From Our Own Correspondent

News and current affairs story-telling. In this edition, the foreign fighters signing up to join the battle against Islamic State - some British and without military experience; China's political event of the year is coming to an end with most people completely unaware of what's been going on there; could Indian Bollywood inspire Pakistan to lavish more attention on one of its ancient cities, crumbling through neglect? There's a close encounter with the surprisingly flexible tax authorities in Bamako, the capital of Mali and with a horseman who could well be the oldest gaucho in Chilean Patagonia.

Reporters' stories. Obstacles to President Obama's immigration reforms pile up -- it could mean a long wait for those who came looking to become legal US citizens. Will prime minister Modi's plans for investment in India's infrastructure adversely affect the country's longterm development? Sixty thousand Indian troops were killed fighting for the British in World War 1 -- we visit the battlefield in France where they fought their first major engagement. A freak injury in China provides an unexpected opportunity to examine the accident and emergency facilities in a Chinese hospital. And we meet a group of young men in the DRC capital Kinshasa whose outrageous dress sense brings rush hour traffic, even football games, to a standstill.

The best in news and current affairs story-telling. In this edition, the music which once provided the soundtrack to life in eastern and central Europe is fading into history, Nick Thorpe; a despatch by Fergal Keane from the Ukrainian city reduced to rubble by shelling; the Indian tea business hit by scandal and reports that workers face routine abuse, Humphrey Hawksley; Stephen Sackur's been to the Philippines to see how its economy is coping with a rapidly growing population and Heather Simons is on the island of Komodo in Indonesia, getting up close to the world's largest venomous reptile.

Around the world with correspondents' stories. In this edition: executions in Indonesia - the authorities believe they will help counter a national drug emergency. Security forces in Tunisia crack down on Islamist hardliners -- most people there insist they don't want ISIS or other militants gaining a foothold in their country; the president of Mexico has been on a state visit to Britain -- at home he faces continuing anger about the disappearance last year of 43-students; the Indian prime minister has promised a huge cash boost for the railways which are becoming ever more decrepit and dangerous and we hear about the 'marabouts' or holy men of Muslim west Africa. Theirs is an ancient tradition but these days they are quite happy to dispense advice via email, Twitter and Skype.

Around the world in less than half an hour! Today: a four-day trek through the remotest parts of Argentina in search of an old man who might have a story to tell; communal activities finally return to the agenda in Liberia now the fear of Ebola is fading; the Israeli prime minister's about to address the joint Houses of Congress in Washington - the White House is not enthusiastic; a journey underground in the Iranian capital Tehran - it provides a picture of Iranian society most tourists will never see and as American and Cuban representatives resume diplomatic negotiations, there's hope in Havana it might all result in better menus!

Story-telling from around the world. In this edition Charlotte Pritchard travels to Botswana in search of the best nightclub in Africa; Jonah Fisher in Myanmar tells us why the much-criticised military there is enjoying an unlikely surge in support; Rosie Goldsmith meets writers in Colombia convinced their country's in a critical year of its history; Rob Crossan's hunting for even a crumb of good news in Madagascar, one of the poorest nations on earth and Paul Adams, in the east of Ukraine, talks to a man who's travelled five thousand miles to fight in someone else's war

The human lives behind the headlines: a view from the pistachio field after a tense night of talks on the Greek debt crisis; the Argentine president under scrutiny as thousands take to the streets demanding an investigation into the death of state prosecutor Nisman; the government in Bangkok tries to stop foreign couples using Thai women as surrogate mothers; the young foreigners flying into Suriname hoping they'll make their fortunes illegally panning for gold. And it may not be fashionable, but it's Italy's favourite spirit -- we're at the grappa distillery where they do not frown on drinking at work.

The correspondent's trade: memories of the late Ian McDougall who filed for the BBC from more than 40-countries and once told this programme he'd broadcast from the only radio studio in the world equipped with a bidet! Also in this edition: Steve Evans on perceptions of the north/south divide in Korea; Linda Yueh asking if American workers will really countenance a return to the factory floor; James Hassam on a surprise at the dinner table in Ethiopia and Chris Bockman meets 144 new French citizens in Toulouse.

More and more migrants are trying to cross the Mediterranean and there are suggestions the new force charged with rescuing those in danger of drowning isn't up to the job. Emma Jane Kirby's been to Europe's southern shores to see how it's coping. Andrew Harding was in the parliament building in Cape Town when President Zuma's state of the nation speech was interrupted by hecklers. He considers whether the chaos was a sign that democracy's in decline in South Africa. The global crude oil market has collapsed, the price has plummeted. Jon Sopel has been to Texas where the mood is, perhaps surprisingly, not altogether pessimistic. Elections in Nigeria have been postponed. Will Ross says many people there view the decision with deep suspicion. And carnival season's underway in many parts of the world. Dany Mitzman's been witnessing preparations in one Italian town where there were fears this year that this was a party which would never happen.

Questions and answers beyond the headlines. Little urgency apparent as the factions from the bitter war in South Sudan gather in Ethiopia to talk about peace. President Putin's been attending another peace conference, this one in Minsk - we've been considering how his standing at home has been affected by the worsening conflict in eastern Ukraine. Our Middle East Editor has a face to face interview with Bashar al-Assad of Syria -- but was it really the BBC audience the president was hoping to reach with his answers? Three years after the sinking of the cruise ship the Costa Concordia, we return to the Italian island of Giglio to find out what effect the wreck has had on the local economy. And it's one of the windiest regions on earth -- so is China's new bullet train across the Gobi Desert in danger of being blown over?

