For centuries, Africa has been plundered by foreign powers, who have seized territory and reaped the benefits of profitable trade routes. Despite Africa’s abundant natural resources, it remains the poorest continent. A new report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) supports an African Union initiative to remove trade barriers to increase the flow of goods among African nations. It says the African Continental Free Trade Area could reduce extreme poverty. We caught up with the IMF managing d...
May 13, 2023•25 min
Born Charles Philip Arthur George on November 14, 1948, he was four when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, was crowned and 20 when she formally made him Prince of Wales. At 73, he became King Charles III upon the queen's death in September. Buckingham Palace said his coronation, which takes place on Saturday, would reflect the monarch's role today. But what challenges await King Charles as he reigns over an entirely new generation of people in the United Kingdom and across the Commonwealth? Robert La...
May 06, 2023•26 min
Humanity has tried to define and debate what art is for centuries. Perhaps those definitions are driven by our desperate need to better understand our existence. Throughout history, art has been a way we tell our stories, express our faith and beliefs, and depict the phases that have marked our social evolutions. In this edition of Talk to Al Jazeera, we explore the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, accompanied by one of the most knowledgeable minds on the subject. Taco Dibbits, general director of the ...
Apr 22, 2023•26 min
It has been more than two years since Myanmar’s military seized control of the country. The fight between the army and those opposing the coup deepened when ethnic armed groups joined the conflict. Even as violence escalates, the persecution of Rohingya Muslims has dragged on since 2017, when thousands fled to Bangladesh as they came under attack. Diplomatic efforts are pushing Myanmar’s leaders to allow Rohingya people back into the country. But can their safety be guaranteed? And will efforts ...
Apr 17, 2023•24 min
It has been more than two years since Myanmar’s military seized control of the country. The fight between the army and those opposing the coup deepened when ethnic armed groups joined the conflict. Even as violence escalates, the persecution of Rohingya Muslims has dragged on since 2017, when thousands fled to Bangladesh as they came under attack. Diplomatic efforts are pushing Myanmar’s leaders to allow Rohingya people back into the country. But can their safety be guaranteed? And will efforts ...
Apr 15, 2023•25 min
The United Nations has faced criticism for decades over its effectiveness, especially its means to resolve conflicts and ease the suffering of the most vulnerable. Many argue that veto powers held by its Security Council permanent members, China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States, create an uneven balance of power. Delegates from 46 of the poorest nations have come together in Doha for the fifth conference of the UN's least developed countries. But does the UN need to be r...
Apr 08, 2023•25 min
Since President Ebrahim Raisi took office in 2021, he has pushed for a foreign policy focused on the Eastern Hemisphere, while developing closer ties with Iran's neighbours. Evidence of that is an agreement signed in Beijing in early March for Iran to restore diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia. But Iran remains heavily sanctioned by the West, as the long process to revive the landmark 2015 nuclear agreement stays largely stalled. So, how significant is this deal to restoring ties with its lo...
Mar 29, 2023•26 min
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has prompted countries such as Finland and Sweden to apply for NATO membership. Austria, however, has shown no interest in joining the alliance. It has been neutral since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1955. In fact, Austria's law of neutrality declares the country will never accede to any military alliance. Vienna's long-cherished position of non-alignment has made it a hub for international organisations. But the Austrian capital is nearly 500km (310...
Mar 25, 2023•26 min
Despite a spiralling security crisis, French troops left Mali after a nine-year deployment. The withdrawal came after the military took power in 2020 and demanded all French troops leave Malian territory. Since then, Mali’s military leaders have turned to Moscow for defence and economic cooperation. And the interim government has postponed a constitutional referendum to re-establish democratic rule. So, will the military transition to civilian rule? Or will it extend its grip on power? Mali's Pr...
Mar 17, 2023•25 min
Bangladesh is governed by none other than its founding father's daughter, Sheikh Hasina, who has been in office for more than 14 years. After a large fire burned through the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar on March 5, we ask how she is facing the challenges that have been brought on by the refugee crisis since 2017. And as Bangladesh prepares for a general election later this year, we ask Hasina about allegations of persecution of opposition members. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina...
