Ernest Bai Koroma

Ernest Bai Koroma discusses his efforts to combat corruption in Sierra Leone

In 2002, Sierra Leone emerged from a brutal 10-year civil war, which claimed tens of thousands of lives.

The United Nations now ranks the West African country at the bottom of its Human Development Index.

Ernest Bai Koroma, a former insurance broker, won the presidential election last year.

He now faces the daunting task of reviving the country's fortunes after years of corruption, economic mismanagement and violence.

President Koroma talks to Sir David about the challenges facing his country and his ongoing efforts to combat corruption.


Watch the interview with Ernest Bai Koroma on YouTube

Mutumwa Mawere

 

Mutumwa Mawere discusses Zimbabwe's political future

Zimbabwe's recent troubles have been well documented in the media.

The country's economy is in tatters with inflation said to be running at 150,000 per cent and unemployment rife. 

Exacerbating this, dissent is rarely tolerated by President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF government.

Simba Makoni, the former finance minister, this month said he would stand as an independent candidate in the upcoming elections.

Makoni becomes the first high-profile Zanu-PF member to publicly challenge Mugabe, raising hopes for more competitively fought elections.

Mutumwa Mawere, the chairman of the Africa Heritage Society, joins Sir David to discuss the new candidate and the prospects for political change in Zimbabwe.

Radwan Siddiq, Sheikh Hasina's nephew, talks about his aunt's role in Bangladeshi politics

Last July, Sheikh Hasina, the former prime minister of Bangladesh, was arrested on charges of corruption.

This came as part of a clampdown by the interim government, which has pledged to clean up Bangladeshi politics before the elections at the end of 2008.
 

Supporters of Sheikh Hasina claim the charges are politically motivated and part of a campaign to rid the country of its most popular leaders. 
 
However, this week a Bangladesh high court declared the corruption trial of Sheikh Hasina unlawful.

If the supreme court upholds the decision it could jeopardise the government's efforts to tackle high-level corruption. 

Sheikh Hasina's nephew, Radwan Siddiq, joins Sir David to discuss the current situation.

Siddiq talks about Sheikh Hasina's future role in Bangladeshi politics and criticises the interim government's democratic credentials.

Watch the interviews with Mutumwa Mawere and Radwan Siddiq on YouTube

Daniel Barenboim 
 

Classical musician Daniel Barenboim has been  awarded honorary Palestinian citizenship

Daniel Barenboim is regarded as one of the world's finest classical musicians.

Through his music he has sought to transcend religious and political difference. 
 
In 2001 Barenboim broke a long-running taboo by conducting a piece by Wagner in Israel.

He also assembled an orchestra consisting of young Arabs and Israelis.

Recently, Barenboim was awarded honorary Palestinian citizenship after holding a concert in Ramallah.
 
Barenboim joins Sir David to discuss his hopes for a lasting peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians. He also talks about the role music can play in bringing people together.

 

Laura Schwartz & Kiron Skinner 
 

Laura Schwartz, left, and Kiron Skinner give Sir the David the lowdown on 'Super Tuesday'

The current presidential race is one of the most exciting for years. With a strong crop of candidates and an electorate hungry for change, the US is already gripped with election fever.

After all the expectation and excitement of "Super Tuesday" both parties' nominations are still up for grabs.
 
The battle between the Democratic candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton looks as though it will go to the wire.

Meanwhile, John McCain emerged as the Republican frontrunner although he did not quite do enough to secure his candidacy. 
 
Laura Schwartz, who worked in Bill Clinton's White House, and Kiron Skinner, a Republican academic, join Sir David from the US.

They discuss the implications of Tuesday's results and examine the relative strength of each of the political parties.