Valentina's Kiosk

Available for over a year

Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is now entering its sixth month and there are no signs of a resolution or ceasefire. Russian citizens continue to be fed a daily diet of propaganda on State TV, with fewer sources of independent news. To keep abreast of the Russian point of view, Steve Rosenberg has a daily ritual: buying his newspapers from his local newspaper kiosk, run by a woman called Valentina. He tells the story of how they became friends. In Ukraine, a recent missile attack in the city of Vinnytsia, in the central-west of the country, has served as a stark reminder of the indiscriminate nature of Russia's military onslaught. Everyday routines have become fraught with hazard, from a trip to the shops to a walk to school, even in cities considered to be 'safe'. Sarah Rainsford has been in Vinnytsia and Mykolaiv. The Lebanese economy is in a state of collapse, but the government hopes that the summer tourist season, when many Lebanese living abroad return for a holiday, will provide a much-needed boost. But any visitor must navigate a tangled web of erratic exchange rates, as Angelica Jopson has found. And finally, to South Africa’s West Coast, the site of a large saltwater lagoon situated in a National Park, around 55 miles north of Cape Town. The area, which is also a marine reserve, attracts numerous water birds and sea life, as the Atlantic waves pound its edge. Antonia Quirke went to explore the lagoon and its local history. Presenter: Kate Adie Producer: Serena Tarling Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith