大象传媒

Richard is in conversation with the 大象传媒鈥檚 Middle East Editor. Since joining the 大象传媒, Jeremy Bowen has reported from more than 80 different countries, covering around 20 wars and conflicts. Earlier this year he revealed that he鈥檇 been diagnosed with bowel cancer and caused what the NHS in England describe as a 'Bowen bounce', with a spike in visits to the bowel cancer information page on the NHS website.

大象传媒 News Arabic has just published the results of a survey they commissioned to gain an insight into the views and lives of everyday people across the Arab world. The research collected opinions from over 25,000 people, on everything from religion and politics to sex, love and the status of women. Richard discusses the findings with Dr Michael Robbins, the Director of Arab Barometer, who carried out the research, and the 大象传媒鈥檚 Middle East Correspondent Jeremy Bowen .

This week sees the 20th anniversary of the official opening of the Scottish Parliament. To mark the occasion a new book has been published. Edited by Gerry Hassan and Simon Barrow, Scotland The Brave? is a sweeping compendium of essays exploring every conceivable angle in the life of Scotland since devolution twenty years ago. Gerry Hassan explores some of the issues and the questions raised.

A recent report from the Fostering Network in Scotland suggests that foster carers need more support, not only financially but also with the emotional challenges that come with fostering a child, sometimes from a very different background. Richard is joined by Sara Lurie, Director of Fostering Network in Scotland, and Julie, who鈥檚 a foster carer in Scotland.

On the night of Sunday 28 December 1879, the unthinkable happened. Battered by a ferocious storm, the Tay Bridge collapsed. To mark the 140th Anniversary of the disaster, Dundee Rep is kicking off its season this summer with a new play called Tay Bridge, portraying some of the characters whose lives were cut short that fateful night. Richard speaks to playwright Peter Arnott.