A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journal...
The fires that devastated parts of Los Angeles in January this year killed at least 29 people and destroyed thousands of homes. Angelino Laura Hubber talks to those affected by the fires and looks at the ongoing impact on the artistic and cultural life of the city. She explores how LA is dealing with loss, and how it will rebuild, both physically and artistically. We hear from artist Alec Egan, who lost his home and studio, along with his paintings that were due to be shown at international exhibitions; photographer Everard Williams Jr reflects on losing his home and photography archive in Altadena; Carl Gordon and Camille Kirk from the Getty Museum explain how they saved their art works from fire; architect Michael Kovac on creating new homes for the future of the city; and cinematographer Stefanos Kafato, who lost his home and equipment, discusses the state of the LA film industry with Pat Saperstein, deputy film editor at Variety.
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26:29
Malawi: Life in your years
Life expectancy in Malawi, one of the poorest countries in the world, increased by 19 years (from 46 to 65) from 2000 to 2019 - mostly due to reductions in mortality from HIV, TB and malaria, and declines in childhood diseases. What does this very rapid demographic change mean for governments, policy planners and ordinary people now living so much longer? Will overstretched health and social protection services be able to cope with the demands that come with longer lives - rapidly increasing non-communicable diseases and dementia, and caring for a growing elderly population? Leah Malekano and Ruth Evans ask how we can ensure there is 'life' in those additional years in one of the most aid-dependent countries in the world.
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35:36
Assignment: Who is Alice Guo?
The global online scamming industry is said to be worth some $500 billion a year. It operates in secret, in complexes hidden behind high fences in countries all over the world. It is a particular problem in the Philippines, where much of the industry is run by Chinese criminal organisations.The scammers, whose job it is to persuade their victims to part with their hard-earned money, are often themselves the victims of crime, people trafficked across borders by gangsters and held prisoner in these “scam hubs”, forced to work.It is a particular problem in the Philippines, where, in March 2024 the police raided a compound in a small town north of the capital, Manila. There they found several hundred people working. The spotlight immediately turned on the mayor of the town, Alice Guo, a colourful and energetic 32-year-old, who owned some of the land on which the compound was built.We investigate the allegations against the former mayor who has now been charged with people trafficking, money laundering and tax evasion. There is a further, more lurid, and unproven allegation that she is a spy for China. We ask what effect this affair has had on an already tense relationship between the Philippines and China.
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26:43
Encore: Rejecting public education in Arizona
Education is a hot topic in the United States. President Donald Trump recently began taking steps to dismantle the Department of Education, saying it’s a waste of money and it had failed students. However, in the US, it’s the individual states, not the federal government, that really decide education policy. The states run schools, set the curriculum – and largely fund them too.The so-called ‘parents’ revolution’ is happening in America - and it’s a revolt against the public education system. School choice campaigns are gaining ground across the country, fighting for tax-funded vouchers giving parents the opportunity to select their preferred school. More and more families are ditching institutions altogether, with home-schooling reportedly the fastest growing form of education in the US. Why are families turning away from traditional schooling, and what does this mean for the future of America’s education system? In 2024, reporter Alex Last, went to Arizona to look at a revolution in its education system – backed by so-called ‘School Choice’ advocates.Produced by Ellie House for BBC World Service. (Image: Beth Lewis, teacher and executive director of Save Our Schools Arizona. Credit: Ellie House/BBC)
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27:31
In the Studio: The Line
In our time of looming ecological disaster, radical minds are needed to rethink the way we live. In Saudi Arabia, NEOM are building a futuristic new city: The Line. The Line will consist of two gigantic, unbroken rows of skyscrapers, with living space in-between. Nicknamed 'the groundscraper', The Line is planned to be taller than any building in Europe, Africa or Latin America - and 10 times denser than Manhattan, with nine million people expected to live inside. We meet the architects behind The Line, and take a journey to the city of the future.
A window into our world, through in-depth storytelling from the BBC. Investigating, reporting and uncovering true stories from everywhere. Award-winning journalism, unheard voices, amazing culture and global issues. From Syria after Assad to rebuilding Ukraine, to how AI changed our lives, The Documentary investigates major global stories.We delve into social media, take you into the minds of the world’s most creative people and explore personal approaches to spirituality. Every week, we also bring together people from around the globe to discuss how news stories are affecting their lives. A new episode most days, all year round. From our BBC World Service teams at: Assignment, Heart and Soul, In the Studio, OS Conversations, The Fifth Floor and Trending.
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