Mar 11, 2023•26 min
On February 6, at about 4am, the ground in southern Turkey and northern Syria shook for more than a minute, while most people slept. A magnitude 7.8 earthquake - with its epicentre 32km (20 miles) west of the Turkish city of Gaziantep - had struck the region, cracking the ground open and causing extensive damage. And nearly 10 hours later, another seismic event of magnitude 7.5 shook the region again. Since then, other tremors and aftershocks have followed. But what can we learn from what happen...
Mar 06, 2023•26 min
The Russian embassy in London is the sight of regular protests against the yearlong invasion of Ukraine. Russia’s ambassador to the United Kingdom has accused NATO powers of turning Ukraine into a Western-backed fortress to oppose Russian influence in Eastern Europe, saying the possible supply of long-range weapons to Kyiv risks forcing Russia to push deeper into Ukraine. In the depths of the biggest confrontation involving Russia since the Cold War, how and when will this war end? Andrey Kelin,...
Mar 03, 2023•26 min
It’s been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine. To mark the occasion, the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, travelled to the Estonian capital. They also marked Estonia’s 105th anniversary of its independence from imperial Russia. After independence in 1918, the Republic of Estonia was absorbed by the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. So in the century since the founding of its republic, what has Estonia learne...
Feb 24, 2023•26 min
As the geopolitical tensions caused by the Russia-Ukraine war continue to rise, so do concerns over energy supplies. The Netherlands has stopped importing Russian energy, except for liquified natural gas or LNG. But how is the conflict affecting the Dutch economy? And as tensions in the Pacific escalate after Chinese balloons were shot down over North American airspace, should Europe strengthen its relations with Beijing? The Dutch deputy prime minister, Sigrid Kaag, talks to Al Jazeera. Subscri...
Feb 18, 2023•26 min
Lebanon’s state of collapse has become the country’s new normal. Inflation is soaring, and the Lebanese lira is almost worthless, pushing more than 80 percent of the population into poverty. Institutions and basic services have broken down. For decades, successive governments were accused of corruption and mismanagement. In late 2019, the state system collapsed. Four years into the crisis, is Lebanon a failed state? And can it change course? Lebanese Economy Minister Amin Salam talks to Al Jazee...
Feb 11, 2023•26 min
Last year, thousands of Sri Lankans took to the streets to demand the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, whom they blamed for mismanaging the country’s finances. Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country. In his place, members of parliament appointed Ranil Wickremesinghe. His government is tasked with lifting the island nation out of its economic collapse. A $2.9bn loan from the International Monetary Fund is crucial, and one person who will play a major role in discussing the terms of t...
Feb 04, 2023•26 min
As 2022 was drawing to a close, the Balkans was once again on the verge of ethnic conflict. Tensions had built up in July in northern Kosovo, and the situation escalated even further in December as ethnic Serb protesters blocked roads and cut off border crossings with Serbia. After weeks of unrest, tensions have eased. But how fragile is this sense of calm? And how will Kosovo address its deep ethnic divisions? The prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, talks to Al Jazeera. Subscribe to our chan...
Jan 07, 2023•26 min
Guyana is a former British colony located between Brazil, Venezuela and Suriname. The country is rich in biodiversity - as well as minerals. And in the last decade, some 11 billion barrels of oil have been found - which is the most significant discovery of its kind in recent years. But as the world is moving towards greener economies, is it fair for countries like Guyana - struggling to overcome poverty and attract foreign investment - not to benefit from its newly-found riches? Guyanese Preside...
Dec 31, 2022•26 min
The COVID-19 pandemic has stalled progress worldwide. However, the rate of scientific innovation has been extraordinary, resulting in safe and effective vaccines. But those vaccines have not been widely accessible to people who need it most, exposing injustice and inequality. As part of his foundation’s efforts to fix that, Bill Gates travelled to Qatar during the first FIFA World Cup held in the Middle East, where football legends helped him advocate for investment in affordable and accessible ...
Dec 24, 2022•23 min
While most of Europe moves away from Russian goods, some European Union countries are cementing their relations with Moscow. Eighty percent of Hungary’s oil and gas supply comes from Russia. And Budapest has taken out a $10bn loan from a Russian state bank to pay a Russian company to build nuclear reactors. So, will Hungary ever wean itself off Russian imports? And is it putting historic ties with the Kremlin ahead of its relationship with Europe? The Hungarian foreign minister, Peter Szijjarto,...
