Afleveringen
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Venezuela's earthquake recovery efforts, the rapid start of Hungary's new PM, a post-Soviet reunion at a border-town bazaar, and does the American Dream still hold up as America celebrates 250 years of independence.
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Kate Adie introduces stories from Afghanistan, East Jerusalem, Jamaica, Thailand and Russia.
In Afghanistan women are facing ever tighter restrictions in almost every aspect of public life. Yogita Limaye has been in Afghanistan where she spoke to a young woman determined to keep her dreams alive by covertly flouting Taliban rules.
Wyre Davies reports on how the decades old agreement known as the 'Status Quo' is under threat, as Israeli nationalists flout the rules that govern Jerusalem's holiest site, which is known to Jews as the Temple Mount, and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif (Noble Sanctuary).
Last October, Hurricane Melissa - one of the most intense Atlantic hurricanes on record - hit Jamaica, killing at least 45 people, and causing widespread devastation across the island. Eight months on, communities are rebuilding and recovering - Antonia Windsor went to visit them.
In Thailand’s capital Bangkok, emergency service a receive snake-related call roughly every 15 minutes. Rebecca Root spent time with experts exploring the rise of human-snake encounters - and why their work on anti-venom production is vital.
And after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moscow enacted new laws that made public criticism of the war a potential imprisonable offence. For the country’s comedians – for whom political satire has long been a staple of their performance - there’s now a tricky tightrope to tread, reports Ben Tavener in Moscow.
This podcast was first published on Sat 27 June and republished on Mon 29 June following a factual error in the introduction of the Jerusalem dispatch.
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Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
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Kate Adie introduces stories on the G7 summit and Donald Trump's Iran deal, the ongoing Ebola crisis in DRC, Peru's knife-edge elections, South Korea's feminist literary circles, and Ghana's world cup dreams.
President Donald Trump once again dominated the agenda at the latest G7 summit in France, as he presented his prospective peace deal with Iran, and agreed to continued support for Ukraine. James Waterhouse was in Evian-les-Bains where he watched as leaders scrambled to keep up with the President's evolving agenda.
Health clinics in the Democratic Republic of Congo are battling to bring the latest Ebola virus outbreak under control. The head of Africa’s Centres for Disease Control warned this week that the current spread of the virus – which is also affecting Uganda - could be the worst ever. Anne Soy has been in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak.
Peru recently held its second round of voting in a knife-edge presidential election which has pitted two very different candidates against each other – the right-wing Keiko Fujimori and left-wing Roberto Sanchez. Ione Wells has been speaking to voters in Lima.
The women of South Korea have experienced an anti-feminist backlash in recent years, following the MeToo movement’s breakthrough in 2016. One of the responses has been a rise in book clubs and writing rooms for women, offering a space to gather and talk freely. Leehyun Choi reports from Seoul.
And England take on Ghana in the World Cup next Tuesday - one of ten African countries playing in this year’s tournament. Sara Wheeler has been in Jamestown where she heard more about football’s cherished place in Ghanaian life.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie presents stories on the deserters from Myanmar's military forces, African POWs in Ukraine, Ahmedebad a year on from the Air India crash, South Africa and Belize.
Myanmar’s military, which seized power from the democratically elected government in 2021, reactivated a conscription law two years ago. Anyone 18-35 years of age, now has to serve between 2 to five years in the army. Quentin Sommerville spoke to some who defected from the country's military in rebel-held territory.
African POWs are being held in western Ukraine, after being recruited to fight for Russia. Many say they were misled or coerced by illegal recruiters promising jobs and good pay. Sammy Awami went to meet some of them.
A year after Air India Flight 171 crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people, families of those who died are fighting for answers after failures in the identification process. Azadeh Moshiri has been to the crash site and met with relatives.
South Africa has seen a rise in anti-immigration protests and reports of xenophobic violence, prompting repatriation efforts by several African governments. In Johannesburg, Mayeni Jones reflects on the tensions, her own unease, and the difficulty of separating fact from rumour.
