The Inside Story Podcast
Episodes
Will Cuba be forced to accept the US president's demands?
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Running out of fuel. Cuba is struggling to keep the lights on as the United States ramps up economic pressure and military threats. Washington is now ...
Will the new Ebola outbreak in Africa spread?
17 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A global health emergency - the World Health Organisation raises the alarm over a new Ebola outbreak. The virus has killed nearly 90 people in Democra...
Can Pakistani violence sabotage a fragile truce between their neighbours?
16 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Recent attacks in Pakistan have killed nearly 50 people, many of them security forces. The Pakistani Taliban says it is behind them. Islamabad accuses...
Could differences over Taiwan lead to conflict between the US and China?
16 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump calls his visit to China 'incredible', and Xi Jinping says it was a 'landmark' meeting. But the Chinese president's comments about Taiwan...
What will be discussed during the Lebanon-Israel negotiations?
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Israeli attacks in Lebanon continue despite a ceasefire, the United States is hosting the third round of talks between Lebanese and Israeli officia...
Is Eurovision's future under threat because of Israel's participation?
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Five nations boycott Eurovision, citing Israel's participation. Their action is against Israel's war in Gaza and allegations of vote manipulation in t...
Is there hope for an end to the war in Sudan?
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A drone attack on Khartoum's international airport. The UN says such strikes have killed nearly 900 people in Sudan this year. And the conflict betwee...
Who is behind the new wave of violence in eastern DR Congo?
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A new wave of violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. Attacks by two lesser-known armed groups have killed dozens of people. So, who...
Could the Russia-Ukraine war be entering its final phase?
10 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Russia's President Vladimir Putin says the Ukraine war may be over soon. Attacks have been intensifying in recent weeks. Stalemate on the ba...
How the Covid-19 pandemic experience could help deal with Hantavirus?
09 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The World Health Organization says public health risks from hantavirus are low. Arrangements are being made to repatriate passengers from a cruise shi...
What caused the backlash against UK PM Keir Starmer?
08 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's been a backlash against UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in local and regional elections across England, Scotland, and Wales, despite a huge par...
Can China help end the Iran war?
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China's diplomatic role in the Middle East is under sharp focus, as foreign ministers from Beijing and Tehran meet. It's calling on the U.S. and Iran ...
What does the BJP’s victory in West Bengal mean for India’s democracy?
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
India's Hindu nationalist BJP sweeps West Bengal, a state governed by the opposition for decades and historically seen as a symbol of secularism. What...
Can the Iran war peace talks survive Gulf escalation?
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tension escalates rapidly across the Gulf, despite last month's ceasefire. An oil facility hit in the United Arab Emirates, Iranian boats attacked, wh...
Is Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla legal?
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israeli forces detain two activists after stopping the Gaza-bound Global Sumud flotilla off the coast of Greece. It happened in international wat...
Is Mali's junta losing control?
03 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
An unlikely coalition of armed groups and rebels launches an offensive in Mali. Russian forces backing the military government are forced to withdraw ...
Why are maritime laws failing to secure the seas?
02 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Commercial vessels under attack.The blockades by the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz are disrupting global trade.The crisis highlights the danger ...
Will Pakistan's land trade routes with Iran undermine the US?
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Pakistan opens land trade routes to Iran, allowing the transit of goods. It's a much-needed reprieve for both economies. But does it undercut Washingt...
How is Israel replicating its Gaza tactics in Lebanon?
01 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Widespread destruction by Israel of houses and civilian facilities in Lebanon, leaving a fifth of the population out of their homes. Israel's defence ...
Why is the UAE withdrawing from OPEC?
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The United Arab Emirates quits OPEC. The oil-producing bloc is losing one of its most important members. It comes during the worst global energy crisi...
Can the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty prevent a disaster?
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The UN Secretary General has given a dire warning about the waning influence of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). It's being reviewed in the...
Will elections make a difference to Palestinians living under Israeli occupation?
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Palestinians exercising their democratic right to vote. But the municipal elections alienated most factions. The Palestinian Authority's party, Fatah,...
What are the implications of this latest unrest in Mali?
26 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Former enemies in Mali, including an Al-Qaeda-linked group, join forces to target military sites. The defence minister has been killed. Russian mercen...
How serious are the divisions within NATO?
25 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Divisions widen within NATO. US president Donald Trump is furious after a refusal by European member states to join the Iran war. Reports say he'...
Who's in control of AI?
