麻豆约拍

Pascale Harter introduces correspondents' reflections from Israel, Gaza, France, Guyana and Iraq

Tom Bateman reports from Gaza and Ashdod on the consequences of the last week's violence between Israel and some Palestinian groups. Once again, families are sheltering from rockets, bombs and bullets - and wondering if there will ever be an end to the conflict.

Paris has been one epicentre for protests by the gilets jaunes - the movement claiming that it's fighting for France's marginalised, ignored and disrespected ordinary people. At first the public backed them solidly - but after nearly six months of demonstrations, closures and actions, Joanna Robertson finds the mood might be hardening in the city.

Simon Maybin's been trying to unpick an elaborate political puzzle in Guyana. Amid an extraordinary parliamentary soap-opera over what 'majority vote' really means, there are suspicions that politicians are positioning themselves to spend the proceeds of a coming oil boom in the country.

And Lizzie Porter explores an abandoned palace with a past - Saddam Hussein's former property near the site of the ancient city of Babylon. The former dictator's luxury pad has fallen into disrepair and abandon and plans to restore it seem to have ground to a halt. But that kind of inertia's also afflicting more essential, everyday services that Iraqis depend on.

(Photo: Two Palestinian children are seen seated in front of their house, destroyed during the Israeli air strikes in Gaza City. 5 May 2019.)