Remembering Chernobyl after 25 years

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The nuclear crisis unfolding in Japan is taking place exactly 25 years after the worlds worst nuclear accident in Chernobyl. Brigid McCarthy reminds us of the scale of that disaster. Download MP3

Slideshow: Chernobyl as a tourism site

Lessons for Egypt from Ukraine

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Ukrainians who participated in the peaceful Orange Revolution of 2004 have some advice for people in Egypt, a people’s revolution does not always lead to a functioning democracy. Brigid McCarthy reports. Download MP3

Ukraine rewrites history books

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Ukraine’s new Russia-leaning government is re-writing history. It’s put out a new curriculum and history textbooks that omit the Orange Revolution of 2004. Correspondent Brigid McCarthy has the story. Download MP3

Coffee and corruption in Kiev

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Reporter Brigid McCarthy provides a snapshot of the culture of corruption in Ukraine. She follows an American businessman as he tries to open his own café there, without paying any bribes. Download MP3

Ukrainian journalists protest Soviet-era censorship

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Ukraine has one of the feistiest, most pluralistic media anywhere in the former Soviet Union. It’s been an enduring achievement of the 2004 Orange Revolution. But journalists there have begun protesting what they say is censorship and political pressure from the country’s new, pro-Russian government. Brigid McCarthy reports from Kiev. (Photo: Brigid McCarthy) Download MP3

• BBC timeline: Orange Revolution
• Wikipedia: Orange Revolution

Ukraine’s political divide

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Last week Ukrainian lawmakers hurled eggs and smoke bombs in the chambers of parliament. This was after the ruling party of President Viktor Yanukovich (pictured) ratified a controversial treaty between Ukraine and Russia which extends the lease of a Russian naval base in Ukraine an additional 25 years. The brawl could signal the beginning of a turbulent period in Ukrainian politics, as Brigid McCarthy reports from Kiev. Download MP3 (photo by Ingwar)

• Battle lines drawn over Ukraine’s strategic direction
• In pictures: Ukraine parliament chaos

The two faces of Verka Serduchka

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Verka Serduchka is one of Ukraine’s biggest pop stars. She’s not really a singer…or an actress. In fact, she’s not even a she. This is a star with identity issues. And that makes her — or him — an appropriate representative of Ukraine itself. Reporter Brigid McCarthy in Kiev has this profile of Verka Serduchka. Download MP3

• Video: Andriy Danylko plays himself, as well as Verka (in Russian)
• Video: Eurovision 2007 – Ukraine
• MySpace page

Ukraine’s top woman

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Ukraine is used to strong women, but not necessarily powerful ones. Yulia Tymoshenko… who’s running in the presidential runoff this weekend is both. Reporter Brigid McCarthy looks at the Tymoshenko phenomenon.

Ukraine takes drastic measures against swine flu

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Ukraine’s government is responding aggressively to swine flu. But as Brigid McCarthy reports from Kiev, its aggressive stance may be more about politics than prevention.