George Clooney

 

Watch the interview with George Clooney on YouTube
 

Margot Wallstrom explains what the role of the full-time president of the EU will be

The recently signed Lisbon Treaty represents an important stage in the development of the European Union.

It will, should the 27 member states ratify it, create a new full-time EU president who would serve for two and a half years.

The president would coordinate the work of the European Council and act as a global figurehead for the EU.

Margot Wallstrom, a Swedish politician and vice-president of the European Commission, joins Sir David to discuss the importance of a president and possible candidates for the job, including Tony Blair and Bertie Ahern.

Rohitha Bogollagama discusses peace prospects in Sri Lanka

Hopes for a lasting settlement in Sri Lanka were raised when a ceasefire and a political agreement was reached between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels in 2002.

Recent tension and violence, however, has placed doubts on any lasting peace and last week the government announced that it was withdrawing from the ceasefire.

On the day the ceasefire was formally ended more than 26 people were killed in bus bomb in the South, after months of escalating violence.

Rohitha Bogollagama, Sri Lanka’s foreign minister, joins Sir David to discuss the current situation in the country and the prospects for peace.

Bogollagama suggests that the issues must ultimately be resolved through political not military means.

Watch the inteviews with Margot Wallstrom and Rohitha Bogollagama on YouTube

Irwin Stelzer assesses global economy

The world’s economic elite is currently in the Swiss ski-resort of Davos for the World Economic Forum and one subject is on everyone’s mind – the global economy.

This follows another week of turmoil on the world markets, with the US Federal Reserve making its biggest rate cut for 25 years.

Irwin Stelzer, an economist, assesses the outlook for the global economy.

Stelzer suggests that recession is unlikely but warns that the current economic slowdown may continue until 2009.

Stelzer also says the election of a Democratic president in the US would be bad for the country’s economy, with the party’s traditional policy of high taxation and protectionism.

Martin Pickering sheds light on why some South American countries are locked in disputes

They have always been seen as the more stable powers of the region, but no longer.

Last year a dispute between Bolivia and Chile over sea access, and a row between Argentina and Uruguay over some paper mills broke out.

Now there is yet another row between Peru and Chile over the ownership of some valuable fishing grounds.

For years, the sea border between the two countries has been assumed to be a horizontal line, but now Peru is suggesting that the sea border should be lowered to give Peru a bigger fishing area.

Martin Pickering, of the Economist Intelligence Unit, tells Sir David why this formerly peaceful region has become a hotbed of arguments.

Watch the interviews with Irwin Stelzer and Martin Pickering on YouTube

Marco Niada talks us through Italy’s latest political crisis

Following defeat in a vote of confidence in the senate, Romano Prodi, the Italian prime minister, has just stepped down.

Now Italy’s president is to hold crisis talks with political leaders to decide what will come next – electoral reform or snap elections.

Italian politics is longing for stability after 61 different governments and 39 prime ministers since World War II.

Marco Niada, a journalist, talks to Sir David Frost about what the future holds for Italian politics and looks at why there have been so many governments.

Niada explains that the political system is fragmented and in desperate need of reform. He also talks of Italy’s perilous economic situation and its consequent vulnerability in the global economy.

Keith Vaz 

The british MP says the UN Security Council needs to be reformed

The all-powerful UN Security Council currently contains five permanent members, each with veto power over any resolution.

Tasked to ensure global peace and security the makeup of the Council has not been changed too much since its inception in the aftermath of World War II.

The Council is playing an increasingly active role on the global stage and as a result many are calling for reform. Critics accuse the body of being unrepresentative and undemocratic.

Keith Vaz, a British politician, talks to Sir David about the need to reform the Council and his support for India’s bid to become a permanent member, citing its size and increasing economic and political importance.

Vaz also calls for Africa and the Middle East to be given greater representation in the Council.

Watch the interviews with Marco Niada and Keith Vaz on YouTube

Frost Over The World aired at 18:00GMT every Friday on Al Jazeera English and is repeated during the week.

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