International report

Syrian city of Raqqa was hardly known internationally before Islamic State (IS) armed group claimed it as their capital in 2014. The sixth largest Syrian city was one where people of different religions lived together peacefully. But since the arrival and subsequent departure of IS, Raqqa’s foundation has been shaken. In this third report of a five-part series, Filip Warwick explores the Raqqa of today.

Last year tens of thousands of internally displaced people, or IDPs, fled from areas controlled by the Islamic State Armed Group. Many of those families with children escaped from Raqqa and the Deir ez-Zur region - areas that experienced three years of IS control and subsequent U.S and Russian air bombing campaigns.

For nearly three years the Syrian city of Raqqa served as the de facto capital of the Islamic State Armed Group. Last year IS fighters were ousted by a US-led coalition air campaign. Now in the hands of the Syrian Democratic Forces-- part of the US-led international coalition-- the city is still experiencing the devastating death toll reaped by three years of IS control and the subsequent coalition. In this five-part series from Raqqa, Filip Warwick has this first report.

For nearly three years the Syrian city of Raqqa served as the de facto capital of the Islamic State Armed Group. Last year IS fighters were ousted by a US-led coalition air campaign. Now in the hands of the Syrian Democratic Forces-- part of the US-led international coalition-- the city is still experiencing the devastating death toll reaped by three years of IS control and the subsequent coalition. In this five-part series from Raqqa, Filip Warwick has this first report.

Military service in Israel is compulsory, but there are exemptions for Arab citizens and ultra-orthodox Jews. However, secular Israelis and Arab Druze serve in the army upon reaching the age of 18. The Druze are Palestinian Arabs, and their religion is said to be an offshoot of Shia Islam.

East Jerusalem has its first orchestra pit. Twenty five Palestinian classical musicians serenaded an audience from the new pit inside the Yabous Cultural Centre at a recent concert. Correspondent Ibrahim Husseini was at the inauguration and has this report.

In Afghanistan, a booming café culture has emerged in recent years and many successful entrepreneurs have emerged by establishing western-like cafes in the big cities across the country. In the absence of recreational places in Kabul, cafes have become a major place for the youth to gather, but it also faces serious challenges like being targeted by insurgent and extremist groups. Zakarya Hassani has this report from the capital Kabul.

Military service in Israel is compulsory, but there are exemptions for Arab citizens and ultra-orthodox Jews. However, secular Israelis and Arab Druze serve in the army upon reaching the age of 18. The Druze are Palestinian Arabs, and their religion is said to be an offshoot of Shia Islam.

In July the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, passed a piece of legislation called the nation-state law.

The bill defines Israel as a Jewish state and exclusively gives the right of national self-determination to its' Jewish citizens.

The law has angered all of Israel's minorities and the Israeli left. The Arab Druze feel especially betrayed by it.

From Jerusalem, correspondent Ibrahim Husseini looks into the Arab Druze minority in Israel and the question of mandatory military service.

East Jerusalem has its first orchestra pit. Twenty five Palestinian classical musicians serenaded an audience from the new pit inside the Yabous Cultural Centre at a recent concert. Correspondent Ibrahim Husseini was at the inauguration and has this report.

Women in Afghanistan are increasingly launching their own businesses, despite the violent conflict and a weak economy that has crippled the country for decades. They are defying the conservative society's traditional gender roles by becoming financially self-sufficient entrepreneurs, Zakarya Hassani reports from Kabul.