Gaza: Rafah border crossing reopens

Max Pearson introduces stories from the Gaza-Egypt border, Cuba, Bangladesh, and Ukraine.

The Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt reopened this week after being mainly kept shut since Israel captured the Gazan side in 2024. It’s opening has brought relief to many Palestinians who see it as a lifeline to the world. However, there has been frustration over delays and the small number of people being allowed through each day. Yolande Knell has been following developments.

Outside Venezuela, nowhere was last month’s US military action in Caracas felt more keenly than in Cuba. Venezuela has helped prop up the Communist-run island for twenty-five years, with subsidised supplies of crude oil. Will Grant reports from Havana on the island's growing economic crisis.

Bangladesh goes to the polls next week in its first election since a student uprising forced the previous Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, to flee for India. However, a new -student-led political party is already in crisis. Azadeh Moshiri reports from Dhaka.

Ukraine continues to endure heavy Russian bombardment of its energy grid - in the capital more than a thousand buildings are still without power. But locals are finding innovative ways to keep warm amid freezing temperatures, as Abdujalil Abdurasulov discovered at a disco on a frozen river.

Producer: Phoebe Keane
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill

(Image: Rafah Crossing Between Egypt and Gaza Credit: Ali Moustafa/Getty Images)