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The Fourth Banned 'T' Sep 08, 2012

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Greece remains a land where millions go each year to enjoy their holidays. But Mark Lowen's discovered that it's now also a place where increasing numbers of people are finding it hard to cope with the austerity demanded of them. The Russian republic of Chechnya is enjoying the most peaceful time it's seen in years but Oliver Bulloughsays its people seem far from content. Linda Pressly's been to Israel to talk to some of the Haredi, the inclreasingly influential ultra-orthodox, who seem set to play a critical role in the country's future. Emma Jane Kirby is in St Tropez as the new French leader prepares to address his people on TV. She wonders if there might be lessons he can learn from the glitzy Cote d'Azure. Justin Rowlatt, in China, knows Tiananmen, Taiwan and Tibet are subjects the authorities might prefer him to avoid. But now he's learned there's a fourth T - toilets. The Chinese, he's been finding out, do not like people poking fun at their loos.

. The eye of the storm Sep 01, 2012

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Kate Adie hosts correspondents' stories from the United States, Russia, France, Italy and the Czech Republic. The United States breathes a sigh of relief that Hurricane Isaac didn't turn into another Katrina. Alastair Leithead has been in the eye of the storm. The new 'skinheads'. Tom Esslemont tries to unpick what motivates Russia's ultra-nationalists. Just where did Julius Caesar REALLY defeat the Gaulls? Hugh Schofield investigates a case of alleged archaeological skulduggery in Burgundy. Alan Johnston meets the new Mayor of Palma, a member of the 'Five Star Movement' currently gaining political influence in Italy. And Rob Cameron makes a sentimental journey ... to a campsite in South Bohemia.

Meeting the last Emperor of China Aug 25, 2012

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Kate Adie hosts reports from correspondents around the world. Mark Lobel attends a memorial service for the South African miners killed by police while striking for better pay and working conditions. Mike Thompson is 'embedded' with the army in the West African Republic of Mali. Can it win back the north of the country from Islamist militants? What do people in Ecuador make of the diplomatic stand-off between their government and the UK over the Julian Assange affair? Will Grant finds out. David Willey recalls his first visit to Beijing nearly fifty years ago - an extraordinary trip where he saw Chairman Mao and briefly met the last Emperor of China. As Italians enjoy the last few days of their annual August break at the seaside Dany Mitzman reflects on the contradictory charms of the Riviera Romagnola.

. A Yankee Learns Farsi Aug 18, 2012

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French police have been placed on higher alert after rioting in the northern city of Amiens. Christian Fraser says the unrest poses a growing challenge to the new president, Francois Hollande. Government forces have been re-deployed from north-east Syria. Orla Guerin believes the Kurds, who've long wanted to establish their own homeland, see this as a window of opportunity. There've been more protests in Delhi against corruption in public life. But Mark Tully wonders if support for the anti-corruption movement is ebbing away. How will life change in Egypt now there's a president from the Muslim Brotherhood? It's a question exercising many including foreign visitors to Cairo like Edwin Lane. He speculates whether time might soon be called on the capital's thriving bar scene. And Daniel Nasaw tells of the difficulties and the embarrassments an American can face when he tries to get to grips with Farsi, the language of the Iranians.

. A Return to the Countryside Aug 11, 2012

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Chris Stewart is in Spain where some young people, unable to find employment in the cities in these austere times, are returning to work in the countryside. The agricultural sector's been holding up reasonably well as parts of the US economy take a hammering. But Paul Adams has been finding out that in the corn fields of Nebraska, drought is the main threat. Kate McGeown in the Philippines has been learning that the government in Manila is trying to bring home Filipina domestic workers caught up in the civil war in Syria. Peter Biles has been to the First World War battlefields of Gallipoli. His grandfather was killed there as Allied forces engaged in deadly trench warfare against Turkish troops. And Joanna Robertson explains why they say August in Paris is like a month of Sundays!

