From Our Own Correspondent

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 visited a guest house in Queens, New York where she met Chinese asylum seekers worried about what might happen next.The Summer holiday season is now in full swing, but for holiday-makers with ADHD the pre-travel preparations and airport queues can be overwhelming, says James Innes Smith, who reports from Italy.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 with toxic death cap mushrooms. Katy Watson reflects on how the town was transformed by the visiting media circus.Bolivia was once seen as an economic miracle, thanks to its huge natural gas reserves. But the energy exports on which the country once thrived have fallen sharply in recent years, pushing many people into poverty. Carolyn Lamboley reveals how the country’s economic woes are now affecting people from all walks of life.And finally, we’re in the Zion National Park in Utah where Stephen Moss tells the story of the conservation campaign that helped bring the Californian Condor back from the brink of extinction.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 Vilnius is the imposing Lukeskes prison. Once infamous for its appalling conditions, it provided a dystopian setting for the sci-fi series Stranger Things. Today, it's been transformed into a new artistic hub, but is this hipster culture erasing vital national history? Joshua Askew recently paid a visit.And finally, BBC Budapest correspondent Nick Thorpe recently had a change of scene. venturing to South America and the high Andes of Peru, where he travelled on a donkey through the Cordillera Blanca range, past lakes and waterfalls – and rapidly disappearing glaciers.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 hugely popular in Argentina - football legend Lionel Messi is a big fan. But across the border in Paraguay, Jane Chambers finds Mate enthusiasts are miffed that their bigger neighbour is seen as the originator of Mate, claiming Paraguay is the true home of Mate culture.And finally, in Transylvania, Sara Wheeler explores the ebb and flow of a centuries-old Saxon settlement nestled amid ancient forests.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 residential suburb of the Indian city of Ahmedabad, Zoya Mateen reported from the scene in the immediate hours after the disaster. In the local hospital, she met families still holding out for good news.And finally, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale has been in Canada where the G7 summit of world leaders gathered this week - and from which Donald Trump made an early exit. He reflects on the fractures beginning to show in these multilateral gatherings and what that could mean for future summits.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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, but with trepidation by some locals.In Nigeria, a small town in Ogun state transforms into a vibrant cultural festival each year, drawing business leaders, traditional rulers and visitors from the diaspora. It celebrates the cultural identity of the Yoruba people. Nkechi Ogbonna went to watch the festivities which had a political undertone.And finally, Alice Gioia has been in Italy's north, to the town of Pavia, where the Pavese dialect is fast dying out. Across Italy, 90 per cent of the population using these dialects are over seventy. She reflects on what the loss of the Pavese dialect will mean for her.Series producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Penny Murphy Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Gemma Ashman

Paul Adams, a seasoned reporter based in Kyiv, dives into Ukraine's bold drone raid on Russian airbases, revealing that 'Operation Spider's Web' took 18 months to plan. He captures the disbelief and mixed emotions among civilians in Kyiv, who are anxious about potential Russian retaliation. The podcast also explores the intricate dynamics of living under occupation while highlighting the resilience of Ukrainians. Adams conveys the complex feelings of hope and fear, making the war's impact palpable for listeners.

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 lucrative scam centres in Myanmar, staffed by workers lured from across the world with the promise of well-paid work. Once there, they face exploitation and no way home. Olivia Acland tells the story of one man from Sierra Leone, who was tricked into con trade.More than a quarter of journeys in the Netherlands are made by bike – which made it all the more maddening for correspondent Anna Holligan, when she recently had her bike stolen in The Hague. But the experience had an upside, as she discovered the softer side to the pragmatic Dutch, who understood the nature of her loss.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Jonathan Head, a BBC Southeast Asia Correspondent, discusses his rare access to Pagasa Island amid the South China Sea tensions, highlighting the Philippines' resilience against China's expansion. Meanwhile, Orla Guerin reports from Diyarbakir, where the PKK's surprising decision to disarm has sparked a mix of hope and skepticism among locals, reflecting on the long road to peace and the complex layers of Kurdish identity. Both guests illuminate pressing geopolitical issues and the personal stories intertwined with them.

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 the last remaining absolute monarchies in the world. But critics have accused King Mswati III of repressing political opposition. In 2021, several dozen people were killed during weeks of pro-democracy protests. Tim Hartley went to a football match to gauge the mood among protesters today.Popular tourist cities around the world are keeping a watchful eye on Venice’s experimental access fee – a ticket into the city that’s meant to deter day-trippers. But this new initiative is being met with mixed reviews by locals, as Simon Busch discovered.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith