Podcasts about secunder kermani

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, discusses a new Israeli offensive set to capture and occupy part of the Gaza strip.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, outlines the latest developments in Gaza following an Israeli airstrike that killed at least 29 people, according to Palestinian Health Officials,=.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, discusses the anti-Hamas protests in Gaza, and what difference they may make.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, discusses the resumption of violence in Gaza and protests in Israel.

Secunder Kermani, Channel 4 Foreign Correspondent in Jerusalem

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, reports on reaction to US President Donald Trump's plan for the people of Gaza, Israel and the wider Middle East.

Secunder Kermani, Channel 4 Foreign Correspondent in Tel Aviv and Shaina Low, Norwegian Refugee Council spokesperson

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, reports

We get the very latest from Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 news

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, has the latest from Lebanon. Later, we hear from Nafiseh Kohnavard, a Mideast Correspondent for the BBC based in Beirut.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Affairs Correspondent with Channel 4 speaks to us about his trip to the West Bank

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, discusses the latest developments on peace talks for Gaza.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News speaks to us

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Affairs Correspondnet with Channel 4 News, discusses the latest in the conflict in Gaza as the holy month of Ramadan commences.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News, discusses the first results in the Pakistani general election that was marred by violence and a mobile shutdown.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent, Channel 4 News and Professor Ray Murphy, from the Irish Centre for Human Rights at University of Galway and a former Irish UN peacekeeper who was based in South Lebanon.

As Israel and Hamas exchange hostages for prisoners, the worst riots in decades break out on the streets of Dublin (at the egging on of one Conor McGregor) and a far-right, anti-Islam populist wins in the socially liberal, deeply pro-EU Netherlands - what's happened in the world after a fortnight of all-consuming British political psychodrama.Lewis talks to Secunder Kermani, Channel 4's Foreign Correspondent who's spent most of the last 2 months on the ground Israel, POLITICO EU's Dutch reporter Pieter Haeck and Virgin Media News Correspondent Richard Chambers.Senior Producer: Gabriel RadusProducer: Laura FitzPatrickSocial Media Editor: Georgia FoxwellVideo Production: Rory Symon & Arvind BadewalYou can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The News Agents".And, The News Agents now have merch! To get yours, head to: https://www.TheNewsAgentsStore.com

In this episode of The Fourcast, our correspondents are on the ground with the very latest on the war between Israel and Hamas, as Israelis shelter from Hamas rocket fire and Gaza is pounded by the heaviest bombardment in its history.   Secunder Kermani has been to the Kfar Aza kibbutz, which was targeted by the militants on Saturday, we hear an eyewitness report from filmmaker Yousef Hammash in Gaza, Matt Frei interviews Hamas spokesman Osama Hamdan as he tries to justify the recent killings, and IDF Lieutenant Colonel Peter Lerner tells Matt, "the people of Gaza are not our enemy."    And a warning, this podcast contains distressing material. 

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent with Channel 4 News who's in Southern Israel.

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent Channel 4 News and Graham Heaslip - Professor of logistics engineering at ATU, based in Galway and co-author of ‘Humanitarian Logistics'

Secunder Kermani, Foreign Correspondent for Channel 4 News, reports from Marrakesh as the desperate search for survivors and victims continues. Later, we hear from Samir Bennis, Political Analyst and Editor and Co-Founder of Morocco World News and Sam Metz, North Africa Correspondent with the Associated Press.

Exclusive footage of Boris Johnson from the One Decision Podcast has been shared with The News Agents. He was facing questions from hosts Julia Macfarlane and Richard Dearlove about Ukraine, democracy and global security. Towards the end, Julia asked him about his own response to British democracy - his refusal to accept the findings of the 'kangaroo court' privileges committee into his wrongdoing. She also asked him about Chris Pincher - the deputy chief whip who resigned from government over sexual assault allegations - and that's where Johnson's answers got really odd... Later on the show we talk about the escalating violence in Israel and Jenin, and why Netanyahu's personal fortunes may be influencing his military moves...Joining The News Agents today were freelance journalist Julia Macfarlane, Channel 4's foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani, & Cambridge Gates Scholar and expert on populism, Ayala Panievsky.

Boris Johnson has dominated the headlines this week. But, peek behind the bluster and noise, and the country has far bigger fish to fry. The question is whether Rishi Sunak's government, his five point plan, is more sashimi than seared. Boris Johnson distracts everybody. He's hard to avoid. But there's a cost- we ignore what is really driving our politics and voters. The truth is, when you dig down into the problems Rishi Sunak himself identified, many are worsening. In this episode, we go beyond the Boris Johnson roadshow and examine the big structural forces driving British politics which largely explain why Sunak can't seem to shift the polls.Meanwhile, Emily has turned up at a tech conference, which will amuse anyone who has ever watched her try and work out how to use her iPad. Aside from trying to get tech support she's been talking to tech entrepreneur Euan Blair (yes, of the Blair's).And we get an update on a tragedy in the Med with C4 News Foreign Correspondent, Secunder Kermani.