In Belize, a lesser-known musical tradition rooted in the unique history and culture of the Garifuna people is thriving. Simon Broughton explores this distinctive sound, shaped by a rich Caribbean heritage and a fiercely independent past.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Vadon
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Ebola in the DRC, Ukraine's stoic bus drivers, the rebirth of a river in Oregon, India's ethnic violence, and the return of the Griffon Vulture in Croatia.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is experiencing another outbreak of Ebola, but as the virus spreads so too have rumours and conspiracy theories about the cause of the pathogen. Olivia Acland reports from the border between North Kivu and Ituri provinces.
This week Ukraine came under one of the heaviest Russian assaults in months, with the country's energy infrastructure once again hit hard. Vitaly Shevchenko has been in Kherson, where he learned how public transport is now becoming a target for Russian drone operators too.
In America's pacific northwest we go rafting down the Klamath river which is flowing for the first time in a century after a dam was removed - but not without resistance from locals, finds Ash Bhardwaj.
Three years ago, the state of Manipur in India’s north-east erupted in violence, and hundreds of people were killed because of tensions between the Kuki and Meitei communities. Since then, the deeper causes of the conflict haven’t been resolved – and this year, communal violence has broken out again. Raghvendra Rao was there.
Off the coast of Croatia an island’s once dwindling griffon vulture population is back in full flight. Mary Novakovich met the people responsible for the revival, and learns of this bird's vital role in ecological waste management.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Cuba's economic crisis as it feels the strain of the US fuel blockade, Lebanon's shattered ceasefire, the fevered debate over Australia's social media ban, plus dispatches from Greece and Iceland.
Cuba is struggling to cope with the the US government's near-total fuel blockade and the Trump administration increased the pressure on the ruling Communist Party when it issued an indictment against Raul Castro this week. Will Grant has been gauging the mood in Havana.
In southern Lebanon, Israel has stepped up its offensive on Hezbollah with daily strikes, which have killed dozens of civilians. This follows drone attacks launched by the Iran-backed group on communities in northern Israel. John Sudworth reports on the ongoing conflict.
Six months on from Australia's introduction of a social media ban for under 16s, governments around the world are eagerly looking on as they consider rolling out similar policies… but is it working? Katy Watson has been following the debate in Sydney.
In Greece, indignation over new labour laws introduced last October continue to simmer as the summer heat takes hold. The new law, which permits 13-hour working days was met with fierce opposition and nationwide strikes. Heidi Fuller Love heard some full-throated views on the subject in a local taverna
And finally, when a correspondent is on deployment, they often have to navigate sudden changes of plan. Sandra Kanthal found herself diverted by bad weather from an assignment reporting on Iceland’s arctic defences… and founded herself in an unusual museum.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on the fate of a sick Afghan girl, a surprising return to Sudan, Armenia's choice between Russia and the West, Germany's culture of remembrance, and a first-time visit to an Irish wake.
In Afghanistan's Hindu Kush, where drought and hunger are rife, Yogita Limaye meets a father who made the unenviable decision to sell his young daughter into marriage to fund her medical treatment. Child marriage is not uncommon in rural communities, and the recent codification of laws under the Taliban government has made it more permissible.
Sudan has entered its fourth year of a brutal civil war, though government forces have reclaimed the capital Khartoum over the past year, driving out the paramilitary Rapid Support forces. Mohanad Hashim grew up Khartoum, and recently returned for the first time since the government took back control.
Armenia is holding key elections next month, which will serve as a major test of the country's political trajectory - to strengthen old ties with Russia, or to accelerate plans to join the EU. Rayhan Demytrie has been in the capital, Yerevan.
Germany’s culture of remembrance has long been seen as a model for how others can reckon with dark episodes of their past. But this has come under some scrutiny after the culture minister announced plans to broaden exactly what the country chooses to remember. Chelsea Coates reports from Berlin.
And finally, Vincent Dowd recently returned to southwest Ireland - somewhere he knows well after many years spent holidaying in the region. But this visit was more tentative than usual, as he was to attend his first traditional Irish wake.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on President Trump's visit to China, the Palestine marathon, the Venice Biennale boycott, a young woman's search for her mother in India, and living in the fast lane with Sierra Leone's First Lady.
Laura Bicker has been in Beijing where military parades, red carpets and singing choirs of children greeted Donald Trump as he arrived for talks with President Xi. So what progress was made in China-US relations after a frosty period?
Wyre Davies has been in Bethlehem watching on as runners from around the world took part in the 10th Palestine Marathon - a burst of positivity after the race was postponed amid the war between Hamas and Israel, following the October 2023 attacks.
