Middle East
US troops relocated from northern Syria, protests in Lebanon
Middle East correspondent, Sebastian Usher joins Kathryn to look at the situation in northern Syria, where US troops are being pulled out and redeployed to Iraq. Is it a sign of the loss of US… Audio
Calling Home: James Whitta in Malmö, Sweden
James Whitta is living the dream in his role as a product developer for the world's largest home furnishing retailer, IKEA, in its spiritual birthplace. The award-winning furniture designer is Calling… Audio
A travel writer's guide to the roads less travelled
Travel writer Mary Jane Walker says people should always travel to the places they tell you not to. She is the author of the 'Maverick Traveller' series of books. Audio
Middle East correspondent Jonathan Marcus
Jonathan talks to Kathryn about the Saudi oil attack, Israel election results and an extraordinary proliferation of armed UAV s in the Middle East. Audio
Iran crisis explained and Dubai princess in hiding
Middle East correspondent, Sebastian Usher looks at the escalating crisis with Iran - is it edging closer to conflict? Dubai's Princess Haya is in hiding in London, reportedly in 'fear for her life'… Audio
Rising US-Iran tensions - 'pushing towards war'
Middle East correspondent Sebastian Usher talks to Kathryn about deteriorating US-Iran relations, with the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif saying people around Donald Trump are "pushing… Audio
'Kerning Cultures': audio rich stories from the Middle East
'Kerning Cultures' is a podcast showcasing interesting audio documentaries from the Middle East. We share an example from Dubai called 'A Cinema, Demolished' which charts the history of the city's The… Audio, Gallery
One dance form, many stories: how the dabke wedding dance became a lighting-rod in the Middle East
Nicholas Rowe explores the intricate story of how the dabke dance was politicised and misappropriated several times in the 20th century. Audio
Jean Sasson: Stepping out of the Shadows
Author Jean Sasson moved to Saudi Arabia as a young woman in 1978 with a thirst for adventure. The life she found there and the women she met profoundly changed her world. Her relationship with one… Audio
North Korea and China stronger together, and having a bit of a laugh at America
Our nation's place in the world is explored by four experts in international relations: Professor Tony Ballantyne, Dr Marcelle Dawson and Professor Robert Patman from Otago University; along with… Audio
Middle East wrap, protests in Iran and Iraq
Sebastian Usher reports on the protests in Iraq and Iran, the Syrian war and reform in Saudi Arabia. Audio
Rouzbeh Parsi: Iran nuclear deal 'actually works'
The fallout from Donald Trump's decision to leave the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran is being felt across Europe and the Middle East and beyond. Dr Rouzbeh Parsi is a Senior Lecturer at Lund University… Audio
The path to the attack on Syria
A week full of ugly claims and counterclaims about a chemical weapons attack ended with today's bombing of targets in Syria.
Seven years of war in Syria, child deaths rising
Today marks the seventh anniversary of the Syrian conflict. UNICEF says the number of children killed has already passed 1000 in 2018 as many as were killed in all of 2017. UNICEF's Regional chief of… Audio
Palestinian factions reach agreement - Hamas
The Palestinian group Hamas says it has reached an agreement with rival group Fatah, ending a decade-long rift.
What it's like to find a terrorist in your own family tree
How might we begin to think and talk about terrorism in a way that doesn't simplify the issues or condone the actions, but builds understanding? Prof. Peter O'Connor traces his own family story. Audio
A journey to better understanding: Israel & Palestinian
Journalist and author, Nir Baram, spent a year and a half traveling through the occupied territories around East Jerusalem and the West bank speaking with Arabs and Jews, Jewish settlers and… Audio
Unpicking the Qatar crisis
Kathryn Ryan speaks to former Al Jazeera journalist and current head of Amnesty International's UN office in New York, Sherine Tadros, about the diplomatic crisis between Qatar and four of its… Audio
Meeting in Cairo to decide future of Qatar
A New Zealander working for Al Jazeera, Kamahl Santamaria, thinks a third party maybe needed to break the stalemate Qatar find itself in. Audio
Murdoch Stephens: Raising the bar
Murdoch Stephens is on the show to talk about his fight to double the refugee quota. Audio