Battle Lines

In today’s episode we get two rare insides from the ground. Our team of reporters just returned from the frontline in Kharkiv and Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council witnessed the humanitarian crisis unravelling in Sudan as a result of the ongoing war. Venetia Rainey catches up with both of them.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lebanon and Hezbollah have struck a ceasefire deal - but how will it work and is Gaza next? For this emergency podcast, Venetia Rainey is joined by Maya Gebeily, Reuters Beirut Bureau Chief, and Jotam Confino, The Telegraph’s correspondent in Israel, to take the temperature on the ground. Plus, as thousands of displaced people in both Lebanon and Israel return home to survey the damage of 14 months of war, we look at why the deal is being treated with caution on both sides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One year on from the last Gaza hostage deal, Venetia Rainey speaks with Sharone Lifschitz, whose father was kidnapped on October 7th and is still being held hostage by Hamas. We also hear from Amani Ahmed, a Palestinian academic from Gaza, who was at the University of Edinburgh when the war began and after a long ordeal managed to be reunited with her family. Plus: an update of the last week's big news stories from the Middle East, including the ICC arrest warrants, Israel's attempt to assassinate another senior Hezbollah official, and Lebanon ceasefire talks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Roland Oliphant is joined by The Telegraph’s Sarah Newey to talk about her interview with one of the international combatants fighting in Myanmar’s brutal civil war. Plus: as violence escalates in Haiti, MSF are suspending activities in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince until further notice. We hear from their head of mission about the decision and what the mood is like on the ground. ContributorsRoland Oliphant (Host)Sarah Newey (Global Health Security Correspondent)Christophe Garnier (MSF’s Head of Mission in Haiti) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Con Coughlin, the Telegraph’s defence and foreign affairs editor, joins Venetia Rainey to discuss Israel’s strike on Hezbollah’s spokesman Mohammad Afif, the pope’s calls for an investigation into potential genocide in Gaza and how the geopolitical landscape might shift under Donald Trump’s new cabinet. Plus: Sir Keir Starmer’s upcoming meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping.ContributorsVenetia RaineyCon Coughlin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, President-elect Donald Trump made key appointments to his diplomatic and security cabinet. What do his picks for Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and Director of National Intelligence reveal about the direction of his foreign policy? In this episode, we take a closer look at the backgrounds and ideologies of these key figures and explore the potential impact on global issues, from the war in Ukraine to the conflict in Gaza and the US-China relationship. Plus: who might the British government choose to send as its next ambassador to Washington?ContributorsRoland OliphantTony Diver Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Maya Gebeily, the Beirut bureau chief for Reuters, shares her insights on the challenging landscape of reporting from Lebanon. She discusses the unique difficulties faced by journalists in this complex environment, particularly compared to Iraq and Syria. The conversation also touches on the Lebanese people's resilience amidst increasing violence, the ongoing Israeli airstrikes in Syria, and the geopolitical implications involving regional powers like Iran and Saudi Arabia. Gebeily's firsthand experiences highlight the urgent need for reliable information amid chaos.

Joining the discussion are Robert Mendick, a Chief Reporter with insights from the US election, and Edward Arnold, a Senior Research Fellow at RUSI. They dive into the surprising electoral support for Trump and its implications for international relations. The conversation touches on the cultural dynamics influencing voter sentiment and the effects of Trump's immigration policies, including the journey of Latin American migrants. They also analyze global uncertainty in foreign policy and the growing concerns over NATO and Russia's interactions.

Kamal Mouzawak, a passionate Lebanese social entrepreneur, runs a community kitchen in Beirut that feeds displaced individuals amid ongoing turmoil. He discusses how 'Matba Al-Khel' not only provides meals but also fosters community resilience. The conversation shifts to Iran's potential military strategies towards Israel, examining the latest tensions in the region. The impact of conflict on Lebanon's agriculture and economy, along with the emotional connections of the diaspora, underscores the complexity of the humanitarian crisis.

Rozina Sabur, Deputy US Editor, shares the tense atmosphere leading up to the election, highlighting security concerns stemming from past violence. Jesse Moss and Tony Gerber, co-directors of 'War Game,' discuss their documentary simulating a contested election scenario that spiraled into insurrection. They reveal the dynamics of military involvement in domestic crises and the pervasive impact of misinformation. Amidst fears and tensions, the trio emphasizes the importance of civic engagement and maintaining hope for democratic processes.