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The UAE’s Air Pollution Problem Dec 02, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from the UAE, Iran, Ireland, Finland and Cambodia

As the world's seventh largest oil producer, the UAE may seem an odd choice to host the world's annual climate summit, but the Emiratis have been keen to showcase their green credentials. But the UAE’s desired image is falling short of the reality, says Owen Pinnell, as he reveals the devastating impact of gas-flaring.

In Iran, the enforcement of the mandatory hijab rule was once again in the spotlight after the death of 16-year-old Armita Geravand, following an alleged altercation with morality police in Tehran. While the mass protests seen last year may have faded, Faranak Amidi reflects on her own childhood in Tehran and the will of Iranian women to continue taking a stand.

The Irish government has promised better resources for police and stronger hate crime laws after rioting in Dublin city centre just over a week ago. Our correspondent Chris Page says a combination of disinformation, growing anti-immigrant sentiment, and changing social dynamics is presenting new challenges in Ireland.

Finland this week announced the temporary closure of all crossings on its border with Russia amid claims that Moscow has been deliberately channeling asylum seekers into the country. After Finland’s decision to join NATO, relations with Russia have soured considerably. Richard Dove was in Helsinki

A new Chinese-funded airport has opened in Cambodia's north-east, serving as the main gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex. China’s influence on the Cambodian economy is everywhere with numerous projects funded by Chinese loans. But this foreign influence is nothing new, says Sara Wheeler

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Crime and Punishment in Putin’s Russia Nov 25, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Russia, the US, Argentina, Iraq and Iceland.

In the wake of President Putin's invasion of Ukraine, repressive laws were passed which effectively criminalise all anti-war activism. The recent trial of artist Sasha Skochilenko underscored the heavy-handed enforcement of these laws, as well as the inconsistent way in which justice is applied in Russia. Steve Rosenberg was in St Petersburg.

Democratic and Republican states are introducing radically different laws on issues ranging from LGBTQ rights to the teaching of black history. As a result, people on either side of the political divide are on the move – as they flee from one state to another more aligned with their politics. Lucy Proctor was in Chicago and Miami.

Argentina has elected far-right outsider Javier Milei as President, bringing an end to an era that has largely been dominated by left-leaning ‘Peronist’ parties. Mr Milei has pledged big spending cuts and low taxes alongside other more radical policies. Natalio Cosoy was in Buenos Aires to find out why voters backed Mr Milei.

While armed violence in Iraq has ebbed in recent years, hundreds of people are still dying in accidents caused by poorly enforced safety standards as the country struggles to recover from years of war. For Iraqis who have lived through decades of conflict, these incidents represent another awful failure, says Lizzie Porter.

In Iceland, residents of the fishing town of Grindavik have all been evacuated owing to warnings of an imminent volcanic eruption. Jessica Parker met locals recovering their belongings and saw the impact of the recent earthquakes first hand.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

An Emergency Summit in Riyadh Nov 18, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Spain, Chile and Taiwan.

Amid glittering chandeliers and floral bouquets, leaders from 57 Arab and Muslim countries gathered in the Saudi Arabian capital for an Emergency Summit on the situation in Gaza. So, did it produce anything beyond the speeches? Our Security Correspondent Frank Gardner was there.

The occupied West Bank has also seen an increase in outbreaks of violence since the Hamas massacre in October. There are now concerns Israel’s conflict in Gaza is spilling over into the wider region. Joe Inwood visited an Israeli settlement where Israelis and Palestinians live near each other and found a creeping unease has taken root.

In Spain, the Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez clinched a vote in parliament to lead Spain for another term as PM. However, a deal he has made with Catalan nationalists triggered a fierce backlash, suggesting this could be an extremely turbulent legislature. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid.

In Chile, the protests against inequality that took place a few years ago drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. But the unrest also left 34 people dead and many more injured in clashes with the security forces. A group of musicians, who were among those injured during the protests, have found other ways of making their voices heard as Charis McGowan discovered.

As Presidents Xi and Biden met last week, Taiwan remained a sticking point between the leaders. But Taiwan faces another serious threat beyond that of Chinese invasion: its rapidly declining birth rate, which has implications for its economic future. Nuala McGovern was in Taipei.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Cambodia’s sunken Mekong villages Nov 16, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Cambodia, Colombia, India, Fiji and Kenya.

The Mekong river provides a living for tens of millions of people who live along its banks across five East and South East Asian countries. However, new hydroelectric dams have upended communities which have lived along the river for millennia, with some Cambodian villages flooded to make way for new dam projects. Laura Bicker takes a journey to the heart of the Mekong river system to meet people recently displaced.

Four people have been arrested in Colombia in connection with the kidnapping of the father of the Liverpool footballer, Luis Diaz, who was released after two weeks of being held captive. The suspects are said to belong to a gang called Los Primos, with ties to the leftist rebel group, the National Liberation Army or ELN. Will Grant – an ardent Liverpool fan – was in Colombia as the situation unfolded.