24 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Reports of unauthorised access to one of the most powerful artificial intelligence models yet developed. Nothing malicious, the owners say, but it has...
How will an EU loan to Ukraine play out on the battlefield?
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ukraine reopens a pipeline, enabling the delivery of Russian crude to some EU countries. In return, it gets a multibillion-dollar loan, while Moscow r...
Can a divided EU become a voice against Israel's aggression?
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Within the EU, a split is growing over how to respond to Israel's actions in the Middle East. Some members want to suspend a trade deal. But its staun...
Who will rebuild Gaza?
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A report by the UN and European Union estimates it will take 71 billion dollars to rebuild Gaza. About a third of that is needed to restore essential ...
How is the Iran war affecting Russia and Ukraine?
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ukraine attacks oil facilities in Russia, which is benefiting from higher fuel prices and sanctions relief due to the Iran war. It comes after Moscow ...
Will the left-wing or right-wing leaders shape the global agenda?
19 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Defending democracy ... The slogan of left-leaning world leaders in Spain meeting to counter the growing influence of the far right. Meanwhi...
Will the UK prime minister Keir Starmer resign?
18 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
He's accused of links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He also failed government security checks. Yet Peter Mandelson was appointed UK a...
Will the ceasefire in Lebanon hold?
17 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Lebanon and Israel are holding their first direct talks in decades. But as Israel considers Hezbollah a threat, is a lasting peace agreement poss...
What role is China playing in the Iran war?
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
China tells its ally Iran that the Strait of Hormuz must be reopened. International leaders have been visiting Beijing almost daily, underlining its i...
How serious are the mounting difficulties between the EU and Israel?
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel's alliance with the European Union is under mounting political pressure. Behind the shift are demands to suspend the main agreement underpinnin...
What's the fallout from the dispute between Trump and Pope Leo?
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump in a war of words with the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The U.S. president refuses to apologise for criticising Pope Leo's o...
What's behind Viktor Orban's defeat?
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hungary's opposition has defeated Prime Minister Viktor Orban by a landslide. He governed for 16 years with a far-right agenda often described as...
What risks does the war on Iran pose to global food security?
12 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Iran war has created risks to food security from higher energy costs and shipping restrictions. The world's fertiliser production has been badly h...
Has Israeli society become conditioned to permanent war?
11 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A negative political and public reaction in Israel to the ceasefire with Iran - regardless of the respite it brings. No pause for Israel's army h...
Why is Hungary's election of such international importance?
10 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Opinion polls in Hungary suggest long-time prime minister Viktor Orban has a battle on his hands in Sunday's election. The outcome will be keenly awai...
How far is Iran willing to go to protect its friends and allies?
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The bombing of Iran has stopped, but the bombing of Lebanon has not. Even as Iran and the US say they'll try to work out their many differences at the...
Has the world order been changed by Trump's war on Iran?
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Donald Trump has found his Iran off-ramp — but what has it cost? After apocalyptic threats, Washington and Tehran have agreed to a two-week ceas...
How is the Iran war affecting Russian-Iranian ties?
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US and Israel's war with Iran has put pressure on Tehran's relations with Moscow. They've been allies, but the Kremlin is seeking to maintain ties...
Why has Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant been targeted?
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant has been targeted four times since the US-Israeli war began. Tehran accuses the UN's nuclear watchdog of inaction, ...
How is the war on Iran impacting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza?
05 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The war in Iran is worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In violation of the ceasefire, Israel has severely restricted aid and maintained its air...
How will Pakistan deal with the global energy crisis?
04 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The war in the Middle East has worsened the economic crisis in Pakistan. Most of its energy supplies are shipped through the Strait of Hormuz, wh...
What would it take for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
03 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Several countries say they will take action against Iran's near-total closure of the Strait of Hormuz. But with no end in sight to the war, what would...
As support for war fades, what Is Israel seeking in Iran?
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel and the U.S. continue to bomb Iran. But Israeli opinion polls suggest support for the war is dropping, while Iranian missiles still force milli...
What is Israel's controversial death penalty law?
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As Israel's parliament approves the death penalty, to hang Palestinians convicted of lethal attacks, far-right ministers celebrate with champagne. The...
What's the significance of Kharg Island?
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump is threatening to take over or destroy Iran's main oil export hub at Kharg Island. Trump admits such a move would require bo...
Can Pakistan broker peace between the US and Iran?
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Pakistan says it's ready to host talks on ending the war in Iran. That came after a meeting of regional foreign ministers in Islamabad. But ...