The Venice Biennale and the Eurovision song contest were both founded with the intention of bringing nations together through art - but Kirsty Lang finds, upon visiting Venice, an art festival swept up in a clash with global politics.
In the Indian state of Maharashtra, Tanya Datta travels with a young woman in search of her birth-mother after she was adopted by a French family and grew up in France. As she goes to the place of her birth, she finds an unexpected connection.
And Megha Mohan recounts a hair-raising journey travelling in the motorcade of Sierra Leone's first lady, Fatima Bio - en route to interview her in the Presidential Palace.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Vladimir Putin's declining popularity, peace protests in Japan, Serbia's anti-corruption anger, and how Canadian robots are patrolling the Arctic.
The Kremlin has recently increased security measures around President Vladimir Putin after a string of assassinations of top Russian military figures. This comes as the president has retreated from public view, as the economic impact of Russia's war in Ukraine continues to bite. Steve Rosenberg observes the shift in the country’s mood
Japan has taken a major step away from its post-war pacifist stance, lifting long-standing restrictions on arms exports. The government says it’s a necessary step in an increasingly tense region - but it’s raising alarm and in recent weeks there have been protests in major cities across the country. Kurumi Mori reports from Tokyo.
Serbia has also been experiencing a series of protests over the past year – fuelled by anger over alleged government corruption. They began in November 2024 following the collapse of a train station roof in the northern city of Novi Sad, which killed 16 people. Jill McGivering has been to Belgrade to meet a woman whose tragic loss put her at the centre of the political crisis.
Governments around the world are increasingly investing in military robots, as the nature of modern warfare evolves. Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney announced an investment of $32bn in Arctic defences, where robotic surveillance technology is being put to the test in icy temperatures. David Baillie has been following one of the trials, but finds human expertise is still far from obsolete.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on the King and Queen's visit to Washington, the current mood inside Iran, elections in Gaza and the West Bank, and why fish are front and centre in the politics of West Bengal.
King Charles and Queen Camilla's state visit to Washington came at a fragile moment in the UK-US relationship. A gulf has opened up between the two nations over issues such as Ukraine, defence spending, tariffs, and the Iran War. Sarah Smith reflects on how far the visit has helped restore the 'special relationship'.
Donald Trump’s admiration for the traditions of the Royal Family was on full display during the visit, as he praised the King as an ‘elegant man’. Sean Coughlan has travelled with the King on previous tours, and reveals what made this one different.
Inflation has soared to 50 per cent in Iran and people continue to struggle with rising prices of staples such as rice, eggs and cheese, as the stand-off in the Strait of Hormuz continues to disrupt trade. Lyse Doucet reflects on her recent encounters while visiting Tehran.
Municipal elections were held last weekend in the occupied West Bank and Gaza. Hamas was officially excluded from participating, as the Palestinian Authority requires parties and candidates to recognise the state of Israel - something Hamas refuses to do. Jon Donnison has been in Ramallah.
And in West Bengal a fierce state election battle is underway. Indian PM Narendra Modi's BJP has mounted an aggressive push to unseat the Trinamool Congress party which is seeking a fourth consecutive term. Soutik Biswas reveals how a culinary tradition has become a surprising hot-button issue.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Pakistan, the Turkey-Iran border, Kenya, Ukraine, and Paraguay.
Why was Pakistan chosen as the host of peace talks between the US and Iran? It's a question some in Islamabad have been asking themselves - and has fired-up a sense of national pride. Caroline Davies has watched on as the country gets ready for another round of negotiations.
When the war in Iran began, there was a sense of jubilation among some Iranians, who had long-dreamed of the regime falling. Now that seems like a distant reality, and the mood is changing. BBC Persian's Omid Montazeri has been on the Turkey-Iran border, where he has found attitudes towards the war are shifting.
This weekend marks the 40th anniversary of the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, which remains the world's worst nuclear accident. Jordan Dunbar visited the city of Slavutych in Northern Ukraine, which was purpose built to rehouse workers evacuated from the power plant city of Pripyat - and recounts his search for a DJ legend of the 1980s.
In northern Kenya farmers and their families are suffering the effects of consecutive seasons of low rainfall. A new report estimates around 400,000 people are experiencing acute levels of hunger. Sammy Awami reports from Turkana, one of the worst affected areas.