How did the Iraq war fuel terror and extremism around the world? What is the connection between Al-Qaeda and ISIS? How did figures like Abū Muṣʻab Zarqāwī and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi become such prominent figures in Jihadism's global civil war? On episode four of this series Iraq: Legacy of War, brought to you by Intelligence Squared, foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani is joined by Lina Khatib, Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute; Joby Warrick, journalist and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS; and Tam Hussein, investigative journalist and author of The Darkness Inside. Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick: https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/joby-warrick The Darkness Inside by Tam Hussein: https://tinyurl.com/bddmmz7m To listen to the whole series now please subscribe via Intelligence Squared Premium on Apple Podcasts or here: https://iq2premium.supercast.com/ for ad-free listening, bonus content, early access and much more. This series was produced by Farah Jassat and Catharine Hughes, with editing and artwork from Catharine Hughes. Music is by Alexander Nakarada. Excerpts featured in this episode are from DW News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How did the Iraq war fuel terror and extremism around the world? What is the connection between Al-Qaeda and ISIS? How did figures like Abū Muṣʻab Zarqāwī and Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi become such prominent figures in Jihadism's global civil war? On episode four of this series Iraq: Legacy of War, brought to you by Intelligence Squared, foreign correspondent Secunder Kermani is joined by Lina Khatib, Director of the SOAS Middle East Institute; Joby Warrick, journalist and author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS; and Tam Hussein, investigative journalist and author of The Darkness Inside. Black Flags: The Rise of ISIS by Joby Warrick: https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/joby-warrick The Darkness Inside by Tam Hussein: https://tinyurl.com/bddmmz7m This series was produced by Farah Jassat and Catharine Hughes, with editing and artwork from Catharine Hughes. Music is by Lesfm. Excerpts featured in this episode are from DW News. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022 was the deadliest year for the Israel-Palestine conflict in nearly two decades, and just a month after Israel's most conservative, right-wing government was formed - fronted by Benjamin Netanyahu - violence between Palestinians and Israel has flared up once again.  Prime Minister Netanyahu has set out a raft of measures to crack down on Palestinians who attack Israelis, including making it easier for Israeli citizens to carry guns. In today's episode we're joined by foreign correspondent, Secunder Kermani, who very recently returned from a trip to Israel and Palestine, where he spoke to people from both sides of this age-old conflict.  Secunder talks about what makes this new Israeli government ultra-conservative, how the conflict might develop and whether this might be the start of a third intifada.  Sources: AP Producer: Alice Wagstaffe and Freya Pickford  

The news of Ukraine's stunning counter-offensive in the country's north-east has raised hopes of a possible turning point in the war with Russia. But tentative celebrations about Ukraine's advances were quickly tempered after the gruesome discovery of a mass grave in Izyum. Hugo Bachega reports. As Pakistan confronts the damage wrought by catastrophic floods in recent weeks, Secunder Kermani reflects on this and other major events he has covered as he leaves the region: the US invasion and withdrawal from Afghanistan, local politics and the Taliban's resurgence. In the US, the use of the death penalty has gradually declined over recent decades. Several states have abolished it altogether but 11 states continue to perform executions including Texas. Maria Margaronis travelled to Livingston, where she met one prisoner with just weeks left before his execution date. Greece has finally emerged from a strict monitoring programme imposed by the EU. This marks the end of a chapter in a debt crisis which was first triggered by the 2008 financial turmoil. Antonia Quirke has been to the Peloponnese region where she met a tourist guide harking back to an era long before the European project. Australia's PM, Anthony Albanese is going to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Monday, despite being an avowed Republican. For many Australians, she become a beloved friend. But, beyond this period of mourning, questions remain about the British Monarch's role as the country's head of state. Nick Bryant explores a rather paradoxical relationship. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Researcher: Ellie House Production Coordinator: Iona Hammond

Stories from Ukraine, Afghanistan, the US and Rwanda. Russia is focusing its military might on Ukraine's east where some of the locals have been heavily influenced by Vladimir Putin's propaganda machine. Allegiances have become blurred, with Ukrainian informants tipping off Russian soldiers on the whereabouts of their compatriots, says Orla Guerin. People in Afghanistan's Paktika province are trying to rebuild lives from the rubble of the recent earthquake. It's now estimated more than 1,000 people were killed and several villages were destroyed. Secunder Kermani met with some of the survivors who showed both resilience and generosity. Access to abortion will be a critical issue in the US mid-term elections in November: with battle lines drawn in Pennsylvania and many other states between Republican and Democratic candidates who either want to protect the right to abortion or want an outright ban. Christine Spolar is a Pennsylvania native and was back there as the Supreme Court's decision was announced. Rwanda has been in the spotlight as the country hosted a gathering of Commonwealth leaders, and amid controversy over its immigration deal with the UK. President Paul Kagame was eager to present a polished image to the international community, whilst also rebutting any criticisms of his own poor human rights record, says Anne Soy. Before the war, cities like Kyiv and Odessa were known for their bustling cafes and a lively arts scene. But just as they try to spring back to life, Russia fires another deadly missile, reminding the country and its people of the perils of dropping their guard. Nick Beake was in Kremenchuk and Kyiv this week.

Last year the Taliban launched an offensive in Afghanistan that, within a matter of weeks succeeded beyond the West's wildest nightmares. In August Kabul fell and life changed dramatically for the Afghan people. Since then they've faced food shortages, a failing economy and a bombing campaign launched by Afghanistan's own ISIS, ISIS-K. So is it Taliban 2.0 as some people hoped? How is it dealing with its domestic challenges? And how is it managing its relationships with its neighbours and countries further afield? Joining David in the briefing room are:Secunder Kermani, the BBC's Pakistan and Afghanistan correspondent Laurel Miller, Director of the International Crisis Group's Asia Programme, Ashley Jackson, co-director of the Centre for the Study of Armed Groups at the global affairs think tank, ODI Ahmed Rashid, journalist and author based in Pakistan who has studied the Taliban for decadesProducers: Ben Carter and Kirsteen Knight Editor: Richard Vadon Studio manager: Neil Churchill Production co-ordinators: Siobhan Reed & Sophie Hill

When the Taliban first took control of Afghanistan last August, they promised a more egalitarian society for women than their previous stint as leaders. However, recent changes in Afghan law show an alarming trend; female news anchors are now forced to wear a complete face cover, female college students have been forced out of classes for wearing the wrong colour hijabs, and teenage girls who thought they could return to school last March are still forced to stay at home by Taliban officials. Some Afghan women have pushed back against this rights reversal, including the emergence of makeshift schools for teenage girls.  Secunder Kermani, BBC Correspondent in Afghanistan joined Sean to discuss his recent trip to one of these secret schools.   Listen and subscribe to Moncrieff on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

