From Our Own Correspondent

Kate Adie introduces stories from North Korea, Canada, Guinea-Bissau, Peru and Jamaica.North Korea sealed its borders when the pandemic struck, and little news from the isolated, oppressive state has leaked out since. The BBC's Jean Mackenzie, with Daily NK, an organisation with sources inside North Korea, has managed to make contact with North Koreans who reveal lives defined by fear - and the growing threat of starvation.Canada is on course for its worst year for wildfires on record. Unusually, there have been many blazes in Quebec - a province not used to wildfires, and which subsequently lacks the specialist firefighters needed to tame forest fires. Nadine Yousif hears how they're already exhausted - and it's still only June.Guinea-Bissau is a major hub for drug traffickers from South America transporting drugs to Europe - and this has fuelled high levels of addiction to crack cocaine. Yet the country has only two drug rehab centres - one of them run by a Pentecostal pastor, who claims to cure addiction through prayer. Sam Bradpiece paid a a visit, and found evidence of staff cruelty and residents being chained to bars and cages.Peru has become the world's largest exporter of blueberries - a fruit native to the northern hemisphere, where it thrives in colder temperatures. So how do they grow it in tropical Peru? Stefania Gozzer has been to a blueberry plantation along Peru's arid Pacific coast to find out.The Empire Windrush docked at Tilbury in Essex 75 years ago. On board were 802 people from the Caribbean, who had made the voyage to find better jobs, and build a better life - but the Windrush Generation also faced hostility and prejudice. Horatio Clare recently visited Jamaica, and found that amid the warm welcomes was a demand for a different relationship between the UK and its former colony.Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Arlene Gregorius Production Coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross Editor: Richard Fenton-SmithPhoto: painting of the sealed border of North Korea. Copyright BBC.

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from the USA, Pakistan, Germany, Japan and Italy.In Florida this week, Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 37 federal charges relating to unauthorised possession of classified material, obstruction of justice and making false statements to law enforcement. Nomia Iqbal was outside the federal courthouse in Miami where the arraignment took place, and spoke to some of the former president's supporters.Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan was once omnipresent in the country's media - from the headlines to the fiery evening TV talk shows. But since his removal from power in a vote of no confidence, his public profile has almost disappeared, as his political party and its supporters are being silenced. Caroline Davies reports on a new climate of apprehension in the Pakistani media.How should a German town with a steady stream of tourists deal with an antisemitic sculpture in public view? In Wittenberg, home town of Protestant reformer Martin Luther, the answer is not straightforward. What to do with a medieval carving on the side of a church has stoked some serious debate, says John Kampfner.Kesennuma, in northeastern Japan, was one of many coastal towns devastated by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 which triggered the Fukushima nuclear accident. Ellie House recently visited the city, and saw lasting signs of the damage done. Yet despite the ever-present risks, some younger people in Japan seem far less prepared for disaster.And as Italy mourns the late Silvio Berlusconi, David Willey remembers a visit to the media magnate and politician's palatial villa in Milan - when he went to see the almost pharaonic mausoleum where Mr Berlusconi planned to be buried, along with family, friends... and some business associates.

Kate Adie introduces stories from Myanmar's civil war, Iran, Moldova, Denmark and South Georgia.Since the military overthrow of the democratically elected government in Myanmar in 2021, the country has slid into civil war. When initial, peaceful demonstrations against the military coup failed, civilians took up arms. Now, some of the soldiers they are fighting are deciding to defect - refusing to fight against their own people. Many have fled to Thailand, where Rebecca Henschke spoke to them.When an Iranian former political prisoner goes missing, who should his family turn to for help? The daughter of Ebrahim Babie was rightly reluctant to contact the Iranian authorities who had targeted her father, and instead she called the BBC's Persian Service. Jiyar Gol tells the story of his search for a missing dissident.Moldova shares a large border with its much larger neighbour Ukraine, and since Russia's invasion, Moldovans have been on edge. Disinformation about the war have widened the unease between pro-western and pro-Russian factions in the country. But Moldova's president has big plans for a future in the EU, and was boosted by a recent European summit held in the capital, Chisinau. Stephen McGrath reports.Hidden in a forest in northern Jutland, nearly 250 miles from Copenhagen, the sprawling REGAN Vest complex was built at the height of the Cold War. This huge nuclear bunker is where the Danish government and queen would have sheltered in the event of nuclear attack. Adrienne Murray paid a recent and discovered a remarkable time capsule that continues to resonate.The island of South Georgia, eight hundred miles north of Antarctica, was plundered by Antarctic explorers, with its whales, seals and penguins killed for their oils, furs and meat. But now the island lies within a vast nature reserve, and on a recent visit Mark Stratton found an island restored.Producer: Claire Bowes Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Janet Staples

