Donald Trump and a dangerous ultimatum

This episode of From Our Own Correspondent explores global flashpoints shaped by political upheaval, environmental crisis, and cultural resilience. In Ukraine, correspondent Vitaly Shevchenko returns to Kiev after four years of war, documenting a city transformed by loss yet defiantly alive—its streets bustling, its people rebuilding, and national pride rekindled through memorials, language revival, and symbols of resistance. Meanwhile, in the Middle East, the episode confronts the escalating tensions between the U.S. and Iran, where President Donald Trump’s increasingly belligerent rhetoric—threatening to destroy Iran’s infrastructure and declaring a 'civilisation will die'—has sparked alarm among international legal experts and military leaders. The Pentagon’s controlled briefings, led by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, reveal a troubling erosion of military norms and international law, with officials openly dismissing legal constraints and promoting a doctrine of 'no quarter.' In Albania, the Trump family’s interest in developing the pristine Adriatic coastline raises environmental and cultural concerns, as luxury tourism threatens fragile ecosystems and local traditions. In Indonesia, the plastic pollution crisis intensifies, with remote islands like Moyo now overwhelmed by waste from the 'sachet economy,' illustrating the environmental cost of convenience. Finally, in Morocco, the Amazigh people celebrate their ancient New Year, 2976, a symbol of cultural endurance amid systemic marginalization and post-earthquake neglect. Together, these stories paint a portrait of a world grappling with power, identity, and survival in the face of both human-made and ecological collapse.