When the Taliban first took control of Afghanistan last August, they promised a more egalitarian society for women than their previous stint as leaders. However, recent changes in Afghan law show an alarming trend; female news anchors are now forced to wear a complete face cover, female college students have been forced out of classes for wearing the wrong colour hijabs, and teenage girls who thought they could return to school last March are still forced to stay at home by Taliban officials. Some Afghan women have pushed back against this rights reversal, including the emergence of makeshift schools for teenage girls.  Secunder Kermani, BBC Correspondent in Afghanistan joined Sean to discuss his recent trip to one of these secret schools. Listen and subscribe to Moncrieff on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or Spotify.    Download, listen and subscribe on the Newstalk App.     You can also listen to Newstalk live on newstalk.com or on Alexa, by adding the Newstalk skill and asking: 'Alexa, play Newstalk'.

Last month Afghanistan witnessed more attacks by the self-proclaimed Islamic State group targeting ordinary people, than at any other time since the Taliban takeover. Report produced by BBC's Secunder Kermani.

Afghanistan has been through many decades of civil war and hundreds of thousands of people have been killed in those years of conflict. Now much of the population is facing extreme hunger. The World Bank has warned that more than a third of Afghans no longer have enough money to feed themselves. The country's economy was dependent on foreign grants that were cut off after the Taliban takeover and there are rising concern over their policies on women and girls. The BBC's Afghanistan correspondent Secunder Kermani also reports from Kabul and Today's Martha Kearney speaks to Afghanistan's former president Hamid Karzai. (Image Credits:EPA/JALIL REZAYEE)

What do Russians make of their country's invasion of Ukraine? It is no easy matter to conduct opinion polls in Russia at the best of times, sampling views from St Petersburg to Siberia. Right now though, Russian people are not free to express their opinions anyway, with a new law in place making it a criminal offence to say anything about the Ukraine conflict which the authorities consider untrue. Jenny Hill is in Moscow, and has been keeping her ear to the ground. Globalisation, the extraordinary interconnectedness of modern life, means that the events in Ukraine are having profound effects in places far from any battle. Kenya, for example, has already been suffering from drought, but this has now been exacerbated by Russia's invasion: because Ukrainian farmers have been kept from their fields, global food prices have risen. Ben Henderson recently travelled to Kenya's far north, and found what looks like a major crisis in the making. 2018 saw South Korea hold a successful Winter Olympics, in which North Korean athletes were also allowed to take part. Later that year, the then US President, Donald Trump met with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, and attempted to tone down hostilities. Watching these events was the BBC's newly arrived South Korea correspondent, Laura Bicker. Four years later, she is now leaving her post, at a time when relations between South and North are far worse. Yet Laura insists that she is leaving with some sense of optimism. Sports figures famously have short careers, with even the biggest stars having to reinvent themselves in mid-life. Few though have managed it quite so successfully as Imran Khan: already one of Pakistan's greatest ever cricketing heroes, he ended up becoming Prime Minister. However, the world of politics can be as unforgiving as any sport, and this week, Prime Minister Khan was ousted in a Parliamentary vote of no confidence. Secunder Kermani has been following his dramatic fall from favour. Life has not been much fun for performers during the various phases of Covid lockdown, with actors, dancers and even stand-up comedians facing closed down venues. Musicians had a particularly hard time of it, certainly those accustomed to playing before sweaty crowds keen on dancing, something very much forbidden for much of the time. So when the Belgian rock band, Demisec, were offered a gig, they jumped at the chance. The bassist and BBC cameraman Maarten Lernout did not mind that they were being asked to play in a local prison.

Government launches its nuclear and wind energy plans... Secunder Kermani hosts today's Newscast. He's joined by the BBC's Alex Forsyth and Emma Pinchbeck, boss of the energy industry's trade body, to pore over the details.   Meanwhile, there's political chaos in Pakistan (where Secunder is based right now). The Wall Street Journal's Saeed Shah explains what's been going on. Today's Newscast was made by Cordelia Hemming, Ben Cooper and Miranda Slade. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor was Sam Bonham.

Since the Taliban took power last year, more than half a million Afghans have lost their jobs, and the country now faces a severe economic crisis. There was a glimmer of hope for secondary school girls this week though as they prepared to go back to school - but it was short-lived, says Secunder Kermani. Allan Little reflects on the parallels between this war and a previous conflict, in the former Yugoslavia, where cities also came under siege as Serbian nationalists sought to take back control of the state of Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Bosnians, like the Ukrainians, while out-powered, put up a courageous resistance, and, in that conflict, Nato ultimately decided to intervene. International observers are increasingly worried that a cash-strapped Palestinian Authority could face financial collapse. Earlier this month, the International Monetary Fund described the fiscal outlook as “dire." Meanwhile vital healthcare services are being dramatically affected. Yolande Knell visited a hospital in East Jerusalem. Texas has the most restrictive abortion law in the United States. But for some Texans the law doesn't go far enough – they want a complete ban. The campaign to outlaw abortion altogether is being played out in towns across this huge state led by evangelical Christians. Linda Pressly visits west Texas to meet some of the activists. Oaxaca city in Mexico has become a much-desired location for destination weddings for both Europeans and North Americans. But the community there is divided over whether this is a helpful source of income for the locals, or an exercise in exploitation which ends up eroding the indigenous culture and customs finds Louis Harnett O'Meara. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Three months after US forces pulled out of Kabul, millions of people in Afghanistan are facing starvation. Today's Amol Rajan speaks to John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor who is in Bamiyan in Afghanistan and describes the current situation. Our correspondent Secunder Kermani reports from the remote town of Zaranj. Amol also spoke to former UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is now the CEO of the International Rescue Committee. He then spoke to Fawzia Koofi, Former Vice President of the Parliament in Afghanistan and President of the political party ‘Movement for Change in Afghanistan', as well as Richard Trenchard, the Afghan Representative for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. (Image: John Simpson, Credit: BBC)

