Reporting Mosul: A Journalist's Story

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Three years ago, a lightning advance by about 800 jihadist fighters in northern Iraq morphed into a global threat. Nafiseh Kohnavard of BBC Persian has followed the fight against so-called Islamic State, and she witnessed the toughest battle for Iraqi forces, to retake Mosul. Russian Tattoos In Russia there's a rich history of gulag and prison tattoos, etched into skin in black and white with rudimentary tools. Today's tattoos may be more hygienic and sophisticated, but some youngsters are harking back to the old designs, as Elizaveta Vereykina of BBC Russian explains. George Orwell This week a statue of the British writer George Orwell was installed outside New Broadcasting House. His dystopian novel 1984 continues to have relevance today, with concerns about surveillance and the notion of truth. We tease out its enduring appeal with editors Mohamed Yehia and Olexiy Solohubenkho Gangs of Punjab The north Indian state of Punjab is notorious for its gangs and their crimes are on the increase. Arvind Chhabra of BBC Punjabi explains that the gangs use social media to flaunt their activities, and have a strong following among young people. All aboard the Ostrich The BBC's Nitin Srivastava takes us for a historic trip on the P.S. Ostrich, a wooden paddle steamer which plies the rivers of Bangladesh from the capital Dhaka. The Abayudaya of Uganda The Abayudaya are Ugandan Jews, but like most Ugandans, the BBC's Patience Atuhaire grew up knowing nothing about this community. It's now growing after suffering persecution under Idi Amin in the 70s. Patience broke bread with them at one of their festivals to find out more. Image: Nafiseh Kohnavard sitting wearing helmet and flak jacket in Mosul Credit: BBC