Podcast Episodes

The year of the vuvuzela

The vuvuzela was notorious during the 2010 football World Cup.

It became the subject of debate when it was labelled as 'the world's most annoying instrument'. Freddie 'Saddam' Maake claims to have i…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Kenya: Nairobi shopping mall attack

In 2013, gunmen from a Somali Islamist group known as Al-Shabab attacked a shopping centre in Kenya’s capital Nairobi.

They took hundreds of people hostage during the siege which lasted four days. Mo…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

The first person inside the 'Gates of Hell'

In November 2013 George Kourounis arrived in the Turkmenistan desert.

He was determined to become the first person to enter the Darvaza Crater.

The crater is a burning natural gas field that has been …

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Fighting for legal abortion in Italy

In 1978, campaigners won their long fight to legalise abortion in Italy. Emma Bonino and other members of the Radical Party went on hunger strike and were even jailed, after helping women access ille…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Nazi eugenics

In July 1933, the new German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler, passed 'The Law for the Prevention of Offspring with Hereditary Diseases'.

It required the sterilisation of Germans with physical and mental disa…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

The Ramallah concert

In August 2005, an unusual orchestra performed an extraordinary concert in the city of Ramallah.

The West-Eastern Divan orchestra was founded in 1999 by Israeli conductor, Daniel Barenboim and Palesti…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

The siege at the Church of the Nativity

The Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is on the site believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

But in 2002, it was at the centre of one of the most dramatic sieges of the Israeli-…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Ariel Sharon visits al-Aqsa

Rioting broke out in 2000 after the Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon made a controversial visit to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem’s old city.

In 2012, Mike Lanchin spoke to an Israeli …

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Camp David Summit: How Middle East peace talks failed

In 2000, President Bill Clinton led a major effort to end the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

The two sides were brought together at the leafy presidential retreat in Maryland. The Israeli leader, Ehud …

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago

Oslo Peace Accords: The secret talks behind Middle East deal

In September 1993, a peace agreement was signed between Israel and the Palestinians after months of secret negotiations.

The historic handshake between Chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisat…

Published on 2 years, 3 months ago