What difference will the Houthis' involvement in the Iran war make?
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What difference will the Houthis' involvement in the war make? They have launched missiles at Israel in support of Iran and threatened more attac...
Why are Gulf countries signing deals with Ukraine?
28 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As the conflict in the Middle East escalates, Gulf nations are seeking new defence partnerships.Saudi Arabia and Qatar has signed deals with Ukraine t...
How are the Gulf state economies connected?
27 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Iran war is hitting Gulf Arab nations hard, but with a wider impact in today's interlinked world. As well as global oil and gas supplies, Gul...
What are the red lines for both the US and Iran?
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran sets out its conditions for an end to the war — rejecting the US list of 15 demands. Tehran says they don't reflect reality, while Donald T...
What strategy is Iran playing in the Gulf states and beyond?
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran has kept up attacks on neighbouring Gulf states and Israel, despite intense U.S. and Israeli bombing, with senior Iranian figures assassinated. T...
What economic impacts will war with Iran have on Israel?
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Millions of Israelis forced to take shelter day and night, from repeated Iranian missile attacks. The economic shockwaves of the war Israel and the US...
Have Israel, the US, and Iran broken international law during the war?
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Schools and hospitals bombed. Strikes on apartment buildings. Energy facilities targeted. And attacks on neighbouring states. Have Israel, the US, and...
Who's left running Iran?
22 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Who's left running Iran? Much of the top leadership has been assassinated but the country is still fighting. How has it been able to withsta...
Will the Houthis join Iran in its war against the US and Israel?
21 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Yemeni armed group says it's ready for any developments in the ongoing confrontation. Given their proximity to the Red Sea, what could the Houthis...
What are the global risks of turning energy sites into battlefields?
20 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Energy prices have soared since Israel attacked Iran's South Pars gas field. Iran has targeted oil and gas facilities in neighbouring countries s...
Is Israel's decades-long assassination policy becoming normalised?
19 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel assassinated Iran's supreme leader on the first day of the war — killing senior military, intelligence and political figures afterwards. ...
What are Iran's options after the killing of its top security chiefs?
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Relentless US and Israeli attacks on Iran killed top figures with thousands of air-strikes across the country. Iran has retaliated, hitting Israel and...
Could the Iran war keep Netanyahu in power for longer?
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel's prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wanted to attack Iran for his entire political career, and he finally got his way with Donald Trump in ...
Can Donald Trump survive a Strait of Hormuz shutdown?
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Strait of Hormuz has effectively been closed to most shipping since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran — sending energy prices soaring worldw...
What's the impact of the war in Iran on China?
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What's the impact of the war in Iran on China? The two countries are close trading partners.Yet, Beijing has largely stayed away from lending any supp...
Is the Iran war benefitting Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu?
14 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The already bad situation in Gaza...is getting worse as the war in Iran rages on. The humanitarian crisis is deepening and efforts to enforce the...
What is Israel’s endgame in Lebanon?
13 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With Lebanon under fire, the UN chief visits Beirut, calling for peace. Israel's bombing campaign has displaced nearly a million people. Now, its troo...
Does Donald Trump have an exit strategy for the war with Iran?
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Does U.S. President Donald Trump have an exit strategy for the war with Iran? He is reportedly under pressure to set a deadline. But with co...
Why does the Iran war pose more dilemmas for Europe?
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Europe is under pressure as the conflict in the Middle East continues, and is now competing with Asia for scarcer oil and gas supplies. Rocketing pric...
How valuable are Iran's natural resources?
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran has significant oil and gas reserves and is a major supplier to China. A member of the U.S. president's inner circle says control of them is a ke...
Who is Iran's new leader?
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei replaces his assassinated father. His selection sends a defiant message to the US and Israel as they attack the country. So...
How will Gulf states react as Iranian attacks continue?
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tehran has carried out more attacks on Gulf states despite an apology by the president to Iran's neighbours. Civilian targets have been hit, including...
How far will the Iran war spillover?
07 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
From the Gulf countries, to Lebanon, Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Cyprus and Sri Lanka - the conflict has been spreading. But what are the dangers of thi...
Has Donald Trump failed to sell the Iran war to the world?
06 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Some of Washington's allies have been critical, saying they won't join the conflict. And as fighting escalates, the US is still struggling to garner s...
Will Hezbollah drag Lebanon into the US-Israel war on Iran?
