From Our Own Correspondent

Volodymyr Zelensky played a President in more than 50 episodes of TV comedy - but does that mean he can do the job in real life? Jonah Fisher reflects from Kiev on a surreal election campaign - and catches up with a box set. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents and reporters around the world. India's election, the largest in the world - and thus the largest ever held - is also under way. While covering this extraordinary exercise of democracy, Rajini Vaidyanathan met one man in the Himalayas who has an enduring faith in the electoral process. He's 102 years old and has voted in every Indian election since independence.Jonathan Griffin loves the soul-shaking sound of South African choral music - and recently heard songs of freedom, defiance and rivalry during a political debate near Johannesburg, where the contingents competed with vocals as well as rhetoric. There's not much arable soil in the United Arab Emirates - but plenty of sand and sunshine - so the government's keen to bolst

An election campaign in Israel but little mention of the peace process. Yolande Knell says voters there just want to live normal lives. They're picking up the pieces in Rio de Janeiro after the fire which destroyed the 200-year-old National Museum. Tim Whewell says they've lost artefacts that simply cannot be replaced. The Romanian government is not happy that the former head of its anti-corruption directorate is now in the running for the new post of Chief Prosecutor for the European Union. Tessa Dunlop says it's worried the former basketball player knows all their dirty secrets. Sarah Sands takes a trip up the Suez Canal, scene of Britain's humiliation in 1956, in a British destroyer. She ponders the importance of trade then and now. And in India law students are being taught Harry Potter. Rahul Tandon has taken a class.

What life after IS looks like for the residents of Iraq's second city - bright hijabs, bold makeup and striking works of art. "Colour has become their way of saying ‘we’ve taken our lives and our city back’" says Shaimaa Khalil.Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world:Orla Guerin finds out what happened to the two sick children she met in Yemen last year. Six months on, were they able to leave the war-torn country to get the medical care they so desperately needed? Amelia Martyn-Hemphill meets the mums in Madagascar trying to save others from a taboo condition and encourage them to seek treatment for obstetric fistula rather than suffer in silence. John Murphy is in Germany where he meets a woman with clawed feet, horns and yellow eyes - he's at computer gaming exhibition in Leipzig. And Stephanie Hegarty hears how the harsh climate of the Mongolian steppe is forcing more and more people to move to the overcrowded capital Ulaanbaatar – already one of the world’s most po

Marching bands in Myanmar as the army celebrates, but it's an army accused of genocide. Nick Beake arrives at the dead of night to witness the festivities. Jill McGivering reports from Kathmandu on a dark and disturbing side to western tourism in Nepal. In Kazakhstan the country's founding president has just stepped down. They've renamed the capital in his honour, but Rayhan Demytrie asks what his real legacy is. Rebecca Henschke has just left Jakarta after years as a correspondent there. She pays tribute to the women who enable her to juggle her dual roles of journalist and mother. And in Los Angeles, it doesn't rain but it pours. Dan Johnson reports from LA Torrential

Mishal Husain presents the monthly collection of journalistic pieces reflecting life across the UK today. John Forsyth in Glasgow learns about the realities of rehabilitating convicted knife criminals on a visit to the Scottish Violence Reduction Unit which many experts regard as a model for other UK cities - notably London - to emulate in the fight against the explosion in incidents of violent street crime. Gabriel Gatehouse, recently on shared parental leave, attempts to understand the world through the eyes of his seven month-old daughter and ponders how this may affect his daily work as a correspondent. The BBC's Ireland Correspondent, Chris Page, considers Irish unity on the sporting field plus the contests with Britain - and especially England - and their likely implications politically and culturally on both sides of the border. Jordan Dunbar takes us to Co. Antrim's dark hedges as the final season of "Game of Thrones" is set to hit television screens worldwide and he reflects on the impact of the HBO

Hospitality in the Caucasus with the families of Russians returning from IS duty in Syria. But do they regret joining up in the first place? Baalbek in Lebanon, the next best thing for those who miss travelling in Syria, and the hotel that's trying to recreate past glories; threshing hemp in Hungary for less than half the minimum wage to make socks for the Swiss; living with leprosy in a quiet corner of Romania; and the vicious flora of a former French penal colony in the South Pacific.

