we know that there are several countries who support Israel but who also enjoy good relations with South Africa. So politically speaking - how is the ICJ ruling complicates South Africa’s diplomatic ties? To help us unpack this, we are joined by…..

GUEST: Dr Chris Landsberg, Chair of African Diplomacy and Foreign Policy at the University of Johannesburg

We hear reactions from political parties after the ICJ judgment: We start with the political party that brought forward the motion to close the Israeli Embassy. To reflect on the court decision, we are joined by....

GUEST: Godrich Gardee - Head of International Relations at the Economic Freedom Fighters

Let’s now speak to the African Christian Democratic Party as they have been calling on the government and the international community to use every diplomatic means possible to bring both sides to the table of peace. To reflect on the court decision, we are joined by....

GUEST: Rev. Kenneth Moeshoe - Leader of the African Christian Democratic Party

A delegation of religious leaders spent Christmas of last year in solidarity with Palestinians. After that visit, our next guest said that "the world had snoozed on the plight of Palestinians people".  To take us through his reflections on the court judgment, we are joined by...

Guest: Rev. Frank Chikane - Anti-Apartheid Activist and A delegate of the Christmas Pilgrimage in Bethlehem in December 2023.

Our main opposition party here in South Africa is known to stand in solidarity with both Palestinians and Israelis who seek a two-state solution. To reflect on the court decision, we are joined by....

GUEST: Emma Powell - Democratic Alliance Member of Parliament and the Shadow Minister for International Relations and Cooperation

 Last week, Matric results were released for both the IEB and the NSC final examinations with the highest pass rate in the democratic era. During these celebrations, one public official called for one examination process to be written across the country for both public and private schools. His argument outlined that the quality of educational outcomes is at the heart of writing one examination. He also raised that financial resources continue to perpetuate inequality in educational outcomes. To tell us more about this proposal, we are joined by... 

Guest: Panyaza Lesufi - Gauteng Premier