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Guy Hedgecoe, Freelance Journalist in Spain and Martin Hayes, an Irish Solicitor with Swan Partners in Valencia
The journalist Guy Hedgecoe, who covers Spain for the BBC, visits Felipe Conde's shop and workshop in Centro, Madrid. Conde is the fourth generation of his family to make classical and flamenco guitars. Many of the great flamenco musicians - Moraito, Paco de Lucia, Tomatito - have played Conde guitars, as have artists from other traditions - Leonard Cohen, Lenny Kravitz, Cat Stevens. And Paco de Lucia gave one to Michael Jackson. Guy meet Antonio Gonzalez, one of Conde's customers, who tell him what qualities he is looking for - and plays. And he watches while Felipe Conde works on a new instrument. Guy explores the state of the craft of making, the art of playing and the place of the classical guitar and flamenco music in Spain, and around the world, today. Presenter: Guy Hedgecoe Producer: Julian May
We talk to Guy Hedgecoe, journalist in Spain.
Kate Adie introduces dispatches on Haiti, China, Lebanon, Spain and Italy.Haitians fear their plight is being forgotten after criminal gangs took control of the capital. An international peacekeeping force is scheduled to arrive in the coming weeks, but how quickly can law and order be restored? Catherine Norris Trent reports from the capital Port au Prince, where she met a community of displaced locals, now living in an abandoned government building.This week marks 35 years since student-led demonstrations took over Tiananmen Square in Beijing. BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera tracked down two former student leaders who were at the protests in 1989, who reveal that the Chinese government is still watching them.As Israel's bombardment of Gaza continues, in response to the Hamas attacks on the 7th of October, violence has also flared up on the country's northern border with Lebanon. A new arrival in Beirut, the BBC's Hugo Bachega has learned much about the mood in the country as he searches for a new home.Spain's efforts to tackle the legacy of its civil war and the Franco dictatorship have long been the cause of political rancour. Guy Hedgecoe discovers the issue is once again causing social division, amid the rise in popularity of far fight political parties.The Allied soldiers in the Italian Campaign of World War Two were unfairly derided for sunbathing on Italian beaches, while escaping the Normandy Landings. Yet this was far from the reality faced by soldiers involved in assaults such as 1944's Battle for Monte Cassino. Kasia Madera met some of the surviving veterans from the campaign, which took place 80 years ago.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production coordinator: Katie Morrison
Boeing is under pressure after an unused door blew out of a Boeing 737 Max in January shortly after take-off. Will Bain looks at what the changes at the top will mean for the aviation giant as it faces heavy scrutiny following safety incidents and manufacturing issues. Also on the programme: A deadline for Donald Trump to put up the $464m (£365m) penalty for inflating his net worth is due to expire Monday. If he doesn't, the New York Attorney General may start freezing his bank accounts and seizing his property. And as rental costs rise steeply in parts of Spain, Guy Hedgecoe looks at the situation in Ibiza, where the problem is particularly acute due to tourism.
There's been a wave of farmers' protests across Europe in recent weeks. France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Eastern European countries have all seen farmers airing their grievances by driving their tractors into towns and cities and blocking roads. There have also been similar demonstrations far beyond Europe, in India. Guy Hedgecoe has been looking at the protests and how some grievances are uniting farmers from different countries while others are dividing them. Because farming is so important for our day-to-day lives, the outcome could affect us all. (Picture: A farmer pours industrial honey during a protest in Madrid. Credit: Getty Images)Presented and produced by Guy Hedgecoe
Guy Hedgecoe, freelance journalist in Madrid
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
China and the US make deals on the military and fentanyl trafficking. The BBC's World Service's Asia Pacific editor, Celia Hatton, explains why the two superpowers need each other now more than ever. Plus, how long can Israel continue to count on the West's support in the conflict in Gaza? BBC reporter Guy Hedgecoe finds out if the Spanish Prime Minister can stave off Catalan independence and Moe Myint Myint reveals why the Myanmar military's days might be numbered.
It is almost four months now since Spain went to the polls to elect a new parliament. This week it looks as if Socialist Party leader Pedro Sánchez is finally about to be confirmed for a new term as Prime Minister. But the political road to that outcome has been complex and highly contentious, bringing to the fore all the divisions over ideology and identity which characterise the contemporary political scene in Spain, the EU's fourth largest country. On today's podcast Hugh Linehan digs into what is happening in Spain with author Paddy Woodworth, who wrote two books about the Basque region, and Madrid-based reporter Guy Hedgecoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
European trade unions are refusing to handle Israeli arms, while in the US, the House of Representatives has voted to censure its only Palestinian-American member for her comments on the conflict. We speak to Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid as protests ramp up over acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez's attempts to negotiate with Catalan separatists. Plus: the latest culture news and how Paris's business district is hoping that students will take over empty office blocks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
From the BBC World Service: How does life continue for those caught up in war between Israel and Hamas? We hear from a doctor in Gaza, a tech business co-founder in Tel Aviv, and the BBC’s reporter there, Clive Myrie, speaks to Israeli citizens who’ve answered the call for mobilization. Also, the BBC’s correspondent in Madrid, Guy Hedgecoe, explores the impact of climate change on tourism.
From the BBC World Service: How does life continue for those caught up in war between Israel and Hamas? We hear from a doctor in Gaza, a tech business co-founder in Tel Aviv, and the BBC’s reporter there, Clive Myrie, speaks to Israeli citizens who’ve answered the call for mobilization. Also, the BBC’s correspondent in Madrid, Guy Hedgecoe, explores the impact of climate change on tourism.
In Spain, the circulation of AI-generated images of naked children have caused shock and controversy in a small town in the south of the country. Guy Hedgecoe, Journalist and broadcaster tells us more.
