From Our Own Correspondent

Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Chile, Indonesia, and France.Ukraine’s audacious drone raid on Russian airbases was met with disbelief that such an attack was even possible. Operation ‘Spider’s Web’ was 18 months in the planning, and caused huge damage to Russia's bomber fleet. But as Paul Adams discovered, civilians in Kyiv are uneasy about celebrating this success, fearful of how Russia might respond.Approximately one fifth of Ukraine is currently under Russian occupation. Russia doesn’t allow foreign journalists to enter the occupied territories, but the BBC’s Olga Malchevska has been corresponding in secret with Ukrainian civilians in Crimea, through which she learned of the risks they face for small acts of resistance.During the rule of Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet in the 70s and 80s, thousands of babies were illegally kidnapped and adopted by couples abroad. Today, many of Chile’s ‘stolen children’ are in a race against time to trace their aging mothers. Jane Chambers was there as one mo

Kate Adie presents stories from the US, Canada, Mexico, Myanmar and the NetherlandsAn increasing number of Americans - especially young men - are converting to the Russian Orthodox Church, enticed by its embrace of unabashed masculinity and traditional family values. Lucy Ash met some recent converts in Texas.The diplomatic fallout between the US and Canada continues over Donald Trump's repeated desire to make Canada the 51st state. The issue was forefront in Canadian minds as King Charles visited Ottawa this week, with locals looking for signs of support for the country’s sovereignty. Royal correspondent Sean Coughlan watched the King walk a diplomatic tightrope.Mexico will become the first country in the world to elect its entire judiciary by direct vote, following a controversial reform last year. Will Grant went to Ciudad Juarez to meet a candidate who has had doubts raised over her suitability as a judge after she once defended notorious drug lord, El Chapo.Chinese criminal gangs have established lucrati

Kate Adie presents stories from Turkey, the South China Sea, Ukraine, the US and Angola.Outlawed Kurdish group the PKK, which has waged a 40-year insurgency against Turkey, has announced it's disbanding. More than 40,000 people were killed during its fight for an independent Kurdish state - now the group says the Kurdish issue 'can be resolved through democratic politics’. Orla Guerin reports from Diyarbakir, in the Kurdish heartland.In the South China Sea, the tiny island of Pagasa is at the centre of a dispute between the Philippines and China. For the past 10 years, China has been expanding its presence in the region - but the Philippines is one of the few southeast Asian countries to stand its ground. Jonathan Head gained rare access to the island.Over the last decade, the Ukrainian Orthodox church gradually distanced itself from the Moscow Patriarchate, until it formally severed ties in 2022. But some priests and parishioners are reluctant to give up the traditions that were so familiar to them. Nick Stu

Kate Adie presents stories from Gaza, Indian-administered Kashmir, Pakistan, Eswatini and Italy.Amid a deteriorating situation in Gaza, as Israel continues its bombardment and the blockade of aid, some Palestinian children are being evacuated to Jordan for medical treatment. As Fergal Keane travelled with two young cancer patients, he reflects on a week of haunting images and words.A recent attack by militants in Indian-administered Kashmir saw direct military action between India and Pakistan for the first time in six years. And although a ceasefire was agreed, nerves have been shattered in the region, as Aamir Peerzada discovered from the Indian-administered side of the Line of Control.Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared a ‘Day of the Battle of Truth’ to commemorate the country’s self-proclaimed victory in the latest confrontation with India. Azadeh Moshiri reports from Pakistan on the army’s efforts to regain public confidence through social media.The landlocked Kingdom of Eswatini is one of

Kate Adie presents stories from Syria, the US-Mexico border, Poland and Germany.As Syria tries to rebuild after the fall of Assad, a wave of sectarian violence is fuelling suspicion between communities, and long-held grievances are proving a thorny issue for the country's new leadership. Lucy Williamson travelled to Syria's coastal region, where minority Alawite communities recently came under attack.In Texas, many Hispanic voters came out in support for Donald Trump in last year's election. Now he is back in the White House, his hard-line approach to immigration is leading some voters to have second thoughts, says Nomia Iqbal. who travelled to the Rio Grande river along the US-Mexico border.Sitting on the border of Ukraine and Russia, Poland has pledged to up its military spending this year, and is also rolling out military training for civilians. Will Vernon visited a military training camp - but found not everyone is keen to enrol.And in Germany, Amie Liebowitz has been to a reunion of pensioners born at t