And the semi-arid lowlands of the Gran Chaco span an area of around 280 thousand miles across South America - more than half of that is in Argentina, a third in Paraguay and the remainder in Bolivia. It’s the region’s second-largest forest ecosystem after the Amazon – and is also home to a wide range of animal, bird and plant species - as Sara Wheeler discovered.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Lebanon's deadliest day, life in an Israeli under-siege border town, Hungary's victorious new leader, fuel protests in Ireland, and the secrets of a long life in Japan.
President Trump’s announcement of a ten-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon comes after Lebanon experienced its deadliest day of the conflict so far - what's become known as 'Black Wednesday'. More than 2,100 people have been killed since the conflict began, with more than a million displaced. Hugo Bachega reports from Beirut.
The ceasefire has been cautiously welcomed by some Israeli citizens too - though many are in favour of the war continuing, to defeat Hezbollah which has mounted cross-border attacks against Israel for decades. Nick Beake travelled to Israel's northernmost town of Metula.
The curtain fell last weekend on sixteen years of Viktor Orban’s rule as prime minister of Hungry after he lost the general election in a landslide victory to former ally Peter Magyar. The new leader has promised to repair frayed relations with the EU. Nick Thorpe reports from Budapest.
Roads in and around Irish cities came to a standstill for days last week as farmers, truck-drivers and agricultural workers formed a blockade amid soaring fuel prices which they said were crippling businesses. Sara Girvin was in Dublin.
There’s a seemingly endless interest in unlocking the secrets to living longer. Many people look to the world’s so-called ‘blue zones’ – areas that are home to a high percentage of centenarians. One of the most renowned is the Japanese island of Okinawa - Christine Finn went looking for clues.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on President Trump's threats towards Iran, how the war in Ukraine has reshaped Kyiv, why the Trump family sees potential in Albania, Indonesia's plastic waste problem, and the dawn of the year 2976 in Morocco.
Citizens of Iran and nearby gulf countries held their breath this week after Donald Trump threatened 'a whole civilisation would die' if a ceasefire wasn’t agreed. The BBC’s State Department correspondent Tom Bateman has been following the proclamations of an unpredictable president.
The BBC's Vitaly Shevchenko is originally from Ukraine and recently returned home for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022. While there, he saw how the war has reshaped Kyiv, and how the town of Bucha is recovering from the massacre which took place at the start of the conflict.
The white sands of the Albanian Rivera are catching the eye of global property developers - President Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband Jared Kushner among them. The country is being touted as the next must-visit destination, but there are environmental concerns finds Emily Wither.
Indonesia's tourist hot spots and remote beaches alike are being hit by waves plastic waste., with videos of floating rubbish tips going viral. Rebecca Henschke saw the plastic problem up close while snorkelling in once pristine waters.
The Amazigh are North Africa’s most-populous indigenous group, having inhabited the region for centuries before Arab migrations. With long-standing traditional customs, the Amazigh also have their own calendar. Peter Yeung travelled to the Atlas Mountains to welcome in the year 2976.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on the Hungarian elections, the Kurdish fighters readying to fight Iran, the Nigerian farmers working under armed guard, the Philippines fuel crisis, and how tourists are staying away from Jerusalem's holy sites.
Hungary's prime minister Viktor Orban is facing a tough reelection battle, with the opposition centre right Tisza party ahead in the polls. During the campaign, Orban's Fidesz party has stoked fears about the malign influence of Ukraine and the EU. Nick Thorpe reports from Budapest.
On the Iraq-Iran border, Kurdish forces are gathering in preparation for a potential ground war in Iran, though there is caution about joining US forces, as Kurdish leaders say they were abandoned by the US coalition in Syria, despite thousands giving their lives to help defeat Islamic State. Jiyar Gol met them at their mountain base.
In Borno State in northeast Nigeria, farmers have to tend to their fields under armed guard because of the threat posed by Islamist militants. Ijeoma Ndukwe travelled to Maiduguri, where she met farmers hit by the pervasive threat of violence.
The Philippines became the first country to declare an energy emergency after fuel prices more than doubled since the Iran war began. Suranjana Tewari met transport drivers in Manila, who are struggling to make a living.