Spanish football federation chief Luis Rubiales spoiled the afterparty for Spain's Women's World Cup-winning team, first by giving one of the players, Jenni Hermoso, an unwanted kiss, and then by refusing to accept the consequences. As Rubiales clings to his job, the controversy has embarrassed Spain's football establishment, incensed Spanish women and brought on a national reckoning with old-fashioned sexism, says Madrid-based reporter Guy Hedgecoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This week on Bunker Global: The Spanish election fallout as a hung parliament leaves Spain in political limbo. Are Wagner mercenaries really preparing to invade Poland? Also, Elon Musk is ghosting Twitter employees in Africa, why does Big Tech show such little respect to the global South? . Dipo Faloyin, senior editor of global news at Vice and author of ‘Africa is not a Country', and Guy Hedgecoe, freelance journalist based in Madrid, join Andrew Harrison to get you up to speed on what you need to know about news and politics from across the world. “It would be incredibly stupid for 5,000 mercenaries to invade a Nato country.” - Dipo Faloyin “It was a shock that Vox performed so poorly considering their huge success in local elections in May.” - Guy Hedgecoe “People have fallen out of hotel windows for a lot less than what Preghozin has done.” - Dipo Faloyin www.patreon.com/bunkercast Written and presented by Andrew Harrison with Dipo Faloyin. Producer: Liam Tait. Assistant Producer: Adam Wright. Audio editor: Simon Williams. Managing editor: Jacob Jarvis. Music by Kenny Dickinson. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. THE BUNKER is a Podmasters Production. Instagram | Twitter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has a good chance to form a new left wing coalition following a surprise result in last weekend's general election. The result left Spain's right wing parties, who polls suggested should win, wondering where it all went wrong. The ultimate outcome will be hugely consequential, not just for Spain but for all of Europe. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid on how the election went and what the result means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the BBC World Service: Spain’s muddled election results mean more confusion for businesses as it remains unclear whether a government can be formed; the BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe explains what it means from Madrid. Plus we hear from British tourists caught up in the devastating wildfires that have hit the Greek island of Rhodes. And finally, with Barbie making a huge impact at the box office, Elizabeth Hotson reports on businesses betting big on going pink.
From the BBC World Service: Spain’s muddled election results mean more confusion for businesses as it remains unclear whether a government can be formed; the BBC’s Guy Hedgecoe explains what it means from Madrid. Plus we hear from British tourists caught up in the devastating wildfires that have hit the Greek island of Rhodes. And finally, with Barbie making a huge impact at the box office, Elizabeth Hotson reports on businesses betting big on going pink.
Kate Adie introduces BBC correspondents' reports from Sudan, Spain, Tunisia, Italy and Mexico. Sudan's newest civil war has been raging for more than three months - but first-hand images and reports of conflict are not easy to find. Barbara Plett Usher has been working to cover the violence from Nairobi, in Kenya, and reflects on what it's been possible to confirm. In this weekend's snap general election in Spain, current Socialist PM Pedro Sanchez tests his mandate against growing pressure from the right - not just the traditional conservatives of the Partido Popular, but also a range of more firmly nationalist parties. Each major blocs has questioned the other's alliances - whether with smaller parties from the far right, or others from the Basque-nationalist movement. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid. Tunisia may have been the birthplace of the so-called Arab Spring, but these days its democratic credentials seem corroded. President Kais Saied is on an increasingly authoritarian tear, the economy's sputtering and the country's treatment of sub-Saharan African migrants has been growing ever harsher. And as Mike Thomson experienced on a recent trip, the media are still under VERY close supervision. Much of Southern Europe is baking - if not burning - in a searing heatwave. Sofia Bettiza saw how people are adapting to the soaring temperatures on the streets of Palermo, in Sicily - and heard about concerns for Italians' health in this heat. And from Mexico City, an unexpected casualty of gentrification. The BBC's Central America correspondent Will Grant has been trying to keep ahead of a wave of affluent foreigners - especially US citizens - moving in, but recently his young daughters' nursery has been priced out of the neighbourhood.
Guy Hedgecoe, journalist and broadcaster based in Spain
Guy Hedgecoe, journalist based in Madrid on the 40 degree Celsius plus temperatures expected in parts of Spain
Joe Molloy was joined by Spanish-based journalist Guy Hedgecoe to discuss an unlikely revival of bullfighting in the country.
Guy Hedgecoe, Freelance journalist in Madrid
How does the Scottish independence movement compare to those in other countries? Where do independence campaigns share similarities, and where do they differ? The team is joined by journalist Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid, and Will Hayward, Welsh Affairs Editor for WalesOnline, to compare and contrast the Catalan and Welsh independence movements with Scotland, and get a sense of the political and public sentiment for the movements.
Guy Hedgecoe, journalist from Madrid on forecasts of up to 40 degrees expected over the coming days
Many would call him flamenco's "greatest artist" of the past 300 years. He recorded a song in every single type of cante. He had a legendary partnership with Paco de Lucía. He made Tomatito his guitarist, He recorded what is regarded as the most important record in flamenco - "La Leyenda del Tiempo". He is Camarón de la Isla.In this long-anticipated episode, Marcos talks about his life - from the village of San Fernando to the world stages where music took him, his most impactful records, and the new museum that's finally opened in La Isla.Links to some programmes you can watch/ listen to:Camarón: The Film on Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/gb/title/80232891#:~:text=This%20documentary%20looks%20back%20on,to%20a%20tragic%20early%20death.&text=Watch%20all%20you%20wantBBC 4's From Our Own Correspondent: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001hnvn (Starts at 22:23) In Spain, Guy Hedgecoe visits San Fernando, the hometown of the much revered flamenco singer, Camarón de la Isla, where, three decades after the singer's death, his memory is as cherished as the legacy of his music.BBC 4's Spain's Flamenco on the Edge: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001g9f4You can hear our musical choices spread across the podcast on Spotify.
