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From Our Own Correspondent: Tension, Trolling and a Troublesome Tocsin

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Tension, Trolling and a Troublesome Tocsin

18/02/2017 GMT

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Tension, Trolling and a Troublesome Tocsin

Taiwan/China diplomacy, Saudi Arabia's department of fun, trolling at the Vatican

On Kinmen Island, Taiwan/China diplomacy is crucial; Saudi Arabia's state department of fun; critics troll the Pope in the Vatican City; stalking a cricket in West Papua.

Analysis, wit and reflection from correspondents and writers around the world, introduced by Pascale Harter. In this edition:

Humphrey Hawksley is on Kinmen Island, a flashpoint for tensions between China and Taiwan, and the scene of fierce battles in the past. But what of present fears?

Lyse Doucet gets a surprise in Saudi Arabia, meeting the prince hoping to bring more fun (in the shape of cinemas and live music) to the Kingdom in his role at the General Entertainment Authority.

Christopher Lamb was recently startled to see some anti-Papal posters - on the walls of Rome! He explains why some conservative factions in the Vatican are moving against Pope Francis.

Huw Cordey's chased many an exotic creature in a career making wildlife documentaries - but was recently driven to distraction, and even murder, by a noisy cricket in West Papua.

Photo: Taiwanese marine frogmen demonstrate their combat skills at the beach on Liaolo Bay in the front line island of Kinmen on January 26, 2016. (SAM YEH/AFP/Getty Images)

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