Podcast appearances and mentions of colin freeman

Day 1,148.Today, as Ukraine targets the Russian units allegedly responsible for Sunday's murderous attack on Sumy, we report how Donald Trump has backtracked on the amount of money he wants Ukraine to pay for US support in the war with Russia. Then we speak to our correspondent who has interviewed Ukrainian commanders about Russia's spring offensive.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on XFrancis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Verity Bowman (Foreign Correspondent). @VerityBowman on X.Hamish De-Bretton Gordon (Former Tank Commander & Chemical Weapons Expert). @HamishDBG on X.Content Referenced:Russia's summer offensive ‘doomed to fail' (Verity in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/11/russian-summer-offensive-doomed-to-fail-ukraine/Unmasked: The Russian missile brigade slaughtering Ukrainian civilians (Colin Freeman in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/15/russian-missile-brigade-slaughtering-ukrainians/ EU to ban Serbia if president joins Putin's victory parade (Joe Barnes in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/15/eu-ban-serbia-if-president-joins-putin-victory-parade/ German Leopard 2 tanks flop on battlefield in Ukraine (The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/04/14/german-leopard-tanks-vulnerable-drones-ukraine-artillery/ US Softens Minerals Deal (Bloomberg):https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-16/us-softens-calls-for-ukraine-to-pay-back-aid-in-minerals-deal-talks Denmark to send unarmed soldiers to Ukraine for drone warfare training (Kyiv Independent):https://kyivindependent.com/denmark-to-send-unarmed-soldiers-to-ukraine-for-drone-warfare-training/India offers cheap loans for arms, targeting Russia's traditional customers (Reuters):https://www.reuters.com/world/india/india-offers-cheap-loans-arms-targeting-russias-traditional-customers-2025-04-16/Subscribe: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Gavin Mortimer looks at how the French right can still win (1:48); Colin Freeman interviews Americans who have fought in Ukraine and feel betrayed by Trump (11:01); Lawrence Osborne details his experience of last week's earthquake, as he reads his diary from Bangkok (18:38); Lionel Shriver defends traditional, monogamous marriage (24:07); and, Anthony Cummins examines media satire and settled scores as he reviews Natasha Brown's Universality (31:13).  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Gavin Mortimer looks at how the French right can still win (1:48); Colin Freeman interviews Americans who have fought in Ukraine and feel betrayed by Trump (11:01); Lawrence Osborne details his experience of last week's earthquake, as he reads his diary from Bangkok (18:38); Lionel Shriver defends traditional, monogamous marriage (24:07); and, Anthony Cummins examines media satire and settled scores as he reviews Natasha Brown's Universality (31:13).  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Colin Freeman explains how Islamic State tightened its grip on the Congo (1:23); Harry Ritchie draws attention to the thousands of languages facing extinction this century, as he reviews Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages by Lorna Gibb (8:00); Max Jeffery highlights the boxing academy changing young lives (13:20); Michael Gove reflects on lessons learned during his time as education secretary (20:30); and, Catriona Olding introduces the characters from her new Provence-based memoir club (29:27).  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Colin Freeman explains how Islamic State tightened its grip on the Congo (1:23); Harry Ritchie draws attention to the thousands of languages facing extinction this century, as he reviews Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages by Lorna Gibb (8:00); Max Jeffery highlights the boxing academy changing young lives (13:20); Michael Gove reflects on lessons learned during his time as education secretary (20:30); and, Catriona Olding introduces the characters from her new Provence-based memoir club (29:27).  Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: sectarian persecution returns Paul Wood, Colin Freeman and Father Benedict Kiely write in the magazine this week about the religious persecution that minorities are facing across the world from Syria to the Congo. In Syria, there have been reports of massacres with hundreds of civilians from the Alawite Muslim minority targeted, in part because of their association with the fallen Assad regime. Reports suggest that the groups responsible are linked to the new Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani). For some, the true face of the country's new masters has been revealed. Whether the guilty men are punished will tell us what kind of country Syria has become since the fall of Assad's dictatorship. Speaking to those on the ground, Wood reports of fathers who were shot in front of their families, victims made to howl like dogs as they crawled through piles of corpses, and of state security forces trying to prevent survivors from photographing or talking about what had happened. But to what extent is al-Sharaa responsible? And could other minorities, like the Syrian Christian minority – one of the oldest in the world, be next? Paul and Fr Benedict joined the podcast to discuss. (1:02) Next: this century's ‘unstoppable process of language extinction' There are around 7,000 languages currently spoken across the world, but by the end of the century only 500 are expected to survive. Thus, documenting endangered languages has never been so important and this is the starting point of Lorna Gibb's new book, Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages, reviewed by Harry Ritchie in the books section of the magazine this week. What are some examples of the languages facing extinction? And should we accept this as an inevitable cultural rise and fall, or should we be working to combat this? Harry joined the podcast alongside Dr Oliver Mayeux, a sociolinguist at Cambridge, who also speaks Louisiana creole – a language spoken by fewer that 10,000 people. With special thanks to the Endangered Language Alliance, for allowing us to use a clip of the Garifuna language, who are working to document and preserve languages facing extinction across the world. (18:06) And finally: what is ‘Boom Boom', Gen Z's favourite aesthetic trend? Out are boring converse and dirty t-shirts beloved by millennial tech bros and in are high-fashion double-breasted suits and loafers, or so says Arabella Byrne who writes about the aesthetic trend defining Gen Z. American trend analyst Sean Monahan – who also coined 2013's ‘normcore' – coined the term ‘Boom Boom' to encapsulate the look and feel of the trend. Think 1980s yuppies updated for 2025 – so why exactly is it popular, and what does it tell us about today's twentysomethings? Arabella and Sean joined the podcast to discuss. (27:50) Plus: Matthew Parris, Stephen Fry, Rory Sutherland, Rachel Johnson, Philip Hensher, Sean Thomas and Petronella Wyatt reveal the worst insults they ever received from a teacher. (13:59) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