Kate Adie presents stories from Afghanistan, Peru, Russia, the US and Spain As Afghanistan experiences its harshest winter in a decade, Lyse Doucet travels to Salang, the world's highest road tunnel. After roadside service comes to her team's rescue, she visits a struggling family who are cut off from aid and battling to keep warm. Peru is seeing some of its worst clashes since the return of democracy, with protesters demanding that interim president, Dina Boluarte, resign and make way for a general election and a new constitution. Many of the biggest protests were in southern Peru but Mitra Taj spoke to those who took their grievances to the capital, Lima. We meet a drag queen in Saint Petersburg who says Russia's new anti-LGBT law is crushing gay nightlife in the city. Our correspondent Will Vernon discovers this increased censorship also extends to bookshops, streaming services and high street shops -all part of Vladimir Putin's battle against Western values. Barbara Plett Usher was in Washington for the anti-abortion activists' annual March for Life, which has been held every year since the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision in 1973. She meets protesters on both sides of the debate, and finds America's battle over abortion is far from over. In Spain, Guy Hedgecoe visits San Fernando, the hometown of the much revered flamenco singer, Camarón de la Isla, where, three decades after the singer's death, his memory is as cherished as the legacy of his music. Producers: Serena Tarling and Louise Hidalgo Production Coordinator: Iona Hammond
To many, the passionate music and dance known as flamenco is an important marker of Spanish identity, and perhaps even synonymous with it. So much so, that Unesco has recognised the art form as part of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Yet its place within the country of its birth is both more complicated – and more precarious - than this might suggest. During the Covid lockdowns, a third of all flamenco venues closed down, and with many yet to reopen, training opportunities for new artists remain in short supply. The pandemic has also exacerbated the struggle of many singers and dancers to make ends meet. Meanwhile, to the outrage of purists, other practitioners see a future in fusing traditional flamenco with new, more commercially viable genres, such as pop and hip-hop. Still others see flamenco as a stereotype, and unhelpful to their country's modern image. The BBC's Madrid correspondent Guy Hedgecoe takes us on a colourful journey, reflecting on flamenco's intriguing origins among the downtrodden folk culture of southern Spain, its difficult present, and its possibly uncertain future. Presenter: Guy Hedgecoe Producer: Mike Gallagher
To many of us, the passionate music and dance known as flamenco is an important marker of Spanish identity, and perhaps even synonymous with it. So much so, that UNESCO has recognised the art form as part of the world's Intangible Cultural Heritage. Yet its place within the country of its birth is both more complicated – and more precarious - than this might suggest. During the Covid lockdowns, a third of all flamenco venues closed down, and with many yet to reopen, training opportunities for new artists remain in short supply. The pandemic has also exacerbated the struggle of many singers and dancers to make ends meet. Meanwhile, to the outrage of purists, other practitioners see a future in fusing traditional flamenco with new, more commercially viable genres, such as pop and hip-hop. Still others see flamenco as a stereotype, and unhelpful to their country's modern image. For Crossing Continents, the BBC's Madrid correspondent Guy Hedgecoe takes us on a colourful journey, reflecting on flamenco's intriguing origins among the downtrodden folk culture of southern Spain, its difficult present, and its possibly uncertain future. Presenter: Guy Hedgecoe Producer: Mike Gallagher Studio mix by: Rod Farquhar Production coordinator: Iona Hammond Series editor: Penny Murphy
Guy Hedgecoe, Freelance journalist in Madrid Professor Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organisation John Sweeney, Climatologist and Emeritus Professor at Maynooth University
In Europe, much of the continent is in the grip of a heatwave; forest fires are raging in Spain, Portugal and France. China has also been struggling with sweltering summer heat. Our correspondents Jessica Parker and Guy Hedgecoe update us on the situation in south west France and Spain. Leah Stokes, an Associate professor of political science at the University of California Santa Barbara, explains the impact of heat on the global economy. White House economic adviser, Jared Bernstein, said he expects to see average gasoline prices falling below $4 a gallon in some places around the country in the coming weeks. Susan Schmidt, head of US equity at Exchange Capital Resources in Chicago, tells us more. Sri Lanka's acting president has said the country's negotiations with the IMF over an emergency bailout are nearing conclusion. There has been no comment from the IMF, but there have been growing calls from Sri Lankan politicians for the organisation to heed the scale of the crisis. Felix Fernando, managing director of Omegaline Group and employs 14,000 people in Sri Lanka joins us.
Vincent McAviney, London based journalist; Guy Hedgecoe, freelance journalist in Madrid and Kieran Hickey, climatologist at the Department of Geography in University College Cork.
Sri Lanka has been rocked by violent protests. The country is out of cash, which means it is struggling to import fuel, food and basic medicines. This in turn has prompted political turmoil, with anti-government protestors coming under attack from supporters of the ousted government. Rajini Vaidyanathan was there as battles broke out. It was Archbishop Desmond Tutu who first called South Africa the 'Rainbow Nation', reflecting hopes for a new era of equality for the country and as it emerged from decades of apartheid. Now though, migrants in South Africa are being blamed for unemployment and other social problems - some have been murdered by vigilantes. Shingai Nyoka reflects on this rising animosity with particular personal interest, as she herself moved to South Africa from Zimbabwe. It's eight years since King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicated, following a string of highly embarrassing scandals. But just recently, the former king returned to Spain for a brief visit - the first since he left. Plenty of Spanish people turned out to welcome their former ruler with full-on patriotic fervour, but as Guy Hedgecoe explains, such sentiments were far from universal. The death toll in Ukraine numbers the tens of thousands, but there are fears that vastly more people could die as an indirect result of the conflict, as supply lines for wheat and fertiliser are severely disrupted. Jonathan Head reports on how the war is affecting rice farmers thousands of miles away in Thailand. The war in Ukraine has presented a huge logistical challenge - for citizens and the military, and also for journalists. Joe Inwood has spent most of his BBC career as a producer, but as his team moved across Ukraine, he found himself having to help run a hotel after all the local staff left town.