The world is waiting nervously to see what kind of Afghanistan emerges. A power struggle has broken out among Taliban leaders. But much of the Western media seems to have lost interest - right at the crucial moment. So what story are they missing? And why can't some Western news outlets deal with a story as complicated as Afghanistan? Guests: Clarissa Ward, Chief International Correspondent at CNN; Sana Safi, Journalist at BBC Pashtu; Alex Shephard, Staff Writer at The New Republic; Saad Mohseni, Chief Executive of Moby Group, including Tolo News; Secunder Kermani, BBC Pakistan and Afghanistan Correspondent. Studio engineer: Duncan Hannant Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Ros Atkins

It's been exactly one month since the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan. Now cash is in short supply, and the country is facing a mounting economic and political crisis. We hear from our correspondent Secunder Kermani reporting from near the northern Afghan city of Mazar e Sharif. Also on the programme: the US Olympic champion, Simone Biles appears at a Senate hearing into the FBI's failings in the case of the team doctor who abused her and many other gymnasts; and we hear about the story of the child born to the mother in the Roe versus Wade case that legalised abortion in America. (Photo: Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled central bank seizes a large amount of money from former top government officials Credit: Handout via REUTERS)

A new chapter begins for Afghanistan. Adam chats with the BBC's Yalda Hakim and Secunder Kermani, who's in Afghanistan. What's it like on the streets of Kabul as the Taliban take control? And Fergus gives us all the coronavirus catchup we needed... Vaccines, back to school and will the bank holiday festivals cause more spikes in infections? This episode of Newscast was made by Sam Bonham with producers Caitlin Hanrahan and Alix Pickles. The Studio Manager is Nick Jones. The Editor is Jonathan Aspinwall.

A new BBC report shows eyewitnesses at the scene of the deadly Kabul airport explosion on Thursday saying that a significant number of the 170 Afghans killed in the attack actually died from gunfire by the US-led alliance in the chaos following the blast. "Many we spoke to, including eyewitnesses, said significant numbers of those killed were shot dead by US forces in the panic after the blast," the BBC's Secunder Kermani said on Twitter. Reading by Tim Foley. Article with links and sources: https://caitlinjohnstone.substack.com/p/questions-after-new-reports-that

G7 leaders are meeting virtually to discuss the situation in Afghanistan. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to call on US President Joe Biden to extend the 31st August deadline for withdrawing from the country. We hear from the BBC's Secunder Kermani in Kabul and Fionnuala Ni Aolain, special rapporteur for the UN on counter terrorism and human rights, joins us to explain her hopes for the future of the country. Also on the programme: the Paralympics get underway in Tokyo against a backdrop of rising coronavirus cases; and a new report says Europe's recent extreme weather is up to nine times more likely to be repeated because of global warming. ( Picture credit: US marine Corps/ Reuters)

The BBC's Secunder Kermani gives us an update from Kabul, plus the latest on the stock markets from Cary Leahey from Decision Economics in the US.

We continue reporting on what's happening to women and children in Afghanistan. We hear from our BBC corespondent in Kabul, Secunder Kermani. Also Larissa Brown who's Defence Editor at The Times tells us about women soldiers in Afghanistan, and we speak to Zarghuna Kargar who used to present Afghan Woman's Hour and this week found herself translating a Taliban press conference. It was her voice telling us what a Taliban spokesman said. We hear from Andrea Leadsom, MP who's the government's Early Years Adviser. Two women who've adopted talk to us about the ups and downs. And we've also got Lesley Manville on talking about her new TV drama called I Am, which is about a woman called Maria who's 60 and bored.

Why is there a war in Afghanistan? With the Taliban making advances in Afghanistan and US-led forces withdrawing after 20 years in the country, the BBC's Secunder Kermani and government advisor, Professor Michael Semple, explain what's happening on the ground. And, as singer Rihanna celebrates becoming a billionaire, blogger and podcaster, Charisse Kenion, explains how Fenty Beauty (Rihanna's beauty company) has boomed. Today's Newscast was made by Maz Ebtehaj, with Ben Cooper and Alix Pickles. The studio director was Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Sam Bonham

Recent reports from Pyongyang have hinted at an intensified effort to root out foreign fashion, slang and media in North Korea. Its regime has repeatedly punished people who smuggle in DVDs of South Korean TV and film dramas, but the penalties are now even harsher. Laura Bicker reports from Seoul on the risks for North Koreans who try to break their isolation, whether by consuming forbidden culture or even escaping the country themselves. As Joe Biden meets other world leaders at the G7 summit in Cornwall, there are still many Americans who aren't yet convinced he is the legitimate President of the United States. Gabriel Gatehouse has been to Texas, where he attended a QAnon gathering. Press freedom in Pakistan is a touchy issue - and more so now after a string of incidents where reporters have been physically attacked. Secunder Kermani analyses where the 'red lines' lie for broadcast media, and the allegations that the country's security services have been directly pressuring journalists. Turkey's Sea of Marmara is enduring a mucilaginous ordeal - as a slimy, choking layer of so-called "sea snot" smothers its shores. It's a catastrophe for local fishing villages; President Erdogan has launched a clean-up this week. Neyran Elden of the BBC Turkish Service happens to be an experienced scuba diver - so she suited up to go beneath the surface and take a look at the sea bed. What she saw wasn't pretty. Citizens of EU countries in the UK are being strongly encouraged to sort out their residency status before the end of this month. For British citizens living abroad, the experience of getting their own paperwork has varied by country. Luke Tuddenham recently had a surprising brush with bureaucracy in Lower Saxony in Germany. Producer: Polly Hope