This week: sectarian persecution returns Paul Wood, Colin Freeman and Father Benedict Kiely write in the magazine this week about the religious persecution that minorities are facing across the world from Syria to the Congo. In Syria, there have been reports of massacres with hundreds of civilians from the Alawite Muslim minority targeted, in part because of their association with the fallen Assad regime. Reports suggest that the groups responsible are linked to the new Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa (formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani). For some, the true face of the country's new masters has been revealed. Whether the guilty men are punished will tell us what kind of country Syria has become since the fall of Assad's dictatorship. Speaking to those on the ground, Wood reports of fathers who were shot in front of their families, victims made to howl like dogs as they crawled through piles of corpses, and of state security forces trying to prevent survivors from photographing or talking about what had happened. But to what extent is al-Sharaa responsible? And could other minorities, like the Syrian Christian minority – one of the oldest in the world, be next? Paul and Fr Benedict joined the podcast to discuss. (1:02) Next: this century's ‘unstoppable process of language extinction' There are around 7,000 languages currently spoken across the world, but by the end of the century only 500 are expected to survive. Thus, documenting endangered languages has never been so important and this is the starting point of Lorna Gibb's new book, Rare Tongues: The Secret Stories of Hidden Languages, reviewed by Harry Ritchie in the books section of the magazine this week. What are some examples of the languages facing extinction? And should we accept this as an inevitable cultural rise and fall, or should we be working to combat this? Harry joined the podcast alongside Dr Oliver Mayeux, a sociolinguist at Cambridge, who also speaks Louisiana creole – a language spoken by fewer that 10,000 people. With special thanks to the Endangered Language Alliance, for allowing us to use a clip of the Garifuna language, who are working to document and preserve languages facing extinction across the world. (18:06) And finally: what is ‘Boom Boom', Gen Z's favourite aesthetic trend? Out are boring converse and dirty t-shirts beloved by millennial tech bros and in are high-fashion double-breasted suits and loafers, or so says Arabella Byrne who writes about the aesthetic trend defining Gen Z. American trend analyst Sean Monahan – who also coined 2013's ‘normcore' – coined the term ‘Boom Boom' to encapsulate the look and feel of the trend. Think 1980s yuppies updated for 2025 – so why exactly is it popular, and what does it tell us about today's twentysomethings? Arabella and Sean joined the podcast to discuss. (27:50) Plus: Matthew Parris, Stephen Fry, Rory Sutherland, Rachel Johnson, Philip Hensher, Sean Thomas and Petronella Wyatt reveal the worst insults they ever received from a teacher. (13:59) Presented by William Moore and Lara Prendergast. Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Please note: this episode was recorded before the extraordinary events at the White House on Friday afternoon.Day 1,101.Today, we return to Kursk, Russia, where fighting has intensified, consider the outcomes of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's vital visit to Washington, and hear the latest update on resistance in the occupied territories. Plus, we hear from Colin Freeman, who visits a former nuclear weapon facility in Ukraine.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Dr. Jade McGlynn (War Studies Department of King's College). @DrJadeMcGlynn on X.Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent). @ColinFreeman on X.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. It uses cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) to retain our voices. Just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them, or click the links below.Listen here: https://linktr.ee/ukrainethelatestLearn more about the tech: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/Content Referenced:Dutch NGO Protect Ukraine:https://www.protectukraine.nl/How a nuclear-armed Ukraine could become ‘Europe's Israel' (Colin in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/nuclear-armed-ukraine/War robs Ukraine of its next generation (Colin in The Telegraph):https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/02/22/ukraine-russia-war-zelensky-poets-culture-youth/The town Russia couldn't take (Adrian Blomfield in The Telegraph:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/russia-ukraine-casualties-2024-losses-toretsk/Instagram and Facebook page to follow Songs for Ukraine eventshttps://www.instagram.com/songs_for_ukraine/?igsh=MTRwNHIzOHhrb3ZpNg%3D%3D#Link to Southwark Cathedral's even pagehttps://cathedral.southwark.anglican.org/whats-on/https://tinyurl.com/SongsforUkraineSouthwarkSubscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 1,097.Today, we mark the third anniversary of the full scale invasion. We hear live from Kyiv - where world leaders are gathering - talk about Ukraine's announcement to produce missiles - including ballistic missiles - and make sense of what the German election result means for Ukraine. We also hear from what it was like at Number 10 on the day of the invasion from Boris Johnson's former speech writer, and hear an exclusive interview with the former prime minister, also in Kyiv for the anniversary.Contributors:Adélie Pojzman-Pontay (Journalist and Producer). @adeliepjz on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor of Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Executive Editor for Audio). @FrancisDearnley on X.Colin Freeman, live in Kyiv. @colinfreeman99 on X.David Blair (Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator). @davidblairdt on X.NOW AVAILABLE IN NEW LANGUAGES:The Telegraph has launched translated versions of Ukraine: The Latest in Ukrainian and Russian, making its reporting accessible to audiences on both sides of the battle lines and across the wider region, including Central Asia and the Caucasus. It uses cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) to retain our voices.Learn more:https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/02/24/ukraine-the-latest-podcast-russian-ukrainian-ai-translation/Ukrainian Translation:https://podfollow.com/1797093864Russian Translation:https://podfollow.com/1797808437Or just search Україна: Останні Новини (Ukr) and Украина: Последние Новости (Ru) on your on your preferred podcast app to find them.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On another special episode of Battle Lines, Roland Oliphant and guests look at the war memoir. How have war memoirs shaped our understanding of wars? Has the art and the role of the memoir changed over time? And will the ones written today similarly influence how future generations will remember the wars of our time?ContributorsFrancis Dearnley (The Telegraph's Assistant Comment Editor)Dr. Matilda Greig (Historian at the National Army Museum in London, specialising in the Napoleonic period)Colin Freeman (Journalist and author)'Dead Men Telling Tales, Napoleonic War Veterans and the Military Memoir Industry, 1808-1914' by Matilda Greig, is available here:https://global.oup.com/academic/product/dead-men-telling-tales-9780192896025?cc=es&lang=en'Curse of the Al Dulaimi Hotel : And Other Half-Truths from Baghdad', by Colin Freeman, is available here:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Curse-Al-Dulaimi-Hotel-Half-Truths/dp/1906308020 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, Joe and Tom talk to Colin Freeman who was once taken hostage by Somali pirates. He's a former chief foreign correspondent at The Telegraph, who was held captive for five weeks by pirates who wanted three million dollars for his release. To get in touch with us, email joe@crowdnetwork.co.uk If you would like to be a guest on the show, click here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rfSo3PVJgtBRZHCCAZndem-iyy2EdvGcEYDqycsM2aQ/viewform To get ad-free and longer episodes on Apple, hit the 'grow the show' button or click: https://apple.co/3sAX0xR On Spotify you can subscribe for £1 a week by clicking this link: https://anchor.fm/thingspeopledo To become an official sponsor, go to Patreon.com/thingspeopledo To grow the show on socials, look for @thingspeoplepod on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok If you'd like to enquire about commercial partnerships with our podcast, email Ryan Bailey ryanb@crowdnetwork.co.uk Music courtesy of BMG Production Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Battle Lines we're going to explore the impact of WikiLeaks from a conflict and security perspective and ask the Telegraph's Gordon Rayner and journalist Colin Freeman what founder Julian Assange's intentions really were. We also hear from journalist Dorjee Wangmo about Chinese oppression in Tibet and get an update on the dire situation in Gaza from Nicola Smith.ContributorsVenetia Rainey (Host)Colin FreemanGordon Rayner (Associate Editor)Nicola Smith (Asia Correspondent) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sitrep looks at the future shape of the Navy as the government talks of a new ‘golden era in shipbuilding' and assesses what it can learn from current conflicts. Expert analysis from Commodore Steve Prest who's just left the service and former Naval warfare officer Professor Peter Roberts from RUSI.Sitrep's Simon Newton reports from Poland on Exercise Immediate Response, designed to reinforce the Alliance's Eastern Flank and deter Russia, with 2,500 UK troops taking part and we hear from the Telegraph's Colin Freeman in Ukraine. Finally, Sitrep discusses how soldiers should balance taking ground in conflict with the duty to protect historic sites and artifacts with Dr Peter Caddick-Adams and the Commander of the Cultural Property Protection Unit Roger Curtis.

Six NATO submarines, accompanied by ships and aircraft, are playing a giant military game of hide and seek in the Mediterranean.NATO's Commander Submarines, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Thomas Wall, tells us more about exercise Dynamic Manta, and Sitrep's Claire Sadler explains what life is like onboard one of those subs.Vladimir Putin claims Russia now has the initiative in the Ukraine war – is he right? Professor Michael Clarke and Simon Newton explain the current battlefield picture, and Colin Freeman gives a first-hand account from one of Russia's next targets.And why do so many British people say they would refuse to fight for their country, despite most believing war is a real possibility within the next decade. Matt Smith from YouGov talks us through their latest research.