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hezbollah has been attacking Israel - as it pummels southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut. That's despite the Lebanese government's ban on Hezbollah's ...
How is the war playing out in Iran?
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran stands at a crossroads. With its top leadership assassinated early in the joint US-Israeli offensive, the remaining layers of power have been try...
What are the implications of Iran's strikes in the Gulf states?
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran attacks Gulf Arab states, hitting civilian buildings and energy infrastructure, as well as U.S. bases. The impact of the American-Israeli st...
What are the risks for Israel opening another battlefront, in Iran?
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel's assault on Iran comes while it's still attacking Gaza and Lebanon, after bombing Syria, Yemen, and Qatar in the past year. What are the risks...
How does Iran work after the assassination of its supreme leader?
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khomeini assassinated in attacks by the US and Israel. There are huge crowds of mourners on the streets, and th...
How dangerous is the situation between Iran and US/Israel?
28 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The US and Israel attack Iran - and Tehran retaliates, firing missiles at Israeli targets and US assets in the region. It follows a massive military b...
Why is the US pressuring Nouri al-Maliki to withdraw his prime ministerial bid?
27 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"I am not backing down." That's what a defiant Nouri Al Maliki had to say, after the US objected to his return as Iraq's prime minister. Washingt...
Why is the German Chancellor in Beijing?
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There has been another visit by a Western leader to China. This time, the German chancellor is in Beijing, saying he wants to reset ties. It comes aga...
What's driving what Israel's relationship with India?
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
"We have a great interest in creating an axis of our own." Those are the words of Benjamin Netanyahu as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi makes his ...
Can Mexico win its war against drug trafficking?
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How much power do drug cartels have in Mexico? The killing of the leader of one the country's largest criminal organisations has sparked a wave o...
Where do the US-Iran talks stand?
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
More talks are planned for Thursday between Iran and the US, which is mobilising its largest military force since the invasion of Iraq more than two d...
What are the global implications of the US tariff increase?
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump slaps 15 percent trade levy on all imports. The move comes just a day after he'd set them at 10 percent - enraged by a ...
What is Trump's controversial Board of Peace?
20 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace meets for the first time, pledging money, peacekeeping troops and investment for Gaza. Only one Palestinian...
Is social media addictive to youth users?
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is social media addictive? Meta boss Mark Zuckerberg testifies in court, defending his company against charges of deliberately designing features that...
Is ISIL on the verge of becoming a regional threat once again?
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The U.S. has transferred thousands of detainees linked to the group from Syria to Iraq. It cites security concerns, but is the move enough to prevent ...
How will the risks of artificial intelligence be mitigated?
17 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
India hosts an international gathering focusing on the impact of AI's growing dominance. What's the best approach to governing the use of such rapidly...
How is Israel making it easier for settlers to seize land in the West Bank?
16 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Israel has taken another step towards annexing the occupied West Bank — approving the registration of Palestinian land as state land. It follows...
Can the United Nations be reformed?
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
African nations must have permanent seats on the UN Security Council, the head of the world body tells the African Union. Most of Asia and Latin Ameri...
Is a new global order emerging?
14 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Germany's chancellor says the international rules-based order is gone. The US secretary of state responds, saying the Trump administration wants the t...
Did Bangladesh’s election deliver the change student protesters wanted?
13 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins the country's first elections since the 2024 uprising. Rare international unity as the U.S., China, India, and P...
Is the genocide in Gaza still ongoing?
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Amnesty International and Israeli human-rights organisation B'Tselem say the genocide in Gaza is still ongoing. Four months after a deal to stop the w...
Will Bangladesh’s first post-Hasina election spark real democratic change?
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Will Thursday's elections be a watershed moment for Bangladesh? Millions of people are expected to cast ballots in the first polls since long-tim...
Is Israel’s expansion of West Bank settlements a step toward annexation?
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
There's condemnation of Israel's latest move to tighten its grip over the occupied West Bank. Its security cabinet has approved plans to expand illega...
Is Portugal’s far-right surge a warning sign for its political future?
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Voters in Portugal have overwhelmingly chosen a centre-left Socialist president. But his far-right rival secured a record share of the vote. ...
How has Israel’s war on Gaza shaped the Middle East?
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How has Israel’s war on Gaza shaped the Middle East? This year, the Al Jazeera Forum discusses the regional implications of the war. W...
How serious is Nigeria's security situation?
07 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Armed groups have killed more than 200 people in several attacks in Nigeria in recent days. The Christian worshippers abducted from churches last...