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Dreams Deferred, Hope on Hold Mar 12, 2015

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Reporters' stories. Obstacles to President Obama's immigration reforms pile up -- it could mean a long wait for those who came looking to become legal US citizens. Will prime minister Modi's plans for investment in India's infrastructure adversely affect the country's longterm development? Sixty thousand Indian troops were killed fighting for the British in World War 1 -- we visit the battlefield in France where they fought their first major engagement. A freak injury in China provides an unexpected opportunity to examine the accident and emergency facilities in a Chinese hospital. And we meet a group of young men in the DRC capital Kinshasa whose outrageous dress sense brings rush hour traffic, even football games, to a standstill.

The Death of Gypsy Music Mar 07, 2015

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The best in news and current affairs story-telling. In this edition, the music which once provided the soundtrack to life in eastern and central Europe is fading into history, Nick Thorpe; a despatch by Fergal Keane from the Ukrainian city reduced to rubble by shelling; the Indian tea business hit by scandal and reports that workers face routine abuse, Humphrey Hawksley; Stephen Sackur's been to the Philippines to see how its economy is coping with a rapidly growing population and Heather Simons is on the island of Komodo in Indonesia, getting up close to the world's largest venomous reptile.

Please Don't Kill Our Sons Mar 05, 2015

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Around the world with correspondents' stories. In this edition: executions in Indonesia - the authorities believe they will help counter a national drug emergency. Security forces in Tunisia crack down on Islamist hardliners -- most people there insist they don't want ISIS or other militants gaining a foothold in their country; the president of Mexico has been on a state visit to Britain -- at home he faces continuing anger about the disappearance last year of 43-students; the Indian prime minister has promised a huge cash boost for the railways which are becoming ever more decrepit and dangerous and we hear about the 'marabouts' or holy men of Muslim west Africa. Theirs is an ancient tradition but these days they are quite happy to dispense advice via email, Twitter and Skype.

The Devil's Building Site Feb 28, 2015

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Around the world in less than half an hour! Today: a four-day trek through the remotest parts of Argentina in search of an old man who might have a story to tell; communal activities finally return to the agenda in Liberia now the fear of Ebola is fading; the Israeli prime minister's about to address the joint Houses of Congress in Washington - the White House is not enthusiastic; a journey underground in the Iranian capital Tehran - it provides a picture of Iranian society most tourists will never see and as American and Cuban representatives resume diplomatic negotiations, there's hope in Havana it might all result in better menus!

The Best Nightclub in Africa Feb 26, 2015

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Story-telling from around the world. In this edition Charlotte Pritchard travels to Botswana in search of the best nightclub in Africa; Jonah Fisher in Myanmar tells us why the much-criticised military there is enjoying an unlikely surge in support; Rosie Goldsmith meets writers in Colombia convinced their country's in a critical year of its history; Rob Crossan's hunting for even a crumb of good news in Madagascar, one of the poorest nations on earth and Paul Adams, in the east of Ukraine, talks to a man who's travelled five thousand miles to fight in someone else's war

The Athens Experiment Feb 21, 2015

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The human lives behind the headlines: a view from the pistachio field after a tense night of talks on the Greek debt crisis; the Argentine president under scrutiny as thousands take to the streets demanding an investigation into the death of state prosecutor Nisman; the government in Bangkok tries to stop foreign couples using Thai women as surrogate mothers; the young foreigners flying into Suriname hoping they'll make their fortunes illegally panning for gold. And it may not be fashionable, but it's Italy's favourite spirit -- we're at the grappa distillery where they do not frown on drinking at work.

Please Mick. Not boring .. Feb 19, 2015

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The correspondent's trade: memories of the late Ian McDougall who filed for the BBC from more than 40-countries and once told this programme he'd broadcast from the only radio studio in the world equipped with a bidet! Also in this edition: Steve Evans on perceptions of the north/south divide in Korea; Linda Yueh asking if American workers will really countenance a return to the factory floor; James Hassam on a surprise at the dinner table in Ethiopia and Chris Bockman meets 144 new French citizens in Toulouse.

A Pig of a Sea Feb 14, 2015

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More and more migrants are trying to cross the Mediterranean and there are suggestions the new force charged with rescuing those in danger of drowning isn't up to the job. Emma Jane Kirby's been to Europe's southern shores to see how it's coping. Andrew Harding was in the parliament building in Cape Town when President Zuma's state of the nation speech was interrupted by hecklers. He considers whether the chaos was a sign that democracy's in decline in South Africa. The global crude oil market has collapsed, the price has plummeted. Jon Sopel has been to Texas where the mood is, perhaps surprisingly, not altogether pessimistic. Elections in Nigeria have been postponed. Will Ross says many people there view the decision with deep suspicion. And carnival season's underway in many parts of the world. Dany Mitzman's been witnessing preparations in one Italian town where there were fears this year that this was a party which would never happen.

Tea and Cakes in Addis Feb 12, 2015

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Questions and answers beyond the headlines. Little urgency apparent as the factions from the bitter war in South Sudan gather in Ethiopia to talk about peace. President Putin's been attending another peace conference, this one in Minsk - we've been considering how his standing at home has been affected by the worsening conflict in eastern Ukraine. Our Middle East Editor has a face to face interview with Bashar al-Assad of Syria -- but was it really the BBC audience the president was hoping to reach with his answers? Three years after the sinking of the cruise ship the Costa Concordia, we return to the Italian island of Giglio to find out what effect the wreck has had on the local economy. And it's one of the windiest regions on earth -- so is China's new bullet train across the Gobi Desert in danger of being blown over?

Jordan Retaliates Feb 07, 2015

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The news behind the news. In this edition Paul Adams is in Jordan as the country takes the fight to Islamic State. Sian Griffiths in Ottawa talks of the plight of homeless people in an icy winter. Nick Thorpe in Hungary on why a little baby's at the centre of a storm over racism. Chris Bowlby has been trying to find details about the killing of an ancestor in China. And Christine Finn on how a pack of howling dogs helped her appreciate the Northern Lights

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