The Interview

BBC World Service
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Feb 6, 2013 • 23min

Renzo Piano - Architect

Renzo Piano is one of the world's most accomplished and feted architects; and one used to dividing opinion. Back in the 1970s he designed Paris's Pompidou Centre and since then has taken on high profile developments all over the globe. His latest creation – The Shard, which is currently Europe's tallest building - is already loved, but it is also loathed. What does the Shard say about us? And why build it so big?(Image: Renzo Piano, Credit: Getty Images)
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Feb 4, 2013 • 23min

Lord Ouseley – Chairman, Kick It Out

If football is the beautiful game then it risks being disfigured by an ugly scar: racism. Players, fans and administrators have all pledged their determination to kick racism out of the sport, but there's plenty of evidence to suggest the anti-racist rhetoric isn't working. Lord Ouseley, is a veteran equality campaigner who was appointed to a senior advisory role with the English Football Association. But now he's quitting - has football failed to tackle its race problem?
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Feb 1, 2013 • 23min

Paul Bhatti – Minister in Charge of National Harmony, Pakistan

Paul Bhatti is Pakistan's Minister for National Harmony - job description that seems deeply ironic given his country's current turmoil. He accepted the job after his brother was assassinated whilst serving as Minorities Minister.The Bhatti family is from Pakistan's minority Christian community. What hope is there for national harmony in a country disfigured by extremist violence and endemic corruption?(Image: Paul Bhatti, Credit: Getty Images)
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Jan 30, 2013 • 23min

Mark Lynas - pro-GM campaigner

As part of the BBC’s What If? season, Hardtalk talks to pro-GM campaigner and environmental author Mark Lynas asking What if genetically modified food is the solution to world hunger?(Image: Mark Lynas, Credit: Getty Images)
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Jan 28, 2013 • 23min

Nigel Sheinwald - UK Ambassador to the US (2007 - 2012)

In or out? For the next five years Britain's future in the European Union will be shrouded in uncertainty thanks to David Cameron's commitment to a referendum. He believes his dramatic gamble will pay off not just at home, but in Europe too - allowing him to recalibrate Britain's relationship with Brussels. Will it work? HARDtalk speaks to Sir Nigel Sheinwald who was the UK's top diplomat at the EU, foreign policy adviser to Tony Blair, then Ambassador in Washington. Is the Cameron EU gambit in Britain's national interest?
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Jan 25, 2013 • 23min

Mohamed El-Erian – CEO, PIMCO

Is it time for the doom-mongers to admit they were wrong about the world economy? The Eurozone is intact, the US hasn't plunged off that fiscal cliff and even the most stagnant economy of them all - Japan's - is showing signs of life. Could it be that central bankers and politicians are finally ready to take bold decisions in their quest for growth? Hardtalk speaks to one of the world's most influential investors, Mohamed El-Erian, boss of the massive PIMCO fund management business. Caution or confidence, which is winning out?
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Jan 23, 2013 • 23min

Doreen Lawrence

Stephen Lawrence was murdered in South London on April 22, 1993. Stephen was black – his attackers were white. The killing and subsequent investigation exposed violent racism on Britain’s streets and institutional racism within the British police force. Thanks to the tireless campaign of Stephen’s mother – Doreen Lawrence – two of her son’s killers were last year brought to justice. Laws have been passed and institutions reformed to combat racism but, two decades on, how much has really changed?(Image: Doreen Lawrence, Credit: Getty Images)
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Jan 21, 2013 • 23min

Pascal Lamy – Director General, World Trade Organisation

As head of the World Trade Organisation for the past eight years, Pascal Lamy has been leading the crusade for global free trade. The so called Doha round of negotiations designed to spread free trade to the developing world is in limbo. The flagging world economy has prompted a rise in protectionism. Has the march toward trade liberalisation ended in failure?(Image: Pascal Lamy, Credit: Getty Images)
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Jan 18, 2013 • 23min

Kiran Bedi - Senior Female Police Officer in India

The brutal gang rape and murder of a young woman in Delhi last month has prompted India to confront a disturbing truth: the country is failing to protect women from sexual violence. Kiran Bedi has seen the problem close up – she was the most senior female police officer in the Indian Police Service when she retired. Is India ready for the deep-seated changes that would make the country’s women less vulnerable?
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Jan 16, 2013 • 23min

Joaquin Almunia – EU Competition Commissioner

EU officials in Brussels insist the worst of the Eurozone crisis is over; but is that relief premature? Europe's debt mountain still casts a long shadow. Rising unemployment is fuelling anger on the streets. And Europe's biggest nations are divided on the basic question – where next for the EU? Amid this uncertainty, big practical challenges remain – not least for the EU's Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia. Short term or long term, is there reason to be confident about the EU?(Image: Joaquin Almunia – EU Competition Commissioner, Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

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