Dec 17, 2022•26 min
Following the shelling of the Russian-controlled nuclear power plant in Ukraine, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has rung the alarm, warning of a possible nuclear catastrophe. Meanwhile, Iran has announced it is enriching uranium at its Fordow nuclear facility at 60 percent. Is there any sign Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon? With the global nuclear arsenal nearing 13,000 weapons, mostly in the hands of the United States and Russia, it seems an increasing number of countrie...
Dec 10, 2022•26 min
In one of the most thrilling matches of the Qatar World Cup, Croatia beat Japan on penalties to secure a place in the quarter-finals. One high-profile supporter celebrating the team's victory was none other than Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. We caught up with him just before that match to discuss the national side’s performance in the tournament. We also asked him about some of the latest developments back home, including Croatia’s accession to the Schengen area and adopting the euro as its o...
Dec 06, 2022•24 min
Following last month’s attack in Istanbul, the Turkish government has blamed the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and its affiliated groups in neighbouring countries. In response, Ankara has threatened to launch a ground operation into northern Syria. The US and Russian governments have warned against such a move. But if the Turkish military goes ahead with a ground offensive, what will be its wider regional effect? We will put that to the man who has served as a member of the Turkish Sec...
Dec 04, 2022•26 min
Wales is often believed to be a province of the United Kingdom. In fact, it is part of a political unit that forms the UK. Wales has its own language, culture and its own national football team. And for the first time in 64 years, they have qualified for the World Cup. Thousands of Welsh fans have travelled to Qatar to cheer on their team. One of those who made the journey to Doha is the First Minister of Wales. This week, Mark Drakeford talks to Al Jazeera. Subscribe to our channel http://bit.l...
Nov 26, 2022•25 min
In September this year, Chile’s 36-year-old President Gabriel Boric oversaw a referendum on a new constitution. It was expected to replace the constitution put in place by the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet more than 40 years ago. But the first challenge from the world's youngest president failed, with 62 percent voting against the proposed charter. While the opposition claims President Boric’s political honeymoon period ended almost as quickly as it began, his supporters say the youn...
Nov 19, 2022•25 min
Cyprus has been divided along ethnic lines for decades, and caught in a geopolitical power struggle for most of the past 48 years. Does the island need further assistance from the international community? And how are other regional conflicts, like the Russian invasion of Ukraine, affecting Cyprus? Ioannis Kasoulides, the minister of foreign affairs for the Republic of Cyprus, talks to Al Jazeera. This programme contacted the government of the self-declared Northern Cyprus to bring our audience t...
Nov 12, 2022•25 min
Finland shares a border with Russia that is more than 1,300 kilometres long, so maintaining neutrality in the power struggle between East and West has always been central to the country's survival. The Nordic nation had previously refused to join NATO. But following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Helsinki put its historical neutrality aside and officially requested to join the West's major military alliance. In response, Moscow warned there could be political and military consequences. So is a Ru...
Nov 05, 2022•25 min
As many countries continue to spend resources on "urban development", the climate crisis is deepening. A network of city mayors came together to deliver urgently needed actions to confront the climate crisis. The C40, formed by nearly 100 world-leading cities, represents more than 580 million people - and about one-fifth of the global economy. Will the city mayors be able to change the course of the climate crisis, something country leaders seem to be failing at? The mayor of London and chair of...
Oct 29, 2022•24 min
Some 3.3 million people in Bosnia and Herzegovina headed to the polls to choose legislators as well as the three members of the presidential council. But after polls closed, the country’s peace overseer, High Representative Christian Schmidt, announced changes to the election law. Schmidt says the changes will create a more effective government, working between the country’s two entities: Republika Srpska, made up of predominantly Bosnian Serbs, and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, made...
Oct 08, 2022•26 min
Unprecedented floods have left one-third of Pakistan under water. Repairing the destruction will cost the country's struggling economy some $10bn. Pakistan’s top diplomat, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, is only 34 years old. He is also the son of the late prime minister Benazir Bhutto. The role he plays may be instrumental in helping his country overcome the challenges ahead. Will he succeed? Pakistan's foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari talks to Al Jazeera. Subscribe to our channel http://bit.ly/...
Oct 01, 2022•25 min
