From Our Own Correspondent

Kate Adie presents stories from Alaska, Washington, South Korea, Chile and France.From the military fly-past to the grandiose entrance on the red carpet, to the press conference, without any questions, the meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin drew dismay from Western governments. Steve Rosenberg was in Alaska - and reflects on the aftermath.After the pomp and pageantry of Donald Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, six European leaders rushed to Washington DC this week to meet with the US President in a show of solidarity with Volodymyr Zelensky. Tom Bateman followed the twists and turns and reflects on what was actually achieved at the White House.Vladimir Putin has come to rely on support from North Korea to bolster his troops in Ukraine. Pyongyang is now sending thousands of construction workers, to help fill a huge labour shortage created by the war. Jean Mackenzie has spoken to six workers who’ve managed to escape.In the hills of southern Chile and is an alluring tourist destination - a German

Kate Adie presents stories from Afghanistan, China, Japan and Tajikistan.In Afghanistan's Ghor Province, Mahjooba Nowrouzi reports from a small maternity hospital where two female doctors serve thousands of patients. With limited resources and financial support, the odds are stacked against them - and against the women they tend to and treat.Last year, BBC Radio 4’s Crossing Continents aired the award-winning documentary ‘Our Whole Life is a Secret’, which charted the daily life of a young Afghan woman. In this dispatch, she provides an update on her life today, four years after the Taliban returned to power.In Beijing, pro-democracy campaigners regularly face surveillance and restrictions on their movement. Among them is human rights lawyer Wang Quanzhang, who was arrested in 2015 and imprisoned for 'subverting state power'. Danny Vincent heard about his life since his release.It's 80 years since Japan’s Emperor Hirohito surrendered to allied forces in World War II after the US dropped two atomic bombs on th

Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Japan, Bahrain and Croatia.Nestled in the forest, far away from falling bombs is a pioneering summer camp for Ukrainian children whose parents have gone missing during the war. A Ukrainian charity is working to give them some relief – and much needed support – to help them cope with the ongoing uncertainty of not knowing where their parents are. Will Vernon visited the camp where art, exercise and self-expression are all vital to the healing process.It’s 80 years since the US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, leading to the end of World War II. Some 200,000 people were killed - but the bombing had other long-lasting effects. Jordan Dunbar travelled to Hiroshima to speak to survivors who shared their stories of discrimination and social stigma.Bahrain has just one synagogue - The House of the Ten Commandments. The building was destroyed back in 1947 in a wave of communal violence, but after several decades, it was eventually restor

Kate Adie presents stories from Gaza and Israel, the US, Lesotho, Taiwan and Peru.This week the British government pledged to recognise a Palestinian state, unless Israel meets certain conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza and reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision rewarded 'Hamas's monstrous terrorism.' Jeremy Bowen reflects on this latest chapter in Britain’s long-standing influence in the region.At the UN, Saudi Arabia and France co-hosted a summit to rekindle plans for a two-state solution as a means to find peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Dozens of countries were in attendance - others were notable for their absence. Tom Bateman reports from New York.Donald Trump once claimed Lesotho was a country ‘nobody has heard of’ – but it has been feeling the pinch of his trade policy. While the White House rowed back on its threat of imposing 50 per cent tariffs, the uncertainty has already led to many job losses, finds

Kate Adie introduces stories from Syria, Lebanon, Chile, Pakistan and France.Sectarian violence has erupted again in Syria, this time between Druze and Bedouin communities, leaving hundreds of people dead. The country's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, blamed the violence on ‘outlawed factions’ and has vowed to protect the Druze. Though as Jon Donnison heard in the Druze-majority town of Suweida, locals are also blaming government forces for the violence.Meanwhile in Lebanon, thousands of Alawite Syrians - the same Shia Muslim sect of the former President Bashar al-Assad - have fled across the border in recent months to escape a previous bout of sectarian violence which broke out back in March. Emily Wither travelled to Tripoli where she met young Alawites looking to define themselves beyond the Assad regime.In Chile we visit a ghost town in the Atacama Desert as it's brought back to life for one day a year. Former residents of Chuquicamata return to where they once lived for an annual party - though the f

Kate Adie introduces stories from Ukraine, Ireland, Mexico, the United States and Italy.Kill Russian soldiers, win points: a sobering new scheme for Ukrainians soldiers rewards units with new battlefield equipment, each time they eliminate enemy troops. Paul Adams met the government minister behind the scheme, and hears what Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline think of it.In Ireland, the excavation of the bodies of hundreds of babies and young children got underway this week at an unmarked mass grave in Tuam. Chris Page discovers the decision to exhume the remains has not been entirely well received by locals, as Ireland continues to confront the secrets of its church-run institutions.A severe drought has been affecting large areas of Northern Mexico and Texas, which has led to growing cross-border tensions over access to water. Will Grant reports from the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua.Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown has taken a much more assertive approach than many expected. Sophie Williams visit