Kate Adie presents stories from Israel and Gaza, China, Romania, Bolivia and the Vatican City.In Gaza and Israel people have been taking to the streets to demand an end to the war. The protests have taken different forms, and as Paul Adams notes, also involve very different risks.Amid the on-going trade war between China and the US, Laura Bicker speaks to Chinese traders at one of the world's biggest wholesale markets in Yiwu, to find out how Donald Trump's tariffs are affecting business.After election results were annulled in Romania last year, the country faces a rerun this Sunday. The political chaos that followed the Constitutional Court's decision left a sour taste among many voters, finds Tessa Dunlop, who met people from across the political spectrum in Bucharest.The Bolivian city of Potosi was once at the heart of the Spanish empire, thanks to the discovery of a mountain of silver in the 16th Century. Carolyn Lamboley paid a visit to the city, which is now a shell of what it was and met some of the mi

Kate Adie introduces stories from Mexico, Canada, Kenya, the USA and Syria.As the first pope to come from Latin America, Pope Francis was hugely popular in the region, standing in solidarity with local priests who often have to walk a delicate line in communities under the control of drug cartels. Will Grant reflects on the late pope's legacy in Mexico.Canada goes to the polls on Monday, in a race that has become increasingly tight over the past few months. Reporting from Vancouver Island, Neal Razzell says it's the name that's not on the ballot that has proved to be the game changer.The Kenyan port town of Lamu is undergoing a radical transformation, as part of a Chinese-funded multi-billion dollar development project. While it promises to bring jobs and trade to the region, Beth Timmins finds some locals are less sure of the signs of progress.Once a seasonal threat, wild fires in California are now a year-round problem. So much so, that some homeowners are being told by insurers that they are no longer will

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, Ecuador, the US, Ghana and ItalyDonald Trump's pre-election promise to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours failed to materialise, and this week the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was willing to walk away from talks if a Russia-Urkraine ceasefire deal is not agreed soon. James Waterhouse reports from Sumy, where at least 35 people were killed last weekend, and reflects on how Ukraine is now more vulnerable than ever.Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa was returned to power in a decisive election win last weekend. His popularity is built around his 'iron fist' approach to crime - though murder rates remain stubbornly high. Ione Wells heard about the scale of the challenges ahead in the president's war on drugs.The deportation of Kilmar Ábrego García from Maryland to a super max prison in El Salvador has proven a flash-point in America's debate on immigration - and Donald Trump's battle with the judiciary. Nomia Iqbal reflects on the US President's attempts to

Kate Adie presents stories from the USA, Myanmar, The Dominican Republic, Afghanistan and the Greek island of Syros President Trump’s decision to impose huge tariffs across the world drew ire from Wall Street financiers this week - and even members of his own Republican party. But what do his supporters in small-town America think? Mike Wendling travelled to Delta, Ohio, in America's rust belt, where locals have other things on their mind.In Myanmar the military junta has restricted foreign rescue teams’ access to areas damaged by the recent earthquake - not to mention international media. After entering the country undercover, Yogita Limaye reports from the city of Mandalay, close to the earthquake’s epicentre.The Dominican Republic announced three days of national mourning this week, after the roof of a popular nightclub collapsed, killing more than two hundred people. Will Grant visited the scene in the capital Santo Domingo, where an investigation is now under way as to what caused the collapse.Since retu