All this week, our regular hosts David Knowles, Dominic Nicholls and Francis Dearnley are on the ground in Ukraine, conducting major interviews with senior figures, hearing testimony of Kyiv citizens and reporting on the run-up to the two-year anniversary of the full scale invasion.Day 726.Today, Russia says it has captured another village in its on-going offensive in east Ukraine; Britain backs Mark Rutte for Nato secretary general; and foreign correspondent Colin Freeman reports from the frontline in Donbas.Contributors:Roland Oliphant (Senior Foreign Correspondent). @RolandOliphant on X.Colin Freeman (Foreign Correspondent). @colinfreeman99 on X.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on X.Team in Ukraine:David Knowles (Head of Audio Development). @DJKnowles22 on X.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on X.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on X.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 574.Today, we discuss the mysterious death of British volunteers in Ukraine and explore allegations of systematic torture.Contributors:Dominic Nicholls (Host, Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter.Colin Freeman (Foreign Reporter). @colinfreeman99 on Twitter.Alice J Edwards (UN Special Rapporteur Torture) @DrAliceJEdwards on Twitter. Read Death and disappearance of British volunteers in Ukraine exposes rivalry in foreign legion, by Colin Freeman: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/14/british-soldiers-ukraine-dead-missing-rivals-foreign-legion/Read British volunteer feared murdered in Ukraine as body is found, by Colin Freeman: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/16/body-found-missing-british-ukraine-war-fighter-daniel-burke/Read Russian soldiers being incentivised to torture Ukrainians, says UN official, by Dom Nicholls: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/09/26/alice-jill-edwards-united-nations-russian-troops-torture/Find out more: Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' and reporters' stories from Israel, Ukraine, Lebanon, the Czech Republic and Ghana This year has seen the streets of Jerusalem thronged with protests and demonstrations over the Netanyahu government's plans for legal and constitutional reforms, limiting the powers of Israel's Supreme Court. Paul Adams examines the wider social chasms underlying political divides over the Court's role. The Russian missile attack on the Ria pizzeria in Kramatorsk on Tuesday the 27th of June 2023 killed thirteen people and injured over 60 more. Colin Freeman had been waiting to eat there that evening - but was called away less than an hour before the place was hit. He reflects on what Russia targets in Ukraine - and how. With wildfires ripping through forested hillsides all around the Mediterranean, Lebanon is watching nervously. Its own woodlands - oak, cedar and pine - were badly burnt by forest fires in 2021, but experts hope that enlisting the help of local goat and sheep herders might prevent worse outbreaks this year. Lemma Shehadi explains. Frank Gardner, the BBC's Security Correspondent, has visited Prague many times over the past 40 years - and was recently there to hear the head of Britain's MI6 speak in public about the modern world's security concerns. He remembers scenes from 1983 and 1990 - and an entirely different Europe. And in Ghana, Naomi Grimley goes on a flight of fancy - with some of the species of bats to be found in and around Accra. As a global health reporter, she used to see them more as a reserve for possible disease outbreaks, but some of the passionate bat researchers and academics at the University of Accra opened her eyes to the animals' more appealing qualities. Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Bridget Harney Production Co-ordinator: Sabine Schereck

What's the current situation in the frontlines in Ukraine? Well this week's guest is Colin Freeman, who is expertly placed to tell us - he spoke to Patrick from near the frontlines in the Donetsk region, giving some valuable insight into what has been happening on the ground, the recent incursions by Ukrainian backed fighters over the Russian border, and the morale of Ukrainian troops and civilians. If you have any thoughts or questions, you can send them to - battlegroundukraine@gmail.com Producer: James Hodgson Twitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Day 477.Today, we hear the latest from the capital, talk to Colin Freeman on the frontlines, and touch on the long shadow of the Napoleonic Wars on European history.Contributors:Francis Dearnley (Host & Assistant Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.David Knowles (Reporting live from Ukraine). @djknowles22 on Twitter.Dominic Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter.Colin Freeman (Foreign Reporter). @ColinFreeman99 on Twitter.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The push to retake Ukrainian territory held by Russia has started modestly, but there is a bigger strategy behind it.Michael Clarke explains how this is actually about stretching Russian forces, and Colin Freeman updates us from close to the front line.Eleven British universities have been criticised for working with Iranian partners on technologies that could have military uses. Former tank-commander turned scientist Hamish de Bretton-Gordon tells us why he's worried.And we hear why British troops have been parking huge soviet-era air-defence vehicles in people's gardens in Sweden.

The push to retake Ukrainian territory held by Russia has started modestly, but there is a bigger strategy behind it.Michael Clarke explains how this is actually about stretching Russian forces, and Colin Freeman updates us from close to the front line.Eleven British universities have been criticised for working with Iranian partners on technologies that could have military uses. Former tank-commander turned scientist Hamish de Bretton-Gordon tells us why he's worried.And we hear why British troops have been parking huge soviet-era air-defence vehicles in people's gardens in Sweden.

Day 470.Today, we discuss the latest updates on heavy fighting from the front lines as Ukraine's long anticipated counter offensive gets underway. We also bring you updates from flooded Kherson where correspondent Colin Freeman has been talking to locals and assessing the damage as waters engulf the region. And finally, we speak to Serhii Zhadan, Ukrainian writer and musician about his work ahead of a gig in London. Contributors:David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on Twitter.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter. Nataliya Vasilyeva (Russia Correspondent). @Nat_Vasilyeva on Twitter. Colin Freeman (Foreign Reporter). @colinfreeman99 on Twitter.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 months on from Russia's full scale invasion Sitrep assesses how Ukraine defied predictions that it would lose in days – and instead pushed back Moscow's forces.Three experienced British military minds explain who's got what right, and wrong, and the lessons the UK should learn from all this. Daily Telegraph correspondent Colin Freeman tells us what the battlefield picture looks like going into year two, as Ukrainian forces face ‘zombie waves' of Russian troops.And Ukrainian journalist Maryana Drach shares personal testimony of her country's losses, alongside the resolve of its people.

12 months on from Russia's full scale invasion Sitrep assesses how Ukraine defied predictions that it would lose in days – and instead pushed back Moscow's forces.Three experienced British military minds explain who's got what right, and wrong, and the lessons the UK should learn from all this. Daily Telegraph correspondent Colin Freeman tells us what the battlefield picture looks like going into year two, as Ukrainian forces face ‘zombie waves' of Russian troops.And Ukrainian journalist Maryana Drach shares personal testimony of her country's losses, alongside the resolve of its people.

Day 356.Today, we hear updates from the NATO / Ramstein meeting in Brussels and analyse accusations from Moldova that Moscow was plotting to violently overthrow the country's pro-European leadership with the help of saboteurs. We also hear from journalist Colin Freeman on the Olena Zelenska foundation & the similarities one Ukrainian soldier found between his experience in the war and the film ‘All Quiet on the Western Front'.Contributors:David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on Twitter.Francis Dearnley (Associate Comment Editor). @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.Joe Barnes (Brussels Correspondent). @Barnes_Joe on Twitter.Colin Freeman (Reporter). @colinfreeman99 on Twitter. With thanks to Dr David Marples.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day 336.Today, we bring you updates from the ongoing Leopard II tank story as hopes raise of a breakthrough in deliveries of the vehicles. We hear from Foreign correspondent Colin Freeman who's been speaking to Ukrainian activists tearing down Russian statues. Plus, Francis Dearnley speaks to Dr Ivana Stradner - an expert on Russia's propaganda warfare - to examine how the West can fight back against Putin's disinformation, not just in the english-speaking world, but in Ukraine, Africa and the Balkans.Contributors:David Knowles (Host). @djknowles22 on Twitter.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor) @FrancisDearnley on Twitter.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). @DomNicholls on Twitter.Venetia Rainey (Assistant Foreign Editor) @VenetiaRainey on Twitter.Colin Freeman (Reporter). @colinfreeman99 on Twitter.Subscribe to The Telegraph: telegraph.co.uk/ukrainethelatestEmail: ukrainepod@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Protectors Podcast ™ Presents Colin Freeman.  What is it like to cover the Ukraine war?  What is it like to be kidnapped by Somali pirates?  Colin joined the show to talk about his incredible experiences covering hot zones all over the world.  Colin is a war correspondent and author of several books including KIDNAPPED and BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA: THE MISSION TO RESCUE THE HOSTAGES THE WORLD FORGOT. Support the showMake sure to check out Jason on IG @drjasonpiccoloJason's book, UNWAVERING is out now!

