Yemen: living on the frontline

Pascale Harter introduces stories from Yemen, Israel, France and the USA.

The long war between Yemen's internationally-recognised government, backed by Saudi Arabia, and the Houthis – who are backed by Iran - had come to a near-standstill in recent years. But following the Houthis' lightning offensive down the Red Sea coast, the war has re-escalated. As ever, Yemeni civilians are paying the highest price. Nawal al Maghafi was recently in the city of Taiz – a government stronghold besieged by Houthi fighters.

It's been a week of solemn commemoration in Israel as the country marked three years since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023.Nearly 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 taken hostage in a wave of assaults. Just two kilometers from the Gaza Strip, Kibbutz Nir Oz was one of several Israeli communities that came under attack that day. Dozens of its residents were killed and many were taken hostage and taken into Gaza. Now there are questions over how - or whether - to rebuild. Yolande Knell has been back to the kibbutz and met some of those who've chosen to return.

Student protest is nothing new in France, but the past few weeks' demonstrations have been exceptional for their scale, spread and the severity of the disorder on the streets. James Waterhouse reports on what the students and their allies are demanding - and how the French state has responded so far.

New York City is a major hub in the world trade in stolen and looted antiquities. But its District Attorney's office has a unit dedicated to tracking down illegally-acquired pieces, seizing them - even from respected collectors and museums - and returning them to their countries of origin. Sandra Kanthal met the unit's chief prosecutor - and got a rare look inside the rooms where the precious evidence is stored.

Producer: Polly Hope
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith
Production co-ordinator: Katie Morrison