Kate Adie introduces stories from Sudan, Greenland, Lebanon, the Vatican and France.An estimated 3.5 million people have fled Khartoum since RSF rebels took control of the Sudanese capital two years ago - but it is now back under the control of the army. Barbara Plett-Usher joined a military convoy, travelling deep into a city devastated by war, but found relief among remaining residents who say they are 'learning to live again'.The eyes of the world have turned to Greenland this year as Donald Trump has made aggressive overtures about taking over the Danish territory. Andrew Harding travelled to the capital, Nuuk, where locals keen for independence are now concerned about the threat of new outside interference.The Lebanese militia group, Hezbollah, is in its weakest position for years after 13 months of conflict with Israel, during which time many of its senior leaders were killed. Hugo Bachega visited Hezbollah's strongholds to weigh up how solid its support is today.Pope Francis is back home after a five w

Kate Adie presents stories from Turkey, the US, El Salvador, and Georgia.

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, Serbia, Guatemala, Kenya and the Philippines.Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine are continuing after initial attempts to secure a ceasefire stalled. Russia has refused to support a US-led plan for a 30-day ceasefire and demanded talks about its red lines first. James Landale has been in Kyiv where he says hopes are fading for any meaningful victory.Serbia saw its largest ever protest last weekend in the capital, Belgrade. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting by the ruling party for lives lost after a railway station collapsed last year. There have been several resignations, but the protests have only gathered momentum. Guy De Launey has been in Belgrade.Guatemala is notorious for endemic corruption. For years, state funds ended up in the pockets of a powerful elite known as “the pact of the corrupt." In the last election, political underdog Bernardo Arevalo defied the odds and won power on an anti-corruption platform. But some are growing im

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Mexico and the USA, Bangladesh, Syria and the Faroe Islands.Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with sanctions if it does not do more to halt the flow of deadly fentanyl into the US. Quentin Sommerville gained rare access to a Mexican drug smuggling operation, meeting the foot-soldiers of a prominent cartel as it prepares to send fentanyl north of the border.Bangladesh is homes to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, who have been living in refugee camps since fleeing pesecution in Myanmar back in 2017. The Rohingya’s survival has been dependent on foreign aid – but that lifeline is now at risk, following cuts to the US aid budget. Samira Hussain visited one of the refugee camps.US negotiators proposed an immediate 30 day ceasefire in Ukraine this week. While President Zelensky accepted the proposal, President Putin said questions remain about the nature of the truce. Frank Gardner assesses the chances for a lasting peace.Back in 2014, swathes of north-east Syria came

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Egypt, Poland, the USA, Malaysia, and the Mekong River.Arab leaders convened in Egypt this week to draw up a post-war plan for Gaza - and to counter Donald Trump's proposal to turn it into the 'riviera of the Middle East'. Lyse Doucet travelled to Cairo to report on the new Arab resolve, but found herself being pulled back into the city's own tumultuous history.Increased uncertainty about the future of Ukraine is fueling a sense of unease in neighboring Poland. The question of 'how safe are we?' is a hot topic of discussion in the country's current presidential election campaign. Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.In order to tackle the country's opioid crisis, some US states are focussing less on prosecution, and more on treatment. The first state to decriminalise the personal possession of hard drugs was Oregon back in 2020 – a decision it would come to reverse in 2024. Martin Vennard has been to the famously progressive state to find out what’s been happening.Malaysia has

Kate Adie presents stories from Russia, the occupied West Bank, Bangladesh, South Africa and IndiaUS relations with its Western allies have been upended recently amid a rapprochement between Washington and Moscow. The BBC’s Russia Editor Steve Rosenberg reveals how the warming of relations has been feted in the pro-Putin press, while ordinary Russians are seemingly more cautious.As the first stage of the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel comes to an end, Israel's defence forces are in the midst of another major operation against armed Palestinian groups in the occupied West Bank. Paul Adams visited one of the region's refugee camps to see what impact Israel’s military action is having on the thousands of people forced to leave their homes.Bangladesh remains politically unstable six months after the violent student-led uprising which brought down long-term leader, Sheikh Hasina. In the absence of political certainty, fundamentalist Islamic groups – previously side-lined in politics – have found fresh impetus,

