Syria
Russian jets bomb rebel-held Idlib in Syria, sources say
Russian jets have bombed areas near the northwestern Syrian city of Idlib, marking a new year flare-up for the last opposition-held bastion.
Meet Boji: Istanbul's transit-travelling wonder dog
Istanbul is reported to be home to some 400,000 to 600,000 stray dogs and cats, hence why locals in Turkey's largest city sometimes refer to it as 'Catstanbul.' But it's the exploits of a local canine… Audio
Syria: 10 years of brutal conflict with no end in sight
Syria has entered its second decade of war. A pro-democracy uprising has led to 10 years of brutal conflict, killing an estimated 465,000 people and leaving more than 13 million people displaced, yet… Audio
'Pope Francis is still the biggest ally of the gay people'
In his new documentary, Francesco, openly-gay, non-Catholic filmmaker Evgeny Afineevsky had unprecedented access to Pope Francis and was allowed to tackle many pressing issues. He joins the show to… Audio
UN warns of 'list of shame' over foreign nationals in Syria
The United Nations is piling pressure on countries with foreign nationals in Syria to repatriate them quickly. The UN estimates more than 64,000 individuals, mostly women and children, are currently… Audio
ReliefAid provides support for Syria from Auckland
New Zealand based humanitarian organisation ReliefAid is launching a campaign to raise money for hula hoops, soccer balls and skipping roles for the children in refugee camps in Syria. Karyn speaks… Audio
IS suspect needs deradicalisation - Islamic Women's Council
A New Zealand woman linked to a terrorist group in Syria should be put through a deradicalisation programme and rehabilitated according the Islamic Women's council.
But the question is whether it… Video, Audio
'Constructive' call in AUS-NZ stoush over detained IS suspect
The Prime Minister has struck a more conciliatory tone towards Australia after last night's phone call with Scott Morrison.
But Jacinda Ardern wouldn't go into detail about their discussion, sticking… Audio
Kate Mosse: 'Historical fiction lets us deal with the big issues'
Book reading has been on a high during the pandemic, with sales of historical fiction in particular soaring. Novelist Kate Mosse's new book, The City of Tears, has been gaining rave reviews. Kate… Audio
Roger Michel: Waka versus Anglo-Saxon longboat
The Institute for Digital Archaeology aims to use modern technology to preserve and in some cases rebuild ancient objects so more people can enjoy them. Roger Michel is the founder and Executive… Audio, Gallery
Julia Ebner: Going undercover with extremists
Julia Ebner says creating identities to go undercover and infiltrate extreme groups was like creating characters for a novel. But it didn't always go to plan. She discusses her new book Going Dark,… Audio
Neil Gaiman happily stuck in New Zealand due to Covid-19
Author Neil Gaiman has been coming to NZ for appearances for years now, but he never envisaged he'd be locked down here for the better part of a month along with his wife, musician Amanda Palmer and… Audio
Last assignment in Syria - how Assad's forces targeted journalists
Photographer Paul Conroy was with The Sunday Times' war correspondent Marie Colvin when the pair illegally crossed the border into Syria in February 2012. They were there to document the plight of… Audio
After a year of silence, hope fades for Louisa Akavi
The Islamic State leader thought to have been holding Louisa Akavi hostage has been killed - but there is no sign of the Kiwi nurse. Hope is fading. Audio
Islamic State leader killed
Donald Trump says US forces killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in a "daring and dangerous" early morning raid by US Special Forces on Sunday. Audio
Trump's G7 host backtrack and Pelosi's trip to Jordan
US correspondent Susan Milligan joins Kathryn to discuss a rare backpedaling by Donald Trump on plans to host the G7 at his resort in Florida and attempts by acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney to… Audio
Donald Trump's gift to ISIS
In handing over the ISIS fight in Syria to Turkey, there are fears that US President Donald Trump has helped launch a platform for the Islamic State to make its comeback. Journalist and author Mike… Audio
Turkish forces move in to northern Syria as the US withdraws
Turkish forces have entered Kurdish-held areas of northern Syria in response to a US military withrawal from the region. Audio
The life and times of the mysterious Man in Seat 61
Mark Smith is the driving force behind the hugely popular seat61.com website. He joins the show to discuss his business and why he rates New Zealand's Northern Explorer as one of the top five train… Audio
Bellingcat founder on the power of citizen journalism
Elliot Higgins is the founder of investigative journalism website Bellingcat which specializes in fact-checking and open-source intelligence gathered from social media. The site has grown from a 2012… Audio