URN

The latest edition of the Big Picture podcast is now available to listen to and download - just follow the link: http://urn1350.net/node/6415

This time, Matt takes the chair for the last time ever, putting questions to the panel about:

- The exchange of five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay for US Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, and what it means for peace in the Middle East;

- The controversy over the appointment of the President of the European Commission in the wake of David Cameron's threat to move his proposed British membership referendum forward to 2016 if current front-runner Jean-Claude Juncker is appointed; and

- The privatisation of public services, with a particular focus on Michael Gove's plans to take certain child protection functions out of State hands.

Thoughts? Comments? Post them below, or tune in next week to join the discussion live! The next (and second-last) Big Picture will be broadcast on Weds. 11th June at 6pm, live on URN. Tune in!

In the third-to-last show of the 2013/14 academic year, Matt chairs the Big Picture for the last time. In this show, originally broadcast on June 4th, 2014, we cover: the exchange between the Taliban and US government of five Guantanamo detainees for a US Sergeant; the row over the Presidency of the European Commission; and the wave of privatisation over the course of the Coalition government.

David chairs a special World Affairs Special of the Big Picture focussing on the protests in Turkey, US/China relations, and reform of the EU. Have a listen for some impassioned and topical debate about the direction of global politics, featuring panel regulars Jonnie, Louis, and Seb, as well as Ahmed and Huseyin, two Turkish students involved with the Nottingham Solidarity Platform, which is organising local response to the government's counter-protest activities.

The next Big Picture will be on Wednesday 12th June from 6pm. Tune in and share your opinion at urn1350.net/listenlive!

To keep up to date with the Nottingham Solidarity Platform and other Turkey-related activism, search for "#occupygezi" and "#direngeziparki".