The White House has announced a deadline for US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and the government in Kabul looks isolated. The Taliban are in control of large parts of the country, running a parallel administration. Secunder Kermani visited a Taliban-controlled zone in Balkh province to hear how Talib commanders and fighters have reacted to the American plan. Russia seems to be concentrating military resources along its border with Ukraine, but why? And how can or should Ukraine prepare to respond? Jonah Fisher has been to the trenches and artillery-damaged villages of eastern Ukraine and sensed a nervy game of 'wait and see'. The city of Minneapolis has been at the centre of continuing debate over race, crime and policing in the United States. Just as the world's media moved in to cover the trial of Derek Chauvin over the death of George Floyd in 2020, news came on Sunday of the death of Daunte Wright, aged 20, shot and killed by a police officer. Larry Madowo reflects on how much anger and sadness there is to go around. The South China Sea is dotted with reefs, atolls and islets coveted by rival neighbours, including Vietnam, Brunei, China, Taiwan, Vietnam and the Philippines. Tensions have risen recently over an outcrop called Whitsun Reef., The Philippines claim sovereignty there - but it's currently bristling with ships from mainland China. Howard Johnson reports on the latest chapter of a long dispute. And Joe Myerscough reveals what it's like to travel in the shadow of Greta Thunberg. While filming with one of the world's youngest and best-known climate activists, he saw her dealing with the demands of a global public image as well as fighting global climate change. Producer: Polly Hope

The BBC's Royal Correspondent Nick Witchell tells us about the funeral arrangements for the Duke of Edinburgh and how the Royals have handled the build-up to the day. And as the US commits to withdrawing troops from Afghanistan, our correspondent Secunder Kermani joins us from Kabul. He's had rare access to the Taliban and tells us what lies ahead in the country’s future. Today’s Newscast was made by our editor, Dino Sofos, with Natalie Ktena and Emma Close. The Studio Director was Emma Crowe.

Ten years ago, former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, was ousted after weeks of protest in Tahrir square in Cairo. Demonstrators proved an unstoppable force despite a brutal crackdown by authorities killing hundreds. But the post-Mubarak era has not heralded a period of greater freedoms. Kevin Connolly, who covered the fall of Mubarak, looks back on the protests in 2011 which have now fallen silent. President Emmanuel Macron has chosen not to impose a further lockdown, instead tightening borders, closing shopping malls and imposing a night-time curfew to keep the virus under control. Mr Macron now has one eye on the looming presidential campaign as two polls this week suggested his lead over the far-right’s Marine Le Pen is narrowing. Hugh Schofield reports from Paris. It's Oscar season again – and Pakistan’s entry in the best foreign film category is making the headlines. The plot centres on the fictional story of a devout Muslim and estate agent whose life is turned upside down when he dances sensually to a song at a wedding. The film has angered a religious group, and the government has postponed its release – indefinitely, says Secunder Kermani. At the beginning of the pandemic, Bulgaria’s authorities moved swiftly to impose stringent lockdowns on the country’s Roma communities. Many Roma settlements are cut off from essential services. In some neighbourhoods, military police barred the exits. As Bulgaria starts to re-open, Jean Mackenzie visits one settlement. On the ski slopes of Lake Tahoe, it’s taboo to mention the pandemic. In the Diamond Lake ski resort, slopes are full of visitors, happy to visit the restaurants – and casinos. It's a different story down the road in California, says Alice Hutton. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling

Kaavan, once dubbed the world’s loneliest elephant, captured worldwide attention last month when he was rescued from miserable conditions at a zoo in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad where he was held for 35 years and sent to an animal sanctuary in Cambodia. There was one key person behind the effort to move him: pop star Cher. Secunder Kermani reports on Pakistan for the BBC, and he joins Saba Eitizaz to tell the story of how it took several animal rights organizations, a court order and a pop star to win the freedom of one lonely elephant.

Podcast: From Our Own Correspondent Podcast (LS 59 · TOP 0.5% what is this?)Episode: Facing defeat in Nagorno-KarabakhPub date: 2020-11-28Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, became the frontline of a war again this autumn. This resulted in Azerbaijan regaining some of the territory lost in previous conflicts – and with it, homes and landmarks that are precious to Armenians. Peter Oborne was there just as the current Russian-backed peacekeeping deal was announced. Political dramas in Peru reached new heights this month, when the country saw no fewer than three presidents in power in a single week. Tensions also spilled out onto the streets – with large demonstrations and battles between protesters and police in the capital Lima. Now the dust has settled, a new youth movement has come to the fore, as Dan Collyns reports. In the Pakistani city of Lahore, hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of a highly controversial cleric, Khadim Rizvi, who had campaigned for even stricter punishment of “blasphemers” – people accused of insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammed. Rizvi and his supporters have been linked to violent attacks in Paris, Britain and in Pakistan. Secunder Kermani reflects on his life and his legacy. The city of Gatineau in Quebec in Canada has been designated a “red zone”, Canada's highest level of pandemic restrictions. Schools have stayed open though, and one headteacher had an idea for how to keep everyone safe: he moved classes outdoors, in all weathers, as Sian Griffiths reports. France has been under a strict lockdown in recent weeks. Non-essential shops have been closed until today. Horatio Clare spent time in the city of Marseille on France's Mediterranean coast during the lockdown. How has the normally bustling city fared, where "to arrive is to belong"? Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene GregoriusThe podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC Radio 4, which is the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Listen Notes, Inc.

Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic Armenian enclave within Azerbaijan, became the frontline of a war again this autumn. This resulted in Azerbaijan regaining some of the territory lost in previous conflicts – and with it, homes and landmarks that are precious to Armenians. Peter Oborne was there just as the current Russian-backed peacekeeping deal was announced. Political dramas in Peru reached new heights this month, when the country saw no fewer than three presidents in power in a single week. Tensions also spilled out onto the streets – with large demonstrations and battles between protesters and police in the capital Lima. Now the dust has settled, a new youth movement has come to the fore, as Dan Collyns reports. In the Pakistani city of Lahore, hundreds of thousands of people turned out for the funeral of a highly controversial cleric, Khadim Rizvi, who had campaigned for even stricter punishment of “blasphemers” – people accused of insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammed. Rizvi and his supporters have been linked to violent attacks in Paris, Britain and in Pakistan. Secunder Kermani reflects on his life and his legacy. The city of Gatineau in Quebec in Canada has been designated a “red zone”, Canada’s highest level of pandemic restrictions. Schools have stayed open though, and one headteacher had an idea for how to keep everyone safe: he moved classes outdoors, in all weathers, as Sian Griffiths reports. France has been under a strict lockdown in recent weeks. Non-essential shops have been closed until today. Horatio Clare spent time in the city of Marseille on France’s Mediterranean coast during the lockdown. How has the normally bustling city fared, where "to arrive is to belong"? Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

Fighting has continued in Nagorno-Karabakh, the territory inhabited and run by ethnic Armenians, but officially still part of Azerbaijan. The armed clashes have included Azerbaijani shelling of residential areas in the main town Stepanakert, from where Jonah Fisher reports that residents have had to take shelter or flee to neighbouring Armenia. US President Donald Trump tested positive for Covid-19 and was taken to a top military hospital on Friday. It was a fast-moving and seismic day not only for the staff at the White House - where suddenly everyone was wearing a mask, as Tara McKelvey observed - but also for the nation at large. The Vatican, the headquarters of the Catholic Church, has been the subject of rumours about financial secrets for a long time, something Pope Francis has hoped to change with greater transparency. And so a senior cardinal has suddenly been forced to resign over alleged financial wrongdoings. And the Church also published a "consolidated balance sheet"; a first says veteran Vatican observer David Willey. Polio has been all but eradicated from the world - except in Pakistan and Afghanistan. This despite regular vaccination campaigns. So what's been standing in the way of their success? Conspiracy theories are only part of it, as Secunder Kermani has been finding out in the Pakistani city of Peshawar. The Greek island of Corfu is home to a small Serbian community, who still honour the lives of the Serbs lost in the First World War. The survivors of a gruelling winter trek across the Balkan mountains to the Adriatic coast, were taken to safety in Corfu by Allied ships. But thousands died there of disease, buried at sea, in the "Blue Graveyard", as Mary Novakovich reports. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

Greece and Turkey have agreed to hold talks to help defuse their stand-off over disputed gas reserves near their shores. Ankara had deployed a research vessel accompanied by warships near a Greek island, and military exercises on both sides followed, giving rise to fears of war between the two long-term rivals, as Heidi Fuller Love reports from Crete. Pakistan was shocked by the gang-rape of a woman on a motorway leading out of the city of Lahore late at night. Sexual violence towards women in Pakistan is commonplace, but this case led to a backlash, as police appeared to blame the victim. As women come together to campaign for change, could it be a turning point to make everyday life safer for women, asks Secunder Kermani. Peru now has the highest per capita death rate from coronavirus in the world. More than half of the nation’s territory is Amazon rainforest and the indigenous people who live there have been badly affected by the pandemic, but have received little help, with little medical treatment available, as Dan Collyns reports. In the republic of Georgia, there are still people trapped inside ageing Soviet-era institutions, isolated from society simply for having a learning disability or a mental illness. But one woman has made it her life's work to help patients leave these clinical establishments, and to provide family-style homes for everyone she can prove is capable of independent living. Robin Forestier-Walker was invited along to one such rescue mission. Concerts and music festivals around the world have been cancelled but there is one festival that did go ahead, high up in the Alps in Switzerland. It featured live rock music and raclette cheese. Ben Russell went along. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

The number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 has surged in Brazil. And yet there are many Brazilians who fail to observe social distancing or to wear masks. Some people blame President Jair Bolsonaro's handling of the crisis. He has criticised state governors for imposing quarantines. And as Katy Watson reports from Sao Paulo, the pandemic is turning into a political issue as much as a health one. It's been Ramadan in the Muslim world, and this year mosques around the world have been shut under lockdown. Not so in Pakistan, where, as Secunder Kermani has found, the politicians chose not to oppose the clerics who wanted to keep them open for prayer. Policemen stood by powerlessly as the faithful flocked in. Fancy returning to the theatre or ballet? You're not alone. Performers too, have been longing to get back to the stage. That's not possible yet, but in Germany they can now rehearse in studios again rather than their kitchens. Jenny Hill went to watch the Dortmund ballet dust off their tutus and stretch their muscly limbs again. In Lebanon and Syria, it's the season when the jasmine blossoms. The sweet smell is even more powerful this year, as it doesn't need to compete with traffic pollution as much, thanks to lockdown. The jasmine's scent also evokes memories of the past, for some, says Lizzie Porter in Beirut. In Belgium, lockdown has been eased. Many shops have reopened, as have schools, at least in part. Even hairdressers are welcoming customers again. Our correspondent Kevin Connolly has made a tentative return to consumerism - you won't believe what his first purchase was. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius

Argentina has elected a new president at a moment of deep economic crisis. Out goes the centre-left, back come the Peronists. Katy Watson reports on a sense of deja vu, with the role of Eva Peron filled this time by Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, a former president, now returning to power as vice president. The winds of change are blowing through the Vatican, after bishops meeting in Rome voted in favour of relaxing the rules on celibacy among the clergy. David Willey reflects on how Pope Francis is conducting a papacy that reflects a changing world. Liberia in West Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world. It has still to recover from a civil war that ended more than 15 years ago. More recently it suffered a devastating Ebola epidemic. Lucy Ash goes to meet the Zogos, a group of people who've suffered more than most. Imran Khan used to be best known as a flamboyant international cricketer. Today he's the prime minister of Pakistan and thousands of people are on the streets of Islamabad today in protest against his economic policies. Secunder Kermani says they are also suspicious of his links to the army. Buddhism in China, a country that has often had an uneasy relationship with religion, is enjoying official approval. President Xi sees it as a way of promoting his country's status. Richard Dove has been to meet some monks high in the mountains and to eat peanut biscuits.