And in Israel, the closure of holy sites due to the heightened security threat caused by the war with Iran has led to disappointment among local business owners as the droves of tourists who typically visit at this time of year have decided to stay away, reports Sebastian Usher.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Cuba's multiple crises from blackouts to food shortages, what it's like living under another war in Lebanon, how Persian new year festivities were muted this year, what China thinks about the war in the Middle East, and how an archaeological dig in Georgia led to a political purge.
More than ten million people were left in the dark this week in Cuba, as the third major blackout in a month hit the island. The US fuel blockade is taking its toll, but locals are now finding the courage to publicly criticise the communist government, finds Will Grant in Havana.
Lebanon was quickly drawn into another war following the US-Israel bombardment of Iran. For many Lebanese, much of their life has been spent living amid conflict or the aftermath of war. Carine Torbey reports from Beirut.
The Spring equinox marked the Persian new year festival of Nowruz, though celebrations were muted this year with the country at war, and emotions still raw from the thousands of protesters killed in January. Leila Molana Allen is British-Iranian and reflects on how Iranians inside the country - and in the diaspora - have been trying to draw strength from this ancient tradition.
China has so far kept its distance from the US-Israel war with Iran - a strategy designed, perhaps, with an eye on longer-term advantages over the United States. But it might not be quite so straight-forward says Laura Bicker in Beijing.
And in the Southern Caucasus, archaeologists are once again digging for fossils in Georgia following a political purge of the country's museum sector. William Dunbar went to see what new discoveries are being made.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie presents stories from Qatar and Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Latvia, South Korea and Finland
The US-Israeli war with Iran saw a marked escalation this week with strikes on some of the world’s biggest gas fields. Israel’s attack on Iran’s south Pars gas field triggered a swift response from Tehran, who launched strikes on the Ras Laffan terminal – the world’s largest liquefied natural gas facility, and other gulf countries. The attacks caused oil and gas prices to spike. Frank Gardner has been in Riyadh and Doha.
In Venezuela, billboards and banners of former President, Nicolas Maduro still line the roads of Caracas after he was seized in January by US forces. Washington has outlined a plan for Venezuela and eased sanctions but hasn’t provided a timeframe for elections. And many young Venezuelans are sceptical that much will change, says Ione Wells.
Next week the BBC’s Russian Service marks its 80th anniversary. The service’s editor Jenny Norton reflects on how the team have found ways to adapt after the clampdown on media freedoms and the invasion of Ukraine, and setting up a new base in Latvia.
In South Korea, a new genre of movies is taking the entertainment world by storm: the “micro-drama.” They’re carefully curated one- or two-minute-long shows with intense plotlines, made to be watched on your phone. Jake Kwon in Seoul went behind the scenes.
The BBC's climate editor, Justin Rowlatt, isn’t just interested in our warming world, he’s also a keen cold-water swimmer. And he recently found himself competing in the Winter Swimming World Championships in Oulu, a town in northern Finland, about 100 miles south of the Arctic circle.
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie HillEditor: Richard Vadon
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Kate Adie presents stories from Iran, Qatar, Ukraine, the US and Nepal
For people living in cities under bombardment, it’s not clear how the US Israeli war with Iran will end. More than 1200 have so far been killed, amid attacks across the country. Iranians tell BBC Persian's Sarah Namjoo they are struggling to lead a normal life.
Qatar is among several Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes on military and civilian sites since the war began. As a major oil and gas exporter, it’s reliant on the Strait of Hormuz, but shipments through it have now stopped due to attacks on tankers. Barbara Plett Usher has been gauging the mood in Doha.
Gulf nations have turned to Ukraine for advice amid Iranian drone strikes - their expertise and technology are considered top-class. To that end, teams of Ukrainian drone experts have arrived in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. James Landale, the BBC diplomatic correspondent, has been in Kyiv.
At a US air base in Delaware, the bodies of six US soldiers killed in an Iranian drone strike in Kuwait have been returned, attended by President Trump, Vice President JD Vance and top military officials. It was a moment of quiet solemnity amid a week where the US President has oscillated as to what the war goals are in Iran, says Bernd Debusmann.
