welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. most of us have embedded the internet and smart technology in our lives. we might like to believe we're autonomous digital citizens. but what if our behaviours are now being monitored and modified by private and state actors over which we have no control? how alarmed should we be? well, my guest is michael chertoff, director of homeland security in the bush administration, and now a leading thinker on cyber security. has the internet left every one of us dangerously exposed? michael chertoff, welcome to hardtalk.

now on bbc news, time for hardtalk with stephen sackur.me to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur and today, i'm at the ambrosetti forum, which is a gathering of italy's political elite on the shores of lake como. there is no doubt who the dominant figure is here. all the reporters here are waiting for him, and he happens to be my guest today, matteo salvini, the deputy prime minister and interior minister and arguably the most powerful populist politician in europe today. he rose to power on the back ofan anti—immigrant, anti—eu message — so what does his rise mean for italy and for europe? deputy prime minister matteo salvini, welcome to hardtalk. grazie. we are meeting at the ambrosetti forum forum, where the italian political elite come to discuss the future of your country. and i've been speaking to people and there's a great deal of fear and suspicion about you and your agenda. some people are calling you dangerous, some people are calling you an extremist. why do you think there is so much suspicion of you? you've chosen to answer me by imm

i'm stephen sackur. i'm stephen sackur. i'm in ramallah, more than five decades after the israeli occupation of the west bank began, to meet perhaps the most renowned palestinian artist of his generation, suleiman mansour. his paintings have come to define a sense of palestinian identity. but in places like this, in troubled times like these, does art really matter? i have a vision of what the painting should look like and then i keep trying until i have that image. and it does not come usually in the first instance. this is the first drive. the effect should show the helplessness of the people and that is how i want this painting. but now this is how i feel, personally and how i think people are feeling. this isa how i think people are feeling. this is a dark, this is bleak, the mood and feel of your paintings has really changed. it has changed a lot. the big difference between these figures and the figures are used to do in the 70s and 805. in used to do in the 705 and 805. in depends on the situation, the political situa

now on bbc news, it's hardtalk with stephen sackur. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur.shores of beautiful lake como in northern italy. this is the venue for the annual discussion of global politics known as the ambrosetti forum. europe's politicians gathered here have one key challenge — what to do about vladimir putin's russia. my guest today is arkady dvorkovich. now, until four months ago, he was russia's deputy prime minister. what chance is there of averting the deepening hostility between russia and the west? arkady dvorkovich, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. you've left of the russian governmentjust a few months ago. within that government, you were always seen as an advocate of a warmer, closer relationship between russia and the west, and yet what we see in so many different theatres, arenas, is a souring relationship. how frustrated are you by what your own government is doing? first, i'm a professional. i've been working for the state, for the country, for the government for 18 years in the civil service, it was quite a long period of time. there's some thing

now on bbc news, it's hardtalk with stephen sackur. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur.ay i'm on the shores of beautiful leg, in northern italy. this is the venue leg, in northern italy. this is the venue for the annual discussion of politics known as the ambrosetti forum. europe's politicians gathered here have one key challenge, what to do about vladimir putin's russia. my guest today is arkady dvorkovich. now, untilfour guest today is arkady dvorkovich. now, until four months ago, guest today is arkady dvorkovich. now, untilfour months ago, he guest today is arkady dvorkovich. now, until four months ago, he was russia's deputy prime minister. what chanceis russia's deputy prime minister. what chance is there of averting the deepening hostility between russia and the west? arkady dvorkovich, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. you've left of the russian governmentjust thank you. you've left of the russian government just a thank you. you've left of the russian governmentjust a few months ago. within that government, you we re ago. within that government, you were always se

i'm stephen sackur.ritain's conservative party is about to hold its 2018 annual conference, and it promises to be a fascinating spectacle, with the party riven by deep divisions over brexit — divisions which threaten to derail theresa may's brexit strategy and perhaps her premiership as well. at stake isn't just the future of a venerable political party, but the future of britain. my guest is former conservative leader, michael lord howard. both in brussels and at home, theresa may is in deep trouble. does she have a viable way out? lord howard, welcome to hardtalk. good to be with you. the brexit endgame has arrived and theresa may is trapped. would you agree? it is not a word i would use, no, but obviously there are difficulties, there were always were going to be difficulties, and they look more formidable than perhaps they are, but perhaps we will know in the next few months how things pan out. well, weeks in some ways rather than months, because all this is going to come very quickly now. would you

now on bbc news, hardtalk with stephen sackur. weclome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. today my guest and the ambrosetti forum in northern italy is spain's foreign minister, josep burrell. spain has been through a tumultuous year, dominated by the political stand—off in catalonia and a series of political scandals which have left the socialist party in power. josep burrell is a catalan, but he's adamantly opposed to catalan independence. so does he bring any fresh solutions to spain's intractable problems? josep burrell, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. you are part of a new spanish government that's been in power for three months spanish government that's been in powerfor three months or spanish government that's been in power for three months or so. 100 days. yes. you have been wrestling with the problem that has dogged spain for so long now, that is the problem of catalonia. and, in the time you've had, you have signally failed to change the dynamic, to change the crisis, why is that? the crisis is a structural one and it's going to last. it has been in a cocoon for m