The bullets that shattered the image that New Zealand is a place apart. Our correspondent returns to his childhood home in Christchurch to find a city bewildered and in mourning. We hear also from Tanzania, where the imminent construction of a hydroelectric dam is threatening one of Africa's largest game reserves, but almost no-one dares to speak out; from Bosnia, where a number of young men have died in mysterious circumstances and the authorities stand accused of sweeping the problem under the carpet; from Dieppe, just across the English Channel, where, as March the 29th creeps ever closer, they're preparing for the possibility of a No Deal Brexit; and from the far west of Canada, where carving totem poles is one way of marking the historic suffering of the indigenous population at the hands of white settlers.

The BBC's Paul Adams returns to the country he roamed 35 years ago - and it's much changed. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there's plenty of grief to go around, and it's important to show your emotions at funerals - so much so that one entrepreneur is setting up an agency for paid mourners to cry on demand, and give the deceased a proper send-off. Olivia Acland met him and one of the hopeful applicants for the job. The ash cloud following the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in 2010 showed that Iceland's volcanoes have the power to disrupt the entire world's air traffic - as well as to put Icelanders' lives and communities at risk. Andy Jones saw how the village of Vik is making contingency plans in case its own volcano, Katla - already well overdue to blow - causes even more disturbance. In South Africa, Lindsay Johns explores the fault lines between Cape Town's long-established Coloured (mixed-race) community and the increasing number of i

How did it feel to survive the days of near-total blackout in Caracas? The BBC's Will Grant reports on what drove people to loot beloved local shops, or scoop water from filthy canals. Kate Adie introduces this story and others from around the world. Across Europe, relations between Romany Gypsy or Traveller families and their neighbours are often strained. Successive governments in France have cracked down on informal settlements of Roma people from Romania, and left French 'gens de voyage' feeling unwanted and marginalised. But near Carcassonne, Chris Bockman met one man with a plan to improve community relations. Mark Stratton explores a wealth gap in the Indian Ocean: the yawning difference in living standards between the Comoros and the French island of Mayotte, which has driven thousands of Comorans to risk their lives on a dangerous sea crossing in the hope of earning more and maybe gaining entry to the EU.The ancient kingdom of Dahomey, in modern-day Benin, was renowned for its martial prowess - from

The appeal of Viktor Orban, the man who wants to remake the European Union in his own image. Stephen Sackur visits the Hungarian Prime Minister’s hometown and tries to figure out what makes him one of Europe's most successful and influential populists.

The Proud Boys say they are nothing more than a fraternal drinking club, but they regularly show up armed to far-right rallies across the US. On a marijuana farm in Oregon, Mike Wendling meets one of their local leaders – a man who, in between stints farming weed, survives on government disability benefits while also agitating for an end to all forms of welfare. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world: Sahar Zand has an unsettling visit to the Museum of Jihad in Afghanistan. Sian Griffiths skates across the world’s largest naturally-frozen ice rink and hears what impact rising temperatures are having on the outdoor skating season in Canada.Martin Vennard joins an old boys' club in Bangladesh.And Rob Crossan delves beneath the usual tourist traps in Tenerife and explores the volcanic subterranean tunnels which are home to the world’s ugliest invertebrate: a mutant with no wings or eyes.

Venezuelans are divided on what caused the crisis in their country and on whether the foreign governments offering help are potential saviours or invaders. In Caracas, Katy Watson hears how people on all sides are losing hope. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from around the world:Colin Freeman meets Yasin Abu Bakr the man behind what was probably the only Islamist coup ever to have been attempted in the Western hemisphere. In 1990 Jamaat al Muslimeen took the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago hostage. Alastair Leithead discovers why the protection of elephants in Botswana is becoming an increasingly politicised issue. Should the meat of culled animals be turned into pet food? Michelle Jana Chan meets the Bhutanese athlete Dorji Dema, and discovers that archery there can often involve raucous singing, lots of alcohol and hurling insults at opponents. And Jenny Hill explains how Germany’s love of sausages is expressed in its language as well as its diet.

The UN says the treatment of the Rohingya in Myanmar was genocidal; women were raped and killed, men were shot and whole villages were razed, but as Nick Beake has discovered many Burmese people dismiss it all as 'fake news' and some even claim there's no such thing as Rohingya.Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world:Tom Bateman was in Egypt as EU and Arab League leaders talked tackling terrorism and boosting trade. There were lots of questions about Brexit, but little mention of the host nation’s human rights record.Julia Buckley visits a failed fascist utopia in Italy.Neil Trevithick marvels at 5,000-year-old cave paintings in Somaliland.And Emma Levine is in Toronto which is increasingly the place to go if you want to film a zombie apocalypse, a Viking invasion or a romcom set in New York.

