The Rapid Support Forces are trying to seize the strategic southern city of el-Obeid from the Sudanese military. Rights groups are warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe. But why is the battle to control the city so important?

In this episode:

• Ali Mahmoud Ali, Sudan Researcher with the Armed Conflict, Location & Event Data project
• Kholood Khair, Founding Director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank founded in Khartoum with a focus on Sudan
• Nathaniel Raymond, Executive Director of the Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale School of Public Health

Host: Mohammed Jamjoum

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Pakistan has said India's suspension of a decades-old treaty could amount to an act of war. And tensions between the two are already high. So, how could they avoid a further escalation?

In this episode:

• Siddharth Varadarajan, founding editor of the independent investigative news organisation, The Wire
• Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow for South Asia at the Atlantic Council
• Zeeshan Salahuddin, Advisory Director at Tabadlab, a think-tank and consultancy on geopolitics

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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China's new ethnic unity law has come into effect. Rights groups and activists overseas say it will further shrink the rights of minorities. Will the law help forge a shared national identity, as Beijing says? Or is it a step towards forced assimilation?

In this episode:

• Einar Tangen, Senior Fellow, Centre for International Governance Innovation
• Zumretay Arkin, Vice President, World Uyghur Congress
• William Yang, Senior Analyst for Northeast Asia, International Crisis Group

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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Sudan's army says it's regained control of a highway connecting the capital to North Kordofan state. The area has become the latest front in the conflict with paramilitaries, which has killed tens of thousands of people. Will it be enough to shift the outcome of the fighting?

In this episode:

• Sanosi Zakaria, Editor-in-chief of the Sudan Mirror and former Sudanese army officer
• Shashwat Saraf, Sudan Country Director for the Norwegian Refugee Council
• Elbashir Idris, Sudan analyst

Host: James Bays

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Long lines at petrol stations in one of the world's largest energy producers. Relentless Ukrainian strikes have caused a fuel crisis in Russia. Will economic pressure turn into a political problem for President Vladimir Putin - and move the Kremlin towards talks with Kyiv?

In this episode:

• Alexander Bratersky - Political Analyst and an Independent Journalist.
• Oleksiy Goncharenko - Ukrainian Member of Parliament.
• Theresa Fallon - Director of the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies.

Host: Mohammed Jamjoom

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Promising to crack down on crime and promoting strong ties with President Trump - right-wing populists are winning elections across Latin America. Is this a passing phase coming out of voters' economic and safety concerns or a lasting shift? And will this tie the region more to the United States?

In this episode:

• Jose Ragas, Historian and Assistant Professor, Catholic University of Chile.
• Oliver Stuenkel, Associate Professor, School of International Relations, Getulio Vargas Foundation in Brazil.
• Javier Farje, Journalist and Historian.

Host: Scott McLean

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Mounting violence in Mali. A coalition of rebels and armed groups has carried out another series of assaults, highlighting the military government's failure to contain the attacks. With the junta under increasing pressure, how will it address this growing security threat?

In this episode:

• Kabir Adamu, Managing Director, Beacon Security and Intelligence
• Nadina Ronc, independent geopolitical and security analyst
• Bram Posthumus, political and economic analyst

Host: Scott McLean

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This year's NATO summit in Turkiye is overshadowed by the Iran war. The U.S. wants allies to help it protect shipping in the vital waterway, but what are the risks?

In this episode:

• David Des Roches, Professor at Thayer Marshall Institute and former NATO Operations Director
• Alam Saleh, Senior Lecturer of Iranian Studies at Australian National University
• Patrick Bury, Defense and Security Specialist at University of Bath and a former NATO analyst

Host: Adrian Finighan

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