The news behind the news. In this edition Paul Adams is in Jordan as the country takes the fight to Islamic State. Sian Griffiths in Ottawa talks of the plight of homeless people in an icy winter. Nick Thorpe in Hungary on why a little baby's at the centre of a storm over racism. Chris Bowlby has been trying to find details about the killing of an ancestor in China. And Christine Finn on how a pack of howling dogs helped her appreciate the Northern Lights

Around the world in 28-minutes. Residents of eastern Ukraine fear the war raging around them is set to intensify. A life in hiding -- how the husband of a Pakistani woman accused of committing blasphemy fears for his life and wants the international community to intervene. We visit the heart of the Tata empire in India and, in the wake of the release from an Egyptian prison of the former BBC-correspondent Peter Greste, examine allegations that the justice system there is unfair, unjust and heavy-handed. And in the Malian capital Bamako, some are concerned about what's going to happen to a set of priceless manuscripts. Others, however, seem more concerned about football.

The human stories behind the headlines. Like any war, the one against Ebola is leaving scars which will take generations to heal, as Grainne Harrington has been finding out in Guinea. Mark Rickards on how, at last, the outside world has found a way to infiltrate the hidden Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The Chinese are calling for the UK to return art looted by the British soldiers who destroyed the Summer Palace in Beijing in 1860 - Chris Bowlby's been investigating. After the Syriza victory in Greece, Podemos in Spain reckons it could be next to win an election on left-wing policies; Tom Burridge has been with party activists in Valencia. And how was the poet W.B.Yeats associated with bizarre goings-on at a cemetery near Paris? Hugh Schofield tells a story of the mysterious forces some believe govern the universe. From Our Own Correspondent is produced by Tony Grant.

What are they talking about? In Germany there's emotional debate about Pegida; Libyans try to lead normal lives amid violence and instability; left-wingers from around Europe descend on Greece hoping a revolution's underway; surprise, subterfuge and misinformation swirl around the fighting in eastern Ukraine while Brazilians explain why they are proud to be the only nation in the region speaking Portuguese.

'Crisis' and 'Hope,' two words which have continually cropped up in the Greek election campaign. Chris Morris has been out with campaigners from the leftist Syriza party. Kamal Ahmed talks of chasing the stories in the bubble that is the World Economic Forum in Davos. Devastating floods in Malawi, Rosie Blunt's been meeting families who've lost everything. Kevin Connolly's in Auschwitz where they are getting ready to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp. And the birds are doing well. So are the whales and the seals too. But Juliet Rix, far away in the South Atlantic, finds these are difficult, indeed fatal, times for the rats of South Georgia.

Correspondents' stories: in this edition Maria Margaronis on the keenly-awaited Greek election; Will Ross meets soldiers who've been dismissed from the Nigerian army and asks them for their views on the battle against Boko Haram; Susie Emmett's in South Africa talking to farmers about controversial government plans for land reform; Richard Fleming's in Haiti where he's been meeting a photographer who found himself caught up in the devastating earthquake five years ago and Lucy Daltroff is on one of the many thousands of islands sprinkled along Chile's skinny coastline hearing magical legends and fears about what the modern world might bring once that community is joined to the mainland by a new bridge.

Story-telling from the world of news and current affairs. In this edition: Shaimaa Khalil in Pakistan meets relatives and survivors of last year’s army school massacre in Peshawar, on the day the school reopens; Ruth Sherlock in Lebanon on how Syrian refugees are struggling in the snow; Caroline Wyatt flies to Sri Lanka on the Papal plane; Martin Fletcher in Vietnam on how an unusual scaly creature has become the most poached mammal in the world. And Aidan O’Donnell meets the cash-strapped Burundian national cycling team as they prepare to cycle home - from Rwanda.

Looking beyond the headlines: correspondents with insight and analysis consider: Charlie Hebdo and the way life used to be in France; the rallies in Germany for and against the influence of Islam on society there and the arguments over free speech in Turkey. Also in this edition one correspondent, leaving Mexico, pays tribute to the country's brave mothers while another, visiting Antarctica, wonders if tourists should be allowed even to set foot in this, the earth's last great unspoiled wilderness.

Insight, colour, analysis: in this edition, the once impregnable Rajapaksa camp is suddenly looking vulnerable as the Sri Lankan election approaches, Charles Haviland; Russians are enjoying their extended Christmas break but for their president, Vladimir Putin, difficult times may lie ahead, Sarah Rainsford; the Ethiopian government faces accusations over its plans to create huge new agricultural complexes, Matthew Newsome set off towards the southern lowlands to investigate and a journey of a lifetime in the US: Jonathan Izard points his car towards the sunset and ponders the meaning of life itself.

Seasonal stories and festive fables: Mike Wendling strongly disagrees with the thought that New York City is the world's most magical place at this festive time of year; why Yolande Knell in Bethlehem is looking forward to two MORE Christmases in the coming weeks; Nick Thorpe meets a Gypsy 'Santa Claus' on an allotment in southern Hungary; Petroc Trelawny on how the glittering New Years's Day ball in Vienna has its roots in a dark era of Austrian history and in Paris, Joanna Robertson tracks down a seasonal delicacy which, while delicious, carries the unmistakeable whiff of ... gunpowder!