The world predicted a Covid catastrophe in Africa, but as 2020 draws to a close, the continent has seemingly managed to contain the virus and keep deaths low. How have so many African nations managed to control coronavirus, and why we have we left them out of the Covid conversation?

Sources: ITN, Al Jazeera, CBC News, France 24, KTN News Kenya, AfricaNews, Sky News

Last month, Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, was assassinated in an ambush near the capital Tehran. The scientist, who was considered the driving force behind Iran’s nuclear weapons program for two decades, was in his vehicle with his bodyguards when the attack occurred.

Our International Editor, Lindsey Hilsum, has been reporting on Iran for over 20 years, and explains what this killing might mean for tensions in the region.

Sources: BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS

Polls suggest that support for Scottish independence has never been stronger. Could this be the end of the Union?

Our Scotland correspondent Ciaran Jenkins has been talking to voters who previously rejected independence to see if the tide is turning, and what might be behind their change of heart.

This week the first vaccinations for COVID-19 began in the UK, after months of despair and restrictions. But after a summer where concerns were raised over the numbers of BAME people dying in the community, should they be offered a vaccine early?

Our Home Affairs Correspondent, Darshna Soni, has spent the year telling the stories of Black and brown families affected by the virus and reflects on whether enough is being done to protect people of colour during the pandemic.

Clips from: BBC, ITV, CSPAN

When Donald Trump responded to the California wildfires by saying it would “start getting cooler”, it was a prime example of the president’s climate change scepticism that has partly defined his tenure in the White House. 

Our chief correspondent, Alex Thomson, explains how far Trump set the country back, and whether President-elect Biden - who calls the climate crisis an “urgent national security issue” - can buy America - and the planet - back some time.

Welcome to a new podcast from Channel 4 News, an in-depth look at the stories you need to know about; how the past shapes the present and what might lie ahead for us all.

In our first episode, Jon Snow looks back on a turbulent year of personal and professional challenges - and explains why he thinks this podcast is needed now more than ever.

Introducing the Fourcast. From Channel 4 News, an in-depth look at the stories you need to know about; how the past shapes the present and what might lie ahead for us all. Launching 7 December.