MUMBAI: BBC World brings a season of special programmes that will review and analyse the main events of 2005 and look forward to the issues that will shape the international news agenda in the coming year.
In nine parts, World Review 2005 covers politics, democracy, religion and global conflict, as reported through the BBC's network of 250 correspondents. The stories they've prepared include the Baghdad blogger, Salam Pax, giving a rare insight into life there as an ordinary citizen in Iraq; Matt Frei exploring the struggles of immigration in the US and the vigilante groups trying to stop the number of people entering the country illegally; a look at life for the Palestinians without the Israeli settlers in Gaza; and reporters in Shanghai and Delhi examining what the authorities are doing to help their millions in need, informs an official release.
BBC World's business team presents three programmes on important financial and economic issues from 2005. Net Profit on 2 January at 11 am, which presents whether the billions of dollars invested in internet companies will lead to a boom or bust. The Greenspan Legacy 2 January at 12 pm assesses the strength of the US economy ahead of the retirement of Alan Greenspan, the chairman of the Federal Reserve. Then, The Bitter Pill on 2 January at 1 pm reviews the history of the arthritis painkiller Vioxx, which users and their families claim damaged their health.
A year-end edition of the daily interview programme Hardtalk sees Stephen Sackur presenting a special compilation of interviews from 2005. Among the guests offering insights into their careers and topical news issues are Jalal Talabani, the president of Iraq; Shimon Peres, the veteran Israeli politician; and Sir Ian Blair, the head of London's Metropolitan Police. There are also clips from Jean-Marie Le Pen, the French far-right leader; Desmond Tutu, the South African archbishop; and Paul McCartney, the musician.
In a series of high-profile interviews with the Asian newsmakers of 2004, Asia Today meets Shahrukh Khan, the Indian Bollywood hearthrob who believes cinema can play a role in resolving tension between Pakistan and India, and Ang Lee, the only Chinese-born film director to win critical acclaim on both sides of the Pacific. BBC correspondent Jon Sopel returns to visit a bereaved Sri Lankan family in Galle, one of the areas worst affected by the tsunami, and Quentin Somerville reports from China on the spiralling cost of healthcare.
Sport Today has five programmes reviewing the major sporting events of 2005 in chronological order, with presenters Adnan Nawaz and Francis Collings. It was the year London was named as host city of the 2012 Olympic Games; Lance Armstrong's seventh successive Tour de France title; yachtsman Ellen MacArthur's record-breaking solo circumnavigation; and England's cricketers beating Australia to regain the Ashes. There's also a sixth edition with Francis Collings that predicts some of the stories that will make the headlines in 2006.
Akhtar Khan and the Fasttrack travel team revisit reports they've filed from countries as diverse as Ethiopia, Germany, Zambia and Sri Lanka. They went in search of Japan's best new restaurants, trekked in China and tested zero-gravity flights for holidaymakers. Plus they were driven around in a vintage taxi in India and found out why people in New York are looking for 'buddies' to join them when they party.
Trade fairs and exhibitions are a huge part of the technology industry. The latest products or gadgets will be unveiled at these conferences, which are attended by the most important people in each sector. BBC World's weekly technology programme, Click Online has been to several of them in different partsof the world during 2005, and this year-end compilation programme offers another look at the highlights. Plus, it's Stephen Cole's final edition as presenter, and he reviews the best bits from his time on the show.
In two special episodes of Talking Movies, presenter Tom Brook reviews 12 months in Hollywood. He looks at several of the year's most successful films such as The Constant Gardener and Syriana. Plus a profile of the emerging actor Terrence Howards, and another chance to assess Tom Cruise's PR meltdown in 2005. With the Oscars two months away, Talking Movies lists some of the likely candidates to collect trophies at the biggest night of the year in Hollywood.
Talking Point has spent the year putting viewers and listeners' questions and opinions on topical issues to world leaders and experts. Talking Point has been renamed Have Your Say for 2006. In its review of 2006, there are replays of interviews with Bill Clinton, the former US president; Hugo Chavez, the president of Venezuela; and Meles Zenawi, prime minister of Ethiopia. Viewers also give eyewitness accounts of major events including the hurricanes in the US, the Pakistani earthquake, the French riots and the London bombings.
