Kenyan Author - Binyavanga Wainaina
In a host of African countries, homosexuality is a crime. From Nigeria to Uganda, politicians seem to believe persecuting gays is a vote-winning strategy. As part of the BBCs Freedom season, Hardtalk speaks to Kenyan writer Binyavanaga Wainaina. He knew it would be big news when he publically revealed his homosexuality earlier this year. Sure enough he is now at the centre of a debate about freedom, identity and culture that's raging across the African continent. Is his stand changing minds?(Photo: Kenyan author Binyavanga Wainaina during an interview with the AFP on January 27, 2014. Credit: Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images)
21 Feb 201423min
Palestinian Authority Chief Negotiator - Saeb Erekat
What must it be like to have been at the centre of the seemingly endless and fruitless quest for an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal for more than two decades? And is there any reason for expectations to rise as US Secretary of State John Kerry prepares to publish his own outline for a deal. Hardtalk speaks to veteran Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. Are we approaching a defining moment or a dead end?
19 Feb 201423min
Chairman Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars - Dieter Zetsche
Hardtalk is in Stuttgart, Germany - a city with a long history of engineering and manufacturing. The auto industry is a major player here, which is good news for Stuttgart as long as the German car industry continues to thrive. Stephen Sackur speaks to Dieter Zetsche, the boss of Daimler, a company with a global reputation and the makers of Mercedes-Benz cars. However, over the past decade they have made some costly mistakes and they still face major challenges, not least the push for greener more efficient vehicles. Daimler has a proud reputation, but does it have a bright future?
17 Feb 201423min
Former Commissioner of Corrections, Georgia, USA - Allen Ault
A host of countries around the world still impose the ultimate punishment on the most serious criminals - death. What is it like to be in command of the machinery of state-sanctioned execution? As part of the BBC’s special Freedom Season, Hardtalk gets a rare insight from Allen Ault, who spent years running the corrections system in the southern US state of Georgia. He organised the killing of criminals until he could stand it no more. Now he is an opponent of the death penalty, Stephen Sackur finds out why.(Photo: Allen Ault - Former Commissioner of Corrections, Georgia, USA on BBC Hardtalk)
14 Feb 201423min
Wimbledon Champion 2013 - Marion Bartoli
Hardtalk is in Paris at Roland Garros, the headquarters of tennis in France, to speak to the French tennis player and Wimbledon Champion, Marion Bartoli. Last year, just six weeks after achieving the highest accolade in her sport, the Wimbledon title, she announced she was retiring from tennis at the age of only 28. Can she really never imagine competing again? And if so, what does that say about the health of tennis?
12 Feb 201423min
President, Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace - Cardinal Peter Turkson
It is nearly a year since the new Pope was installed, but still the same problems dog the Catholic Church. A UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has just criticised the Vatican over its failure to deal decisively with child sexual abuse by priests. Gay rights activists still attack the Church on its stand on homosexuality and the Vatican’s finances have been under scrutiny and criminal investigation. Hardtalk speaks to Cardinal Peter Turkson who was tipped to become the first black Pope. He’s calling for financial reforms and action against poverty and inequality. But does the Catholic Church have the moral authority to take a lead on such issues?
10 Feb 201423min
British Foreign Secretary - William Hague
From Syria and Afghanistan to relations with the US and Europe, how influential is British foreign policy today?Picture: William Hague, Credit: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
7 Feb 201423min
Secretary, All India Progressive Women’s Association - Kavita Krishnan
Stephen Sackur talks to the prominent women’s rights campaigner, Kavita Krishnan. Delhi is a proud capital of the nation - a noisy and vibrant place - but a city stained by its record on sexual violence. More rapes are recorded here than any other Indian city. Just over a year ago a 23-year-old medical student died after a brutal gang rape on a bus which shocked the nation and prompted millions of people to demand government action to end gender violence. Is India becoming a safer, more equal society for women?Picture: Kavita Krishnan, Credit: BBC
5 Feb 201423min