What is the reality of the situation on the frontline and in Kyiv? This week's guest is Colin Freeman, who is expertly placed to tell us, as he has recently returned from near the frontlines in Kherson. He gave us some valuable insight into what has actually been happening on the ground, the reality of life for Ukrainians, and the motivations of foreign volunteers fighting in Ukraine.Producer: James HodgsonTwitter: @PodBattleground Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Day 244. Today, we talk about the latest tactical updates from the front, look at the debate in the Democratic Party in the United States on the country's support for Ukraine, and we hear the shocking account of life in Russian captivity from Colin Freeman who interviewed two recently released American volunteers, who were captured by Russian forces.Today's episode contains descriptions of torture.Read Colin's interview here: ‘Our Russian captors electrocuted us – and they liked the job'Contributors: David Knowles (Host). Follow David on Twitter @djknowles22.Dom Nicholls (Associate Editor, Defence). Follow Dom on Twitter @DomNicholls.Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). Follow Francis on Twitter @FrancisDearnley.Colin Freeman (Freelance Journalist). Follow Colin on Twitter @colinfreeman99.Email: podcasts@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colin Freeman is going to be taking on the challenge to complete a single leg of darts, but there is a twist! The leg will not be 501, it will be 1,000,001 Colin is doing this to raise money for Clic Sargent and The ME AssociationIf you would like to contribute to these great charities, please do so via this link https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/1000001-darts?fbclid=IwAR23aQ4cejfbAb8CjSx6pCE7EFYQRKBp5UEI5ncB0mKVLQqewWAlUO-5uI8

Day 138.Today, we speak to Telegraph correspondent Colin Freeman, who's been on the ground across the battlefront visiting Mykolaivka and Druzhivka in the Donbas and the area behind the front in the south of Ukraine near Kherson. Contributors: David Knowles (Host). Follow David on Twitter @djknowles22Francis Dearnley (Assistant Comment Editor). Follow Francis on Twitter @FrancisDearnleyColin Freeman (Reporter)Email: podcasts@telegraph.co.ukSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day 86.Today, we discuss the latest updates from the war in Ukraine, including Putin's weaponisation of global food supplies and the economic impact of the emerging crisis.Plus, we are joined by reporter Colin Freeman, live from Odessa in Ukraine. Contributors: Sophie Coe (Host)Danielle Sheridan (Defence Correspondent)Louis Ashworth (Economics Reporter)Colin Freeman (Reporter)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Day 78.Today, we analyse Finland's announcement that it will apply to join NATO ‘without delay' and we're joined live from Kyiv by Colin Freeman, who's been reporting for The Telegraph from Ukraine. Contributors: David Knowles (Host)Dom Nicholls (Defence & Security Editor)Assistant Foreign Editor (Katie O'Neill)Colin Freeman (Reporter)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Colin Freeman is a British journalist and author who was kidnapped by Somali pirates. Colin Freeman links: https://twitter.com/colinfreeman99 Andrew Gold links: http://youtube.com/andrewgold1 http://instagram.com/andrewgold_ok http://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok http://andrewgoldpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Colin Freeman is a British journalist and author who is currently covering the war in Ukraine.  Colin Freeman links: https://twitter.com/colinfreeman99 Andrew Gold links: http://youtube.com/andrewgold1 http://instagram.com/andrewgold_ok http://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok http://andrewgoldpodcast.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Day 27. The Telegraph's leading journalists discuss the latest developments in Ukraine, with on the ground insights from the Telegraph's journalist in Kyiv, Colin Freeman. Plus we speak to Iuliia Osmolovska - the former diplomat giving negotiating advice to the Ukrainians during their peace talks with Russia. For 30 days' free access to The Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/audio |Email: podcasts@telegraph.co.uk |See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Joe and Tom talk to Colin Freeman who was once taken hostage by Somali pirates. He's a former chief foreign correspondent at The Telegraph, who was held captive for five weeks by pirates who wanted three million dollars for his release. He's also written two books that are very much worth reading. To get ad-free and longer episodes on Apple, hit the 'grow the show' button or click: https://apple.co/3qP2B2iOn Spotify you can subscribe for £1 a week by clicking this link: https://anchor.fm/joemarlershowTo become an official sponsor, go to Patreon.com/joemarlershow And if you want to buy a bobble hat (or other merch) go to joemarler.co.uk/shop Grow the Show, become an official sponsor See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Every week, every month, thousands of would-be migrants are still turning up at Mexico's border with the United States, hoping to get across. This has a profound effect on the people left behind, the families and wider communities where they grew up. Guatemala, for example, has a population of about sixteen million, and some estimates suggest a million of these have left. Megan Janetsky went there to meet some of the many people who have had to wave their relatives goodbye. It is not only poverty-stricken Latin Americans who go abroad in search of opportunity. This programme depends on people who are working overseas: the foreign correspondents who take up a posting, and then regale us with tales of their adopted countries. Any traveller though will tell you that returning home can also be an interesting experience, the chance to see a once familiar country through fresh eyes. Nick Bryant has just gone back to Australia after eight years, and says that it is not just him who changed during that time away. It started with her going to the police to complain that she had been gang raped; it resulted in a court case, with her in the dock. The case dates back to 2019, when a British student said she had been raped by up to twelve Israelis at a hotel room in Cyprus. She then retracted the allegation, and found herself convicted for making it up. That sentence has now been overturned, by a panel of judges in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia. Anna Holligan watched the hearing, and says it focused attention on the way cases of rape and sexual assault are treated in Cyprus. With more than a hundred thousand Russian troops massed on its border, the Ukrainian Army is on high alert, while ordinary citizens are being mobilised for civil defence. In the capital, Kiev, these efforts are being overseen by the city's Mayor, the former world champion boxer, Vitali Klitschko. Colin Freeman met him while he was out campaigning, and ponders now how well he's suited to this new role.

Madagascar is the second largest island nation in the world, yet quietly, largely unreported, its people are falling into starvation. 1.3 million are already suffering what's called “severe food insecurity,” with the United Nations warning of worse to come. The World Food Programme says climate change is at the root of the problem, while others blame poverty and government mismanagement. Catherine Byaruhanga visited the stricken villages. They are still finding dead bodies on the borderland between Poland and Belarus, a few of the thousands who tried to cross over, most of them originally from the Middle East. Poland was accused of breaking international law when it refused to let them in. and at least a dozen died from hypothermia while trapped between the two countries. Lucy Ash has found that the crisis also left some of the border guards themselves suffering psychological damage, from what proved to be a traumatic experience. It is never great to lose an election, particularly if you happen to be in power at the time. However, the President of Honduras faces a more serious reversal of fortune than most politicians. Juan Orlando Hernandez was not actually on the ballot paper, but one of his political allies was, and he lost. This means not only will Mr Hernandez leave the Presidential Palace, he may also be extradited to the United States on drugs charges, as he no longer enjoys the protection of public office. Meanwhile the woman who won the election is promising a fresh start for the country, prompting wild celebrations, which Will Grant was there to see. Keeping children safe from Covid has been a major challenge throughout the pandemic, but that does not just mean protecting them from the disease itself; relatively few get seriously ill from the Coronavirus. The question for many has been how to keep children's lives as normal as possible - continuing their education, and bringing them up in an era where parents are at home instead of going out to work, where people wear masks, and many are dying. Laura Trevelyan has three children who she's raising in New York, and has been looking at the pandemic's effect on them and their fellow junior New Yorkers. Plenty of people have pointless items stuck in an attic, or at the back of a cupboard, things they know deep down they will never use, and rarely even look at, yet somehow cannot throw away. Colin Freeman has spent the past couple of decades working as a foreign correspondent, and those years of roaming the globe have left him with some highly unusual keepsakes.

