In this episode of Centre Stage, our guest is journalist Karen Attiah.The Washington Post fired Attiah in September from her role as Global Opinions editor over one of her social media posts. It was written in the aftermath of the assassination of American right-wing influencer Charlie Kirk.Attiah, who’d been with The Washington Post for more than a decade, is contesting the decision, calling it unjust.She explains how she found out she lost her job, the state of free speech in the US and why she says everyone should be concerned about today’s political climate.Natasha Ghoneim is a senior correspondent.

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Cuba's healthcare system was once a paragon, held up as an example of what was possible in the developing world. But all that has changed. Harsh US sanctions, reimposed by the first Trump administration, are making it difficult, if not impossible, for healthcare workers to access the drugs and equipment they need. Although designed to apply political pressure to the communist government, in reality, the sanctions hurt civilians the most. The infant mortality rate is rising, and life expectancy is falling.

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For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a NATO member has formally invoked Article 4 of the alliance's founding treaty after a major airspace breach.

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Have we lost touch with beauty in the world we’ve built? Architecture shapes how we live, how we connect and how we feel. It’s a reflection of who we are and the cultures we come from. But as our cities expand and technology transforms the spaces we live in, many are asking: Has architecture lost its soul?

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As Donald Trump tries to take credit for a ceasefire in Gaza, Israel continues to kill Palestinians. And as both Israeli and Palestinian captives are released, the glaring double standards in coverage lay bare how this genocide was allowed to go on for so long.

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For more than two years, India’s northeastern state of Manipur has been beset by violence between two ethnic groups, the Meitei and the Kuki-Zo. With nearly 260 people killed and about 60,000 displaced, the Indian government has taken control of the state in a bid to restore order.

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Sixteen-year-olds now have the right to vote in all UK elections, as part of sweeping election reforms. Supporters believe this change will modernise democracy and say the young generation is already engaged with issues like climate change, education, and the economy. Opponents, however, argue that 16 is too young to make such weighty political decisions and warn that it could weaken the integrity of the electoral system.

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For five years, giant fires have ravaged millions of acres of land in Siberia. In this subarctic region, amidst the world’s most expansive boreal forest, lies the village of Shologon. It is soon to be coated with a thick cloud of smoke, which will reach the North Pole for the first time in recorded history.

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For decades, China powered spectacular growth through exports, infrastructure and cheap credit. But that old model is running out of steam, even as it hits a record trade surplus with the world this year.

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China's top leaders are meeting for an important conference that will give a glimpse into the priorities of the world's second largest economy. The Forth Plenum of the Communist Party will outline a series of policies for the next five years. Beijing has been making efforts to increase consumer spending and attract foreign investors to drive growth. All the while dealing with an escalating trade war with its biggest export market, the United States.

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