The Inside Story Podcast

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What is driving the Ebola crisis? Aug 15, 2026

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The Ebola outbreak in northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo has already killed two thousand people. And it's spreading faster than any before - outpacing efforts to contain it, says the WHO So, what's driving this crisis? And what are the dangers?

In this episode:

Alex Lock - Communications Co-ordinator for the Ebola response with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Kinshasa
Dr Marie Roseline Belizaire - Emergency Director for the World Health Organization Africa
Dr Margaret Harris - Global health consultant

Host: James Bays

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Can the Doha Framework end the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo? Aug 09, 2026

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Can the Doha Framework end the conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo? Kinshasa has handed over 15 prisoners to a powerful rebel alliance. It's part of an agreement signed last year in the Qatari capital. So, what are the hurdles to lasting peace?

In this episode:

Kambale Musavuli, Analyst, Center for Research, Congo-Kinshasa.
Felix Ndahinda, Researcher, Great Lakes region, specialising in conflict resolution, peace and transitional justice.
Abdulla Al Etaibi, Assistant Professor, International Affairs, Qatar University.

Host: Per Nyberg

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What are the hurdles facing the Mecca agreement? Aug 08, 2026

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What are the hurdles facing the Mecca agreement? The defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan comes at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East. So, who stands to gain from the new alliance? And how is it viewed in the region and beyond?

In this episode:

Abdulaziz Alghashian - Senior Non-Resident Fellow at the Gulf International Forum
David Des Roches - Professor at the Thayer Marshall Institute
Zaid M Belbagi - Managing Partner at Hardcastle Advisory

Host: Anna Burns-Francis

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How fragile is Lebanon's uneasy peace? Aug 06, 2026

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New Israeli attacks in Lebanon, after soldiers were killed for the first time since a fragile truce with Beirut began in June. It comes despite more Lebanese-Israeli talks in Rome in a U.S.-brokered peace process. So where do things stand now?

In this episode:

Maha Yahya, Director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut
Jennifer Gavito, Former U.S. Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs
Rami Khouri, Distinguished Public Policy Fellow at the American University of Beirut

Host: James Bays

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Is the conflict between Russia and Ukraine deepening? Aug 05, 2026

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A surge in missile and drone attacks by Russia and Ukraine with civilians killed on both sides. Little movement on the diplomatic front, while U.S. attention is largely focused on Iran. So, what's next for Europe's worst conflict since World War Two?

In this episode:

Andrey Kortunov, Russian affairs analyst and a former Director General of the Russian International Affairs Council
Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Member of the Ukrainian parliament
Thomas Graham, Henry A. Kissinger Distinguished Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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How much of a challenge are wildfires to Europe? Aug 04, 2026

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How much of a challenge are wildfires to Europe? Rapidly spreading blazes are scorching the continent, destroying forests, farmland, homes and businesses. They're becoming bigger and more difficult to control. So, what's fuelling the flames?

In this episode:

Paleologos Paleologou -- Geographer and an Associate Professor of Forest Protection at the Agricultural University of Athens
Marta Yebra, Director of the Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, Australian National University
Carlo Buontempo, Director of Copernicus Climate Change Service

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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Will Israel withdraw from Gaza if Hamas disarms? Aug 03, 2026

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Israel says it has doubts about Hamas disarming. The group and other Palestinian factions in Gaza have agreed to lay down their weapons. But they say it's dependent on the withdrawal of Israeli troops — which Israel has refused to do unless they disarm. Where does this leave Gaza?

In this episode:

Xavier Abu Eid, Political analyst and former adviser to the Palestinian negotiating team
Michael Mulroy, Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East
Nimrod Novick, Former special envoy and senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres

Host: Frankie McCamley

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What does the US hope to gain from Venezuela's government-opposition talks? Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

Venezuela's government and a section of the opposition plan to hold talks, backed by the United States. But prominent opposition politician and Nobel laureate Maria Corina Machado has been excluded. So, what can the talks achieve and what's Washington seeking to get from it?

In this episode:

Elias Ferrer, Political Economy Analyst.
Vanessa Neumann, Founder and CEO, Asymmetrica.
Charles Shapiro, Former US Ambassador to Venezuela.

Host: Frankie McCamley

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Why did thousands of migrants cross into Spain's Ceuta? Aug 01, 2026

Show notes

Tens of thousands of migrants crossed into Spain's north African territory of Ceuta from Morocco. While most of them have since returned - Spain's been condemned by right-wing politicians in Europe and the United States. Is the criticism about border management or is it politics?

In this episode:

Anna Terron Cusi - Spain’s former Secretary of State for Immigration and Emigration, who's now a Senior Fellow at the Migration Policy Institute.
Daniel Gros - Director of the Institute for European Policymaking at Bocconi University and an Advisor to the EU parliament.
Deborah Fleischaker - Former Acting Chief of Staff at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who's now a Senior Advisor for Immigration Policy and Strategy at UnidosUS.

Host: Anna Burns-Francis

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Does FIFA need private investment? Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

FIFA is facing a growing backlash after its proposal to sell a stake in its top events. Europe's governing body UEFA has threatened to boycott the World Cup if this plan goes ahead. So, does FIFA need private investment?

In this episode:

Chris Brady, Football finance expert and Chief Intelligence Officer for the Sportsology Group
Bassirou Sakho, FIFA-licensed football agent and professor in the sports department at the Sorbonne University
Keir Radnedge, Football journalist covering politics and business and a former Editor of World Soccer magazine

Host: Scott McLean

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