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From Our Own Correspondent: Local Heroes, Unknown Villains

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Local Heroes, Unknown Villains

26/05/2018 GMT

BBC World Service - From Our Own Correspondent, Local Heroes, Unknown Villains

Tales of admiration and suspicion from Venezuela, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea and Egypt

What Venezuelan voters hunger for, how Chinese money is changing Sri Lanka, why a witch hunt can turn to murder in Papua New Guinea and the footballer who's idolised across Egypt

Pascale Harter introduces dispatches from writers and reporters across the world. 

Katy Watson covered last weekend's election in Venezuela for the BBC and attended several public events which showcased strong support for President Nicolas Maduro - re-elected for another term. How was this possible in a nation suffering rampant hunger, galloping inflation and surging emigration?

Tim Luard reported for the BBC for more than two decades, especially on Chinese affairs. He's just been to Sri Lanka - and saw there just how radical a change Chinese investment is working on the island, with huge new infrastructure projects springing up. But there are also concerns about how far Beijing's word goes in Colombo.

In Papua New Guinea, an accusation of witchcraft can all too often escalate into mob violence - or even murder. Figures are hard to come by but in some of the country's provinces there may be dozens of killings a year linked to alleged 'sorcery'. Emily Webb meets some survivors of such attacks to learn how - or if - they can be reintegrated into their families and communities. 

And if you want to know the name of the most popular man in Egypt - it's pretty easy as the nation gears up for the World Cup and its admiration for Liverpool player Mohamed Salah only intensifies. Ed Bower analyses the appeal of a national hero and perhaps Egypt's best ambassador abroad.

PHOTO: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during his second-term sworn in ceremony, at the Congress in Caracas on May 24, 2018. (FEDERICO PARRA/AFP/Getty Images)

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