83 episodes
The Focus Auscast Network
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- Society & Culture
The news today is often biased at the personal, organisational and structural levels, polarising our societies. The Focus is a program designed to cut through this bias to get at the heart of a topic. Join Host Dr. John Bruni and Producers Malcolm Hughes and Neil Smart as they examine the pressing issues of our time whether in Australia or overseas. In an interdependent, troubled and fast-moving world, knowing what questions to ask can lead us to understand and adapt to new and disruptive circumstances.
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Netanyahu v. Hamas - Complying with the Laws of War?
In this episode, John speaks with former Executive Director of Human Right’s Watch (HRW) & Princeton’s Prof. Kenneth Roth on Netanyahu v. Hamas. In a war known for having broken the laws of war on both sides, can anyone really say either Hamas or Netanyahu holds the moral high ground?
Show notes:
The Roth & Sparrow piece in Foreign Policy (February 2024) can be seen here - https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/02/09/israel-gaza-health-care-hospitals-genocide-icj/
The Forensic Architecture website can be seen here - https://forensic-architecture.org/
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The Yemen Jigsaw Puzzle
🔥 Unraveling Yemen's Political Maze: The Shocking Truth Revealed!
💥 Brace yourselves for an eye-opening conversation that shatters every preconceived notion about Yemen! In an exclusive episode, John delves deep into the heart of Yemen's political labyrinth with none other than the European Institute of Peace's Senior Advisor, Hisham Al-Omeisy.
🌍 Prepare to have your worldview rocked as Hisham and John dissect the enigmatic layers of Yemen's intricate politics. Forget everything you thought you knew about this tumultuous nation because the truth is far more baffling than you could ever imagine!
💣 But that's not all! Dive into the murky waters of Yemen's maritime chaos as Hisham and John uncover the startling motivations behind the Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. Spoiler alert: It's not what the mainstream media wants you to believe!
🔍 Don't miss out on this riveting discussion that challenges the very fabric of conventional wisdom. Buckle up as we embark on a journey through Yemen's untold stories – the revelations will leave you speechless! Click now to uncover the shocking truth that's been hiding in plain sight!
Show Notes:
Hisham Al-Omeisy’s bio - https://www.eip.org/team-organisation/hisham-al-omeisy/
Hisham’s story as a prisoner of the Houthis - https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/prominent-yemeni-activist-detained-houthis-sanaa
Hisham’s take on the West v. Houthis - https://www.aa.com.tr/en/politics/west-vs-houthis-experts-warn-middle-east-a-powder-keg-call-for-political-solution-to-red-sea-standoff/3112691#
Hisham speaks with CNN’s Christine Amanpour - https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2024/02/06/amanpour-yemen-houthis-hisham-al-omeisy.cnn
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Germany’s Resurgence?
In this episode John speak with Associate Fellow of the German Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Karl-Heinz Kamp. Karl-Heinz is a specialist on German foreign and strategic policy and we’ll be delving deep into what appears to be a German military resurgence in Europe. Will this strengthen the Continent, will it be destabilising? And probably most importantly can it be sustained?
Links
German Council on Foreign Relations website can be accessed - here
The Alphen Group website can be accessed - here
University Roma Tre website can be accessed - here
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On Cold War 2.0
In this episode, John is again joined by US Army LTG Ben Hodges (Ret.) where they discuss noted historian, author and commentator, Professor Niall Ferguson’s notion that we are currently in Cold War 2.0.
Show Notes -
For those of you who’d like to know more about the work of The Alphen Group (TAG), please access via the following Link: https://thealphengroup.com/
Our interview on the darker aspects of AI with Steven Feldstein can be seen here – video: https://youtu.be/MpyBcwVmExI?si=Wg9gEJpfAgPvAl5h audio: https://omny.fm/shows/the-focus-1/repressive-ai
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Middle East Madness
In this espisode, the first one for 2024, we start off hot by speaking with Scott Lucas on events in the Middle East from Gaza to Lebanon and from Yemen to Jordan and Iran, why have things gone so wrong and what lies ahead?
Scott’s latest piece in The Conversation can be found - here
927 Magazine can be found - here
Scott’s website EA Worldview can be found - here
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Can Labour’s Starmer Save Britain?
In this, our last episode for 2023, we have a treat for all you geopolitical junkies out there! We speak to Jonathan Powell, former Chief of Staff to the Blair government (1997-2007). 2024 will be a big year of elections around the world. One of which, the U.S. presidential election, due in November of next year, will prove decisive for a whole bunch of countries and may impact on our futures in a negative way. Here we analyse the problems and prospects of Britain under a potential Starmer leadership, should Labour win in 2024. What will change and what will remain the same?
How to contain a recalcitrant Russia? - Financial Review - David Manning & Jonathan Powell
Talking to Terrorists: How to End Armed Conflicts, Jonathan Powell, Vintage Digital, 2 October, 2014
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