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Pascale Harter introduces reportage and analysis from Brazil, Israel, Pakistan and Spain.

The presidential election pitting Jair Bolsonaro against Luis Ignacio 'Lula' da Silva is casting a harsh light on the social and ideological divides between Brazilians. Families and friends in opposing camps have fallen out – and the rancour, as well as the rhetoric, of their political arguments is rising ahead of the polls on October 2. The ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ’s South America correspondent Katy Watson has seen how heated things are getting.

Israel’s Haredi community is influential and growing - today more than one in ten Israelis is ultra-Orthodox. Yolande Knell reports on the shock which hit this conservative community, after a string of sexual abuse allegations emerged, involving leading lights of the ultra-Orthodox world – and how some of those who were abused are finding the courage to speak out.

Pakistan is still struggling to cope with the aftermath of its recent devastating floods. Millions of people have been displaced and sheltering in camps or other emergency accommodation. Now water-borne diseases, including dengue fever and malaria carried by mosquitoes, are starting to spread. Rajini Vaidyanathan witnessed the ongoing crisis in a hospital ward in Sindh.

Who was the first person ever to sail around the world? Many of us are taught it was the Portuguese sea captain Fernando Magellan. But Spain has its own claim to the title: Juan Sebastian Elcano, who took over Magellan’s fleet and sailed it back to Europe, arriving back in Spain 500 years ago. Julius Purcell enjoyed the festivities as Elcano’s hometown, the Atlantic port of Getaria, feted its famous son this year. And he also got to hear about a wider controversy over Spain’s colonial and imperial legacy.

Producer: Polly Hope
Production coordinator: Iona Hammond
Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith