Bigger Than Five

China and Russia vow to cooperate to create a new multipolar world order, accusing the West of undermining global stability —as both countries push back against the United States' hegemony. Following its major diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and Saudi Arabia, could Beijing be cast in a new role as global mediator —and power broker?

As Russia's war in Ukraine enters its second year with no end in sight and NATO countries continue to pledge more heavy weapons, what are the prospects for a negotiated settlement and peace? Can either side prevail militarily, as the war rages on? And how will the expected delays in deploying US and western battle tanks to Ukraine affect the course of the war? Ghida Fakhry asks a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander on this month's Bigger than Five.

As leaders from Latin American and Caribbean countries met for a summit in Buenos Aires, Brazil and Argentina announced plans for a new common currency that would promote regional cooperation. With left-leaning governments coming to power in Brazil and across the region, could this be a new era for Latin America? We speak with the Coordinator of the regional summit that brought together leaders from the 33-member Community of Latin American and Caribbean States —CELAC —and that saw the return of Brazil to the regional bloc.

As the world faces a deepening energy crisis and Europe braces for a cold winter, how will the hardest-hit oil-importing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America cope with soaring energy costs and widespread blackouts? Guests: Mauricio Cárdenas, Former Minister of Mines and Energy of Colombia and Director of the MPA in Global Leadership and Global Senior Research Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University; Anne McLellan, Former Minister of Natural Resources and former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada

Even as floodwaters begin to recede in Pakistan, outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and typhoid threaten to compound the misery of the more than 7.5 million who are already displaced. Bigger Than Five speaks with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari about this and other issues on the sidelines of UNGA 77.

With just four months until the next annual UN meeting on climate change, and with record breaking temperatures and heatwaves sweeping across Europe, the US and other parts of the world, the UN says it is further proof that the world is ‘on a fast track to disaster' warning that it is ‘now or never' to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Guests: Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, Former President of Mauritius; Kishan Kumarsingh, Lead Climate Negotiator for Trinidad and Tobago; Daniel Kammen, Senior Advisor at USAID

As the war in Ukraine continues and the risk of global food shortages grows, the UN Secretary General warns of an “unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution” if the crisis is not addressed. But can a looming food catastrophe be averted? Guests: Karuti Kanyinga, Director of the Institute for Development Studies at the University of Nairobi Ertharin Cousin, Former Executive Director of United Nations World Food Programme and CEO & Founder of Food Systems for the future

The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all — with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world. Bigger Than Five airs at 20:30 GMT on the last Saturday of each month, and also at 03:30 & 16:30 GMT on Sunday.

Full interview with former International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo (2003-2012) from Bigger Than Five episode “Israel, Palestine and the ICC”

Amid mounting evidence that Israeli soldiers shot and killed a prominent Palestinian-American journalist earlier this month, and the Israeli government's refusal to conduct a criminal investigation, will the International Criminal Court step in? Guests: Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on Occupied Palestinian Territories Luis Moreno Ocampo, ICC Prosecutor 2003-2012

The conflict in Ukraine has exacerbated the global refugee crisis and exposed its deep inequalities. With the UN warning that over 8.5 million Ukrainians will become refugees this year, twice its initial estimate, can European countries cope? And how will it affect the tens of millions of refugees who have fled other wars and conflicts —and are still waiting to be resettled?

As the United States and other Western countries impose severe new sanctions on Russia, following its military escalation in Ukraine, sanctions in Afghanistan continue to have a devastating humanitarian impact. So why have sanctions become such a standard feature of US foreign policy? Guests: Martin Griffiths United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Adam Smith Former OFAC Director

Two years since the first Covid-19 outbreaks, the virus to spread and kill worldwide. As 2021 draws to a close, we take a look at its latest variant, Omicron, and the state of the pandemic. Will governments have to consider a new co-ordinated response? Guests: Sibongiseni Dhlomo Deputy Minister of Health of South Africa Syra Madad Senior Director of Special Pathogens Program at New York City Health + Hospitals

FW de Klerk, the former president of South Africa, who died this week at the age of 85 will be remembered by many for his political courage in dismantling apartheid. But he will also be remembered for his earlier support of and belief in racial segregation system. So, how did the last president of apartheid South Africa see his role in changing the destiny of his country?

He was Brazil's most popular political leader, a two-time President whose run in the 2022 election against Jair Bolsonaro is widely expected. 20 years after his first election, can Lula da Silva make a political comeback and become President of Brazil, for the third time?

As the UN holds its 76th annual session of the General Assembly, world leaders pledge their renewed commitment to taking collective action to address the world's pressing challenges. Facing a global pandemic, an ongoing refugee crisis, continuing conflicts and growing mistrust —can the UN still live up to its founding principles —and deliver for people around the world? Guest: Achim Steiner Administrator for the United Nations Development Programme

With the United States set to complete its withdrawal from Afghanistan by the end of August and the Taliban rapidly making territorial gains, Bigger Than Five travels to Kabul to meet two young Afghans who share their views and concerns about the future. The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

As the US completes its troop pullout from Afghanistan, the Taliban continue to make gains across the country amid growing questions about the stability of the Afghan government. What are the prospects for real peace among Afghans? Guests: Zalmay Khalilzad- US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Lakhdar Brahimi- Former UN Special Representative for Afghanistan The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

Two of the world's largest refugee camps are now facing the prospect of closing down. The Kakuma and Dadaab camps in Kenya are home to 430,000 refugees, primarily from Somalia and South Sudan. Many of the refugees have lived there since the camps were established three decades ago. Over half of the refugee population are children, many of whom have never known life outside the camps. In March, the Kenyan government issued an ultimatum to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees to present a plan for closure of the two camps within two weeks or the Kenyan government would begin repatriating the refugees. UNHCR and the Kenyan government came to an agreement to close the camp by next June. Refugees who live in Kakuma are worried about the impending closure of the camp. Here's the story of Jelly Naomi, a mother of four, filmed by refugees who also live in Kakuma.

Displaced by war, persecution and natural disaster, tens of millions of refugees have been forced to flee their homes in search of safety. Are we doing enough to protect the most vulnerable among them: children? Guests: Philippe Lazzarini Commissioner-General of UNRWA Anne Richard Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Nadia Nadim Afghan-Danish Football Player Barbara Hendricls Opera Singer and UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Maya Sanbar Palestinian-Lebanese Director and Multimedia Artist

In the US and Europe, governments have warned about a rise in incidents targeting Jews following the attacks on Gaza. In the US, the Anti-Defamation League reported 193 anti-Jewish hate incidents after the crisis began. And while lawmakers have spoken out against these acts, accusations of anti-semitism are becoming more widely used to target those who condemn human rights violations by the Israeli government. Here in the US, democrats have long said their criticisms of the Netanyahu government —which some progressives have described as an “apartheid state” —should not be labeled as anti-semitism. This week, four American democratic lawmakers signed a letter to President Biden saying they “re-ject comments from Members of Congress accusing Israel of being an ‘apartheid state’ and commit-ting ‘act[s]’ of terrorism. These statements are antisemitic at their core and contribute to a climate that is hostile to many Jews.” Many Israeli and Jewish scholars are speaking out against attempts to accuse those with legitimate criticisms of the Israeli government as being ‘anti-Semitic’. One of those scholars is Avi Shlaim, professor emeritus of international relations at St Antony's College, Oxford University. He is also the author of The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World.

Amid a fragile ceasefire in Gaza and ongoing Israeli military raids in occupied East Jerusalem, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken returned to Washington this week after meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. Blinken announced the US will reopen its consulate in Jerusalem which was closed by Trump — a move of little significance unless Washington withdraws is recognition of Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, in line with international law. Blinken also said the US would provide $112 million for the reconstruction of Gaza, bringing the total aid to $360 million. This while the State Department has approved a 735 million dollar sale of weapons to Israel, bypassing congressional approval. So, after 11 days of intense bombing and a tenuous ceasefire —will the renewed diplomatic activity break the political gridlock in Israel and occupied Palestine?

Jana Al-Kiswani was shot in the back just outside her home in Sheikh Jarrah. The police officer has been suspended after video of the shooting emerged. While the Israeli Ministry of Justice says it is investigating the incident, Jana tells us how this has impact her life living in Sheikh Jarrah.

Crucial action taken by the world’s wealthiest and biggest polluters could affect the long-term survival of developing countries, especially low-lying island nations like Vanuatu. Made up of 83 islands in the South Pacific, the country is the most-at-risk for natural disasters, according to a 2018 World Risk Report. Bigger Than Five visited Erakor village where development, rising sea levels, dying fish populations, and powerful cyclones are challenging the community’s way of life. Watch the full show

The United States takes center stage in the fight against the climate crisis, as dozens of leaders attend its first virtual climate summit. But are their lofty commitments grounded in reality? And will they help keep the most vulnerable afloat?