When western troops overthrew Saddam Hussein, the argument was that this would turn Iraq from a dictatorship into a democracy. And they have indeed held elections there; the latest vote for a new Iraqi parliament took place last Sunday. Yet when it comes to actually voting, tribal and religious affiliation appear to have trumped any ideological leanings, and with a heavy dose of apathy and disillusionment thrown in, says Lizzie Porter. As with Iraq, Japan also faces much disillusionment with democratic politics. The last election saw only a little over half the voting population turn out, and it's not hard to see why: in almost every single contest, the same party has won. Now, the Liberal Democrat Party has chosen a new leader, and he automatically became interim prime minister, pending a general election later this month. It is an election nobody expects him to lose, but was the country's new leader welcomed with great excitement and fanfare? Hardly, says Rupert Wingfield-Hayes: According to mythology, Rome was founded by a pair of twins who had been raised by wolves. But Romulus and Remus might have been surprised to know that in the early Twenty First Century, the “eternal city” would have wild wolves spotted near its airport. Meanwhile wild boars and other animals have been stalking the streets, feasting on the rubbish that sits uncollected. It's all just one sign of the extent to which Rome has not been particularly well run in recent years, maladministration and the mafia making easy bedfellows. Tomorrow, Romans will have the chance to choose a new mayor, hoping they save the city from this plight. Italian politics is, of course, often rather colourful, and the two remaining candidates in this contest are a radio star with links to the far right, and a former Economics Minister, who has attempted to seduce voters by serenading them with a bit of bosa nova guitar. Watching this spectacle is long-term Rome resident, Joanna Robertson. Someone once said that when it came to British politics, there had only been three issues in recent elections: Brexit, Brexit and Brexit. This was not a subject that other countries necessarily wanted to focus on, most governments having enough challenges of their own to think about. Yet, for the Republic of Ireland, the UK's rows over Europe were always going to make their mark; the country has so much trade with Britain, as well as an open border with Northern Ireland. Emma Vardy says that the latest developments in the Brexit saga, have left Irish people exasperated, and also rather sad. It was the writer William Faulkner who famously said “The past is never dead. It's not even past.” That's something which another writer, Colin Freeman, discovered, when he visited Ukraine this month. He was there to hear about a new memorial and museum for the “Babi Yar” massacre, an atrocity which took place in 1941. German Nazi occupiers shot dead more than thirty thousand Jews there, and later, would use the same site to kill gay people, prisoners of war, and the mentally ill - some of the worst mass shootings in human history. Plans for a new museum about the massacres have been underway for some time, but it's a development, which Colin Freeman say,s tells us much about present day Ukraine, as well as about the moment in history being commemorated.

The sailors held captive for years, and the man who managed to free them. Somali pirates made millions of dollars hijacking ships and holding their crews hostage, if no ransom was paid though, sailors could spend years languishing in captivity. When retired British Army Colonel John Steed set out to try to free what he called ‘Somalia's forgotten hostages' he had no money and no hostage-negotiation experience, so how did he do it? Colin Freeman, who was himself taken hostage in Somalia, hears the remarkable stories of the sailors and their saviours.

Lebanon was once the embodiment of glamour: its capital, Beirut, was nicknamed the “Paris of the Middle East” and enjoyed as an international playground. Today those glory years seem long gone. A political crisis has left the country without a properly functioning government – and its economy has imploded. The currency has lost more than 90% of its value and poverty has skyrocketed. There are shortages of fuel, water and food - and as Leila Molana-Allen explains, even essential medicines are getting harder and harder to find: It's a scenario found in so many places around the world: the war is over, no more shots are being fired, no bombs dropped, and yet people are still dying. And why? Because of all the landmines which have been laid during the conflict – which don't recognise ceasefires or treaties, and can still maim or kill anyone who treads on one. During last year's fighting between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the Nagorno Karabakh region, thousands of mines were buried in its hillsides. Efforts to defuse and remove them have already begun – but it's slow, painstaking, and above all, terribly dangerous work. Colin Freeman has been hearing from some of the men trying to clear up the mess. As the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on America approaches, it's a particularly difficult time for those who lost friends and family. Almost three thousand people were killed when Al Qaeda hijackers flew planes into the twin towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington. One of the dead was David Berry, who was killed in the south tower of the World Trade Center. He was 43 years old and had young children. His widow, Paula Grant Berry, has been talking to Laura Trevelyan. Travelling through Italy you're bound to run into Mazzini, Garibaldi and Cavour – the key historic figures in the country's unification. From the Alps to Sicily, there are endless roads, piazzas and monuments named in their honour. But new roads call for new ideas - and the choices made about who to commemorate can be surprising. In Ozzano dell'Emilia – a village of 14,000 people near the northern city of Bologna - they've decided to dedicated a new road to a rather unexpected – and flamboyant – personality. Dany Mitzman's been to walk the freshly-rolled tarmac of Via Freddy Mercury. They say that in big cities like London or New York you're never more than a few metres away from a rat. Hugh Schofield now has proof positive that it's true - and has an alarming tale of a most unwelcome visitor to his home in the French capital. Producer: Polly Hope

Today we speak to journalist Colin Freeman on everything you needed to know about armed piracy on the seas.  - www.patreon.com/popularfront - www.popularfront.co - www.twitter.com/jake_hanrahan - www.instagram.com/popular.front

The destructive power of water is often underestimated… until it's too late. Large areas of Europe and China are still reeling from the damage left by some of their worst floods for decades. Across Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany, there were over 200 deaths and billions of euros' worth of damage done. Now there are questions over whether this disaster will make voters more concerned about the effects of climate change. Although the Netherlands was least affected by the latest floods, water management is an existential threat for such a low-lying country. Anna Holligan has seen the worry – as well as the wreckage - on the ground there and in Germany. Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro was recently briefly admitted to hospital after intestinal problems made him hiccup uncontrollably. He appears to have recovered and has been out and about, talking to the media and to the public. But his political worries are not over – in fact they're only growing more acute. Many of his former allies are beginning to peel away. The country's Senate is now investigating his government's record of decision-making on Covid, from refusing to lock down to failure to procure medical supplies and vaccines. There are allegations swirling of corrupt vaccine-purchasing deals. Yet Mr Bolsonaro can still count on solid support from some of those who helped to elect him. Orla Guerin heard from them in Brasilia. The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan for control of Nagorno Karabakh, is over - for now. The conflict there has flared up repeatedly over more than thirty years, with both countries insisting that the region is legally and historically theirs. In late 2020 Azerbaijan launched a lightning offensive – and came out on top this time around, capturing towns and territory with significant help from its regional ally, Turkey. Colin Freeman recently returned to one town which he'd last seen at the centre of a fierce battle. South Africa is counting the costs of a mass outbreak of looting and destruction. In and around the cities of Johannesburg and Durban, businesses and homes were burned and ransacked. The police were fiercely criticised in some places for not doing enough to stop the violence. As well as criminal investigation, the country is now also doing plenty of soul-searching about the root causes of such widespread chaos. Gregory Mthembu-Salter and his family share the national concern, as his wife's side of the family live where the looting was worst, in Kwa Zulu -Natal. The Mexican state of Sinaloa is deeply enmeshed in the drug trade. Profits from organised crime are an important driver of the local economy, especially in the state's capital. In Culiacán , luxury cars can often be seen cruising the streets. Restaurants, bars, and designer fashion outlets all depend on the cash brought in from narcotics. And there's another expensive consumer fixation fuelled by narco culture – widespread plastic surgery. Linda Pressly talked to one of the city's busy cosmetic surgeons. Producer: Polly Hope

Colin Freeman: Between the Devil and the deep blue sea with TRE´s Bill Padley

Germany had eased its lockdown, but after a spike in cases at a meat-packing factory the authorities have re-imposed lockdown restrictions in two districts, affecting over half a million people. Is this the start of a second wave or just something to be expected asks Damien McGuinness? The Islamist militant group Boko Haram has operated in north-east Nigeria for years, despite the Nigerian army's efforts to defeat them. Recently there has been a new spate of attacks, in the garrison town of Monguno, and two more nearby. And now, they are targeting aid workers, as Colin Freeman reports. There was a deadly clash in Ladakh’s Galway valley last week, where India borders China. Both sides accused each other of crossing into their respective territory. Against this turbulent backdrop, the region is also known for its snow leopards. Michelle Jana Chan went in search of them. A Chechen blogger living in exile in a secret location in Sweden. says he was the victim of an assassination attempt, carried out with a hammer. The blogger had been a vocal critic of the pro-Russian government in Chechnya. So who sent the would-be assassin, and why did the hitman, who had not killed previously, take on the job? Nick Sturdee investigates. In Greece concerts are allowed again, and those who like folk music, but not the ubiquitous bouzouki sound, may want to head to Crete. Here the traditional performances don’t include bouzoukis, but instead, as Heidi Fuller Love has been finding, the instruments and voices are enhanced by live gun shots. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