Guy Hedgecoe, Freelance journalist in Madrid, Sadhbh O'Neill, lecturer in climate policy DCU Centre
Shehbaz Sharif was voted in as part of a united opposition that has come together against the incumbent Prime Minister, Imran Khan. Shehbaz is the brother of Nawaz Sharif, himself a former Pakistani Prime Minister who was barred from holding office after facing corruption charges. Zebunnisa Burki, Op-Ed Editor at 'The News' newspaper in Pakistan explains what led up to this weekend's vote: And with the far-right Marine Le Pen set to face Emmanuel Macron in the final battle for the French Presidency, we speak to Laurent Allias who runs Josiane, an advertising agency based in Paris and Alexandre Mayol, Associate Professor in Economics at the University of Lorraine. Plus as we hear from the BBC's Guy Hedgecoe, in Spain, people's finances were already stretched before the Ukraine invasion, now fuel and energy prices have become a national talking point. Plus, what to wear for the return to the office? We hear from Pilita Clark. (Picture description: a supporter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nholds a party flag with images of Shehbaz Sharif and Nawaz Sharif.
GUY Hedgecoe - 11M... with TRE´s Giles Brown
With inflation rising across Europe, Spain is particularly hit with prices rising 5.5%. That's the highest level seen for almost 30 years, and the BBC's Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid tells us how people in the country are responding. And we get wider context on the global inflation picture from Karen Ward, chief market strategist for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at JP Morgan Asset Management, who also used to chair the UK's Council of Economic Advisers. Also in the programme, the BBC's Tamasin Ford reports on how the makers of period pants, which are underwear that absorbs liquid, hope to disrupt the global market for menstrual-related products, as well as help women and the environment. Plus, the Indian capital Delhi has introduced reforms to the way alcohol is sold, with state-run shops ceasing trade and being replaced by much more luxurious privately-owned liquor stores. The BBC's Devina Gupta in Delhi explains what was behind the move.
On the United States Mexico border, the dilemmas of how to treat migrant families arriving without papers are still acute. A BBC investigation has found hundreds of undocumented children were being detained in a camp in the Texan desert that's been ridden with disease, overcrowded, and plagued by a shortage of clean clothes and medical care. Hilary Andersson has been investigating the conditions inside Fort Bliss, El Paso. Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez took a momentous decision this week: to pardon nine Catalan pro-independence leaders who were jailed for their role in a bid to break away from Spain in 2017. The pardons are meant to soothe national tensions over the issue, but as Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid, the reactions to them reflected some deeply-held feelings across the country. As Afghanistan's leaders met Joseph Biden at the White House on Friday the mood in Kabul was edgy. The Taliban are still extending their reach and hold on Afghan territory, gaining new ground each day. For the Afghan media it's a particularly nervous time after a spate of targeted killings of journalists. During such dangerous days, a recent invitation to the corridors of power in Kabul got Karim Haidari thinking. In late December last year a black man was killed by police in Dublin. George Nkencho was followed home after he assaulted someone in a shop and pulled out a knife. He was shot near his front door. The Irish police are mostly unarmed, and this was the sixth fatal shooting by a member of the force in 22 years. But there are questions over whether race may have been a factor in the incident. Stephanie Hegarty met George Nkencho's family as they were pushing for an independent inquiry into his death. Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey is one of humanity's oldest urban settlements - inhabited for at least twelve thousand years. Or at least old Hasankeyf was - until it was flooded by the waters built up behind the controversial Ilisu Dam. Some original monuments – its bathhouse and remnants of a 14th-century mosque, as well as over 500 graves - were rescued, but many local people wonder whether too much of its special character has been lost forever. Michelle Jana Chan went to see what remains. Producer: Polly Hope
: Laura Bicker reports from a remote corner of Thailand’s border with Myanmar, where villagers’ lives are being disrupted as the Burmese military pursues insurgent groups. Since the generals' takeover in February, hundreds of people have died in Myanmar's cities after mass protests. In rural areas, several rebel militias – most formed by ethnic minorities – which have been resisting the military for decades are renewing their fight. Last weekend the diversion of a Ryanair flight to Minsk in Belarus – though it was meant to be going to Lithuania – caused generalised outrage. After an alleged bomb threat, the plane had to land straight away. But it seems the real target on board was a young critic of the Belarusian government, James Landale analyses the shock felt across Europe as other countries judge how to respond. After Idriss Deby, Chad's longtime head of state, was reportedly killed in battle in April, many hoped his death might offer a chance to hold free and fair elections. Instead Mr Déby’s son, a general, now rules the country. Activists fear that their window for change might soon slam shut. In N'Djamena, Mayeni Jones found those in power don’t always share the priorities of ordinary Chadians. In recent days, several thousand migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish city of Ceuta. It's happened before but the numbers this time were unprecedented. Guy Hedgecoe reflects on the backdrop to this incident and complex history binding Spain and Morocco. As Chileans’ household budgets have grown tighter, they’ve also grown more worried about their country’s once-emblematic pension system. Now a new breed of politician is seizing the limelight by suggesting voters should just go ahead and raid the kitty, says Jane Chambers in Santiago. Producer: Polly Hope
Until now, only 127 professions in Cuba were allowed to have an element of private participation to them. The rest were controlled and administered by the government; that figure will be raised to more than 2,000 professions; we hear more from Will Grant, the BBC's Cuba Correspondent. Sales of classic cars have not crashed despite the pandemic, with people buying Morris Minors, Ford Capris and even Trabants and Ladas. We speak to John Mayhead, editor of Haggerty's Price Guide and Kiril Vitanov, a Bulgarian man living in Cambridge who drives a Russian Volga M21, the same kind of car owned by astronaut Yuri Gagarin. Spanish farmers have condemned the central government's move to declare the Iberian wolf a protected species and farmers are extremely angry, many claiming that romantic city-dweller notions of wolves in the moonlight are at odds with the reality farmers face of potential threats to livestock; we speak to the BBC's Madrid correspondent, Guy Hedgecoe. Plus, we hear from Mariana Mazzucato, a high-profile economist noted for her advocacy for more active state involvement in the economy. She's calling on governments to solve some of our most pressing problems by taking inspiration from the mission-driven methods of the Apollo project.
