Inside Story

The war in Syria has killed hundreds of thousands of people. Millions have been displaced, and ancient cities have been destroyed. But there appears to be no end in sight. The heavy bombardment of the northern city of Aleppo by Russian and Syrian forces continues. Previous talks have ended in disappointment and disagreement. US Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are now back at the negotiating table meeting their counterparts from Iran, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar. Can the regional powers help advance the push for peace? Presenter: Laura Kyle Guests: Rami Khouri - Senior Fellow, Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy, American University of Beirut Bassma Kodmani - Executive committee member, Syrian National Council Khaled Batarfi - Assistant Professor, Al Faisal University. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It's the wave of the future that promises users an experience that's out of this world. Virtual reality brings users as close to the real experience as they can get without ever leaving home. It's a booming business. Companies are racing to outdo each other, and come up with the best technology to plunge users into an alternative world. Sony is the latest company to unveil its newest gadget. But beyond the fun and games, can virtual reality improve our lives? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Benedict Moran - Independent virtual reality Journalist and Filmmaker Gry Hasselbalch - Co-founder, Data Ethics.eu. Maarten Laken - Neuropsychologist specialising in virtual reality Ousama Itani - Senior Innovation Strategist, Al Jazeera - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Veterans from the People's Liberation Army demonstrate as the government plans to cut hundreds of thousands of military jobs. Presenter: Jane Dutton Guests: Tong Zhao - associate at the Carnegie-Tsinghua Center for Global Policy Gordon Chang - author of "The Coming Collapse of China" Jim Walsh - expert in international security and a Research Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Security Studies Programme - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It's been hailed as an oasis of political stability and a model of growth in Africa. But for the past year, Ethiopia has been in the news not because of its economic successes, but because of insecurity on its streets. Ethiopians - mostly from the Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups - are angry about what they describe as decades of marginalisation. They're also upset about government plans to build factories on land they consider their own. The protests have frequently grown violent, and police are accused of responding with unnecessary force. Activists say at least 450 people have been killed. For the first time in 25 years, ruling party leaders have declared a six month state of emergency. It gives the government power to ban protests - and troops can be deployed to maintain calm. So what now for Ethiopian unity? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Awol Allo: Fellow at the London School of Economics Nagessa Oddo: Chairman of Oromo People’s Congress - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

The Kremlin is talking up its military might as the Americans accuse the Russians of war crimes in Syria. Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Sergey Strokan - columnist for the Russian newspaper Kommersant Kurt Volker - former US Ambassador to NATO and Executive Director at the McCain Institute for International Leadership Igor Sutyagin - senior research fellow, Royal United Services Institute - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Russia has vetoed a UN resolution to end the bombing of Aleppo. Another resolution also failed. The UN is warning if air strikes continue on rebel-held areas, Syria's second largest city will be destroyed by the end of the year. Who's really calling the shots in this complex conflict? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Meguerditch Terzian - President, Doctors Without Borders Sergey Markov - Spokesman for President Vladimir Putin and director of the Institute for Political Studies Hillary Mann Leverett - Former White House National Security Official Monzer Akbik - Spokesman for Syrian opposition group Tomorrow Movement - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

