The Newsmakers

Over the past decade, the world witnessed peaceful, local protests against police brutality morph into one of the century's most brutal civil wars. Since 2011, bullets and bombs have terrorised the Syrian people. But the man many blame for that descent into chaos, is still in control. Bashar al Assad has ruled Syria for over twenty years and he's made it clear he has no plans to step down. While it's hoped the worst of the war is now behind us, Syria desperately needs to rebuild and forge a path forward. But with Assad still in power, is that even possible?

Guests:

Yaser Tabbara

Senior Fellow at the Omran Center for Strategic Studies

Joshua Landis

Director of the Center for Middle East Studies

Onur Erim

Political Analyst and Author

Paul Rusesabagina inspired the Oscar-nominated film Hotel Rwanda, but now the man many see as a hero is facing a series of charges including financing terrorism and murder. Are the charges against him justified, or is he being targeted for his criticism of President Paul Kagame?

Guests:

Carine Kanimba

Daughter of Paul Rusesabagina

Philip Clark

International Politics Professor at SOAS University

Gatete Nyiringabo Ruhumuliza

Lawyer and Political Analyst

Farmers in India have been protesting for months over controversial farming reforms. The ruling BJP is adamant the new laws are essential to grow India's economy, but the farmers feel they’re being cheated. Neither side is willing to back down, but eventually one will have to. Will it be the government, or the farmers?

Guests:

Gopal Krishna Agarwal

BJP National Spokesperson

Ashok Swain

Professor of Peace and Conflict Research at Uppsala University

Amandeep Sandhu

Journalist and Writer

Aung San Suu Kyi's once-held reputation as a leader for peace was severely tarnished after she defended Myanmar's military against genocide charges at The Hague. No longer considered 'Asia's Nelson Mandela' she lost the support of the international community, but all the while gaining popularity at home. That seemed to anger military leaders who, disputing her party's landslide election victory in November, orchestrated a military coup on Monday that stripped Suu Kyi and the National League for democracy of their powers. Although the once ubiquitous red and yellow NLD flags have disappeared from sight, a quiet civil disobedience movement is growing among her supporters. But can it end the military’s takeover?

Guests:

Bo Kyaw Nyein

Former Student Activist and Political Prisoner

Win Naing

Chairman of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy in the UK

Phil Robertson

Deputy Director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division

Tunisia was hailed as one of the few successes of the Arab Spring, but a decade on thousands are once again on the streets demanding change. Protesters are furious about the country’s ailing economy, corruption and police repression. The prime minister has promised reform, but can he turn his nation’s fortunes around and restore the people’s faith in government?

Guests:

Radwan Masmoudi

Member of Tunisia's Ennahda Party

Nawres Douzi

Protester and Human Rights Activist

Ghaya Ben Mbarek

Tunisian Journalist

Joe Biden wasted no time in reversing several of his predecessor's policies, but many challenges remain. The coronavirus is still rampant, the economy is struggling and the country is more divided than it’s been for decades. Can the newly inaugurated president bring the country back together?

Guests

Nate Lerner

Democratic Strategist and Founder of Build the Wave

Adi Sathi

Chief of Staff at the Young Republicans National Federation

Robert Gutsche Jr

US Politics Expert and Media Lecturer at Lancaster University

The court's verdict was swift and so were the protests that followed. The justices ruled that while irregularities during last month's presidential vote may have taken place, they didn't affect the outcome. Their decision handed Kenyatta his second term in office. But the opposition won't take yes for an answer. Kenyatta's main rival, Raila Odinga, is calling for international intervention, as his supporters once again take to the streets.

Cambodia’s Supreme Court has dissolved the opposition - Cambodia's National Rescue Party. After its leader Kem Sokha was jailed and charged with treason, Prime Minister Hun Sen called on the Court to disband the party. Now the Prime Minister's biggest political threat has been eliminated. But Hun Sen says next year's elections will go ahead as planned. Rights groups say it won't be a fair vote, and Ken Sokha's number two has called it the death of democracy.

He led the charge for independence. He failed. And now the Spanish government wants him locked up. Catalonia's sacked leader, and four former ministers have appeared before a Belgian cour to hear Spain's case for extradition. If sent back, the group could face charges including sedition and rebellion. But would Madrid give them a fair trial? Carles Puijdemont doesn't think so. He says Spain is conducting a brutal judicial offensive against him and members of his ousted government. So should he be forced to return?

It started like so many coups have, with a military commander taking control of a TV station, and reading a statement to assure viewers that the President and his family are safe. Since then, the rumour mill has churned out one major allegation after another. That Mugabe might be dead. That he and his wife are in custody. That the first lady has been ordered to leave the country. As for the military, it denies a coup has taken place, saying the 93-year-old leader is being protected from criminals. One thing is for certain, the army -- amid gun fire and explosions -- took power on Wednesday. And a country plagued by corruption and rampant inflation is facing an upheaval unmatched in decades.