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Episode details

World Service,11 May 2024,23 mins

Uproar over a "foreign agents" bill in Georgia

From Our Own Correspondent

Available for over a year

Max Pearson introduces correspondents' and writers' stories from Georgia, Colombia, Panama, Serbia and the Philippines. Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, has been convulsed by mass protests since April, as crowds turned out to express their rejection of a proposed law on "foreign agents" which would impose new controls on NGOs and the media. Rayhan Demytrie took to the streets to see riot police confront the demonstrators - and talked to other Georgians who back the bill. The migrant route through the Darien Gap covers more than 100 kilometres of extremely difficult terrain on the Colombia/Panama border. The climate is hostile, the landscape perilous and criminals prey on travellers. Still, more people than ever before are using this path trying to get to the United States. Peter Yeung walked alongside them and saw its dangers. Serbia rolled out the red carpet - and a huge number of red flags - for Xi Jinping's official visit in the past week. Guy Delauney looks at the global dimensions of Belgrade's welcome for the Chinese leader. And in Manila, Hannah Gelbart meets a boy band from a whole new school: Alamat, like many others in a new wave of "P Pop" groups, hopes to teach the world about the history and culture of the Philippines. Producer: Polly Hope Editor: Bridget Harney Production Co-ordinator: Rosie Strawbridge

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