Thailand has been rocked by months of student street protests that have intensified in recent days. They're unprecedented in that they don't just criticise the government, but also the monarchy - a taboo in Thailand. Jonathan Head in Bangkok reports on what may be a critical turning point in a political upheaval. This week it’s exactly a year since the Spanish government exhumed the remains of dictator General Francisco Franco from his mausoleum. But the question of how to handle the divisive legacy of the country’s 1930's civil war and the ensuing decades-long dictatorship under Franco remains a contentious issue in Spanish politics and society. And now there are new efforts to tackle it, as Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid. In Jordan, the already high unemployment has risen further during the pandemic, but the country remains attractive to migrant workers from nearby Egypt where wages are lower. But, as Charlie Faulkner hears from an Egyptian cobbler, the choice to stay in Jordan to keep his job, comes at a high price. In the US, attitudes to China have hardened in recent years, with trade tariffs, and blame for the coronavirus. In China, attitudes to the United States have changed too, but also in more positive terms, at least when looked at over a longer period of time, such as the lifespan of the grandfather of Vincent Ni. The 15th Rome Film Festival is running this week - taking place in a city that is, itself, an iconic cinematic location that still holds an irresistible allure for filmmakers across the world. This brings welcome jobs and much-needed money to the cash-strapped capital, and, as Joanna Robertson reports, headaches – and questions - to many residents. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Philip spoke to David Chazan, France Correspondent, the Telegraph and Guy Hedgecoe, Spanish based journalist about how countries across the EU are dealing with increased COVID-19 cases.
In this episode, we once again catch up with politics and elections from all around the continent. Gabriel Hedengren (@ghedengren) is joined by Europe Elects’ correspondent from Poland, Michał Konarski (@mkonarski3) to catch us up with what happened in the second round of the presidential election and what the result means for the polish political system. Europe Elects’ Polychronis Karampelas (@PolKar12) also joins the pod to update us on the parliamentary elections in North Macedonia. Later in the episode, Euan Healey (@euanspeaks) is joined by print and broadcast journalist, Guy Hedgecoe (@Hedgecoe) in an interview about the regional elections in Galicia and the Basque Country and their impact on regional and national politics in Spain. Finally, Euan and Gabriel play the very last round of "Who is who? European Commission Edition”! Produced by Europe Elects. You can support this podcast and Europe Elects on our Patreon or via PayPal. All proceeds go to the betterment of our services. https://www.patreon.com/EuropeElects https://www.paypal.com/pools/c/8bYExemIM1
In Afghanistan, there’s growing concern over a wave of attacks against human rights activists, moderate clerics, aid workers and others. For a young educated generation of Afghans, one death in particular has sparked anguish and anxiety over where their country is heading, despite imminent peace talks, as Lyse Doucet reports. In Russia, a controversial national vote on constitutional reform this week has given President Putin the right to run for two more terms when the current one runs out. He's been in power for twenty years already, and could now rule till 2036. What do voters make of this? Sarah Rainsford has been following the election. In Spain, much of life is returning to normal after the coronavirus lockdown, but not yet in the world of bullfighting. Matadors languish at home, bulls chew the cud, and the future of bullfighting hangs in the balance, not just because of social distancing, but politics too. as Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid. In the US July 4th is Independence Day, marking the moment when the country broke free from Britain in 1776. But for African Americans, final liberation from slavery only came on the 19th June 1865, in Texas, two and a half years after slavery was abolished in the rest of the country. And now Juneteenth is a celebration rivalling that of the Fourth of July, for African Americans like Emma Sapong. The Democratic Republic of Congo marked the 60th anniversary of its independence from Belgium this week. And the Belgian king Philippe took the opportunity to offer his “deepest regrets” for his country’s colonial abuses, when millions of Africans died. The most brutal period was under King Leopold the Second, Kevin Connolly has been taking a closer look at this history. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
France had one of the toughest lockdowns but now people can go shopping again in outlets that had been shut for the last two months. Lucy Williamson joins customers in Paris as they queue outside, to ask them how they have been faring. Sudan can't spend much money on healthcare. But as Mark Weston reports, the young activists from the revolutionary committees that helped to oust President Omar al-Bashir last year, are battling against the coronavirus, armed with hand sanitiser and food for the vulnerable. The Roma are a minority that has often been blamed for social ills wherever they live, and now they're being scapegoated for the arrival of Covid-19 in some parts of Spain, as Guy Hedgecoe has found. In Bangladesh, garment workers had been enjoying better conditions since the Rana Plaza factory collapsed seven years ago. But now there's a new worry about the coronavirus, and how to get good healthcare. Christine Stewart meets doctors and patients at a charitable hospital where even the poorest patients get top class care, and not just for Covid-19. And if you thought that having a cup of tea could provide respite from the news about the pandemic, spare a thought for Steve Evans in Australia, who finds that the knock-on effects of the virus on supply chains means he can no longer get the right tea bags. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius
Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has accused the European Union of failing to help him manage the growing crisis in northern Syria. Turkey already has 3.7 million refugees from the conflict there and the recent killing of at least 50 Turkish soldiers last month may have been the last straw. Although the EU promised billions more euros in aid, Turkey decided to open its borders with Greece and has gone out of its way, says Jonah Fisher, to help people cross into Europe. This week Italy shut all of its schools in an attempt to contain the coronavirus outbreak. In China, even beyond the quarantined cities, all schools across the country have remained closed since Chinese New Year. As a result, school children and college students have had to stay indoors and study online. Yvonne Murray, says millions of families have found e-learning something of a nightmare. The Great Mosque in the city of Cordoba is one of Spain's biggest tourist attractions. It is also a reminder of the country's complex history, which included a period of Islamic rule in the middle ages. But an on-going disagreement over the monument’s origins has fed into present-day tensions in Spanish politics says Guy Hedgecoe. The Solomon Islands, once a South Pacific paradise of blue lagoons, and emerald forests are severely affected by climate change. On a recent visit, funded by the Pulitzer Centre, John Beck discovered a nation vanishing beneath the waves. The Svalbard archipelago, one of the most inhospitable places in Europe, is now home to a fast-growing community from Thailand. Norwegians are still in the majority yet Thais already make up about a third of the foreign population on the main island. They go to make money but at quite some cost says Clodagh Kinsella.