Gang violence in the townships of Cape Town is now so serious that the South African army has been sent in to try to curb it. But the causes of violence are complex. Will the state really be able to stamp its authority? Lindsay Johns reports. Lizzie Porter finds sunflowers in bloom on the outskirts of Sinjar, the town in northern Iraq, where, five years ago so-called Islamic State kidnapped thousands of Yazidis. But the town itself is still largely empty, the streets deserted, the buildings smashed and most of the original population absent, too scared to return home. There's a growing number of people from Africa and Asia in Central America, whose hope one day is to make it to the United States. Katy Long dusts down her rusty French to speak to a man from Congo in the middle of a rainstorm in Costa Rica. While the Taliban talks peace with the US in Qatar, there's scepticism and concern on the streets of Kabul. Secunder Kermani talks to a group of young cricketers near the Ghazi Stadium, the place where the Taliban once carried out public executions. And, while cricket fans in England had plenty of means at their disposal to watch Ben Stokes' demolition of the Australian bowling attack in last Sunday's Ashes victory, Jonah Fisher, in Kiev, was finding it less easy to follow proceedings. Being a cricket-loving foreign correspondent, he says, hasn't always been easy.

Moscow isn’t the obvious place for talks on how to bring an end to the violence in Afghanistan, the country has been at war ever since the Soviet invasion 40 years ago, but it was where senior Afghan politicians met the Taliban. 'A military solution is not the answer' was the message Secunder Kermani picked up from negotiators there. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world: Juliet Rix is in Dominica, an island known for its natural beauty, national parks, and volcanoes. How is it faring almost eighteen months on from Hurricane Maria? Kevin Connolly returns to Belgrade and is confronted by some ghosts from his first visit to what was then Yugoslavia, back when he was "untouched by experience and unburdened by judgment." Elizabeth Hotson experiences a sugar-rush like no other as she attends the world's largest sweet and snack fair in Germany. And Viv Nuis finds out why the skies above Lahore won't be filled with thousands of kites for the Basant festival this weekend, and why flying a kite can even get you arrested in the Pakistani city.

Kate Adie introduces analysis, wit and experiences from correspondents around the world. The past weekend's elections in Afghanistan were held under threat, and only patchily - but they were held, despite fears to the contrary. Secunder Kermani talked to plenty of young voters in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and heard both impatience and hope for the country's future in their answers. Serbia has a domestic violence problem - as well as uncounted stockpiles of firearms in private hands. As the government brings in measures to try and discourage abuse in relationships, Nicola Kelly hears about the lethal risks of abusers with their own guns. Tim Smith tags along with a group of dissenters on a night-time raid: they're Catalans who are strongly against the idea of Catalonian independence, and claim they're "cleaning up" the streetscape in some small towns by tearing down or removing symbols of the Catalan nationalist cause. In the ritzier parts of Jakarta, you can almost smell the money these days, says Rebecca Henschke. As a rising class rides the commodities boom, children's parties in particular have become ever more ostentatious. And Joe Bond gets into the swim of things in the Czech town of Kolin. Once it was home to a thriving Jewish population, which was largely uprooted and dispersed after the Nazi occupation deported most of its members to labour and extermination camps during the Holocaust. One doughty survivor of that era, Hana Greenfield, made it her later life's mission to tell others about it - and she's now commemorated in the town with a race down the river where she would swim as a child.

Elections in Pakistan, religious divisions in the Balkans and an ode to an Ethiopian airport. Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories from around the world: Secunder Kermani looks back on the election campaign in Pakistan and assesses what it means for the country’s future. Anna Holligan travels around Bosnia - Herzegovina and finds that while the fighting may have ended more than twenty years ago, the country is even more religiously divided than it was before the war. Will Grant remembers a great man of Cuban radio - Raul Luis Galiano. As his family sort through the late broadcasters belonging they find a huge hoard of carefully preserved possessions – some useful, some of historical value and others surprisingly revealing. Mary Novakovich learns that while fish stocks are falling in Venice, local fishermen have stumbled on a new catch – tourists, and now take visitors out on expeditions to give them an idea of what life is like beyond the obvious attractions. And Horatio Clare has an apology to make; Addis Ababa Bole airport has not, as he predicted, turned out to be a huge waste of money – unnecessary and over the top. Instead, it has turned out to be a shrewd investment and a place that continues to fascinate him.

Poonam Taneja reports on the Empire of the Sikhs exhibition, a rare collection of stunning objects and works of art that reveal the remarkable story of the Sikh Empire and the European and American adventurers who served it. BBC Religious Affairs Editor Martin Bashir looks ahead to this week's review by the independent inquiry into child sexual abuse (IICSA) of the case of Peter Ball, the former Bishop of Gloucester, who was imprisoned in 2015 for abusing young men. Following the publication of new Vatican guidelines on what it means to be a consecrated virgin, Edward Stourton speaks to Elizabeth Rees who explains what life is like as a consecrated woman. Secunder Kermani reports on the influence of Sufi mystics on the outcome of the upcoming Pakistan elections. Jasvinder Sanghera tells Edward Stourton why her forced marriage campaign group Karma Nirvana is handing out spoons at a school to help tackle the summer holiday spike in forced marriage cases. Following a debate in the House of Lords of a bill calling for civil partnerships to be extended to siblings living together, we hear from one person living in a 'platonic partnership' about why they believe this is a matter of correcting a serious injustice. Do Christians and atheists have more in common than is commonly thought? Krish Kandiah thinks so and says why in his new book Fatheism. He's joined by Andrew Copson, Chief Executive of Humanists UK. to discuss the current climate of conversation between believers and non-believers. Producer Catherine Earlam Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Series Producer Amanda Hancox.