Delhi’s air pollution is a year-round, chronic problem, but the city’s toxic smog becomes especially dangerous each winter. This year is no exception and the levels of pollutants in the air have been measuring close to ten times the acceptable limit in recent weeks. Geeta Pandey reports on how her fellow Delhiites are coping.

Kava is a psychoactive drink made from the bitter kava plant, and has been enjoyed in by Pacific Islanders for centuries - but in recent years there’s been rising international demand for the drink. Mark Stratton travelled to Fiji to see how this is affecting communities there, and to try kava for himself.

On Monday, Kenyans were given a special holiday to plant trees as part of the government’s ambitious goal to plant 15 billion new trees over the next ten years. Although the national tree planting initiative has proved popular, some have criticised the government for its recent decision to lift a ban on logging, reports Anne Soy.

Producer: Viv Jones Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

A Tribute To Hope Nov 11, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, the Middle East, Peru and Japan.

The Israel-Gaza conflict has been framed by harsh words, and when talk of peace and reconciliation seem more distant than ever, is there space for understanding - or hope? Our correspondent Fergal Keane has spent his career reporting on divided societies, and after spending the last few weeks in Jerusalem, he reflects on the question of hope.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been back in the Middle East this week, working to keep diplomatic channels open to negotiate 'humanitarian pauses' in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Our correspondent Anthony Zurcher travelled with him.

The ultra-fine wool of the vicuna was once reserved for the royal dynasties of the Inca empire, and today it is equally adored by European fashion houses. Stefania Gozzer has been in Peru, where she met the communities benefiting from this luxury trade.

And in Japan, baseball's Hanshin Tigers finally broke one of sport's longest standing 'curses' this week when they won the Japan Series. Tigers fan Guy De Launey tells the story of how his team broke a 40 year losing streak.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Acapulco in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis Nov 09, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Mexico, Israel, Pakistan, Georgia and Romania.

On October 24, high winds started howling around the Mexican beach city of Acapulco. In barely 12 hours, unseasonably warm seawater off the coast had turned a common tropical storm into Category 5 Hurricane Otis. The ferocity of the storm was unexpected, and left locals and tourists with little time to prepare before 200-mile-per-hour winds hit - some of the strongest ever recorded on earth. James Fredrick visited Acapulco in the days after the storm.

Since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, tensions have been rising in Israel’s mixed cities: places which, while majority Jewish, have a sizeable Arab population. One in five people in Israel’s population are Palestinian citizens of Israel – sometimes known as Israeli Arabs – making them the largest minority in the country. Emily Wither meets a grassroots peace group working to bring people from both communities together.

In October, Pakistan’s government announced that any foreign national who does not have the paperwork to stay in the country would be deported from 1st November. The policy will mostly affect an estimated 1.7 million Afghan nationals in the country. In the last two months around 200,000 Afghan nationals are believed to have already left Pakistan ahead of the deadline, streaming over the Afghan border. Caroline Davies travelled to the border region to meet them.

Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, a valley region not far from the border with Russia, has a troubled history. In the early 2000s the region became a base for Chechen separatists in their war with Russia, and in the decades since Pankisi has become synonymous in media coverage with Islamist extremism. In recent years, a group of Chechen women entrepreneurs have taken it upon themselves to change the negative stereotype of their community, as Sally Howard found.

Romania’s state healthcare service is one of the most poorly funded in the European Union. In recent years it has been the subject of a series of negative news stories, from a string of deadly hospital fires, to investigations into high-level corruption. Stephen McGrath has reported on Romania’s medical system many times, but recently he found himself at the heart of it - as a patient.

Producer: Viv Jones Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Shocked To The Core Nov 04, 2023

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: Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, Turkey, Switzerland, DRC and Indonesia

Four weeks on from Hamas' deadly attack in Israel, details continue to emerge about the killing spree. Israelis are wrestling with the impact and the consequences - and the release by Hamas of a hostage video this week has added pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu to secure their release. Paul Adams finds there’s a pervasive sense of insecurity in the streets of Jerusalem, with violent incidents puncturing any veneer of calm.

Victoria Craig spoke to people at a rally in Istanbul's Ataturk airport, where the Turkish President was vocal in his support for Hamas and unflinching in his criticism of Israel's offensive in Gaza. She reflects on how far this is a step change in Turkey's relationship with Israel.

It's Peace Week in Geneva. Diplomats, aid workers and academics gather annually here to discuss ways to achieve peace. This year, as conflict rages in the Middle East and beyond, some are asking whether international organisations – and international law, are losing their relevance, says Imogen Foulkes.

The east of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a region which has endured multiple crises – with many still unfolding. Hugh Kinsella Cunningham tracked the Congolese military as it tackled the most pressing challenge of fighting the rebel group, M23.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine last year, millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes; they’re internally displaced or finding refuge in neighbouring countries. And some have taken longer-haul journeys to the other side of the world. Michelle Jana Chan discovered the Ukrainian community on the Indonesian island of Bali.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Bridget Harney Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Voices from Gaza and Israel Nov 02, 2023

Show notes

Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, Gaza, Germany, New Caledonia and Hungary.