The Vox party in Spain has become the thirst largest political party in the country, but with their controversial views on feminism, separatism and migration, how has this come about? Guy Hedgecoe joins us from Barcelona to discuss the meteoric rise of the far right in Spain. Later: With Nigel Farage declaring the Brexit Party will not contest 317 seats won by the Tories at the last election, can Boris Johnson now secure his longed-for majority? London editor Denis Staunton joins us from Hartlepool.
There's been violence for several days in Barcelona in reaction to the jail sentences handed out on Monday to Catalan separatist leaders. Guy Hedgecoe has been on the streets as demonstrators and riot police clashed. He says there's no end in sight to this deepening conflict. There's a general election in Canada on Monday, and Justin Trudeau is hoping for a second term as prime minister. But the man who was once an emblem of hope and progressiveness has seen his reputation tarnished. Jennifer Chevalier in Ottawa says he's now got a fight on his hands. There was much excitement last week in Ethiopia when it was announced that the prime minister Abiy Ahmed had been awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize. But at home, despite considerable achievements, his popularity has diminished, as Tom Gardner reports from Addis Ababa. Recycling rubbish can be a lucrative industry. But in Romania that’s been made harder by government regulations on private companies. Nick Thorpe has been to find out more. The Svaneti region of north-west Georgia is spectacularly beautiful and home to a particular ethnic group. the Svan. They number only a few thousand and their cultural traditions are under threat. But they are generous hosts. Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent drops in for lunch.
On Monday, lengthy prison sentences were handed down by Spain's supreme court to Catalan politicians involved in the organisation of an independence referendum two years ago. The 13-year sentences sparked protests across the region, reigniting the territorial crisis that has dominated Spanish politics in recent years. Guy Hedgecoe has the latest from Barcelona. Later: US president Donald Trump has moved to punish Turkey for its military offensive against its Kurdish neighbours across its southern border in Syria, threatening to destroy the Turkish economy and urging his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call a ceasefire. Is it just an attempt to camouflage his role in creating this mess? Suzanne Lynch reports from Washington.
Myanmar’s government wants Rohingya refugees to return, but can it guarantee their safety and way of life? Jonathan Head takes a rare trip to Rakhine state to see the government’s resettlement plans. In Assam state in India, another migrant crisis is on the rise, following a drive to identify and deport illegal immigrants. This has left nearly 2 million people without Indian citizenship. Rajini Vaidyanathan meets some of the people now left stateless. Spain’s northern Basque region has been largely at peace thanks to the end of a four-decade campaign of violence by the separatist group Eta. Guy Hedgecoe reports from a small town where a rowdy bar fight aroused suspicion that Eta’s influence has not entirely disappeared. Yemen is one of the Arab world’s poorest countries, and has been devastated by civil war. Nawal Al-Maghafi, who was born in Yemen, has witnessed the deterioration of her homeland first hand. Since starting in a Seattle garage 25 year ago, Amazon has changed the way many of us shop – but the company has its critics too, especially when it comes to the working conditions in its warehouses. This has led to a PR counter-offensive, and Amazon decided to open its doors to the public. Dave Lee accepted the invitation to take a tour of one of the company’s warehouses in California.
It has been a good election for Spain's centre left Socialist Party. But incumbent Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will still have difficulty forming a government in a political landscape overshadowed by the Catalan issue. Guy Hedgecoe reports. Joe Biden launched his campaign to become the next US president at a rally in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a state he says he must win to defeat Donald Trump in 2020. Suzanne Lynch was there. World View is hosted by Foreign Editor Chris Dooley.
Guy Hedgecoe on a looming general election in Spain that may herald the return of deadlock to the Cortes Generales. What role will Vox, the new right wing party, play? Middle East analyst Michael Jansen on Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman's tour of Pakistan, India and China. Cold-shouldered in the West following the killing of journalist Khashoggi, the prince is being warmly welcomed in the East. But what are his goals?
