Facing mounting international pressure, will the Israeli government push ahead with its annexation plan with the full backing of the United States? And at what cost? The Secretary General of the United Nations has warned that this would constitute ‘a most serious violation of international law’ and called on the Israeli government to abandon its annexation plans. Meanwhile, more than 1000 members of European Parliaments signed a letter denouncing Israel’s plans. Ahead of its July 1st target date, the Netanyahu government is holding talks with the Trump administration on a ‘gradual annexation’. In retaliation, the Palestinian government is threatening to withdraw from all bilateral agreements with Israel. Will Netanyahu follow through on his threat? And what impact will it have on Palestinians? Guests: Robert Malley President and CEO of The International Crisis Group Diana Buttu Former Legal Adviser to The Palestinian Authority

Bigger Than Five

Annexing Palestine | Bigger Than Five

A kindergarten teacher in Kabul tells Bigger Than Five why she's not optimistic about the future of Afghanistan. Watch the full show: https://youtu.be/leKVQL02A2Q

Afghanistan's Future | Bigger Than Five

Founder of the #MyRedLine campaign tells Bigger Than Five who she believes needs to be part of the peace talks in Afghanistan.

Voices for Peace in Afghanistan | Bigger Than Five

A ceasefire, a peace deal and a power-sharing agreement. Is Afghanistan ready for lasting peace? Or will a US troop withdrawal spark new conflict? Afghanistan remains on edge as a tenuous peace deal between the United States and the Taliban is expected to bring an end to nearly two decades of war. There was some hope over the Eid holiday, when a 3-day ceasefire was observed by both the Afghan government and the Taliban. This came on the heels of a power-sharing agreement between President Ashraf Ghani and his long-time rival Abdullah Abdullah, after both men claimed victory in last September’s election. After months of violence, the government and the Taliban began exchanging hundreds of prisoners, as stipulated in the US/Taliban deal signed in Doha in February; the insurgent group agreed to free 1000, mostly Afghan security forces, in exchange for 5000 Taliban prisoners. This paves the way for intra-Afghan negotiations, a much-delayed but critical phase of the Doha agreement. On the US side, the military drawdown is moving ahead of schedule, with 8600 American troops in Afghanistan and all US forces set to leave by July 2021. But President Trump could order all troops out earlier —before the US elections in November. So, is the US withdrawal a victory for the Taliban? And can Afghans work together towards a common goal? Guests: Fawzia Koofi Former Deputy Speaker of Afghanistan's Parliament Kimberly Field Former Brigadier General in the US Army ​ Mariam Wardak Co-Founder of Her Afghanistan

Afghanistan's Long Road to Peace | Bigger Than Five

American workers describe how the coronavirus has challenged their livelihoods.

COVID-19: Saving American Livelihoods

The rapid invasion of the coronavirus is exposing the weaknesses and inequalities in our social and economic structures. Will its dramatic impact be a fleeting moment, or will it force a fundamental rethink of our systems? Guests: Michael Steele- Former Republican National Committee Chairman and Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland Mark Blyth- Professor of International Economics at Brown University Sharan Burrow- General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation

COVID-19: Economic Relief | Bigger Than Five

German freelancers who have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus are seeing thousands of euros land in their bank accounts.

COVID-19: Germans Get Support | Bigger Than Five

In Palestine, the number of coronavirus infections continues to rise. A state of emergency was declared in early March and a lockdown imposed. But with Palestinian workers returning from Israel, where more than 12 thousand cases have been reported, the virus continues to spread. So how are Palestinians coping with this? We went to Bethlehem to find out.

COVID 19: Caution in Palestine | Bigger Than Five

The coronavirus has also spread to developing countries; countries with weak health systems and countries marred by years of conflict. One of those countries is Yemen, where the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on April 10th. Aid agencies are warning that Yemen is critically under-equipped to face the virus, following more than five years of war between Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition, whose bombing campaign has devastated the country’s healthcare infrastructure. We begin in the capital Sanaa where locals tell us about their challenges.

COVID 19: The Danger for Yemen | Bigger Than Five

The coronavirus pandemic has hit some of the world's wealthiest countries the hardest, so far. The United States, the world’s largest economy, has the highest number of recorded infections. Among the 30 countries most affected, the majority are in the developed world. But the virus has also spread to developing countries; countries with weak health systems and countries marred by years of conflict. So as the fight against the pandemic continues, it is the world’s vulnerable people and nations that will bear the brunt. Will wealthier countries, themselves struggling to contain the virus, come to their rescue? And what will be the impact on those already affected by war and conflict? Guests: Chema Vera Oxfam International's Acting Executive Director. Dr. Hani Abdeen The Palestinian Authority's Health Minister between 2012 and 2013 Dr Christos Christou The International President of MSF

COVID 19: War & Conflict | Bigger Than Five

From day laborers in Los Angeles, to mothers working in Amazon distribution centers, to Iranians facing economic sanctions, the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is hitting home for American and Iranian workers.

COVID-19: Iranian & US Workers | Bigger Than Five

The Coronavirus pandemic is consuming lives and our global economies--and for some of us, our jobs. All we can do is think-- what’s next? What will the short term and long term future look like? Will it get better? And how soon can we expect a vaccine? Guests: R. Ramakumar, Professor of Economics at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in Mumbai, India Dr. Nevan Krogan, a Canadian molecular biologist and a professor in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology at the University of California San Francisco Jamie Metzl, a technology futurist, geopolitical expert and senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and expert advisor to the World Health Organization.

COVID-19: A Future in Question | Bigger Than Five

The Coronavirus pandemic is sending many countries around the world into lockdown and putting immense pressure on their healthcare systems. So how are different parts of the world dealing with this global crisis? #coronaviruspandemic #coronaviruslockdown #biggerthanfive Guests: Dr. David Nabarro, WHO's Special Envoy on COVID-19. He's also chair of global health at Imperial College London. Dr. Jerome Kim, the Director General of the International Vaccine Institute in Seoul. Dr. Michel Yao, WHO’s Program Manager for Emergency Response in Africa.

COVID-19: The World Reacts | Bigger Than Five

The coronavirus pandemic is taking lives, jobs and challenging governments worldwide. In the US, it was a delayed fight for containment. With all 50 states now reporting cases of COVID-19, federal and local governments are scrambling, preparing for the worst. President Trump says he’s at war. Could we have seen this coming? And could this new invisible threat change the world as we know it? Guests: Dr. Tom Frieden- Former Director of the US Centers for Disease Control (2009-2017) & President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives Mike Leavitt- Former Director of Health and Human Services (2005-2009) & Former Governor of Utah (1993-2003) Dr. Elias Zerhouni- Former Director of the US National Institutes of Health (2002-2008) & Former Head of Global Research and Development at Sanofi

COVID-19: The US Response | Bigger Than Five

Faced with the coronavirus sweeping California and the world, the head of a network of medical clinics is scavenging for supplies to provide for the most vulnerable in South Los Angeles. #LosAngelesCoronavirus #CoronavirusLosAngeles #CoronavirusCalifornia

COVID-19: On The Front Line | Bigger Than Five

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.

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Bigger Than Five

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