The US is seeing a surge of asylum-seekers attempting to cross the US-Mexico Border, even though the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas has said the southern border is ‘closed’. Bigger Than Five travels to El Zonte, El Salvador to speak with Marvin Alvarado who tried to cross into the US after being deported. He recounts his experience and tells us why he is willing to make the dangerous trip, once again. The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

President Joe Biden is facing a growing crisis at the US-Mexico border, with the influx of thousands of unaccompanied minors from Central America—a surge that is on pace to become the ‘largest in the last 20 years’ according to the Department of Homeland Security. Over 15,000 unaccompanied children are reportedly being kept at overcrowded facilities along the border, with the Administration facing criticism and pressure to address the situation. President Biden has appointed his Vice President, Kamala Harris, to lead the White House’s efforts to stem the flow of migrants from Mexico and the Northern Triangle countries: Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. On his first day in office, President Biden rescinded a number of Trump’s immigration policies and initiated the reform of the immigration system by sending to Congress draft legislation to provide a pathway to US citizenship for an estimated 11 million undocumented aliens living in the United States. He also eased restrictions for asylum seekers and terminated a policy that required migrants to remain in Mexico while petitioning to enter the US. Last month, nearly 19,000 family members and 9,400 unaccompanied minors entered the country and were taken into custody by U.S. border officials. Over the last three weeks, US government data shows that on average, more than 500 unaccompanied minors have been crossing into the United States every day. The Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, himself a refugee from Cuba, said the southern border is now ‘closed’. But is the Administration sending the wrong signals to those seeking asylum by promising ‘a fair and humane’ policy? Guests: Meg Galas- International Rescue Committee’s Country Director for El Salvador David Leopold- former Advisor to President Biden’s transitional team and former President of the American Immigration Lawyers Association Ali Noorani- President and CEO of the National Immigration Forum The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

Min Zaw Oo, the Executive Director of the Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security, tells us that Myanmar has reached its 'lowest point of public relations between the military and general public.’

Anti-coup protesters have taken to the streets of Myanmar calling for the reinstatement of the elected government. Some demonstrators are also calling to abolish the 2008 Constitution, which some viewed as a pathway to democracy, but others believed left too much political power in the hands of the military. Bigger Than Five went to Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, to hear from protesters there.

Protests in Myanmar continue as a military coup challenges the country’s path towards democracy. Will outside pressure bring an end to human rights violations or will impunity —once again— prevail? Guests: Tom Andrews- the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Joanne Lin- Amnesty International’s National Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

Some of the 11th-hour foreign policy decisions by the outgoing administration include: re-listing Cuba as a State-sponsor of terrorism; imposing more sanctions against Iran; and recognizing Moroccan claimed sovereignty over Western Sahara in defiance of long-standing US policy and international law, in a quid pro quo that led to the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. The move reverses the US’ three-decade long support for a United Nations referendum on the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara. For more on the fate of #Sahrawi refugees, we visited the Smara refugee camp in the South- Western Algerian desert and spoke with a refugee. - Also available on TRT World - The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

President Joe Biden vowed to undo the Trump-era “withdrawal doctrine” which saw the United States pull out of the #ParisAgreement on climate change, the Iran nuclear agreement, the World Health Organization and other other treatise and institutions. On his first day in office, Biden re-joined the Paris Agreement, the most significant global climate pact to date. Biden also rejoined the World Health Organization Trump had withdrawn the US from in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Biden, who has repeatedly emphasized the critical importance of working with allies to tackle major global challenges, also promised to rebuild the damaged relationships with traditional US allies and restore American diplomacy and international leadership. But what will it take to rebuild the broken trust in US foreign policy? Guests: Tawakkol Karman 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Medea Benjamin Co-Founder of Code Pink The old global order is being shaken up and Bigger Than Five is here to make sense of it all - with tough questions for those in power and sharp analysis about the people and politics that are changing our world.

