3 February 2018
Episode 213
30 minutes
Photo: Shutterstock
In spring, as the weather heats up in Afghanistan, so does the fighting. In a country that has been home to foreign forces and UN troops for more than 16 years, it’s a time to assess how far the country has come since the US invaded back in 2001. How many more fighting seasons can the country take? Andrew Mueller is joined by Michael Semple, Shukrya Barakzai and Patrick Hennessey.
3 February 2018
Share episode
DownloadWant more radio episodes like these in your inbox?
Sign up to Monocle's email newsletters to stay on top of news and opinion, plus the latest from the magazine, radio, film and shop.
The Foreign Desk - latest episodes
Russia’s disinformation war
Five years ago this week, Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in eastern Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. As the investigation into what happened and Russia’s denial of any involvement continues, we look…
Explainer 174: Who wants to climb Uluru?
After many years of being asked not to climb Uluru, tourists visiting the rock will soon be banned from doing so. Most visitors to Uluru, which is sacred to Australia’s Indigenous people, have respected the request but some…
A special relationship?
This week the UK’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch, resigned after confidential dispatches were leaked to the press. So how important is the relationship between these two countries now – and where is it heading…
Explainer 173: Will west Africa finally get its single currency?
The Economic Community of West African States has agreed, again, to adopt a single currency. Andrew Mueller asks what lessons have been learned from the euro and what benefits there might be for those who sign up.
The climate culture war
For those Democrats hoping to run against Donald Trump in the 2020 election, the question of what to do about the accelerating climate emergency has become a key campaign issue. But with much of their opposition denying…
Explainer 172: Is Iran bluffing?
As a reaction to the withdrawal of the US from its nuclear deal with Iran, foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif claimed that Tehran possesses more than 300kg of enriched uranium, exceeding the previously agreed limit. But…
Islamophobia: a 21st-century hatred
Last year in the UK the Home Office recorded a 40 per cent increase in religious hate crimes – of which more than half were directed at Muslims. What does Islamophobia mean now for the people on the receiving end of it? And…
Explainer 171: Stonewall at 50
On the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, we take a closer look at the forces that have shaped LGBT history.
Somalia: could the world be doing more?
It might feel as though the rest of the world has given up on Somalia. This is not, however, something the rest of the world can afford to do: the country’s perch on the Horn of Africa gives it extraordinary strategic…
Explainer 170: Will Mohamed Morsi’s presidency be remembered?
What effect will the passing of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first properly elected president, have on Egypt and the wider Middle East? Andrew Mueller explains.
China’s surveillance state
Everybody is subject to a certain amount of surveillance, whether it’s CCTV cameras in our streets or websites monitoring our online movements to better sell advertising. But what happens when governments use this inform…
Explainer 169: What is going on in Moldova?
Until last week, Moldova had a crisis caused by a failure to form a government. Now it has a crisis caused by a government being formed. Andrew Mueller explains how events unfolded and looks at what might happen next.
Democracy: the Middle East and north Africa
At the start of this decade, thousands of protesters took to the streets across the Arab world seeking to bring down oppressive regimes. But filling the subsequent power vacuums didn't prove easy and many countries have…
Explainer 168: Australia’s first Indigenous minister for Indigenous Australians
For the first time in the 50-odd years that the role has existed, Australia’s minister for Indigenous Australians is an indigenous Australian. This may seem surprising; or not, given Australia’s less-than-perfect history…
The war on fake news
Since the term “fake news” exploded into the common lexicon in 2016 it has been at the forefront of many political agendas. But thanks to resistance to internet regulation, and a lack of basic knowledge among many internet…
