Sir Vartan Melkonian: From Beirut street child to the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

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?

4 Helmi 201323min

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)

1 Helmi 201323min

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)

30 Tammi 201323min

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?

28 Tammi 201323min

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?

25 Tammi 201323min

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)

23 Tammi 201323min

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)

21 Tammi 201323min

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?

18 Tammi 201323min