now on bbc news, hardtalk‘s stephen sackur talks to former conservative leader, lord howard.rdtalk. iam i am stephen sackur. britain's conservative party is about to hold its 2018 annual conference. and it promises to be a fascinating spectacle, with the party riven by deep divisions over brexit — divisions which threaten to derail theresa may's brexit strategy and perhaps her premiership as well. at sta ke and perhaps her premiership as well. at stake isn't just the future ofa at stake isn't just the future of a venerable political party, but the future of britain. my my guest is former conservative leader michael lord howard. theresa —— both in brussels and at home, theresa may is in deep trouble. does she have a viable way out? lord howard, welcome to hardtalk. good to be with you. the brexit endgame has arrived, and theresa may is trapped. would you agree? endgame has arrived, and theresa may is trapped. would you agree7m endgame has arrived, and theresa may is trapped. would you agree? is not a word i would use, no, but obviously there are difficulties, they always were

now on bbc news, it's hardtalk with stephen sackur. welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur.ng troops overseas, whether to fight or protect, is a costly business which is one reason why over history, wars and long—term military commitments have been contracted out to private operators — mercenaries — whose methods, personnel and cost can be very different. my guest today is erik prince, who founded blackwater, a security contractor used by the us government in iraq until things went badly wrong. a decade on, he is pitching to replace the us military in afghanistan. is that an idea donald trump might just buy? erik prince, welcome to hardtalk. thanks for having me. people, i think, will associate your name with blackwater and the disaster that struck your company in 2007, when your personnel were involved in the killing 01:14 iraqi civilians in baghdad. and yet, here you are a decade later, making the case to privatise one key element of america's military deployment in afghanistan. how come? believe me, i think about the nisour square even almost every day. that was was 11 ye

now on bbc news, hardtalk with stephen sackur. welcome to hardtalk. i'm stephen sackur. anger is a powerful force in politics and there is a lot of it about. donald trump, brexit and a host of populist movements have been fuelled by anger with the way things are. where does it come from? how best to respond? well, one much—discussed provocative perspective comes not from a politician, but the canadian clinical psychologist jordan peterson, whose defence of traditional values has won him a worldwide following. is his diagnosis liberating or dangerous? jordan peterson, welcome to hardtalk. thanks for the invitation. at the beginning of this year, you wrote this book, ‘12 rules for life: an antidote to chaos‘, and in the six or seven months since, around the world it has sold pretty much two million copies. yeah, it's coming up on that. pretty extraordinary. yes. you have struck some sort of a chord, why do you think that is? because i'm having a serious conversation with my viewers and listeners and readers about how to structure their lives individually and the relationsh

now on bbc news, time for hardtalk with stephen sackur.

welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur.today is an internationally acclaimed author whose prolific output of fiction is rooted deep in the soil and the shoreline of his native western australia, a land of harsh beauty, where life rarely comes easy. tim winton‘s latest novel, the shepherd's hut, focuses on a troubled young man wrestling with demons, and it comes at an opportune time, with the me too movement demanding an end to ingrained sexism, misogyny and toxic masculinity. is australia redefining what it means to be a good bloke? tim winton, welcome to hardtalk. thank you. you have travelled the world, you have even lived in europe, but it seems when you write, your writing, and your stories, always take you back home to western australia. why is that? i'm not sure. i think it's notjust what i know, but it's what i live and breathe, and itjust seems endlessly... there's more stories. there's more to write about. the older i get, the more i see in it. it seems like you almost feel the landscapes, the soil and the coastlin

welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur.turbulent recent history of the middle east, has there ever been a time when israel has seemed more powerful — militarily, diplomatically and economically? israel has the fulsome support of the trump administration, and it has common strategic interests with saudi arabia, and arab nations preoccupied with perceived threats from iran. my guest is israel's ambassador to the un, danny danon. is israel making wise choices from its position of strength? ambassador danny danon, at un headquarters in new york, welcome to hardtalk. thank you, stephen, for having me. well, it's a pleasure to have you on the show. i want to begin with what i found rather extraordinary remarks from your prime minister, benjamin netanyahu, just a few days ago when he was visiting the dimona nuclear plant, where he said this. he said, in the middle east, there is a simple truth. this is no place for the weak. the weak crumble, they are slaughtered and erased from history, while the strong, for good orfor ill, survi

now on bbc news, hardtalk with stephen sackur.

now on bbc news, hardtalk‘s stephen sackur talks to former conservative party leader, lord howard.