In the US, authorities all over the country are working on police reform. Jo Erickson is a black journalist working in Minneapolis, and has been stopped by armed police herself. She recounts her experience. Yemen has the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, following years of civil war. And now, on top of malnourishment and a decimated healthcare system, comes Covid-19. Iona Craig was in the worst-hit city, Aden, when the virus started to spread. South-East Asian countries have been easing their lockdowns, with manufacturing and construction starting up again in Singapore this week. But not all companies made it through lockdown. Karishma Vaswani has been hearing the stories of a pizza restaurant in Singapore, and a garment factory in Indonesia. Mali used to be a destination for travellers drawn by the music, the allure of Timbuktu, or backpacking in the Dogon valley. This gave many local youngsters jobs as tourist guides. But all that came to a halt with a jihadi insurrection and extremist violence. Mali is now a no-go zone for foreigners, much to the regret of Colin Freeman. In Uzbekistan, on the old Silk Road in Central Asia, life in the countryside still goes on in much the way it used to, everyone knows everyone, food is shared. At family gatherings, greetings involve repeated kisses on each cheek. Not anymore though, with new social distancing rules, much to the relief of our correspondent. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

As the UK and the EU both set out what they want to get in the upcoming trade negotiations, are they heading for an almighty Brexit showdown (00:40)? We also have a look at the constitutional reforms proposed by Guinea's president Alpha Condé, and how he has succumbed to 'African Strongman Syndrome' (18:05). Plus, are dog owners treating their pets like babies (30:15)? With James Forsyth, Peter Foster, Colin Freeman, Alex Vines, Melissa Kite and Stuart Simons. Presented by Cindy Yu. Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

Stories from China, Iraq, Pakistan and Russia and the cost of breaking bones in America. Healthcare is a very hot issue in the US race for the Democratic presidential nominee. Bernie Sanders is promising to roll out government-run health insurance for everyone. When Laura Trevelyan broke her wrist, she found navigating the US insurance system both pricey and confusing. Health concerns of a different kind are making headlines this week as the Coronavirus spreads to more countries and claims more lives. Determined to cut the number of new infections, China has confined hundreds of millions of people to their homes. Kerry Allen from BBC Monitoring has immersed herself in Chinese cyberspace to gauge the national mood and the authorities response to the crisis. In Iraq, despite pleas from the Ministry of Health to remain at home, earlier this week demonstrators were still in the streets. Protests have rocked the country since October in response to widespread corruption, poor infrastructure and perceived Iranian intervention in Iraq's internal affairs. Colin Freeman who first visited Iraq 17 years ago has been back to meet an old friend. In the Pakistani city of Lahore, a building where nationalists once staged meetings against British rule, is slowly crumbling away. Andrew Whitehead recently managed to make his way in to the decaying Bradlaugh Hall and caught an echo of Lahore’s tempestuous past and at times troubled present. Wrangel Island was one of the last refuges for woolly mammoths. Today the Russian island is home to Arctic foxes, polar bears, and is visited by more than a hundred species of migratory birds. Scientists flock there too but why honeymooners asks Juliet Rix?

As the UK and the EU both set out what they want to get in the upcoming trade negotiations, are they heading for an almighty Brexit showdown (00:40)? We also have a look at the constitutional reforms proposed by Guinea's president Alpha Condé, and how he has succumbed to 'African Strongman Syndrome' (18:05). Plus, are dog owners treating their pets like babies (30:15)?With James Forsyth, Peter Foster, Colin Freeman, Alex Vines, Melissa Kite and Stuart Simons.Presented by Cindy Yu.Produced by Cindy Yu and Gus Carter.

The anti-nationalist protesters in Italy and the man they are trying to stop - Mark Lowen meets members of the Sardines as well the hard-line politician Matteo Salvini who is hoping to become Prime Minister. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories: In Cape Verde, Colin Freeman finds out why Europe’s drug problem is also a problem for the Atlantic islands. In Greece, Tulip Mazumdar visits the Lesbos migrant camp built for 2,000 people and now home to more than 18,000. In China, Yvonne Murray gets to know her new neighbours - rats. According to the Chinese zodiac, they are thought to be ambitious and clever, hard-working and imaginative but she finds them a little less appealing. And Fergal Keane reflects on heroism, compassion and the remarkable story of a woman who sheltered a man who plotted to kill Adolf Hitler.

This week, as the royal scandals start stacking up, we ask if the younger Windsors are letting the Queen down (00:30). Plus, what sort of message should the government send to the public about a no deal Brexit (11:05)? And last, we talk Parma ham and sourdough – and the dangers that come with introducing your children to bourgeois diets (30:05).With Jan Moir, Angela Levin, Stewart Jackson, Poppy Trowbridge, Ian Wright, Colin Freeman, and Leah McLaren.Presented by Katy Balls.Produced by Cindy Yu and Timmy Fisher.

This week, as the royal scandals start stacking up, we ask if the younger Windsors are letting the Queen down (00:30). Plus, what sort of message should the government send to the public about a no deal Brexit (11:05)? And last, we talk Parma ham and sourdough – and the dangers that come with introducing your children to bourgeois diets (30:05). With Jan Moir, Angela Levin, Stewart Jackson, Poppy Trowbridge, Ian Wright, Colin Freeman, and Leah McLaren. Presented by Katy Balls. Produced by Cindy Yu and Timmy Fisher.

The protests at Hong Kong's international airport this week and the violence that resulted have been widely reported. Jonathan Head says not only was this the week that the protest movement lost its innocence, but also that the violence has handed the Chinese authorities a propaganda coup. Reporting from Indian-administered Kashmir has been especially challenging since the Indian government stripped it of its special status: no internet and no telephones. But Yogita Limaye finds one friendly Kashmiri who supplies both hot tea and functional broadband. If you're nervous about snakes then Gombe District in northern Nigeria is best avoided, warns Colin Freeman. He visits a hospital that specialises in treating bites, especially those of the carpet viper, an ever-present danger to the local farmers. Waterproof clothing made from the wool of the Bordaleira sheep has kept Portuguese farmers dry for centuries. Today, it's also the height of fashion, as Margaret Bradley reports; flying off the shelves of smart shops of Lisbon and Porto and in much demand overseas. President Trump surprised Sweden recently when he suggested that the prime minister intervene in the case of a US rapper who'd been arrested in Stockholm on suspicion of assault. Maddy Savage was in court to see the case play out.

The death of Mohammed Morsi throws into sharp relief the challenges facing modern day Egypt, and the bigger struggle to embrace democracy. Kevin Connolly reflects back on the defining moments of his presidency. Colin Freeman visits a town in the heart of Boko Haram territory in Nigeria's north-east, and learns about a new faction which has formally declared allegiance to so-called Islamic State - and adopted a new strategy. 20 years after Nato peacekeepers entered Kosovo, James Coomarasamy meets the war widows who are challenging local norms by working for a successful pickling company. Germany is grappling with the possibility a man with far-right extremist links was responsible for the shooting of one of Angela's Merkel's pro-refugee allies. Reha Kansara meets a woman who spends hours each day tackling online hate speech in the country. The warm-blooded manatee makes its way each winter to the USA's Sunshine State, but its steadily rising population was recently blighted by one of the worst cases of Red Tide - a form of toxic algae. Phoebe Smith took to the waters to encounter Florida's most loved wildlife attraction.

Anonymous contacts. Secret meetings. Men in raincoats. Gabriel Gatehouse reveals what it can take to bring a story on collusion to light. In Bulgaria, Colin Freeman assesses the economic importance of the Kalashnikov AK47 assault rifle. More than 150 years after slavery officially ended in the US, Juliet Rix has a chance encounter in South Carolina that suggests the past is remarkably present. In the wetlands of southern Iraq Leon McCarron meets some of the people known as the Marsh Arabs. In the 1980s their homeland was a frontline in the Iran-Iraq war; in the 1990s Saddam Hussein unleashed fighter jets to destroy their settlements. Now they face another threat - there's still not enough clean water. And in Italy, Dany Mitzman tries to make the best of a dreaded family day out...at a football match.