Quentin Sommerville considers the last days of the Islamic State in Baghouz, Syria - and examines the question of what to do with its fighters and sympathisers once the battle is over. The case of Shamima Begum has dominated the headlines, but there are many more like her. Kate Adie introduces his report and other stories from around the world.The Dadaab camp in northeastern Kenya is one of the largest refugee settlements anywhere - with nearly a quarter of a million people living there, nearly all Somalis fleeing violence and insecurity. But Kenya's government, and the UNHCR, which runs Dadaab, don't want them there forever, and have offered them incentives to return home to Somalia. Sally Hayden heard how that can be easier said than done.The campaigning for Ukraine's Presidency is heating up: voters will choose a leader for the country at the end of March, and they have a plethora of choices with over 44 names on the ballot paper. Jonah Fisher got to meet some of the candidates, and was left both intrigued

Uruguay's anti-drug laws were never as strict as expected - and its path to decriminalisation of cannabis has also been full of paradox. Simon Maybin explores why the country's taken a slow and steady path to regulate marijuana growers and sellers - and visits a greenhouse full of legal weed.Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world. In Nepal, joining the ranks of the British Army's Gurkhas has long been one of the few options for a stable income. Regimental wages have kept some whole villages, not just families, solvent - so there's a lot riding on the selection process. Hannah King of BFBS witnessed the most recent intake and saw how these young men are prepared for a drastic change in their lives. Over recent weeks the streets of Haiti have simmered with discontent, with protesters confronting police and the army in the capital, Port au Prince, over systemic corruption, rising food prices and enduring inequality. Thomas Rees describes how the rising tensions made them

Mishal Husain introduces dispatches from journalists and writers around the United Kingdom which reflect the range of British life today. Writer and broadcaster Horatio Clare reveals the deeply personal story of how he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and his experiences on an in-patient ward in Yorkshire.In the month of the National Parks Dark Skies Festival and a star-counting survey run by the British Astronomical Association and the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Andrew Green discovers why an unblemished night sky is so hard to find even in the Chilterns - and why that matters.We often take our senses for granted. Charmaine Cozier recounts how she suddenly came to lose her sense of smell - and also to be left with a much diminished sense of taste - and explains the various strategies she's employed to try and recover them. With little sign of an early end to Britain's housing problems, the ups and downs of squatting in a former industrial building are described by Lizzy McNeill.And Adrian Gol

The remote religious retreat which has become the intellectual spearhead of Steve Bannon’s plans for a populist revolution in Europe. Edward Stourton visits the Trisulti monastery in Italy from where the vision of the former chief strategist to Donald Trump is being spread. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world.Lois Pryce is in Jamaica. As the battle against gang violence continues, and soldiers patrol some of its streets, she visits a village which claims to have almost no crime at all. Nick Thorpe examines plans to boost the fertility rate in Hungary with cash and cars on offer for people willing to do their patriotic duty and make babies. Sarah Treanor meets a young Muslim woman in Zanzibar who is flying drones to map the island and help save lives. And Mike Thomson discovers that there are limits to the President's power in Liberia. He watches George Weah play football, have lunch and fail to get a flight delayed.

In much of the world Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation, but in Lebanon it is one of the country’s most powerful political and military forces. Lizzie Porter was in Beirut as the Iranian backed group began a three-day festival to mark the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world:Mark Lobel tries to make sense of Dubai where migrant workers are welcomed with open arms – until they become a burden that is or fail to follow the rules.Katy Fallon is on the Greek island of Lesvos where she visits a community centre offering rare respite to the thousands of migrants crammed into a dangerous and dilapidated camp.Matt Pickles asks what the rest of the world can learn from Finland’s education system as he tours a school that comes with a class lizard and a couple of dogs.

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

"Watch your back Howard!" was one of the politer messages the BBC Philippines Correspondent received after making a documentary about Rodrigo Duterte. As Howard Johnson has found, journalists who question the President can become the target of organised attacks by online trolls. Kate Adie introduces this and other stories from correspondents around the world: The CFO of Huawei once saw Vancouver as a refuge, a base outside of China should she ever need it, now she’s not allowed to leave the city. Micky Bristow gets a glimpse of life in Canada for members of the Chinese elite.Bee Rowlatt interviews Germaine Greer at the Jaipur Literature Festival – and wonders what its usually outspoken crowd will make of their outspoken guest.Jasmine Taylor Coleman joins a puffin patrol in Iceland, as locals try to protect the endangered birds. And disorganised chaos or a carefully choreographed dance? Alastair Leithead tries to figure out what’s going on in an airport in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and what it says