Justice can be elusive for the young domestic servants abused and mistreated in Pakistan. Kate Adie introduces stories from correspondents around the world: Secunder Kermani investigates what he describes as the "mess of allegations" surrounding the death of a 16-year-old domestic servant in Pakistan, and learns that for some people money and survival can be more important than justice. Amy Guttman explores the ironies that pervade one of the most heavily guarded borders in the world - the Demilitarised Zone between North and South Korea. Athar Ahmad finds out what’s it like to observe one of the longest daily Ramadan fasts. Early sunrises and late summer sunsets, mean more than twenty hours a day without food or water. In Iceland. Chloe Farand attends a cross-border meeting of indigenous people from Brazil, French Guinea, and Suriname as they unite in opposition to a controversial new gold mine. And, Caroline Eden visits the ‘Museum of Soviet Lifestyle’ in Kazan; the Russian city will soon be welcoming World Cup fans, but she found memorabilia from the 1980 Summer Olympics still on display.

This weekend Hindu's are celebrating Holi - the colour filled festival that celebrates the coming of spring and victory of good over evil. Rajeev Gupta reports. Film Critic Richard Fitzwilliams reviews the new Mary Magdalene film staring Rooney Mara as Mary and Joaquin Phoenix in the role of Jesus. Ahead of International Women's Day Yassmin Abdel-Magied named Queensland Young Australian of the Year in 2015 talks to Edward about empowering women. A high court judge has granted an application for a judicial review of a senior coroner's "cab rank" policy in dealing with unexpected deaths, saying it raises issues of importance to Jewish and Muslim communities. Joshua Rosenberg explains. This week the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Awards are given to business leaders for their promotion of peace through interfaith knowledge and action. Edward speaks to Brian Grim, President of the Religious freedom & Business Foundation from Seoul. How to dispose of old or damaged copies of the Koran is a sensitive issue and people have been accused of blasphemy for disrespecting the holy book. Secunder Kermani has been to Quetta in Pakistan to look at a project devoted to solving the problem. This week the church of the Holy Sepulchre closed as a sign of protest and has since re-opened, journalist Jordana Miller explains why. Last month the Vatican withheld permission for three key female speakers to address the Voices of Faith conference. Edward discusses why with Father Luke Hansen SJ (who will be taking part in Voices of Faith) and by Catholic journalist Caroline Farrow who agrees with the Vatican's decision. Producers: Carmel Lonergan; Louise Clarke-Rowbotham Editor: Amanda Hancox Photo Credit: Holi Festival of Colours.

Despite the threat from North Korea to fire missiles towards Guam, we find a surprising calm on the island. Kate Adie introduces correspondents’ stories from around the world. From Guam, Rupert Wingfield Hayes has the latest developments in the war of words between the US and North Korea. Secunder Kermani hears tales of the horrific violence that followed the Partition of India 70 years ago but finds little remorse amongst some of its perpetrators. Hannah Armstrong visits Cape Verde where European migrants are starting new lives in Africa. In Cuba, Will Grant finds that the 'battle against bureaucracy', launched by the late Fidel Castro in 1965, is far from over. Simple tasks like paying your rent can still take hours. And in Swedish Lapland, Elizabeth Hotson goes down to the woods in search of a big surprise, and a bear.

What drives a mob to climb several flights of stairs, break down a dormitory door and kill the young man inside? Secunder Kermani pieces together the last hours of Mashal Khan, the undergraduate beaten to death by vigilantes in April, 2017.It happened in the small city of Mardan, set on a fertile plain below mountains that form part of the border with Afghanistan. Until recently, this part of Pakistan was officially known as a “frontier”.Here, as in the rest of this huge Muslim country, blasphemy is a crime. And if the police won't enforce the law, there's a code. “If you have to kill someone as a punishment, do it in such a way that all connections to his brain are disconnected and there is no pain,” one local politician explained. “Just bury him afterwards.”Mashal Khan was not so lucky. His slow, painful death and subsequent mutilation was captured on mobile phones. The shocking footage spread quickly and reignited the controversy over Pakistan's strict blasphemy laws.There have been rallies in support of the victim's family. His grave is blanketed in tinsel and flowers from sympathisers. But there've been rallies for the alleged killers as well.The BBC's Secunder Kermani is based in Pakistan and has gone to meet the families and friends on both sides of this story and asks, Who was Mashal Khan? And why did he die?

A nightmare ferry journey in The Gambia, a musical metro ride under East Berlin and a Shakespearean train journey in Russia. Kate Adie introduces correspondents' stories. In Pakistan, Secunder Kermani explores why the university student Mashal Khan, who was accused of blasphemy, ended up beaten to death by an angry mob on campus. In The Gambia, Shaimaa Khalil makes the long and arduous commute across the River Gambia. The ferries – which are often over-crowed and much delayed - are the only way for many people to reach the capital Banjul. As Brexit negotiations continue, Kevin Connolly recalls his first trip to ‘The Continent‘ in the year that Britain joined what was to become the European Union. In Russian, Kirsty Lang finds that cultural ties to Britain remain strong, despite souring diplomatic relations. And despite attempts to keep Western music out of East Germany during the Cold War, Chris Bowlby discovers that, in strange locations and in free minds, many refused to dance to the communist tune.

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.