This edition includes: as constitutional tensions reach boiling point in Spain over Catalonia, Guy Hedgecoe examines the turmoil in this week's Reporter's Notebook, and Gordon Brewer speaks to Clara Ponsati, a former minister with the Catalan administration which failed in its attempt to secede from Spain. And with the ISIS redoubt of Baghuz in Syria about to fall, AFP journalist Maya Gebeily reports on the flow of refugees arriving at coalition force lines seeking refuge, while Dr Katherine Brown, a specialist in Islamic studies at Birmingham University, discusses how so-called jihadi brides returning to the UK from the battle zone can be rehabilitated into normal society. In the Long Interview, Bill Whiteford discusses the tangled issue of squaring emotive medical issues with government policy with Alison Britton, Professor of Healthcare and Medical Law at Glasgow Caledonian University, who headed the investigation into the independent review on mesh implants.
As Brexit negotiations enter what the British prime minister Theresa May has described as the ‘endgame', what is the likelihood of a second referendum being held? Resigning as Transport Minister last week, Tory MP Jo Johnson said it would be a democratic travesty not to go back to the people for another vote. London editor Denis Staunton describes the likelihood of such an event and the complicated road to it. Later: Next month Spain will mark the 40th anniversary of its constitution, which laid down the foundations for the country's entire democratic system following the death of General Franco. The document is held in high regard, but with the Spanish judiciary thrust unwillingly into the spotlight through a series of damaging high-profile cases recently, many Spaniards are beginning to ask if it's time to reform. Guy Hedgecoe is on the line from Spain to explain the background.
The risks some Indian women are prepared to take to try and have baby boys and how the battle to make them think again seems to be working. Sophie Cousins is in the state of Haryana where there are signs the gender imbalance is slowing improving. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world. Guy Hedgecoe explores why Spain still can’t decide what to do with the body of its former dictator General Franco, even as it prepares to celebrate 40 years since its transition to democracy. Rebecca Ford tells the story of the last French soldier to die during World War One – but when exactly did he die? Richard Dove takes a coach along the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge but fails to find much enthusiasm from his fellow passengers between the Chinese mainland, Hong King and Macau. And Ash Bhardwaj has pizza with a rapper in a town called New York not far from the frontline in Eastern Ukraine.
Guy Hedgecoe on a dramatic week when Spanish politics was turned on its head. Mariano Rajoy is out. What comes next? Dan McLaughlin on the strange story of Ukrainian journalist Andrei Babchenko, who faked his own death in order to expose an alleged Russian plot to assassinate him.
On this week's World View podcast, London Editor Denis Staunton reports on the appointment of Conservative MP Sajid Javid as Home Secretary following the resignation of Amber Rudd. The son of Pakistani immigrants, Mr Javid has promised action on the Windrush immigration targets scandal that led to the exit of his predecessor. Described as unsentimental, a Thatcherite and a man prone to recitations of Ayn Rand, his appointment should take some of the poison out of the crisis for the Prime Minister but weakens the Soft Brexit side of her Cabinet. It comes as the Conservatives suffered another major defeat on Brexit in the House of Lords on Monday night. Also on the podcast: In Spain, thousands have protested against a decision by a court in Pamplona to absolve five men of rape, in a case that has garnered international attention and ignited the country's MeToo movement. Guy Hedgecoe reports on the details of the story, concerning the attack of an 18-year-old woman during the San Fermines bull-running festival in the city in the summer of 2016.
Ireland today joined the collective move by western nations against Russia, announcing that one diplomat is to be expelled after a nerve attack on a former Russian agent earlier this month. It follows similar declarations by 16 other EU countries on Monday, as tensions between Russia and the West deepen over the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Britain. On today's World View podcast, Europe editor Patrick Smyth reports from Brussels on what lasting impact the crisis is likely to have on EU-Russia relations and whether Europe can maintain a united front on the issue. But first, former Catalan president Carles Puigdemont is preparing to spend Easter in prison in Germany after he was detained on Sunday by local police just south of the Danish border. We hear from Derek Scally in Berlin and Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid.
Catalonians cast ballots for the regional government on Thursday. Guy Hedgecoe reports on the campaign and some of the likely outcomes. In South Africa, the dominant ANC party has elected a new leader, Cyril Ramaphosa. Reformers hope he will be a new broom after the Zuma years, but he comes with his own baggage and faces obstacles before he can assume power himself, says Bill Corcoran.
From Barcelona, Guy Hedgecoe explains how things are shaping up for the Catalonian regional parliament's snap election in two week's time, the results of which could determine the future of the region - inside or outside Spain. In part two we talk to Richard Barrett about the threat posed by ISIS fighters returning to Europe now that the group's territory has been drastically reduced. Richard is the former director of global counter-terrorism at MI6 and is now director of the Global Strategy Network. His new report for the US think-tank The Soufan Group is called Beyond the Caliphate: Foreign Fighters and the Threat of Returnees.
Suzanne Lynch reports from Washington as the city comes to grips with the indictment of former Trump campaign personnel. Former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates plead not guilty to 12 charges. Meanwhile it was revealed that George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser to the Trump campaign, pleaded guilty earlier this month to lying to the FBI about his communication with Russian officials. Also on the podcast we hear from Patrick Smyth in Brussels, where Catalan independence leader Carles Puidgemont arrived yesterday, and Guy Hedgecoe in Barcelona about the continuing deterioration of the relationship between Catalonia and the Spanish government.
With a political crisis, a push for freedom and talk of vegetables, Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories from across the world. Guy Hedgecoe is with the unionist Catalans, opposed to independence from Spain of their region. In Saudi Arabia, the Crown Prince has called for a return to moderate Islam in the Kingdom. Kirsty Lang sees some noticeable changes for women in the country. In the mountains of Nicaragua, Margaret Ward goes off grid but also sees the progress has made in using renewable energy. 500 years ago Europe was torn apart by the Reformation. One of the leading actors in it was Martin Luther, and he used a new technology, the printing press to get his message out. Jenny Hill follows in his footsteps. The we talk vegetables - tubers, to be precise - with Christine Finn, who reveals which one the people of Vermont voted for.
