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Latest episodes

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Feb 12, 2025 • 23min

Omar Abdullah: Can he bring peace to Jammu and Kashmir?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Omar Abdullah, chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir. This mountainous territory neighbouring Pakistan has long been a source of political tension and violence. Can the chief minister work with Delhi to find a pathway to peace and stability?
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Feb 10, 2025 • 23min

Dhananjaya Chandrachud: Justice and the rule of law

Dhananjaya Chandrachud, recently retired Chief Justice of India, is known for his progressive approach to the law. He discusses the challenges of maintaining judicial independence amidst the political dominance of the BJP under Modi. Key topics include the ramifications of the abrogation of Article 370 in Kashmir and the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, scrutinizing its implications for constitutional equality. Additionally, he highlights the importance of impartial rulings in the Ayodhya dispute while navigating India's complex socio-political landscape.
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Feb 7, 2025 • 23min

Hardeep Singh Puri: India's big ambitions

Hardeep Singh Puri, India's Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and a former diplomat with the BJP, discusses India's ambitious vision to become a global economic superpower. He delves into India's reliance on Russian oil and the implications for energy security and climate commitments. Puri explores the roadmap to transforming India by 2047 and balancing economic growth with decarbonization. He critiques Western perspectives on sovereignty and emphasizes India's independent energy policy amidst geopolitical tensions.
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Jan 29, 2025 • 23min

Basem Naim: Can Gaza find long-term peace?

Sarah Montague speaks to Basem Naim, a senior political figure in Hamas. Its violence and hostage-taking on 7 October led to an overwhelming Israeli onslaught in Gaza. A fragile ceasefire is now in place, but how can long-term peace be achieved?
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Jan 24, 2025 • 23min

Mouaz Moustafa: Will Syrians get justice?

Stephen Sackur speaks to Mouaz Moustafa, founder of the US-based Syrian Emergency Task Force. He campaigned to bring the Assad regime to justice for its crimes. Now power is in new hands, will Syrians get justice for the dark past and freedom for a better future?
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Jan 22, 2025 • 23min

Ehud Olmert: This war must end now

Stephen Sackur speaks to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. He is a fierce critic of current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and says only territorial compromise can save Israel from a grim future. But is his simply a voice in the political wilderness?
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Jan 15, 2025 • 23min

Vladimir Kara-Murza: Is Putin vulnerable?

In this engaging conversation, Vladimir Kara-Murza shares his chilling journey as an anti-Putin activist who survived two poisonings and imprisonment. He reflects on the psychological scars of his captivity and the plight of political prisoners in Russia. Kara-Murza argues for increasing Western pressure on the Kremlin and discusses the complexities of sanctions following Ukraine's invasion. He also contemplates the unpredictable political landscape in Russia, expressing cautious optimism for a future democratic transition.
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Jan 13, 2025 • 23min

Asif Kapadia: Pushing the boundaries of film-making

Asif Kapadia, the award-winning filmmaker behind acclaimed documentaries like 'Senna' and 'Amy Winehouse', discusses his latest project '2073'. He explores the merging of documentary and science fiction to reflect on grim realities like climate change and authoritarianism. The conversation delves into creative accountability, the challenges of navigating the film industry, and the impact of social media on artistry. Kapadia also highlights unsettling truths within the wellness industry, urging for awareness and justice against exploitation.
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Jan 10, 2025 • 23min

Alice Edwards: Is it possible to eradicate torture?

Alice Edwards, the UN special rapporteur on torture, passionately addresses the alarming persistence of torture four decades after the UN Convention Against Torture. She discusses the link between global conflicts and rising torture incidents, revealing harrowing personal accounts from victims. Edwards emphasizes the necessity for a unified international code of human rights to eradicate torture, exposing the challenges of governmental hypocrisy and accountability in war zones. Her insights offer a stark reminder of the ongoing fight for human dignity and justice.
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Jan 8, 2025 • 23min

Alan Hollinghurst: How has Britain changed since the 1980s?

Stephen Sackur speaks to the British novelist Alan Hollinghurst, author of Our Evenings and the Booker Prize-winning The Line of Beauty. Over four decades, how has his writing and his view of Britain changed?

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