Surviving Mariupol

Available for over a year

Pascale Harter presents dispatches from correspondents and reporters in Ukraine, the USA, Argentina and the French overseas department of Mayotte. Mariupol was once a thriving port and industrial city of nearly half a million people. Now, after months of Russian occupation, it is mostly a devastated ruin. Hilary Andersson has spent most of this year gathering testimony from the families who survived its destruction – and who were able to escape. The predicted 'giant red wave' of Republican victories in the midterm elections this week’s failed to materialise – though the GOP could still seize control of Congress. John Sudworth weighs what the outcome of this week's results mean for Donald Trump's wing of the Republican party, and the future of American democracy itself. Consumers around the world have been confronting high rates of inflation this year - but it's nothing new for Argentinians. They’re sadly well-accustomed to dealing with spiralling prices, complex banking rules and the ever-present risk of losing money. Jane Chambers heard how they make ends meet in a climate of fiscal uncertainty. The tropical island of Mayotte in the Indian ocean has the appearance of paradise, but its draw for many is the fact that it's actually part of France - and consequently the standard of living is high for the region. That has been a huge – and lethal – attraction for would-be migrants from the nearby Comoros, as Tim Fenton was told. Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Co-Ordinator: Iona Hammond