Guy Hedgecoe, who reports from Spain for The Irish Times, talks to David McKechnie about the events of the weekend in Catalonia as a prohibited vote on independence went ahead, the atmosphere there now, and whether Catalonian attitudes have much changed following the police crackdown that caused hundreds of injuries and faced widespread condemnation.
In Spain, conflict between Madrid and Catalonia has reached a new high, but it is still not clear whether an independence vote will take place on Sunday. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Barcelona. And in Germany political party Alternative für Deutschland are holding the first parliamentary meeting of a far-right party in Bundestag since World War II, after becoming the nation's third largest party in last Sunday's election. But it's not all plain sailing for Afd. Derek Scally reports.
In eastern Ukraine people are still being killed every day in a conflict between the Kiev government and Russian-backed separatists. And the conflict could be set to intensify. The two sides are drawing nearer, and the Unites States is ramping up its material support for Kiev, defying expectations of a Putin-friendly Trump presidency. Dan McLaughlin went to Ukraine to see U.S. involvement in action. But first: authorities in Catalonia quickly stopped the 12 known members of the terrorist cell that attacked Barcelona last week, killing eight and arresting four others. But how did such a large group get organised and carry out the attacks without being noticed? And could the attack affect in the forthcoming independence vote? We ask Guy Hedgecoe.
Article 155 has been called “the biggest taboo in the constitution” of Spain. That's because it grants unspecified but potentially broad powers to the government and could be used to forestall a push for Catalonian independence. Guy Hedgecoe reports. But first we hear from Ruadhan Mac Cormaic about how malnutrition or even starvation threatens a staggering 24 million people in east Africa following three successive seasons of drought. Only a third of the aid money needed to prevent this catastrophe has been pledged. Where is the international outcry?
Kate Adie introduces correspondents stories: Mary Harper goes to the Syrian dentist bringing Hollywood smiles to Somaliland; Guy Hedgecoe travels to the highlands of Spanish Catalonia, a stronghold of calls for independence; Melissa Van der Klugt is in clouds of flour in Pune, in western India, where they can't get enough of an English biscuit; Andrew Dickson has gone to the Urals and comes across a new presidential museum asking people to re-consider Russia's wild 90s, when a red-faced Boris Yeltsin was in charge; and Joanna Robertson is in the City of Light, amid thousands of bulbs, spreading their magical fairytale twinkle across Paris.
Part One: Middle East analyst Michael Jansen on the tragedy still unfolding in Syria and the significance of the battle for the divided city of Aleppo. Part Two: Eight months of political paralysis in Spain may at last have been broken. If it hasn't, yet another fresh election may loom. Guy Hedgecoe reports. Part Three: Badly-behaved tourists are a well-established phenomenon in this part of the world, but in China, for whose people global-trotting is a nascent hobby, reports of misbehaviour abroad have provoked a strong negative reaction at home. They're merely teething problems for a wonderful new industry, says Clifford Coonan.
In part one Simon Carswell reports on the victories for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in the Super Tuesday primaries that leave the two with considerable - but not insurmountable - leads for the nominations of their respective parties. In part two Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid on the ongoing struggle of the four main parties there to form a government four months after an election - a difficulty that will resonate in Ireland, where an inconclusive election result has just been delivered by voters tired of years of austerity. And in part three London Editor Denis Staunton and Paul Gillespie discuss the many understandings of British and Scottish identity and and how they may play a large role in what decision is taken on Brexit in June.
Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid on the forthcoming general election in Spain, where Mariano Rajoy's centre-right party looks likely to outpoll its three rivals but may be forced into coalition with one of them. In part two Washington Correspondent Simon Carswell profiles Texas Senator Ted Cruz, "further right than Trump", who is polling ahead of his erstwhile campaign trail buddy in the critical Iowa primary.
In this week's World View Denis Staunton discusses the shift in U.S. policy towards Syria with Paddy Smyth, Michael Jansen and Isabel Gorst in Moscow. In the second part of the podcast Denis and Paddy analyse the victory of pro-independence parties in Catalonia's unofficial referendum last weekend. They are joined by Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid. World View is a weekly foreign affairs podcast. It is produced by Sinead O'Shea and presented by Denis Staunton.
In this week's podcast Denis Staunton discusses the anniversaries of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings with David McNeill in Hiroshima. Later in the podcast he previews the Catalan vote for potential independence with Guy Hedgecoe in Madrid. World View is a weekly foreign affairs podcast. It is produced by Sinead O'Shea and presented by Denis Staunton.
This week Denis Staunton is joined by Paddy Smyth, Guy Hedgecoe and David McNeill to discuss the options for Podemos in the wake of Syriza's election victory and the aftermath for Japan and it's government following the killing of two Japanese hostages by Islamic State.
In this week's World View Chris Dooley fills in for Denis Staunton and discusses the situation in Catalonia with Madrid correspondent Guy Hedgecoe. They consider whether Catalonia will now be better positioned to break away from the rest of Spain, a move that Spain's prime minister, Mariano Rajoy has said he can 'guarantee this will not happen.' Chris is also joined by Clifford Coonan in Bejing to provide futher analysis of the Malaysian Airlines flight MH 370. The show begins with a discussion about Ukraine with Daniel McLaughlin and Suzanne Lynch. World View is a free weekly foreign affairs podcast presented by the deputy editor of the Irish Times, Denis Staunton and produced by Sinead O'Shea. Why not subscribe to the show or downloaded individual episodes via Soundcloud, iTunes and Stitcher?