Equitable access to a COVID-19 #vaccine is proving to be a challenge as wealthy nations preemptively secure millions of doses of experimental vaccines. Bigger Than Five visits #Peru and #India to hear how residents view the prospects of a vaccine as they experience the reality of the global pandemic. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

Recent breakthroughs in COVID-19 #vaccine trials in the US, UK, Russia and China have raised hopes that the spread of the #coronavirus #pandemic, which has already killed almost 1.4 million people worldwide, could soon be contained, and eventually ended. But these breakthroughs have also raised concerns about the access and availability of vaccines for developing nations, with high-income countries claiming a disproportionate share of vaccine doses, often in significantly higher numbers than the size of their populations. So what are the prospects for the rest of the world? Guests: Luiz Henrique Mandetta Former Minister for Health of Brazil Mustaqeem De Gama Counsellor at the South African Permanent Mission to the WTO​ Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

Voters in America are choosing their next president, as people and governments around the world anxiously await the outcome of the US election which could have a consequential impact on their own lives. One country that is looking on with a particularly keen interest is Iran. President #Trump has led a “maximum pressure” campaign on Tehran by imposing unprecedented sanctions after pulling out of the #IranNuclearDeal. His rival Joe #Biden has called that policy “reckless” and said his administration would change course. So just how different will US-Iran relations be under a Trump or Biden presidency? Guests: Mohammad Javad Zarif Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs John Bolton Former National Security Advisor to US President Donald Trump Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

One of the key architects of the #Iran nuclear agreement, the #JCPOA, Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad #Zarif. He joins TRT World's Ghida Fakhry to discuss the fate of the Iran nuclear agreement after the US election. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

One of the most vocal critics of Iran, John Bolton, who was President Trump’s National Security Advisor from 2018 to 2019. His recently published book, “The Room Where it Happened”, offers a highly critical insider account of the Trump administration. He joins TRT World's Ghida Fakhry on Bigger Than Five to discuss his book and US-Iran relations. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

From #Tehran, hear what #Iranians hope to see from the next US #president. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

The so-called Abraham Accords, which were described by the US President as a “significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Middle East”, reinforce the anti-Iran axis in the Gulf region. They also pave the way for the #UAE to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets, drones and other advanced weaponry from the United States. While #Israel already flies 20 F-35s, the UAE would be the first Arab country to receive the American-made fighter jets. Some Israeli intelligence officials have voiced their concerns about the US commitment, enshrined in a 2008 law, to ensure that Israel maintains a “qualitative military edge” in the #MiddleEast. Others warn that it will spark a regional arms race. So what would the US move to supply more sophisticated weapons to Gulf states mean for the stability of the wider region? One country that knows far too well the devastating impact of these weapons on its civilian population is Yemen, where the world’s largest arms importer, Saudi Arabia, has been leading a bombing campaign since 2015. The International Rescue Committee calls it the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. We went to Sanaa, the largest city in Yemen, and spoke with one man who lost his four children in a Saudi-led coalition airstrike in Al-Raqqas, last year during the month of Ramadan. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

One of the stated conditions for normalizing relations with #Bahrain and the #UAE was that #Israel would suspend its plans to annex parts of Palestine. Yet, the US-brokered accords simply called for “a just, comprehensive and enduring resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict”, making no mention of the ongoing Israeli occupation of the State of Palestine. The Palestinian Government condemned the move by Bahrain and the UAE as “a stab in the back of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people.” We went to the streets of al-Khalil in occupied Palestine to hear directly from Palestinian residents about how they view the agreement. Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

It was hailed by President #Trump as “a historic breakthrough”. Israel and two Arab Gulf nations, the United Arab Emirates and #Bahrain, signed bilateral agreements at the #WhiteHouse last week establishing full diplomatic relations. The so-called Abraham Accords, which were described by the US President as a “significant step towards building a more peaceful, secure, and prosperous Middle East”, reinforce the anti-Iran axis in the Gulf region. They also pave the way for the UAE to purchase F-35 stealth fighter jets, drones and other advanced weaponry from the United States. While Israel already flies 20 F-35s, the UAE would be the first Arab country to receive the American-made fighter jets. Some Israeli intelligence officials have voiced their concerns about the US commitment, enshrined in a 2008 law, to ensure that Israel maintains a “qualitative military edge” in the Middle East. Others warn that it will spark a regional arms race. So what would the US move to supply more sophisticated weapons to Gulf states mean for the stability of the wider region? Guests: William Hartung Director of the Arms & Security Program at the Center for International Policy Matar Matar Former Bahraini Opposition Member of Parliament with Al Wefaq Party Watch other episodes of ‘Bigger Than Five’

We take a look back at some of the UN’s key challenges and achievements over the last 75 years. Watch other episodes of 'Bigger Than Five'