Since the start of Israel's war on Gaza after Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, Iran's role has been a subject of speculation. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has denied the country's involvement but labelled the offensive a success.The conflict has killed thousands and left nearly two million displaced. After a weeklong truce, Israeli attacks recommenced, casting the spotlight on Iran's next moves.For an in-depth look at the Iranian position on these rapidly evolving...

Brazil, renowned for its cultural diversity and vast rainforests, is experiencing significant political transformation.Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s return to power marked a departure from Jair Bolsonaro’s conservative government. This shift heralds a renewed focus on social welfare, poverty reduction, and inclusive growth, mirroring Lula’s previous term in the 2000s.However, Brazil’s journey is mired in global challenges, from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to the war on Gaza. These issues raise...

As the easternmost European Union member, Finland, historically neutral, pivots towards NATO in response to Russia’s Ukraine invasion, new geopolitical challenges arise: increased Russian espionage, cyberattacks and potential election interference, the Finnish government says.Additionally, a surge of asylum seekers, allegedly directed by Russia, strains stability.Amid these tensions, Finland’s $345m Israeli defence deal, which many see as conflicting with its stance on Gaza, sparks...

Following his return from strategic talks in Germany and as the war on Gaza nears its 50th day, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan delves into Turkey’s role in humanitarian efforts.At a pivotal moment, he discusses Turkey’s relationship with Hamas and whether Western pressure exists. Fidan also reflects on what it would take to sever diplomatic ties with Israel completely.Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan shares these insights with Al Jazeera.

Lisbon, famed for its golden sunsets and cobbled streets, stands rich in history and resilience.It has weathered earthquakes and political and economic turmoil, cultivating a strong spirit.Currently, the city navigates issues like gentrification, a housing crisis and climate threats.As Portugal’s capital evolves into a leading tech and remote-working hub, it faces the challenge of evenly distributing financial benefits among its citizens.Amid Portugal’s political upheaval, including Prime...

As the war on Gaza escalates, the United Nations’ stark divisions delayed a resolution for three weeks.Senior human rights official Craig Mokhiber resigned, protesting against the UN’s silence on the "wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people" by the Israeli army. In his resignation, Mokhiber criticised the UN’s inaction in the face of “genocide” in the Gaza Strip.With Israel’s war on Gaza intensifying, Craig Mokhiber, the former director of the New York office of the UN High Commissioner...

It’s been 10 years since Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez died.In the years that followed, the country, home to the world’s largest oil reserves, suffered economic collapse, political chaos and a mass exodus.As Venezuelans face poverty and struggle to survive, more than 7 million have left the country in search of protection and a better life, according to the United Nations.Have foreign powers played a role in the country’s stalemate? And is there still a way out of Venezuela’s...

As the war on Gaza continues to escalate, the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi talks to Al Jazeera about his country’s position on the continuing ground offensive.

Navi Pillay chairs the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel.Weeks before Hamas carried out its October 7 surprise offensive in southern Israel, and Israel launched a major military operation in Gaza, Pillay released a report.It says: "The commission finds the increasingly militarised law enforcement operations of Israel and repeated attacks by Israel on Gaza are aimed at maintaining its unlawful 56-year occupation."With the latest escalation...

As the war on Gaza is well into its third week, many are alarmed about the impact it could have on the occupied West Bank.While Gaza is governed by Hamas, the occupied West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority, led by Fatah. Both factions want an independent Palestinian state.However, their struggle for self-determination and autonomy has substantial historical differences.But will a further escalation of the conflict in Gaza result in Fatah and Hamas putting aside their differences...

Following Hamas's offensive in southern Israel on October 7, the Israeli army has targeted apartment blocks, hospitals, mosques and churches in Gaza, killing thousands of Palestinians.Only on October 21, 14 days into the war, a few trucks carrying food, medicine and water were allowed into the Gaza Strip.Will there be unconditional access to life-saving aid in Gaza as the conflict escalates?We spoke to one of the regional heads of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) involved...

Last year, hundreds of people in Sierra Leone took to the streets in frustration at rising inflation and economic hardship. The protests turned violent and led to deaths.Since then, President Julius Maada Bio has been re-elected, but there were accusations of widespread irregularities in the poll in June.A former coup leader in the 1990s, Bio’s first civilian term was recognised for championing education and women’s rights. But after the recent coups in the region, does Sierra Leone face a...

For many, the Maldives represents the perfect Indian Ocean beach holiday destination.But beyond the five-star resorts, turquoise waters and white sand lie major geopolitical interests.The archipelago has turned into a political battleground for India and China.As preparations for president-elect Mohamed Muizzu's swearing-in ceremony on November 17 get under way, Talk to Al Jazeera travels to Male, the capital of the Maldives, to find out how regional dynamics may change under his...

