Throughout the week BBC World Service offers a wide range of documentaries and other factual programmes. This podcast offers you the chance to access landmark series from our archive.
Episodes available:
Indefinitely
Subscribe to this podcast and automatically receive the latest episodes.
Wed, 23 Mar 11
Duration:
23 mins
It’s twenty years since Somaliland declared itself independent but it still remains unrecognised as a nation state. For Assignment, Mary Harper reports from Hargeisa, the capital, where she finds many people happy to be going it alone.
Wed, 23 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
In a society where the sexes are strictly segregated, it is common for boys to dance for men in Afghanistan at weddings and traditional gatherings. But the tradition exposes the boys to sexual abuse.
Mon, 21 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
Lucy Williamson reports on why Mexico, a developing Catholic nation, is the latest country to turn away from marriage.
Fri, 18 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
"I was sentenced to 12 years for writing poetry." Russian poet and dissident, Irina Ratushinskaya contemplates the role of poetry in her country.
Thu, 17 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
Albania's paranoid Cold War dictator stockpiled vast amounts of ammunition to threaten potential invaders. Albania now wants to get rid of the old ammunition -- and quickly. It's even willing to give it away. For Assignment Neal Razzell meets those trying to shift what the government calls "the heavy burden of the past."
Tue, 15 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
Throughout history donkeys, pigs, dogs, rats, even insects have been put on trial and some convicted and sentenced. Frances Fyfield, looks at these extraordinary cases of animals in court.
Mon, 14 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
Why is the nuclear family model so successful across the developing world? Lucy Williamson reports from Nepal - currently experiencing one of the fastest-ever shifts from extended families to nuclear ones. Who are the winners and losers in that process?
Fri, 11 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
From Italy to India, David Goldblatt examines the ever changing face of Formula One. Can Europe financially support the sport and does it matter that a country like India has been chosen to host the event?
Thu, 10 Mar 11
Duration:
23 mins
What happens when you take a run down African city and introduce a brand new oil industry worth billions of dollars? For Assignment Rob Walker reports from port city of Takoradi on the impact oil is having.
Wed, 9 Mar 11
Duration:
24 mins
The government behind the economic powerhouse that is Singapore guards its reputation for stability to the point of authoritarianism and censorship. What happens when journalists challenge the status quo?
The BBC Podcasts are for your personal non-commercial use only.
All title, ownership rights and intellectual property rights in and to the BBC Podcasts shall remain the property of the BBC or third parties. You may not edit, alter, adapt or add to the BBC Podcast in any way. The BBC Podcasts are made available by the BBC on an "as is" and "as available" basis and the BBC gives no warranty of any kind in relation to the BBC Podcast. To the maximum extent permitted by law the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage which you may suffer as a result of, or connected to, the download or use of the BBC Podcasts.
Bookmark this page:
© MMXI
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.