Public pressure is growing on Israel’s prime minister to secure the release of more than 200 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Lucy Williamson has been talking to one man whose family was taken captive from Kibbutz Be’eri.

Deirdre Finnerty spoke to an Irish-Palestinian family, who were visiting relatives in northern Gaza when the conflict began, and fled to Khan Younis. She hears about the struggle to access basic supplies and the risks faced on a daily basis.

The German government has staunchly backed Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the 7th October attacks by Hamas. Israeli security is, in fact, a cornerstone of German foreign policy. Some pro-Palestinian demonstrations have even been banned because of concerns about anti-Semitic slogans. That’s led to clashes with police and debates about freedom of speech as Jessica Parker reports.

New Caledonia is home to a small and diverse population. One of its many communities is made up of the descendants of Algerian exiles, who were deported in the late 19th century after uprisings against French colonial rule. Many lost their lives on the gruelling sea voyage from North Africa. Those who survived and settled brought their religion, customs and ancestral memories with them. Chahrazade Douah reports.

The conservative British philosopher, Roger Scruton was a great personal friend of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Nick Thorpe reports from Budapest, on the intellectual love affair between the two men, and how ‘Scrutopia’ now serves the Hungarian leader.

Producer: Viv Jones Editor: Bridget Harney Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Photo by MARTIN DIVISEK/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

Israel, Gaza and the view from the Middle East Oct 28, 2023

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Kate Adie presents stories from Israel and Gaza, South Korea and Turkey.

Three years ago the Gulf states of Bahrain and the UAE agreed to normalise diplomatic relations with Israel - and it was Joe Biden's hope that Saudi Arabia would soon join them. But where do the Arab nations stand today amid a new Israel-Gaza conflict, asks the BBC’s Security Correspondent Frank Gardner.

Reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict is a particular challenge, as so few journalists currently have access or permission to work in Gaza. As a former BBC correspondent in Gaza, Jon Donnison reflects on the current difficulties of reporting on the reality of life there today.

The trauma of what happened on the 7th of October continues to reverberate in Israel, as those killed during Hamas’ attack are buried. Helping to ensure families are able to bid farewell to their loved ones, is a team of volunteers tasked with recovering the bodies of the dead – a job they see as a religious duty. Joel Gunter has been to meet them.

This weekend marks a bleak anniversary in South Korea, as it was a year ago that revellers gathered in Seoul's party district to celebrate Halloween – only to never return home. A deadly crush that formed during the night, killed 158 people, and injured nearly 200 more. Jean Mackenzie returned to the streets she reported from last year, and meets survivors still looking for answers.

The Republic of Turkey is 100 years old, and Misha Glenny has been recording a series for Radio 4 on the history of the formation of the state. He recounts an incident at Istanbul’s ornate Dolmabahce Palace – the former residence of Ottoman Sultans, and, in his final days, Turkey’s founding father Mustafa Kemal Attaturk.

The Thai workers caught up in the Israel-Gaza conflict Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, Ukraine, Argentina, Mauritius and Greece.

When Hamas militants stormed into southern Israel from Gaza on the 7th October, over 200 of the people killed were foreign nationals. At least 30 of them were from Thailand, and at least 19 Thais are believed to have been abducted by Hamas. More than 25,000 Thai migrant agricultural workers living in Israel. Jonathan Head travels to north-eastern Thailand to meet returning survivors, and relatives of those still missing.

This week marks 20 months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. For journalists reporting on the war, not to mention Ukraine’s people, it can be a challenge to ensure the ongoing conflict continues to receive the world’s attention. The BBC’s long-serving Ukraine Correspondent, James Waterhouse reflects on the particular rhythm of covering this war.

Last weekend, Argentina voted in its first round of presidential elections. The results surprised pollsters who had predicted an outright win for populist Javier Milei - a colourful candidate, whose ‘shock-jock’ style has led to comparisons with Donald Trump. Instead, Mr Milei will face the country’s incumbent economy minister, Sergio Massa in a run-off in November. In Argentinian politics, surprises are to be expected, says Katy Watson.

Mauritius is among Africa’s wealthiest nations per capita. However, its position in the middle of the Indian Ocean has made it an ideal hub for international drug traffickers. The country is now battling a growing drug epidemic, with young people particularly affected. Lorraine Mallinder reports.

The Mount Athos peninsula in Northern Greece is one of Orthodox Christianity’s holiest sites. The region is semi-independent from Greece, and sometimes referred to as a monastic republic. Women are banned from visiting, and only a small number of men are permitted entry each day. The monks who live here control their own finances, and Greece's money laundering authority has recently taken a critical look at Russian finances flowing into the monasteries. William Edwards makes a pilgrimage there.

Producer: Viv Jones Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Katie Morrison

(Image: Narissara Chanthasang, the wife of a Thai migrant worker in southern Israel, has had no news of her husband since Hamas militants stormed the country.)

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