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Minister of Intelligence, Israel - Yuval Steinitz Nov 01, 2013

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There is an unmistakable sense of diplomatic apprehension in Israel right now – at the heart if it a recognition that on a number of key issues, from Iran to peace talks with the Palestinians, the Israeli government is out of step with its key strategic ally the United States. In strategic terms, can Israel afford to go it alone?

Picture: Benjamin Netanyahu (left) sits with Yuval Steinitz (right) Credit: Sebastian Scheiner-Pool/Getty Images)

Olympic and America’s Cup Winning Sailor - Sir Ben Ainslie Oct 30, 2013

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Hardtalk speaks to the most successful Olympic sailor of all time - British four-time gold medallist Sir Ben Ainslie. In September he was part of team USA which enjoyed a spectacular victory against team New Zealand at the America's Cup in San Francisco. But sailing is becoming more and more expensive - with critics saying it is now a niche sport funded by billionaires and enjoyed by the few. How can its appeal be broadened?

(Photo: Sir Ben Ainslie)

Italian Politician - Emma Bonino Oct 28, 2013

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Emma Bonino has been an outspoken and bold activist for political and social freedoms for decades. She was instrumental in getting Italy to legalise abortion, has campaigned against nuclear energy, racism and sexism. But when she looks at what's happening in Italy today, does she feel that she has lost the fight?

Recorded in front of a live audience for the 100 Women season.

Founder of Affective Computing, MIT - Rosalind Picard Oct 25, 2013

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Imagine a world where robots can think and feel like humans - Hardtalk speaks to pioneering American scientist Professor Rosalind Picard, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who has advanced the capability of computers to recognise human emotions. In the future, could robots fitted with intelligent computers perform tasks such as caring for the elderly, or fight as soldiers on the battlefield and, if so, what are the ethical implications?

Conflict-zone Surgeon - David Nott Oct 23, 2013

Show notes

The International diplomatic effort to push Syria's warring parties to the negotiating table continues - as does the mission to eliminate the Assad regime's stockpile of chemical weapons. But all the while the suffering of Syrian civilians intensifies. Hardtalk speaks to David Nott, a British surgeon recently returned from five weeks practising frontline medicine in rebel-held Syrian territory. He calls it the most troubling experience in his 20 years of crisis care. In a conflict such as Syria's, how much difference can a courageous doctor make?

Pavel Khodorkovsky Oct 21, 2013

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Vladimir Putin rules Russia with ruthless efficiency. Opponents and potential rivals know they are engaged in a dangerous game, and for proof they need look no further than the fate of Mikhail Khodorkovsky: once Russia’s richest man, an oligarch who crossed the Kremlin and who’s been a prisoner for the past decade. Stephen Sackur talks to his son Pavel Khodorkovsky. His father is due to be freed next year but can Vladimir Putin afford to let him go?

Film Director - Paul Greengrass Oct 18, 2013

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What do we want from the movies we see? Judging from the global box office returns the answer is escapism, superheroes and awesome special effects. But that’s not how all A-list Hollywood directors make their name. Hardtalk speaks to Paul Greengrass who makes taut, tense films that aren’t always easy to watch. His biggest hits were the Bourne movies starring Matt Damon, his most intense film was probably United 93, based on the events of 9/11, and his new release is about Somali pirates. How does he juggle truth, art and entertainment?

Chairman of the Intelligence and Security Committee, UK - Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP Oct 16, 2013

Show notes

Thanks to Edward Snowden, America's cyber-spy turned leaker, we now know US intelligence agencies backed by the British secretly monitor electronic communications all over the world. In Britain, Snowden's revelations have prompted a ferocious argument between self-styled defenders of liberty and pillars of the security establishment. Hardtalk speaks to Sir Malcolm Rifkind, chairman of the UK parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee. Is the security state a potential threat to those it's supposed to protect?

Picture: Sir Malcolm Rifkind, Credit: Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Reza Pahlavi Monday 14th October Oct 14, 2013

Show notes

Are winds of change blowing across Iran? The Islamic Republic's new president, Hassan Rouhani, has engineered a diplomatic opening with the United States. There's optimistic talk of compromise on the nuclear stand-off and an end to Iran's international isolation. Where would that leave die-hard opponents of the regime? Stephen Sackur speaks to Reza Pahlavi, exiled eldest son of the late Shah of Iran and spokesman for the self-styled Iran National Council. Does a figure steeped in Iran's past have a role to play in its future?

Chief Executive of NHS England - Sir David Nicholson Oct 11, 2013

Show notes

In Britain healthcare is state-funded, free at the point of delivery to all citizens. The National Health Service is routinely described by politicians of all stripes as one of the country's greatest treasures. But the NHS's reputation has been damaged by recent shocking revelations of failings in patient care. Hardtalk speaks to the Chief Executive of NHS England, Sir David Nicholson. Is his health service capable of meeting the shifting demands and daunting financial challenges of 21st Century healthcare?

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