Correspondents Report

On this week's edition: Conor Duffy on gun crime in the US capital; Adam Harvey on Lebanon's lucrative cannabis industry; Bill Birtles on a Chinese boy whose plight caught the hearts of ABC viewers; and Samantha Hawley settles into London life.

Correspondent Samantha Hawley has just moved to London after taking time off to live with her family in Switzerland. She's still finding her groove in London, but she's getting there.

Three months ago, hundreds of viewers contacted the ABC to find out how they could help a Beijing boy featured in an episode of Foreign Correspondent.

With Lebanon set to legalise its infamous cannabis industry, Middle East correspondent Adam Harvey went to the Bekaa Valley to find out more. It didn't turn out to be the simple day of filming he'd imagined.

When people think of Washington DC, they usually think of the White House, its monuments and history - but perhaps not street crime.

Several months ago Liam Cochrane told the moving story of Cambodian woman Srey Mom, who was injured in a house fire. After the story was aired, many listeners wanted to find out more about how they can help. This week Liam provides details for anyone who would like to make a donation.

It's an old, forgotten case revisited in Thailand known as the "fish sauce" case. And as Southeast Asia correspondent Liam Cochrane reports, it's an unusual one, involving torture with a stapler and evidence that's rather smelly.

In the United States, allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have reignited debate about sexual assault and women speaking up about years-old incidents of misconduct. The matter of who's telling the truth remains hotly debated and has opened the gap in a deeply-divided nation.

In Indonesia, more than a thousand people have been confirmed dead after an earthquake and tsunami on the island of Sulawesi. Our correspondent David Lipson discusses what it's been like behind the scenes reporting on the disaster.

In this week's Correspondents Report: David Lipson discusses what it's been like behind the scenes reporting on the Indonesia tsunami disaster; Zoe Daniel delves into the Brett Kavanaugh debate that’s deeply dividing the United States; and Liam Cochrane reports from Thailand about the unusual ‘fish sauce’ case, involving torture with a stapler and evidence that’s rather smelly.

A huge proportion of people in Papua New Guinea live in rural areas, and in some places they have little contact with the outside world. It's subsistence farming that prevails rather than a monetised economy and community traditions remain strong.

As part of the ABC's International Development branch, the Women in News and Sport program has been training women to cover sporting events in Pacific languages. It's helping them to carve out a career in a traditionally male-dominated field.

Osaka is one of Japan's biggest cities, but it's a different Osaka that's been drawing headlines in the country. Naomi Osaka fever has gripped Japan ever since the 20-year-old beat Serena Williams to win the US Open.

The ABC's new Middle East Correspondent Eric Tlozek has arrived in Jerusalem at a time when the city shuts down for multiple religious holidays. For him, it's been an intriguing window into religious life in Israel and a fascinating introduction to the history and culture.

In this week's Correspondents Report: Middle East correspondent Eric Tlozek looks into Jerusalem's rich history and culture; Osaka fever continues to grip Japan with Japan correspondent Jake Sturmer’s report into tennis sensation Naomi Osaka; Aaron Kearney from ABC’s International Development branch has been helping develop sports media careers for women in the Asia Pacific; And a look into the community traditions and rituals that remain strong in remote Papua New Guinea.

Indigenous Affairs correspondent Bridget Brennan has just spent a month on secondment in the United States. On an assignment to Chicago she met many inspiring people working to make their communities stronger, and fighting negative perceptions.

Corruption is a nationwide problem in Indonesia, and at next year's national election as many as 200 politicians who've served time for corruption crimes will appear on the ballot papers. But as Indonesia Correspondent David Lipson reports, efforts to shine a light into Indonesia's dark corners can be a deadly game.

Before taking up his post as the ABC's Europe correspondent, Linton Besser's first experiences of London were within the pages of a John Le Carre spy thriller. And in one of his first assignments as a reporter in London, he found himself amidst a real-life spy drama.

In this week's program: New Europe correspondent Linton Besser’s first experiences of London, which were within the pages of a John Le Carre spy thriller; Indonesia Correspondent David Lipson gets a Grandstand view of the nation's corruption problems; And National Indigenous Affairs Correspondent Bridget Brennan's stint in the US provides a new perspective on how disadvantaged communities are helping themselves.

In the far western Chinese province of Xinjiang, authorities are conducting a campaign to smash Islamic extremism and independence sentiments.