Main content

Kate Adie introduces stories from correspondents about Damascus, Addis Ababa, Nizhny Novgorod, Naples and one of the 700 islands in the Philippines.

After a journey from the calm of a hotel lobby to a city centre ladies' outfitters and on to the drum-beating heart of Syrian protest, Tim Whewell confronts the question: how much longer will the regime of Bashar al-Assad survive? Alan Johnston tells us Italy's young are worried about the economy and the future -- and many are deciding to emigrate. As protestors in Russia prepare again to take to the streets in anti-Putin demonstrations, James Coomarasamy's testing the public mood outside the capital. Will Ross is in Addis Ababa where the latest Chinese contribution to Ethiopian life is dominating the landscape. And how do you deal with evil spirits, ghosts and fallen angels? Kate McGeown is in a consulting room behind a karaoke bar in the Philippines finding out!

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sat 4 Feb 2012 11:30

Chapters

  • Introduction

    Duration: 00:22

  • Syria's police state

    Tim Whewell in Syria describes how opponents of President Assad try to keep one step ahead of the security services.

    Duration: 05:04

  • Views from Russia

    James Coomarasamy hears how Russians beyond the capital feel about Vladimir Putin, who hopes to be re-elected as president in March.

    Duration: 05:40

  • Italy's employment worries

    Alan Johnston says many young Italians are so concerned about their employment prospects that they are thinking of emigrating to Africa or South America.

    Duration: 05:40

  • African-Chinese relations

    Will Ross in Addis Ababa explains how China’s gift to Ethiopia – the new headquarters of the African Union - is dominating the landscape.

    Duration: 05:21

  • Banishing bad spirits

    In the Philippines, Kate McGeown goes in search of a modern-day witch on the tropical island of Siquijor.

    Duration: 05:39

Broadcast

  • Sat 4 Feb 2012 11:30