Venezuelans are divided on what caused the crisis in their country and on whether the foreign governments offering help are potential saviours or invaders. In Caracas, Katy Watson hears how people on all sides are losing hope. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world: Colin Freeman meets Yasin Abu Bakr the man behind what was probably the only Islamist coup ever to have been attempted in the Western hemisphere. In 1990 Jamaat al Muslimeen took the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago hostage. Alastair Leithead discovers why the protection of elephants in Botswana is becoming an increasingly politicised issue. Should the meat of culled animals be turned into pet food? Michelle Jana Chan meets the Bhutanese athlete Dorji Dema, and discovers that archery there can often involve raucous singing, lots of alcohol and hurling insults at opponents. And Jenny Hill explains how Germany’s love of sausages is expressed in its language as well as its diet.

The impact of Venezuela's economic crisis is being felt far beyond its shores; Colin Freeman hears how some former Venezuelan fisherman have turned to kidnap and smuggling guns and drugs into Trinidad to make money. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world: How will the Trump administration judge its allies in the Middle East, wonders Barbara Plett Usher. She joined the US Secretary of State on part of his rapid round of diplomacy in the region where one word kept cropping up – Iran. 63,000 jobs and 19 million applicants – Rahul Tandon joins some of the people hoping to work on India’s railways. Juliet Rix joins the celebrations to mark 100 years since the Bauhaus school of art and design was founded. And Bethany Bell struggles through the snow in Austria to report on record falls in the Alps.

The women who regard their days with the jihadist group as the first time they'd had any kind of female empowerment and the men who saw it as a chance to escape poverty and gain access to money and guns. Colin Freeman reports from Maiduguri in Nigeria. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world. Harriet Noble meets the ‘rental sisters’ trying to coax reclusive young Japanese men back into society. There are up to a million ‘hikikomori’ who go for years without speaking to those around them or even leaving their bedrooms. Jane Labous hears of the stigma of childlessness in Senegal – for both men and women. Bob Dickinson explains why plans to make South America’s biggest ski resort even bigger have provoked a backlash amongst some residents of Barciloche in Argentina. And in supposedly liberal Lebanon, Lizzie Porter meets a cleric who was forced from his job for posting videos of himself online playing the piano in his traditional robes.

Home-made muskets that often fail to fire and little but lucky charms for protection – what it’s like going into battle for the rebels fighting for independence for English-speaking parts of Cameroon. Colin Freeman meets a former member of the Red Dragons. Caroline Wyatt introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world. Joanna Roberson hears why the people of Rome fear the historical heart of their city is being carved up by criminals as mafia seek out cafes and restaurants to launder their money. In China, Robin Brant meets Ian Simpson whose son Michael was murdered last year. Michael was killed by his ex-wife Weiwei Fu but now Ian wants her help to win custody of his grandchildren who are living with Weiwei’s relatives in rural China. Heidi Fuller-Love discovers what life is like on the Namibian island of Impalila. It may be close to the borders of Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, but it can feel a long way from anywhere. And Emma Jane Kirby meets her hero – the French musician Francis Cabrel who is revered in his home country but little known in Britain as he prefers to sing only in his native tongue.

Why some schools are sending their students out to beg in northern Nigeria. Kate Adie introduces stories from correspondents around the world: Colin Freeman hears how students at some madrassas in Maiduguri are vulnerable to jihadi recruiters for Boko Haram, and he learns why going out to beg is part of the school timetable. No one is suffering - one senior government figure in Venezuela tells Katy Watson; despite the country's continuing economic collapse, the people going hungry and the shortage of essential medicines. Tim Luard finds that China's influence in Sri Lanka is growing, meaning locals now find some places are out of bounds. In India, Melissa Van Der Klugt meets the craftsmen of Mandvi who are keeping alive the 400-year old skill of making wooden boats by hand. And in the Portuguese capital, Paddy O'Connell finds Lisboners sit in a nutcracker caught between short-term holidaymakers and digital nomads - but is Paddy part of the problem?

Tales of revolutions, rainforests and the migrants returning home from Libya. Kate Adie introduces stories and insight from correspondents around the world: In Nigeria, Colin Freeman meets some of the migrants who have given up on their European dreams and accepted the UN’s help to return home. The ‘Velvet Revolution’ in Armenia saw its prime minister (and former president) relinquish power – all without a shot being fired. Rayhan Demytrie was in the capital Yerevan as tens of thousands of people took to the streets demanding change. “Scum of the earth” is how one Goan politician described visitors from other parts of India, prompting Sushma Puri to try and find out what other residents of the southern Indian state think about domestic tourists. The usual rule of thumb in rainforests is that you hear lots and see little, says Huw Cordey, but things were different in Suriname thanks to his guide Fred Pansa, who might just become the most famous South American conservationist from a country few have heard of. And in France, Hugh Schofield stumbles across the grave, and the story, of the once-celebrated, and now largely forgotten English war poet Richard Aldington.

A Gambian spymaster, a Czechoslovak secret agent and a South African ghost called Sam. Correspondents share wit, analysis, and tales of strange encounters. Introduced by Kate Adie. Gambia’s intelligence agency has a new name and its boss is busy rebranding it – but beyond repainting the torture chamber, what does that mean, wonders Colin Freeman. Rob Cameron scours the archives of the StB – Czechoslovakia’s communist-era secret police– on the trail of ‘agent COB’. He meets the man who says he tried to recruit Jeremy Corbyn as an asset. Helen Nianais has coffee with a former jihadi who faces three years in jail after spending nine days in Syria. Now he’s trying to counter extremist propaganda online and help others reintegrate back into normal life in Kosovo. Shabnam Mahmood returns to Pakistan and finds that Uber and other cab-hailing apps are driving rickshaw drivers out of business, but there are still some parts of Lahore where older methods of transport dominate. And Harriet Constable visits Kaapsehoop – a village whose fortunes may have faded since South Africa's 19th century gold rush, but which remains rich in history, folklore, and ghosts.

The Salvadoran woman who claims she faces 30 years in prison for having a miscarriage Kate Adie introduces correspondent's stories from around the world. Benjamin Zand is in El Salvador investigating the country's abortion laws - some of the harshest and most stringently enforced in the world. Colin Freeman meets the survivors of the Gambian dictator Yahya Jammeh's HIV treatment programme. His 'miracle cure' turned out to be deadly for many. Lyse Doucet hears tales of Aleppo’s ancient souk from the traders who are starting to return. Rani Singh is on the roof of the world exploring relations between India and China, and hanging with a cool ex-monk. And Kevin Connolly returns to Bulgaria and remembers its communist past.

Killing time on election day in Catalonia and the bitter experience of applying for a visa. Correspondents share their stories, insights, and complaints. Introduced by Kate Adie. Reporting restrictions on polling day prompt Kevin Connolly to explore Barcelona and take a bit of a gamble. Yolande Knell tries to ignore the tempting local delicacies in Jerusalem and sample public opinion instead. Linda Pressly meets the people hoping the river the Pilcomayo will once again flow through the Chaco – one of the most arid and unforgiving regions of South America situated along the border between Paraguay and Argentina. Chris Bowlby remembers New Year’s Eve 1992 and the moment when Czechoslovakia became the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. And of the many challenges that foreign reporting presents, the one Colin Freeman dreads most is applying for a visa.

A president in exile? The Brussels' press pack is in pursuit of Carles Puigdemont. Kate Adie introduces stories, wit, and analysis from correspondents around the world. It’s been a busy week for Adam Fleming in Belgium, as he tried to track down the sacked Catalan leader and figure out what is really going on. Colin Freeman reported from Liberia at the height of the Ebola crisis and has been back to see what has changed. Shaking hands is once again permitted, he finds, and the nation’s health service has been transformed. Justin Rowlatt has a tale of prince and poverty from the ridge forest in Delhi, India. And Amy Guttman is in Okinawa, Japan, home to thousands of American soldiers. And Stephen Smith has the story behind Dr Zhivago - one of the best-known love stories of the 20th century.