Kate Adie introduces stories from China, Kenya, Australia, Bolivia and the USA.Sichuan province in China is home to a long-standing Tibetan resistance movement. While Beijing views Tibet as an integral part of China – the allegiances of many Tibetans living in China lie with its exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama - voicing support for him can lead to arrest or prison. Laura Bicker visited the town of Aba, where she met monks practicing their faith under heavy surveillance.Youth led protests erupted again in Kenya this week, with many young Kenyans angry at the lack of good job opportunities in the country - more than 30 people died in the demonstrations, and over 500 were arrested. Anne Soy has been following the story in Nairobi.The small Australian town of Morwell will be returning to some form of normality this week, following the conclusion of the trial of Erin Patterson who was found guilty of murdering three of her relatives and attempting to kill another after serving them Beef Wellington laced wi

Kate Adie presents stories from Israel, Zimbabwe, Taiwan's Kinmen Islands, Lithuania and Peru.In Israel a small group of peace campaigners has been going against the grain of the public mood to highlight the plight of Palestinian people in Gaza, and has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war on humanitarian grounds. Wyre Davies met them in Jerusalem.It’s 25 years since Robert Mugabe’s controversial land reform programme ignited a wave of violent land seizures from Zimbabwe's white farmers. The current government has begun paying compensation to some of the farmers forced from their land – Shingai Nyoka considers whether it can help bring much-desired reconciliation.Taiwan's Kinmen Islands are just a few miles off the coast of mainland China, which has made repeated attempts over the decades to annex the outpost. Today locals continue to live amid ongoing tensions with China - as well as the strain between modern and traditional ways of life, reports Adrian Bridge.In Lithuania's capital Vil

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from the Turkey-Iran border, Russia, the USA, Paraguay and Transylvania.Israel’s attacks on Iran led thousands of people to flee cities under fire - now they must decide whether to return home, fearing further strikes and a regime still in power. Orla Guerin has been on the Turkey-Iran border, where she spoke to Iranians escaping the war, and others going back home to their families still in the country.As Western leaders gathered for the G7 and NATO summits, President Putin held his own annual international gathering: the St Petersburg International Economic Forum. While an economic summit in name, Steve Rosenberg found the focus this year to be much more geared towards the promotion of Russia’s military might.Donald Trump’s sudden decision to attack Iran’s nuclear sites was met with concern by many in Washington – including some of his most ardent supporters. But the dissenters were quick to fall back in line, says Bernd Debusmann Jr in Washington DC.The herbal drink Mate is

Kate Adie presents stories from Iran, Israel, India, the US and Canada.Israel's decision to launch strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites has brought more uncertainty to an already volatile region. Several hundred Iranian civilians have been killed in the attacks and thousands more have fled Tehran. Jiyar Gol has spoken to people from across Iran, revealing a country - and a regime - under pressure.Meanwhile Iran has retaliated with its own strikes against Israel and has at times overwhelmed the country's 'iron dome' defence system. Hugo Bachega travelled to the town of Rishon LeZion, which was hit by an Iranian missile in the early morning, and speaks to locals about Israel's decision to instigate a new conflict.A man was charged in a Minnesota court with the murder of a Democratic Party lawmaker and her husband this week. The shooting shattered the state's idea of itself as a haven of politeness and respect. Mike Wendling reports from the twin cities. When Air India flight 171 crashed into a reside

Kate Adie presents stories from the US, DRC, Hungary, Nigeria and Italy.There's been a heavy crackdown in Los Angeles after more than a week of protests over US immigration raids. Federal police had been targeting undocumented migrants in workplaces across the city. In a marked escalation, President Trump deployed the National Guard and the Marines, which drew sharp criticism from California's governor, Gavin Newsom. John Sudworth followed the story.Hugh Kinsella Cunningham visits a mental health clinic in South Kivu in Democratic Republic of Congo, where he hears from psychotherapists how they are helping people deal with trauma. Earlier this year, the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group took control of Goma and Bukavu, in the latest chapter of a conflict that has blighted the lives of civilians for decades.Ellie House has visited Hungary's east where a vast Chinese-owned lithium-ion battery plan is under construction. She hears how China's forays into the European EV market are being welcomed by PM Victor Orban,

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