From Our Own Correspondent

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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.

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From Our Own Correspondent: An Emergency Summit in Riyadh

18/11/2023

An Emergency Summit in Riyadh

BBC Radio 4 - From Our Own Correspondent, An Emergency Summit in Riyadh

Arab leaders gather in Riyadh to try to agree a position on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Arab leaders gathered at a luxury hotel in Riyadh to tussle over a joint position on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Meanwhile, their own people are becoming increasingly frustrated.

Kate Adie presents stories from Saudi Arabia, the West Bank, Spain, Chile and Taiwan.

Amid glittering chandeliers and floral bouquets, leaders from 57 Arab and Muslim countries gathered in the Saudi Arabian capital for an Emergency Summit on the situation in Gaza. So, did it produce anything beyond the speeches? Our Security Correspondent Frank Gardner was there. 

The occupied West Bank has also seen an increase in outbreaks of violence since the Hamas massacre in October. There are now concerns Israel’s conflict in Gaza is spilling over into the wider region. Joe Inwood visited an Israeli settlement where Israelis and Palestinians live near each other and found a creeping unease has taken root.

In Spain, the Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez clinched a vote in parliament to lead Spain for another term as PM. However, a deal he has made with Catalan nationalists triggered a fierce  backlash, suggesting this could be an extremely turbulent legislature. Guy Hedgecoe reports from Madrid.

In Chile, the protests against inequality that took place a few years ago drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets. But the unrest also left 34 people dead and many more injured in clashes with the security forces.  A group of musicians, who were among those injured during the protests, have found other ways of making their voices heard as Charis McGowan discovered.

As Presidents Xi and Biden met last week, Taiwan remained a sticking point between the leaders. But Taiwan faces another serious threat beyond that of Chinese invasion: its rapidly declining birth rate, which has implications for its economic future. Nuala McGovern was in Taipei.

Series Producer: Serena Tarling
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

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