Kate Adie introduces stories from Afghanistan, Nigeria, India, Ukraine and Panama.Opium poppies from Afghanistan have provided the raw materials for the world's heroin trade for decades, with successive governments failing to curtail this illicit crop. Now back in power, the Taliban have decreed a new ban on opium cultivation, sending patrols to destroy crops across the country - often leaving poor farmers with no other means of income. Yogita Limaye joined a patrol in Nangahar province.When Nigeria's new President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was sworn in at the end of May, he called the occasion 'a sublime moment'. Few people expected any revelations or surprises in his inaugural speech - but when he went off-script, there was a scramble for petrol across the country. Mayeni Jones weighs up the mood as Mr Tinubu took power.The scale of the recent rail disaster in Orissa state in India was shocking: nearly three hundred people died and more than a thousand more were injured. Amid the chaos of the aftermath, Archana Shukla reported on the human losses, and spoke to many families desperate for news of relatives who'd been travelling that day.The forcible removal of children from Ukraine to Russia, or Russian-controlled territory, has been a sinister element of Moscow's tactics during the invasion and occupation of the country. Sarah Rainsford has spent months tracing what really happened to these children - and met Ukrainian mothers and grandmothers who ventured into Russian territory to get them back.One swallow doesn't make a summer - but how many swifts make a spring? Stephen Moss is a passionate naturalist who's travelled around the world to spot some of its most threatened species. On a recent visit to Panama, he was worried to hear that climate change is now affecting the timing of huge seasonal bird and wildlife migrations.Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross

Kate Adie introduces' stories from Turkey, South Africa, China, Germany and Sri Lanka.Recep Tayyep Erdogan now has a mandate to rule for another five years. After living in Istanbul for more than four years, Orla Guerin considers the roots of his success and what the future holds for Turkey.South Africa's electricity supply crisis has made 'load shedding' a term many people now dread - as it can mean power cuts of 8 to 10 hours a day. Stephen Sackur saw the effects on life in the township of Khayelitsha in Cape Town, and asked whether the problem's now fuelling demands for political change.After China's authorities failed to see the funny side of a joke about a military catchphrase, live performance is a riskier business these days in Beijing. Stephen McDonell is a regular at the city's sometimes raucous music venues, and detects a slight muting of the atmosphere, as Party officials' scrutiny of their paperwork - and the musicians' permits - sharpens.Stretches of Germany's most picturesque and beloved forests are dying off - especially areas heavily planted with spruce for the timber industry. Even the Harz mountains where nature-lovers go to hike aren't as green as they used to be. Caroline Bayley went for several walks in the woods, and spoke to the Germans living in a different landscape.And in northern Sri Lanka, Nick Redmayne recently saw signs of enduring mistrust and unease, more than a decade after the end of the state's conflict with the Tamil Tigers. While the civil war is over, the scars can still be seen.Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross

Kate Adie presents dispatches from Serbia, Tunisia, India, France and Ukraine. There has been a wave of protests in Serbia against gun violence following two mass shootings last month that left 17 people dead. Serbia has one of the highest rates of gun ownership in Europe, but people flocked to hand in old weapons after the government announced a gun amnesty following the attacks. Our Balkans correspondent Guy Delauney reveals how many Serbians are now questioning the culture which encourages violence. Tunisia is a hub for migrants hoping to reach Europe. Many people have died trying to make the dangerous sea crossing, but that hasn't deterred thousands more from risking their lives. Bella Saltiel has been to the Tunisian port city of Sfax to try understand what is driving them towards Europe and finds a mix of poverty and prejudice. We hear about a forgotten group of native Americans, from the Osage Nation, left destitute in France in the 19th Century, who found sanctuary in the southern French town of Montauban - forging a connection that is still celebrated today. Chris Bockman traces their story. The south Indian city of Chennai has one of the longest associations with the country's former colonial rulers, Britain, of any city in India. But, as Andrew Whitehead explains, the city is so comfortable with its past that its streets, shops and famous beer still echo the colonial era. In Ukraine, many families still don’t know what has happened to their relatives since the Russian invasion over a year ago. Many have been detained or disappeared in Russian-controlled areas. Jen Stout tells the story of one man, a popular children’s author and poet, who went missing in the early weeks of the war.Producer: Louise Hidalgo Production coordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith(Photo by ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Kate Adie introduces dispatches from Ukraine, Greece, Armenia, the US-Mexico border and Indonesia's Raja Ampat Islands.There have been months of speculation about when and how Ukraine might use its armed forces, and their new weaponry, in a counter-offensive to take back territory occupied by Russia. Russian attacks are still hitting Ukrainian cities almost every day. Hugo Bachega describes how two men in Kyiv - a civilian whose home was bombed, and the President, who must lead the country through this war - are keeping their nerve.Before the Greek election there was plenty of talk about the frustrated ambitions of young Greeks, and public outrage over cronyism in politics. Yet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was re-elected, and his wasn't the only familiar face to be brought back to govern in Athens. Nick Beake covered the campaign, and gained a few insights into the enduring power of the country's political dynasties along the way.Armenia and Azerbaijan have been discussing normalising relations, and reopening transport links, in peace talks in Moscow - but there are still many potential stumbling blocks along the road to a settlement. The disputed enclave of Nagorno Karabakh is at the heart of the matter, but as Emily Craig heard while visiting southern Armenia, many people in the country still feel they're on a permanent war footing.Last week, international media readied themselves to cover an expected surge of people trying to cross the border into the United States from Mexico. It was believed that the expiry of the Title 42 regulations would trigger a new migration crisis. Yet it didn't happen - even though there are thousands of people still trying to enter the US. Bernd Debussman reports from the streets of El Paso.And in the island archipelago of Raja Ampat, in the Southwest Papua province of Indonesia, Sara Wheeler has recently seen wonders - including a rare glimpse of the purple tail of a Wilson's bird of paradise, and a walking shark in some of the world's most biodiverse waters.Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' dispatches from South Sudan, from the air war over Ukraine, a troubled area of Chicago, a small island off Western Australia and Sweden's capital, Stockholm.The conflict in Sudan which began in April continues to tear its capital city, Khartoum, apart. Hundreds have been killed and more than a million people have fled their homes. Some have connections to South Sudan - which split from Sudan in 2011. Catherine Byaruhanga has been to the South Sudanese town of Renk and heard from families who've managed to return.After attending the G7 summit in Japan, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeted that peace was 'closer today'. One tangible outcome of the meeting was the promise from President Biden that the US would allow countries to supply F16 fighter jets to Ukraine - something President Zelensky has been requesting for months. But just how will these jets help? Our correspondent Abdujalil Abdurasulov talked to two Ukrainian fighter pilots.Chicago has a new mayor. At his swearing-in, Brandon Johnson - a former teacher and union organiser - spoke proudly of his humble beginnings in one of the most violent neighbourhoods in the Americas. He continues to live in Austin, Chicago and has promised to take a new approach to fighting crime. Mike Wendling has been to the mayor's neighbourhood to see how data science is being used to tackle the city's gun violence problem.Visitors to Western Australia's Rottnest Island have only recently begun to discover the island's hidden, tragic past. While many tourists come to the island to see the quokkas, cute marsupials with happy grins, more and more of them, like Emma Thomson, are learning about the historic mistreatment of its indigenous people, the Wadjemup.And in Sweden, Rob Crossan takes a walk around an area of Stockholm that has always fascinated him - and meets a homeless man who asks why anyone should be destitute in a country which is often celebrated as a showcase for the best in humanity.

Kate Adie introduces correspondents' dispatches from El Salvador, the streets of Pakistan's cities, the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, North Korea and Germany.Since the 1990s, El Salvador fell into the grip of street gangs which terrorised the country. Now its President, Nayib Bukele, is running a harsh crackdown on gang members, introducing sweeping new police powers, summary arrests, mass trials and heavy sentences for alleged offenders. Will Grant spoke to some who've suffered, and others who've gained, in this new climate.The last month has seen huge, passionate demonstrations in many of Pakistan's cities in support of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Once he was seen as an ally of the country's military and security establishment, but recently those ties have cooled and he's faced a slew of legal challenges. Caroline Davies has seen how this political drama is playing out in court and on the streets.What happened to the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims driven out of Myanmar in 2017? Rajini Vaidyanathan visits the world's largest refugee camp, in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, where many Rohingya families are trying to survive in cramped, squalid conditions. She reunites with a young boy the BBC first met five years ago.Visitors to North Korea often have a hard time understanding what locals really think. But once North Koreans leave the country, they can finally speak out about feelings locked inside - or just not confronted - for a lifetime. Michael Bristow met one North Korean woman who's now making a new life in the north of England.And in Germany, Tim Mansel explores why the future of small-town family butchers' shops appear to be on the chopping block. Like many other sectors in the German economy, retail butchery is struggling to fill all the empty vacancies.Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross

This weekend's election in Turkey may be the most consequential vote President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has faced yet. Amid the ruined city of Antakya, Orla Guerin heard strong opinions from his supporters and detractors, as they contemplate their and their country's future.Since the Taliban retook power in Afghanistan, the space for women in any kind of public life has been steadily shrinking. Yogita Limaye has often met with their spokesmen and challenged their stance on women's education and employment. While the conversations were cordial, there were few signs of any relaxation of the rules.It's a long way from the foothills of Mount Everest to the southwestern state of Karnataka in India; but in this new landscape, some of Tibet's ancient arts and beliefs are still celebrated at a Buddhist monastery in exile. Earlier this year, Simon Broughton joined the monks of the Tashi Lhunpo monastery for the Tibetan Gutor festival, which features blaring horns, crashing cymbals, and dancers dressed as skeletal tormentors.And as Liverpool gets ready for the culmination of the Eurovision Song Contest, Daniel Rosney retraces the six months he's spent criss-crossing Europe in the run-up to the event, and reflects on the special relationship that's been formed between the United Kingdom and last year's winner, Ukraine.Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-Ordinator: Helena Warwick-Cross