The Interview

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Director General of the IPPF - Tewodros Melesse Jul 27, 2017

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Few issues are as controversial as abortion when it comes to discussing women's rights. Pro-life campaigners believe a woman's right to control her fertility does not extend to abortion on demand. In January, President Trump blocked US federal funding to groups who provide or promote abortions. One such organisation is the IPPF - the International Planned Parenthood Federation - which will lose millions of dollars as a result. Zeinab Badawi speaks to its Ethiopian-born director-general Tewodros Melesse. Does he accept that the IPPF's support of abortion means it is right that it forfeit US government funding?

Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister - Ghassan Hasbani Jul 25, 2017

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Shaun Ley speaks to Lebanon’s Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani. A quarter of the country's population are Syrian refugees which is putting Lebanon’s infrastructure and resources under increasing strain. Some leading political figures in the country are now calling for the refugees to be sent home. But since some in the government have ruled out talking directly to President Assad, how can they be sure any returning refugees would be safe?

(Photo: Deputy Prime Minister Ghassan Hasbani)

UAE's Ambassador to Russia - Omar Saif Ghobash Jul 24, 2017

Show notes

What does the UAE hope to achieve by isolating Qatar? The four Arab nations that cut all ties with Qatar have replaced a list of 13 specific demands with six principles including combating extremism and terrorism.Sarah Montague asks top Emirati diplomat Omar Saif Ghobash if this move will resolve the crisis that has gripped the Gulf.

(Photo: Omar Saif Ghobash in the Hardtalk studio)

Composer Mohammed Fairouz Jul 19, 2017

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Mohammed Fairouz is a US-Emirati composer - a youthful artist who has spent much of his creative life defying boundaries and stereotypes. His work ranges from symphonies to opera, to unique fusions of music and poetry. He's an Arab educated and resident in the West; an outspoken advocate for creative freedom who nonetheless rails against western cultural imperialism. His aim is to foster cultural crossover rather than confrontation; but can this artist avoid taking sides?

Zimbabwe opposition leader - Welshman Ncube Jul 17, 2017

Show notes

Zimbabwe is in the grip of a severe drought that has left a third of its fifteen million people dependent on food aid. The state is running out of dollars, workers go unpaid and unemployment is very high - a dire situation that presents the opposition in the country with an opportunity in nationwide elections next year. HARDtalk’s Zeinab Badawi speaks to Welshman Ncube who leads his own faction of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change - known as MDC-N. The main opposition parties have now formed an alliance, but can they put aside their differences and focus on defeating President Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF?

Recep Tayyip Erdogan - President of Turkey Jul 14, 2017

Show notes

In a special edition of the programme, Zeinab Badawi is in Istanbul to speak to Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is a year since coup plotters tried to remove him from office in a series of events that were condemned by the international community and Turks from all backgrounds and political persuasions. But now hundreds of thousands of Turks have been on the march protesting at what they say is President Erdogan's purge of all opposition forces - not just the coup plotters. Is President Erdogan a danger to democracy in Turkey?

Writer and activist - Naomi Klein Jul 11, 2017

Show notes

Are radical policies needed to address the current ills of the US? Zeinab Badawi speaks to the progressive Canadian-American writer and activist Naomi Klein, who is calling for mass protests against President Trump. She says that his rise to power amounts to a corporate takeover of the US by brand Trump.

(Photo: Canadian author Naomi Klein talks to the media at a press conference at Sydney Opera House, 2015. Credit: Cole Bennetts/Getty Images)

Chief of Army Staff, Nigeria - Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai Jul 09, 2017

Show notes

Is the Nigerian army effective in securing the country? As the stability and unity of West African nation is threatened by internal tensions, conflict and corruption, Stephen Sackur speaks to Nigeria’s Army Chief, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai.

Prosecutor, International Criminal Court - Fatou Bensouda Jul 04, 2017

Show notes

HARDtalk’s Zeinab Badawi speaks to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda. The recent release of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi by the Libyan group holding him has led the ICC in The Hague to demand his arrest. He has been indicted by the Court for alleged crimes against humanity, murder and persecution. The ICC was set up in 2002 as a court of last resort to try such individuals. But it has met a barrage of criticisms, principally that it has an anti-African bias, because only Africans have been convicted and nearly all the cases before it are from the continent. What does Fatou Bensouda, a lawyer from Gambia, say in the Court's defence?

US Senator for Connecticut (1989-2013) - Joe Lieberman Jun 30, 2017

Show notes

HARDtalk’s Stephen Sackur speaks to the former US Senator, Joe Lieberman. A generation ago the first President Bush proclaimed a new world order, in which the United States would lead by example. Twenty-five years on, Donald Trump is in the White House - so what kind of example is the United States setting now? Joe Lieberman was former US Senator, Al Gore’s Vice Presidential running mate in 2000, and has recently been touted as a contender for FBI Director under the current president. Is Donald Trump fundamentally changing America's global role?

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