Nepal has witnessed an historic election this week. Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah is set to be the next prime minister. He campaigned on a platform of reform and job creation, after anti-corruption protests led by young Nepalis last year led to the resignation of the former PMr. Our South Asia Correspondent Azadeh Moshiri has been in Kathmandu
Series Producer: Serena TarlingProduction Coordinators: Sophie Hill and Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Vadon
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After the US-Israel attacks on Iran, surrounding countries have quickly been drawn into the war following retaliatory strikes by Iran. We hear from Turkey, Lebanon, Israel and Cyprus.
The US-Israel attacks on Iran hit major cities across the country, destroying civilian buildings in Tehran, as well as military sites in Natanz and Isfahan. Many Iranians are now trying to flee the ongoing attacks by crossing into neighbouring countries. James Waterhouse reports from the Turkey-Iran border.
There's a sense of déjà vu for the people of Lebanon who are once again forced to shelter after the militia group Hezbollah launched missiles and drones into Israel to avenge the killing of Ayatollah Khamenei. Israel replied with attacks on Hezbollah's Shia strongholds in the south. Wyre Davies has been in Beirut.
Many of the missiles fired towards Israel failed to penetrate its Iron Dome defence system - but not all. Nine people died after a synagogue in Beit Shemesh was hit, penetrating the bomb shelter beneath it. Hugo Bachega reports from Tel Aviv.
The strikes on Iran have had significant repercussions across the region, as Iran targets countries hosting US military bases. Cyprus was among those hit - a long-time base for the British RAF. Jessica Parker visited the base in Akrotiri.
And a renowned restaurant in Berlin which cast itself as a symbol of breaking bread across religious and political divides has just gone out of business. Is it just another victim of rising rents and economic instability? Lucy Ash pulled up a chair as one of its last diners, just as news of another conflict broke.
Producer: Serena TarlingProduction coordinators: Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories on Mexico's cartel war, President Trump's State of the Union address, the Russian soldiers escaping the front-line, and a slow boat journey in Benin.
Mexico was rocked by a violent rampage this week, after the drug lord, El Mencho, died following a fire-fight between his bodyguards and Mexican military commandos. It’s stark evidence of the challenges facing President Claudia Sheinbaum as she vows to take on the country’s criminal gangs. Quentin Sommerville reports on the fallout following El Mencho's death and the disturbingly deadly rivalry between the cartels.
'Our country is winning again,' was President Donald Trump’s rallying cry at his State of the Union address this week in Washington DC, citing success in the jobs market and stopping illegal crossings at the southern border. But his sinking approval ratings suggest he’s not necessarily convincing the public. Anthony Zurcher watched on in the House Chamber.
The exact toll on Russian forces in Ukraine has been closely guarded by the Kremlin, but estimates suggest more than a million Russian troops have been killed or injured over the past four years. For those who refuse to fight the consequences can be severe. Ben Steele met Russian troops who have escaped the front-line, at great personal cost.
The small West African nation of Benin is made up of around fifty different ethnic groups and languages. Most of the population is concentrated in the South - home to the country’s main cities, such as the port of Cotonou. While Benin has only a handful of highways, its lush inter-connected lagoons provide a vital commercial artery. Sara Wheeler took a trip down the Black River.
Producer: Serena TarlingProduction coordinators: Katie MorrisonEditor: Richard Fenton-Smith
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Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Iran, the United States and India.
February marks four years since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Around 55,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in that time and a large number are considered officially missing. Sarah Rainsford has witnessed the war since the beginning, and on her latest visit to Ukraine she met soldiers and civilians who shared stories of grief, resistance and a desire for peace.
The Iranian government recently put on a show of strength to mark the anniversary of the revolution that saw the return from exile of Ayatollah Khomeini - and the dawn of the Islamic Republic. But 47 years on, Iran has once again experienced widespread unrest, as millions of people took to the streets in nationwide anti-government protests. Lyse Doucet was recently given rare permission to report from Tehran, on condition that none of her material is used on the BBC's Persian Service.
February is traditionally Black History Month in the United States – and this year marks 100 years since the country’s first black history commemorations. Lindsay Johns recently embarked on a road trip across the Deep South, beginning at the Alma Mater of Martin Luther King in Atlanta.
BBC Budapest correspondent Nick Thorpe found himself in northern India recently when he got the news that Sir Mark Tully – long-regarded as 'the voice of the BBC' in India, had passed away. India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Sir Mark as a 'towering voice of journalism'. Here, Nick pays his own tribute to Mark – and his interest in human fate, and faith.
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