Paul Kagame has ruled Rwanda for 23 years.The small, landlocked country of 13 million people has come a long way since the civil war and genocide of 1994. Rwanda’s significant progress in education, technology, healthcare and security has made the nation an African success story.But is living under Kagame’s government an African utopia? And as his influence in the region expands along with the country’s geopolitical role, is Rwanda proving a disruptive force in the region?The president of...

The military seized power in oil-rich Gabon on August 30, 2023.It put President Ali Bongo Ondimba under house arrest, ending the Bongo family’s 56-year rule.General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, a cousin of the president, led that coup. The military leader appointed Raymond Ndong Sima as the prime minister of his transitional government.Was the coup in Gabon just a family crisis to push the country’s rule into the hands of a different branch of the same elite?Raymond Ndong Sima, prime...

As world leaders gathered in New York for the 78th United Nations General Assembly, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte led his country's delegation for the last time.After 13 years in power, the Netherlands' longest-serving premier is leaving office after a dispute about immigration led to the collapse of his coalition government.In this episode, we examine the political and diplomatic legacy of the politician nicknamed "Teflon Mark", who is known for being a resilient operator.The prime...

For almost two decades, Somali forces, backed by the international community, have been fighting al-Shabab.But despite international support, the armed group remains influential in the south and centre of Somalia.Now, the government is launching a sweeping offensive to retake al-Shabab territory. President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud is personally leading the fight, but that is not the only challenge facing the government.Long years of drought, political divisions and the rise of autonomous regions...

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the world's 20 largest economies in New Delhi.The G20 bloc accounts for more than 80 percent of global gross domestic product and 75 percent of international trade. But as the international community increasingly deals with opposing interests and geopolitical dynamics, many question if it serves any purpose.The United Nations secretary-general is mandated to help resolve situations threatening global peace and security.Can a summit overshadowed...

In 2015, a 21-year-old asylum seeker from Syria made it to the Greek island of Lesbos in a rubber boat.Ryyan Alshebl’s journey continued by train, bus and on foot across Europe until he reached Germany.German officials sent him to the rural Swabia region. He arrived seeking asylum, not knowing what the future had in store for him.At 29, and against all odds, Alshebl is now the mayor of the town of Ostelsheim.In this edition of Talk to Al Jazeera, we speak to Mayor Ryyan Alshebl and explore...

As AI-driven robots become more intelligent and more autonomous, could they also become powerful or harmful?The robot named Sophia was created in 2016 by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics.Sophia’s AI technology has surpassed a simple combination of science and engineering. She has also become an innovation ambassador for the United Nations.But what should we humans expect as we begin to accept the presence of AI robots in our everyday life?Sophia talks to Al Jazeera.Subscribe to our...

Yoshua Bengio's work in the 1990s and 2000s has contributed to the foundations of chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard.Today, Bengio is one of the biggest voices warning the world about the necessity of having control and regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) technology.He testified before a United States congressional hearing, warning that the frantic pace of AI development, in the wrong hands, could be used to create biological weapons.So, is AI an existential threat to...

Many regard the United States as a superpower. Yet more than 13 percent of adults in the country cannot read or write above third-grade level. That’s the same as an eight-year-old.Censorship of library books is also on the rise.The American Library Association reported a record number of demands to censor books last year. The more than 1,600 contested titles address mainly race and gender issues.With more calls for censorship, the issue has become increasingly politicised. So will the "land...

Dementia affects 55 million people worldwide, and its most common form, Alzheimer's, accounts for about 70 percent of all cases.At the Alzheimer's Association International Conference, the largest congress advocating dementia science, held in Amsterdam this month, a pharmaceutical company disclosed details of its trials of a new drug: donanemab.The American company, Eli Lilly, expects the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to decide by the end of 2023 whether to approve what it...

In 2017 in Nigeria, Dr Dimie Ogoina diagnosed the world’s first known case of mpox in nearly 40 years. He rang the alarm bells, but the world refused to listen.Five years later, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization declared mpox a public health emergency of international concern.As the crisis unfolded, Ogoina’s observations became critical to developing strategies to prevent and control the outbreak.In May this year, the WHO ended the mpox health emergency after 10...

What the United Nations describes as "a state of mental well-being" is crucial for our socioeconomic development.Despite an increasing acknowledgement of the critical role mental health plays in our lives, sufferers of mental health conditions are often stigmatised and discriminated against.For more than 25 years, Devora Kestel, who leads mental health efforts at the World Health Organization (WHO), has been one of the loudest voices in the field, implementing and advising governments on...