. Life After Lonesome George Aug 04, 2012

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Could Mogadishu be about to lose its title as the world's most dangerous city? Mary Harper says soon there'll be a new parliament and a new president in the Somali capital and there's hope the days of war, drought and famine could come to an end. The authorities in Yemen helped by the US have been taking the battle to al-Qaeda but Natalia Antelava says some believe hearts and minds are being lost in the process. Three years ago the north-eastern tip of Sri Lanka was the scene of the Tamil Tigers' last big battle against the Sri Lankan army. Charles Haviland's been allowed to visit the area. Henry Nicholls, who's been in the Galapagos Islands out in the Pacific Ocean, says people there are finding it hard to pick themselves up after the death of their most famous resident, the giant tortoise, Lonesome George. The annual Bayreuth Festival has been taking place in the south of Germany and Stephen Evans says that once again it's being stalked by controversy.

Battle for Aleppo Jul 28, 2012

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Ian Pannell visits a school which has become a morgue for children in the Syrian city of Aleppo. James Harkin meets a Syrian whose chosen weapon, in his battle against the Assad regime, is a mobile phone rather than a gun John Sweeney's in Belarus. It's ruled, he says, by a regime so cocky it can't even be bothered to rebrand its secret police. They're still known as the KGB. Senegal's become the latest African country to grow melons for Europe. Susie Emmett joins workers who find time to take a break for a game of football. And is it more Lord of the Flies or Swallows and Amazons? Laura Trevelyan travels to the state of Maine to investigate the phenomenon that is the US summer camp.

. Austerity or not? Jul 21, 2012

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Pascale Harter's testing the mood in Spain in the week hundreds of thousands made clear their disapproval of the Madrid government's austerity measures. In France the new administration of President Francois Hollande wants to restore prosperity without applying too much austerity. But David Chazan says the difficulties are piling up for the new man in the Elysee Palace. The Nigerian economy is leaking millions. Will Ross has been to the Niger Delta to find out how people are helping themselves to the country's most valuable resource, oil. Linda Pressley tells the extraordinary tale of the travels of the corpse of Argentina's most famous First Lady, Eva Peron. While eight thousand miles from Buenos Aires, Mark Bosworth finds a hundred thousand Finns dancing the tango under the midnight sun.

An Unfinished Revolution Jul 14, 2012

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As speculation continues about who's won the election in Libya, Rana Jawad in Tripoli hears how "Libyan women face five problems: the father, the son, the husband, the brother and the working man!" Deep in the hills of Honduras Stephen Sackur's been talking to a man who's trying to escape the country's drugs and gang culture but fears he won't be allowed to succeed. In the week China released figures showing how its economy has slowed down, Michael Bristow leaves the country in, as he puts it, the midst of an unfinished revolution. Alan Johnston descends below ground level in Rome to learn a little more about the fears which beset Benito Mussolini in the final years of his dictatorship. And did you know bird spit can be big business? It is in Malaysia. Jenifer Pak's been finding out how the market's now being flooded by counterfeiters.

Ghosts of Bush House Jul 07, 2012

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Natasha Breed on how the population of Kenya's expanding fast, urban areas are eating up the countryside. And it's proving disastrous and sometimes fatal for the country's wildlife. A weird fungus which grows out of the heads of caterpillars is being harvested in parts of the Himalayas. Craig Jeffrey, who's been investigating, says it's proving a valuable cash crop for some of the mountain villagers. Latvia has the fastest-growing economy in Europe. Damien McGuinness has been to the capital Riga to see how they've made austerity cool. The Nigerian president's been speaking of the importance of family planning. The BBC's Jane Dreaper's been to a part of his country where having seven children is far from unusual. And Anna Horsbrugh Porter is one of the BBC World Service staff who're leaving their headquarters in London, Bush House in the Strand. She's been talking to colleagues about a much-loved broadcasting institution.

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