i'm stephen sackur. britain's exit from the european union has generated intense scrutiny of borders, ta riffs intense scrutiny of borders, tariffs and trade. but the shock waves will spread much further. a complex web of scientific collaboration and partnership is injeopardy — most collaboration and partnership is in jeopardy — most obviously in the field of space and satellite technology. the uk stands to be frozen out of the galileo project which will deliver a european rival to the american gps system. my my guest today is graham turnock chief executive of the uk space agency. will post—brexit britain be left behind in the race to reach new scientific frontiers? graham turnock, welcome to hardtalk. a pleasure to be here. you are the boss of the uk space agency and you are at the cutting edge of science and technology in the uk, significantly interwoven with partnerships right across the european union. how damaging will brexit be for you? the main basis for partnering in the european union is actuall

and you can see that stephen sackur interview with italy's deputy prime minister matteo salvini here ghana to honour the the former secretary general of the united nations kofi annan who died last month. mr annan's body has been lying in state to allow people to pay their respects. world leaders, past and present, and royalty too, are expected to attend his state burial on thursday. the bbc‘s thomas naadi reports. filing past the body of the former un secretary—general, kofi annan, they have come from the length and breadth of the country to catch a glimpse of the great man, and honour him one last time. most of the people paying their last respects today may not have had the opportunity of meeting the former un secretary—general but it's when he promoted peace across the world, has influenced and inspired some of them. the public was hoping to seek kofi annan but the family decided that the coffin would remain closed. for the people of this country, it is time to reflect on the great works of the former un chief. kofi anand means a lot to both the younger and older generation here.

i'm stephen sackur. the old certainties in european politics are crumbling. voters seem fed up with a long—established supremacy of the parties of centre—right and centre—left. the politics of identity and raw emotion have fuelled populist insurgencies from italy to sweden, to eastern europe. mostly it is the right, not the left, in the ascendant. well, my guest is yanis varoufakis, greece's radical leftist finance minister at the height of the economic crisis, and an advocate of a new global progressive politics. but is he losing the argument in europe? yanis va roufakis, welcome to hardtalk. you still play a political role. you have a new political party, which you are determined to make a force in greece and in europe. but would you accept that as a radical, as a leftist, the tide in europe, the tide of public opinion is running against you? absolutely. civilisation is in retreat. we are experiencing a new, a post—modern 1930s moment. the liberal establishment has made a mess of it. they have been insisting on policies that are failing left, right and cent

hardtalk‘s stephen sackur has been speaking to the italian interior minister, matteo salvini, whose northernty, on an anti—immigration platform. mr salvini said the number of boats arriving to italy needs to go down. translation: 700,000 migrants reached the italian coast over the past few years, creating a huge economic, social and legal problems. half of the citizens who are arrested or reported to police every day in italy are immigrants. so for security reasons and social order order, we need to reduce these arrivals. last year, 100,000 arrived. this year we had 20,000 arrivals, so i wanted to hold those who live the countries, and this is a limited number. for all the others, the doors are shut. but you are breaking the rules that were agreed by the italian government, with all the other member states of the european union, to run what is called operation sofia, and to have these migrant ships landed the nearest port, which happens to be italy. and you are now refusing to accept your responsibilities to take these people. translation: no, with sofia now in operation, that you mention, 1

i'm stephen sackur. what is journalism for? to inform and bear witness?uncover inconvenient truth and hold power to account? those are surely values that most of us share. but have we collectively lost faith and trust in the news and those who report it? my guest is alan rusbridger, who edited the uk's guardian newspaper for 20 years, in the midst of a digital revolution which transformed the news business forever. if the established media is no longer trusted, who's to blame? alan rusbridger, welcome to hardtalk. there is a sense hanging over your recent writings that you sort of feel you got out of the news business just before it went into meltdown. would that be fair? it's a tough period economically for news. the model that almost accidentally attached advertising to news, which you could say lasted for 200 years, is melting fast and there's tremendous competition from the digital giants of the west coast. 0n the other hand, i think journalism has never been more important. there is a great battle going on at the moment for truth versus fakery and fa

welcome to hardtalk, i'm stephen sackur. most of us have embedded the internet and smart technology in our lives. we might like to believe we're autonomous digital citizens. but what if our behaviours are now being monitored and modified by private and state actors over which we have no control? how alarmed should we be? well, my guest is michael chertoff, director of homeland security in the bush administration, and now a leading thinker on cyber security. has the internet left every one of us dangerously exposed? michael chertoff, welcome to hardtalk. good to be on. i'm tempted to begin by checking to see if you are the same michael chertoff who, a decade or more ago, was an arch—advocate of enhanced electronic surveillance of citizens, in pursuit of national security. are you that same guy? well, i was the secretary of homeland security, but it wasn't really surveillance in the sense that we're thinking about it now. it was about taking data that was readily available, and a fairly modest amount of data, and beginning to