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Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents and writers.

Kate Adie introduces insight, wit and analysis from BBC correspondents, journalists and writers telling stories from around the world.

From Our Own Correspondent: The death knell for Beirut?

08/08/2020

The death knell for Beirut?

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, The death knell for Beirut?

Stories from South Africa, Germany, Iran, France and on the aftermath of the Beirut blast.

Stories from South Africa, Germany, Iran, France and on the aftermath of the deadly explosion that devastated Beirut. With Kate Adie.

In Lebanon, shock is turning to anger at the authorities and political class at large, after the catastrophic blast in the capital Beirut. It was caused by explosive chemicals stored improperly at the city’s port, and caused much loss of life, thousands of injuries, and damaged large swathes of the city.  Lizzie Porter asks what impact this will have on the residents. 
In South Africa coronavirus infections have surpassed half a million cases.  That makes it the fifth worst affected country in the world.  The nation had been doing well initially - measures to contain the virus were working. But, then, other problems reared their ugly heads, says Andrew Harding  in Johannesburg. 
Around 20,000 people took to the streets of Berlin last weekend to protest against the anti-coronavirus restrictions, even though few of them remain in force.  Most of the demonstrators had been bussed in from elsewhere,  and as it turns out, their real agenda had relatively little to do with measures to combat the pandemic, as Damien McGuinness reports.
In Iran, Covid-19 carries great social stigma, as Jiyar Gol has learned.  Some people claim their relatives died of other illnesses, and others fear that  no one will marry their daughters if anyone finds out they ever had Covid-19.  The state, too, is less than fully transparent. The real number of cases could be three times that of government reports.  
According to a recent, yet ineffective campaign, France is the European champion for the abandoning of pets. Never more so than at this time of year,  when so many people drive to their holiday destinations that the motorways are congested. Why won't they take their cats or dogs along, asks Chris Bockman in the southwest of the country. 
Presenter: Kate Adie
Producer: Arlene Gregorius

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