The Nobel Peace Prize Committee is again courting controversy, with this year's award to the president of Colombia. Juan Manuel Santos is praised for signing a peace deal with FARC rebels to end more than 50 years of war. But the people of Colombia rejected the deal in a referendum. Is the decision to award Nobel Peace Prize political? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Sverre Lodgaard - Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs David Swanson - Director, World Beyond War website Frederik Heffermehl - Author of 'Nobel Peace Prize: What Nobel Really Wanted' - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It's a crisis to which many of us have become desensitised. And when people do talk about the refugee crisis, it's mainly about people fleeing from Syria. But thousands of African refugees and migrants are risking their lives every day to reach Europe. So, what should be done to deter refugees taking the dangerous journey by sea? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Pierre Vimont - Senior Associate at Carnegie Europe Patricia Danzi - The Red Cross's Regional Director for Africa Sara Tesorieri - Policy and Advocacy Adviser for the Norwegian Refugee Council - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has told US President Barack Obama to "go to hell", in response to western criticism of his war on drugs. Duterte's recently been openingly courting Beijing despite a long-running and bitter dispute over the South China Sea. On Wednesday, Thailand briefly detained and deported a Hong Kong student who helped organise pro-democracy protests at the request of China. Bangkok and Beijing have established stronger ties since a military coup in Thailand two years ago. So to what extent can Asian nations realistically step out of America's influence and embrace China? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Chito Santa Romana - Incoming Philippine ambassador to China Graham Ong-Webb - Research Fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies Victor Gao - Director of the China National Association of International Studies - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Racism in Britain is on the rise as well as homophobia, anti-semitism and anti-Muslim violence. Presenter: Folly Bah Thibault Guests: Denis Fernando - spokesperson for Unite Against Fascism Francois Reyes - founder of Reveil Citoyen, a French think tank that promotes intercultural dialogue Claire Fernandez - deputy director of the European Network Against Racism - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It was once celebrated as a champion of transparency. But now, ten years old, Wikileaks has lost a lot of friends. The whistleblowing website serves as the world's best-known source for leaked government and intelligence information. It's exposed corruption and misuse of power in many countries, including the US. But Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has become increasingly controversial over the past ten years. Critics say his site is manipulated by politicians. And that the way it releases classified documents is irresponsible. Assange has been hiding in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London to avoid possible extradition to Sweden where he faces questions over allegations of sexual assault. So, what's been the impact of WikiLeaks? and is it still relevant? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Sarah Harrison - Editor at WikiLeaks and close adviser to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. J.D. Gordon - Former spokesman for the Pentagon and a national security adviser for Donald Trump's campaign. Alan Jones - Journalist with the Press Association. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It was hailed as a done deal. But when Colombia's peace agreement was put to a vote - the people said no. With a difference of less than one percent, they rejected the deal, calling it too forgiving. 260,000 people had died during the war with FARC, which lasted more than half a century. And critics of the peace deal want justice. President Juan Manuel Santos is vowing to continue the search for peace. But before the referendum, he'd warned that a 'no' vote would return Colombia to war. So, where does this leave the country? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Arlene Tickner, professor of international relations at Rosario University. Gimena Sanchez, Colombia human rights advocate at the Washington Office on Latin America. Tom Long, professor at the University of Reading and specialist on U.S.-Latin American relations. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

People in Hungary have voted in a referendum on the refugee quota system imposed by the European Union. Government leaders in Budapest are challenging the scheme to resettle refugees in EU countries. EU diplomats finalised plans in July to create a common asylum system and refugee resettlement scheme. The draft law suggests all members should have the same rules of accepting asylum seekers and refugees. The crisis exposed differences among EU countries. Each member is given a quota of refugees for resettlement based on its population and state of economy. Under the scheme, Hungary would get around 1,300 out of 160 thousand refugees. The new system also imposes a $280,000 fine on EU states for every refugee they refuse to accept. What will the referendum mean for the massive numbers of refugees in Europe? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Gyorgy Schoepflin: MEP & Fidesz Party member. Bodo Weber: Democratization Policy Council. John Dalhuisen: Amnesty International. - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

Fighting in Kashmir between Indian and Pakistani troops has become a cultural war too. On Friday, Pakistan cinemas have announced a ban on Indian films, following a decision by Indian filmmakers to ban Pakistani actors. So, what does the clash over culture mean for the long running conflict? Presenter: Hazem Sika Guests: Maidul Islam - Assistant professor at Presidency University specialising in cinema and identity politics Maria Iqbal Tarana - Social and political activist Narayanan Madhavan - Journalist and commentator - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/

It has been 12 months since Russia entered Syria's war. Russian airstrikes began after a request from President Bashar al-Assad. President Vladimir Putin said ISIL fighters were the target but Russian critics say there's a different agenda. Russian pilots are accused of targeting civilians and backing the Syrian regime suspected of using chemical weapons and barrel bombs on its own citizens. The US government is threatening to end all cooperation with Russia if the bombing continues. A ceasefire for the embattled city of Aleppo has collapsed. So, what's Russia's next move? Presenter: Hashem Ahelbarra Guests: Assaad Al Achi - Executive Director, Baytna Syria and Former Syria National Council Member Robert Ford - Former US Ambassador to Syria Pavel Felgenhauer - Military Analyst - Subscribe to our channel: http://aje.io/AJSubscribe - Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish - Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera - Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/