How smugglers lure in buyers for illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe

 

The BBC has gone undercover to expose how smugglers have lured people into buying what the smugglers claimed to be low risk illegal routes from Pakistan to Europe. Thousands of people have arrived in Europe from Pakistan since January 2021, many of which have used smuggling agents after contacting them over social media.

Ukraine war: Rare access to hometown of frontline soldiers

 BBC Newsnight has been granted rare access to a Ukrainian frontline unit, the 24th Mechanised Brigade.

In the second of three special films with the unit, the BBC visits the soldiers’ hometown to hear how life has changed during the war.

Hong Kong’s last standing protesters defying Beijing’s security law

Hong Kong’s civil society has been decimated by a Beijing-imposed security law that has all but silenced the political opposition. 47 of the city’s best-known critics are facing possible life in prison after being charged with conspiracy to subvert the State. They took part in an unofficial election, and they’ve faced more than two years in detention before their trial has even begun.

How Ai Weiwei’s years living in an underground hole haunt his art to this day

 Ai Weiwei is one of the most famous artists in the world, but infamous to the Chinese authorities. To them he is an outspoken, critical troublemaker.

Eight years ago, after a period of imprisonment and then house arrest in Shanghai, he left China and now lives in Portugal, but his work is always about China and often using ordinary objects and found materials to comment on his country's past and present. 

What was the strategy behind Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia? - BBC Newsnight

 

China's President Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for his first visit to Russia since the war in Ukraine. President Xi labelled Putin a "dear friend”, though in an article in a Russian newspaper insisted that China was "impartial" and has “actively promoted peace talks”.

Could China be seeing Hongkongers’ visa applications? - BBC Newsnight

 

Protests in China this week against Covid restrictions and the country's authoritarian rule were reminiscent of the violent crackdown seen in Hong Kong two years ago.  Since then the UK has given sanctuary to more than 140,000 people from the former British territory.  Many of those applied for visas through a locally based private company that carries out work on behalf of the Home Office. But Newsnight and BBC Eye has learned of concerns over who has access to the information of those applying for visas. 

ShotSpotter: What is gunshot detection technology and is it effective? - BBC Newsnight

 

More than 100 cities across the US are using ShotSpotter, a service which uses gunshot detection technology to alert the police when heard. But is it as accurate or reliable as the company claims?

Life at 50°C: Extreme heat and Mexico’s struggle for water - BBC Newsnight

 

In the run up to the COP26 UN Summit, we’re exploring how people are adapting to rising global temperatures through our series Life at 50°C. What happens when the water dries up in Mexico?

‘My baby died during childbirth in my prison cell' - BBC Newsnight

 

A woman whose baby died during childbirth in her prison cell tells Newsnight more could have been done to save her.

Afghanistan: Biden Administration “wouldn’t listen” to intelligence reports - BBC Newsnight

 

What they're really saying is that the intelligence community wanted to continue with Americas forever war. While President Biden saw no value in continuing this pointless war that the US was never going to win. 

South Africa riots: Is recent unrest a sign of deeper tensions? - BBC Newsnight

 

Over the past few weeks, more than 330 people have died in some of the worst violence South Africa has experienced since apartheid.

Hancock affair: What next as health secretary breaks Covid guidance? - BBC Newsnight

 The prime minister continues to stand by Matt Hancock, but where will the affair fallout leave the health secretary and how will the public respond?

Is the UK’s Covid travel system misleading? - BBC Newsnight

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has warned people should not be holidaying in amber list countries, after a minister said people could go and visit friends.

 

Israel-Gaza conflict: How can both parties get back to the negotiating table?

 Israel has deployed tanks and troops to its border with Gaza, as it mulls whether to launch a ground operation in the territory after days of violence.

President Joe Biden takes office amid multiple crises - BBC Newsnight

 Joe Biden has been sworn in as the 46th US president, ending one of the most dramatic political transitions in American history.

UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi on the country’s vaccination strategy - BBC Newsight

 Should the UK rethink its strategy to stop the spread of Covid-19? Newsnight speaks to the UK minister for Covid-19 vaccine deployment Nadhim Zahaw

Does the UK's lockdown need to get tougher? - BBC Newsnight

 The UK has seen the biggest figure of reported Covid deaths since the pandemic began and there’s a critical Covid threat to London's hospitals

How has the coronavirus pandemic impacted the scientific community? - BBC Newsnight

More than nine months into the pandemic and the virus continues to send shockwaves through every aspect of our daily lives.
 

Dominic Cummings to leave Downing Street by Christmas

 Newsnight has learned Boris Johnson’s senior adviser Dominic Cummings will leave Downing Street by Christmas. How will this change government policy?

US election: ‘Trump needs to be denied a second term’, says John Bolton - BBC Newsnight

 

Why is that hearing from a person whose  a war monger, torture apologist, helped to continue Americas misery so he could  have a larger pay day off of his book and enabler of Donald Trump seems

a little much at this point. Its not like this fool really cares. He just wants to remain relevant in conservative circles.