The most deadly attack in Somalia’s war-torn history has rocked the country and claimed hundreds of lives. We look to find out why the two bombs have gone unclaimed by any terrorist organization. We talk to Colin Freeman whose on-the-ground reporting has led him to some interesting conclusions. Iraqi troops have been mobilized again, but this time it is to reclaim Kirkuk, the oil-rich Iraqi state that the Kurdish referendum attempted to claim as their own. The National reporter, Mina Al Droubi, joins us to discuss how the attack can easily take a turn for the worse. Finally we are joined by James Langton, who witnessed an unidentified object burning through the UAE’s sky from his home in Abu Dhabi. Speculation on what the object was has led some to say it was a meteor yet others claiming it came from a Russian ship.

Marshal Khalifa Haftar has big ambitions for his army and his country, but what is the military strongman's vision for Libya? Caroline Wyatt introduces correspondents' stories. Stephen Sackur has some challenging questions for The Marshal in Benghazi, but will he get to ask them? In Liberia, Olivia Acland visits the Hotel Ducor and reflects on what it reveals about the country. It once attracted world leaders with its 5-star luxury - now it lies in ruins. For an insight into President Duterte's ongoing war on drugs in the Philippines, Colin Freeman heads to a morgue in Manila and joins some crime reporters on their night shift. In Italy, Dany Mitzman samples a plate of slippery, squidgy jellyfish. The ‘eat it to beat it’ movement offers a novel, and for some unpalatable, solution to dealing with invasive species. And, what to say to a border guard? Tim Whewell tries to talk his way into Abkhazia – a largely forgotten corner of the former Soviet Union. Producer: Joe Kent

Tales from Thailand, Morocco, Myanmar, Kenya and the US-Mexico border. Kate Adie introduces correspondents’ stories. In a Chang Mai prison, Jonathan Head meets a woman facing more than a decade in jail, convicted of insulting the monarchy and sentenced under Thailand’s lèse majesté laws. Colin Freeman wonders whether change might be coming to Morocco as protests spread across the country – the largest since 2011, the era of the Arab Spring. Jonah Fisher looks back on his three and a half years in Myanmar and wonders how he went from eating cake with Aung San Suu Kyi in her home, to shouting questions at her at public rallies. Harriet Constable joins the roller-blading cool kids of Nairobi and finds a welcome distraction from warnings of violence ahead of Kenya’s upcoming general election. And on the US/Mexico border, Victoria Gill goes in search of the Sonoran Pronghorn as researchers try to assess what impact President Trump's plan for an "impassable barrier" might have on wildlife.

A trendy haircut in Maipur, baby-blue painted nails in Athens and the authentic taste of a South Pacific superfood. Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs has sparked repeated international criticism, but Colin Freeman finds support in surprising places: drug users, or ex-drug users, for Duterte. Secunder Kermani gets a haircut in Mirpur, and a lesson in relations between British Pakistanis and their cousins back home. While Louise Cooper gets her nails done in Athens and finds the ugly face of recession, in a Greek beauty parlour. In Moscow, Steve Rosenberg watches as thousands of Russians queue for a chance to glimpse a golden ark. Inside it are fragments of St Nicholas’ rib, on loan from Italy. And Simon Parker swims in the clean seas around French Polynesia and samples the silky, mustard-coloured gonads of a sea urchin.

Tall stories, strange names, ancient giants and linguistic confusion. Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. Colin Freeman, in the Pakistani city of Quetta, wonders if it is still a Taliban stronghold. Chris Haslam, in Zambia, is shocked by some of the strange names given to children. Tim Ecott is among giants on Mexico's Baja Peninsula - both in the ocean and on land. Sodaba Haidare visits a special restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul which is empowering women victims of domestic abuse. And Joanna Robertson reaches for the NervenTee in Italy's South Tyrol region - but which language should she use? More tea please!

The duffel-coated outcast; from bomb factory to museum; icy cooperation; singing for home; greening sands. Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories: Hugh Schofield meets a defiant - and chipper - Jean-Marie Le Pen, the outcast founder of the France's Front National; in north-west Pakistan, close to the Afghan border, Colin Freeman is shown a bomb-making factory - just the latest evidence of the violence that has dominated the region for more than a century; in the icy seas off Finland, fears of Russian 'little green men' are put aside as a Finnish icebreaker - with Horatio Clare on board - introduces a moment of peace and cooperation. Singing for home and a lost culture - Nicola Kelly hears how Nubians in Egypt are trying to reconnect with their lost homeland. And, in Oman, it's not golden sands that Antonia Quirke sees in the desert but a carpet of green.

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. Colin Freeman sees the devastating consequences of IS mines and booby traps, left behind for civilians anxious to return to their homes. Elisabeth Kendall hears how social media have broadened the horizons of Yemeni tribesmen armed to the hilt. British citizens living and working in Germany are worried about what might happen to them once the UK leaves the EU; Damien McGuinness hears how many of them are rushing to town halls to become German. The new Gambian president has vowed to improve his poor nation's economy; Andy Jones argues that tourism - and brightly painted murals - could be part of the answer. And Margaret Bradley sees and hears the destruction trail of a red peril that's invaded Portugal.

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. With President Putin enjoying sky-high approval ratings, Sarah Rainsford travels to the hear the verdict in the trial of a man hoping to replace Mr. Putin. Just how difficult is it to be in opposition in Russia? In Turkey, there have been tens of thousands of arrests, numerous terrorist attacks, and the government is planning to hold a referendum, aimed at giving the President more powers. Its a time of instability. As a result, as Louise Callaghan has found, people are flocking to the psychics. The scale of the sex trafficking trade is hard to determine, though many governments have now admitted they need to do more about the problem. Often the victims are reluctant to talk. In south east Nigeria, Colin Freeman finds that the belief in a slave goddess is now being exploited by traffickers to instill fear into trafficked women. In Indonesia, Rebecca Henschke is invited to a judge in the annual transgender beauty contest. But amid all the glamour and glitter, there is an underlying worry about growing intolerance in the country. And our man in Paris, Hugh Schofield, says sometimes the cliche that a teacher can change your life is actually true. He reminisces about a man called "Mush" who taught him French, in 1960s Dublin.

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. Jill McGivering investigates the cow protection squads in northern India, some of which have been accused of extreme violence against Muslims. Colin Freeman gets a Blue Feeling moment in Gambia as he explores why so many young men are leaving the country. Turkmenistan has one of the world's most repressive governments, and now the president's personality cult includes a nationwide health kick. Abdujalil Abdurasulov asks if that means everybody has to jump to it. Fifty years ago, South Africa's apartheid government razed the District Six neighbourhood of Cape Town: as a multiracial, rackety, creative hotbed it didn't fit a model of strict segregation. Lindsay Johns has personal links to the area, and considers how the evictions destroyed far more than just homes among the Coloured community. And Katie Razzall is in West Virginia, in the coal mining areas, where people voted in droves for Donald Trump. They're hoping he'll re-open the mines and bring jobs back to the area but will real life return to the bars and hotels?

We're joined this week by Conservative MP Rory Stewart and the Telegraph's Rob Crilly and Colin Freeman

Sandi Toksvig meets journalist Colin Freeman who was kidnapped by pirates in Somalia whilst investigating them. He tells Sandi about how the total breakdown of law and order has led to piracy on the high seas and poverty on the land. David Edwards had barely arrived in Montserrat in 1995 when the volcanic eruptions took place that were to cover most of the island in ash. He went back 16 years later to see how life has changed for both visitors and residents. Language teacher Elisabeth Smith tells Sandi why the British are so bad at speaking foreign languages when travelling - and what they can do about it. Producer: Harry Parker.