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, the United States, The Gambia and Uzbekistan. Its three years since Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, during which time hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured - though others have simply disappeared without trace. Sarah Rainsford travelled to Ukraine, where she met one woman trying to find out what happened to her parents after they were detained during Russia's occupation of her home town. US President Donald Trump has pledged to curb government waste by cutting spending. Under review are the billions of dollars set aside for research grants, intended for universities and scientific institutions. At the annual gathering of one of the country’s oldest scientific societies, which took place in Boston last week, Sandra Kanthal found a decidedly dampened mood. Each year thousands of people leave sub-Saharan Africa in hope of reaching Europe and forging a better life. It's a dangerous and potentially deadly journey - and for some the cha

In Saxony, our correspondent hears why young voters are increasingly supporting the AfD. The party is polling consistently in second place ahead of a snap election next SundayLONG: Kate Adie presents stories from Germany, the US, Afghanistan, Spain and Morocco.Germany goes to the polls on 23rd February, with the conservative CDU party showing a strong lead. But the far right AfD is consistently polling in second place. The biggest rise in support for the party has been among young voters, and Jessica Parker has spoken to some of them in Saxony to hear why.Mahjooba Nowrouzi returns to Afghanistan, for the first time in nearly 30 years, having fled the oppressive Taliban regime as a young student. She describes how despite initial first impressions, not much had changed with the Taliban back in control once more.This week, Jordan's King Abdullah visited Washington, where he made clear to President Trump that he and other regional leaders were unanimous in rejecting plans to take over Gaza and transfer Palestini

Kate Adie introduces stories from DR Congo, Israel, Ecuador, Malaysia and Germany.Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the ongoing conflict in the DR Congo. Amid the violence, a clinic in Goma is helping civilian casualties recover and rehabilitate. Hugh Kinsella-Cunnigham met some of the people trying to rebuild their lives.Regional leaders in the Middle East are focusing their attention on the second stage of the ceasefire – and the continuation of the hostage and prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas. Some hardliners in the Knesset are demanding a resumption of the war, which worries families still waiting for their relatives to be released, reports Wyre Davies.Ecuador goes to the polls this weekend, in a vote which is seen by many as a referendum on President Daniel Noboa's hardline war on the country's criminal gangs, which critics say has led to innocent people arrested and detained. Ione Wells reports from the city of Guayaquil.A recent survey in Malaysia revealed more than 70 pe

Kate Adie presents stories from the US, Mexico, Bangladesh, Guatemala and Malaysia Donald Trump marked his return to the White House with a deluge of executive orders and announcements, which included an immigration crackdown, ending federal diversity programmes and withdrawing the US from the WHO. Anthony Zurcher travelled with the president on board Air Force One.In cities across the US, the Immigration Enforcement Agency has been conducting raids and arresting thousands of undocumented migrants, as part of President Trump’s crackdown. Mexico is preparing itself for the potential arrival of tens of thousands of people in the coming weeks. Will Grant reports from both sides of the border.In Bangladesh, deaths related to diseases, such as cholera and rotavirus are considered especially high, because of long-standing issues with overcrowding, poor sanitation and access to clean water. Rebecca Root visited a hospital in the capital, Dhaka, which is leading the way in treatment and prevention.Many of Guatemala’s

Kate Adie present stories from Israel and Gaza, Syria, Denmark, Spain and Poland.After a faltering start, the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas came into effect last Sunday. Fergal Keane has been reporting on the conflict from the outset and was on Israel's border with Gaza last weekend – here he reflects on the human cost of the war and what the future might hold.Syrians have been embracing their new found freedoms since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime last year. But, at the same time, the scale of Assad’s intelligence and surveillance operation is now coming to light. Lina Sinjab retraces her own experiences of being arrested by Syria’s secret police. We visit the Danish town of Kalundborg – the main manufacturing centre for the weight loss drug Wegovy. Bob Howard paid a visit to find out more about life in a modern-day boom townClimate change is posing a major challenge for wine producers across the world. Sophie Eastaugh travelled to Catalonia to find out how one of Spain’s oldest family-run wine c