Roundtable

Europe has endured a brutal summer of extreme heat, from destructive wildfires to record droughts that are damaging parts of the continent’s economy.River levels have fallen to historic lows, disrupting shipping on major trade routes including the Rhine and Danube.Crops are suffering, while extreme temperatures are beginning to reshape when and where tourists travel.So how much is climate change already costing Europe - and can the continent adapt to hotter and more disruptive summers?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Dr Margaret HarrisFormer World Health Organization SpokespersonSamantha BurgessDeputy Director of the Copernicus Climate Change ServiceTom BurkeChairperson of Third Generation EnvironmentalismFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

The Russia-Ukraine war is entering a new phase.While fierce fighting continues on the ground, Ukraine is deploying newly designed drones deeper inside Russian territory. This week, a refinery in Tatarstan was targeted, while Ukrainian drones destroyed a huge warehouse belonging to Russia’s equivalent of Amazon in Yekaterinburg, around 2,000 kilometres from Ukraine.Ukraine claims fresh successes, but it is also facing a growing shortage of missiles capable of intercepting Russia’s deadly ballistic weapons.As the war’s consequences are felt more directly by ordinary Russians, could growing anti-war sentiment begin to influence the course of the conflict?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Patrick BuryFormer Nato AnalystGilbert DoctorowRussian History AuthorSvitlana MorenetsWriter at The SpectatorFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

In the three months since ending Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule, Hungary’s new Prime Minister Peter Magyar has launched a sweeping campaign dubbed Operation Purgatory to dismantle what he describes as Orban’s illiberal system.The speed and scope of these moves have sparked a fierce backlash.Orban has denounced them as “tyranny” and pledged “resistance by all peaceful means,” while far‑right allies across Europe have warned of democratic backsliding.Peter Magyar promised Hungarians change and he is moving to deliver on that promise…But will it be the kind of change they voted for?Joining Rihannon Jones for this discussion:Daniel Deme, Editor in Chief of Hungary TodayMarc Loustau, JournalistAndGergely Rajnai, Professor of Hungarian Studies at Indiana UniversityFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

In an unprecedented breach of Spain's border, more than 70,000 migrants swam and stampeded their way into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco.For some, the journey was deadly with least 75 migrants losing their lives in the crossing.Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has blamed human traffickers for the crisis, while other European Union states have accused him of being ‘soft’ on migrants.Many of the migrant have since been returned to Morocco but it has caused friction with other EU countries over border controls,How does the bloc move forward amid strained relations - and why did so many people storm the border on the same day?Joining Rhiannon Jones for this discussion:Souwie BuisJournalistAndrás LászlóHungarian Politician and Member of the European Parliament.Pablo Calderon MartinezAssociate Professor in Politics and International Relations at Northeastern University LondonFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Europe's push to become less reliant on imported fossil fuels has resulted in the growth of solar power with a record 25% of the EU’s electricity being generated by solar in June.Germany, Spain and Poland have been at the forefront of this rapid expansion which accelerated after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.Renewable energy sources have become even more important as the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupts energy supplies coming through the Strait of Hormuz.But the success of Europe's solar power depends on how fast governments upgrade and invest in infrastructure.Can the EU successfully transition to solar and could it be the energy source which helps combat further energy shocks?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Osman ZenginLecturer in Energy Law and Policy at University of East LondonChris AylettResearch Fellow in the Environment and Society Centre at Chatham HousePatrizio DonatiFounder of TerrawattFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Missed flights and delays at borders, the EU's new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) has caused travellers big issues at some European airports as they struggle toThe EU rejected calls from airports and airlines to temporarily suspend the system, insisting the technology is working as intended despite cases of delays.The new digital border entry applies to non-EU citizens requiring them to have their fingerprints scanned and photograph taken when entering the Schengen area.So what will be the impact for travellers heading to Europe this summer?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Simon CalderTravel JournalistMarta GrandeFormer Member of the Italian ParliamentTom JenkinsChief Executive of the European Tourism AssociationFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Reform UK's Nigel Farage will compete against a record 33 candidates in the Clacton by-election in August in a political gamble for the politician after he resigned as an MP amid controversy over his finances.Farage is facing an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards over an undeclared £5 million gift from a crypto investor. The Reform UK leader is also facing scrutiny over his professional relationship with George Cottrell, a man convicted and imprisoned over fraud charges in 2017.Farage denies any wrongdoing and is now seeking to regain support from his former constituents in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.But his main competition will not be representatives from the UK’s major parties, who have boycotted the election, it will come from a satirical candidate, the self-described “intergalactic space warrior”, Count Binface.Farage has taken a massive gamble, will his ambitions of political leadership be thwarted by a man in a costume?Joining Enda Brady for this discussion:Cindy YuColumnist at The Sunday TimesScarlett MccGwireFormer Labour Party AdviserCharlie RowleyFormer UK Government AdviserFollow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld

Kurt Volker, former US Special Representative for Ukraine, talks exclusively to TRT World's Roundtable about his decades of experience in US diplomacy, from the war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East.The former US diplomat gives his insights into Trump's relationship with President Putin, saying he has finally realised the Russian leader has been lying to him and Putin will continue the war in Ukraine until "money and manpower runs out".Volker also reflects on President Trump’s legacy, highlighting him as the initial driving force behind European nations increasing their NATO contributions which is a critical step in strengthening Europe against Russia.Having also served under George W Bush, Volker points out that the most significant difference between two presidents is that Trump acts with his “gut feelings”.Follow the podcast to keep up to date and access the back catalogue of Roundtable discussions at https://www.youtube.com/@RoundtableTRTWorld