From Our Own Correspondent

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 the Bergen-Belsen camp, around the time allied forces liberated Nazi concentration camps. While there, she also traced her own family's history, and story of survival.

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 miners who still work in the region.Rome's trattorias and cafes are bustling with cardinals and their supporters as they deliberate the kind of leader they want as their new Pope. Veteran BBC Vatican correspondent, David Willey, has been observing the hushed conversations ahead of the Conclave which gathers in the Vatican on Wednesday.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 willing to honor their policies. Amy Steadman has been speaking to Californians who say they can no longer afford to live in the state.And finally to Syria - home to several UNESCO world heritage sites. After 14 years of civil war came to an end, and President Assad was driven from power. tour guides living in towns close to the country's famous ancient sites are hopeful that travellers will soon return.Series producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

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 test the limits of the executive.The Sahel region of Africa has recently been described as the ‘epicentre of global terrorism’ according to the Global Terrorism index, and there are fears that increasingly complex smuggling networks are feeding the violence. Ed Butler has been to the border between northern Ghana and Burkina Faso.Eighty years ago the Second World War in Italy was drawing to a close, and as allied forces raced to liberate cities, the port of Trieste was briefly occupied by Yugoslav communists who handed out violent punishment to locals. Tony Grant finds the ghosts of the past still stalk the city.Series producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Sophie Hill & Katie Morrison Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Trump's tariffs stir mixed emotions in small-town Ohio, revealing a disconnect between Wall Street and local industries. In Myanmar, military restrictions complicate earthquake recovery efforts, highlighted by undercover reporting. A tragic nightclub collapse in the Dominican Republic leaves over 200 dead, with deep emotional scars for the victims' families. Meanwhile, Taliban rule in Afghanistan intensifies surveillance and curtails rights, raising fears among citizens. Plus, a dive into the history of early electric vehicles sparks intrigue in the EV revolution.

Kate Adie introduces stories from Sudan, Greenland, Lebanon, the Vatican and France.An estimated 3.5 million people have fled Khartoum since RSF rebels took control of the Sudanese capital two years ago - but it is now back under the control of the army. Barbara Plett-Usher joined a military convoy, travelling deep into a city devastated by war, but found relief among remaining residents who say they are 'learning to live again'.The eyes of the world have turned to Greenland this year as Donald Trump has made aggressive overtures about taking over the Danish territory. Andrew Harding travelled to the capital, Nuuk, where locals keen for independence are now concerned about the threat of new outside interference.The Lebanese militia group, Hezbollah, is in its weakest position for years after 13 months of conflict with Israel, during which time many of its senior leaders were killed. Hugo Bachega visited Hezbollah's strongholds to weigh up how solid its support is today.Pope Francis is back home after a five week stay in hospital. He remains visibly frail, and amid uncertainty about his long-term future as head of the Catholic Church, there’s speculation about a possible successor. David Willey considers the broader challenge facing the Vatican when it comes to an ageing priesthood.The decision by a French court to block the far-right politician Marine Le Pen from standing in the next presidential election, after she was found guilty of misusing EU parliamentary funds, has proven hugely divisive. Hugh Schofield summarises the national mood, by setting the scene being played out in homes up and down the country.

Kate Adie presents stories from Turkey, the US, El Salvador, and Georgia.

Kate Adie presents stories from Ukraine, Serbia, Guatemala, Kenya and the Philippines.Diplomatic efforts to end the fighting in Ukraine are continuing after initial attempts to secure a ceasefire stalled. Russia has refused to support a US-led plan for a 30-day ceasefire and demanded talks about its red lines first. James Landale has been in Kyiv where he says hopes are fading for any meaningful victory.Serbia saw its largest ever protest last weekend in the capital, Belgrade. Demonstrators blame corruption and corner-cutting by the ruling party for lives lost after a railway station collapsed last year. There have been several resignations, but the protests have only gathered momentum. Guy De Launey has been in Belgrade.Guatemala is notorious for endemic corruption. For years, state funds ended up in the pockets of a powerful elite known as “the pact of the corrupt." In the last election, political underdog Bernardo Arevalo defied the odds and won power on an anti-corruption platform. But some are growing impatient with his lack of progress, finds Jane Chambers.Between 2020 and 2022, the Horn of Africa suffered its worst drought in at least 40 years. The UN has thrown its support behind an initiative to help farmers fight drought through early warning systems. Peter Yeung has been to Kenya to find out more.President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila last week and flown to the Hague. There, he faces charges of crimes against humanity over his deadly ‘war on drugs.' During his term, thousands of small-time drug dealers and users were killed without trial. Tim Mansel recalls an illuminating meeting with a priest and a pathologist.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Max Deveson Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Mexico and the USA, Bangladesh, Syria and the Faroe Islands.Donald Trump has threatened Mexico with sanctions if it does not do more to halt the flow of deadly fentanyl into the US. Quentin Sommerville gained rare access to a Mexican drug smuggling operation, meeting the foot-soldiers of a prominent cartel as it prepares to send fentanyl north of the border.Bangladesh is homes to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people, who have been living in refugee camps since fleeing pesecution in Myanmar back in 2017. The Rohingya’s survival has been dependent on foreign aid – but that lifeline is now at risk, following cuts to the US aid budget. Samira Hussain visited one of the refugee camps.US negotiators proposed an immediate 30 day ceasefire in Ukraine this week. While President Zelensky accepted the proposal, President Putin said questions remain about the nature of the truce. Frank Gardner assesses the chances for a lasting peace.Back in 2014, swathes of north-east Syria came under the control of Islamic State - though when its fighters reached the city of Kobane, they met strong resistance from Kurdish forces. With the help of international allies, IS was eventually driven out, but local Kurds still worry that IS may one day return, reports Jiyar Gol.In the autonomous Danish territory of the Faroe Islands, locals have been keeping an eye on what’s been going on in another Danish territory – Greenland. Donald Trump’s proposal that the US might look to buy it has sparked fresh conversations over Faroese independence – and a growing sense of local pride, finds Amy Liptrot.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Egypt, Poland, the USA, Malaysia, and the Mekong River.Arab leaders convened in Egypt this week to draw up a post-war plan for Gaza - and to counter Donald Trump's proposal to turn it into the 'riviera of the Middle East'. Lyse Doucet travelled to Cairo to report on the new Arab resolve, but found herself being pulled back into the city's own tumultuous history.Increased uncertainty about the future of Ukraine is fueling a sense of unease in neighboring Poland. The question of 'how safe are we?' is a hot topic of discussion in the country's current presidential election campaign. Adam Easton reports from Warsaw.In order to tackle the country's opioid crisis, some US states are focussing less on prosecution, and more on treatment. The first state to decriminalise the personal possession of hard drugs was Oregon back in 2020 – a decision it would come to reverse in 2024. Martin Vennard has been to the famously progressive state to find out what’s been happening.Malaysia has become a global hub for recycling, importing an estimated five million tonnes of plastic each year - but does it really make a difference? Leanna Hosea went to find out what happens to the world's waste once it arrives.Finally, we head to the banks of the Mekong River, where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Matthew Gwyther travelled through the region and reflects on how its past and present have being shaped by dominant powers.Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinators: Katie Morrison & Sophie Hill